Tally-Ho 2006

Covered dish dinner at 1:00 PM followed by entertainment. Please bring a main dish or salad and your own dinner ware. Beverage and dessert will be provided. This is a good time to socialize and sing a few carols and just enjoy each other. Please try to attend and make this a special holiday gathering.

to all members who renewed their membership through to June 30, 2008. The Board of Directors voted to not hold public meetings in the months of January and February. Previously we have just skipped January but this year we will skip February as well. Therefore, you will be receiving only 8 newsletters this membership period. Look for your next newsletter around the middle of February.

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Just in time for holiday giving, New Hartford Schools—A Short History, an 115 page book, written by Burke Galer, retired music teacher of New Hartford Schools. Pictures of the district schools that once dotted the rural areas of New Hartford and of our present schools; thumbnail sketches and pictures of former superintendents; reprints of newspaper articles written during times of change when new buildings were being erected; lists of current faculty members; pictures of maintenance staff; just a partial list of what this book contains. It was written with the help of Regina, his wife, Dr. Robert Bradley, the New Hartford and Oneida County Historical Societies, and Janice Trimbey Reilly who typed the text and prepared it for printing. The book sells for $15.00 and a limited first printing is available—25 copies at the Society rooms and 25 at the New Hartford Foundation. If you attended New Hartford, or if your children did, this book will provide you with very interesting facts and pictures of the history of your school system. The Society is open Mondays 1pm to 3pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm. Our telephone number is 724-7258.

Ed. Note: Are any names familiar to you? This must have been a festive occasion in Dec. 1915

The following is taken from a May, 1983 New Hartford Historical Society Newsletter.

On July 5 the parties involved, including Judge Ostrom, Jedediah Sanger, Desjardins, Constable Trull and a couple of others set out from Whitestown, or possibly New Hartford village, to take the prisoner to the grand jury in German Flatts. They stopped at Bagg’s Tavern in Utica for their noonday dinner where they caused quite a stir.

“The thief was as well served as the rest, and without any distinction, was placed without ceremony, at the same table as the judge and myself, and entered into conversation, so that the curious people, who are not rare in this country and whom rumor of our affair had drawn together at the tavern, asked which one was the thief!”

During the afternoon and evening the party proceeded on horseback to German Flatts where the prisoner was jailed.

On July 7th the matter was presented to the grand jury who indicted Crocker. Thomas R. Gold, prominent lawyer and later legislator of Whitestown, was the prosecutor and Judge Robert Yates was the Chief Justice before whom the accused was arraigned. Since the term of court was about to adjourn, there was not time for the prosecution to get its witnesses together for an immediate trial, so the case was put over the term and the prisoner released on bail.

The French Company’s officers in Paris, in 1796 had appointed a new head for the operation in America to displace Desjardins who wound up his affairs here in the remaining months of 1796 and in early 1797. There is no further mention of the Crocker affair in the Journal. I have tried to find court records of the trial, if it did, in fact, ever take place, but unfortunately the Whitestown clerk’s records were destroyed by fire in the 1880’s and the records in Herkimer County were burned in 1804. So far I have been unable to find any docket for the Court held in German Flatts (presumably at Herkimer) in July 1796 or the years immediately following. Can any of the friends or relatives of Elijah Crocket tell me what happened to their infamous predecessor?

Dissatisfaction had brewed among the shareholders of the French Company in Paris in 1796. They sent M. Rodolphe Tillier to take over the Castorland operation. He was elderly, pompous and possibly a rascal. He and Desjardins disagreed on almost all points. On October 2,1796 Desjardins wrote in the journal;

“Our newly arrived from France have found the real very different from the ideal that they had formed. They had looked upon Castorland as a Normandy, or a suburb of Paris, where they had nothing to do but to come and live:—they did not suppose when they came here, that in order to eat bread, they must get flour, etc,. etc.”

Desjardins had worked against almost insuperable odds. He had had the good sense to realize that to develop the potential of this beautiful country would require hard work, time and some skillful diplomacy. The new Commissioner did not posses this good sense. Upon departing for the winter Desjardins wrote on November 2, 1796:

“I left Castorland with the presentiment that I should never return, and that I had encountered all the pains and perils on my part, only that a newcomer should enjoy, or rather squander the little that I had done with our slender means. It was a little hard for me to quit, at the moment when the survey was finished, and the condition of the company would furnish the means sufficient to realize the plans I had formed, and to contribute to the prosperity of the county, of which I hoped one day to be called the founder. But the projects of this world are frail as an infant's life…”

The following excerpts are from an oral history tape made by Roy Seaman in 1976.

Back in the early 1900’s when I was a kid, all the streets were dirt roads. No pavements. Oxford Road had a cinder path between the sidewalk and the road for bicycle riders.

My Dad bought this house (Note: on Park Street) in 1907. When he bought the bakery, we lived in an apartment upstairs. The lower end of the Oneida National Bank was the bakery. (Note: where the bank referred to stood is now the park next to Blimpie’s). The upper end was Manual Ackler's store. There used to be a bench in back of the store and we used to sit over there. This truck used to come with kerosene in those days. Kerosene was a big item then. You had kerosene lamps, kerosene stoves and so on. I got a job there one summer working in Ackler’s store filling the kerosene cans. You’d have one gallon, two gallons, and five gallons. And, boy, you wouldn't get over a quart every time you pumped it. Ackler used to sell groceries, patent medicine, and in a back room he had shoes and boots.

Right on the corner of Campion Road (Note: Where Byrne Dairy is now) was the Humphrey Williams Hotel. I used to peddle papers when I was a kid and I used to have to take the paper into the kitchen. Mrs. Humphrey would say, “come on boy, sit right down there” and there was a free lunch on the bar. Cheese and crackers and things like that. Mrs. Humphrey used to do all the cooking. She’d say “Come on boy. It’s cold out. You sit right here”. And I used to sit down and have a bowl of soup. Then I’d come home and I wouldn't be hungry and my mother would think I was sick.

There was another hotel over where the Chicago Market is (Note: now Bank of America, next to Butler Hall) that was run by a lady named Lib Sedgewick. We were told not to go near the place. My father was a teetotaler. My mother got so she wasn’t feeling so good and the doctor ordered Old Stock ale. That was a great cure in those days for something, I don’t know what.. Anyways, that was the hardest job my father ever did. He waited until it got dark and then he’d go over there and go in the back door and get a pail of beer and then come home with it. He never got caught, and he never took a drink in his life.

When I first started school I went to the Point school. My mother got permission to put me in school when I was five years old to get me off the streets. I always had nose trouble; I had to see how everything was done. And I had to spend two years in the first grade because you had to be six years old to pass into the second grade.

When the trolley came to New Hartford they had two sets of tracks, one to go up and one to go back on. Then they had a yellow brick pavement on Genesee Street. Around 1907 or 1908 I saw them lay that pavement and it was pretty. They put concrete down first, and then they put sand on top of the concrete. They they’d lay the bricks, and then they put a very thin cement that would roll over it and go down into the cracks. It was a very attractive road.

New Hartford went as far as Prospect Street in Utica in those days. That was what was known as No Man’s Land and the city of Utica took it over in the early 1920’s.

In the winter Harry Benton used to plow the sidewalks. You didn’t bother with the roads because you didn't have automobiles and the horses and sleights would go through.

Charlie Niece lived up on Tibbitts Road. He was quite a guy with fancy horses. He had a big bearskin coat with a fur hat, and he had a whole strap of these bells that went around the horse’s belly. When he’d come up Oxford Road it was quite a sight. You could hear the bells way up by the Methodist church (Note: the old church that was on Oxford Road near the funeral parlor) and we kids would stand there in awe looking at that fancy horse doing fancy stepping.

Here in the corner of Park Street and Pearl we had a row of church sheds and the farmers would come in and put their horses in those rows while they went to church. C.O. Jones, who had the paper box factory (Note: where the fire station is today) had the first automobile in New Hartford. It was a one-cylinder Cadillac and he used to keep it over in the church sheds during the week. We used to see Charlie coming and he’d be in there a half hour cranking it on the side and there was no fancy cab, it wasn’t enclosed —-just two seats where he’d sit and there was a seat in the back of it. He’d spend half an hour getting the thing started, and then he’d back it out onto Pearl Street and he’d go over to Genesee Street, and he’d go up Genesee Street which was a dirt road in those days, and he’d get up to about where the entrance to the Shopping Center is now, and the damn thing would quit on him. He’d crank it, and finally we’d see him coming to get about ten of us kids to go up and help him push it back and push it into the church shed and he’d be out brushing his hands and he’s say, “Well, boys, the next time I have the car out, you’ll get a ride” We still have rides coming. (Laugh) He was quite a character. He was President of the Village for a good many years.

Although there were many Wecenslasses, the one who seems to have been honored in the tradition Christmas carol is probably the German king who ruled Bohemia from 1361 to 1419. He was martyred and canonized for his efforts to resolve the Great Schism in the Christian church.

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder/Donner, Blitzen. And Rudolph. (Clement Moore’s poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” which opens with “Twas the night before Christmas,” called the beast Donder. The song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” calls him Donner.)

On Thursday night, November 8, 2007 at 7:00 PM the Clinton Historical Society will host this meeting at the Clinton Historical Society at One Fountain Street, Clinton. The topic for the evening is the Black River Canal Museum. Edward P. Fynmore will talk about his book, “Black River Canal”. that he wrote with Harney J. Corwin. The Black River Canal linked the Erie Canal in Rome with the Black River at Lyons Falls. Come and meet with our Clinton friends.

Your response to the Robert Eastham letter that was in the September “Tally-Ho!” was so positive that we thought you would like another one. This was written Jan. 16, 1848 to Elizabeth Eastham from her brothers and sister in England. It was not an easy time in England. The original spelling is used in the letter.

I am glad to informe you I received your letter on the 8 of Jan and was glad to here that you landed safe and I am glad to inform you that we are all well at present but we are sorry to informe you that Mr. Taylors and Dawson factory stopt work 4 weeks after you left Preston and they only began work this week after having stopt 8 weeks and they have made another reduction of 15 percent all over Preston and if there is no better Markets they will all stop work again before long There has only been 3 Mills running in all Preston this last 2 months Dear sister if you had been in Preston we do not know what you wold have done for potatoes and provisions is getting up same as they did last year potatoes is 16 and 17 pence per score at present and is still rising in prise same as last year and no work at all for more then one half the people in Preston Dear sister I hope you will write a letter back and send us all particulars about how you like the country and how much a steam loom weaver can get in America and how many hours you work per day and if the work is anything like it is in Preston and if you get paid in money or in meat and if you think there is a better living to be got in American then England your brother James has alterd his mind since you left Preston and wold like to come very well as things is so very bad here if he was as safe landed as you is wife and family is all very well at present also your brother John wishes he was were all that beefe was to cut up for he has a family that could eat it very well only Ann is very porly at present your brother Thomas is more willing than ever and if you can send him money to come with he will come any time as soon as you can make it convenent for him to come and his intended wife and family for he is tired of England he is weaving the same sort as you did at 14 pence per cut and he will recompence you back as soon as he posable can after he comes he is making preparations for coming as soon as he get the money you must send him word if work is good to get and how much he could get if he was there at work you must send us word how provision is in American if they are any thing like they are here

Robert Eastham had to sign papers to become a citizen of the United States. Mary Anne Buteux found these papers at the County Courthouse in Utica.

I, Robert Eastham do swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of American, and that I do absolutely and entirely Renounce and Abjure forever, all Allegiance and Fidelity to every Foreign Power, Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatever; and particularly to the country of Great Britain whose subject I was; And further, that I have never borne any hereditary title, or been of any of the degrees of Nobility of the Kingdom of Great Britain and I have not been out of the United States for five years last past.

In 1862, John Butterfield and other businessmen of Utica organized a railroad company. It was known as the Utica, Clinton and Binghamton Railroad, the object being to construct a horse or steam road to connect Clinton with New Hartford, and Utica with Whitesboro.

By 1863, rails were in place and horse car transportation was begun between Utica, New Hartford and Clinton.

An unsuccessful attempt was made to construct a railway company that was to extend the entire length of Oxford Road. It was called the “New Hartford and Washington Mills Street Railway.” Horse cars were to be used. This did not materialize

New Hartford, like every other town during its early settlement, was the scene of various crimes, principal among which was horse stealing. This was after the Erie Canal was completed, and better facilities were offered thieves and vagabonds to do their unlawful pillaging. In 1830 the inhabitants of New Hartford became aroused to the need of prompt action to protect their property and the following notice appeared in the papers.

“All persons are desired to take notice that a society has been duly organized in New Hartford for the purpose of detecting horse thieves. The treasury of the society is supplied with ample funds, and young and active men have been appointed pursuers, who are ready to start, on any emergency, to recover the stolen property and bring these thieves to the bar of justice.

A large number of pheasants are seen daily in the vicinity of the Partlow Corporation on Campion Road eating a hearty breakfast of corn. The birds are fed by the Partlow Company employees. As many as thirty-five of these beautiful birds have been observed at one feast.

A word of praise is extended to Mr. Charles Hunziker, janitor of New Hartford High School, for the fine work he has done in keeping the school property in such good condition. One can not help but notice how well-kept the school lawn is.

The Yearbook of the Senior Class of New Hartford will be sold Thursday at the high school. The name of it is the “Jedediac”, derived from the personage, Jedediah Sanger, founder of this town.

If you desire a copy of the book, phone the school and have one reserved for you. The price is $.75.

The month of November the New Hartford Public Library will feature a display from the New Hartford Historical Society created by Linda Brennan. It will consist of turn of the century clothing worn by boys and girls and teachers and pictures of the early schools in New Hartford. The display cases are in the corridor as you enter the building.

The following is taken from a May, 1983 New Hartford Historical Society Newsletter.

If you would like to read a thrilling adventure story and at the same time learn something about the life and times of settlers and travelers in the wilderness and in the frontier establishments of Upstate New York in the 1790’s, you should peruse the pages of the Castorland Journal, a copy of which, translated into English, has been acquired recently by the Oneida Historical Society at Utica. This remarkable journal was kept by Simon Desjardins, the leader of an expedition of Frenchmen who made an ill-fated attempt to establish a colony in the neighborhood of Lyons Falls and Carthage in the years 1793 to 1797. The idea for such a colony in which to settle refugees from the French Revolution had originated with William Constable, a land speculator of New York, who obtained the support of James LeRay de Chaumont, a wealthy Frenchman who had become an American citizen. A company was formed in Paris which bought 225,000 acres of land in northern New York. The promoters, by means of an elaborate prospectus containing fanciful descriptions of the land and of the certain acquisition of wealth by investors, were able to sell enough shares to finance a preliminary expedition and survey party. The journal tells the story, day by day, of the party’s trip to American and into the wilderness and of four years of their struggle to make the dream come true.

The original party, some with their wives and children, landed in New York City, proceeded up the Hudson by sailing vessel, and thence up the Mohawk River by bateau to Fort Schuyler (Utica) and Rome. In the fall of 1793 a small contingent reached the western end of their tract by way of Lake Ontario, but the work of the survey was not begun until 1794 when they obtained wagons and horses at Fort Schuyler and some supplies from New Hartford with which they pushed into the wilderness and began to set up their establishment at the “High Falls” (Lyons Falls).

During the following years Fort Schuyler was their usual taking-off place from the valley. They bought many of their supplies, wagons, horses and oxen at Fort Schuyler and in New Hartford from such merchants as John Post of Fort Schuyler and Benjamin Merrill of New Hartford. Disasters in the field, and lack of any significant number of successful settlers coupled with changes in leadership and failure of land titles brought about the eventual collapse of the venture in the early 1800’s.

The company’s prospectus, after describing the probability of cities soon to be built on the fine navigable river (Black River), and the immediate construction of good roads, tells of the riches to be obtained by the production of potash, lumber, ginseng, grain and maple sugar:

Among the comments on American life, the journalist notes regarding their trip up the Hudson River on the sloop General Schuyler:

“During the night we had occasion to observe the American way of making love. The Bennington merchant courted the New York lady all night, and went out five or six times to get her little glasses of Madeira wine. Her married sister was present at all of this, and laughed heartily at everything, but it greatly offended our French ladies, and prevented them from sleeping. In the morning these tender lovers reclined alternately on each other’s breast , and combed each other's hair, which nothing could be more amusing to them, but it was extremely shocking to French delicacy. But every country hath its customs, and we advised our ladies not to appear surprised at anything.”

“to escape the expense of hospitality every good American puts a tavern sign at his door, if located on the public road;-and in these inns we sometimes can find neither bread, nor meat, nor bed."

“Mr. Post keeps the dirtiest tavern in the State of New York, which is not saying a little. Following the custom they only change the linen on Sundays, to the misfortune of those who arrive on Saturday, and I therefore resolved to sleep on the couch they gave me with my clothes on.”

Besides the unspeakable rutted and muddy roads, the labor of clearing the land and building cabins, and the difficulty of getting adequate food supplies, the mosquitoes drove them nearly to distraction:

Baron Steuben’s tract and his cabin were located on the way from Fort Schuyler to the “High Falls” where the expedition had its headquarters. The Baron was fluent in French and befriended the adventures.

“He received us with all his German hospitality, and made us sensible of all the pleasure of finding ourselves in company with an old warrior, both intelligent and amiable, and in conversation alike pleasing and instructive.”

Steuben permitted them to build a storage shelter on his land which became a sort of advance base for their operations for the next two years. When Pierre Pharoux a professional architect in the French party, became ill, Steuben took him in for a number of days to recuperate. In appreciation Pharoux drew up a plan for an elaborate estate for the Baron, including a splendid mansion, with extensive gardens and water works. The original plan now rests in the archives of the Oneida Historical Society.

One of the exciting incidents that connects the project with New Hartford occurred in the summer of 1796. During the evening of June 28th, while the leaders and workmen were at supper, a thief broke into the company’s office at the High Falls and stole a small trunk containing several hundred dollars in silver and bank bills, two fine watches, some jewelry, documents and surveying instruments. After two or three days of tracking and chasing through the woods, one of Desjardin’s men came across Benjamin Merrill of New Hartford who had seen an advertisement that Desjardins had put in the Western Sentinel, a paper published in Whitestown. The ad sought help in catching the thief. This made Merrill suspicious of a man named Elijah Crocker who had been a worker for Desjardins and had left or been fired a short time before. Crocker was indebted to Merrill for a substantial sum for which he was delinquent in payment. Merrill's suspicions were fortified when Crocker had come to him and to Jedediah Sanger to get change for some large bank bills. Merrill decided to have Crocker arrested for failure to pay the debt. He was apprehended and held at the Hill Tavern located about five miles from Fort Schuyler. Desjardins went there and confronted Crocker who denied the theft. On July 4th Desjardins made a complaint to Justice of the Peace David Ostrom of New Hartford (Ostrom was a Revolutionary soldier, who later became a county Judge of Oneida County and a member of the State Assembly). A warrant was issued and Crocker was arrested on the theft charge. A search of his dwelling brought to light $40 hidden in his bed. Justice Ostrom held a preliminary hearing and witnesses Desjardins, Merrill, Jedediah Sanger and others testified. The clinching piece of evidence was a file handle produced by Desjardins which he had found at the place where the thief had broken open the stolen trunk. This was identified by a witness named Root as belonging to Crocker and by another witness who had lived in the same house with Crocker.

Since the crime was a felony, the trial had to come before a higher court. The Justice decided to hold the prisoner and then transfer the case to the Supreme Court which was then in session at German Flatts. Mr. Merrill agreed to advance the constable’s expenses to transfer the prisoner to German Flatts.

Jedediah Sanger’s new grave stone marker is unveiled by Bob Dicker on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at Forest Hills Cemetery,Utica. About 20 people witness the unveiling. Representatives from the village, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Rotary and the Landmark Society were present. The stone was blessed with a prayer by Rev. Joell Szachara, Priest-in-Charge at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Jedediah Sanger’s parish church.

Two views of the same building in Washington Mills on Oneida Street across from Mallory Road. The top picture was taken in 1884 when it was a Variety Store run by Lewis Davies. Below is a view of the building after it was remodeled. in the early 1900’s. It was then run by James T. Davies. Later still A.S. Champ had a variety store there from 1921 to 1943 and the Washington Mills Post Office operated in a corner of the store. Stanley Champ’s wife, Blanche, was the postmistress. During the 50’s and 60’s it was a grocery store, the Suburban Market., run by the Mitchell brothers. A fire forced the closing of that store. Since then many small business operations have come and gone. Today Synergy Communications Systems uses the building. The building is owned by John Bentley who operates an auto body shop in the rear.

The upstairs had a large room used as a dancing hall. It was the site of many festive occasions.

They tell a story about the late Al Smith when he was Governor of New York and making his first visit to Sing Sing Prison. After touring the place he was ushered into the auditorium to address the inmates.

“My fellow citizens ,” he began, then remembered that prisoners in state prison are no longer citizens.

“My fellow convicts, “ he began again, but felt that was not quite right. Finally, in desperation, he said,

Evelyn, one of our members, is no stranger when it comes to programs. She has done many for us over the years and each one has been interesting and educational in regards to the history of this area. So, remember the date and come to the meeting. We need more participation in our Historical Society if we want to keep it growing and thriving.

The following was brought to our attention by Steve Grant. Steve loves old cars and he reads many automobile magazines, old and new. In an October, 1901 edition of “The Automobile Magazine” he came across this article. This Endurance Test ran through New Hartford. Each driver received a map of the route and driving instructions. Locations of where water was obtainable was high lighted because the cars overheated and their radiators boiled over quite often.)

The 500-mile automobile endurance test held by the Automobile Club of America and scheduled to be from New York to Buffalo, was commenced Monday, September 9, at New York and finished Friday, September 13, at Rochester, the total distance traveled being 394 miles. The original plan was altered on account of the death of President William McKInley, Friday evening, September 13. The committee decided to end the run then. As a result of the President’s death the club also abandoned the week of automobile events which was to have been held at Buffalo, beginning Monday, September 16, and which included the much looked forward to road race between Erie and Buffalo.

(There follows the description of the Endurance Test for Thursday Morning, September 12.)

In leaving Herkimer go down Main Street, cross New York Central Railroad and follow street railway through Mohawk and Ilion to Frankfort. There is water on left of lumber yard. Rough road until a mile beyond Frankfort, then a fine road for a mile, then sandy and rough to Utica.

Turn to right, go under a railroad bridge, and in half mile cross or ford a brook.

Turn to the left where the cinder path crosses the road, and go toward the Masonic Home (which is on the outskirts of Utica.)

Crossing bridge over canal and two railroad tracks, bear to the left just a little, and sharp to the right through the Masonic Home grounds. Keep to the left after passing the house, and go down a hill, and up another in the grounds to the asphalt, on which continue for two mile,

Turn to left into Genesee Street, and go toward New Hartford which is four miles away; water on both sides of the road in front of hotels. Take road to the right after passing hotels.

Cross railroad track in about a mile and take road to right at next fork for Kirkland, which is four miles away, passing a cemetery on the left. At the next fork take road to the right, and just beyond is a water trough on the right. Good road from here for about a mile, then fair to poor to Lairdsville, then improves; the road is rolling but in good repair.

Five miles from Lairdsville is Vernon, and just beyond is water trough on the right. Again in about a mile water on left in a farm yard.

Go under railroad bridge near the silk mills of Oneida Community and turn sharp to right following West Shore R.R.; then go under West Shore railroad bridge again and keep to left again for Oneida, three miles.

After crossing railroad track at Oneida Castle take first street at right, which is Main Street, and continue as far as Madison Street. Turn to right into this street, and Madison House is half-block on the right, where time for noon control will be taken. Record sheets must be filled in here. Lunch at Madison House.

(Another small article Steve contributed is from the book “Motoring In America—The Early Years” by Frank Oppel. This book covers almost every aspect of pioneer automobiling, from benefits of horseless carriage ownership to the speed and endurance competitions of the early 1900’s. This particular article is from one of the driver’s who decided to start the run a day earlier so he “would not have to deal with the crowds that gather along the roadside’s to view these events”.)

Leaving Schenectady at 9:45 AM, Tuesday, September 10, we ran through without a single stop to Little Falls, 56.7 miles, through deep sand all the way, little traveled, in fact, an apparently abandoned road, arriving at 1:30 PM. Left Little Falls at 2:00 PM, after seeing town but making no stops, reaching Herkimer 2.45 PM for lunch. Here we put in 6 gallons gasoline, the amount used on the run of 97 miles from Albany, a very good showing considering that the roads all the way were hardly passable and the engine at all times working at its maximum, and for long stretches through deep sand on the hill gear.

We left Utica at 5 PM, and reached Oneida, 23.4 miles, at 6:30 PM, over uniformly wretched sandy or rutty roads. Left Oneida Wednesday the 11th at 8:45, and shortly after one of the rear wheels picked up a large nail, the first puncture since using the machine.

Soon after leaving Oneida, a horse gave us battle with his fore feet , as follows: The road was narrow, and a farmer driving a pair of heavy horses to wagon ahead of us paid no attention to the horn. Farmers do not regard the horn, as they hear horns often, while town people have become so used to the trolley gongs that they often pay no attention to the bell. We crowded up to the farmer on the right-hand side and when he saw us he pulled his team out to let us pass. As we went slowly by, the horse nearest us struck out with his fore feet, the first blow striking a front wheel tire and doing no harm. The second hoof-stroke, however, tore away the front wheel mud guard. This is the first time I ever knew a horse to fight an automobile.

To the family of Leah Gadlow from Chestnut Hills, Mass. Leah died in August, She had been a member since 2004.

And to the family of Sherman Mears who passed away August 20, 2007 at the age of 99.He was a charter member of the Society, joining it in April, 1976

This is Jedediah Sanger’s gravestone as it looks today in Forest Hill Cemetery. The inscription is barely legible. Through the efforts of Bob Dicker, the New Hartford Historical Society, the village and town of New Hartford, the New Hartford Rotary and the American Legion Post 1376 there will be a stone placed in front of this memorial on which the inscription will be preserved so that future generations will be able to visit the grave site and read the tribute to our founder.

On Saturday, October 13, 2007 at 1:00 PM there will be a ceremony at this grave site when the new stone is in place. The site is on lot 22 on the Spencer Eames grave site. Sarah Eames was Jedediah’s daughter. She had his remains moved first from the old burial ground on Oxford Road to a family lot on the Eames property and later still to Forest Hill Cemetery.

At the Fun Fest on September 8th we had a booth with pictures of various places in New Hartford and a table with some of our books for sale. There was interest in our display and many people took our brochure, (potential new members?) We hope so.

One of the items for sale was a copy of the New Hartford Seal. A young man who purchased one asked about its origin. We did not have the information with us, but have since found it and pass it on to all of you who may be interested,

In July, 1976 an article in the Observer Dispatch stated the following: “The emblem was adopted at a special ceremony in Butler Hall, attended by Brewerton Clarke of Clinton, the artist who designed the emblem; the Village Board, and members of the New Hartford Historical Society.

Mayor John Kazanjian said the emblem was selected to serve as an element of local pride during the village’s Bicentennial celebrations and firemen’s convention next month. It will also appear on village vehicles and village stationary.”

The emblem was drawn by Clarke and researched by Clarke’s friends at no cost to the village. Clarke said it was his Bicentennial gift to the village.

This interesting letter sent to Ralph Humphreys, the New Hartford Town Supervisor from Thomas Christ, Utica College Anthropology Professor, came to light regarding disinterring the remains in the cemetery on Oxford Road.

“In 1968 while visiting with Elwood T. Day, a Utica undertaker at his funeral home at 1108 State Street he told me that years before he had bid on and won a contract offered by New York State to disinter the remains in an historic cemetery on Oxford Road where New Hartford Central School was being built. He said he had to obtain an individual permit from the NYS Health Dept. for each disinterment and showed me a four drawer filing cabinet in his office that contained a file for each grave. If I recall correctly he said there were about 150 persons buried there. He said the contract required him to purchase an indemnity bond from an insurance company to protect the state against any claims that could ever result from the bodies being removed. He was required to match the records available from the historic cemetery as he opened each grave and keep a record for each disinterment which gave information as to any artifacts that were found and a description of the skeleton. He had small wooden boxes constructed that were the length of the longest bone in the body and as each skeleton was removed it was cleaned and all the bones placed in the box which was then covered and labeled. These boxes were temporarily stored in the vault at Forest Hill Cemetery until the completion date of the project. If I understood him correctly he said that after all the skeletons were removed a concrete room/vault was poured underground on Oxford Road in front of the school and he brought all the small boxes containing the skeletons back and they were placed inside this vault and concrete poured on top to seal them inside and a monument placed above them.

One interesting disinterment he spoke of was of a women who was buried in that cemetery in a cast iron sarcophagus. The top was glass and it had been sealed with tar. When they removed the dirt from over the glass, her body was completely undisturbed, having been in an airtight seal inside from the day she was buried. He had a grave dug in Forest Hill Cemetery and brought a crane to Oxford Road to have the iron box removed and transported for reburial there. When they were digging the dirt from around the sides with pneumatic shovels so they could attach chains to the bottom of the container, they accidentally hit a corner and cracked the sealed glass cover. The minute air went inside, the body completely turned to dust in front of their eyes. They continued to attach the chains and pull the extremely heavy iron box from the grave and transported it to Forest Hill Cemetery for burial.

For some of the graves it was required that members of the Daughters of the American Revolution be on sight when the grave was opened and the skeleton was removed, in particular a drummer boy from the American Revolution.

Elwood and his brother Harold who owned the funeral home with him are both deceased.

The village of Washington Mills is situated on Sauquoit Creek about two miles above New Hartford. Frederick Hollister was a business man of Utica, who had been associated in the drug trade there in what was known as “the checkered store.” Isaac Mason had established a mill on the site of Washington Mills, which Mr. Hollister purchased in 1849. This was burned and rebuilt by him, and was also painted in colors, giving the local name of “Checkerville” to the place. The second mill, which was of stone, was also burned, with little insurance, and the loss was heavy. But Mr. Hollister had unbounded energy and the firm of Hollister & Stanton built again a large frame mill, to which was given the name “Washington Mill.” This ultimately became the property of A. T. Stewart of New York and is still owned by his estate; it is idle. The post-office was established here between 1840 and 1850, and Adna Ingham was one of the earlier postmasters holding the office fifteen years.

A Fork and Hoe factory was established here in 1865 by Babcock, Brown & Co.; the firm was afterwards Huntley & Babcock. The product for some years reached $100,000 annually. The property is now owned by the Utica Tool Co., in which C. H. Philo and Ladd J. Lewis are prominent, and a successful business is carried on.

Your membership in the New Hartford Historical Society ran lst year from July 1, 2006 to June 30 , 2007. It is past time to renew your dues. If your mailing label on this issue of the “Tally-Ho!” reads June 30, 2007 you need to send us your renewal. In October we will be sending a reminder to everyone who has not renewed. As of this date there are 109 members in arrears. If we do not have your renewal by October 31, 2007 we will reluctantly remove your name from our mailing list. That means that this may be your last “Tally-Ho!”

If you enjoy reading about New Hartford History, the camaraderie of the monthly meeting and the dinner, the feeling that you are helping New Hartford preserve its history, then you will want to renew your membership. Why not do it right now while you are reading this notice? It would save us the postage of notifying you by a special mailing and make us pleased that you still want to be a member.

A CHALLENGE

At our September Board Meeting we were discussing how we could increase our membership. It was suggested that we challenge each member to bring a friend to the October meeting. Evelyn Edwards’ talks are always interesting and full of nostalgia. It will be an excellent meeting in which to introduce new people to our organization. So we sent you this challenge. Will you take it up? We hope so.

Al Heywood has been instrumental in the restoration of the railroad station at Remsen, NY. Al, a retired social studies teacher of Remsen, is on the board of the station. He has an exciting story about this project and the future plans for the depot area. Special items from vendors from Wales are expected to be available in the station’s gift shop.

SSara Humphreys graciously supplied us with letters written by Thomas and Robert Eastham, and Robert’s wife in 1845, 46 and 47. This one, written in 1847 is fairly long but we thought you would be interested in this shortened version. We have put in some punctuation to make it easier to read, however the spelling is the original spelling in the letter. All are on file at the Society rooms.

You will be supprised and disapointed at my not writing sooner but I must tell you that it has not been my neglect. No the sole reason was this, I could not get my money from Wisconsin. And now I have only got part of it. The other I am to receive at the Fall, yet I think I shall have enough with great care that my bring you over, so you may expect in 2 to 3 weeks eather the money for you to pay your own passage at Liverpool. I know if they are not crowded with passingers you may get them for about 2 pound each and children 1/2 price. You must call John age 11 and Edmond 6 and Thomas 3. Get a birth as near the middle of the ship as you can and on the right side of the ship. Attend to all these things and the benefit will be yours. Fasten all your boxes and tubs with ropes or nails to the side of your birth. Bring your bed tick with you and get it filled with straw at Liverpool, Bring your beding your bed cloathes—bring your frying pan so you can fry your bacon and bake cakes on your jurney. Bring a strong stone bottle or a tin with a bottle neck for your fresh water which you will receive once every day. It must hold 2 gallone. Bring your kettle and one of your pans to cook your tea, coffee, potatoes, porrage in. All your pots and crockery pack them up in your boxes among your cloaths as they are very deer here. Bring some oate meal to make thick porrage and get some treacle—have your treacle in a stone bottle so it will not spill when the ship is sloping. Get some oate meal and bake some riddle cakes and let them get hard and then pack them up in a box or barrel with a lock on, and make some thin clap cakes pack them the same way, let the quantity be as such as you think will do for 6 weeks. You might bring some flour as much as you think you will need for making some cakes and some puddings. But buy no briskets in Liverpool nor buy none anywhere else. Bring some vinegar and a few good lemons, some good cheese, some good bacon and this must be good or it will spoil on shipboard. Get Billy Wiggins to chuse you some bacon. A few red hearing and some black currons, some good potatoes, some tea and sugar. Bring no bandy nor gin, rum nor whiskey, but get a few bottles of porter if you can. This would be useful when you are recovering from your sea sickness—some turkey rubul (rhubarb) root for opening medicine the captain will find you medicine while sick if you will ask him or get some one to ask him. Your directions is as follows—From Preston to Liverpool 30 miles From Liverpool to New York 3500 miles From New York to Albany 160 miles From Albany to Utica 100 miles From Utica to New Hartford 4 mile. And then enquire for Thomas Eastham at the post office and you will be directed to me.

Now I would have you mind all these things I have said and perhaps you may think some of them you will not need to mind but if you wish yourself and the children well you will attend to them all. Now give hear to what follows , buy all your provision in Preston. Let them all be good, or they will not keep on the water . As soon as you get to Liverpool go on the ship you have engaged with and that will save you paying for lodgins. Keep as much on deck on the voyage as you can. Remember the captain will have to find you water and 1 pound of bread stuff a day for every one wether it will be bisket flour meal or rice I do not know—keep your bodys open while on the sea and when you make a bargain for your passage to New York - ask there if what they tell you encludes the bread stuffs and the hospital money—the hospital money is 1/2 dollar per head the bread stuff is 2 dollar per head. When you land in New York do not stop in New York one hour if you can help it—get your boxes and children down on the wharfs on the boats that are going right off for Albany You will see great numbers of men wanting you to engage with them to Utica. Engage with none of them—go to a proper office and engage for Albany and no further, do not engage for Utica at New York as you would have to pay over again at Albany. From New York to Albany is about 1/2 dollar per head children 1/2 price. When you reach Albany then engage for Utica on the cannel. You will have to pay 1 dollar a head children 1/2 price and 25 cents a hundred for you ludgage but do not pay your money till you arrive at Utica. When you arrive at Utica place your ludgage and the children in some tavern and come up to New Hartford and I will soon fetch the children while you get some good tea and tell some of you sea tales. I want you to bring me some old tune books if you can. Ask my cousin William Wignall to send me that tune called Church Street— bring me some Gilleves seed and any other seeds you may get them from my Aunt Nannys husban William Hodson. If you could bring some a few papers of good needles you would find them very usefull as they are deer and not good here.

When you reach here I will play you 2 tunes Sweet Home and The Girl I Left Behind Me.

We are indebted to Paul Clement of North Chili, New York for the above photo. He sent the following information:

“A small group of high school graduates from New Hartford High School in 1940 faced uncertain futures as with any graduating class before or since...including jobs, college, etc., etc...plus World War II soon to be a major concern. One thing was sure...none of us thought of what we would be doing 67 years in the future! But this past April eight of us (including two from the class of ‘39 and one from the class o f ‘43) sat down to dinner at a motel dining room in Ithaca, NY to feast, talk, laugh and remember back to those high school days. We stayed overnight at the motel and met again the next morning for breakfast and posing for the picture.

The following letters were found among the items that were returned to us by the Oneida County Historical Society. These items had been placed there for safe keeping when our New Hartford Society went out of existence in the early 1950’s OCHS recently returned several boxes of documents, many relating to New Hartford schools. There is lots of interesting reading in these boxes.

My son Richard Read, who attends the Union School in the New Hartford district, has been notified by his teacher, Miss Potter, to provide himself with certain drawing materials.

I have sent notice to the teacher that I do not wish him to take drawing lessons at the School; and I have, therefore, omitted to provide him with the articles required.

Miss Potter sent me the note I herewith enclose. It has been indicated to me that if I do not get the articles dictated and consent to his taking drawing lessons, the boy will be dismissed from the School.

I make this communication to you in order that I may be informed whether the law gives any such arbitrary right to the teachers.

Drawing is one of the subjects taught in graded schools by law; and is not studied wither by choice of teacher or pupil. It has been delayed this year in the Intermediate Department by my sickness and absence, and plenty of time has been given when it has not been convenient to get them immediately. In the “School Manual,” section 72, is the rule concerning scholars who are not promptly provided with books.

(editor’s note: The school was located between Pearl Street and Hartford Terrace, about where Allport Place is now located.

We have a sizeable collection of New Hartford High School yearbooks. The following years are missing::

If you should have one of these and are willing to part with it, please let us know by calling 724-7258.

The Village Board has added it’s newest member due to the resignation of Bill Hettie. Roswell W. Buckingham of one Scott Avenue was appointed in January to fill Hettie’s unexpired tem

Bucking, 57, is a former Assistant Jr. –Sr. High School Principal/Teacher of 29 years with the New Hartford Central School District. He is a graduate of Utica College with a Bachelor of Arts in Statistics and later received his Masters Degree from SUNY at Albany in Social Studies and Administration

He presently serves as an Emeritus Director of the Utica College Foundation Board and was a past recipient of the College’s Outstanding Alumnus Award..

A veteran of World War II, Buckingham and his wife Doreen are the proud parents of 5 children and 4 grandchildren.

I dialed a number and got the following recording: “I am not available right now, but thank you for caring enough to call. I am making some changes in my life. Please leave a a message after the beep. If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes.”

Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.

The irony of life is that by the time you’re old enough to know your way around, you’re too old to go anywhere.

Ted Wakefield, son of Charles Wakefield who owned a sawmill on Elm. St., Chadwicks, will present a program on “The History of Elm St.” which will include information about the sawmill, stone house and Huber tractors his father owned and sold. A 1930 Huber tractor and a 1925 Mack truck will be on display. As this is our annual meeting, election of officers will take place. In addition, St. George’s Episcopal church will be open for a tour. There will be a lot to do and to see. Note the day and time, please. Not our usual June meeting time!

MEN (Left to Right)	Presently Residing	Class
Jim Norton	Near Watkins Glen, NY	'40
Bob Kelly	Near Buffalo, NY	'39
Jack Garrett	Near St. Louis, MO	'39
Gib Jones	Near Utica, NY	'40
Paul Clement	Near Rochester, NY	'40
Bill Lux	Near Rome, NY	'40

LADIES (Left to Right)
Alice (Hoover) Kelly		'40
Alie (Brubaker) Clement
Annette (Jones) Lux		'43