Tally-Ho 2009
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2009 Issues
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009 (Text
Not Available)
March 2009
December 2009
Table of Contents
December Program
Custom Of Having A Decorated
Tree
New Hartford’s Three
Railroads
New Hartford High
School Class of 1901
Spinning Wheel
We Need These Jedediac
Year Books
Br-r-r1
Christmas Gift Ideas
New Hartford
Education In New Hartford
Church Signs
DECEMBER 2009
We will not have a meeting in December this year. The Board voted at
our last meeting to not hold the meeting because of poor attendance for
the last three years and bad weather for the last two years. Also it is
a busy time of year for everybody. There are no Historical Society
meetings in January or February and no “Tally-Ho!” Our next edition will
be the March issue. The program will be announced at that time.
We wish you a Happy and Healthy Christmas and Happy New Year. See you
in March.
Janice Riley submitted
these articles from a Dec. 25, 1899 Utica newspaper.
The custom of having a
decorated tree on Christmas comes to us from Germany. Some believe
having a decorated tree has always been here, but this was not always
the case. Rev. Andrew Wetzel, who was pastor of Zion Lutheran Church ,
Verona, when he first came to America, put up a tree with lighted
candles on it. The congregation was in the midst of its Christmas
festival when the door opened and a crowd of local people rushed in,
tipped over the tree and dragged it out! Being remonstrated with, they
said they wanted “No Dutch Doings Here!” This was the time of the Know
Nothing excitement, when there was not much of “Peace and Good Will”
toward any foreigner.
When Pastor Wetzel
came to Utica, he held the first Sunday School Christmas Festival with a
tree ever given here. It was on the second floor of the building,
corner of Columbia and Varick Streets, then occupied by Jules
Herbuveaux’s drug store.
Handsomely trimmed,
and brilliantly lighted Christmas trees were noticed in many houses last
evening—December 24, 1899. One of the prettiest was what might be
termed an artificial tree. The base was an ordinary spruce tree, but
some of the branches were thinned out and at regular intervals, were
circular bands, decreasing in size toward the top. On these were small
torches or lamps in which oil was burned. The whole made a pyramid of
light. The tree sat in a large star made of pine. Fastened about the
tree at intervals were shelves containing all sorts of good things.
Among the decorations were pine cones gathered in Seymour’s woods the
year the governor died. Over the tree is a windmill like that which
works a figure when attached to a stovepipe. This windmill was about
two feet in diameter, and is handsomely ornamented with gilt stars,
herald angels and richly colored balls. The heat of the lamps below
cause this to revolve, and the effect was very pretty. For twenty-two
years the family at 17 Warren Street in Utica has had this kind of a
Christmas tree, and the enjoyment it gives always pays for the work
spent on it.
There were no special guests at the nation’s capital. Church services
were held on Christmas Day and as the dinner hour approached, the
streets were deserted. It was very quiet at the White House. President
McKInley took a walk alone through the grounds at the south of the
mansion and then joined his wife in the family living room. Neither
attended church and at the usual hour, they dined alone.
NEW HARTFORD’S THREE RAILROADS
Yes, as recently as
1957, New Hartford had three railroads!
New York,
Ontario & Western Railway
Three years before the
Golden Spike was driven at Promontory Point, a group of businessmen from
such diverse locations as Norwich, Utica, Oswego banded together to form
a railroad known as the New York and Oswego Midland Railroad. Later to
be known as the New York, Ontario & Western Railway, it went into
operation in 1871. Since that day, the New York, Ontario & Western
(better known to its admirers as the O&W) sent a continuous stream of
engines, passenger cars, freight cars and cabooses over its 541 miles of
track from Weehawken, NJ to the port of Oswego on Lake Ontario. In the
early 1950’s the railroad faced bankruptcy through the action of the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation and ended in 1957. It couldn’t
compete with the like of New York Central.
As the mainline wound
its way through out-of-the way places towards Lake Ontario, it spun off
a branch from near Hamilton to Utica. From Clinton, the track crossed
Route 12B again just north of the Clinton village limits and paralleled
the highway. This area is now new housing, but the old Rotary Gas
Station building still exists in the form of a home, painted I think a
blue/gray. The tracks were behind it. The O&W, trolley and canal all
went through this area.
About where the
highway comes into “Utica National Junction” the track bent northward
and is still existent in the brush adjacent to the Yahnundasis Golf
Course. The O&W then went north-tracks still in- with a switch off to
Mohawk Containers behind the New Hartford Shopping Center. After Mohawk
Containers, it served a building supply company, then crossed Campion
Road to Partlow Corporation and ended at the American Emblem Company.
When the O&W left, the NY Central and Lackawanna served it. I’m not
sure who runs it now.
NEW YORK CENTRAL
WEST SHORE DIVISION
The West shore ran
right behind the 12th fairway at the Yahnundasis Golf Club. The main
line crossed the highway on an overpass by Bev’s Beauty Barn, and now
there is a hotel in the area ..the Ramada Inn. They then went over
Commercial Drive and west. I believe the overpass was north of a diner
there, but can’t say for certain what occupies that area now.
Route 840 was just
recently opened in its entirety from Judd Rd to the 12/8 arterial. From
Judd Rd it runs mostly south crossing the former West Shore line which
you can see to the right as you head east on 840. The road then makes a
big swing to the left (east) and you are now parallel to the West Shore
right of way (which DOT has made into a hiking/biking trail) on your way
to Commercial Drive crossing on a bridge that is within feet of where
the West Shore once had a bridge.
The origin of the
route was the New York, West Shore & Chicago which was chartered in the
1870’s and intended to go to Chicago via Buffalo. It was acquired by
the New York Central.
DELAWARE,
LACKAWANNA & WESTERN RAILWAY
The Utica, Chenango &
Susquehanna Valley Railroad was organized in 1865 and came under the
Lackawanna in 1870. The Utica-Binghamton line was a big dairy carrier
and solid milk trains ran until the late 1940’s. Army reservists also
used this line up to the 50’s to travel from New Jersey to Utica then
over the New York Central’s St. Lawrence Division to Camp Drum near
Watertown. Passenger service discontinued April 29, 1950; Utica branch
to Conrail, April 1, 1976; to New York Susquehanna and Western, April,
1982.
The DL&W had gates
(and even a gate man within my memory until they automated). It still
had passenger service after West Shore and the O&W were well out of it.
When the DL&W discontinued their passenger train to Binghamton, I
remember the Short Line bus that replaced it struggling up Paris Hill in
New Hartford with black/brown gas fumes spewing out the back, and hoped
somebody would shoot it and put it our of its misery so the train would
return. It was a really cool train ride from Utica to New Hartford
(technically South Utica, but walking distance to New Hartford). They
had a station in Washington MIlls, too.
Ken Kinlock
In our files we found
this picture of the New Hartford High School Class of 1901. Thanks to
Janice Trimbey Riley, we now can identify each person.
The back row, left to
right:
Edward J. Trimbey,
salutatorian, who was Janice’s great uncle.
Harriet Scripture,
valedictorian and the daughter of the first high school principal,
Arthur M. Scripture.
Roy Barber
Front row:
Jennie D. Scoville
Ida M. Roemer,
daughter of Julius Roemer and Janice’s great aunt
Maude Stevens
Harriet Scripture
became a school teacher locally and married a Mr. Lovelace
Edward J. Trimbey went
on to Cornell and became inventor and owner of the paper company in
Glens Falls, NY
Ida Roemer became a
teacher mostly in the Mohawk School, and married Russell Smith
Can anyone tell us
more about Roy Barber, Jennie D. Scoville or Maude Stevens?
It really makes history come alive when you can identify people in a
picture that is 108 years old! Thank you, Janice for sharing this
information with us.
This spinning wheel
was donated by Tom Wells from his family who lived on the Glen Farm on
Valley View Road. They raised chickens primarily. The spinning wheel
is from the late 1800’s and was used by Tom’s great grandmother, Sara
Ella Richards Griffith, wife of Thomas R. Griffith. Menlo Griffith took
over the farm in the early 1900’s. The land is now Sedgewick Park.
The wheel is in the
Elliott Hughes room at the Society. After it is refurbished there will
be a spinning demonstration by Barbara Couture on this early American
wheel in the spring.
WE NEED THESE JEDEDIAC YEAR BOOKS
One of the most
popular sections in our Society rooms is the library where we have a
collection of New Hartford School yearbooks.
We are missing the
following years:
1972, 1973, 1974, 1977
1980, 1983, 1984, 1988
1990, 1991, 1994
If you have access to
any of these books and would care to donate them we would be most
grateful.
BR-R-R1
From a December, 1926
Utica newspaper
Temperatures at
midnight Wednesday:
Utica,
19 below
Thendara,
26 below
Remsen,
18 below
Oswego,
24 below
CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS
Here is a list of new
books for sale at the Historical Society from Burke Muller, our
bookstore manager. There are some good titles for possible Christmas
presents. Come in an look them over. We are open Saturdays from 10 to 2
and Mondays from 1 to 3. We will be closed the Saturday after Christmas
and New Year’s.
|
Children’s Books |
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Pardon, There’s a
Moose in your Tent |
$17.95 |
|
Sam—The Adirondack
Railroad Cat |
$6.50 |
|
Erie Canal
Cousins |
$9.95 |
|
Three Weeks in
Utica |
$9.95 |
|
Amazing Erie Canal |
$7.00 |
|
Other new books |
|
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Daisy
Daring—Loomis Gang |
$15.95 |
|
Utica—A City Worth
Saving |
$21.95 |
|
Sauquoit Valley
–Evelyn Edwards |
$19.95 |
|
Erie Canal |
$19.95 |
|
Utica—Then and Now |
$19.95 |
The following is an article that appeared in the December 8, 1902 Utica
newspaper.
NEW HARTFORD
Various Items of
Interest, Personal and Otherwise
Mr. and Mrs. James
Harris have returned home from Little Falls, where Mrs. Harris’ mother,
Mrs. Horricks, celebrated her 84th birthday.
Miss Mary A. Neal of
Paris, (ed. note: Paris, NY) who has been visiting friends in town, has
gone to Chadwicks.
Francis N. Fitch, room
37, Flower Building, Watertown, wishes to find the widow or if no widow,
the children, or if no children, the more remote heirs, of Isaac H. Dann
of the 117th N.Y.I.V., whom he understands is deceased, for the purpose
of informing the proper party that there is probably money due under
what he calls the amendment of muster law, on account of the services of
the officer, and to aid them in getting it if they desire his services.
He has no bill to collect from the estate of any reason other than above
stated for making this inquiry..
Miss Lena Fraser has
accepted a position in the C.J. Wells store in Utica.
The New Hartford
basket ball team defeated the Sauquoit basket ball team in Green’s Opera
House, Sauquoit, Saturday evening by a score of 8 to 4. (ed. note. An
unbelievably low score for a basketball game, isn’t it?)
Lewis P. Clark has
accepted a position as conductor on the Utica & Mohawk Valley Railway
Company.
From an August 11, 1897 Utica Newspaper (again from Janice Reilly)
EDUCATION IN NEW HARTFORD
A number of the
residents of New Hartford have thought for some time that there ought to
be another school building in the village for the accommodation of the
northern part of the district. At the annual meeting held last week
Tuesday, a motion was made for the establishment of a primary school in
that section of the village, and a committee consisting of Peter Crowe,
William M. French and Addison Weed, was appointed to investigate and
report at an adjourned meeting, for which last night was fixed upon as
the date. Addison Weed presided and Charles W. Haley acted as secretary.
A number of different sites had been investigated, but the one which
seemed most suitable was a lot on Otilia street, 160 feet front by 150
feet in depth, owned by L.B. Wheeler and held at $1,500.
William Crowe read the
result of a school census of the district between Halleck’s ravine and
the Utica line. It showed 62 children of school age, and 30 below it.
The distance from the city line to the union school (ed. note: the
union school was located in the old Sanger Mansion near where Allport
Place is now located) is two miles, and the younger children are
practically debarred from school privileges in the winter, as it is
impossible for them to attend the school.
Ex-Supervisor Seaton
said he sympathized with the people of the district referred to, but had
doubts as to the legality of any action that the meeting might take. He
thought notices should be posted, calling a meeting of taxpayers to act
upon a resolution appropriating a certain sum for a definite purpose.
Joseph E. Graham said
he thought it would only be just to the taxpayers to give them such
notice. He had supposed the project was to create a primary school only
and for that a single room would be sufficient. He did not believe in
the creation of a branch school, because he favored centralization in
school work. .
Mr. Crowe said: “It
would be just as easy for you gentlemen to go to the gold field of
Alaska as it would be for these children to come up to this school in
the dead of winter. I am very sorry to hear my friend talking in such a
manner.”
Chairman Weed looked
up the school law and gave it as his opinion that the meeting had not
been properly called to take definite action on the school project. On
motion of Mr. Canfield the board of education was empowered to make
estimates of the expense and call a special meeting according to the
law. On motion of Prof. Scripture, it was decided that in future,
special meetings should be called by posting notice.
Mr. Crowe said he
thought that a school could be completed and equipped for about $8,000.
He added that they wanted a graded school, not a primary one.
It is expected that the board of education will take immediate action
and that the notices for the public meeting will soon be posted.
CHURCH SIGNS
“The best vitamin
for a Christian is B1”
“Tithe, if you
love Jesus! Anyone can honk!”
“Don’t give up.
Moses was once a basket case!”
“Wal-Mart isn’t
the only saving place!”
“What part of
“THOU SHALT NOT” don’t you understand?”
“To belittle is
to be little.”
“Don’t wait for
the hearse to take you to church.”
“A clear
conscience makes a soft pillow.”
November 2009
Table of Contents
November Program
The First Known Record
Concerning Petroleum Oil
Frank Tomaino’s Progam
Condolences
New Hartford Canning Company
Postcards
History Lesson A Museum Of
Recollections
Helpful Hints For Home
Only in America
NOVEMBER
PROGRAM
OUR 32ND YEAR OF JOINT MEETINGS WITH
CLINTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Thursday,
November 12 at 7:30 PM
1 Fountain Street,
Clinton, New York
Speaker: Dorothy McConnell “History
of the Deansboro Musical Museum”
The museum was a landmark for many
years, an interesting tourist attraction, now closed. Find out what has
happened to the items we enjoyed seeing. We want to have a good
representation of New Hartford members at this meetings. Please come
and support your Historical Society..
The following is from an
1889 edition of a Utica newspaper. Although not New Hartford history,
it is interesting reading..
THE FIRST KNOWN RECORD CONCERNING PETROLEUM OIL—IT WAS USED BY THE
INDIANS FOR MANY YEARS.
The rapidity with
which the world moves nowadays is illustrated by the fact that there are
men now living, and plenty of them, too, who can remember when petroleum
was gathered from the surface of springs in Pennsylvania, and was sold
in ounce vials as rock oil, an admirable specific for rheumatism. Its
scarcity was its most effective commendation; for as soon as it became
plentiful nobody thought of rubbing it on his joints. The entire system
of petroleum wells, the immense petroleum product and trade, have all
sprung up within the recollection of a single generation.
The early settlers of
Western New York found the Seneca Indians in possession of a thick black
substance that soon received the name of “Seneca Oil.” They used it to
apply to all sorts of bruises where the skin was not broken, and bathed
their limbs and joints with it when suffering from rheumatism or any
kind of lameness. The also used it internally as a specific for coughs,
colds and pulmonary affections.
In a diary kept by one
of the surveyors engaged in the survey of the Holland Land Company’s
purchase away back at the very beginning of this century an entry occurs
to the effect that near the headwaters of the Allegheny river, in this
state, was located a spring upon the water from which, when conducted
into shallow pools, would collect quantities of this oil. This the
Indians collected and used in the manner described above. For unknown
generations the Indians had held this spring in high veneration,
believing it was a direct gift from the Great Spirit. They dried the
oil by exposure to the sun, and made an ointment that they used in
mixing their war paint, as well as for remedial purposes. This ointment
was nothing more or less than the Vaseline of the present day in its
crude state, for the oil skimmed from the spring was crude petroleum.
The oil spring and a plot of ground one mile square were given to the
Indians as a reservation and is so held at the present time, being known
as the Oil Spring Reservation.
In after years enterprising whites collected the oil and it was bottled
and sold under the names of “Seneca Oil.” It had
a wide reputation and
was eagerly sought by many who extolled its merits in the most
extravagant terms. Had it not been for the fact that the inquisitive
whiles found out a way to get petroleum from the earth by sending the
drill down through the rocks. “Seneca Oil” would doubtless now be a
popular medicine worth a dollar a bottle, but when the production of
petroleum in such enormous quantities was made possible, it knocked the
spots out of the limited production of the oil spring.
FRANK
TOMAINO’S PROGAM
Our
October meeting attracted about 40 people to the Presbyterian church
hall to hear Frank Tomaino who gave a very interesting program on #3
Rutger Park. Rutger Bleecker, who built the house, made an impact on
the city of Utica. Many streets were named after members of his family—Bleecker,
Rutger, Blandina, Mary, John, Miller, to name a few. Roscoe Conkling
lived in this house also and Samuel Morse visited it as well as other
important people. That makes it a place to be preserved for history.
The Landmark Society deserves a great deal of credit for their work on
this behalf. Frank's programs are full of history and we hope he will
be doing another one for us in the near future.
CONDOLENCES
Our member Terry
Baker, wife of Dr. Arthur Baker, passed away this October. And also,
Walter Cookinham, a staunch supporter of history in the area who
presented several programs for our Society, died this last month.
Our condolences to the members of their families.
A NEW
ADDITION TO OUR ARCHIVES
This miniature freight
trolley and baggage car was built by Robert Gurley. Bob was a resident
of New Hartford from 1913 to 1960. When a young man he developed an
outdoor miniature trolley line, the New Hartford and Southern Railway ,
that ran around the backyard of his residence, 40 Hartford Terrace. It
received many visitors from the eastern states as word of the line
passed about through the publication of a model railroader’s magazine.
When Bob moved to Camp Hill, PA he continued his interest in trolleys
only the line was now called the Conodoquinet Railway. It also ran
around the back yard where he lived in Camp Hill and even more people
visited the site. These little trolley systems survived every type of
weather from hurricanes to heavy snow, even resisting animal invasions
and juvenile delinquents.
They truly
were a love of his life. We feel honored that his family has donated
these two cars to be displayed in our museum. We hope you will come and
see them in person.
A picture of the New
Hartford and Southern Railway miniature passenger trolley car built by
Bob Gurley
From an article in
the Sept. 16, 1887 edition of the Utica Morning Herald.
Some weeks ago the Herald contained an interesting
article on the New Hartford Canning Company. It is really worth while to
visit the grounds and buildings of the company, especially when as at
present the place is a scene of wonderful activity. About two hundred
people, men, women and children chiefly young men and young women, are
in the company’s employ. General R. U. Sherman is the president of the
company. John G. Gibson is the efficient secretary and treasurer. The
superintendent of all the people and their work is given into the hands
of S. W. Sherman, who has proved himself to be the right man for so
responsible a position. F. E. Chandler is processor, and is highly
esteemed by the company as a trusty person for that place. Hamblet
Burnes has charge of the
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This was the former New Hartford Canning Company . In March, 1923
it was purchased by the Campbell Refining Co. It was listed in
the advertisement as being on Whitesboro Street in New Hartford,
now Campion Road. It was utilized as a storage place for oils and
gasoline. |
steam chests and there are seven in all. The
corn is cooked in these chests with a pressure of ten pounds of steam
and is allowed to remain in the chests just one hour to the minute, when
it is taken out sufficiently cooked for table use. All that is
necessary, when taken out of can is to add a little milk and heat it
warm enough for eating. Thomas D. Williams, attends to the office work,
does all the weighing, issues the checks for husking, and makes himself
useful in a variety of ways. Joseph Hinch is yard boss and has held that
position with much acceptance to the company for several years. The
policy of the company toward both the farmers and those who serve in their employ is a very liberal one. The
huskers, and there are about one hundred of them, get five cents a
bushel; other companies pay on an average three cents; and the farmers
get seventy cents a hundred as the contracting price for all their corn.
This is from five to ten cents higher than that paid by any other
factory in the state. About five hundred acres of corn have been
contracted for the present season. This week is the height of the corn
season, and the company is putting up from twenty-five to thirty
thousand cans a day. This year they will put up five hundred thousand
cans. Six or seven years ago when the factory first started, it was
difficult to persuade the farmers to believe it would pay them to raise
corn for canning purposes; but now they regard it as one of the best
paying industries in the country, and so the company has no trouble in
contracting for all the corn they want.
The following are the staple articles of
vegetables and fruit which the company are putting up this season: Cream
sugar, evergreen and Sauquoit valley and Oriskany valley corn: Lima, red
kidney, and Dutch case knife beans; asparagus and Refugee string beans;
Champion, Daniel O’Roarke and Alpha peas; Canada victor, living stone
and perfection tomatoes; pears; plums, green gages; quinces, peaches;
tomato catsup; red and black raspberries, gooseberries, strawberries,
apples, pumpkins, squash, and five hundred cases of currant jelly. The
company is doing a larger amount of business this season than it has
ever done before. If it continues to grow as it as during the past two
or three years, it will soon do the largest business of any factory of
the kind in the United States.
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This is a John
Burton picture, one of many that he took while revisiting his
birth place in the late 1800’s. Notice that Genesee Street is a
dirt road. A horse and wagon is at left center and the children
are playing in the street. |
|
This
old postcard of New Hartford was taken in the early 1900’s, about
20 years after the one above. Genesee Street is now paved.
Notice the horse and wagon at the left in the picture. In the
center a trolley is going towards Utica and a woman is waiting to
board it when it stops. |
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING
This 1910
postcard is one of a collection of holiday postcards we have on
file. The colors are beautiful: the turkey wattle is red, his
body white and black and his fantail yellow. The pumpkins are
yellow and green and the straw is yellow. It is bordered in red.
To view it in color and look at many more old pictures and
postcards, come to the museum. We are open 10 –2 Saturdays, 1 to
3 on Mondays. |
The following is from a
Utica newspaper article of Jan. 20, 1977.
HISTORY
LESSON A MUSEUM OF RECOLLECTIONS
They faced each other
across the table. Erle Cookinham , an 84-year-old village native, and
Christine Webb, 10, a Myles Elementary School fifth grader. They were
seated in the parlor of a house at 22 Paris Road, itself aged 83, with
furnishings reminiscent of a museum collection.
Christine asked
Cookinham question after question. Cookinham resting comfortably in an
easy chair, answered swiftly, drawing from nearly a century of
knowledge.
Several months ago,
Mrs. Nancy Kobryn’s 27 fifth graders began searching for the oldest
life-long resident of New Hartford. The youngsters found Cookinham, and
after interviewing him in class one day, bestowed on him an honorary
Bachelor of Philosophy in American History degree. Today, Cookinham and
his wife, Dorothy, proudly show visitors the hand printed degree. And,
with minds still sharp for remembering detail, they are glad to tell
again the story of New Hartford at the turn of the 20th century.
Christine was joined
by this time by Edward Anna, who placed his tape recorder next to hers,
and settled back to listen to Cookinham’s tales. Anna, another New
Hartford resident, is also talking with old-timers, to add to the local
historical society’s archives.
Cookinham shook his
head as he recalled the mud roads and small population of the village in
1900. “There weren’t half as many houses then,” he said, with his wife
adding she remembered abundant orchards and large gardens where now many
homes stand.
What about methods of
travel, Christine wondered.
Travel was by foot,
Cookinham answered, or by streetcar. And with a reference to today’s
youth who he said depend on automobiles for a trip around the village,
he said: “I used to walk up to my grandmother’s in Willowvale every
weekend and think nothing of it.”
As he sat in the
parlor crammed with old photos and knickknacks from days gone by,
Cookinham told Christine of his earliest childhood recollection. “The
first thing I remember, really, I must have been four or five, was when
the old Golden property burned down where the Point School is now,” he
said. And Cookinham said he remembered family life being much the same
as it is now, mentioning briefly his sister Theo, now deceased. Theo,
he said, “died of the flu, the first Utica area victim. They didn’t
know what it was then,” he said.
He chuckled as he told
of the schools and the lickings children would get from no-nonsense
teachers. He said there were no athletics of any description —the
professors wouldn’t stand for that.
“A man who made $9,
$10 a week was pretty well off,” Cookinham, who earned a living as a
salesman, told his young listener. “You could raise a family on that..
A man who made $25 a week, you’d turn in the street and look at him.”
Christine, who has
probably heard romantic stories of those horse and buggy day, wondered,
“Was life better then?” And Cookinham, looking back over a lifetime,
and scanning his memories, shook his head. There were no snowplows, no
indoor heating, no modern conveniences, he remembered. No, he said,
with a final determination: “Things are much better today.”
The interview over, the visitors shook off their visions of New Hartford
in days long gone to return to streets filled with automobiles and homes
brightened by electric lights. But not before Erle and Dorothy took
them by the hand, drew them to bookshelves, and reminisced over the
memories past still dear to them, captured forever through the
photographs and knickknacks filling the old parlor.
HELPFUL HINTS FOR HOME
-
from a
paper found in the Elliott Hughes Age of Homespun collection.
-
Clean
furniture with 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water solution.
-
Clothespins
will not split if boiled in salted water.
-
Clean teeth
with salt and water.
-
Put a
teaspoon of salt in a hand lamp and it will give a more brilliant
light, and thus helps prevent smoking, and keeps wicks and chimneys
clean.
-
Lamp won’t
smoke if you dip wick in vinegar.
-
To heat
bed, throw salt into warming-pan and heat 1 minute before using in
bed.
Only in America ………..
do banks leave
vault doors open and then chain the pens to the counters
do we leave cars
worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in
the garage
do people order
double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.
do we buy hot dogs
in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.
do drugstores make
the sick walk to the back of the store to get prescriptions while
healthy people buy cigarettes in the front.
October 2009
Table of Contents
October Program
New Hartford Suffers
While The Wolves Howled
Annual Dinner A Success
Mourned In New Hartford
Condolences
Project At Lasher Cemetery
Excerpts from “The Founding
of New Hartford” written by Laura D. Cookinham in 1938
New To Our Archives
1883 Railroad Pass
A Sample of some Head Stones
OCTOBER PROGRAM
Thursday, October 8th at 7:00 PM
Presbyterian Church
Hall, New Hartford, NY
Speaker: Frank Tomaino “Historic
No. 3 House”
Frank will tell us
about important events that happened in this historic house on Rutger
Park in Utica.
This article comes
from an 1889 copy of the observer Dispatch of Utica’
NEW HARTFORD SUFFERS
The thriving village
of New Hartford suffered a disastrous fire Tuesday evening in the
burning of Armstrong, Baker & Co.’s knitting mill. The loss is placed
at $50,000, with $37,000 insurance, and 110 workmen are thrown out of
employment. The fire had its origin in the carding room, in one of the
breakers, and was probably caused by friction. The cotton became
ignited and the flames spread with great rapidity. The mill was
equipped with an automatic sprinkling system, but by the time the heat
and become intense enough to unsolder the caps and set the water free
the fire had gained too great a headway to be quenched by it. Bucket
brigades worked faithfully, but could do little. Other buildings were
in great danger and the Utica Department was telephoned for assistance.
The Chemical and No. ! Steamer and Hose were sent to the scene, and did
excellent work in protecting near-by buildings. The mill itself,
however, was burned to its foundations and much valuable machinery
ruined.
The plant was of
wood, with a main building two and one-half stories high and 34 by 116
feet on the ground, with an L in the rear of the same height and 40 by
60 feet in size. The plant had a daily capacity of 300 dozen underwear
for men, women and children, employed 110 hands, and had a pay roll of
$2,800 per month. New Hartford’s first mill was originated by James
Armstrong in 1864. This was destroyed by fire in 1870, and in 1873 the
present firm, consisting of James Armstrong, A.E. Baker and George H.
Armstrong, was formed and subsequently the tannery on Whitesboro street
was purchased and remodeled for the mill, and the L built. About four
years ago a two-story brick building, 34 x40 feet in size, was erected
on ground adjoining the mill. This was also practically destroyed by
last evening’s fire.
The firm states its
intention of rebuilding as soon as possible. It was doing a fine
business, and had all the orders ahead that it could handle for four
months to come. With valuable property located in New Hartford, it has
no fire apparatus with which to protect it, but it is now believed,
after the experience of last night, steps will be taken to organize a
Department and purchase apparatus forthwith. In this fire it is not the
manufacturers alone who suffer. The sudden throwing out of work of over
a hundred employees in the dead of winter is a serious thing for them,
and for the village as well.
(Ed. note : This mill was located where the Partlow building now
stands.)
This excerpt is taken from an article
in the Utica Saturday Globe of October 21, 1916 regarding the
organization of the first Masonic Lodge in Oneida County. It recalls
the history of the founding of New Hartford by Jedediah Sanger and the
building of his home. It was brought to our attention by Janice Reilly.
WHILE THE WOLVES HOWLED
In March, 1788
Jedediah Sanger , a native of Massachusetts, came to this section and
declared his intention of becoming a first settler. The story goes that
until he got a shelter up he roosted nights in a tree to keep the bears
and wolves from sampling his anatomy.
His saw mill was located on the
Sauquoit Creek near where it crosses Genesee street and he got it in
running order in 1789. The next year he built a grist mill and a year
later he erected the house now standing at the northeast corner of
Oxford road and Genesee street, in the village of New Hartford, for many
years past owned and occupied by the family of Charles McLean.(ed.
note: The house stood about where the Village Floral shop is located
today) Somewhere in his travels Mr.
Sanger had become a Mason and to him belongs the credit of being the
leading spirit in the organization of the first lodge in Oneida county.
When he built the house he had the idea in view and the third floor was
finished off into a lodge room. The roof was arched and the room was
lighted from overhead to protect against prying eyes. He took a lot of
pains with that house. It is as solid today as when it was built,
apparently, though it has stood for 125 years. It was constructed
largely of wild cherry and elm and many of the timbers in it are a foot
square. Evidently Mr. Sanger suffered from the cold when he was
roosting in a tree and figuring out what sort of a house he would build
for he put 11 big fireplaces in it. There was one in the basement, four
on the first floor, four on the second floor and two in the lodge
rooms. Some parts of the house have been altered slightly, but for the
most part it remains as it was built.
While working on the
place he kept talking to the men who came around. He volunteered
information concerning the benefits that would come from a Masonic Lodge
and the result was that on April 7, 1792, they got together in the room
which Mr. Sanger and built for the purpose and organized Amicable Lodge,
F. & A. M. The subsequent history of the lodge is another story. It is
enough to say here that it flourished until 1824, when it went out.
In the early days,
however, the fame of it was abroad in the land. One story that is said
to be in the records of this lodge, which are not accessible, is that
Mrs. Sanger was not wholly in sympathy with secret organizations and did
not do much to encourage the membership of the lodge. A tale is told of
a man coming on horseback through the woods from Oxford, Chenango
county, to be initiated into the lodge. He arrived at the place in the
early evening as Mrs. Sanger was heating a gridiron preparatory to
broiling some steak for supper and asked her if there was to be an
initiation there that night. “Yes,” she replied, “I am just heating the
irons and getting them ready to brand the candidates.” The man looked
sober and fidgeted around a few minutes and then said that he guessed he
would go out and look about a little. But he didn’t take much time to
look around. Immediately after he left the house there was the sound
of galloping hoofs and the man was gone through the woods in the
darkness on his way back to Oxford.
The old lodge room has
been partitioned off into smaller rooms and the house has been
modernized to meet the needs of the present generation, but it is still
the same old place that Jedediah Sanger planned, as he clung in the
swaying boughs of the trees, while wolves howled through the forest,
and built with his hands in the far-off summer of 1791.
ANNUAL
DINNER A SUCCESS
67
members attended the roast beef dinner at the United Methodist Church on
September 10th The ladies of the church prepared their usual excellent
meal. Following the dinner Police Chief Raymond Philo gave a very
informative program on the Old South Street Cemetery. He showed slides
and had some of the bones that were uncovered on the site on display.
The Mum Farm on Red
Hill Road generously donated the beautiful mum plants that were on each
table and distributed during the meeting. We thank them very much for
their contribution.
Also the book sale was
a success. Many books were sold and our library now can purchase some
new books to pique the interest of our members..
 |
Home of Mary
Elizabeth Osborn Marks and Thomas W. Marks Sanger
Ave, New Hartford. The house still stands today. |
From a
newspaper clipping of Feb. 23, 1917
MOURNED IN
NEW HARTFORD
Thomas W. Marks, one
of New Hartford’s most public spirited citizens, died this afternoon
about 4 o’clock at his home on Sanger avenue in this village. Many will
learn of his death with sincere sorrow and regret. He had been in poor
health for about five years, but was able to continue in his employment
until last week, when his illness took a serious turn and he became
confined to the house.
Mr. Marks was
prominently identified for many years with the Prohibition party in this
county. He was one of the first to adopt prohibition as a political
issue and he served the cause faithfully, giving both time and energy
toward its success. He had been the nominee of his party for a number
of offices and he had served in various capacities in the organization.
It may be said of him that he was one of the staunchest Prohibitionists
in this section of the state.
Mr. Marks was a
talented musician and singer and his services in that capacity were
always available to the community. He had served as choir director of
the local Presbyterian Church for 35 years, and he had been instrumental
in furnishing the music for most of the occasions in this place for many
years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and had held
the office of elder for a great many years and up to the time of his
death. In his passing the church loses one of its active and most
devoted members.
Mr. Marks was born at
Oriskany , May 25, 1852, and was a son of John R. and Martha Rees Marks,
who were natives of Wales. His early education was obtained in the
public schools of his native village, which was later supplemented by a
course in Whitestown Seminary, from which institution he was graduated
in 1875. After completing his education, Mr. Marks taught in District
No. 10, in this town, withdrawing at the expiration of that time to
identify himself with agricultural pursuits. In 1887 he engaged in the
grocery business in this village, continuing to be connected with that
occupation until 1905, when he entered the employ of the George W. Rice
Coal Company, remaining in the same position upon the requirements of
the business by the Kelly Brothers, by whom he was employed at the time
of his death.
Mr. Marks took an
active interest in the town and its institutions. In addition to being
a choir director and elder in the church, he was for many years
superintendent of the Sunday school. He had served as treasurer of the
village for two years and had rendered service in other capacities,
including the holding of the office of secretary of the Greenlawn
Cemetery Association. By his fellow men he was regarded as a man of the
strictest integrity, a kind neighbor and friend and a most useful
citizen, one whose passing will be regarded as a distinct loss to the
community in which he had lived the greater part of his life.
Mr. Marks was married October 6, 1875 to Miss Mary Elizabeth Osborn, who
survives with one son, H. B. Marks of Canastota, and two daughters, Mrs.
W.L. Cook of Ilion and Miss Nellie J. Marks of this village. Four
grandchildren also survive, They are Mary Elizabeth Marks and Charles,
Thomas and Helen Cook.
CONDOLENCES
to
the family of Stephen Gurley, a member of the society since 2000 ,
who died suddenly in Camp Hill, Pa at the age of 60. Steven was born
in New Hartford and attended school here until the sixth grade. He
always had fond memories of New Hartford and enjoyed visiting
relatives in the area. He was a history lover and a railroad buff.
 |
From left to right—Earle Reed, NH Town
Supervisor; Bob Dicker, New Hartford Historical Society; Rick Sherman
, NH Highway Superintendent ;Wayne Murphy, Jr. , and Bob Payne, NH
Town Councilman .
|
PROJECT AT LASHER CEMETERY
The Lasher cemetery
in Chadwicks, is a family owned burial plot that really needed
cleaning up. Two Civil War veterans are buried there: Edward Lasher
who died in 1865 and his brother William who died in 1869.
The cemetery was
brought to the attention of the town by Bob Dicker, acting for the
New Hartford Historical Society. Bob has been interested in seeing
something done at this site for several years. Wayne Murphy, Jr.
spearheaded the project with the help and support of the descendants
of the Lasher family, the local neighborhood, Home Depot, The American
Legion, the Boy Scouts of America, the New Hartford Historical
Society, and the town of New Hartford.
Now the cemetery is
cleaned up, thanks to Wayne Murphy, Jr. and adult volunteers from
troops 4 and 14. Headstones were repaired, saplings removed, the
fence repaired, and a large amount of debris removed. With the help
of the American Legion two American flags with holders were placed at
the veterans gravesites.
The project helped
Wayne Murphy, Jr. complete his Eagle Scout project with the Boy
Scouts. It was a win-win situation.
EXCERPTS
FROM “THE FOUNDING OF NEW HARTFORD” WRITTEN BY LAURA D.
COOKINHAM IN 1938
Robert Gilmore, who
was one of the early settlers of New Hartford built a house about
1800, at the end of French Road, where it stands today occupied by
Charles G. French, a descendant of both John French and Robert
Gilmore, some of the original deeds of that land being in his
possession. Joseph Higbee, the second pioneer settler, built his
house on the Seneca Turnpike, now Genesee Street, nearly at the foot
of the road bearing his name, which was originally a lane down which
Higbee’s cows were driven from their pasture. This fine old brick
house was later sold to John Lyon and stands today still owned by the
Lyon family. About 1833 Joseph Higbee Jr. built a home on Higby Road,
beyond Oneida Street, which has been owned for many years by James
Benton. History does not tell us much about Joseph Higbee. He died
on January 13th, 1820 and, with his wife and their children, is buried
in the old French Road Cemetery, not far from his home.
Among the pioneer
physicians we find the names of Dr. Samson in 1797 and Dr. Amos G.
Hull, who practiced at New Hartford and Paris Hill prior to 1811. The
pioneer dentist was Dr. Gilbert A. Foster, son of James Sears Foster,
who settled in Litchfield, New York in 1802, coming to New Hartford in
1813. F.E. Rogers, in his “History of the Town of Paris”, says “Dr.
Foster, after his marriage to Orpha E. Bogue of Sauquoit took up his
residence on the Foster farm (beyond the Butler Farm on Oxford Road)
and took up his profession of dentistry, inventing and with his own
hands making the various delicate and curious tools of the art, by
converting an old spinning wheel into a lathe, his brother Sanford
turning the wheel while he with masterly skill made the implements
which he afterwards tempered and polished.” Dr. Foster was one of the
original members of the American Society of Dental Surgeons, and was a
genial Christian gentleman. When he died December 7, 1877, the Utica
Observer said “The hand of death never stilled the beating of a
kindlier heart.”
NEW TO
OUR ARCHIVES
 |
The coat and
dress pictured above were donated to our archives by Barbara Cook
Clark. They had been in the Cook family for many years and
recently uncovered when the house at 55 Oxford Road, the Cook
homestead, was sold. They had been in the attic.
Although not
absolutely sure, it is believed that they were dresses of Lettie
Cook, Barbara’s great aunt. They are home made and beautifully
detailed and decorated. The coat has extensive cut work on the
front and back with a light ecru lining so the cutwork shows up.
The coat is of a little later vintage than the skirt and jacket.
They are from the late 1800’s. The workmanship is very fine and
the detail shows that much care was needed in their making.
We invite you to
come to the society rooms to view these items which are on
display, along with many other very interesting artifacts. We are
open every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm and Monday afternoon from 1
to 3 pm. |
1883
RAILROAD PASS
 |
Among many papers
that Burke Gale has donated to the Society regarding the history of
New Hartford we found this pass.. We were intrigued by its age and
by the Railroad mentioned. The pass was issued to Miss Purdy to
travel to and from school in New Hartford five days a week. It is
dated September 17, 1883.
The following
information we discovered online. The Utica, Clinton and Binghamton
Railroad was a railroad in the state of New York. It was leased by
the New York and Oswego Midland Railroad as a branch line in
connection with the Rome and Clinton Railroad. After a few years
under the Delaware and Hudson Company, it returned to the New York,
Ontario and Western Railway system in 1886. This branch line was
nicknamed “The Peanut”, and was abandoned in 1932.
We are sure some
railroad buffs in the area know more about this line. We would be
very interested in more information if anyone has some.
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A SAMPLE OF SOME HEAD STONES
Here lies Ezekial
Aikle Age 102 The Good die Young
I was somebody who
is no business of yours.
On June 22
Jonathan Fiddle went out of tune.
Here lies an
Atheist, All dressed up, And No Place to Go
September
2009
Table of Contents
Dinner Meeting
A Terrific Storm
Condolences
Lasher Cemetery Restored
Village Will Give New Fire
Apparatus Send-Off at Saturday Celebration
McLean
Mansion
T.B. Cloyes, General Insurance
and Real Estate Agent, New Hartford
Some old
pictures of New Hartford
Graduation pictures from 1953
Victory Fund 1943
How the Word N-E-W-S was
invented.
Dinner Meeting
Thursday, September 10, 2009
First United Methodist Church , 105
Genesee St. , New Hartford
6P.M. Social Hour 6:45 Roast Beef
Dinner
Cost $10.00
Program: Police Chief Raymond Philo
will give a talk on “The History of the South Street Cemetery”.
A TERRIFIC
STORM
This article was in the Tuesday, June 20, 1882 Utica Press. It was
found in the bound copies of the Utica Daily Press from March 13 to
September 11, 1882 that was donated to the Historical Society by Jack
Yntema.
Yesterday morning
opened quite pleasantly with very little indication of what was to
transpire in a few hours. At 10 o’clock intensely dark clouds
overspread the sky, and in a few minutes startling flashes of
lightning, followed closely by heavy thunder, the like of which is
rarely seen, for copiousness.
The most terrible
part of the storm lasted for a little over half an hour, but the rain
continued until noon.
In New Harford, a
barn belonging to O.E.C. Guelich was struck. The 18 head of cattle
contained within were stunned by the shock, but none were injured.
Armstrong Cotton Mill was also struck. The shock frightened the
female operators so much that they ran wildly about and out into the
storm, but no one was injured and but a little damage done.
The consternation
was so great all over the city at the fury of the storm. One of the
teachers in the schools fainted, weak-nerved women shrieked and sought
dark corners for fancied protection.
CONDOLENCES
We are sorry to say
that we have lost another long time member of the Historical Society.
Gerald Cunningham died on July 21st. He worked with the U.S. Postal
Service in New Hartford for 37 years and was Postmaster from 1978 to
his retirement in 1982.
Jerry was an active member of the Historical Society and took part by
making exhibits, preserving obituaries from the newspaper, and
manning the rooms on Saturday, and being helpful with the vast
knowledge he had of the village of New Hartford. He remembered all
the stores on Genesee Street and the proprietors and also names of
people who lived in the houses. He had a store of information and we
will miss not being able to talk to him and listen to him. Our
sympathy is extended to his family.
LASHER
CEMETERY RESTORED
Boy Scout Wayne
Murphy, Jr. of Troop 4 New Hartford competed his Eagle Scout project
by cleaning up and restoring the Lasher Cemetery off of Oneida Street
in Chadwicks, NY. Bob Dicker, of the New Hartford Historical Society
was instrumental in getting the town to take a closer look at
cemeteries in the area.
We will have more on
this topic in our next issue.
VILLAGE WILL
GIVE NEW FIRE APPARATUS SEND-OFF AT SATURDAY CELEBRATION
(from
a 1916 Utica Newspaper. The photo is courtesy of Terry Martin.)
New Hartford, Oct.
27– Next Saturday at 2 o’clock there will be a celebration in honor of
the new fire truck which will be tried out before the public gathering
and given a fitting send-off.
The program will
open with music in the park by the New Hartford Citizens’ Band and the
band will play during the afternoon. There will be an inspection of
the fire department; hill climbing demonstration with truck, answering
call on upper Paris street, with full crew; demonstration with
chemical apparatus; two man answering call demonstration, taking water
from the Sauquoit Creek, throwing one and two streams; demonstrations
with 1,000 feet of hose, and official test of apparatus will be made
during the afternoon by the chief engineer of the Underwriters’
Association of the State of New York.
A program has been
printed which describes the truck. The weight is 8,500 pounds and it
has a speed of 45 miles an hour. It is equipped with one 40-gallon
tank; 200 feet of chemical hose; two acid containers for recharging
chemical tank; 1,000 feet of 2 1/2 inch hose; one roof ladder, and
other equipment.
There are only two other villages in the United States of the size of
New Hartford which have motor trucks.
The McLean Mansion
Pictured at left is the home of Jedediah
Sanger which was located on Genesee Street about where the Village
Floral Shop is today. Sanger eventually sold this house and Charles
McLean lived in it for many years. The following Is from his obituary
,August 19, 1877.
Charles was one of
the earliest manufacturer's in the Mohawk Valley. He was born in
Glasgow, Scotland on October 8, 1802 and at 20 years old came to
Canada. He moved to the Utica area after one year in Canada. His
kinfolk were General Fraser who died at the battle of Saratoga.
He established a
gingham and prints cotton mill in New Hartford. He became very
successful and was approached by Benjamin Marshall of New York Mills
Dye Works whom he partnered with until 1850. He retired for one year
and then opened the New Hartford Manufacturing company and the New
Hartford Flouring Mill. He was a Director and member of the executive
committee of the Globe Woolen Co. of Utica, and Vice President of
Utica city National Bank where he was on the board for 30 years.
His political life
was as a Whig and was sympathetic to the abolition wing and later
became a Republican. “Mr. McLean’s general manners, generous sympathy,
high character and strong personality made him a man whom all his
neighbors loved. No man could have been taken from the community who
would have been more widely missed or more profoundly mourned.”
His wife, Anne
Waters McLean died October 4, 1900 at age 90. She was born in 1810.
Her father was a pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Paris Hill. Her
grandfather was Mayor Doubleday and served with George Washington at
Valley Forge. She married Charles in 1833 and lived all her life in
New Hartford. She was very proud of her husband who was chosen in
1832 as ruling elder at the Presbyterian Church in New Hartford.
Charles was the first church clerk, trustee and treasurer.
In the October 1998 “Tally-Ho!” we ran
the following article about T.B. Cloyes, that was printed in 1892 in a
pamphlet called “A Discriptive Review of the D.L. & W. R.R. Co’s Route”.
T.B. CLOYES,
GENERAL INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE AGENT, NEW HARTFORD
All cities and
communities have their representative men. Of such is Mr. Thomas B.
Cloyes of New Hartford. In 1878 he embarked in the insurance business,
and six years later he added to this a real estate and loan department.
In insurance he represents the “Glens Falls,” ”Germania,” “North
America”, and “Reading” fire companies, the “Massachusetts Mutual”
life” and the “United States” accident.
During his sixteen
years’ servie as an insurance agent he has always been prompt and
faithful in the adjustment of losses.
The following, dated 1935, was
discovered in the obituary file at the Society rooms.:
THOS. B. CLOYES PASSES, AGED NINETY YEARS
An active life closed
in advanced age with the death of Thomas B. Cloyes at his home, 26
French Road, New Hartford, early yesterday morning. Mr. Cloyes was 90
years old and had always been remarkable free from illness. Late
Saturday night he complained of pains in the heart but said it would be
time enough to send for a doctor in the morning. A physician was
finally summoned but death occurred at 2 a.m., shortly after the
doctor’s arrival.
Mr. Cloyes was for
many years actively associated with the business life of New Hartford
and of Utica. His career might be termed typical of that of many
Americans of the old days who did their part in building the future of
their country.
Born at Grafenburg,
April 16 , 1835, Mr. Cloyes was educated in the district school and at
Whitestown Seminary. His work until he was 21 years of age was farming
but he taught school eight winters in Oneida and Herkimer Counties. As
a young man he joined the trek to the great West, going first to
Illinois, then a pioneer land, and from there to Iowa where he took up a
homestead claim of 160 acres in Page County.
Going to Missouri he
taught a big school of some 60 pupils for a year in a log schoolhouse.
Returning to this section later Mr. Cloyes sold the land in Iowa of
which he had become owner and bought a farm in New Hartford where he
carried on dairy farming on a large scale for a number of years.
Entering the real estate and insurance business in New Hartford, Mr.
Cloyes carried it on extensively for some 30 years. He bought and sold
houses and lands and also built many houses.
Mr. Cloyes built and
sold a number of houses in Utica, at one time having an office in the
Arcade building. He had placed loans on Oneida County real estate for
upward of $100,000 and never lost a dollar.
His residence in this
locality was interrupted by four years spent in Tonawanda during which
he built and sold scores of houses in that place and in Depew.
In 1899 Mr. Cloyes
sold out to the late Charles Healy and retired but business still
continued to seek him.
Mr. Cloyes was a
Republican. He served the town of New Hartford for one year as highway
commissioner. He was a member of the Baptist Church of New Hartford of
which since 1871 he had been a trustee and deacon and one of its chief
supporters. He was for a quarter of a century superintendent of its
Sunday school. For over half a century he had attended the meetings of
the Oneida Baptist Association.
At the age of 25, Mr.
Cloyes married Miss Caressa Maltby, who died about six years afterward.
In 1872 he married Miss Miriam L. Smith of New York Mills who was
preceptress in the high school at Winfield. She is living. He leaves
four children. They are Jennie L. wife of Charles Hatfield of New
Hartford; Edith, wife of George Lamphere of Norfolk, Va.; Florence G.
wife of Dean S. Oliver of Augusta Center; and Raymond T, Cloyes of
Cleveland. Of grandchildren he leave 19 and of great-grandchildren
four. He leaves also a brother Anson Cloyes, and a sister, Mrs. Mary
Hungerford, both of New Hartford.
Some old pictures
of New Hartford donated to the Society by Terry Martin.
Upper left is the old bridge. The building is Leslie Dean’s Antique
store. In the rear of the building you can see Leslie Dean’s house.
All have been torn down.
The picture on the right shows the construction of Brookline Drive on
the left and in the upper corner is Dean’s house. Below you can see the
old bridge and the posts on the corner of Brookline Drive. The road is
still under construction in this picture.
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GRADUATION PICTURES
FROM 1953
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David Grupe |
Franklin Barber
Marley Barker |
Roberta Pryor |
David Grupe Jean
Wiley (?) Marley Barker Roberta Pryor Franklin Barber Peter
Farrell
In 1943 these second graders at the Point School in New Hartford were
selling candy, cookies, popcorn balls and all sorts of goodies to raise
money to contribute to the Victory Fund. This picture was in a
scrapbook which was kept by Mable Pitkin, a sixth grade teacher at the
Point School. Many other pictures of war time activities are
included in
the scrapbook such as selling war stamps, saving tin cans and tinfoil,
etc. The pictures are priceless. Also, short essays written by the
students give us a real insight into those war time years in the eyes of
the children.
HOW
THE WORD N-E-W-S WAS INVENTED
The word “News” is
commonly believed to be the result of the four letters of the
directional weather vane –N(orth) + E(ast)) +W(est) + S(outh) - being
linked together as one of the earliest acronyms—representing the points
of the compass. Legend has it that in early times, an enterprising
printer was looking for a snappy title to a new informative section of
his paper, focusing on death notices, gossip and local happenings. He
was looking out the window of his print shop one day when his gaze was
drawn to the weather cock of a nearby building with its directional
compass points: N-E-W-S. Rationalizing that he prints items from all
corners of the globe, he arranged the letters, and coined the word
NEWS. It since became the generic name for all media information
gathering.
June 2009
Table of Contents
June
Annual Meeting
Important Dues Announcement
Did You See Us In The Memorial Day
Parade?
Election Of Officers
At New Hartford –Unanimous Desire
To Keep Out Of Utica
What Happened Fifty Years Later
Condolences
Thomas Kilburn White Of New
Hartford Is Dead
New Hartford
Grade Schools Change Much In 70 Years, Manual Indicates
New Hartford Cotton
Manufacturing Plant
Cleverly Put
June Annual
Meeting
Thursday, June 4, 2009, 7 P.M.
Presbyterian Church Hall, 45 Genesee St.
, New Hartford
Program: “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere”
Presented by Cheryl Pula
Election of officers will take place at
this meeting. Come and be a part of your Society!
IMPORTANT DUES
ANNOUNCEMENT
The most important
part of this message is that your renewal for July 2009 through July
2010 is due.
The second part is
the board voted to raise the dues $2.00 per category. This increase
is due partly to the increase of postage.
The new rates are:
|
Individual
Family
Contributing
Corporate
Student |
$ 12.00
$ 17.00
$ 27.00
$ 52.00
$ 3.00 |
Now, here is
the good part. If you pay before June 30th you can renew at
the old rate. If you pay after July 1st the new rates will be in
effect. So by renewing right now you can save $2.00! In this
economy, that’s a good deal.
Also, we are now a
501(c3) tax exempt organization which means you can deduct your
donations in your tax returns
You are important to
us because you are in keeping this Society running. Without you we
would not exist. So we hope to see many renewals in the mail. Thank
you for your support.
DID YOU SEE US
IN THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE?
We were represented
by Barbara Couture, Steve Grant, Burke Muller and Ralph and Lois
Humphreys. Ralph and Steve both brought old cars to the parade and
Burke and Barbara and Lois rode in them. It was a good parade with
policemen, firemen, veterans, boy scouts, acrobats, bands, bag pipers,
politicians, and lots of fire engines. A nice way of celebrating the
day and remembering our loved ones.
ELECTION OF
OFFICERS
Two of our board
members have agreed to run for another three years. They need to be
elected as well as our president, vice president, and secretary. The
following will be voted on:
-
President—Barbara
Couture
-
V. Pres.—Burke
Muller
-
Secretary—Lorraine
Hadley
-
Trustees to
2012—Mary Anne Buteux and Lee Gurley.
Remaining on the
board are Ray Philo as treasurer and Jim Spellman, Henry McCann and
Barbara Munde as trustees.
Honorary members are
Dr. Arthur Baker, Bob Dicker, and Bob Jones.
The Utica Herald of February 20, 1871 ran this article. Utica
wanted to annex the land owned by New Hartford from Prospect Street
south to the Sauquoit Creek. (No Man’s Land)
AT NEW HARTFORD –UNANIMOUS DESIRE TO
KEEP OUT OF UTICA.
A town meeting, the
members of which have no desire to take part in ward caucuses, was
held at Lightbody’s Hotel, New Hartford, on Saturday, at 2 P.M. The
meeting was held pursuant to a previously published call to consider
the prospect of being initiated into the mystery of citizenship by the
Common Council of Utica. The attendance was not so large as at the
meeting held last week in Whitesboro, but the same unanimity of
sentiment was manifested.
The meeting was
organized with John French in the chair; Morgan Butler was secretary.
On motion, the
following committee on resolutions was appointed:
Lewis Babcock, J.B,
Winship, William M. French, M.C. Blackstone, and Richard Davis.
The committee
immediately retired for consultation. During their absence no speeches
were made, but the proposed extension of Utica was generally
discussed, to say the least, and many informal, but heart-felt
remarks, were made in all parts of the room.
On the return of the
committee, chairman Babcock, called upon W.M. French to read the
report, which was a follows;
Whereas, by the
resolution of the Common Council of the city of Utica, it as become
known to the tax-payers and electors of the town of New Harford, that
a scheme exists to divide and annex part of said town to the city of
Utica; and whereas, the avowed object of the proposed annexation is to
obtain territory for the purpose of taxation; thereby be it
Resolved: That we,
the tax-payers and electors of said town, in town meeting assembled,
do emphatically and earnestly protest against any dismemberment of the
town or of the annexation of it, or of any part of it to the city of
Utica.
Resolved: That a
committee of four be appointed by this town meeting to visit Albany
and present the remonstrance of our citizens to the Legislature and
use all their influence to prevent this proposed annexation.
Resolved: That this
committee consist of the following persons; John French, Hon. Oliver
R. Babcock, Hon. D. M. Prescott and Hon. W. H. Chapman.
S.L. Warriner moved
to adopt the report unanimously..
The motion to adopt
was carried unanimously.
On motion of M.C.
Blackstone, it was resolved to appoint a committee consisting of one
member from each school district in the township, to circulate
remonstrances for the signatures of tax-payers and electors. The
committee was made to consist of the following named gentlemen.
District No. I, J.P.
Richardson; No. 2, John C. Roby; Nos. 3 & 6, F.D. Blackstone; No. 4,
T.W. Blackstone, No. 5, R.M.Davis; No. 7, J. Hart Case; No. 8, Julian
A. Rogers; No. 9, Isaac Dingman; No. 10, C.F.D. Jones; No. 11, A.
Finch; No. 12, B. Nichols; No. 13, Ira Edwards.
The committee was instructed to take the resolutions above published
from the Utica Morning Herald and to use the same form in preparing
remonstrances for signatures; also to secure the names at as early a
date as possible, and forward the same to the nearest member of the
committees to Albany, named in the resolutions. The meeting adjourned
sine die.
WHAT HAPPENED
FIFTY YEARS LATER
In
T. Wood Clarke’s book, “Utica, For a Century and a Half” chapter XI,
we found a section titled “The Booming Twenties”.
Land developments
began to spring up like mushrooms, especially in the Seventeenth Ward,
the no man’s land between the southern boundary of Utica at
Prospect Street and the Sauquoit Creek, which, after much
controversy, had been admitted to the city in 1921. In 1921,
Talcott Road running west from Genesee Street, was laid out by Hugh R.
Jones Company. In1923, The Vernon Davis Company bought the unoccupied
land between Higby Road and the Sauquoit creek, laid out streets, and
called it South Utica Lawns. In 1925, Fay Inman boomed Benton Hills
east of Upper Oneida Street, and Harry W. Roberts developed Sherman
Gardens and built Sherman Drive on the hills overlooking East Utica.
In 1926, Hugh R. Jones Company purchased the old Benton Farm east of
Genesee Street, called it Ridgewood, had it landscaped by Olmsted, and
sold off the lots rapidly. During the years of prosperity, all these
developments prospered, and many fine homes were built. “No Man’s
Land” rapidly took on a decidedly urban appearance. Thousands of
Uticans, tired of the noisy trolley cars of the city and longing for a
country life in the city, sold their houses downtown and moved to
these semi-rural regions.
CONDOLENCES
Another long-time
member of the Society, William Barrick, passed away on May 8, 2009.
Bill and his wife Martha joined the society in 1990 and were active
members. Our sympathy is with Martha and the family.
The following is from
a 1936 edition of a Utica paper.
THOMAS
KILBURN WHITE OF NEW HARTFORD IS DEAD
New Hartford, May
14—Thomas Kilburn White died about noon Saturday at his late home, 21
Sanger Avenue, after a short illness. He was born in Taberg January
7, 1852. On July 6. 1873, he married Ellen Williams in New Hartford,
They have resided here since.
For 28 years Mr.
White was employed on the street car line, until it became an electric
railway. In politics he was a Republican. He attended the Baptist
Church. Besides his wife, he leaves four sons and three daughters,
Evan of Syracuse, George of the United States Marines at Santiago,
Humphrey of Utica and Thomas of New Hartford, Mrs. Nellie Davis, Mrs.
Margaret Helmer, Mrs. Laura Newman, all of Utica, and 11
grandchildren.
Mr. White liked to
tell how they used to do things on the New Hartford, New York Mills
and Whitesboro horsecar lines 40 and 50 years ago. He began as a
driver with the New Hartford system when he was only 14 years old and
continued in the service of the company for the next 24 years, or
until the electric cars were pressed into the service.
In his own words his
story is substantially as follows:
“There were a good
many presidents at the head of the company in my time. When I began
to drive, John Butterfield was in charge, then came young John
Butterfield, “Bill” Schuyler, Roger Rock, “Hanky” Bates, “Al” Mathers,
Delbach, and toward the end Charlie Benton and Johnny Jones. We had
five cars on the road, that ran half an hour apart, making the trip
in about 45 minutes, and it was a poor driver that couldn’t make his
time.
“Those lines paid
well, too. Expenses for wages and horses’ keep wasn’t over $12 a day
for each car. And we used to take in $25 or $30. Of course, a horse
wouldn’t last over two years at that work, and a man who took any
interest in his stock felt kind of bad to see them go to pieces. You
couldn’t think you were married to them though, for if you had a good
team and the company wanted to put them somewhere else, why away they
would go
For every car there
were four teams, each of which ran two trips day, but the same
conductor and motorman stayed on all day, beginning at 7:40 a.m. and
getting through about 11 at night. Oftentimes we’d put in more than
16 hours, just according to the weather. That was every day and
Sunday, too, although, of course, we had time off once in a while.
But on holidays you might as well ask the superintendent for his life
as a holiday. A union? Oh, no, there never was a union, we didn’t
need one; if a man was sick or hurt we just took up a collection for
him. So it was very simple.
“One winter night I
remember we started up the line with four as good horses as ever
looked through a collar, and it took from 8 Sunday evening until 2
Monday morning to make the trip. It did have its disadvantages, but,
of course, conductors and motormen never see the winters we used to
see. More than that, we didn’t have the equipment to clear the tracks
that they have now. After we let down the little scrapers on either
side of the front of the car and got after the drifts with pick and
shovel nothing more could be done—except just one thing— we’d jump the
tracks completely and take to the carriage road. Now that is
something the electrics couldn’t do, could they?
Everything is changed now, though. There used to be few houses on the
outskirts of the city and the land between was marshy and wet. Now it
is built up just like the city.”
This article ran in the June 1955 Observer Dispatch.
NEW HARTFORD GRADE SCHOOLS CHANGE MUCH
IN 70 YEARS, MANUAL INDICATES
Few
residents of New Hartford in 1887 would have thought that by 1955 the
school system of the village, and what is now the local school
district, would have grown to 10 times its size in the earlier year.
But that is just what happened.
According to the
manual of the Union Free school of New Hartford for 1887, there were
217 students enrolled, with 64 in the “grammar department;”, 82 in the
“intermediate department;” and 71 in the “primary department.”
If you think that
education has changed much in its ways and operations and techniques,
consider for a moment a few of the points of study in the school at
that time:
First
grade, Language—Reading names and sounds of letters of the alphabet
taught from chart, blackboard, and chart primer. Written form also
given. Constant use of slate to copy lessons and sentences. Complete
Monroe’s First Reader. Spelling, From chart, Primer and reader.
Arithmetic, Taught orally. Numbers taught concretely at first.
Counter used as long as necessary—no longer. Tables of addition
formed. Slate work. Oral Lessons, color, primary colors. Also
brown, black and white. Place right and left hand, cardinal points of
compass. Conversation, on common objects and circumstances to teach
observation as inculcate moral lessons.
Perhaps more
interesting are some of the courses covered in the eighth grade:
Language, reading, spelling, composition (in connection with other
studies); arithmetic from Robinson’s Higher Arithmetic; American
History; physiology; natural philosophy; and rhetorical weekly in
each department.
At the time of the
publication, James Armstrong was chairman of the board of education,
and to say that certain of their philosophies would be unique in
today’s schools would be an understatement. The school year at that
time was 40 weeks, as compared with about 190 days at the present
time. In addition, the year was divided into three terms.
Quoting from the
manual, “Tuition fees shall be paid by non-resident pupils to the
treasurer in advance for each term, in accordance with the rates per
term for each pupil, given in the following schedule; Grammar School,
per term, $5; Intermediate, $4; Primary, $3. No pupil shall be
allowed to remain in any of the schools, whose tuition is not paid
within four weeks from the time it becomes due, as above described.
NO allowance shall be made for absence of less than two consecutive
weeks, and that only in case of sickness or other unavoidable
necessity.”
The duties of pupils
would pose something of a jolt for present-day pupils, too. “All
pupils who, from irregular attendance, indolence, inattention or other
cause, fail to maintain a fair standing in their classes, shall be
reduced to a subordinate grade by the Principal….No pupil shall on or
about the school premises, use any profane or unchaste language, use
tobacco in any form, carry fire arms, indulge in rudeness of any kind,
nor throw snow or any missiles which endanger property or tend to vex
or annoy any one….”
Other members of the
board of education during the 1887-88 term included James Auld,
Mortimer T. Canfield, Florus J. Cook, James Harris, George W. Rice,
and A.P. Seaton. On the teaching staff were Carrie L. Fisher, school
principal; Mary Mallory, school assistant principal; and Hattie F.
Potter and Kittie Powers, teachers in the intermediate school; and
Julie A. Saltsman in the primary school.
Equally interesting was the advertisement appearing on the back cover
of the booklet for the Hugh Glenn Company. They noted their big shirt
sale, and in “Lot No. 1” they mention a group “Made of very heavy
cotton, reinforced back and front, all linen bosom and well made.
Price 39 cents; equal to any 50 cent shirt in Utica.” One other group
was advertised as “Made of New York Mills cotton. Warranted. Finest
all linen bosom. Lined with heavy butcher linen, reinforced back and
front, patent back, double stitched all over. In fact, the best
manufacture. Price 75 cents; cheap at $1.00. We invite early
attention to this chance.”
New Hartford
Cotton Manufacturing Plant
These two pictures
are from the John Edgar Burton collection that we have at the
Society. They were taken in 1896 when John Burton revisited New
Hartford, his birthplace, after having moved west . He was born
here on October 19, 1847. He attended Whitestown Seminary and
Cazenovia College before moving west and working with companies in
Wisconsin, Minnesota and California. For more information on him
see the March 2005 “Tally-Ho!” .
The pictures that
he took on that visit are priceless. The top picture is what he
called the Old Stone Factory. It was at the foot of what is now
Daly Place in New Hartford. The picture below he called Old Stone
Factory Lane and the X marks the house he was born in , the second
house from the factory. These were the mill houses built by the
mill owners.
Stone Factory Lane now
called Daly Place
CLEVERLY PUT
-
No matter how much you push the envelope,
it’ll still be stationery.
-
Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a
tie.
-
Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
-
She was only a whisky maker, but he loved her
still.
-
When cannibals ate the missionaries they got a
taste of religion.
May 2009
Table of Contents
May Meeting
Library Exhibit
We Have An E-Mail
Address
Did You Know?
Lucky New Hartford
Welcome New
Members
Condolences
The House At 76
Oxford Road
St.
Margaret’s House
Why, Why, Why?
May Meeting
Thursday, May 7, 2009, 7 P.M.
Willowvale Fire Department . Oneida St.
Chadwicks
Program: “DAR & General Herkimer-14th
Monument”
Presented by Mary Helen Jones
The presenter will wear a period
outfit. Others may be in costume. Come and see!
LIBRARY EXHIBIT
During the month of
May the Historical Society will have on exhibit, in the corridor at
the New Hartford Public Library , Jerry Cunningham’s collection of
First Day stamps, especially the ones from WWI and WWII, plus a few
old postcards of New Hartford. Remember to stop and look at them when
you are in the library.
WE HAVE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS
The New Hartford
Historical Society has an e mail address—historicalnh@yahoo.com.
If you have
questions contact us. If you have ideas for the “Tally-Ho!” or even
articles to suggest, we are open to all suggestions.
DID YOU KNOW?
The New Hartford’s
Sherrill Brook was started in 1963 by the Jaycees of New Hartford on
201 acres. The land was purchased from the Bordens, Yeandles, Owens,
Finens, Johnsons and Specks and is on Route 12. According to an
article dated August 27, 1965 a tour was held at the Town Park for the
40 boys and their families who worked on the park projects. That
project was financed in part by a $10,000 State Youth Division grant.
Supervisor James H. Donovan said the town would spend about $20,000 in
1965 on developing the park. The total project to be completed over
several years, will cost about $350,000. Around 1969 the town took
over the management of the park. Hiking trails, baseball diamonds,
tennis courts, pavilions , swings and slides for the children, picnic
areas and bathroom facilities were in the original plans and even a
swimming pool was considered but was never actually built. In 1978 a
large octagon-shaped band shell complete with gingerbread trim was
erected. The initial performance in the band shell was a concert by
the New Hartford Citizens Band followed by a fireworks display on the
4th of July to an overflow crowd. Fourth of July concerts and
fireworks were held for many years at the park and some of us have
fond memories playing in the band or going to the concerts.
A contest was held
at Oxford Road Elementary School to name the park. We couldn’t
discover the person’s name who won the contest. Does anybody know?
HUNTINGTON PLACE
1914
LUCKY NEW HARTFORD
This article is from
an January 15, 1914 edition of a Utica paper.
Two New Streets With All Improvements
Deeded to the Village
New Hartford is a
lucky town! In the first place it is fortunate in being a suburb
of one of the most progressive and up-to-date cities in New York State
and then, again, it has reason for rejoicing because of the constant,
untiring efforts of its people, individually and collectively, to
advance the interests of the town and make it one of the most
desirable residential communities in this section. A recent
example of this was the presentation to the village by Mrs. I. N.
Terry of a deed of two streets through her former property. The
Butler Place, formerly known as the Sherrill place, on the
Clinton road is one of the landmarks of New Hartford. It
contains the large dwelling formerly occupied by Rev. I. N. Terry and
later by Prof. George C. Hodges. The place has a frontage on
Genesee street and contains about 25 acres. About two years ago
Mrs. Terry had the place divided into building lots which have been
sold, and several fine new dwellings have been erected on them.
In order to do this it was necessary to lay out streets through the
property, and Mrs. Terry determined to do this as a memorial to her
mother and as a gift to the village.
The streets are 50
feet wide and have been graded and furnished with a permanent sewer
and with gas and city water. Sidewalks have been put down on both
sides of each street, the lawns between the sidewalks and roadway
have been seeded and good sized elms have been planted at intervals of
50 feet. The first street is Huntington Place and it runs at right
angles to Genesee street and ends back a distance of over 1,000 feet.
The entrance to this street is paved with brick, and on either side
are pillars of concrete blocks about 4 feet square, and 12 feet high.
Each is surmounted with a globe of cut stone, and on the front in
bronze is the name Huntington place, the name being chosen in memory
of Mrs. Terry’s mother. The west end of this street terminates in a
circular flower bed about 60 feet in diameter. The second street
intersects this and runs at right angles with it in the direction of
Whitesboro street. It is called Woodland avenue..
The work on these
improvement has been in progress over a year, and was completed about
five weeks ago. The deeds for the streets were delivered by C.
Lansing Jones to Marcus Failing, president of the village, and the
generosity of Mrs. Terry in making this great improvement and deeding
it to the village is highly appreciated.
|
Huntington Place
2009 |
WELCOME
NEW MEMBERS
CONDOLENCES
We lost a long time
member and friend, Ena D”Apice on April 13, 2009. Ena was a loving
person with many talents. She will long be remembered for her
beautiful water color paintings.
Our thoughts and
prayers are with her husband, Tony, and their children and
grandchildren.
The following is
from a 1970 edition of the Utica Daily Press. No byline was given.
THE HOUSE AT 76 OXFORD ROAD
For those who pass
the stately Eames home at 76 Oxford Road and see the lights beaming
brightly behind the tall pillars at night, there is no more impressive
sight in New Hartford. The house built, almost 130 years ago, has
weathered the storms of New Hartford’s history.
It is said that
after the death of the founder of New Hartford, Jedediah Sanger, in
1829, his daughter Sally (known later as the widow Eames) took part
of the settlement from his estate and built a fine large house on the
same site as her original homestead. (When Sally married John Eames
in 1794, they went to live in a small white cottage on South
Street—now Oxford Road, near the farm where Eli Butler settled in
1780.) The little cottage remained as a rear wing for her lovely new
home. A few years before New Hartford’s sesquicentennial the wing was
torn down. Widow Eames lived with her nine children in great style in
the house which represented elegance. Mr. Eames was one of the
original incorporators of the New Hartford Manufacturing Society, the
second cotton cloth mill in the state.
Edward Williams’
family did much to restore the house to its original appearance,
inside and out. Not needing the stables in the back, they were sold
to a real-estate agent. The back of the house was changed for the
original kitchen and woodshed no longer served a purpose. In there
place came two rooms and a garage. Much was done to the rest of the
house to bring it back to its original appearance.
The house is
striking in its construction as all of the wood used is the result of
hard work. The pillars which extend from the porch to the overhanging
roof, 30 feet above, are trees that were brought in from the forest.
The house is of matched siding, all of which is hand hewn, and
entirely free of knots. Beneath the siding and between the studs are
bricks, a most unusual insulation. All of the timbers are hand hewn
and the arrangement of the house as well as the architecture, which is
pure southern colonial, appeals particularly to those who are fond of
grand old styles.
Seven fireplaces, of
unusual design, provided heat for the large house. Some of the
fireplaces are in the old-fashioned plan of being offset in order that
the large flues may be cleaned from the top of the chimney to the
basement. The interior woodwork is all hand carved
When the present
standing Eames house was completed, it was a gala occasion and while
the guests in attendance at the house warming promenaded the grounds,
a band was stationed in the enclosure at the top of the house.
The original deed of
the home has been lost. There is an engraving of the palatial
residence dated 1794 - however history proves this date wrong. There
are also rumors of secret passageways and hidden slave quarters.
Nothing can be found in the house today to substantiate those rumors.
A few hiding places for material wealth are in the home, however. On
the stairs leading to the attic one stair lifts up and it is believed
here was the hiding place for the Eames family silver.
ST. MARGARET’S HOUSE
JORDAN ROAD
The Society of St.
Margaret was founded in 1855 in Sussex, England by the Rev. John Mason
Neale with three sisters . In 1873 the sisters established a society in
Boston, Mass. Around 1912 Rachel Munson Williams Proctor visited
England and was so impressed by the work of “The Society of St.
Margaret” that she asked if they would establish a chapter in Utica.
In 1912, through the Society of St. Margaret in Boston a mission home
on Clark Place in Utica was established.
Rachel Proctor, in
1937, bequeathed 8 1/2 acres of land on Jordon Road to the St.
Margaret’s Society and this lovely home was built. It contains living
quarters, a library, dining room, “great” room with TV and video setup ,
a fully stocked kitchen, 18 bedrooms with four that can be used as
double rooms (meals and linens are provided) and a beautiful chapel in
a separate building that is accessible by an underground corridor from
the main house as well as from the outside . The chapel is open every
day for worship where the Episcopal Daily Office and the Eucharist from
the Book of Common Prayer are offered.
On the grounds is a
shrine of Jesus on the Cross. The Pippin Hill Garden Club keep the
ground under the shrine covered with flowers. It is a beautiful and
peaceful place.
At one time a full
time chaplain lived on the grounds in a stone house adjacent to the
convent. Today, local Episcopal clergy come to perform the necessary
services for the sisters and guests. The chaplain house is rented out.
In 1983 the sisterhood
started Emmaus House—a homeless shelter for women and children on Kemble
Street in Utica, and a soup kitchen on Devereux Street.
Sister Mary Gabriel,
sister-in-charge, graciously met with Barb Munde and Bob Dicker one
sunny morning in April and gave them a tour and the information printed
in this article
The sisters are
leaving August 2009 to go back to the Mother House in Boston, and it
will be sad to see them leave. The House is not closing. It is
entrusted to St. Margaret Corporation which makes the financial and
business decisions for St. Margaret’s and Emmaus House. They are
optimistic that St. Margaret’s can be maintained without the sisters
there. But they will be sorely missed.
|
LIVING
ROOM |
|
CHAPEL
ON RIGHT |
LIBRARY |
|
CHAPEL
ALTER |
DINING
ROOM |
WHY, WHY, WHY?
-
Is
there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?
-
How
come you never hear father-in-law jokes?
-
Why do
Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
-
Why is
it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?
April 2009
March 2009
Table
of Contents
March Meeting
Raymond
M. Alden A Winner
Welcome
To Our 2009 NHHS Programs
New
York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences
Mrs.
Edwin L. Collins
Welcome New Member
Historical
An
Old Assessment Roll
Old
Sanger Mansion
Point
School
Cleverly Put
March Meeting
Sunday, March 1, 1 P.M.
Presbyterian Church Parish House, New
Hartford (in the park)
Program: Cheryl Pula
“Midnight Ride of Paul Revere”
Cheryl is always a very interesting
speaker who know her subject thoroughly. We hope you will make an
effort to come and welcome her. We need your support!
RAYMOND M. ALDEN A WINNER
Native of New Hartford Awarded $1,000 as
a Third Prize for a Story
(An article that
appeared in the February 13, 1905 Utica Newspaper)
Collier’s Weekly
announced that it would give three prizes, one of $5,000, one of $2,000
and one of $1,000 for the best short-story submitted under terms which
insured absolute anonymity in a competition to close June 1, Over
12,000 stories were submitted. The judges who decided the contest were
Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge, Walter H. Page and William Allen White. The
prize winners were announced in Collier’s of Saturday. Rowland Thomas
wins the first, Margaret Deland the second and Raymond M. Alden the
third. Collier’s says of him: “Mr. Alden is a son of Rev. G. R. Alden,
a Presbyterian minister, and Isabella M. Alden, author of the “Pansy
Books.”
He was born in 1873 at
New Hartford, N.Y. He was educated at Rollins College, a preparatory
school in Florida, the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard
University, from which he graduated in 1896. After his graduation Mr.
Alden occupied the post of instructor in English at Columbia University,
Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, and later assistant professor of
English literature at Leland Stanford University, California. While
still an undergraduate, Mr. Alden contributed some verse and fiction to
various periodicals. Since leaving college, however, he has devoted
most of his time to works of a more serious nature, and is the author
and editor of various education works. Mr. Alden’s story is entitled
“In the Promised Land,” and will appear in the June fiction number of
Colliers.
(editor's note; Raymond Alden also wrote the popular Christmas story
“Why the Chimes Rang.”)
WELCOME TO OUR
2009 NHHS PROGRAMS
The theme of the next four programs,
March through June, will be the revolutionary war in the Mohawk Valley.
Please note where we are meeting each
month. This month it is at the Presbyterian Church. In April our
meeting will be at the Oneida County Historical Society where Frank
Tomaino will do a program on “How OCHS Was the Founding Factor in the
Oriskany Battlefield Monument.
New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences, New Hartford
The former Country Day School
It all began as an
educational experiment, aimed at providing job training for veterans
returning from World War II. New York State, in April 1940, created five
institutes of applied arts and sciences in New York City, White Plains,
Binghamton, Buffalo and Utica.
The institute in Utica
opened first, on Oct. 15, 1946, directed by Paul Richardson. It was
housed in the former Country Day School in New Hartford.
In 1947, the
college’s Mechanical and Textile Technology Divisions moved into the
second floor of the old Mohawk Cotton Mill on State Street in Utica.
Both State Street sections attended classes at the New Hartford
headquarters of Utica Tech during certain days of the week for
communications classes and sports activities.
Many students were
military veterans from World War II from other parts of New York Sate.
In 1953, the college
came under sponsorship of Oneida County, and changed its name to Mohawk
Valley Technical Institute. Dr. Albert Payne was named as the college’s
first President.
In 1960 the campus on
Sherman Drive was opened. It was designed by noted American architect
Edward Durell Stone, and included an academic administration building,
student center and gymnasium. Additions have been made; four
dormitories (1966), Payne Hall (1969) and a major addition to the
physical education facilities nearly complete now. (This information is
from an OD article written in 1976.)
The building pictured
above was built in 1921. It was the Utica Female Academy and later
became the coeducational Utica Country Day School. It closed in 1943.
It was occupied by the Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences and after
they left by Notre Dame High School. It was razed in 1961. The
Wedgewood Apartments now occupy the space where this building stood.
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Two 1949
graduates of the Mechanical Technology Division of Utica Tec. are
shown studying under the Institute sign on Genesee Street in New
Hartford. |
MRS. EDWIN L.
COLLINS
This
information is from an article in the Utica O.D. dated August 28, 1946
written by Alberta J. Dickinson. Many people in New Hartford remember
Mrs. Collins and the house she lived in that was on the corner of Park
Street and Oxford Road. The house was moved to Reservoir Road in
Sauquoit when the new fire station was built. Especially intriguing is
the depiction of a way of life in the village in the post-World War II
era as revealed in all the activities that held Mrs. Collins interest.
Also it is interesting to note that not once in the article is Mrs.
Collins referred to by her Christian name, Wilma.
Back of the white picket fence,
enclosing what many persons consider New Hartford’s most charming
residence, at 2 Oxford Road, a youngish dark-haired woman in a blue
chambray frock works in her garden. She snips and prunes and weeds and,
in the late afternoon of these summer days, can be seen laying the table
for supper on the rear terrace overlooking a cool fern-edged rock garden
and pool.
Mrs. Collins, the lady
behind the picket fence, definitely is community– minded. True, her
husband and their 15 year- old- son, Edwin, a New Hartford High School
second-year student are among her first interests. Then comes New
Hartford, its history, traditions and future.
Mrs. Collins is one of
the 50 charter members and was the first president of the village
Historical Society, formed five years ago. She is now serving as
secretary of the society.
While she was
president of the New Hartford PTA group, she had charge of “Old
Settlers’ Day”, when, arranged in the High School gymnasium, historical
treasures from village homes brought crowds to the school for three
days. That was eight years ago.
In the late summer of
1941 she headed a committee in charge of an old-time “Country Fair” held
on the grounds of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. The fair was repeated
the following year and was equally successful. The church netted about
$1,200 through both occasions.
Mrs. Collins has been
president of the Service League of St. Stephen’s, is a member of the
Altar Guild and teaches the Sunday School kindergarten class. Six years
ago she organized the first Boy Scout Cub Pack in New Hartford,. During
the war she was on the Red Cross Emergency Medical Committee for the
village and organized Red Cross First Aid classes.
She served six years
ago as Oneida County PTA president, and is now on the executive
committee of the village PTA. A member of the AAUW, she is particularly
interested in the book and garden groups.
For the last six years
she has been an active member of the New Hartford committee of the New
York Tribune Fresh Air Fund. Through the committee more than 100 New
York children have enjoyed vacations of more than two weeks to a month
in and around New Hartford.
When the Collins’
first moved to New Hartford they build a house to their liking at the
top of Sanger Ave. In 1943 they bought the picturesque Queen Anne house
at 2 Oxford Road, built in 1853, which stands on ground once owned by
George Washington and George Clinton. The house was owned before they
took up their residence there by Mr. and Mrs. W. Chase Young, now of
Syracuse and Fayetteville.
Throughout the hospitable Oxford Road house there’s an emphasis on
simple primitive American furniture in every room. They are carrying on
the tradition of a home that interests them by way of maple and pine
furniture used in the Pilgrim century. They personally have refinished
every one of their pieces, which experts say are unrivaled in this part
of the county.
WELCOME NEW
MEMBER
The
following is from the 1896 New Hartford Union School handbook.
HISTORICAL
The present Union Free
School District organization was formed in 1884. At that time the
school occupied the building opposite the park which is now used as a
box factory. It employed only three teachers and had an enrollment of
about one hundred sixty pupils. In the same year the present excellent
site was purchased (ed. Note. Jedediah Sanger mansion on Pearl Street
about where Allport Place is now), and the dwelling house occupying it
remodeled to accommodate the school. The improved facilities and
increased interest resulted in a steady growth in the school since that
time, so that it has now doubled both its teaching force and attendance.
The admission of the
school to the inspection of the Regents in 1893 gave a new impulse to
its development. The work of all departments has been systematized and
a full year added to the courses, bringing it fully up to middle
academic grade.
Both the teaching
force and the building accommodations are now fully taxed. By crowding
the seated together the capacity of the academic room as been increased
to the utmost, but it is still unequal to the demand. In the primary
department, not only are the rooms over-crowded, but the number of
pupils under each teacher is too large for satisfactory work, especially
in view of the dependence of pupils of that age upon the personal
attention of the teacher.
Our school has
acquired an enviable reputation in this vicinity and with the department
at Albany as a growing school, and no effort will be spared to maintain
this high opinion.
(Ed. Note. The school
subsequently moved to the point at Genesee and Paris Road In New
Hartford after the completion of the Point School in 1902.)
The names of the
students are listed in this publication and it is interesting to note
some of them
Robert Auld, Bertha
Bentley, Arthur Bakersfield, Marguerite Coe, Theo. Cookingham, George
Corbett, 3 Cramers, Edwin Crippin,3 Durrenbecks, 4 Eddys, 2 Fitzgeralds,
Marion Healey, George Hoffman, 2 Hogans, Augustus Hunzicker, Marion
Ireland, 3 McLeans, 4 O’Connors, Marguerite McMahon, 2 Perrys, 3
Potters, Arthur Service, Frances Vedder, 3 Wilsons to name a few. Many
of these names were prominent in our village history.
In the academic
department there were 80 resident pupils, 22 non-resident. The
Intermediate department had 68 resident and 9 non-resident and the
primary department had 129 resident students, no non-resident. Clearly
the town was growing and more children were attending school than ever
before.
An old article in one of the scrapbooks
at the Society Rooms had the following article from a Dec. 12, 1910
Utica Daily Press. Excerpts from this article are as follows:
AN OLD
ASSESSMENT ROLL
An old assessment roll
from 1827 shows that the total amount of real estate then assessed in
the town was $542,591. At present (1910) real estate is assessed at
$2,520,603.
Among the largest
taxpayers were Jacob and Lewis Sherrill, 363 acres, Timothy Wadsworth
250 acres, Jedediah Sanger 143 acres, Arnold Mason 452 acres, Samuel
Lyon 34 acres, John Birdseye 210 acres. Taverns, mills, factories and
tanneries were as plenty as they are today, though not as large. While
many of the assessments are made as house and lot, others are made on
house and store, house and mill, etc. Here are some: Joseph Allen house
and store; John Butler, fulling mill; Joseph Butler, house and store;
Abner Bartlett, house lot and factory; John Chadwick, house, lot and
factory, Samuel Hicks, mill and lot. Among the names which occur most
frequently are those of Philemon, Jaccheus, and Pitny Case; John Joseph,
Eli Ashbel, Sylvester E. and Lucinda Butler, Babcock, Beckwith,
Birdseye, Ensworth, Ferris, French, Goodrich, Gilbert, Gaylord, Goodwin,
Higbe, Huxford, Hecox, Hart, Kirkland, Kellogg, Lee, Mason, Mosier,
Mallory, Montague, Norton, Nichols, Liberty Powell, Prescott, Plant,
Parsons, Potter, Palmer, Risley, Roberts, Richardson, Rogers, Sherrill,
Sanger, Smith, Seymour, Stone, Steel, Shepherd, Savage, Seward, Tyler,
Tucker, Woodruff, Wilcox, Williams, Wadsworth and Wetmore.
The old Sanger Mansion when it was a school in the late 1800’s
1937 Fifth Grade Class outside of
the Point School . Miss O’Connor, teacher
Back row: Mary Louise Shephard
(Quayle)*, Dorothy Moak (Kilbourn)*, Peggy O’Neil (Wisniewski),
Barbara Dunmore (Weaver), Jane Rae McKee (Walsh)*, Suzanne Grosse
(Warren)*, Miss O’Connor (teacher)*, Joan Cunningham (Carroll), Eleanor
Henry (Messersmith), Mary Kowalczyk (Skoroulski), Virginia Luker
(Butler)* , *Vernoica Wolczanski*, Patty Jetty, Una Mae Thomas (
Ferguson)*.
Bottom row: Barbara Gurley (Munde)
, Frances Gruppe, Roger Ketcham, William E. Simmons, *Bill Synal*. Bill
Smith *. Henry Jacoboski, Ralph Ketcham, ? , Arthur Cotins*, Roger
Harrison*, Sue Herring, Peggy VanAuken (Baldwin).
*deceased that we know of
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CLEVERLY PUT
She was only a whisky maker, but he
loved her still.
A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab
center said: “Keep off the Grass”
Two silk worms had a race. They ended
up in a tie.
A backward poet writes inverse.
In democracy it’s your vote that
counts,. In feudalism it’s your count that notes.
Don’t join dangerous cults: Practice
safe sects!
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