Tally Ho 2005

Adult Dining and Activity Center—Sherman St.—New Hartford, NY
6:00 PM Punch - 6:30– Dish to –pass supper
Entertainment provided by Bob and Jeanne Jones

Here we are in the Holiday Season again. It seems to come faster every year. We are planning a party with a covered dish supper at the ADAC as we have for several years past. Bring your own table service. Beverage and dessert will be provided.

The following obituary was in a September 8, 1901 edition of the Utica paper. It was found in an old scrapbook that was donated to the society .

Mrs. Morgan Butler, for more than 60 years a resident of New Hartford, died in that village yesterday in her 87th year. Her strength, which had been gradually failing for many weeks, finally yielded, without disease, to the weight of years.

Mrs. Butler was the daughter of Rufus Howard and Nancy Hungerford, and was born in Litchfield, N.Y. July 6, 1815. Her parents in 1824 moved to Frankfort, and there she was married, February 10, 1841, to Morgan Butler of New Hartford. For more than half a century they lived together on the well-known Butler farm on South street, and then moved to the Joseph Butler homestead in the village where Mr. Butler died August 3, 1892. There since her husband’s death Mrs. Butler has lived a quiet , retired life, growing old gracefully and contentedly, but retaining a full interest in the affairs of the time. A devoted member of St. Stephens’ Church, she had been a constant and generous giver toward its support and beneficences. She was a woman of great reserve of character, gentle and quiet, but of strong and well maintained convictions. She was one of the very few living to the present time who saw Gen. Lafayette pass through this region in 1825. She stood with her father on the Frankfort bridge as the canal packet passed under.

The surviving relatives of Mrs. Butler are three nephews and a niece, all residing in Buffalo—Howard Hutchinson, Charles H. Williams, George L. Williams and Martha T. Williams.

(It is interesting to note that throughout the obituary she was not referred to by her Christian name, only as Mrs. Morgan Butler. Mrs. Butler’s name was Marianne Howard.)

(Another obituary printed in 1905 was of James Harris. He led a very interesting life and there is a lot of history in this write-up.)

James Harris, one of New Hartford’s leading men, died at his home in that village at 7:35 last evening. He was taken ill one week ago and gradually grew worse until the end came. The cause of death was erysipelas. Mr. Harris was an excellent citizen and the community sustains a distinct loss by his death and his passing away will be generally regretted.

James Harris was born on Prince Edward’s Island, across the Northumberland Straits from Nova Scotia, December 30, 1838. When he was eight years old his father moved to Nova Scotia, where he was in business until 1852. That year he came to Oneida county and settled at Chadwick’s Mills. Here Mr. Harris went to school until he was 18 years old. He then entered the employ of Mr. Chadwick in the factory and worked for him for some time. Next he went to New York Middle Mills and there worked in the old mill, carding, spinning and weaving, until he was 24 years old. In this way he got quite an insight into the manufacture of cotton yarn and cotton cloth. In 1862 he went to Syracuse and attended school for a year. Returning to Oneida county, he settled in Utica, and became a member of the firm of McLean, Royce & Co., who were in the flour and feed business on Liberty street. He continued in this business for three years. Then he went to Chadwick’s Mills, where for two years he conducted a retail grocery store. Next he returned to Utica and opened a store on Catherine street for the sale of manufacturers’ supplies. He had a partner George W. Chadwick, and the firm of Harris & Chadwick did business up to 1870. That year Mr. Harris sold out and went to New Hartford. Here he entered the employ of the New Hartford Cotton Manufacturing Company as bookkeeper and treasurer and continued in that capacity for five years. He became interested in the company, and in 1875 was made its general superintendent as well as treasurer, and had continued to hold these positions ever since. The mill is a large one, having over 10,000 spindles and employing about 140 people. Its product is unbleached cotton cloth, which is sold to other manufacturers to be converted into silesias and other products. The mill is one of the oldest in the county. The stone mill which was occupied by the company was burned in 1882. Mr. Harris built the new mill, a four story brick structure which the company has since occupied.

Under his management the factory always did a successful business and prospered greatly. In politics Mr. Harris had always been a Republican and he had devoted himself greatly to the interests of the village of New Hartford. He served as trustee of the village for some time and was its president for two years along in the eighties. In connection with H. J. Cookinham and DeWitt Palmer, Mr. Harris labored very hard, but successfully, to change the site of the New Hartford Union School from the village to its present location on the old Jedediah Sanger place. The school is one of the largest and most successful in the county, containing 300 children and giving employment to several teachers. Ever since he had been in New Hartford, Mr. Harris has been a member of the Presbyterian Church and has served it as elder for very many years. In 1889 he built the house No. 857 Genesee street where he had since resided.

In 1868 Mr. Harris married Phoebe Horrocks of Little Falls, who is living. He leaves three children, William J. of Cassville and Irene M. and Albertus S. of New Hartford. He leaves a sister, Mrs. Mary Roberts, and a brother, John D. N. Harris at South Bend, Ind.; a brother, Thomas Harris, at Cote, St. Paul, Canada, and another brother, George Harris of Utica. Mr. Harris was one of the most prominent and influential of the citizens of New Hartford, a man who discharged faithfully and zealously all the duties of life and who was highly esteemed by all who knew him.

Your editor really goofed in the November issue and I am sure many of you caught the error. The cemetery on Oxford Road was a Quaker cemetery, not Quacker. One alert reader sent me the piece with the notation “Is this for ducks?.”

Another error in the same issue had the Clinton Historical Society address at 2 Fountain Street instead of 1 Fountain Street. Apparently most of the people from our society knew where it was. It was also pointed out to me that Clinton and New Hartford have been meeting jointly in November since 1976, not 1986. The first joint meeting featured Elliott Hughes who talked about his book “Ice Harvesting In Early America.”

And would you believe an error in a May 2003 Tally Ho! was pointed out to me last month. In that issue we carried an article by Gaylord Paine from New Hartford, Ct. He mentioned that Solomon Kellogg’s wife died in 1845. She lived on Oriskany Creek near Oneida Castle. There is no Oriskany Creek there, the reader pointed out. It must have been Oneida Creek.

A novel and pleasing form of church entertainment is often sought by church workers. There was one at New Hartford last evening which was very successful in its way and afforded a pleasant time for all. To succeed with such an entertainment, however, it is necessary that the church have a history and good records. The Presbyterian Church at New Hartford some time ago celebrated its centennial, so it is ripe for anything in the historical line. It has a social once a month, and last evening was the regular night for it. These socials have come to be quite popular, for, on a basis of plenty of good things to eat, they build a very social and sociable hour, and when people try to have a good time and are determined and united, they generally succeed. Last evening the program after the supper, which is the usual introduction, was in the form of a historical review, one member taking one part and another another part of the church history and reading a brief sketch or giving it from recollection. In this way the reminiscences were made quite vivid, and the old times revived were made as fragrant, as sweet and as warm as the coffee which preceded the papers. The flowers or leaves pressed in the family Bible may bring back the old days in a way, but even these souvenirs are faint and far compared with such a historical experience meeting as was held last evening. First came the supper, and New Hartford is not yet so citified that its church suppers are more style than grub. Their coffee is still the old-time aromatic 40 volts pressure and their doughnuts still have the real ring.

The pastor, Rev. O. A. Kingsbury, read a short sketch of the town and village of New Hartford and told the story of the inception of its churches in general and the Presbyterian Church in particular. It was called the Presbyterian Society of Whitestown.

Mrs. L. T. Sherrill followed with a sketch of the Indians of the early days of New Hartford. She was followed by Maj. Lewis T. Sherrill, who gave a sketch of the church society and its early history prior to the year 1850.

Alonzo E. Baker gave an interesting sketch of the repairs made in 1870-72. At that time Rev. E. B. Furbish was pastor. The sum of $10,000 was raised by subscription for the purpose. The trustees were Charles MacLean, George D. Babcock, J. Hart Case, Edward Sherrill, Joseph P. Richardson and Alonzo E. Baker. What was needed was a new building for chapel and Sunday school to take the place of the ‘session room” which was a small building 20 x 30 feet. This stood about 40 feet from the front entrance of the church. A path led from one to the other, but there were no lights outside the building and on dark nights it was difficult for a young man to pick out his best girl in the dark. The matter of site for the new building was quite a problem but it was solved. A new chimney was built and the location of the choir and organ was also changed. When the work was finished it was found to have cost over $16,000, and the society was in debt $4,000. But in less than an hour the whole amount was subscribed.

Mrs. Frank Ogden gave a sketch of the furniture which the church had and now has, and it was made very vivid. She said that at first the people in the church warmed themselves by religious fervor. Then came a cast iron stove, in which wood was burned. There were two of these stoves, standing on either side of the pulpit, and the stovepipe ran the whole length of the church to add to the heating facilities. But at the joints in the pipe there were hung tin pans to catch the soot which might fall out, and when it was thought best to remove these for something handsomer a tin trough was substituted. At first there were no evening services and so no artificial light, but by and by candles were used and then candelabra. A 12 light chandelier was given by Jacob Sherrill. There was carpet only in the aisles, Those who owned the pews furnished their own carpet and cushions, and the result was most successful in the way of variety. The pulpit was high and was reached by two spiral staircases. The pulpit had a door which was closed after the preacher had entered. The front of the pulpit was ornamented by flute columns. The pews were square and also had doors which were closed. The tops of the pews had cherry rails. All the woodwork was white and the pulpit front was paneled. It would now be considered handsome. Back of the pulpit was a window through which came a draft when Rev, Mr. Payson was pastor, and he felt it, as he was quite bald. The ladies bought some red satin damask, brocaded and made a curtain to hang over this window. It was very ornamental and was tastefully draped.

Allport Place was laid out by Principal Scripture and Laurence Wood in 1910. This street received its name from Will Allport who took lumber from the old school on Allport and made it into houses on that street.

In the early 1800’s a member of the Presbyterian Church caught an elder of the Church in a saloon and had him thrown out of the Church.

Pictured above is one of the first snow plows in New Hartford. It was taken in February 1949.

Everyone knows an organization like the New Hartford Historical Society can not function without volunteers. We have some very dedicated people that are helping to make this Society one of the best in the area.

One of these volunteers is Jerry Cunningham. He comes to the rooms every Monday from 1 pm to 3 pm to work. To date he has compiled albums of clippings about the men and women who served in World War II and the Korean War. He concentrates on New Hartford but has included clippings from the greater Utica area. Six albums are completed. These albums are valuable resource material and he has worked diligently to assemble them..

Jerry’s interest in service men comes naturally as he served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946 as a machine gunner on merchant ships.

In 1949 he married Peggy McIncrow. Together they had six children, four of whom still live in the area. His wife died in 2002.

He was employed by the New Hartford Post Office for 34 years. He is a member of the American Legion Post #1376, the New Hartford Historical Society and the Oneida County Historical Society.

Jerry also is one of our volunteers on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm to open the Society rooms to the public.

If any of you are interested in helping out, come to the Society rooms on Monday afternoon and there will be work for you to do.

Our main project at this time is putting the Elliott R. Hughes Colonial Room in order. Items are still being accessioned and new tags are being prepared. Then the job will be placement of the items. Hank McCann has done much of the work in the room and the Taurisano’s are making the tags for the articles. This project is a wonderful addition to our museum.

In 1791 Mrs. Grimes came to what is now Willowvale. She rode a horse from Pepperell, Mass., the trip lasting two weeks. For a riding whip, she cut a sprout from a cherished willow on the old homestead at Pepperell, and upon arriving at her new home, she stuck the riding willow stick in moist ground near the Sauquoit Creek. Lo and behold, it grew fast in the fertile soil and became a mighty big tree. Other sprouts were cut from this tree and planted and, in some years, there were willow trees all along the valley. This led people of other communities to call it Willowvale. It all came about because of the need for a riding whip.

What community near Utica was first named Paris Furnace? Answer: Clayville, later named in honor of Henry Clay in 1849.

Jedediah Sanger’s home located where Allport Place is now. In 1884 it was purchased by the village and used as a school until the Point School was built in 1901. The house was then torn down and wood from the building used to build homes on Allport Place.

Thursday, November 10 at 7:30
Clinton Historical Society
2 Fountain Street, Clinton, New York

Malio Cardarelli is presenting a program on “Utica Area History” on Thursday, November 10, 2005 at 7:30 at the Clinton Historical Society, 2 Fountain Street, Clinton, NY. The talk will focus on the Utica Public Library, Utica Academy ( later Utica Free Academy), and Nathan Williams, of the Munson Williams Proctor families.

Malio was born and raised in Utica. He attended Utica public schools and Utica College of Syracuse University. He was Chief of Civilian Labor and Employee Relations at Griffiss Air Force Base before his retirement in 1995. To date he has written nine books about Utica which makes him very knowledgeable about Utica history.

Please note the time is 7:30, a half hour later than NHHS’s usual starting time. This joint meeting in November has been a tradition since 1986. We hope you will help us show our appreciation in being invited to share this program with them.

Green Lawn Cemetery was first known as Pleasant Retreat Cemetery, then had its name changed in 1902. It is located on Seneca Turnpike, just east of the J. K. Lumber Company.

In the month of November, 1813, the inhabitants of that part of the town of Whitestown (Now New Hartford) known as Middle Settlement met to adopt measures to secure a suitable place for the burial of the dead. A committee was appointed and three-fourths of an acre was purchased for $100. A plat of the premises had been made by Pelog Gifford, surveyor. The plat embraced 42 lots lying on each side of a center alleyway 12 links wide. An assessment of $4.00 was directed to be made on each lot holder to pay the cost of the land and to apply toward building a suitable fence.

In 1814 some disagreement occurred respecting the direction in which the bodies were to be placed. By a vote of a majority of the members it was determined that the bodies would be laid with the heads toward the highway.

In 1874, Guy C. Palmer, a descendant of one of the early settlers, purchased 3 1/2 acres east of the old ground, as the old cemetery was filled to capacity. It was hereafter organized into a cemetery association under the laws of the State of New York, with provision that all revenues from the sale of lots, beyond cost, should be devoted to improvement and beautification. On May 26, 1875, a suitable dedicatory exercise was held at the grounds. The Rev. I. D. Peaslee, Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at New Hartford, delivered an appropriate address and fitting music was furnished by the New Hartford Brass Band and by a choir of vocalists who kindly volunteered for the occasion. The maximun price of lots was $20.00.

3. No children will be admitted unless attended by some person who will be responsible for their conduct.

4. All persons are prohibited from plucking flowers, either wild or cultivated and from breaking or injuring any tree, shrub, or plant.

5. Persons wishing to pass from one part of town to another, for business or convenience, are prohibited from crossing these grounds.

6. Visitors are reminded that this cemetery is sacredly devoted to interment of the dead, and a strict observance of that decorum and propriety which should rule in such a place will be required by all who enter its gates.

(The Greenlawn cemetery article was printed in the June, 1977 New Hartford Historical Society newsletter)

The Friends Cemetery at 92 Oxford Road was started shortly after 1820 immediately behind the Meeting House. There were but a few graves there, and at one time it was largely the Eames family private burying ground. Mrs. Eames was a Sanger daughter, and upon his death Jedediah Sanger was buried there. In later years when the Friends Society was beginning to decline it seemed wise to move the Sanger family burials to Forest Hill Cemetery in Utica. This was done September 23, 1879. Over the years the church and cemetery property was owned by Morgan Butler, Edgar Dewhust, Eliza Cheetham and Fred Hoyt. Mr. Hoyt purchased the property in two plots; the residence plot first in the late 1890’s, and the cemetery plot in 1905. There being no interested parties living in the area, he buried each headstone about two feet below ground and carefully charted each headstone and burial. There was much wordy publicity about the final destruction of the old cemetery, but the necessary work was carefully and reverently done. The list of burials is now in file at the office of the County Clerk, at Utica.

(The Quaker Cemetery information is from “Rambling Tales of a Rambling Town” written by George Smith in 1955.)

Would you all please take a moment to look at the address label on this issue of the “Tally-Ho!” If you see a red dot it means your membership expired in June 2005 or before and has not been renewed. This will be your last issue of the “Tally-Ho!’ unless we receive your renewal in the mail before the December issue is printed.

We hope you enjoy the newsletter and we really want to keep you as members, so please check your label.

Joining our list of volunteers on Monday afternoon are Hank McCann, who has worked on setting up the exhibit room for the Elliott Hughes collection, and Jerry Cunningham who is working on the collection of World War II soldiers from this area. Nancy Murphy is busy getting our newspaper clipping file reorganized and helping her are Bob Hall and Lee Gurley. Lee also put the covers on the air-conditioning units one afternoon. Bob Jones and Bob Dicker helped clean the farm tools in preparation of displaying them. Judy Wenner is busy getting a display of farm tools ready for the library showcases in November. Mary Ann Buteux is busy accessioning articles, no small task. Joanne Kujawski comes as often as she can to help, also. Burke Muller is often on hand to keep the bookstore in order. Volunteers are the backbone of any non profit organization and we are very grateful for them. Do you want to become one? Just show up on Monday and we will put you to work. In particular we are looking for someone to take charge of the clothing, sorting it, cleaning it if necessary, and repacking .

We also could use volunteers to man the rooms on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. Our thanks to Lewis Smith, Jerry Cunningham, Steve Grant, Bob Dicker, Judy Wenner, Burke Muller who already help.

Books are a great gift and the following are on sale at our bookstore. They are available at our monthly meetings or by coming to the Society Rooms on Saturday from 10 to 2 or Mondays from 1 to 3.

Farmlands of New Hartford—Barbara Couture & Janice Reilly	$ 15.00
Cast in Medal-Historical Markers –Raymond Ball	$ 15.00
*The Sauquoit Valley—Evelyn Edwards*	$ 19.00
Early Histories & Descriptions of Oneida County—G. Martin Sheeman	$ 14.95
200 Years of Oneida County History—Donald White	$ 16.00
Flying to Marcy— Raymond Ball	$ 24.95
A Crystal Goblet & the Dragon—Edna Mae Rawson	$ 24.95
Mist Fairies & Leprechauns of the Adirondack Mountains - Jim Parker	$ 10.50
Here Comes the Trolley - Robert Gurley	$ 5.00
For the Common Good—Utica Public Library -Malio Cardarelli	$ 16.00
I’ll See You In Heaven-Utica’s Mother Lavender - Malio Cardarelli	$ 16.00
McConnell Field via East Utica—Malio Cardarelli	$ 12.95
Cornerstone of Pride-History of UFA - Malio Cardarelli	$ 13.95
Classical Music in Utica - Malio Caradrelli	$ 17.50
John F. Hughes School—Malio Cardarelli	$ 5.95
Early Utica Preserved in Oil & Water - Malio Cardarelli	$ 15.00
Utica Portrait Artist Leon Cardarelli - Malio Cardarelli	$ 13.95
East Utica - Malio Caradarelli	$ 14.95
Roadside Historical Markers Around Oneida Co. - Rev. Glenn Kessler	$ 9.00
A Renaissance Woman in the 20th Century—Nelli Perri	$ 18.50
Ice Harvesting in America - Elliott Hughes	$ 5.00
Liberty March - Allan Foote	$ 20.00
The Young Liberators—Allan Foote	$ 24.95
Steuben—The Baron and the Town -Remsen/Steuben H.S. Hardcover	$ 25.00
Steuben—The Baron and the Town -Remsen/Steuben H.S. Paperback	$ 16.00
Out of the Wilderness—Sheppard	$ 5.00
History of 117th Regiment NY Volunteers— Mowris	$ 15.00
4 Years in the 1st NY Light Artillery — Ritchie	$ 15.00
History Papers
Romantic History of Old New Hartford—	$ 3.00
Rambling Tales of a Rambling Town—George Smith	$ 5.00
Scattered Leaves Along the Sauquoit—John Walsh	$ 3.00
No Man’s Land—The Shrinking of New Hartford	$ 1.00
Churches of New Hartford—Judith Wenner	$ 3.00
…...And the Band Played On - Barbara Munde	$ 3.00

Tony D’Apice with his miniature of the First Presbyterian Church in New Hartford. This building is now on display at our Society Rooms, thanks to Tony. It is a replica of the church as it looked when it was first built, complete with altar, pews, gallery, etc.. Tony makes his miniatures from materials he finds lying around. He makes roofs out of worn sandpaper and bodies of buildings out of used boxes from grocery stores. Nothing is purchased. It is worth you time to come and take a look at this truly remarkable building

On Columbus Day we had visitors. These children are from the New Hartford Cub Scout Pack #42. Pictured are Daniel Fancett, Victoria Fancett, Mat Stoetzner, and Tory King. They enjoyed looking at the exhibits. Tony’s church was a big hit!

From Joanne Flynt who lives in New York City we received a bound set of The New Hartford News newspaper for the entire year of 1995. It is full of interesting pictures, articles and advertisements from that year. Thank you, Joanne.

Bill Barrick donated some old tools. A wooden jack used for fixing wagon wheels, a wooden vise, etc. They are displayed by the church. We appreciate the donation, Bill.

We also received Jedediah Sanger’s original will. It was found in a landfill in Moravia, New York and when the excavators that were working on the site discovered it, they called the New Hartford Historical Society, and mailed it to us. It lists all the monies Jedediah bequeathed to individuals and to organizations such as St. Stephen’s Church. A remarkable find and we really do thank Herbert C. Breese from Moravia. NY for sending it to us.

The first telephone directory was distributed in New Haven, Conn. in 1878. It contained fifty names.

Karl Ludwig of Germany won the undying gratitude of women the world over when, in 1872, he invented the permanent wave.

OCTOBER PROGRAM
Thursday October 6, 2005 7:00 PM
Community Building, Kellogg Road, Washington Mills
Program—Chief Raymond Philo “The Bones of New Hartford”

Ray was born and raised in New Hartford, graduated from New Hartford High School, and from Utica College with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science in 1982. He also has a Masters Degree in Public Administration that he received from Marist College. He has been with the New Hartford Police Department for 20 years, coming up through the ranks to become Chief in 1992. He has been a member of the NHHS since 1999 and is currently treasurer.

A year ago, August 2004, when the High School was laying some cable along Daly Place, more bones were uncovered from the old cemetery that occupied that corner until 1953. That was when the High School expanded onto the site. The graves were dug up and the bones interred under a marker on the front lawn. Other bones have been uncovered in later construction. This last time the police were involved, and the bones were studied. What they discovered is the basis for Ray Philo’s talk.

In 1880 Richard Updike Sherman started the New Hartford Canning Factory which was later owned by Stalham and Sanford Sherman, two of his sons. Sanford Sherman later became president of the First National Bank of New Hartford.

The cannery was located on Champion Road where the Madden Concrete Co. now stands. Many people from the village and Utica worked there on and off. In season they employed over 1,000 people. The pay was 10 cents an hour for sorters and up to 25 cents an hour for operating the pea viners and the three steam engines, and for running the capper which was the best job in the factory. There was no overtime. People worked sometimes to two or three o’clock in the morning, or as long as 15 hours a day to get the produce canned at its freshest. They employed around 15 full time workers who did labeling, shipping, and made repairs in the off season.

The company provided seed to the farmers and processed their peas or other crops. Corn, a favorite, was husked by hand for either 3 or 5 cents per bushel. Children were excused from school to husk corn. Women in the village would take home 100 pound sacks of beans to snip as the factory people thought that the metal machines would cause the beans to rust. It was a common site to see boys grab bunches of peas, vines and all, off the wagons going down South Street (Oxford Road) on there way to the canning factory.

The farmers brought the peas on a hay rack, had them weighed, then unloaded them on the platform of the sheds. There were three sheds with a pea viner in each one operated by a steam engine. Two men, one on each side, pitched the peas on a conveyor running the length of the shed. The peas were then threshed out and the vines conveyed to silos. The peas were then taken to a grader, then to inspection tables where they were carried a rubber belt for inspection, removing stones, etc. There were six women at each table, usually local housewives who had done this for years. The peas were then blanched and taken in for canning where they were placed in a bin for mixing with syrup.

The canning season was looked forward to by the entire village because everyone was sure to earn some extra money. Those who husked corn had a card which was punched for each bushel and then they would be paid on completion of the job.

The juice that leaked out of the bottom of the silos was about 90 proof alcohol. Some of the locals could get very drunk on the liquid. Dogs would lick it up and stagger home.

The factory put up 120,000 cases, nearly 3 million cans, annually. It had an annual business of $240,000, which was no small amount for the times. The storerooms were very spacious. The evening of New Hartford’s Centennial Anniversary on June 27, 1888, a banquet was held there and 360 people were served at one sitting and 270 at another table.

Vice President James Schoolcraft Sherman would stop in the factory often. He lived just above Oneida Square on Genesee Street.

The information in this article was obtained from an issue of the Town Crier, March 1991.

Ed. Note. My mother, Margaret Gurley, used to snip beans and shell peas in our home for the Canning Company when we lived at 10 Oxford Road.

New Hartford Public Library donated a bound collection of the New Hartford News newspaper for 1955. There is a lot of information in the copies.

to the volunteers who helped out at the Library Fun Fest on September 10th. They are Bob and Jeanne Jones, Mike and Angelo Taurisano, Gayle and Roger Cleveland, Barbara Reinshagen and Erika Grinbergs, and Steve Grant.

Bob Dicker and Barb Munde, with Steve Grant’s help, set up the tent and the exhibits. It was a bit windy, and we had trouble keeping the displays on the easels, but we gained four new members and sold several books from our book store.

Steve Grant brought his 1920 model T Ford pick-up truck and parked it near the exhibit. That generated a lot of interest, especially with the children who were allowed to honk the horn!

We also thank Jerry Cunningham who had offered to help with the booth but willing switched to being at the Society Rooms that day at 10 o’clock. (He went up to the Fest to help park cars after his stint at the Society rooms.)

When the horse and buggy age was nearing its end, and the automobile was coming into general use, New York State language-changes began, especially as concerned the gradual disappearance of that dependable beast of burden, the oxen. There was a simple vocabulary in use by owners and drivers of oxen.

A “yoke” of oxen was equivalent to a team of horses. The word “yoke” was also used, as were the words “harness” or “hitch-up”. When the farmer told his son to “yoke-up the oxen,” he used the term the same as if he had said, “hitch-up the horses”.

The “yoke” worn by a team of oxen was the harness. It consisted of a cross-piece with two bow-shaped pieces (oxbows) beneath, each box enclosing the head of an animal. The crosspiece was fashioned out of hardwood and made to fit loosely over the neck of the oxen. Reins were not used.

The words used in driving a yoke of oxen were few; Gee and Haw and Whoa, with the addition of the word Buck. When the drive wanted his team to turn to the right, he touched them lightly with his driving whip and gave the command “Gee, Buck.” When turning to the left or coming to a stop the commands were “Haw, Buck” and Whoa, Buck”.

“Turn out” was a much used word before the coming of the automobile. It was used in three distinct senses. “A good turn-out,” meant a large attendance at a public meeting or entertainment. “A fine turn-out” was used to express admiration for a smart new horse and buggy or a new cutter with expensive looking furs.

The other sense accurately describes a practice made in the country roads by the winter storms. In the winter there was much carrying of lumber. Some loads could not leave the beaten track through the snow. It was common practice to shovel “turn-outs” every mile or so to let the heavy loads pass, while the drivers of cutters or other light vehicles waited their turn to get back on the main track.

Another word in common use was “rig.” It was used to refer to all sorts of vehicles around the stables.

A tool commonly used was a “froe”. It was a cleaving tool with a wedge shaped blade, having a handle set at right angles to it. It was sued to split wood, among other uses.

When we have the exhibit of old farm tools set up at the Society Rooms, you will be able to see many old tools, all described as to their usage. The room is shaping up nicely as we work at it each week. An open house is planned as soon as we are done with setting up the exhibit. We could use volunteers on Monday afternoon from 1 to 3 pm. Let us know if you can help.

85 people attended the roast pork dinner at the Methodist Church on September 1,2005 to open the New Hartford Historical Society’s 2005-2006 season. The dinner, served by Audrey Percival and her staff, was delicious. The tables were decorated with mums from the Mum Farm on Red Hill Road. Our special thanks to Shelly Corey for this generous contribution.

The speaker, Roger Cleveland, gave a complete picture of what the Sauquoit Valley Intermunicipal Commission is striving to accomplish.

A collection taken for the Katrina Relief netted $275. We thank all who contributed that night.

Marion Dicker’s Memories Reprinted from the September, 1989 issue of the “Tally-Ho”

I was one of four girls and no boys so as far as I am concerned Halloween was fairly mild. We always had our carved Jack-o-Lantern. The most daring thing was to try to sneak up on the porch, push in the doorbell button and try to get a straight pin to stick in so as to keep the bell ringing. The excitement was to succeed and get off the porch and not get caught.

What scared me the most was trying to scare the people inside the house. We made an item called a rat-a -tat-tat. You used an empty thread spool. They were made of wood in those days. On the end of the spool you made several notches. Then you wrapped a piece of string about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long around the spool. You made a loop in the end of the string to fit around your finger. The object was to put the spool on a pencil and hold the pencil in one hand. You held the spool loosely against the window pane and quickly pulled the string. The notches on the spool made an awful racket on the window pane. The people inside would be so startled they would jump about a foot off their seat.

We had fun at Halloween parties. We would “dunk for apples” in a big wash tub about 3/4 full of water with several apples floating on top. The object of “dunking for apples” was to pick an apple out of the water with your teeth. The apples are right there floating on top. Sounds easy. Sometime you almost drowned before you could get the apple. You sometimes also got very wet.

The other challenge and more interesting, was “boys against girls.” Apples would be hung on the end of a string. Couples would have to try to face each other with the apple hanging between them and about opposite their mouths. Great fun trying to bite the apple instead of your partner’s nose, ear, cheek, lips, whatever. This was really a great thrill, if the partner was someone you really liked. If it wasn’t, it was sometimes awful.

In the early 1900’s Halloween in New Hartford was really wild (and they got away with it). My parents and their friends have told me these stories.

Everyone did their own laundry at home, so every yard had a lot clothes lines. As soon as it was dark they would cut down everyone’s clothes line. Sometimes they would wrap the lines around the house, making sure it was twisted around every door knob, so they couldn't be opened from inside. The people must have had to crawl out a window.

Another use for clothes line, someone would manage to get into the Presbyterian Church belfry, nail the trap door shut so no on e could get into the belfry without great difficulty, and then they would tie clothes line around the clapper so when the line was pulled it would ring the bell. They had their secret way of getting back to the ground. Then they would hide out and keep ringing the bell at the end of the line.

It wasn’t safe to leave any porch furniture, toys, wagons, etc. outside. The next day, if you were lucky, it would be found on a neighbors roof or in a vacant lot. They always had a big bonfire going in the village and this is where most missing items disappeared. The fire was also fed by many outhouses or privies.

When I baby sat in later years, I would take the children to the big square house on Oxford Road (the Eames House). Dr. and Mrs. Williams lived there. Mrs. Williams was always dressed like a witch and passed out doughnuts and cider.

Wanamaker’s Furniture Store , located in the building on Genesee Street north of Casa Too Mucha. The business was formed by E..E. Wanamaker, G. L. Harrison, and Hugh Coe, in 1916 under the name of the Utica Chair Company. It was located then at the end of the alley, (42nd Street), that is next to Casa Too Mucha. Later it moved to 8 Oxford Road and then to the location pictured here. The business closed in the 1970’s.

That alley, which still exists, was the access road to the original village lock-up.

This house at 22 Paris Road was built in 1882 by Charles W. Cookingham, Marion Cookingham Dicker’s grandfather. In time it became the home of Erle and Dorothy Cookinham and then the home of Marion and Bob Dicker. Bob still lives in the house.

First United Methodist Church, 105 Genesee Street, New Hartford
6:00 PM Social Hour—6:45 Roast Pork Dinner Cost $10.00 per person
Program—Roger Cleveland, Town of New Hartford Highway Superintendent

Mission Statement of Sauquoit Creek Inter-municipal Commission: To advance the stewardship of the Sauquoit Creek Basin for future generations in regards to environmental concerns, economic development, education and quality of life.

Roger was born and raised in Syracuse. He moved to this area in 1970 and in 1988 he became the Town Engineer, a job he held for nine years. In 1997 he was elected to the office of Superintendent of Highways.

On Sunday, June 12th, approximately 40 people assembled at the Society rooms for the Historic Church Walk. After viewing displays in the rooms the group went to the Presbyterian Church where Harry Young gave a short talk on the history of the church. On to the Baptist Church where slides and a talk were presented by Ruth Cook, and then to the Episcopal Church where Barb Munde told about that church’s history. Following her talk, refreshments were served in St. Stephen’s Parish Hall by the church women.

We appreciate the effort made by everyone who participated. Although we were disappointed by the low number we were not too surprised since the day was very hot; in the 90’s.

A special thanks is extended to the presenters; Harry Young, Ruth Cook and Barb Munde, who made each stop a unique experience. Many people mentioned they were pleased to be able to see the interior of these churches.

The room that we are preparing to receive Elliott Hughes's collection of early American farm tools and home articles is coming along nicely. Part of a wall needed repair, a sump pump in the corner has been enclosed, a new carpet installed and barn siding and painting done. Now comes the task of accessioning each article and setting up the room, a meticulous job, which will be done by our archivist, MaryAnne Buteux, with the help of Burke Galer. The school children will have access to the collection as part of their New York State history curriculum. Nancy Murphy will be the liaison with the fourth grade, and Hank McCann with the seventh graders. This is a good example of cooperation between the library, school and the Society and we are very grateful to Mr. Bradley, Joan Spring, and teachers Don Orilio and Gail Wolczanski, and all who have put in their time to make this happen. Look for the grand opening of the room in October.

General Richard Updike Sherman was born in Vernon on June 26, 1819, the third child of Willett H. Shearman (the spelling was changed to Sherman in later years) and Catherine Schoolcraft. He was educated in the Utica Academy where he graduated at age 14. He was interested in the newspaper business and in 1840 he conducted a successful campaign paper in Utica for the Harrison and Van Buren Campaign. The Utica Gazette hired him the following year. In 1846 he established the Utica Morning Herald, one of the strongest papers published in the state. He became interested in public affairs in 1851 and had a very successful career, becoming assistant clerk of the house of representative in Washington in 1860. One of his many interests was the Adirondacks. He imported from Scotland the first can of Scotch trout eggs, which were placed in the lakes and he afterward caught and preserved a fish weighing four and a half pounds, the largest of the species. He was the founder of the North Woods Walton Club and in 1878 organized the Bisby Club.

In 1848 he married Mary F. Sherman, a granddaughter of Stalham Williams and a daughter of Richard W. Sherman, a well know steamboat captain on Lake Champlain,. The two families were not related. They had six children: Richard W., Mary Louise, Stalham W., James Schoolcraft (who was vice president of the United States from March 4, 1909 to October 30, 1912), Stanford Foster, and Willett H. (who died in infancy). The daughter, Mary Louise, married Hon. Henry J. Cookinham

In 1857 he moved to New Hartford and spent ten years on a farm on Tibbitts Road and then in 1867 moved to the village. In 1879 became a trustee of the New Hartford Cotton Company and in 1880 he organized the New Hartford Canning Company. He was president of the village three times and when Butler Memorial Hall was opened he was made president and trustee of that organization.

When a young man he enlisted in the military service of his state. He was commissioned brigadier general of the twenty-first Brigade, Sixth Division, New York National Guard. He rose from the ranks through merit alone. He was one of the earliest members of the Oneida Historical Society .

Mollie Provasnik, former co publisher of the Town Crier has been sending information she had accumulated over the years while editing that paper. She found a copy of a letter that H. J. Cookinham sent to Richard U. Sherman asking for General Sherman’s daughter Louise’s hand in marriage. We quote:

Thinking that I could communicate with you, in regard to my relations with Miss Louise with less embarrassment, by writing, than otherwise, I have chosen this medium. It would be useless for me to declare to you that I loved your daughter, for that you know full well, and it is my greatest source of happiness to know that my affection for her is reciprocated. She has promised to accept the joys and the sorrows of life with me and we only await the approval of her parents. Therefore I most humbly ask that she may be mine, and promise to be a kind and affectionate husband whose chief delight will be to render her happy,

The July issue of the Mohawk Valley Antique Bottle Club newsletter, “Bottles Along the Mohawk” edited by Jon Landers, has an excellent article on the Glass Factory in Vernon which was started by Willett H. Sherman, Richard’s father.

We have a copy at the Society Rooms and can make copies of the article if anyone is interested. It is worth reading.

There was a theater on Genesee Street where Cavallo’s Restaurant is now located. Bill Hooks ran the theater in which there were 10 cent movies and stage shows, medicine men, etc. Bill Hooks also ran a barber shop.

Approximately 1925 the upstairs of the building was occupied by the first N.Y. State Police Barracks in New Hartford.

After the theater was discontinued, the building was used as a bowling alley, a feed store, and then a furniture store. Following a fire it re-opened as Earl & Jerrys and then Cavallo’s.

Pat Hooks, Bill’s brother, ran a gas station, sold tires, shoes, later ice cream, candy and then a saloon. It later became Lew’s and is now Casabs.

John Hooks, another brother, ran an electric shop where Fishers Department Store later located. It was a Dodge 5 and 10 store prior to Fishers.

The above information came from Hattie Campbell who lived at 2 Hartford Terrace in April 1991. It was printed in the April 1991 “Tally-Ho!.”

On July 7, 2005 Dr. A. DeWitt Brown passed away. He was a prominent doctor in New Hartford from the early 1940’s and he and his wife became members of the New Hartford Historical Society in 1984. He worked on gathering information on the older homes in the area and he served as Vice President and was on the Board for several years. We extend our sympathies to his wife, Dr. Esther Moeller and the family

On June 3, 2005 we received a letter from Stewart E. Kropp from Milwaukie, Oregon that stated he was a graduate of the New Hartford High School class of 1932. We quote from his letter:

“I will be 90 years old my next birthday and I can’t help but wonder how many of my classmates are still living. I remember such names as Mike McMahon, Win Capron, Cela Kelly, Harry Thomas, Art Arms, Mary McCaffrey, etc. If some are still alive, I sure would like to know it. Our class was the last one at the old school on the point, and the new school on Oxford Road was being build and the auditorium was complete and our class of ‘32 held our graduation, awarding of diplomas, etc. from the new school. We all thought that was great! I married Doris Kelly (she was in the class) in St. John’s Catholic church in 1940 and we had a wonderful marriage of 52 years. She died in 1992.

I delivered the Utica Daily Press on a route that covered one side of Pearl St. and all of Oxford Road. The papers came up mornings on the first street car from Utica at 5:30 a.m.

Your last issue of “Tally-Ho!” mentioned Downs meat market, Salters pool hall and I remember Townsends store and others, like Jack & Andy’s diner. I also remember the town cop—we called him Shep. I also remember watching the old fire engine come out of the fire house in response to a call, and the right front wheel broke when it turned to the street. It was a wooden wheel! I sure enjoy your monthly paper and hope you keep it up. If anyone knows any of my class members, jot their names down some time.”

(Editor’s note: We have Stewart Kopp’s address on file. Call us if you want to write to him.)

Saturday, September 10, 2005 the New Hartford Public Library is sponsoring a Fun Fest at Sherrillbrook Town Park on Rt. 12. We are manning a booth and will have an historical exhibit plus handouts for people interested in knowing more about the Society.

If you would like to help by giving an hour of your time on that day to man the booth call the Society rooms—724-7258.

ROSWELL B. MASON

Mayor of Chicago during the Great Fire

The following information is from a book titled “The Old Family Fire” by Manly W. Mumford, great great grandson of Roswell B. Mason.

Roswell Mason was born in New Hartford, New York on September 19, 1805, the fifth of thirteen children of Arnold Mason and Mercy Coman Mason. Arnold was a successful farmer and a captain of the New York Volunteers in the War of 1812. He was also a contractor and carried stone to some of the locks being constructed near Albany for the Erie Canal in 1821. When Roswell was 15 he helped his father by driving a team hauling stone. He met Edward Gay, assistant engineer in charge of that part of the canal from Albany to the Mohawk River, and in 1822 was given a job by Gay.

Moving to Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, he supervised the construction of the Pennsylvania Canal between Jersey City and Phillipsburg. He went on from there to work on the survey crew for the Housatonic Railroad where he became chief engineer of that railroad in 1837. He subsequently was Superintendent of the New York & New Haven Railroad, and was Engineer in charge of the construction of the Vermont Valley Line. In 1851 he moved to Chicago and was appointed Engineer-in-Chief of the Illinois Central, which was the largest railroad yet built. Long John Wentworth, later the Mayor of Chicago, was the publisher of the Chicago Daily Democrat and he ran an article welcoming Roswell to Chicago and spoke of him in glowing terms. In order to make him seem even more important, Wentworth referred to him as “Colonel” Mason although he had never seen any military service.

He had many important positions over the years, and in 1865 was appointed to the State legislature as a member of a commission of four engineers to work with the Mayor of Chicago to deal with the City’s sewage which then drained into Lake Michigan and made many people sick. Following recommendations, the Illinois and Michigan Canal was deepened, pumping works were established and the summit of the canal was lowered so that the Chicago River was turned around to drain into the Illinois River.

In the summer of 1869, Colonel Mason founded the “Civil Engineers Club of Chicago” and then the “Civil Engineers Club of the Northwest”, which, in 1880 became the Society of Western Engineers.

He was elected mayor of Chicago on November 2, 1869 on the People’s Ticker in a public revulsion against corruption in public office.

During his tenure, the Great Chicago Fire started around 9 pm on Sunday evening, October 8, 1871 somewhere in or very near the O’Leary barn, the exact particulars of its origins are unknown. Mayor Mason was called out at midnight by a man on horseback who cried, “Mayor, come give orders to save the city.”

While the city was a smoldering ruin, thousands of the worst types of criminals poured into Chicago and began looting. The Mayor called on the Federal Government and Gen. P. H. Sheridan placed the city under martial law.

Two months after the fire, Mayor Mason’s term expired. He was asked to run again, but declined. He continued to be active in civic affairs serving on the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, as a ruling elder of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, and as president and member of the board of McCormick Theological Seminary. He died January 1, 1892 at the age of 86.

This very interesting booklet has much more information in it, including excerpts from letters that family members wrote to each other after the fire, describing the ordeals that people went through. It is published by the Chicago Historical Bookworks, 831 Main Street, Evanston, IL 60202 for a cost of $5.00.

JUNE 2005 PROGRAM
Thursday June 2, 2005 7:00 PM
Community Building, Kellogg Road, Washington Mills
Annual Meeting Plus Program by Evelyn Edwards