Ninety-eight
years ago today, on February 1, 1921, as later reported in the Otsego Farmer,
"Everett Palmateer of Andes and Fletcher Davidson of Bovina had the
unusual experience of being projected through the top of an enclosed car last
Tuesday afternoon. The men were on their way to Bovina in the enclosed Ford car
of Mr. Palmateer, with Mr. Davidson driving. The road, was slippery and when
they reached the top of the hill at Lake Mohican on the Thos. Mabon farm, the
rear of the car skidded and swung across the road and as it turned over on its
side the men were shot through the top, tearing off the entire top of the
car."
Ninety-one
years ago today, on February 2, 1928, an alert Ruth Coulter saw a light in the
village school building and discovered that the building was on fire. As later reported in the Andes Recorder,
"The fire department was called out and the fire was put out by the use of
chemicals and very little water with only slight damage. It started from the
furnace." The building concerned is
now the Bovina Public Library. Ruth
Coulter later married Bill Parsons.
Seventy-five
years ago today, the Bovina Center column of the February 3, 1944 Delaware
Republican-Express reported that "the Harvey Burgins have a new floor in
their dining room." The same column also reported that "Mrs. Lillian
Hafele is now living in her new home, the former Jennie Archibald house."
Fifty-four
years ago today, the February 4, 1965 issue of the Delaware Republican-Express
reported in its Bovina column "Due to the closing of the New Kingston
Creamery, four dairies have already brought their milk to the Bovina Creamery,
Marvin Hosier, Bill Elliott, David Condon and a Mr. Walters…."
Two farm
related items from the Andes Recorder appeared 122 years ago today in its
Bovina column for February 5, 1897:
"Cows
averaged $22.80 at Thomas Gordon’s auction last week Thursday, in Glenburnie,
and everything else sold well.
"Many
think that the grasshoppers working on the hay and straw the past season, is
the cause of so much sickness among cows and horses here this winter."
113 years
ago today, on February 6, 1906, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain
News, the temperature in Bovina was "twenty-four degrees below zero … the
backbone of winter seems to be strengthened instead of weakened."
117 years
ago, in its February 7, 1902 edition, the Andes Recorder reported on a letter
from a Bovina resident who was in Seattle:
"Writing from Seattle, Miss Jennie J. Campbell, who recently went
from this place, likes the place very much and her letter, written about the
middle of January, states that the climate is mild and at that time the weather
was like our April. Lawns were green,
and roses and violets were in bloom."
Sixty-eight
years ago today, the Bovina column in the Delaware Republican-Express for
February 8, 1951 reported "Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Gibson, who have been
living in rooms over the Thomas garage, moved to Andes. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Knaff
and family, who have been living in the old hotel moved into the rooms vacated
by the Gibsons."
Ninety-six
years ago today, on February 9, 1923, as reported by the Andes Recorder,
"Mrs. Fred Johnson committed suicide at her home in Bovina Center by
cutting her throat with a razor…"
Born of Lydia Thomson, the Recorder noted that the cause of her suicide
"was probably over wrought nerves." The newspaper noted that her
husband had been ill and she was having her own health problems. A niece had
come to help with the care of Mr. Johnson, so Mrs. Johnson and her sister went
up to bed. Her sister, Mrs. James Russell, heard her sister get up in the night
but didn't think much about it and went back to sleep. When she couldn't find
her the next morning, a search was instigated in the house. Mrs. Johnson was
found at the top of the stairs into the attic, still holding the razor with
which she did the deed. "The funeral was held Monday from the Church of
the Covenanters, Rev. F.N. Crawford officiating." Mr. Johnson passed away
in January of 1925.
Ninety-one
years ago, the Andes Recorder of February 10, 1928 reported that "Courtney
Currie was kept from his work at the creamery a few days the past week by
boils."
133 years
ago today, on February 11, 1886, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror,
"The household goods of John Shanks, wagon maker, late of New Kingston,
arrived in Brushland on Thursday, the 11th inst., and he will occupy the rooms,
and carry on the business, in the shop lately occupied by J. Dietrich."
117 years
ago today, on February 12, 1902, Fort-nightly Club lecture course hosted a
lecture by Professor William Elliott Travis of Cornell University at
Strangeway’s Hall. His subject was “Facts Fun and Fancy Concerning the
Japanese.”
Fifty-four
years ago today, on February 13, 1965, as later reported in the Bovina column
of the Delaware Republican Express, "Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher Davidson and
Mrs. William Storie attended the meeting of the Delaware County Historical
Association at Roxbury…On their way home they called on Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Miller at Stamford and found them in good health." The Millers used to
live in Bovina in what is known as the Charlie and Eva McIntosh house.
131 years
ago today, the Bovina column in the February 14, 1888 Stamford Mirror reported
"A spelling school in the Pink Street District…attracted a large number of
the young people, one sleigh load containing 19 persons going up form Bovina
Center."
155 years
ago today, on February 15, 1864, John Murray signed this oath of office as
overseer of the poor.
Ninety-seven
years ago today, on February 16, 1922, Calvin Russell's team of horses got away
from him. The Andes Recorder reported that "The team of Calvin Russell
took fright at the creamery Thursday morning and had a lively run. Coming onto
Main street the team ran in at the Hastings feed store and onto the flat above
the new street. Continuing up the flat they went over the wall into a rocky
pasture lot of Fred Bramley and were not caught until they reached Bramley’s. No
damage was done and not even the milk cans were thrown out. How they avoided
all the rocks is a miracle."
108 years
ago today, on February 17, 1911, as later reported in the Andes Recorder,
"The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Foreman, aged three months and
four days, died with pneumonia... Rev. Robb officiated at the funeral
Monday. Child was their only daughter,
Mary Elizabeth." The Foremans had three sons at the time of their
daughter's death and would have two more after.
This license
photograph of Cliff Hall was taken in February 1950 by Bob Wyer. Cliff was born
in 1921 in Walton. It was at a dance in Walton that he met Gertrude Kittle.
They were married and spent some time in San Francisco where Cliff was
stationed in the Navy during World War II. After the war, they came to Bovina
to farm on Coulter Brook Road. In the 1950s they started their farm vacation
business, Elms Farms. They retired from that and had a home in Bovina Center
while spending winters in Florida. Cliff died in 1988. Photograph courtesy of
the Delaware County Historical Association.
Eighty-nine
years ago today, the Bovina column of the February 19, 1930 Delaware Republican
reported "The two large smoke stacks on the Dry Milk Plant were
raised….George Flowers of Hobart was in charge. They are putting in a new dry
pan this week." Here's an undated photo of the dry milk plant showing the
smoke stacks. The plant was behind the Bovina Center Creamery.
117 years
ago this afternoon, on February 20, 1902, as later reported in the Andes
Recorder, "the smoke house of G.D. Miller caught fire, scorching eight
hams he had curing there. It was
believed that the building caught fire from some ashes which Mr. Miller had
taken from the stove that morning and stored there."
166 years
ago today, on February 21, 1853, Mary McCune Douglas gave birth to a son, John
McCune Douglas. His father was James R. Douglas. John would die at the age of 7
years and 26 days in 1860. Mary Douglas was James' second wife. His first wife,
Nancy, gave birth to one daughter and died a few months later. This daughter would
die two months before her half-brother John. James and Mary would have one more
child a year after the death of their son. The daughter would die at the age of
15.
Seventy-four
years ago today, on February 22, 1945, Ethel DeSilva sent this V Postcard to
her friend Marjorie Russell in Bovina. Ethel had enlisted in December 1944 as a
WAVE in the Navy. She was discharged in November 1945. Ethel was the daughter
of Harvey and Elizabeth Burgin (and a first cousin of Cliff Burgin). She was
married to Fred DeSilva, who also served in the Second World War. Fred died in
1976, Ethel in 1986. The postcard is signed 'Pete,' which was Mrs. DeSilva's
nickname.
127 years
ago today, February 23, 1892, Ralph Miller Barnhart was born, the son of Jeremy
Barnhart and Kate Miller. Ralph was
married and widowed three times and would live to be 96, dying on Christmas
Day, 1988. He would have one son, Donald, from his first marriage to Anna
Ruland. He is buried in Bovina. Ralph was my great-uncle. Here he is with his
sisters Edith and Anna Bell (my grandmother).
134 years
ago today, the February 24, 1885 Stamford Mirror had this item about the recent
town election. These elections took place in February until the early 20th
century.
199 years
ago today on February 25, 1820, the New York State legislature passed an act
creating the Town of Bovina. This means we are only a year away from Bovina's
Bicentennial.
Seventy-nine
years ago today, on February 26, 1940, Mrs. Charles F. McPherson died. The Delaware Republican had reported in its
February 22 issue that "Mrs. Charles F. McPherson was taken to the
hospital at Delhi….for treatment by Dr. Brooks." The newspaper reported her death a week
later. Mrs. McPherson was born Carrie Eliza Miller, daughter of William R.
Miller and Mary G. Laing. Carrie was 58 at her death. Her husband survived her
by over 20 years, dying in 1963.
124 years
ago today, on February 27, 1895, Jennie E. Hilson, the daughter of Thomas and
Jenneatte Orr Stott Hilson was married to Lewis W. Cooper. Lewis was from
Massachusetts. They would have nine children.
Here is the invitation to the wedding.
107 years
ago today, this item appeared in the February 28, 1912 Delaware Gazette:
"James C. Mabon and John Whitson have sold their farms in southern Bovina
to Robert L. Gerry. The options were given several days ago and the writings
will be drawn Friday. Both Mabon and Whitson can, if they choose, remain on the
farms until September. It is stated that Mr. Mabon receives $15,000 and Mr.
Whitson $5,250 for their respective farms. Mr. Mabon has his eye on a small
place at East Delhi It is understood that Mr. Gerry will erect a large summer
home at the heights of the Mabon farm." This is where in 1915 Gerry built
Aknusti.
