This Day in Bovina for May 2026

 

Seventy-one years ago today, on May 1, 1955, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror-Recorder, "Mr. and Mrs. Merle Galusha and sons of Scotia attended church services [in Bovina] and were dinner guests of his brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Craig Banuat. Other callers at the Banuat home on Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Walter Spraig and son, Willard of Andes." Merle would die in the crash of Mohawk Airlines Flight 450 in 1972.

 

174 years ago today, on May 2, 1842, the town of Bovina issued several liquor licenses, including this one for John Seacord and Thomas Secord, "to sell strong and spirituous liquors and wines to be drunk in his present dwelling house.." The 'dwelling house' likely was the Secord hotel, which stood across from the end of what is now Maple Avenue.  

144 years ago today, the May 3, 1882 Delaware Gazette carried this notice for an interest meeting for a railroad that would have gone through Bovina. Nothing came of this particular idea - at least as far as Bovina was concerned. 

Ninety-two years ago today, the May 4, 1934 Delaware Republican carried this Bovina column.  I'm not 100% sure where the baseball diamond mentioned in the column was located, but seems very likely it was on the field next to the Bovina Center school (now the Bovina Public Library).  

Fifty-five years ago today, on May 5, 1971, Mary Burns Lounsbury died at the age of 57. Born in Bovina in 1913, she was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Burns and the sister of Agnes Burns. She married Harold Lounsbury in 1938. They lived for many years on the Burns family farm at the end of Crescent Valley Road. This undated image shows Mary with her parents, John and Elizabeth Burns, her sister Agnes with her husband Bob Burns (right) and at the left is her husband Harold.  

154 years ago today, on May 6, 1872, the Bovina Board of Excise met to review applications for licenses to sell liquor. No applications were presented. It likely is at this point that Bovina became a 'dry town' and would stay so until after the end of Prohibition.

194 years ago today, on May 7, 1832, a Bovina storekeeper created this page in his ledger for various sales to Bovina citizens. Items included tobacco, hayseed, silk, tea and calico. Morgan Livingston, who owned a chunk of Bovina as landlord, bought an axe. The 'Dr' after each name means debtor. Most of the payments are by cash but it looks like Sopher Peleg was making a payment (the 'Cr' after his name probably means credit) in butter. We do not know where this store was located because we cannot determine who kept the ledger - we only know that it was in Bovina. It possibly was a store kept by James Cowan, which stood where Russell's Store now stands. 

 

Ellen McBurney was born 200 years ago today, May 8, 1826, the daughter of Francis McBurney and Margaret Boyd. She married Andrew Boyd and would have 11 children, most of whom made it to adulthood. She was widowed in 1879 and died in February 1893. She is buried in the Bovina Cemetery.

129 years ago today, in its May 9, 1897 edition, it was noted by the Andes Recorder that five brothers were seen at the same church in Bovina. What made this so remarkable was that the youngest was over fifty years old. The paper did not note what family this was, though it could be the Miller family. At this time, the six sons of William Miller still were alive and all lived locally. Here is a picture of the six brothers. What five attended church we don't know, but William lived in Walton, Walter in Delhi and Berry Shaw in Andes. Thomas, Michael and Gilbert all lived in Bovina. 

These images of E. Ray Thomson were taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in the late 1930s and in 1940. Ray was born in Bovina in February 1895. His mother was Cora J. Thomson. Who his father was isn’t clear. On Ray's birth record, his father is recorded as Archie VanBramer, who was married to Cora in September 1894. Ray is recorded as Ray VanBramer, though later 'Thomson' is inserted in the record. When Ray was about a year old, Archie kidnapped him from his grandparents, William and Jenette Thomson, and kept him for several weeks before returning him of his own accord.  Ray was raised by his maternal grandparents, because his mother Cora was sent to the Middletown Insane Asylum when he was quite young (she died there in 1910). He was known by then as Ray Thomson. When he was married in 1916, he's Eldred Ray Thomson on the certificate and his father is recorded as "not known, adopted son."  He lived in Bovina into the 1930s, then moved to Delancey and finally in Unadilla, NY, where he died in 1975. Images courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

Eighty-two years ago today, the May 11, 1944 Delaware Republican Express carried this Bovina column. 

115 years ago today, on May 12, 1911, the Bovina column of the Andes Recorder reported that "A child was recently born to Rev. and Mrs. Robb, in China, where he is a missionary. The mother was formerly Jennie J. Campbell of Bovina." The child was a daughter, Jean Robb. Jean later married Patrick Perrone in Los Angeles. She died in LA in 1989.

Sixty-one years ago today, Bovina column in the May 13, 1965 Delaware Republican-Express reported that "The prize fisherman of the season is John Robson who caught a six pound-12 ounce trout over the week-end."

Sixty-five years ago, on May 14, 1961, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Delaware Republican Express, "We were all pleased to see Mrs. Lena Lounsbury at Church Sabbath Day, she has been in Schenectady the past few months helping care for an invalid." Lena was the mother of Harold Lounsbury. She died in 1963.

146 years ago today, the May 15, 1880 issue of the Delaware Republican reported on an article they had published called "Woman's Work in the Church," by "Mrs. Knox of New York City." The paper pointed out that the article "will attract especial attention from the fact that Mrs. Knox was a Delaware county woman, daughter of Rev. James Douglas, for many years pastor of the Bovina Associate Reformed Church, (whose doctrines were not in accordance with the views there announced,)…Mrs. Knox has also take a very prominent part in works for temperance reform, and in many other ways practically exemplified the benefits arising from the course she advocates."

Eighty-six years ago today, the Bovina column of the May 16, 1940 Delaware Republican reported that "Little Nancy Brooks spent the week-end with her great-aunt, Mrs. John Hilson and family." Nancy was the daughter of Dean Brooks and Marian Isabella Dickson. Marian's mother was Margaret Bell Strangeway, sister of Helena Hilson. Nancy was born in Delhi in 1936. Married in 1957 to Loring Hulslander, she died in Montana in 2013 and is buried in Springville Township, Pennsylvania, where she grew up.

139 years ago today, on May 17, 1887, the Stamford Mirror reported in its Bovina column that "John Hilson is improving his house by removing the old sash from the windows, and replacing them with a more modern style, each sash containing two large panes of glass."

 

In 1946, Delhi photographer Bob Wyer took a series of aerial pictures around Bovina in a plane piloted by Eddie Davidson. This is the Don Boggs farm, which later became the Howard Conklin farm, on Reinertsen Hill Road. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

The Andes Recorder reported 115 years ago today in its May 19, 1911 Bovina column that "There is some talk of putting in a pond on John Blair's farm on the Oliver brook and stocking it with trout." This farm is now the Jack Burns farm at the foot of Bramley Mountain. If the pond was stocked it was not reported in later editions of the paper.

 

Seventy-seven years ago today, on May 20, 1949, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News Bovina column, "The latest to buy a new car is George Storie with a Dodge sedan. Vincent Rosa is taking over the car recently owned by Storie."

 

Seventy-eight years ago today, on May 21, 1948, the Bovina column of the Catskill Mountain News reported that Mrs. Mary Gordon, who received a bad fall down a flight of stairs at her home last week, is slowly recovering. She is still lame and sore." Mary was the widow of Thomas Gordon, who died in 1921, and the mother of Delhi social studies teacher Margaret Gordon. Mary died in 1953.

130 years ago today, May 22, 1896, the Otsego Farmer (Cooperstown) carried the following item: "An exchange has it that in the town of Bovina, Delaware county, there are more abandoned farms than there were in all Delaware County ten years ago. This fact is interesting for the reason that Bovina has been called the leading dairy town in the county."  A couple of weeks later, another item appeared in the Otsego Democrat further disparaging Bovina's farms, reporting that the town "suffers more severely than its neighbors from the general agricultural depression. There are no railroads and no manufacturing industries within its limits. On the other hand there are a large number of abandoned farms in the town."

Sixty-eight years ago today, the May 23, 1958 issue of the Catskill Mountain News published an article under the headline "Bovina WAC Earns Recruiting Citation." The WAC was "Sgt/1c Helen I. Johnston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. George Johnston of Bovina Center." She was enrolled in a "Women's Army Corps enlisted recruiting course at For Benjamin Harrison, Ind." The paper went on to report "Sgt Johnston was in competition with 38 of the recruiters stationed through the United States. She earned the award by achieving an average of 85 percent for the course." More about Helen and her remarkable career in the Army can be found on my blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2022/01/bovina-ex-pats-command-sergeant-major.html

133 years ago today, the May 24, 1893 Delaware Gazette reported that "Work has commenced for the foundation for the new school house in Bovina Centre." This is the building that is now the Bovina Public Library.  

Eighty-eight years ago today, on May 25, 1938, as later reported in the Delaware Republican, "Mrs. George Miller died…at her home [in Bovina]." Born Ida Kinch, she was married to George Miller and had three children, daughters Maude and Nellie and son Clark. Clark was killed in World War I. She was survived by her husband and two daughters. Ida was the maternal grandmother of Clark Lay.

 

The Andes Recorder reported 133 years ago today in its May 26, 1893 issue that "Richard Johnson of Bovina this season made 318 gallons of heavy maple syrup from 700 trees. This is equal to 2,544 pounds of sugar."

 

Seventy-seven years ago today, the Bovina column in the May 27, 1949 Catskill Mountain News reported that "Paul Rosa is moving this week to his new home on Pink street road which he recently purchased of Gene Vandenbord."

 

These pictures were likely taken by Grace Coulter Roberts when she was teaching at the Bovina Center school in the 1940s. I recognized several of the children, including my uncle George LaFever, Bobby Boggs, Patty Boggs, Marge Thomas, Dick Roberts and Bob Burns. Let me know if you recognize anyone else. These images were shared by Joe Riebling. His wife, Susan Roberts Riebling, is Grace's granddaughter. 

Angelica D. Gerry, the daughter of Elbridge Gerry and Louisa Livingston, was born 155 years ago today on May 29, 1871. She built a summer home at Lake Delaware known as Ancrum and also was instrumental in the building of St. James Church.  

121 years ago, on May 30, 1905, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, baseball teams from "Lake Delaware and the Hook battled for supremacy on the diamond Tuesday at the Centre and the score was 12 to 4 in favor of the former."

131 years ago today, the May 31, 1895 issue of the Andes Recorder in its Bovina column included the following item: "Sylvester McFarland, who left this town over twenty years ago, and who had not been heard from since, suddenly made his appearance in town a few days ago." McFarland was born in Wisconsin in 1843 and died in Somerville, Massachusetts in 1914 and is buried in Meredith, NY. He was a prison officer in Massachusetts. It is not clear when he lived in Bovina. His father, James McFarland, was a Bovina native.

A Week with Bovina People - May1901 - 125 Years ago from the Andes Recorder

Life in Bovina 125 years ago this month, as reported in the Andes Recorder for May 1901.

May 3, 1901

• W.J. Doig was over at Andes Tuesday.

• J.W. Blair was over at Andes Saturday.

• Frank Graham has purchased a horse.

• W.A. Hoy was at the County Seat Saturday.

• Fred Bramley made a trip to Delhi Monday.

• Miss Alice Oliver returned from Deposit Friday.

• County Clerk Black and wife were in town Tuesday.

• David Sloan has returned to his home in Colorado.

• H.S. Graham and Dr. Ormiston were up from Delhi Monday.

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy T. Barnhart, April 25, a son.

• Emile Northrup of Colorado was in town Monday and Tuesday.

• Frank Gowanlock and J.W. Archibald visited Delhi Saturday.

• Rev. Welsh and wife, of Oneonta, have been guests at Rev. Samson’s this week.

• A.T. Strangeway and daughters Misses Maggie and Libbie were down at Delhi Saturday.

• Mrs. Phinney has received the $2,000 insurance in the Phoenix company on the life of the late husband, Dr. Phinney.

• Among recent real estate transfers in town were James W. Coulter and wife to James H. and W. David Amos $300. 

• Dr. J.D. Frisbee, of Andes, was in this place Wednesday doing dental work.  He expects to visit this place every two weeks.

• Friday the remains of Thomas Wight were brought here for burial.  He died in the Binghamton State Hospital April 24, with pneumonia, aged 53 years.  He had only been in that institution one week.

• John A. Irvine had a narrow escape from serious injury Saturday.  He was driving a horse belonging to Mrs. Wm. Forrest hitched in with one of his and they started to run away, he caught it by the head and in some way his foot became tangled in the lines and whiffle trees and he was dragged some distance but escaped without serious injury.

• Miss Nancy Miller died Monday morning at the home of her brother in law, Robert Biggar in Coulter Brook in the 69th year of her age.  She has been ill with the measles and this was followed by a shock which proved fatal.  The funeral was held Tuesday at 12 o’clock from the house, Rev. Slater officiated and interment was in the Bovina Centre cemetery.  

May 10, 1901

• Mrs. Samson visited Bloomville on Tuesday.

• Elmer Hastings was at Bloomville Tuesday.

• Miss Kate Muller visited at Andes over Sabbath.

• James McWilliams was at Delhi on Thursday last.

• John W. Blair and W.L. Ruff were at Delhi Thursday.

• Ad Maxwell and S.A. Birdsall were in town Wednesday.

• Several new cases of measles have developed this week.

• George Knapp was in this place on Monday from Andes.

• Saturday David Oliver and Francis Graham were at Delhi.

• Hugh Adair was in town from Delhi Thursday of last week.

• W.R. Doig and Robert E. Thompson were at Delhi Friday.

• Alex Hilson and Rev. Williams visited the County Seat Friday.

• Rev. Welsh and family returned to their home in Oneonta Tuesday.

• E.J. Turnbull and Charles Carman, of Andes, were among those in town Tuesday.

• D.L. Thompson has moved to Stamford, where he will reside for at least the next six months.

• Re. Samson and Elder F.C. Armstrong attended the meeting of Presbytery at Walton Tuesday.

• H.S. Murray of Andes, was at Ed Scott’s Monday making some changes in his water system, connecting the pipes with a vat at the barn for cooling the milk, etc.

• Invitations have been issued for the marriage of Miss Leona Thompson, of this town to Rev. Marvin J. Thompson, of Delhi, at the home of the bride’s mother, Mrs. D. Lyle Thompson, May 15. Mr. Thompson has just completed his course at the Seminary and will be ordained and installed as pastor at the Gilchrist Memorial church May 31.

• Andrew G. Thompson, one of Bovina’s substantial farmers, died at his home near Tunis Lake, Friday, May 3, with the measles in the 67th year of his age.  He was born in the upper part of this town and in the winter of ’67-’68 he married Miss Anna King, who with five sons and a daughter survive him.  In the spring of 1868 he moved onto the farm where he resided at the time of his death.  The funeral was held at 11 o’clock Monday from his late residence, Rev. W.L.C. Samson officiating.

May 17, 1901

• H.G. Bramley visited Delhi Friday.

• B.S. Miller visited the County Seat Friday.

• Francis Graham was over at Andes on Friday.

• Thomas M. Spiers was in town on Wednesday.

• George Miller was in town from Andes on Saturday.

• F.R. and J.W. Coulter were visitors at Delhi Tuesday.

• Gideon Miller visited his parents at Andes on Sabbath.

• W.H. Liddle and wife were visitors in town Wednesday.

• John M. Miller made a trip over to Bloomville Saturday.

• George Elliott and Robert Liddle were in town Monday.

• Mrs. Phinney has sold her horse to E.C. Smuth, of Delhi.

• Mrs. W.W. Hoy and children have been at John R. Hoy’s.

• A few new cases of measles have developed in town this week.

• W.T. Miller and wife and Miss Bell J. Miller were at Delhi Friday.

• David Oliver and Mrs. John Oliver and son visited Andes Tuesday.

• David Liddle and Andrew T. Doig are attending court as grand jurors this week.

• Kenneth McKenzie, grandson of the late Dr. McKenzie of this town, died oat Port Ewen, May 5.

• J.W. Coulter is building an addition onto the house recently purchased from D.L. Thompson.

• William Bennett (colored) has moved his family from this town back to Meredith street, Delhi.

• Rev. Marvin J. Thompson and Miss Leona J. Thomson were married at noon Wednewsday, May 15, Rev. Samson officiating. 

May 24, 1901

• Thomas Gordon is on the sick list.

• Thomas Miller visited Andes Wednesday.

• William Rogers was in town Wednesday.

• Dr. Phyfe, of Delhi, was in this place Tuesday.

• G.D. Miller and wife were at Bloomville Tuesday.

• Andrew Finkle, of Shavertown, was in town Tuesday. 

• Several new cases of measles have developed this week.

• A.O. Butts was at Davenport last week for a few days.

• David Currie was home from Delhi Friday and Saturday.

• Robert Campbell, of Andes, was in this place Wednesday.

• E.T. Gerry’s new team at Lake Delaware weighs 3,200 pounds.

• John Archibald and wife, of Halcott were visitors here Thursday.

• Thomas H. Johnson had one of his big team horses die Tuesday night.

• J.W. Archibald has gone to Griffin Corners to work at the carpenter trade.

• Rev. Marvin J. Thompson preached in the United Presbyterian church last Sabbath evening.

• No memorial services will be held here this year, but the graves of the fallen heroes will be decorated as usual.

• Rev. W.L.C. Samson will preach the Memorial sermon in the 2d Presbyterian church at Delhi Sabbath evening May 26.

• Among those at Delhi Tuesday were James A. Liddle and wife, May Liddle, May Thompson, E.J. Scott and wife, Mrs. Archie Maynard, and Mrs. W.H. Maynard.

• Following are the delegates and alternates from the United Presbyterian Sabbath School to the Sabbath school convention to be held at Franklin, May 28 and 29: Mrs. W.L.C. Samson, Miss Libbie Strangeway, Mrs. Elliott Thompson, Miss Bell Strangeway, Mrs. James A. Gow, Miss Mary L. Thompson. Alternates-Mrs. James L. Coulter, William H. Maynard, Mrs. Thomas Miller, Miss Maggie D. Strangeway, W.E. Hastings, Miss Jennie E. Miller. 

May 31, 1901

• Dr. Seacord was over at Andes Tuesday.

• John Glendenning was in town Friday.

• John Blair was down at Delhi Saturday.

• Will Crosier was a Delhi visitor Saturday.

• Marshall Thompson was at Andes Wednesday.

• S.T. Good man was here from Andes Saturday.

• T.S. Miller and Ed Gladstone were in town Tuesday from Andes.

• Woodburn & Smyth have erected a monument on the Phinney plot.

• Fred Thompson and James McFarlane were among those at Delhi Monday.

• Truant officer B.S. Miller has been visiting the schools in town the past week.

• Miss Libbie Strangeway is teaching school in the Gilchrist district in Elk Creek.

• J.W. Coulter is now occupying the house recently purchased of D.L. Thompson.

• Of the memorial sermon preached by Rev Samson at Delhi last Sabbath evening, the Gazette says, “Mr. Samson is a very entertaining speaker, and his sermon was appropriate and highly spoken of.”

• Rev Samson and wife were at Delhi Sabbath evening where he preached the Memorial sermon. On Sabbath he preached a fine Memorial sermon in the United Presbyterian church from Exodus 15:3, “The Lord is a man of war.”

• At E.T. Gerry’s place, at Lake Delaware considerable building is to be done this summer. A new barn is to be erected, the plans of which are being furnished by a New York architect.  The contract has already been let for a dairy house 16 x 30 feet and also a hog house, etc., to W.T. Hine, of Delhi and the mason work has already been commenced by Gray Bros.

May 1926 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

From the pages of the Andes Recorder for the Month of May 2026

May 7, 1926

• From a recent sugar social the Willian Workers realized $25.

• Jack Perry was moved from Andes to the Dickson big house.

• Mr. and Mrs. Frank Myers, of Binghamton, spent from Friday until Tuesday with his parents and he tried his luck at fishing.

• Mr. and Mrs. James Mabon and Mrs. Thomas Gordon attend the funeral of their Uncle, John Jack, at Delhi on Monday.

• Mrs. Lancelot Thomson is confined to her home with lumbago. Her niece Mrs. Gideon Miller, was up from Hamden to see her Monday.

• Mr. and Mrs. Alex Myers, Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Thomson and Norton Forrest attended the funeral of Joseph S. Forrest at Andes last Thursday.

• In the Bovina Center school district the same teachers have been hired for another year, viz: gilbert Banker as principal and Mrs. Leon VanDusen in primary department.

• The newly elected officers of the uptown Laurel Band society are Robert Erkson, president; Helen Parsons, vice President; Bernice DeSilva; secretary; Glenn Hobbie, treasurer.

• Joe Adee, of New Kingston, who purchased the farm of J.D. Burns, took possession Monday. Mr. Burns at present is stopping with his daughter, Mrs. Howard McPherson.

• Miss Mary Thomson, who recently purchased a house at Oneonta, went to that place Tuesday to take up her residence. Mrs. Elliott Thomson accompanied her to remain for a few days and help her get settled. 

May 14, 1926

• David J. Miller, of Walton, visiting relatives in town.

• Mrs. James Boggs is confined to her home up-town by illness.

• John Northrup recently visited his daughter, Mrs. Will Oliver, in Harpersfield.

• Earl Fisk at Lake Delaware, has the foundation in for a new barn to replace the one burned last year.

• Charles Thomson, of Endicott, was with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lancelot Thomson over the week end.

• The Beacon Light Sabbath School class will hold a visiting social in the church parlors on Friday evening, May 14. 

• Owing to the absence of the pastor, Rev. A.M. Thomson, at Newburgh, there were no services at R.P. church last Sabbath.

• Mrs. Eliza Barnhart, who spent the winter at John Quinn’s at Lake Delaware, has gone to Sidney Center for the summer.

• Frank Dickson and family and his sister, from Little Delaware, and Leon Taggart and family, of Oneonta, were here on Sabbath.

• The estate of Agnes Rockefeller, late of Bovina, is estimated at $3,000 personal. To Tessie Corbin, a sister, is willed $500; residue divided equally between four sons. 

• Mrs. Dixon Thomson, Mrs. Fred Thomson, Mrs. William Redman and Miss Carrie Dumond attended a Home Bureau meeting at Thomas D. Russell’s in Glenburnie last Saturday.

• Will Oliver, a Bovina boy, who has been with B.&.B. creamery at West Harpersfield, is now manager of the B.&.B. creamery at Margaretville. He also recently passed the examination for licensed milk tester. 

• Teachers hired for next year in Bovina are: Biggar Hollow, Forrest Owen; Coulter district, Mrs. Homer Burgin; Coulter Brook, Marion McPherson; Miller avenue, Elizabeth Strangeway; Pink street, Ruth Coulter; Butt End, Beatrice Hoy.

May 21, 1926

• Thomas A. Raitt, of Andes was in town Monday.

• Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Barnhart spent Sabbath with her people at Jefferson.

• Mrs. Robert Corcoran underwent an operation for appendicitis at Delhi last Thursday. 

• Mrs. Nettie Coe has gone to Batavia, Illinois, to spend a month with friends and relatives.

• Misses Kate and Fredi Muller spent over the weekend with their sister, Mrs. Otis McCumber, at Andes.

• Mrs. Andrew T. Doig, who had spent the winter with her brother, E.F. Thomson, in Walton, has returned to her home here.

• The interior of the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery is being painted. Harvey Reynolds, of Andes, is doing the work. 

• Mrs. James W. Thomson, Mrs. John Thomson, Mrs. John A. Russell and Mrs. Adam Laidlaw attended a missionary convention of the R.P. church.

• In the town of Bovina the county aid highway designation is Bovina Center toward Maynard school house. Available funds are $2,680; balance from 1925 $1,023.21

• Charles H. Hastings has moved to Walton, where he has the agency for the New York Life Insurance company. Until last fall he had been in Alberta, Canada, for some years.

BOVINA WOMAN DIES

Mrs. William T. Miller Passed Away at Her Home After Long Illness

Mrs. William T. Miller died at her home on Pink Street on Wednesay evening, May 13, after a long illness from cancers. She underwent an operation last October and continued to improve until January when she was taken worse and continued to fail from that time.

Her maiden name was Mary J. Bogs, a daughter of Thomas R. Boggs and Jane (Archibald) Boggs and was born in Bovina November 25, 1871. She was married November 7, 1897, and besides her husband is survived by her aged parents, a brother, James Boggs, and three sisters, Mrs. Thomas Ormiston and Calla Boggs, in Bovina, and Mrs. Robert Foreman, of Walton. 

The funeral which was largely attended was held from the house Saturday afternoon with Rev. F.N. Crawford officiating, assisted by Rev. Thomson. Interment was in the Bovina Center Cemetery. 

May 28, 1926

• William Wilson recently had his tonsils removed.

• Mrs. Lancelot Thomson, who has been ill for several weeks, is reported slightly better.

• There is no preaching at the Church of the Covenanters, on account of the absence of the pastor, Rev. Thomson. 

• Rev. F.N. Crawford is attending the meeting of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian church at Sharon, Penn.

• Jean, the young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Robinson was ill the first of the week, threatened with appendicitis, but is now better.

• Fred Henderson, secretary and treasurer of the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery company, underwent an operation for appendicitis Saturday and is doing well.

• Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, who have been working for John Blair on his farm, will move to Arena and conduct a boarding house. Mr. Blair has hired Charles Miller, of Downsville, who comes June 1. 

Bovina Fish Club

In order to protect some of the Bovina streams the Bovina Fishing Club has been organized with the following officers: George Johnson, president; Wallace B. Smith, secretary; Everett DeSilva, Charles F. McPherson, Eugene Chase, Henry Monroe, directors. They have leased the stream rights from Bovina Center to the upper end of the town.

This Day in Bovina for April 2026

 

Here's the compilation of the Town of Bovina Facebook page entries for April 2026:

Seventy-three years ago today, on April 1, 1953, Charles LaFever started working for LaFever Excavating. His job change was reported in the Catskill Mountain News, April 3 issue: "Charles LaFever, who has been employed the past three years at the Hilson Brothers feed store, has resigned and will start April 1 with his brother,  Howard, in bulldozing work." He would work for LaFever's for 40 years. He was honored for his 40 years by his nephew John in August 1994. 

Sixty-one years ago today, on April 2, 1965, as later reported in the Delaware Republican Express, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Monroe and daughter, Frances Burns, were guests Friday of his sister, Mrs. Arthur Kellam, at Binghamton."

129 years ago today, on April 3, 1897, "The catalogues have been printed and the Bovina Public Library was opened to the public… It contains many valuable books for both old and young."  The library at that time was located in the basement of the Bovina United Presbyterian Church. The church had started a library in 1879, but it ended after about a decade.  In 1896, E.T. Gerry donated $100 and Mr. H.C. Frick, of Pittsburgh, $50 to starting up the library again. Elbridge Gerry owned the Gerry Estate at Lake Delaware. He died in 1927. Frick was Henry Clay Frick, noted industrialist, financier and art patron. He died in 1919.

110 years ago today, at the primary election held April 4, 1916, only 34 people voted - 18 Republicans, 13 Democrats and 3 Prohibitionists.

131 years ago, Andes Recorder cast some disparaging remarks concerning certain people in Bovina and how they spend their money.  In its April 5, 1895 issue, the Bovina correspondent reported that "About thirty people in town purchased a copy of the Biographical Review, which shows that there are at least thirty fools in town."  The Biographical Review of Delaware County has proven to be an invaluable tool for genealogists, but this comment does confirm what I have done for years - take these biographies with a grain of salt. The full text of the Review is on the Delaware County Genealogy website at http://www.dcnyhistory.org/bioindex.html.

103 years ago today, the April 6, 1923 issue of the Andes Recorder reported in its Bovina column: "The dry milk plant of the Bovina Center Co-operative Creamery is now in operation.  The company is experimenting in the making of cocoa which only requires the addition of hot water to make it ready for use.  One sample shipment has been made." This Wyer image from 1946 shows the creamery. The dry milk plant is on the right with the two smokestacks. 

139 years ago today, the April 7, 1887 issue of the Hobart Independent reported on the death of James H. Bramley: "Our citizens were shocked on Thursday to learn of the sudden death of James H. Bramley, of Bovina, who also has resided at Kortright and in Delhi, and is well known and highly esteemed for his genial disposition and many worthy traits of character. He was in Delhi on Saturday, the 25th ult. in apparently good health. On Sabbath he complained of a pain in his breast, which continued at intervals without exciting especial alarm until Thursday, the 31st, when it was thought best to have medical advice, and his brother Girard, came to Delhi to procure a physician. Dr. Gates, who was desired, being absent at the time, his return was awaited as no immediate danger was apprehended, but in a short time a telegram came from Bloomville announcing that Mr. Bramley was dead." He was buried in the Bovina Cemetery.

Seventy-seven years ago, the Catskill Mountain News' Bovina columnist reported in the paper's April 8, 1949 issue: "I think everyone in town is rejoicing over the fact we have the daily Binghamton Press route back again. It was discontinued during the war and up to now no Press papers were available same day they were dated."

It was 106 years ago today, on April 9, 1920, that Elizabeth Murdock Doig passed away. The Andes Recorder reported her death under the headline "Last of Her Generation." The paper went on to note that "she was born in Bovina 81 years ago and her entire life had been spent in the town.  The funeral was held Monday from the U.P. church of which she had long been a member.  She was the last of the family of the late Andrew Doig." Born in 1839, she was the daughter of Andrew Doig and Margaret Sanderson.

114 years ago today, on April 10, 1912, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, " A.J. Nicholl was up from Delhi…for the purpose of organizing a Cow Testing association."  A cow-testing association was a group of dairymen organized for the purpose of improving their dairy herd and dairy conditions thru monthly milk, butterfat, feed, and profit or loss records of each individual cow in a member's herd, and thru a study of selection, breeding, and feeding.

In 1946, Delhi photographer Bob Wyer took a series of aerial pictures around Bovina in a plane piloted by Eddie Davidson. These images are of what was then the Jack and Eleanor Damgaard farm. This was originally the John Hastings homestead and stayed in the family for over 100 years.  The farm came to Eleanor through her mother, Dora Hastings Barnhart. More about the Damgaard farm is in my blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2011/09/american-success-story.html  Images courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. Wyer Aerials 064 Jim Barnhart a AER144 Jack or Damgaard a

107 years ago today, the Bovina column of the April 12, 1919 Delaware Republican reported that "Hale Elliott, who has been laid up several weeks with injuries received by a fall in the dry milk plant, has returned to his work there." He was born in 1890 and died in 1980.

Eighty-six years ago today, on April 13, 1940, as later reported in the Delaware Republican, "Mr. and Mrs. Robert Boggs and children Bobbie and Barbara, were at Delhi on Sunday afternoon and called on her sister, Mrs. William Sanderson and her baby, Shirley Bell."

115 years ago today, the April 14, 1911 Bovina column of the Andes Recorder reported the following: "It is stated that Professor John P. Mabon, a son of Jas C. Mabon, in southern Bovina, contemplates giving up teaching and hopes to take up the business of farming." And it does appear he gave up teaching and was farming for some time in the Oneonta area. He died in 1953 in Oneonta. His obituary noted him as a "retired educator and farmer." He was widowed in 1935 and his only child, James Mabon, was killed by a lightning strike in 1944.

103 years ago today, on April 15, 1923, Margaret Coulter Boggs recorded the following in her diary: "Been a nice day. All went to church. First time Grandma has been to church this year. We saw a flying machine go over today. First one this way." Not sure who she means by grandma, but she's likely referring to her mother-in-law, Alice Jane Russell, the wife of William Fountain Boggs. Alice would die in June 1923.

The Andes Recorder reported 158 years today in its April 16, 1868 issue, the following:  "Ho! For California – the following persons left for California on Monday last.  Mssrs Robt. Smith, Daniel Smith and Jas. Armstrong, of Delhi, Mr. James Miller, of Bovina, and James Davidson of Andes, with their families; and Mr. John B. Scott of Bovina.  They will sail from New York on the 15th, by the North American Line, for San Francisco.  We wish them a safe passage and a pleasant journey." Robert and Daniel Smith likely were the sons of Robert Smith and Christiana McFarland. Daniel died in Salinas in 1886 and Robert in Fresno in 1903. James Miller probably is the son of James Miller (1802-1878) and Agnes Coulter (1802-1869). He appears to have settled in Gilroy, Santa Clara County, California. His cousin Libbie Miller married Robert Smith and traveled with him to settle in California. [I was not able to clearly identify James Armstrong, James Davidson or John B. Scott.]

This chauffeur license image of Mrs. Olav Nysather (or Nysether) was taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in the late 1930s. Chauffeur licenses were required for anyone driving for hire or as part of their job or for any form of ID. Today this is known as a Class E license in New York. Mrs. Nysether, the former Margit Peterson, was born in Norway in 1902. She married Olva in 1926. The Nysathers lived in Bovina from the early 1930s to 1943 in the house where Dick and Carol Brannen now live. In 1943, the family moved to Wisconsin. Olav died in Madison, Wisconsin in 1970. Margit died in 1974. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

130 years ago today, April 18, 1896, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "H.G. Bramley was still making [maple] sugar…Sap was still running fairly well in his camp."

142 years ago today, on April 19, 1884, as later reported in the Delaware Republican, "Mr. W.J. Coulter, of Bovina Valley, passed through town….with beautiful specimens of Colorado Elk horns, three in number, sent by his brother, Mr. John A. Coulter, of Colorado. The horns of one of the larger ones measured from the center of the frontal skull-piece, or forehead, to the tip of the horns, one horn 4 feet 10 1/2 inches, the other 4 feet 11 inches; from tip to tip, 9 feet 9 1/2 inches." More about John Coulter is in my blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2020/05/bovina-ex-pats-john-coulter-colorado.html

145 years ago today, on April 20, 1881, John Russell, son of Stephen and Mary Russell, married Agnes Orr, the daughter of Robert and Barbara Orr. The Bovina column of the Stamford Mirror for April 26 reported that "Our friend, John Russell, went to Kortright yesterday, and returned in the evening, bringing a young bride with him." They would have three children, Henry, Clarence and Everett before John's death at the age of 56 in 1910. Agnes survived her husband by 23 years, dying in 1933.

192 years ago, a notice dated April 21, 1834, appeared for several weeks in the Delaware Gazette: "TEMPERANCE ADDRESS. An address on Temperance, delivered before the Bovina Temperance Society, by Mr. Douglas, just printed, and a few copies for sale at this office. April 21, 1834."

152 years ago today the Delaware Republican carried this ad dated April 22, 1874: "Farm for Sale. Said farm is situated in the town of Bovina, three miles from Brushland and one mile from Kingston Turnpike; contains 154 acres of land, well-watered by two streams of running water, large Orchard and Sugar bush, good Buildings. TERMS EASY. Will sell Stock with farm if desired, or trade for small place. Inquire of owner on the premises. John F. Graham." I think this farm was located on what is now Lee Hollow and later became the Lee Farm. 

146 years ago today, on the April 23, 1880, someone passed through Bovina that aroused enough interest for someone to post in the Bovina column of the Stamford Mirror this notice: "Does any one know who that young man was, who passed through Bovina village, Friday evening, April 23d, riding a small bay horse, with a large white strip in its face."

This chauffeur license image of Glenn Hobbie was taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in the late 1930s. Chauffeur licenses were required for anyone driving for hire or as part of their job. Today this is known as a Class E license in New York. Glenn was born in 1913 in Bovina and spent his life there. Married to Anna Boggs in 1944, he passed away in 1970. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

This postcard view of the Bovina Center creamery dates from before 1913. 

105 years ago today, on April 26, 1921, the Bovina Town Board voted to have David G. Currie fill the unexpired term of town clerk Thomas Gordon, who had passed away on April 22.  “On motion the Supervisor with Justice Strangeway be appointed a committee to assist the present Clerk to examine all papers and records in the private office of the late Town Clerk and remove all that are of value to the Town, to the office of the Town Clerk.” My dad recalled that Thomas's daughter Margaret told him that she had to help the committee locate all the records in the house. Margaret was 13 at the time.

In 1946, Delhi photographer Bob Wyer took a series of aerial pictures around Bovina in a plane piloted by Eddie Davidson. The image was labeled in the Wyer materials as "Wilson (Wally Hanson)." I think this is the Wally Hanson farm on Coulter Brook (though I have conflicting information that said it was in the Cape Horn area). The cultivated fields are cauliflower. According to the 1940 census, Hanson lived next to the old Schneider farm, which was on Coulter Brook. Wally was born in Colorado and came to Bovina when he was around 10 years old. His father died when he was 14. He stayed on the family farm until the late 1940s when he moved to North Carolina. Wally died in North Carolina in 1998 at the age of 83. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

127 years ago, the April 28, 1899 Bovina column of the Andes Recorder reported that "David Finkle, of Lake Delaware, has been suffering for several months with sciatic rheumatism and through the kindness of Mr. Gerry he will receive treatment in a New York hospital." He returned home from his treatment about a month later.

169 years ago today, the April 29, 1857 Delaware Gazette carried this item, entitled "Carelessness with Fire Arms." "A young woman living with Mrs. Luddington, in Bovina, while sweeping at the head of the stairs, a boy about eight years old, a grand-child of Mrs. L. took a gun which he supposed was unloaded, and playfully pointing up at the girl, pulled the trigger. The charge mostly took effect in one hand, lacerating it so severely that the thumb and one or two fingers had to be cut off. The handle of the broom was shivered to pieces - some of the splinters hitting her in the face and making some scratches, but nothing serious. When will people learn to keep fire arms out of the reach of children?" Mrs. Ludington likely was Jane Northrup Ludington, widow of Henry Ludington, son of one of Bovina's Revolutionary War soldiers. I'm not sure who the 'young woman' was, but it might have been her servant, Jennet Shields, who would have been about 22 at the time of this incident.

Seventy-six years ago today, April 30, 1950, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Catskill Mountain News, "Milton Hastings visited Miss Lilly Happy at East Meredith on Sunday. He found her much improved in health. Sunday was her 87th birthday. She took great pleasure in reading many cards and letters which she had received in honor of her birthday." Miss Happy was Milton's housekeeper for many years. She had become ill about a year before. In the summer of 1951, she was moved to the Delaware County sanatorium, where she died that October.

A Week with Bovina People - April 1901 - 125 Years ago from the Andes Recorder

 

Life on the streets and roads of Bovina 125 years ago from the Andes Recorder

April 5, 1901

• Dr. Ormiston was in town Saturday.

• F.C. Armstrong was at Delhi Saturday.

• Gideon Miller was over at Andes on Sabbath.

• William Miller, of Walton, was here on Friday.

• Frank Gowanlock visited the County Seat Tuesday.

• Smyth, the marbleman, was up from Delhi Monday.

• The Misses Palmer visited relatives at Hobart last week.

• Wednesday at D.J. Miller’s sale heifers averaged $27.50.

• W.D. Thompson, hardware agent, was in this place Tuesday.

• Samuel Cowell and Daniel Shaw, of Delhi, were in town Friday.

• At James Mitchell’s sale last Friday the heifers averaged about $27.

• William Richardson and wife returned from Margaretville, Tuesday.

• Arthur Neish has moved to Lake Delaware and will work on Gerry’s farm.

• John, son of E.L. Coulter, is sick with the measles and a number are exposed.

• Quite a number from out of town attended Mrs. W.R. Miller’s funeral Friday.

• Dr. Rabuck has been appointed as health officer to succeed the late Dr. Phinney.

• David Draffin has moved from Thos. Ormiston’s farm to rooms in the old cooper shop building.

• John Blair, Frank Graham, Elliott Thompson and Elmer Hastings attended the Smith sale at Hamden Thursday.

April 12, 1901

• Mrs. Adolphus Banker is at G.D. Miller’s.

• Will Robertson, of Andes, was here Monday.

• A.O. Butts was at Andes and Delhi Saturday.

• Alex Hilson went to New York city Monday to purchase new goods.

• Misses Kate and Frederika Muller were at Andes Saturday and Sabbath.

• B. and C.B. Johnson and John Kemp were in town Tuesday and Wednesday.

• Miss Jennie Hastings has been home from the Oneonta Normal school for a few days.

• Rev. Williams started Monday to attend the annual Methodist Conference at Yonkers.

• Commissioner James A. Gow and F.C. Armstrong were among those at Delhi Saturday.

• Among those in town Wednesday Adam Scott, of Delhi, and Wesley Miller, of Oneonta.

• Mrs. G.J. Dickson went to New York city Friday to buy her stock of millinery goods.

• Oliver Dickson and sister have moved from Delhi to their farm on Pisgah for the summer.

• Miss Anna Phyfe has been home from teaching at Dogeville, for the Easter vacation.

• Supervisor Irvine and Assessor Cable went to Delhi Thursday to meet with the State Assessors.

• Rev. and Mrs. William Brown, of Mundale, were guests at Rev. Samson’s the first of the week.

• Miss Jennie Campbell is home from Hobart for a vacation. She has been offered the same position there for another year.

• The mail route has Bovina and Bloomville, via, Bovina Centre, has been awarded to James O’Donohue for $370 a year.

• At the missionary meeting Wednesday evening in the United Presbyterian church parlors, the receipts were something over $40.

• John Dennis, son of J.P. Dennis, is home from the Hahneman Hospital at Park avenue, 67 and 68 streets, New York city, where he underwent an op for the removal of a bunch over his right eye.

A Good Showing

During the past year the Bovina United Presbyterian congregation contributed for Missions and Church Boards through Presbytery’s Financial Agent, $1,491. Other contributions for Missions by Ladies Missionary Society, Junior Missionary Society, Christian Endeavor Society, Sabbath School and individuals amounted to $638, making a total of $2,129 for Missions. Total for all purposes for year ending April 1st, 1901, $4,0o85, of which the Sabbath School contributed $656.

April 19, 1901

• David Sloan went to Delhi on Thursday.

• Ad Maxwell was in this village Wednesday.

• judge grant was in this place Wednesday.

• HJ Hewitt was up from Delhi on Sabbath.

• Henry Raitt of Walton was in town Thursday.

• Smyth, the marbleman, was here on Thursday.

• Rev Williams returned from conference Monday.

• R. A. Thompson was over at Bloomville Wednesday

• David Oliver has traded horses with William Lambert.

• Alex Hilson returned from New York City Monday.

• Fred Bramley now drives a new wagon – one of J.W. Blair’s.

• Adolphus Banker of Grand Gorge was in town over Sabbath.

• Leonard Sloan and Ken Russell were among those at Delhi Monday.

• Thomas Ormiston has hired Albert Craig and wife to work his farm for him.

• Elisha Maynard, a former resident of this town, has moved from Hobart to Stamford.

• A number from out of town attended the funeral of William Lee Forrest Wednesday.

• Highway Commissioner Doig has sent out cards to the overseers of highways notifying them of a change in the road law.

• Tuesday and Wednesday Thomas Gordon and E.M. Norton appraised the medicines and other goods of the late Dr. Phinney.

• Francis Coulter is suffering with gangrene in his foot.  The doctors thought it advisable to amputate the foot, but Mr. Coulter would not consent to it.

• An epidemic of measles is raging in town, and nearly everyone who has not had them is either sick with them or has been exposed. Most of them were exposed at church.  Dr. Rabuck is kept very busy, it is stated that up to Wednesday night there were 55 cases, and more coming.

Monday William Lee Forrest died very suddenly. He and his father-in-law John Lunn were shingling, when he complained of not feeling well and Lunn told him he had better get down and go to the house, and he said that he couldn't. Lunn took hold of him and he fell over onto the roof. Chas Tuttle and James Boyd happened to be passing and came to Lunn’s aid. A rope was procured and Mr. Forrest lowered from the roof and carried to the house, but he only lived a few minutes. It is thought that he had an apoplectic shock.

Mr. Forrest was born on the farm now occupied by Robert R. Scott and was in his 45th year. He married Miss Mary Lunn 22 years ago, and she with a son and a daughter and his mother survive him. His father, Robert Forest, died in 1884, also dying suddenly.

The funeral was held Wednesday at 12 o’clock, from his late residence in Coulter Brook, Rev. Samson officiating. 

April 26, 1901

• James G. Seath was in town over Sabbath.

• David Oliver visited his son at Hamden Friday.

• W.T. Miller was at Andes the first of the week.

• A.E. Liddle was in town Monday from Andes.

• George Jobson, of Roses Brook, was here Monday.

• J.W. Blair and daughter visited at Delhi Friday.

• James Foreman and wife were at Delhi Friday.

• Frank Miller was in town Wednesday from Andes.

• Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy Warren were in town Saturday.

• Mr. and Mrs. A.O. Butts were down at Delhi Saturday.

• Rev. Williams and Alex Hilson visited the County Seat Friday.

• James G. Seath and David Sloan visited Hobart the first of the week.

• Dr. Seacord and Francis Graham made a trip to the County Seat Monday.

• We understand that D.L. Thompson has rented the “Rosemont” at Stamford.

• Mrs. A.S. Banker and son, Marion, returned to their home at Grand Gorge Saturday.

• W.W. Hoy of Pennsylvania visited his parents Mr. and Mrs. John R. Hoy here Friday.

• D.A. Oliver, formerly of this town, has been appointed street commissioner of Hamden village.

• Friday night Ezra Henderson, William Ward and Archie Coulter went to Livingston Lake fishing.  They had been there only a short time and had not yet secured any fish when they were pounced upon by officers Smith and Franklin and William Mason, and were arrested and taken to Delhi, when they settled by each paying $25.  Coulter and Ward had their heads cut open by being struck by the officers.