Here's the monthly compilation of the entries from the Town of Bovina Historian Facebook page:
144 years ago today, on July 1, 1882, the Delaware Republican reported that "Andrew Brown, of Bovina, has been making a six weeks trip through the west, visiting his sons in Iowa and relatives in Michigan. He returned last Saturday." Andrew was born in Bovina in 1816. He was married twice and was the father of about 15 children, many of whom died in childhood. The sons he was visiting in Iowa were likely James and Andrew, sons from his first marriage. Andrew died a little over a year after his trip west in November 1883 from blood poisoning caused by a hog bite.
Forty-six years ago today, the July 2, 1980 Stamford Mirror Recorder included this item in the Bovina column, written by Ann Cairns:
138 years ago today, the Bovina column of the July 3, 1888 Stamford Mirror reported that "Henry Brush, of Wisconsin, son of Alex. Brush a former resident of this town, is visiting relatives here." I think this is John Henry Brush, son of Alexander Brush, Jr and his second wife Janet Murray. Henry was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1863.
200 years ago today, on July 4, 1826, was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Bovina, like many communities, held celebrations of this event. More information about the Bovina celebrations can be found at the Bovina NY History blog at http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2015/08/celebration-at-bovina-1826.html It also was on July 4, 1826 that founding fathers John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died.
145 years ago today, on July 5, 1881, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror, "during a heavy storm of wind and rain, just before night, while Duncan Ballantine's team was being driven home from Strangeway's to Andes, a poplar tree was blown over and one of the limbs struck just between the team and the driver, breaking the wagon pole off, but doing no injury to either the man or the team, while the top of the tree struck in front of and around the team."
Eighty-six years ago, on July 6, 1940, as announced in the Delaware Republican, "the appraisal of the estate of the late William T. Miller.." was held. The appraisers were John Thompson and Maurice Hall. Miller died the previous month in Bovina at the age of 70. He was a widower, his wife having died in 1926. He was the last surviving child of Michael Miller and Sally (McCune) Miller. And he was my great great uncle.
143 years ago today on July 7, 1883, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror, George Cable won the Bovina glass ball shooting match. "This badge is a gold one of beautiful design, and is contended for at each meeting by members of the club." Glass ball shooting originated in the mid 1860s.
Eighty-three years ago today, the Bovina column in the July 8, 1943 the Delaware Republican reported "Funeral services for Mrs. Everett Jocelyn, who died at the Delhi Hospital on Thursday night, were held at the home here on Saturday afternoon…Burial was made at Halcottville. Mrs. Charles Hyatt and sons Ralph and Everett of New York City attended the funeral but had to return to New York on Saturday evening as both boys are in the armed services and had only a 24-hour leave." Mrs. Jocelyn was born Martha Drace and was 17 years older than her husband. They were married in 1910. Everett was her second husband.
Forty-one years ago today, the July 9, 1985 Daily Star carried this article about Enid Carter, who was retiring as a home economics teacher.
Ninety years ago, the July 10, 1936 Binghamton Press reported on the plans to flood "eighteen hamlets" as part of New York City's plan to use water from the East Branch of the Delaware. The article noted that "beginning at Little Delaware, establishment of a reservoir would flood out the Hook and Bovina Center."
Walter Coulter was born 209 years ago on today July 11, 1804, on the family farm on Coulter Brook Road. He was the son of Francis Coulter and Nancy Glendenning and would spend his whole life in Bovina, farming on what is now Seedorf Road. He married Margaret Storie in 1823. They would have 12 children, of whom four would die before reaching adulthood. His wife died in 1864. Walter died in December 1876 after having been declared insane a few months before.
150 years ago today, the July 12, 1876 Delaware Gazette reported the tragic death of Edward Seacord on July 3, who "was fatally injured by the falling of heavy timbers on his head from the loft of his barn." The article went on to report "Mr. Seacord was engaged in re-silling his barn, in company with four other persons, at the time. The heavy sleepers of the upper-loft, on which there was about a ton of hay, became loosened, probably by the spreading of the frame, and fell, injuring Mr. Seacord so that he survived but about one hour after the accident. The skull was no doubt fractured, as, after being restored to consciousness, vomiting followed until his death."
105 years ago today, on the morning of July 13, 1921, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Charles A. McPherson was coming to the creamery" when "the hold back strap broke on the Myers pitch and let the wagon onto the horse." He was able to stop the horse near Hilson's store. The paper noted that he did this "without colliding with any of the numerous teams and no damage was done."
115 years ago today, on July 14, 1911, as later reported in the Andes Recorder "… a terrific hail storm swept over the greater part of the town of Bovina and did much damage. Corn was stripped of leaves, oats and buckwheat were irreparably damaged. Gardens were in some instances nearly ruined. The storm lasted nearly half an hour and the hail was like peas. Heaps of them remained unmelted the next morning. Lightning struck a maple tree at J.W. Coulter's."
108 years ago today, July 15, 1918, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Herbert White, of Delhi, was here … making repairs to a machine at the Dry Milk plant." This image of the creamery was taken by Jim Hilson in 1943. The Dry Milk Plant is the building with the smokestacks just behind the main creamery.
This chauffeur license image of Earl Miller 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. Earl Miller grew up on what later became Suits-Us Farm, the son of John M. Miller and Bertha Anderson. He was a veteran of the first World War. Earl lived in the lower Hudson Valley later in his life and died in Walton in 1955 at the age of 68. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.
125 years ago today, on July 17, 1901, John Phyfe died in Bovina at the age of 83. He was born in Fofar, Scotland and came to Bovina in 1843. John was a tailor by trade and had held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years. He was buried in Bovina.
117 years ago today, on July 18, 1909, Mrs. Thomas Downie died at her home in Cleveland, Ohio. As later reported in the Andes Recorder, "she had been in failing health for some time." The paper also noted that "Mr. and Mrs. Downie were former residents of Bovina, but went west many years ago." Mrs. Downie was born Janet Downie in Scotland and was a first cousin of her husband. She was married to Thomas in 1866 in Bovina. They left for Cleveland later that year. Janet is buried in Cleveland.
177 years ago today, the July 19, 1849 New York Tribune reported on several Anti-Rent meetings in the Delaware County area, including one in Bovina. A resolution was passed at this meeting, that read in part: "That we consider the tenants the only true possessors, and that our possession should never inure to the benefit of the landlord who fraudulently imposed his leases upon us; and that, in order to bring this cause speedily to an issue, we call upon those who have it in charge to forward the aforenamed suit as speedily as possible, in order to determine us in our course and quiet the minds of so large a community." The resolution went on state that "we, the injured, defrauded and oppressed people will wage perpetual warfare against that accursed system, until it is eradicated root and branch, and call upon every well-wisher of society, every lover of liberty, and every officer wielding influence, either Executive, Legislative or Judicial, to aid us in the just cause we have commenced."
124 years ago today, on July 20, 1902, Bovina was hit with a heavy storm. John Blair, on the farm now owned by Jack Burns, sustained the greatest damage. Evergreen and other trees were torn up. G.D. Miller's butcher shop was literally torn to pieces. The Andes Recorder reported that "In the village trees were blown down and some of the school house roof and chimney were smashed. In other parts of the town there was also a lot of damage."
Fifty nine years ago today, July 21, 1967, a cloud burst caused considerable damage to the roads on Bramley Mountain. As later reported in the Walton Reporter, "Clark Lay, Bovina highway superintendent and his men, had a big job of replacing water courses along the road and restoring driveways, but early this week he was pretty much on top of the job with a big assist from county highway workers who turned out to help him Monday."
128 years ago today, the July 22, 1898 Bovina column of the Andes Recorder reported that "The weather the past week has been very close and hot. Rain is much needed." The Bovina correspondent also noted that "some have finished haying, and have a big crop. Most of the barns are not large enough and stacking has had to be resorted to."
Eighty-seven years ago today, on July 23, 1939, as later reported by the Delaware Republican, "Craig Banuat and sister, Miss Mary and Mrs. W.J. Storie and daughter, Rae, left….on a motor trip to California. They expected to spend Monday night with Mr. and Mrs. Milton Hoy in Oil City, PA."
It was 50 years ago today, July 24, 1976, that the Town of Bovina celebrated the nation's Bicentennial. Pictures and the story of the day are in my blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2016/07/bovina-celebrates-bicentennial-of.html
This undated view shows what is now County Route 6 less than a mile from the Bovina Center hamlet. The house and barn in the image are still standing, so you should recognize this the next time you are traveling from New Kingston towards Bovina Center!
Eighty-nine years ago today, on July 26, 1937, Courtney Currie (1906-1977), who worked at the Bovina Center Co-operative creamery, had his arm broken twice at the wrist. He worked in the dry milk plant and caught his sleeve in a piece of machinery at the plant. Courtney was in the hospital until August 14.
123 years ago today, on July 27, 1903, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "David F. Hoy and family started ... for their home in Ithaca. Mr. Hoy’s duties as registrar will soon engage his time, preparing for the opening of Cornell University." More about David Hoy is on my blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2014/10/david-fletcher-hoy-give-my-regards-to.html
115 years ago today, the July 28, 1911 Bovina column of the Andes Recorder reported that "Richard Smith, for many years a shoemaker here, died recently in California." Smith was born in England in 1827 and came to the United States in 1852. He was in Bovina for many years and didn't go to California until late in life. He and his wife went to Walton in 1905 to visit their children. Richard went to California at the end of 1905 to spend the winter. At some point, his wife followed. She died in California in 1908. Richard died in Santa Ana, California on July 11, 1911.
139 years ago today, on July 29, 1887, Charles Loughran Dickson, better known as Loughran Dickson, was born, the son of Dr. Gilbert Dickson and Jane Loughran Dickson. He was 25 when his father died in 1912. Loughran was appointed the postmaster for Bovina Center in 1915. He continued to be the postmaster even after he left Bovina to go to Yale Law School. He was living in Binghamton working as an attorney when he died suddenly in October 1927. His mother was appointed as acting postmaster the day after his death. Loughran is buried in the Bovina Cemetery.
Seventy-two years ago, on July 30, 1954, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, "The Ladies Auxiliary of the Bovina Fire department, who marched for the first time wearing their new uniforms at the Old Home day in Unadilla July 30, were honored by receiving first prize in appearance. This is Peg Robson modeling the new uniform.
Eighty-seven years ago today, on July 31, 1939, as later reported in the Delaware Republican Bovina column, "Misses Marjorie Russell and Eleanor Burns and nephew and Rev. H.H. McClellan went to New York on Monday afternoon. They expect to attend the World's Fair. Miss Russell will go to Manhasset, L.I. to visit Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Thompson. The others will go on to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. after which they will attend the New Wilmington Missionary Conference." Eleanor Burns later became Eleanor Archibald when she married Marvin Archibald.



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