This Day in Bovina for August

Here are the daily postings on the Bovina NY History Facebook page for August.

Agnes Bell (Aggie) Armstrong was born 145 years ago on August 1, 1872, the daughter of Frank C. Armstrong and Jennette Burns.  Sadly, she would die only three days later.  She is buried in the Bovina Cemetery.  Three years less one day after her death, the Armstrongs had another daughter that they named Agnes Jeanette.  Sadly, she too would die young, dying when only two months old.

Eighty-seven years ago today, August 2, 1930, this article appeared in the Binghamton Press.  Gilbert D. Miller was Bovina's last surviving Civil War veteran.  He would die a few months later on March 13, 1931.

Fifty years ago today, on August 3, 1967, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Delaware Republican, "Mrs. W.J. Storie, Mrs. Eugene Vandenbord [Mrs. Storie's daughter], Miss Janice Vandenbord and Miss Marian McPherson visited Mrs. H.K. Galloway at Cambridge…" They returned the next day. Five days later, Mrs. Storie would pass away unexpectedly at the age of 76.

Esther Maynard was born 184 years ago today, August 4, 1833, the daughter of Isaac Maynard and Jane Falconer.  She would marry Edward Combs and died on her 63rd birthday in Delancey in 1896.  She is buried in Bovina, where a memorial stone was erected in April 1897 by Woodburn and Smyth of Delhi.

Fifty years ago today, on August 5, 1967, Fred Ganger died unexpectedly at his home in Delhi. A native of Germany, he had a farm for a number of years on Cape Horn Road before retiring to Delhi.

Fifty-three years ago today, August 6, 1964, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Delaware Republican Express, “Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rabeler and her mother, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rabeler, and two daughters, Richard Jardine and sister Martha, and Tanya Lay took the bus from Delhi to the Worlds Fair at New York….."

133 years ago today, the August 7, 1884 Gilboa Monitor reported that "Thirty fresh air children have been domiciled in Bovina."

122 years ago today, August 8, 1895, there was a 'theft' at the home of Rev. Hayes. It was briefly reported in the Andes Recorder: "At the reception at Rev. Hayes' last Thursday evening some one borrowed two cakes."

125 years ago today, on August 9, 1892, as later reported in the Delaware Republican, "T.A. Archibald had one of his nice gray horses killed by lightning…"

One hundred ninety years today, on August 10, 1827, George Laidlaw was born in Scotland, the son of David Laidlaw and Helen Knox Hart.  He came to America as a child and married Janet Hume in Delhi.  They would have five children.  George died at the age of 49 in 1877 and is buried in Bovina.

115 Years Ago today, on August 11, 1898, the Board of Railroad Commissioners of the State of New York held a public hearing on the application of the Delaware Railroad Company to lay a railroad from Delhi to Andes, with a spur to Bovina.  Here's the Public Notice as published in the August 6 Delaware Republican.

Seventy-four years ago today, the Bovina column in the August 12, 1943 Delaware Republican reported that "Miss Kate Birdsall, who is in nurses' training at Vassar Hospital, Poughkeepsie, is home on vacation." She likely also was home for the wedding of her cousin, Catherine Banuat. The same column reported that Marjorie Russell gave a shower in honor of Catherine.

123 years ago today, August 13, 1894, James Hastings, Sr., one of Bovina's oldest citizens, died at the residence of his son James.  He was 97 years old.  That same day, the contract for building the bridges at the Butt End and at John Thompson's was let to a gentleman from Bloomville, for about $900.  This was related to repairing flood damage earlier in the summer.

Sixty-four years ago today, on August 14, 1953, this photograph was taken of the "Beacon Lights" Sunday School class. The class met to hold a surprise party for Mrs. William J. Storie in honor of 25 years teaching the class. The class held a program on the theme 1928, including a history in photographs, popular songs and a fashion parade. Unfortunately, this is the best quality copy I have of the photo. If anyone has one that is better, I'd love to know. Front:  Elizabeth Mabon, Marion McPherson, Marian Spear, Vera Storie, Mary Burgin, Helen Hall; Second: Stella McPherson, Marjorie Walley, Ruth McGowan, Eleanor Archibald, Bea Thompson, Helen Burns, Dorothy Russell, Margaret McPherson, Marjorie Russell, Celia Coulter, Grace Roberts, Helen McDivitt; Third:  Helen Forrest, Mrs. Stanley McMaster, her guest from Canada, Leona LaFever, Gladys Lay, Laura LaFever, Helen Tyrrell, Gladys Doig, Doris Rabeler, Margaret Gordon, Rae Vandenbord 

Seventy-five years ago today, on August 15, 1942, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, "State highway employees have made a recent check of the number of vehicles passing at various points in this section." The report noted that passenger car travel was down significantly from the year before. For the "Bovina Center road at intersection with Delhi-Andes Road (County Route 6 and State Route 28)" there were 139 cars that day.

Sixty-five years ago today, on August 16, 1952, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, "An amateur show for the benefit of the Bovina library was held … at the Community hall. It was directed by George Duphily. Twelve others took part. There were selections of music, songs and two movies. About 75 were in attendance for which a nice sum was realized. Much credit is due Mr. Duphily and others who helped to make it a success."

137 years ago today, the August 17, 1880 Bovina column of the Stamford Mirror reported that "an ice-cream sociable, in the interest of the M.E. Church, was held at the house of Mrs. Loughran … proceeds amounting to $10.65."

124 years ago today, the following item appeared in the August 18, 1893 Andes Recorder - "Bovina is noted for its great butter - pure Jersey butter that is a strong competitor of Elgin [Illinois], and is growing in favor with the butter men every year.  A correspondent says: 'When we were young 100 pounds of butter per cow was a fair average; now from 300 to 400 pounds per cow does not satisfy the Bovina dairyman.  We expect, if they keep on grading their stock, by the time of the next centennial the Bovina cow will be giving butter instead of milk.'"

The Seventh Annual Coulter Family Reunion was held ninety-two years ago today on August 19, 1925 at three residences in Bovina Center, George Russell's (the Robson House), James Thomson's (the Pelletier house) and Harvey C. Burgin's (the Jason and Lisa Stanton house).

Ninety-eight years ago yesterday, on August 20, 1919, one hundred and fifty relatives attended the Archibald reunion held on Wednesday at home of William J. Archibald.

134 years ago today, the August 21, 1883 Stamford Mirror reported in its Bovina column that "Coulter Bros. have taken their portable sawmill to Shavertown to do a large job of sawing at that place."

122 years ago today, on August 22, 1895, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Andes Recorder, "Five tramps passed through this village Wednesday morning."

105 years ago today, on August 23, 1912, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Considerable damage was done last Friday in Bovina by a high wind of a cyclone nature which accompanied a heavy rain. At the R.C. Scott place the roof was torn off a barn used as a store house, only a little on one end remaining. Four trees along the road side had large limbs torn off and were twisted and shattered. On the Stephen Russell road tops were twisted out of two large trees and landed across the road." The Scott place is the McPherson farm at the lower end of the Bovina Center hamlet.

Ninety-one years ago today on August 24, 1926, William Gavett of Delhi, was severely scalded by steam Tuesday while employed at the Bovina Center Co-operative Creamery.

106 years ago today, the Andes Recorder for August 25, 1911 reported in its Bovina column that "William Burns arrived home….from a trip to Alberta, Canada." The same column also reported that "Miss Hannah Coulter is having lightning rods put on her barn in Coulter Brook."

The descendants of David, William and Berry Miller held their annual reunion ninety-three years ago today (August 26, 1924). The reunion was held at Belle Miller's (now Amy Burns' and Tom Lamport's house across from Russell's Store). Later newspaper reports said that about 75 people were present but that "several families were not represented."

Seventy-five years ago today, the Bovina column of the August 27, 1942 Delaware Republican reported that "Mrs. Margaret K. Gladstone of Suffern, N.Y., is visiting relatives in town."

Eighty-nine years ago today, on August 28, 1928, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, Bovina resident "Miss Caroline Dickson arrived home…from her European trip. Her sister, Mrs. Curran accompanied her here." Caroline had left for Europe on July 6. She had arrived back in New York harbor two days before on the "Carona," which had left from LeHavre on August 18. This is the passenger list from the Carona, downloaded from Ancestry.com, showing her listing. 

Eliza T. McDonald was born 179 years ago today on August 29, 1838, the daughter of Henry McDonald and Margaret Donald.  She was married to Andrew T. Coulter in 1861, by whom she had four children before being widowed in 1867 when her husband died of consumption (in my house, as it so happens).  She remarried in 1878 to William Richardson, himself a widower and the grandfather of Isabell Irvine Russell.  Eliza died in 1911.

106 years ago today, the August 30, 1911 Andes Recorder reported that "the milk from E.T. Gerry's farm at Lake Delaware will soon be shipped to New York every day for use in the Gerry household."

156 years ago today, on August 31, 1861, Alphonzo Lee died at the age of 54. As later reported in the Delaware Gazette, Lee was "respected and esteemed among those with whom he had business or social relations. Kind and indulgent as a husband and father, accommodating as a neighbor, and benevolent as a man and christian, his memory will long be held dear by those who have enjoyed his acquaintance and friendship."