136 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 likely were 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.
100 years ago today, on July 2, 1918, the Bovina Town
Board resolved "to lease a Ford one ton truck of the value of $775 from
the dealer … and pay for it at the rate not to exceed $10 a day for every day
that it is used…"
130 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."
Sixty-three years ago today, on July 4, 1955, Cecil
and Isabell Russell celebrated Independence Day with Cecil's brother and
sister-in-law Charles and Hildreth Russell. As Isabell later reported in her
diary, "we ate on the side lawn had our new picnic table. Had hot dogs
& hamburgers, scalloped potatoes. I made white cake & had Ice
cream." She reported that they later took a drive to the dam, likely
meaning the newly constructed Downsville Dam, which created the Pepacton
Reservoir. Marjorie likely took this picture, taken during the picnic on the side lawn of their home.
107 years ago today, on July 5, 1911, as later reported
in the Andes Recorder, "Daniel Calhoun, in southern Bovina, had three cows
killed by lightning…."
Seventy-eight 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.
135 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 orginated in the
mid 1860s.
These two chauffeur license pictures of Ernie Russell
were taken by Bob Wyer in May 1949 and May 1952. Ernest Coulter Russell was
born in 1905, the son of Francis and Adalaid (Coulter) Russell. He was a second
cousin of Cecil Russell. Ernie married Dorothy Drew in 1933. They had two sons,
Ronald (1839-1985) and Dave. Ernie passed away in 1969. Wyer images courtesy of
the Delaware County Historical Association.
Ninety one years ago today, on July 9, 1927, as later
reported in the Andes Recorder, "The Ford car of Ralph Hafele and the
Overland of Wilford Barnhart collided … at the Dennis corner in Bovina
Center." This corner is where Bramley Mountain Road comes out onto County
Route 6. The newspaper went on to report that "the corner is a dangerous
one." Hafele, traveling with his wife and child, were driving down the
main street while Barnhart and his family were coming down the steep pitch at
the end of Bramley Mountain Road. The paper noted that while both cars were
badly damaged, with "the Ford getting the worst of it." There were no
injuries other than "slight bruises."
Sixty-six years ago today, the July 10, 1952 Delaware
Republican Express reported in its Bovina column that "Mr. and Mrs. Edward
Coleman of New York City were Saturday night guests of her sisters, Janet and
Elizabeth McKenzie. They closed their house and left on Sunday for Newark,
N.J., where on Friday they leave by Transatlantic Airway for Scotland."
160 years ago today, on July 11, 1858, Isabella Aitkin
Archibald was born, the daughter of George and Jane (Anderson) Archibald. She
married Alexander A. Hilson on February 9, 1887 and was the mother of six
children, including John Hamilton Hilson, the grandfather of a number of Hilson
family members still in Bovina. Isabella was widowed in 1923 and died in 1934.
137 years ago, on July 12, 1881, the Delaware County
Clerk sent a letter to Bovina's Town Supervisor, David Black, concerning a
mistake made in establishing a trial jury list for the town.
Ninety seven 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."
These two photos of Herbert Huggans were taken by Bob
Wyer almost a decade apart. The first in May 1943, the second in May 1952.
Herbert was born in 1902, the son of Byron and Dorra Huggans. His sister was
Josephine Huggans Noonan. Herbert operated a farm on Bramley Mountain for many
years. He died suddenly in 1964, leaving his wife Julia and son Richard, as
well as his sister Josephine. Wyer images courtesy of the Delaware County
Historical Association.
Seventy-five years ago today, July 15, 1943, the
Bovina column of the Delaware Republican Express reported that "Several
children from here are availing themselves of the opportunity for swimming
instruction offered to them by the Red Cross at Silver Lake."
Catherine McNaught McCune died 144 years ago today on
July 16, 1874. Born in Scotland in 1796, she married John McCune, who died in
1850. She had ten children, including Sarah Ann (Sally) McCune, who was my
great great grandmother. Catherine is buried in the Bovina cemetery (her
husband's grave is in South Kortright).
103 years ago, on July 17, 1915, Herbert Olmstead, a
Bovina farmer, was injured when he was cut by a mower machine. The accident was
later reported by the Otsego Farmer (Cooperstown) newspapers: "Herbert
Olmstead, a Bovina farmer, was taken to the hospital at Delhi Saturday night by
Drs. Scott and Whitcomb of Bovina Center suffering from severe cuts on both
lower legs. While mowing with a machine late in the afternoon Mr. Olmstead
backed his team to turn a corner, when one of the horses caught a reign under
its tail and without thinking of the danger Mr. Olmstead stepped in front of
the cutbar to loosen the rein. At that instant the horses started and the sharp
knives caught him near the ankles, cutting into the bones of the left foot and
making a bad gash in the right foot." Olmstead was born in 1888. He appears
to have recovered from this accident, though the injury kept him from service
in World War One. Olmstead moved around in New York. By 1920, he was living in
the Syracuse area. By the time of his death in 1971, he was living in
California. He is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood. (A
number of noted movie and television personalities are buried here.)
Sixty-six years ago today, the July 18, 1952 Catskill
Mountain News reported in its Bovina column the following: "Four fresh air
children have arrived in Bovina. They are Kenneth and Tommy Lee of New York
city, for a two-week vacation with David Roberts; James Benites of the Bronx,
guest of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Archibald; Joseph Maraldo of Queens,k guest of Mr.
and Mrs. Francis Schabloski."
Sixty-seven years ago today, on July 19, 1951, as
later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, Bovina firemen were hosts to the
Tri-County firemans association annual meeting…." The meeting took place
at the Fish and Game club on Coulter Brook Road.
110 years ago today, on July 20, 1908, this statement
was issued by the Bovina Cooperative Creamery Company for the estate of the
late William L. White, who died in 1907. White's farm was on Coulter Brook Road
and must still have been in operation. The Bovina Cooperative Creamery was
located on New Road on what was then the McFarland Farm. The creamery closed
sometime in the 1920s.
Fifty one 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."
138 years ago today, on July 22, 1880, the Stamford
Mirror reported the following in its Bovina column: "A young man, known
among his intimate friends by the name of 'Beecher,' proposed to go to 'Bragg
Hollow' a few evenings ago, but was seriously annoyed by some wicked fellows
who hid his sulky, and also threw a pail of water upon him, wetting his good
clothes." Bragg Hollow is now known as Crescent Valley Road.
Last month we featured George Trimbell. This month is
his wife's turn. These photographs of Anna Trimbell were taken by Bob Wyer in
May 1971. With her husband she ran Crescent Valley Farms for many years. Anna
Schoenwolf first married Otto Kriesel, by whom she had her son Robert. Otto died
in an accident in 1945. She married George Trimbell in 1947. They had three
sons, Linnell, Byron and Derwood. She died in 1989 at the age of 71. Wyer
images courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.
104 years ago today, on July 24, 1914, Jane Maynard
died. Born in 1849, she was the daughter of Hector and Esther Cowan. She
married Archibald Maynard in 1875. She would have four children, but only one,
her son William H. Maynard, would survive to adulthood. Jane was widowed in
1900.
Ninety-six years ago today, on Friday, July 25, 1924,
St. James Chapel at Lake Delaware was consecrated, two years to the day after
the cornerstone had been laid. The chapel was built by Angelica L. Gerry as a
memorial to her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Livingston. The Catskill
Mountain News reported that this ceremony was to take place, noting that
"Miss Gerry's outlay in time and money to provide this unique set of
buildings is generally estimated to run into several hundred thousands of
dollars."
Seventy-eight years ago today, the Bovina column in
the July 26, 1940 Walton Reporter had these items: 1) About 50 people enjoyed a
chicken roast at H.F. Davidson's Friday evening. 2) Mr. and Mrs. Arnie
Reinertsen of Brookly are visiting his cousin, Mr. Andrew Reinertsen and family.
3) Misses June and Jean Schloss, twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Schloss,
and Misses Reta and Reva Smith, twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Smith,
all of Walton, have been visiting their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace
Smith. (The Smiths lived in the Mountain Brook area of Bovina.)
124 years ago today, the July 27, 1894 Andes Recorder
noted in its Bovina column that "If the pathmaster of the road from the
village to the turnpike would cause the stones to be thrown out, he would
receive the thanks of the public."
107 years ago today, July 28, 1911, the Bovina
correspondent of the Andes Recorder, reported that "G.D. Miller is
exhibiting a ripe tomato, picked in his garden, that weights 1 1/2
pounds."
Bob Wyer took this license photo of Delbert Dickson in
May 1956. Born in 1906, Del was married and widowed twice. His first wife,
Grace, died of measles and other complications in 1929. He married Carrie
Dumond in 1930. She passed away in 1972. Delbert worked for a number of years
for the county highway department, retiring in 1967. He died in the Delhi
Infirmary in December 1986. Wyer image courtesy of the Delaware County
Historical Association. Image - Passport A3595 Dickson Del
Sixty-four 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." Here’s Peg Robson modeling the uniform before
the 1956 Bovina Old Home Day.
Eighty-nine years ago today, the Bovina column in the
July 31, 1929 Delaware Republican reported that "Charles A. McPherson had
a narrow escape when he was thrown from a hay load, caused by the double
whiffletree breaking when going in the
barn. The wagon ran back down the bridgeway and he was thrown off." A
whiffletree (sometimes called a whippletree or leader bar) is a device used for
a horse drawn vehicle. It balances the pull from each side of the animal.
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