April 1919 - 100 Years Ago "in That Thriving Town"

Work moves ahead on renovating the building to be used as the Bovina Public Library, while the town purchased a tractor for road work.

April 4, 1919

• Mr. Terry, who has opened a garage in the Elliott Thomson blacksmith shop is getting more work than he can do.
• Bovina was visited by a blizzard on Friday and Saturday.  Roads were blocked and much inconvenience sustained, especially in the delivery of Milk at the creamery.
• Thomas C. Strangeway moved this week from his farm at Bovina Valley to the hotel property in the Center, and Chas. A. McPherson has moved from Bramley mountain to the Strangeway farm, which he recently purchased.

April 11, 1919

• Ellsworth Tuttle is having a milking machine installed.
• Carl Doonan has moved into the Dickson house adjoining the hotel.
• Alfred Russell of the merchant marine corps, is home on a furlough of 21 days.
• James Monroe, David Draffen and James Barnhart have each had a Delco lighting system installed for lighting their houses and farm buildings.
• J.W. Blair was home from the Hospital in New York for a day or two, returned Sunday and expects to have to stay a week or more to finish treatment of his eyes.
• Howard McPherson, town superintendent of highways, is having the “Hook” bridge re-floored.  Two by four scantling placed on edge are being used and this will covered with stone and an asphalt binder.

Bovina Center Library

Preparations Being Made to Carry Out Wishes of Late J.W. Coulter

The late J.W. Coulter left the village of Bovina Center the building known as the D.L. Thomson hardware store, and $1,200 with which to fit it up for a public library.  For several years, the wing had been used for a library and Mr. Coulter used the main part for a shop.  The part used as a library has been sold to Dixon Thomson who is tearing it down and will move it to his farm for sap house.  The main building will be remodeled for a library. 

The library books were moved Monday to the Firemen’s hall.

April 18, 1919

• The Town Board met Wednesday to consider the purchase of a tractor of some kind to haul the road graders.
• William Archibald, at the lower end of the village, has purchased a milking machine and it is being installed.

April 25, 1919

• A.P. Lee is having changes and improvements made to his barn.
• Fred Thomson has bargained for the sale of his farm in upper Bovina.
• The Camp Fire girls held a Victory social in the Hall Tuesday evening.  They realized $24.
• Last Wednesday night as Norton Forrest was returning from a dance at Andes his auto collided with a telephone pole at George McNair’s and the car had to be taken to the garage to put it in running order again.  The lights on the car were not working.

Purchased Caterpiller Tractor

Monday the Bovina Town Board purchased a Linn Caterpiller Tractor for use in working the town highways.  The purchase is made under the lease plan and $20 is paid for every day the tractor is used until about $4,000 is paid.  The State pays the greater part.  This does better work and is cheaper than teams, as teams for each work cost $21 per day.

Will Build New House

George Decker, who lives on the old Purdy farm near Lake Delaware, is tearing down the old house on the place and will erect a new modern dwelling.  During the building the family will occupy the garage and the kitchen part of the old house.

Bovina Couple Given Surprise Visit

Friday evening will long be remembered by those who attended the party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Tuttle in Bovina. 

Unaware to them fifty friends and neighbors gave them a surprise by rushing in and enjoying the evening together.  Games and music were the principal features, and later refreshments were served. Upon leaving each one had a creepy feeling that they were soon to loose the Tuttle family as they are about to sell their farm and it is rumored they will reside in Delhi.