October 1920 - 100 Years Ago "in that Thriving Town"

The news reported by the Andes Recorder about Bovina from 100 years ago this month included the rather sudden closing of the Dry Milk Plant, which was behind the creamery.

October 1, 1920
• It is stated that the Dry Milk company will refuse to take any milk after October 1.
• Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Thomson are spending the week at Patchogue, Long Island.
• Robert R. Gladstone moved Wednesday to the Ella Miller house which he recently purchased.
• Dixon Thomson has had his residence (the Dr. Phinney house) treated to a new dress of paint.
• Miss Jennie E. Miller’s sale held on Tuesday was largely attended and good prices were received.
• Miss Jennie Miller, who recently sold her house, has taken a room at Thomas Gordon’s and will board with them.

Bovina Man Has an Accident
    Wednesday morning while James Robson, on the Luddington farm near Lake Delaware, was after his cows and was carrying a lantern he fell and landed on the lantern.  His side was injured and it is thought that a rib or two was cracked.  The lantern was a wreck.

Native of Bovina Dead
Professor James E. Hastings Passed Away at Cape May, NJ
    Professor James B. Hastings died on Friday September 24, after a brief illness, at his home at Cape May, NJ.  No details concerning his sickness have been received, and a letter no later than Tuesday stated that he was in good health.  The body was taken to Franklin, where interment was made Tuesday in the Ouleout Valley cemetery.
    Professor Hastings was 60 years of age and was a native of Bovina, his parents being the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Hastings. He was a graduate of the Delaware Literary institute and of Hamilton college.  His life work was that of a teacher.  For several years he was an instructor in the D.L.I. at Franklin and also at Stamford, Hobart and Davenport and for the past 17 years he had been teaching at Cape May.
    Surviving are three brothers, Elmer of Saranac Lake, William E. of Oneonta, and Milton of Bovina; also one sister, Miss Jane M. Hastings of Fleischmanns.  His wife, who was Miss Jessie Sherman of Davenport, died about 13 years ago.

October 8, 1920
• Lancelot Thomson has been on the sick list, but is out again.
• Mrs. John Blair is on the sick list with a nurse in attendance.
• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Emil Schneider on October 1, a daughter.
• Mrs. Frank Coulter, who has been on the sick list, is improving.
• James A. Gow was home from Charlotteville from Saturday until Wednesday.
• Donald Lee has resumed his studies at Cornell University. His brother, Edgar, is taking the agricultural course at Cornell.

Bovina Dry Milk Closed
    Two days before October 1, the Dry Milk company notified the directors of the Bovina Center Co-Op creamery that they would not take the milk after October 1.  Their contract provided that they must give 30 days notice.  Dan Franklin is now getting the cream but the skim milk is either taken home by the farmer or allowed to run down the creek.  The Dry Milk plant is closed.  They had the cheek to offer 20 cents for skim milk.  An autopsy should be performed to see if the company does not have enlargement of the heart.

October 15, 1920
• David Currie is on the sick list.
• The new town roller arrived Friday.
• Nelson Siring is doing concrete work in town.
• The Dry Milk Co is painting the interior of their plant.
• Mr. Morrison, our new blacksmith, moved his family here this week from Charlotville.

October 22, 1920
• About 460 voters are registered this year in Bovina.
• Mr. and Mrs. Howden moved Wednesday to the Oliver house on the Gerry estate.  A surprise party was given Mrs. Howden at Rev. Crawford’s.
• Mrs. Edward L. Coulter died at her home in Bovina on Friday, October 15 at the age of 67 years.  She had been in poor health for a number of years and last Wednesday she had a shock and never regained consciousness.  She was born on Coulter Brook, her maiden name being Jane Forrest. She leaves a husband and two sons.  The funeral was held Monday with interment in the Bovina Center cemetery.

Bovina Farm Sold
    Mrs. Stephen R. Seacord has sold the Seacord homestead farm in southern Bovina to Milton Davis, of Kansas. The sale includes the stock and other personal property and the price received was $8,000.  The new owner is already in possession.  Mrs. Seacord expects to remain in part of the house for the present.

October 29, 1920
• Voters in Bovina next Tuesday will receive four ballots – presidential, the state ticket, amendments and a town proposition.
• The directors of the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery have leased the plant to Dan Franklin, to begin with November 1.
• The Dry Milk Co have discharged all their men except four and these go as soon as the work of taking the can washer and ice machine out of the creamery is completed.
• Mrs. John L. Gordon died at her home in New York City on Sabbath morning, October 24, from cancer of the liver.  She was the daughter of William Rogers and her summers since early childhood had been spent at Lake Delaware.  She leaves two sons.