Agnes Bell (Aggie) Armstrong was
born 149 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.
Ninety-one 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.
Seventy-seven years ago today, the
August 3, 1944 issue of the Delaware Republican Express including two items
about the McKenzie family: "Miss Elizabeth McKenzie of Newark, N.J.,
returned to her work on July 30th, having spent a month's vacation here with
her parents, Rev. and Mrs. Peter Mckenzie." Another item appeared about
Elizabeth's brother: "The Rev. Gordon McKenzie of Scranton, Pa., was in
town last Tuesday. He brought his daughter Janet and a friend to join her
mother and sister Elizabeth, who are spending the summer in the Callie Boggs
house (now the home of Harlo and Donna Bray)."
106 years ago today, the August 4, 1915 issue of the Delaware Gazette carried this article about three deaths in Bovina:
Fifty-four 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-seven 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….."
112 years ago today, on August 7, 1909, the barn of William H. Maynard burned down. I believe this farm was about a mile off Cape Horn Road and was once the Warren Farm near the Bovina/Stamford town line. The foundations of the farm still exist. Here's the news article about the dramatic fire from the August 12, 1909 Binghamton Presss and Sun Bulletin:
126 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."
129 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…"
194 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.
123 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. And there
are a series of entries in the Bovina NY History blog, starting with March 5,
2011, about this most serious attempt to get a railroad into Bovina:
https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2011/03/when-trains-almost-came-i-everything.html
Seventy-eight 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.
Thirty-seven years ago today, the
August 13, 1984, Daily Star (Oneonta) carried this article about Stella
McPherson and her wonderful flower gardens:
Sixty-eight years ago today, 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
133 years ago today, on August 15,
1888, Mr. Frank Armstrong of Bovina was married to Mrs. Mary Brown of
Colchester. It was his second marriage. His first was to Jeanette Burns, who
died in 1885. His second wife died in Bovina in 1911. Frank would get married
for a third time, marrying Mary E. Niesh. He would be widowed a third time when
that Mary died in 1924. Frank died in 1925. Mary Brown's history is
interesting. She came into the marriage with a son, James Franklin Brown. His
father is unknown. James married a Coulter and had several children, including
Mary Brown, who married Edwin "Ted" Burgin. Here's a framed
certificate commemorating Frank and Mary's marriage.
Sixty-nine 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 was
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."
141 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."
128 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-six 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).
102 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.
138 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."
119 years ago today, on August 22,
1902, the Bovina Fortnightly Club held an entertainment.
151 years ago today, the August
23, 1870 Bloomville Mirror carried this plea concerning the post office in
Brushland:
Ninety five 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.
110 years ago, the August 25, 1911
Bovina column of the Andes Recorder included the following item: "Robert
Graham, who went to Canada in the sixties, is visiting relatives in town. In
his younger days he was a teacher and went to Canada to teach because wages were
much better there. His last visit here was 25 years ago." Graham, born in
Scotland in 1830, died in Canada in December 1925.
The descendants of David, William
and Berry Miller held their annual reunion ninety-seven 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-nine 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."
Ninety-two 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.
113 years ago today, the August
29, 1908 Hobart Independent carried this report concerning the railroad coming
to Bovina. This wasn't the first attempt but it was almost the last. The
interest that was so strong when the major attempt took place in 1898 had waned
considerably as the automobile came into being.
140 years ago today, the Bovina
column in the August 30, 1881 Stamford Mirror reported that "Quite a
number of our farmers have finished their oat harvests." The same paper
also reported that "Rev. J.B. Lee has purchased a horse."
160 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." Lee was born in Connecticut in 1807 and came to Bovina likely
in the 1820s.
