This Day in Bovina for August 2021

 

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.