February 1922 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

Here's what was happening in Bovina 100 years ago this month, as reported in the Andes Recorder:

February 3, 1922

• Mrs. Dixon Thomson has been quite ill, but is recovering.

• A.T. Doig had a car load of Cadallac cars arrive at Walton this week.

• Bovina teachers were called to Stamford on Wednesday for a three day meeting of teachers.

• James Ackerly is tearing down the old barn on the lot which he recently purchased adjoining the property of Alex Hilson.

• Harry Craft, who has been employed by Jean Muller was ill the past week from gall stones.  Mr. Muller is also ill with rheumatism.

February 10, 1922

• Thomas C. Strangeway has moved into his new house [now the home of Jim and Peg Hilson.

• Fred Thomson is digging the cellar for his new bungalow on the parsonage lot.

• Lee Lent, of Treadwell, is the new cheese maker at the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery.

• The local Dairymen’s League Co-Operative association have elected the following directors:  Frank Coulter, John Burns, Emil Schneider, James Barnhart and Charles J. Russell.

• Everett Joslin will move from part of the former John Hastings house to A.B. Phyfe’s house.  John Armstrong and wife will begin housekeeping in the rooms to be vacated by Joslin.

Farm House Burned in Bovina

House on the Walter Amos Farm Destroyed Saturday Morning

The house on the Walter Amos farm in Southern Bovina was destroyed by a fire which broke out early last Saturday morning.

The farm, which is now owned by Robert L. Gerry, is occupied by Walter Robson.  That morning he arose and kindled the fire and probably about an hour later something was heard to fall in the attic and on investigation the house was discovered to be on fire, and had a good start.  Neighbors were called by telephone and arrived in time to help save the furniture.  Everything from the house and cellar was saved excepting two beds and a few gallons of maple syrup which were upstairs.

The house was a large story and a half frame structure and the wind was blowing against the fire causing it to burn slowly.  A woodhouse a few feet from the house was saved.  Mr. Robson carried an insurance which will cover the loss on his household goods.

Mr. Robson is moving into part of Mrs. Adam Biggar’s house in Biggar Hollow.

February 17, 1922

• Mr. Redmond, who purchased the W.H. Maynard place up-town, moved his family there Friday.

• Alex Myers started Monday by auto to attend the funeral of his nephew in Margaretville and on Palmer Hill they came upon a car standing in the middle of the road with no one in sight.  The snow had drifted around it so that they could not get past and they had turn around and come home.

• The town board met on Monday [Feb 13] to make arrangements for building a new bridge to take the place of the stone arch bridge at the former Strangeway store in Bovina Center.  The present structure was built about 1858, by James R. Scott, who furnished and hauled the stone and built the bridge for $100.  The highway commissioner was severely criticized for his extravagance, it being alleged that he would bankrupt the town.

February 24, 1922

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Angelo Belino February 11, a daughter.

• Daniel Franklin, the creameryman, was here the first of the week.

• Mrs. Dixon Thomson, who has been ill for several weeks, is now on the gain.

• F.W. Hyatt had a two-year-old heifer die this week as a result of a fall on the ice.

• Nelson Siring has commenced building the cellar for Fred Thomson on the M.E. parsonage lot.

• The singing school which has been conducted here by H.W. Frisbee will close March 10, with a concert.

• Henry Monroe has moved from part of Mrs. Thos Gordon’s house, to the Dick Smith house across the street.

• Fred Bramley had the misfortune to have one his fine matched team of young horses die the past week with horse distemper.

• James Ackerley, who recently purchased the Northrup house, has the frame up for kitchen on the rear.  He will raise the roof of the old house and make it two story.

Bovina Team Ran Away

The team of Calvin Russell took fright at the creamery Thursday morning and had a lively run.  Coming onto Main street the team ran in at the Hastings feed store and onto the flat above the new street.  Continuing up the flat they went over the wall into a rocky pasture lot of Fred Bramley and were not caught until they reached Bramley’s.  No damage was done and not even the milk cans were thrown out.  How they avoided all the rocks is a miracle.