139 years ago today, November 1, 1884, this bill from Paine & Smith, Delhi, was sent to the Town of Bovina for several print jobs:
Eighty years ago today, the Bovina column in the November 2, 1944 Delaware Republican-Express reported that "Cpl. Clark G. Lay of the 79th A.A.A. Hq. Btry. writes his parents that on Oct. 22nd he was transferred from Camp Stewart, where he has been since August 1st, to Camp Gordon. This camp is fifteen miles from Augusta in Georgia." The same column had another report on the Lay family, reporting that "recent dinner guests of Miss Evelyn Lay at her home here were the Misses Vesta Norwood and Ada Bliss of Norwich."
200 years ago today, on November 3, 1824, this "true canvass and estimate of the votes taken at an election held in the town of Bovina" on November 1, 1824 was issued. The votes were for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, senator and member of congress and two members for assembly. Note that Erastus Root, who it is claimed named Bovina, received only 45 votes as Lieutenant Governor as opposed to 93 votes cast for his opponent. Root was the running mate of Samuel Young. Young and Root lost statewide to Dewitt Clinton and James Tallmage.
144 years ago today, the Bovina column for the Stamford Mirror, dated November 4, 1880, reported that "Election day passed off quite lively with us. A great deal of excitement prevailed all day."
161 years ago today, on November 5, 1863, this receipt for a bounty payment made to Charles Wycoff was audited. Wycoff received $140 in bounty payment for volunteering during the Civil War. Wycoff had enlisted in the 72nd NY Excelsior Regiment in December 1861 but was discharged within three months for disability. One source states he later re-enlisted in the NY 144th but no further information about him can be located.
134 years ago, the November 6, 1890 Kingston Weekly Freeman and Journal had the following item under the headline "Rats!" - "C. R. Lee, of Bovina, Delaware county, was digging potatoes a few days ago and upon opening one hill found, instead of potatoes, one very large rat and 11 young ones.” Charles R. Lee’s farm was on Lee Hollow.
Eighty-four years ago today, the Bovina Centre column of the November 7, 1940 Delaware Republican reported that "Miss Marjorie Ormiston accompanied Miss Helen Winter, Mrs. Henry Schall and John Raitt of Delhi to New Concord, Ohio, last Friday. This occasion was home coming week at Muskingum College. They returned Monday."
142 years ago today, on November 8, 1882, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror Bovina column, "A night-cap party was held in Hasting's Hall, on Wednesday evening, for the purpose of raising money to lay sidewalks through Brushland. The result was about $11 in cash and a splendid assortment of night-caps."
Eighty-five years ago today, the November 9, 1939 Delaware Republican, in its Bovina column, reported that "Mrs. Clinton Marks a former resident of this town is visiting Mrs. Fred Thomson." The same column also reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Claude Erkson have moved into Miss Calla Bogg's house at the turn onto the Bramley Mountain Road." This is the residence of the late Hugh and Pat Lee and now the home of Taylor Foster.
126 years ago today, on November 10, 1898, Alex Hilson presented this bill to the Town of Bovina for his services as Bovina Town Clerk, using his store's bill head.
212 years ago today, on November 11, 1812, Deborah Maynard died. She was the daughter of one of Bovina's first settlers, Elisha B. Maynard. She is buried in the Brush Cemetery.
113 years ago today, November 12, 1907, "The second number of the Bovina Entertainment Course" was a lecture by Judge George C. Alden. The judge was promoted as "an interesting speaker." Alden was a lecturer of national prominence. In an article about his upcoming appearance in Hobart during his 1907 lecture circuit, the Hobart Independent noted a review from the Unadilla Times: "We haven't time for particulars, but [his lecture] amused, entertained, instructed, leavened, inspired, and best of all prompted consideration and left something for thought - it was worth the price of the course. In accord with one expression heard, 'It was a Corker.'" He died in 1941 at the age of 75.
Seventy-three years ago today, the Bovina column of the November 13, 1951 Delaware Republican-Express reported that "Mrs. Agnes Draffin, who has been assisting her brother, John Burns, since early summer, has returned to her home in town for the winter." Her home is now the residence of the Pelletier family.
Thirty-eight years ago today, the November 14, 1986 Binghamton Press carried this article about a fundraiser for Ed Finkenberg, who had been serious injured when he was hit by a car in Manhattan.
Eighty-four years ago today, the following ad appeared in the November 15, 1940 Catskill Mountain News: "STRAYED-From Mary Weber pasture, Bovina, 8 heifers. Liberal reward for information. E.L. Foote & Son, Inc., Hobart, N.Y."
136 years ago today, on November 16, 1888, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror's Bovina column, "A small company of young people assembled at the Hall….and had a good time, all on account of Harrison's election, with 'Tommy' as 'chief mourner,' instead of 'actor,' as before election." The same article in the Mirror went on to report "We have heard, through our village gossips, that one of our young men has won the hand of a fair damsel by the result of election. 'Rats,' who is the lucky gent?" Harrison is Benjamin Harrison, who won the 1888 election when he defeated Grover Cleveland.
Eighty-five years ago today, on November 17, 1939, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Myers celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary in the Bovina U.P. Church parlor. As later reported in the Delaware Republican, "those from out of town were their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John Myers and their daughter, Mrs. Anna Thomson and Mrs. Myers' brother, John Laing all from Binghamton. Mr. and Mrs. James Laing of Hotaling Hollow also Lynn Dickson, Misses Kate and Freda Muller of Andes and Miss Mary Ormiston of Oneonta." Photo by Bob Wyer.
Seventy-two years ago today, in an article dated November 18, 1952, the Catskill Mountain News reported that "Bovina Center Hunters Shoot Several Deer." The report went on to note that lucky deer hunters in the Bovina area were Vincent Thimbell (sic), Jr., Herby Parsons, Ronnie Oelsner, Roy VanBuren's hired man, Charles Robinson, and a city visitor at the VanBuren home. Several deer were taken from this area by out-of-town hunters."
Seventy-one years ago today, the November 19, 1953 edition of the New York Times published the obituary for Sylvanus W. Bramley, who had died in White Plains hospital the previous day. He was the founder in 1926 of Bramley & Co, Inc, a White Plains jewelry firm. Sylvanus was born in Bovina in 1865, the son of Stephen G. Bramley and Mary S. Lull.
Eighty-three years ago today, the November 20, 1941 Delaware Republican reported in its Bovina column this item: "While skating on roller skates on the sidewalk in front of the post office Friday afternoon, Thelma Hotchkin fell and broke her leg between the knee and the ankle. She was taken to the Delhi hospital where Dr. Thomson attended her."
Two hundred and three years ago today, on November 21, 1821, the following notice was posted in the Delaware Gazette: "Public notice is hereby given, that the personal property of Adam Kezie, late of the town of Bovina deceased consisting of Horses, Cattle, Sheep, and Farming Utensils, will be exposed to sale at public auction for cash, on Thursday the 6th day of December next, at the house formerly occupied by the said Adam Kedzie deceased. Mary Kedzie, administratrix; James Kedzie, William Kedzie, Administrators.”
147 years ago today, the Andes Recorder for November 22, 1877 reported that "John Steele, formerly of Bovina, is one of the five Protestants missionaries in the territory of New Mexico."
241 years ago today, on November 23, 1783, Jennett Graham was born in the Scottish Borders, the daughter of John Graham and Jane Grey. She married William Ormiston in Scotland in 1801. Shortly after the marriage, William and Jenett emigrated to America and settled in Bovina. They had eight children. Jennett died in Bovina in 1856 and is buried in the old Associate Presbyterian Church cemetery on Reinertsen Hill Road.
150 years ago today, the Stamford Mirror for November 24, 1874, reported that "Henry Hogaboom, of Bovina, has bought and is picking some six hundred barrels of apples in the vicinity of this village. He intends to take them to Europe for sale."
139 years ago today, the November 25, 1885 Delaware Gazette reported that "Circulars from N.Y. city state that the butter from the towns of Roxbury and Bovina this year is inferior in quality to that from the same towns in former years."
146 years ago today, the November 26, 1878 Stamford Mirror reported in its Bovina column that "John G. Bramley, who has been engaged on the State Survey during the past summer, will spend the winter at home and teach the school in which he was formerly a pupil." He was the son of John W. Bramley and Margaret McCune. He left Bovina in the 1880s and settled in Onondaga County, NY.
141 years ago today, the Bovina column in the November 27, 1883 Stamford Mirror reported that "D.L. Thomson has finished his job of tinning the roof of the R.P. Church." This is the church that stood about where the playground and fire house now stand.
184 years ago today, on November 28, 1840, Alexander Storie was deemed to be "well qualified in respect to moral character learning and ability to teach a common school in this town…." (document courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association).
147 years ago today, the November 29, 1877 issue of the Andes Recorder in its Bovina New reported that "A literary society has been organized here. President, Russell Stevens; Secretary, Thomas Gordon. It numbers eighty five members and supports two papers, 'The Star,' and 'The Meteor' edited by gentlemen and ladies respectively. Orations, debates, select readings, etc. are also given."
104 years ago today, as later reported in the Bovina column of the November 30, 1920 Andes Recorder, "Robert G. Thompson was at Delhi…and traded his Buick roadster for a five passenger 1921 Buick."