This Day in Bovina for May 2025

Here's the monthly compilation of the daily entries from the Town of Bovina Historian Facebook page. 

These images of Cecil and Charles Russell and their wives come from the Russell family. Charles Russell was born in Bovina in 1890, Cecil a year later in 1891. They were two of the sons of Robert Hamilton Russell and Margaret A. Doig. Charles married Hildreth Tuttle in 1915. A year later, Cecil married Isabell Irvine. Each brother would have one child - both children were born in Bovina. Marjorie was born to Cecil and Isabell in 1918. Charles and Hildreth's son Allyn was born in 1920. The two brothers would die about a year and a half apart - Charles in 1980, Cecil in early 1982.

Sixty-seven years ago today, the May 2, 1958 Daily Star carried an article about one of the last one-room schools in Bovina, the Maynard School. Go to the Bovina NY History Blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2016/06/scholars-in-century-old-schoolhouse.html

138 years ago today, the May 3, 1887 Stamford Mirror in its Bovina column had this item: "Alex Hilson has bought D.C. [Champ] Worden's farm of 55 acres, at $2800. D.C. Worden has bought Ira J. Worden's place, containing 34 acres at $1900. Ira has rented Mrs. Ellen Boyd's house and lot in Bovina Centre and proposes to run a livery business." Ira Worden was the father of Champ Worden. Ellen was Champ's sister-in-law.

This image of some Coulter family members came from the collection of the late Celia Coulter. On the back was this information from Celia: "L to R Mary Rotermund Coulter, Herman Rotermund, her cousin who lived in Margaretville, Ella Rotermund Bennett, her sister who came from Cal. In 1923 to spend the summer, driver for the Rotermunds, Margaret Coulter Boggs, Adelaid (Addie) Russell Cowan, Mrs. Rotermund. I'm not sure when Aunt Addie married Uncle Tom Cowan, though if I search enough, I could find a postcard she sent while on her honeymoon in N.Y. You will recognize the barn, now Agnes Burns.'" Thomas Cowan married Addie Coulter in 1924. The image was taken on what is now the Dominic and Laurie Gullow farm. 

Seventy years ago today, the Bovina column in the May 5, 1955 Stamford Mirror-Recorder included this item: "Marshall Thomson resigned his position in the Bovina Creamery on May 1. Marvin Archibald is now employed in the creamery here."

139 years ago today, the May 6, 1886 issue of the Andes Recorder in its Bovina column reported that "Thomas H. Johnson has added to his extensive machinery a new loom of an improved pattern, which is probably the best one in the county.  He and his sons are capable of doing a large amount of work with the machinery at their command. They not only make all kinds of woolen cloth, but grind feed, saw lumber, etc." This would have been for Johnson's Woolen Mill, which was located near the Mountain Brook area. 

 

112 years ago today, the May 7, 1913 Delaware Gazette had this item concerning a possible railroad coming to Bovina yet again: "The recent visit to Andes of R. B. Williams and Jos. Jermyn of Scranton, has made people in that vicinity wonder if Jermyn & Williams are still interested in the extension of the Andes branch [of the railroad] to Bovina and possibly to Delhi. Surveyor Howland informed us a few years ago that when the branch was built it was the intention of the company to extend it to Bovina, and that was why the road went into Andes village at such a high grade, in order to strike the road bed of the defunct Andes & Delhi R. R."

Ninety-nine years ago today, on May 8, 1926, the town clerk certified that a resolution was adopted authorizing the issuance of a Certificate of Indebtedness to allow for the purchase of a stone raking machine. 

123 years ago today, the Bovina column in the May 9, 1902 Andes Recorder reported that "Three butcher carts now come round with meat – Perry Shaw, of Bloomville, William McDivitt, of Andes, and Ward Coulter, of this place."

This image of Hugh McPherson was taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in the late 1930s. Hugh was born in Bovina in 1912. He was the road commissioner in Bovina for many years, then worked for the New York State Department of Transportation. He was a member of the Bovina Fire Department. Hugh died in 1998. Hugh was the father of Ruth Ann Avery and Sandra Cole. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

This postcard image from the 1960s showing the view from Pink Street of Bovina Center was taken by Bob Wyer. 

Eighty-five years ago today, on May 12, 1940, as later reported in the Delaware Republican's Bovina column reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Sylvan LaFever of Florida were here and attended Church." This likely was Sylvan's last visit to Bovina for a month later on June 10, he died in Patterson, New Jersey. Sylvan was my great grandfather.

Eighty-two years ago today, the May 13, 1943, the Bovina column of the Delaware Republican carried this item: "Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Ormiston and sons John and Mark were with his mother and brother and sisters Marjorie, Lois Davidson and Ruth Monroe and their families on Mother's Day."

136 years ago today, the May 14, 1889 Stamford Mirror reported in its Bovina column that "The family of John W. Bramley has been quarantined the past week, but Mr. B. thought this was 'free America,' and went to Delhi regardless of the Board of Health. There is some talk of enforcing the law."

149 years ago today, on May 15, 1876, Isaac Atkin died. His death was later reported in the Delaware Gazette under the title "Sudden Death in Bovina." The paper noted that "Atkins, after working on his farm…until near night, started to go for the cows, and was shortly after found by his son, dead in the road." Isaac was a lifelong resident of Bovina.

Sixty years ago today, on May 16, 1965, Lib Blair passed away. Born Elizabeth Jannette Miller in 1867, she was the daughter of John Thomas Miller and Nancy Armstrong. She was two years old when her mother died. A year later, her father remarried to Eleanor Thompson. Lib married John W. Blair in 1889 - he died in 1945. She had two children, son Millard and daughter Helen. Lib was 97 when she died. Her daughter Helen would exceed her mother's age by a decade, dying at 107 in 1997.

135 years ago today, the Bovina column of the May 17, 1890 Delaware Republican reported that "Our milliners have returned from the city with a large stock of head-gear, and now they are busy day and night rigging out the ladies with that mysterious ornament which adorns their top-knots. If a woman's bonnet is not a thing of beauty, it is a mysterious thing."

Sixty-four years ago today, the May 18, 1961 Bovina column in the Delaware Republican Express included this item: "At the local contest for beauty queen at Dairyland Festival, there were eight contestants. The winner was Reneta Rabeler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Rabeler jr. She is a student of South Kortright Central School."

In 1946, Delhi photographer Bob Wyer took a series of aerial pictures around Bovina in a plane piloted by Eddie Davidson. This image shows Angelica Gerry's mansion, Ancrum, which was built in 1928. The road at the upper left is Route 28. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.  

140 years ago today, the May 20, 1885 Delaware Gazette carried this notice for the construction of a new schoolhouse at Lake Delaware. 

Fourteen years ago today, on May 21, 2011, Marge and Cliff Burgin celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at the Bovina Community Hall. 

129 years ago today, the Bovina column in the May 22, 1896 Andes Recorder reported that "Slight showers have brightened up vegetation this week, but much more rain is still needed."

Seventy-two years ago today, the May 23, 1953 Stamford Mirror-Recorder had several items in its Bovina column. Headlined "Vacation Trip has Mishap for Jane Hilson," the column went on to report that "Jane Hilson broke her arm while on a vacation trip through the southern states." The column also included two items about Floyd Aitkens: "Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Aitkens and sons, Billy and Alan, were in Binghamton on Monday for a check-up on Billy's arm." The column later reported that "Floyd Aitkens attended the New York State Bowling Tournament at Rochester on Saturday."

Ninety years ago today, the May 24, 1935 Delaware Express reported that "Dr. Whitcomb Dies in Egypt." The articled noted that "Dr. Norris B. Whitcomb, 47, a beloved physician who was formerly located in Bovina Center and for the past sixteen years a medical missionary at Assuit, Egypt, died last week, death, according to report being due to blood poisoning." He was survived by his mother, sister, wife and two children. He was buried in Egypt, though there is a memorial stone for him in the Walton Cemetery. 

Eighty-six years ago today, the May 25, 1939 issue of the Delaware Republican published this photograph by R.R. DeGelleke of Jack Hilson in his High School shop class. 

114 years ago today, the May 26, 1911 Andes Recorder in its Bovina column reported that "Monday was the hottest May day ever known here - 95 degrees." The same column also reported that "Miss Helena Strangeway is visiting her sister, Mrs. Leon Taggart, at Potsdam."

This 'birds eye' view of Bovina Center is on a postcard with a 1908 postmark. The image was taken just east of the hamlet above Pink Street. 

110 years ago today, the May 28, 1915 Catskill Mountain News carried this item under the title "Bovina Center to Celebrate:" "There was a meeting of public-spirited men in Bovina Center during the past week, in the interest of a ball team, a tennis club, and a Fourth of July celebration."

113 years ago today, the May 29, 1912 Delaware Gazette carried the following item: "Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Gerry have been at Lake Delaware for a few days. The erection of a very fine mansion, on the farm he recently purchased, the making of a lake of considerable size, and the building of a new chapel and boys summer home requires careful supervision, and he is neglecting nothing that may make it not only an ideal summer home, but also ideal for all of the other purposes that they have in view." These two images, taken by Edna Benedict, show Aknusti under construction. Images courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

This image of Lauren Hewitt was taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in the early 1940s (misspelled as Loren on the negative). Born in 1917, he would die tragically in a tractor accident on his farm on Mountain Brook in February 1956, leaving behind a wife and three children. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.  

Thirty years ago today, the May 31, 1995 Catskill Mountain News reported that a 'Twister' had hit Bovina Center. Here's the article: 

A Week with Bovina People - May 1900 - 125 Years ago from the Andes Recorder

Life in Bovina 125 years ago this month from the pages of the Andes Recorder.

May 4, 1900

• Oliver Dickson was at Delhi Monday.

• George McNair went to Andes Saturday.

• W.J. Doig has sold a horse to Stephen Craft.

• Peter McNair and A.O. Butts have traded horses.

• Walter Biggar visited the County Seat Monday.

• David Oliver visited his sons at Delancy Monday.

• John Blair went to New York this week with stock.

• Fred Bramly and Lucy Jackson were at Andes on Sabbath.

• Otis McCumber and family were here from Andes over Sabbath.

• Truant officer, B.S. Miller is visiting the schools this week.

• Harry Swat and wife, of Treadwell were visitors here on Saturday.

• Mrs. R.A. Thomson and Mrs. Leonard Sloan visited the County Seat on Tuesday.

• Thomas Gordon and Maggie Coulter attended the funeral of Peter Scott at Delhi Tuesday.

• Communion services will be held in the United Presbyterian church the 1st Sabbath in June.

• Miss Lillian Miller and Mayme Lidle, of Andes, visited the former’s brother here on Saturday.

• James Ormiston took his household goods to Delhi Tuesday to ship them to Pennsylvania.  Frank Miller, Herman Coulter, David Drafin (sic) each took a load.

• Professor Duncan C. Lee of Cornell University, third son of Dr. Lee formerly of this town, is mentioned among the possible Democratic candidates for governor this fall.

May 11, 1900

• John Blair went to Middletown Friday.

• William Ruff made a trip to Delhi on Monday.

• Fred Bramley was down at Delhi on Saturday.

• W.B. Scott, of Delhi, was in town on Sabbath.

• F.R. Coulter visited at the County Seat on Friday.

• Alex Hilson and family visited at Delhi Tuesday.

• Frank Myers visited his son, Alexander, here on Friday.

• Mr. and Mrs. John Blair visited her parents at Delhi on Saturday.

• Andrew Seacord and family and Miss Lulu Jackson visited Delhi on Saturday.

• James L. Ormiston and family started Monday morning for their new home near Philadelphia.

• Mrs. Thomas Gordon returned home from her father’s on Sabbath, where she has been for some time on account of the illness and death of her brother, Peter Scott.

• Schools in town observed Arbor Day at the Centre school under the management Mr. McCune and Miss Jackson, the scholars gave recitations and other exercises, and did well in every part.

• Thursday the New York Life Insurance Company, through their agent, presented Mrs. Walter Coulter with a check for $1,000, being pay in full of the policy which her late husband carried in that company. 

May 18, 1900

• John Blair was at Delhi Tuesday.

• Thomas Dennis and lady were at Andes on Sabbath.

• Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Coulter were at Delhi last Thursday.

• Hom. D.L. Thompson was down at the County Seat Tuesday.

• Mr. and Mrs. Frank R. Coulter visited the County Seat Tuesday.

• Miss Jennie Miller is absent visiting at Walton, and Allegheny, Pa.

• James Liddle and Charles McPherson were each at Andes Thursday.

• David J. Miller has sold his span of grey horses to Mr. Gladstone, of Downsville.

• David Oliver and Mrs. John Oliver and son were over at Andes on Tuesday.

• Reed Dumond and Robert Laing were among Andes visitors in town on Tuesday.

• B.S. Miller is absent this week attending the State G.A.R. Encampment at Utica.

• E.L. McNear, a government surveyor was up on Mt. Pisgah last week to make a survey with the object of removing some trees in order that an uninterrupted view may be had from Cooperstown.

May 25, 1900

• Frost Monday morning.

• Will Gladstone, of Downsville, was a visitor Tuesday.

• Walter McDivitt made a trip to the County Seat Friday.

• O.S. Nichols was in town Monday on telephone business.

• Kennedy Warren and wife were up from Delhi on Sabbath.

• Mrs. D.J. Miller and Mrs. J.D. Burns visited Delhi Friday.

• Colfax Livingston has been a guest at Rev. Samson’s this week.

• Rev. Andrew Archibald was a guest at De. Phinney’s on Sabbath.

• John Blair and daughter, Helen, were down at Delhi Saturday.

• Mr. and Mrs. George Gladstone visited relatives at Walton last week.

• Mr. and Mrs. G.D. Miller were at Delhi Tuesday and Wednesday.

• Will Collins, from the West, a son of James Collins, was in town Tuesday.

• Mrs. John M. Miller and Lizzie Burns were among Delhi visitors Friday.

• David F. Hoy, registrar, of Cornell University, and wife were at John R. Hoy’s over Sabbath.

• J.K. McDivitt was in town Saturday. He will give a lecture here on Friday evening, May 25.

• Wesley Miller and Mr. Briggs and their wives, of Oneonta, were at G.D. Miller’s the first of the week.

• Dogs have been making havoc with sheep in town.  Friday night they killed six sheep and a lamb for Mr. Kinch on the Soper farm Sabbath night they killed a lamb for Ed Coulter, and Monday injured some for Thomas Archibald so badly that they will probably die.

• The following were the delegates to the Sabbath School convention at Delhi: Mrs. Elliott Thompson, Miss Mary Thompson, Mrs. Samson, Miss Maggie D. Strangeway, Will Hastings, R.E. Bergman. Alternates-Mrs. James L. Coulter, Miss Libbie Strangeway, Mrs. John Oliver, Miss Leona Thomson, T.C. Strangeway, Frank Miller. 

May 1925 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

Here's what life was like in Bovina 100 years ago this month, as reported in the pages of the Andes Recorder:

May 1, 1925

• Mrs. Lucy Coulter is spending a few days at New Kingston.

• John Blair has had a bathroom installed in his residence.

• William J. Storie was a caller at the County Seat last Thursday.

• Sloan Archibald has had a new porch built onto his residence.

• Henry Campbell, of Walton, and assistants are doing some carpenter work at John Aitkens.

• Mrs. Bell MacPherson, who has been at Walton for several months, is visiting her sons here.

• Miss Anna Dickson and Harold Curren, from Cornell University, spent over the weekend here.

• Thos C. Strangeway and William C. Russell have had concrete sidewalks laid in front of their residences.

• Lloyd Ormiston and family, who have been visiting his mother here, have moved from Goshen to Hudson.

• Miss Mabel Thomson, who was called home several weeks ago by the illness of her mother, Mrs. Dixon Thomson, has returned to her school duties at Winsted, Connecticut.

• William Armstrong is having an addition built onto the kitchen of his residence. He will also have a bathroom installed. James T. Aitken and Barton Jackson, of Andes are the carpenters.

• Rev. F.N. Crawford is absent attending the meeting of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian church at Topeka, Kansas. There will be no preaching service at the U.P. church on Sabbath.

May 8, 1925

• Mrs. Mary Ann Russell is ill at her home at the Butt End.

• Mr. and Mrs. John Hilson were at the County Seat Tuesday.

• Mrs. John Aitkens is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Flynn, at Pepacton.

• Jack Myers, of Springfield, Mass., spent over Sabbath with his parents here.

• Bovina real estate transfers recorded are William R. Miller and another to David C. Worden, $95.

• Misses Kate and Freda Miller spent over Sabbath with their sister, Mrs. Otis McCumber, at Andes.

• John Aitkens is having a veranda built along the front of his residence – the former Kennedy place.

• George Fuller, son of Ferris Fuller, formerly of this place, died recently in Pennsylvania, leaving a wife and eight children.

• Miss Margaret Atkin, aged 81, and a native of Bovina, died from apoplexy at the county home April 29. She was a daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Blair) Atkin.

• Hon. John D. Clark was in town last Wednesday. At the Center school he planted a tree on the school ground. Each scholar was given a small white pine to take home and plant. [This is Congressman John D. Clarke, who was born in Hobart in 1869. He served in congress from 1921-1925. After losing reelection, he successfully ran again in 1926 and served until his death in 1933 in an auto accident.]

• Robert Robinson has sold the standing timber on his farm – the former Thos Forrest place – up Coulter Brook to the Merritt Lumber Company. The logs are being hauled to Margaretville by truck. 

• Henry Halstead, who was born in Bovina 78 years ago, died from heart disease, at the county home April 27. He is survived by his second wife and by a son and daughter by his first wife. Burial was at the Flats cemetery.

• Elmer Hastings and daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. George T. Booth, of Saranac, visited his brother, Milton Hastings, a few days the past week. His daughter, Lulu, who is a trained nurse, and has recently recovered from diphtheria, met them at Kingston on their way home Wednesday and the party will go home via Buffalo and Niagara Falls with their auto.

• Monday while Will Haines was coming down the pitch at Alex Myers’, his team being attached to a lumber wagon, the bolt came out of the single whiffletree and let it hit the horse. The frightened team started to run but Mr. Haines managed to pull them into the ditch and got them stopped after going a few rods, and with the aid of James Ackerley got them unhitched without any damage being done. 

Lake Delaware

• Rev. Edgelow baptized the Edgelow and Bye babies last Sabbath.

• Rev. Edgelow and Harry Murray motored to Springfield, Mass. last Wednesday and returned home Thursday accompanied by Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Edgelow and two children.

• Mrs. Alex Jardine attended the annual convention of the Albany Diocesan branch of the Woman’s Auxiliary at Schenectady last Wednesday and Thursday as a delegate from St. James branch. 

May 15, 1925

• Mrs. David Currie spent Wednesday at Delhi.

• Ted Fuller, of Utica, was here over the week end.

• Mrs. Gideon Miller, of Hamden, spent Wednesday with relatives.

• Mr. and Mrs. George Polley, from Andes, were callers here on Sabbath.

• John Hilson is having the sidewalk along the front of his property re-laid.

• David J. Miller, of Walton, was here Wednesday looking after property interests.

• It is stated that the Yankee school district will be consolidated with the Maynard district.

• William Armstrong has received the appointment of census enumerator for the town of Bovina.

• Mr. and Mrs. John Laing and Frank Myers, of Endicott, spent over the week end with the relatives.

• Miss Bell V. Gladstone, of Walton, spent over Sabbath at the home of her nephew, C.S. Gladstone.

• A woman representing Lord’s Day Alliance spoke at the United Presbyterian church last Sabbath.

• L.W. Thomson, of New York, is in town on a fishing trip. His wife is a daughter of the late Dr. Lee.

• Mr. and Mrs. Ed. D. Gladstone and daughter, Mary, and Miss Emily Archibald were at Andes on Sabbath.

• The Home Bureau met Tuesday with Miss Carrie Dumond. Fancy work was the matter under discussion. 

• Mr. and Mrs. John Hilson and Mr. and Mrs. Wilber Doig attended the Larro dealers banquet at the Kingston hotel at Delhi, Friday evening.

• At the sale of the personal property of F.W. Hyatt on the D.J. Miller farm Wednesday cows sold as high as $100, but the average will be considerably less.

• Mr. and Mrs. Ward Fancher, of Kortright, spent Sabbath with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Geo H. Miller. Their little daughter, who has been staying here returned home with them.

• Lauren Dickson, who was admitted to the practice of law a few months ago and has been in an office in Saratoga, is now associated with the law firm of Couper & Terry in Binghamton.

• William H. Irvine, a member of the Fisher Flour Mills, of Seattle, Washington, who was east at Washington, D.C., on business, spent a short time with his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Irvine on his way home. [William was the brother of Isabell Russell.]

May 22, 1925

• Wallace Hyatt has gone to New York City.

• John Armstrong is driving a new Chevrolet sedan.

• Grace Bramley has hired to teach at Union Grove for next year.

• George H. Miller is having his residence repainted. Alex Myers is doing the job.

• Miss Mary Kelley, of Delhi, spent over the weekend with her friend Margaret Gordon. [This likely was Mary Keeley, who taught fourth grade at Delaware Academy.]

• Mrs. T.C. Strangeway was taken ill on Friday with acute indigestion, but is now better.

• From the play Down in Maine last Friday evening the Missionary Society realized about $75.

• Mr. and Mrs. Galie Hafele spent the first of the week with her brother, Archibald Thomson, at Walton.

• Freeman Shaver, of Terry Clove, was here on Sabbath and his father George Shaver returned home with him. 

• A play the “Minister’s Wife’s New Bonnet,” will be given Friday evening under the auspices of the King’s Daughter Sabbath School Class.

• Those from out of town of attend the funeral of Miss Jennie Miller on Monday, were Mr. and Mrs. James Foreman, Miss Margaret Archibald, Mrs. George Cable, Mrs. William Bramley, of Delhi, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Sanford, of New Kingston. 

LAST OF HER GENERATION

Miss Jennie Miller, of Bovina, Dies at Age of 84 Years

Miss Jennie Miller died at the County Home, on Friday, May 15, at the ripe old age of 84 years.

She was the daughter of the late David Miller who came to America from Scotland in 1816, and was born in Bovina and all her life had been spent in the town. She was a member of the U.P. Church and a great believer in missions.

The funeral was held Monday with interment in the Bovina Center cemetery. 

May 29, 1925

• James Ackerley is painting his remodeled residence.

• Frank Miller and wife were at Andes the first of the week.

• Miss Ruth Teal spent from Saturday until Monday at Bloomville.

• Mrs. Julia McPherson has been confined to her home the past week by illness. [Mrs. McPherson was the former Julia Ann Fuller. Married to A. Fitch McPherson, she was widowed in 1903. Julia survived this illness, dying in 1933.] 

• Miss Angelica Gerry, of New York, has arrived at her summer home at Lake Delaware.

• Miss Alice Frayer, of Delhi, spent over the week end with her friend Miss Margaret Gordon. 

• Sabbath morning at the U.P. church the pastor preached a sermon especially for the children.

• Bovina real estate transfers recorded Bovina Cemetery Association to Fredrick Johnson, $35. 

• Fritz Burger, who owns the Armstrong farm, returned to his home at Hackensack on Thursday.

• Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Russell attended the funeral of James Amos on Scotch Mountain last week.

• Edgar Lee, son of John B. Lee in Tuttle Hollow, has just completed a course in the Albany Pharmacy College. [Edgar became a successful pharmacist in Delhi, running Lee’s Pharmacy for many years. His daughter Lucile would marry Willard Frisbee.]

• Charles Cheney has his household goods advertised and with his family will return to his former home in Nebraska.

• Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Russell, Mrs. Elizabeth Irvine and Mrs. Douglas Davidson were County Seat visitors on Monday.

• Mrs. Thomas Gordon accompanied Homer Covert and daughter Edna, to Brooklyn last Friday and remained until Monday, visiting Wm. S. Gordon and Don Covert, who are attending the Pratt Institute. 

This Day in Bovina for April 2025

Here's the monthly compilation of the daily entries from the Town of Bovina Facebook page:

139 years ago today, the April 1, 1886 Hobart Independent reported that "Thos. H. Lee, son of Rev. Dr. Lee of Bovina, is now a clerk in the New York Custom House, Auditor's office, with a salary of $1,400 per annum."

Fifty years ago today, the April 2, 1975 Walton Reporter published this photo of Bovina and Delhi Fire Department members who received certificates of completion of the essentials of firemanship course. 

These images of Kermit Foreman were taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in the late 1930s/early 1940s. Kermit was a farmer on Lee Hollow. Born in Delhi, he married Mildred Scott in 1931. Kermit operated a paint and paper store in Shavertown from 1931-1941. He moved to Lee Hollow where he was a dairy farmer until his retirement in 1969. Kermit died in 1977. He was the father of Mary Inman and Linda Burns.  Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

Eighty-five years ago today, the Bovina column of the April 4, 1940 Delaware Republican reported that "The school bus is on the road again this week." The same column also reported that "Mr. and Mrs. James Hoy and son James were at Delhi the first of the week.." as were "Mr. and Mrs. Lester Hoy and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Russell and son Ronnie …"

Twenty-seven years ago today, on April 5, 1998, this photograph was taken of the Bovina U.P. Church choir. The members are (left to right) Pat Parsons (Miele), Marie Burns, Marge Burgin, Leona LaFever, Lois Monroe, Anna Lounsbury, Frances Burns, Lauren Monroe, Thelma Barlow, Joe Dibble and Enid Carter.

Ninety-one years ago today, the April 6, 1934 Delaware Express reported that the "Bovina girls ended their season of basketball Friday night, playing South Kortright. Bovina girls won."

This image of the Hilson Brothers' truck comes from the Hoy family. It appears to have been taken on the main street in Bovina Center and likely dates from the 1920s. The Hilson Brothers in the 1920s were John and James Hilson, sons of Alexander Hilson and grandsons of the store's founder, John Hilson. They operated a general store and a feed store for many years, passing the business on to John's sons Alex and Jack. 

128 years ago today, the April 8, 1897 Clarion Democrat (Pennsylvania), in a column entitled Farm Notes, had this item: "Bovina (N.Y.) farmers think that the grasshoppers working on the hay and straw the past season is the cause of so much sickness among cows and horses there this winter."

This image of Kate Birdsall was taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in 1940. Born Katherine Craig in Andes in 1890, she married Clinton Birdsall in 1919. He died in Tupper Lake in 1932 from tuberculosis. Kate was left with three children (the fourth, a son, died at the age of 4 in 1930). Kate lived in Bovina in the house I now own in the 1930s and early 1940s. She was the tax collector for some of that time. Kate died in 1963.  

142 years ago today, the April 10, 1883 Stamford Mirror had this item in its Bovina column: "A young man from Bulgaria, at present a member of the junior class of the Hamilton College, delivered a lecture in the U.P. Church, on Wednesday eve. A collection amounting to about $19 was taken up to assist the lecturer in obtaining his education."

Thirty-four years ago today, the April 11, 1991 Mirror Recorder carried this Bovina column by Ann Cairns:  

133 years ago today, the Stamford Mirror for April 12, 1892 carried this short item: "On account of the scarcity of women help at Bovina Center, many of the farmers in that vicinity are sending to Castle Garden to employ female emigrants." Castle Garden was an immigrant processing facility in New York City, the predecessor of Ellis Island.

Eighty-one years ago today, the April 13, 1944 issue of the Delaware Republican Express reported the following: "At the Easter service at the Bovina United Presbyterian Church the following babies were baptized: Marianne Hilson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Hilson; Mary Coulter Parsons, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Parsons; Donald Alan Burns, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Burns; Robert Laidlaw Wilson, son of Mrs. Robert Wilson; Lee Gary Archibald, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Archibald; Martha Rae Jardine and Richard Alan Jardine, children of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Jardine."

202 years ago, on April 14, 1823, days of highway work were assessed for property owners in Bovina highway district 14. Before the imposition of road taxes in the early 20th century, roads were maintained by assessing days of work on the property owners around the roads. They either had to carry out the work or hire someone to do it. Where this district was located cannot be precisely determined, but it may have been in the area of Pink Street.

This image of the Johnson Woolen Mill comes from the 1880 History of Delaware County, published by Munsell. The Johnson Mill was located near Mountain Brook and was run by waterpower provided by the Little Delaware River. In the 1820s, it was run by Andrew Johnson. When he died unexpectedly in 1837, his widow Mary Hamilton Johnson ran the mill until 1856, when her sons became adults. The family ran the mill into the early 20th century. 

Eighty-three years ago today, the Bovina column in the April 16, 1942 Delaware Republican reported that "Jean Ditty of New York City spent the past week in town with Mr. and Mrs. A. Gardner."

115 years ago today, on April 17, 1910, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Wilson McFarland died in upper Bovina …. at 7 a.m. He was taken with lagrippe on Friday and this was complicated by heart trouble. He was born in town of Roxbury in the Plattekill valley 71 years ago April 2. When only about a year old his mother died and he was taken by his grandfather, James Thomson at the 'stone house' and had always remained there. He is survived by an aunt, Miss Lydia Thomson, one sister, Mrs. Nancy Jane Ackerly, of Margaretville, and a half-brother, Milton McFarland, of Delhi." The funeral took place on the 19th and he was buried in the Bovina cemetery.

It was ten years ago this evening, April 18, 2015, that the second Bovina History Pageant took place. Modeled on the first pageant, which took place on April 21, 1955, it was a standing room only crowd. More information is on my blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2015/04/bovina-history-pageant-2015-version.html

This image of Indian Rocks, which sits above the Bovina Center hamlet, is from a postcard dated 1906. Indian Rocks has been a popular place to hike to from the hamlet for several generations of children and adults. 

144 years ago today, on April 20, 1881, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Stamford Mirror, "The household goods of the late Mrs. Kendall were sold at public auction…. Dan Franklin auctioneer." This likely is Jane Tuttle Kendall, who died in February 1881 at the age of 61. She was the daughter of William Tuttle and Sarah Carman and was married to Charles Kendall. I cannot determine when she married him. Her will file uses her maiden name with a reference to being also known as Jane Kendall.

Seventy years ago today, on April 21, 1955, the Bovina Recreation Club presented “Bovina Center, My Home Town.”  As later reported in the Delaware Republican Express, the program was "presented by pantomime, narrative and the projection of colored slides on a movie screen…" My grandmother attended the event, but I was unable to attend this event because.  I was considered to be too young. I was about 14 hours old.  More information about this event may be found in the Bovina NY History blog at http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2011/04/56-years-ago-today.html.

Sixty years ago, the April 22, 1965 Delaware Republican Express reported that "Bovina maple producers have had a poor year up to now, but the last few days they have had a splendid run of good quality syrup, which will help out a lot to bring the run up to near average."

In 1946, Delhi photographer Bob Wyer took a series of aerial pictures around Bovina in a plane piloted by Eddie Davidson. These three aerial images show the farm of my grandfather, Benson LaFever. This farm had belonged to Fred and Nell Henderson until sold to Ben and Anna Bell LaFever in 1928. My aunt and uncle, Howard and Laura LaFever took over the farm in the mid-1950s. Images courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

Eighty-six years ago today, on April 24, 1939, Ronald James Russell was born, the elder son of Ernest and Dorothy Russell. He was joined by a brother David in 1941. Ron died in 1985 at the age of 45, after battling diabetes and kidney disease. This photo comes from Dot Russell's album. This was taken at the house now owned by Joan Foster, just to the left of Hilson's store. 

This picture of Mary Jardine and Marjorie Russell in front of Marjorie's home was taken thirty-four years ago today, April 25, 1987. 

This is a postcard view of St. James Church, located at Lake Delaware. More information about the history of this church is on my blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2014/07/centennial-of-st-james-episcopal-church.html  

146 years ago today, on April 27, 1879, Hanna Halstead died. She was born in 1801, the daughter of William Halstead. Unfortunately, we don't know a lot about her except that she was living for a number of years with her brother John. In the 1860 census, she's listed as the head of household. She is buried in the Bovina Center cemetery.

Ninety-two years ago today, the April 28, 1933 Delaware Express had this list of students in the Bovina Center school who made the Honor Roll. 

168 years ago today, the April 29, 1857 Delaware Gazette reported on a late snowstorm that hit "the Western and Southern States." New England was spared but apparently not New York. The Delaware County area was reported as having a "full seven feet, and some think nearer eight feet of snow ... during the two storms." There was mild weather between the two storms, allowing some of the snow to melt and settle. "Some ten or twelve barns and sheds in this village [Delhi] and vicinity were crushed in…A Mrs. Snooks, of Bovina, lost three cows and had another badly injured, by the falling of a barn." Mrs. Snooks' farm was on the lower end of Lee Hollow just above the Hook.

148 years ago today, on April 30, 1877, Jane Patterson Dysart died. Born in 1804, she married Peter Dysart and would have two children, both of whom would predecease her. Her son Robert died in October 1863 of typhoid on Folly Island in North Carolina while with the NY 144th Infantry. She lost an infant daughter in 1850. She was survived by an illegitimate grandson. More about her son Robert may be found at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2013/12/illegitimate-child-of-robert-dysart.html

A Week with Bovina People - April 1900 - 125 Years ago from the Andes Recorder

Life in Bovina 125 years ago this month, as reported in the Bovina column of the Andes Recorder.

April 6, 1900

• W.L. White was at Delhi Friday.

• Michael Dickson is in poor health.

• Thomas Miller was at Andes Wednesday.

• John Blair and wife visited Delhi on Tuesday.

• Peter McNair was at Margaretville on Monday.

• Junius Shaver, of Shavertown, was here this week.

• Frank Myers, of Andes, is visiting in town this week.

• William Crosier, wife and son were at Delhi Wednesday.

• Charles Sanford made a trip to the County Seat Monday.

• Alex. Palmer has been visiting his brother, Charles, here.

• John Archibald and wife were visitors in this place Tuesday.

• John Blair and Robert A. Thomson were over at Andes Monday.

• E.O. Harkness and son, Robert, were up from Delhi Saturday.

• The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Guerdon Dibble died Wednesday.

• Rev. H.F. Brown left Monday for New York city to attend conference. 

• William H. Bramley and Mrs. E.C. Dean were here from Delhi Monday.

• Born at Delancey, March 29, to Mr. and Mrs. David A. Oliver, a daughter. [Her name was Margaret. She married Frank Mereness and lived to 80, dying in 1980.]

• Jackson & Mason’s hearse has been in town four times within two weeks.

• Fred Bramley was at Andes Monday after his housekeeper – Lucy Jackson.

• Miss Anna Scott has been threatened with pneumonia this week, but is now improving.

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. William Mason Monday, April 2, a son. It only weighed 11 ½ pounds.

• Robert Stewart, of Peake’s Brook, was here Monday after Ella Lee, who will work for him this season. 

• Who is P.W.S. writing in the Delaware Republican from Pisga!  The initials must mean Pretty Weak Stuff.

• The little daughter of Alex. Hilson died Saturday morning, aged two years and ten months.  The funeral was held Sabbath afternoon. [Violet Isabella]

• Three times in ten days has death entered the family of Francis Coulter and taken a member.  James Coulter died March 20, and last Thursday his wife died, aged 26 years.  Saturday morning, Walter A. Coulter, a brother, died aged about 38 years, all of whom died with plura pneumonia.  The funeral of Mrs. Coulter was held Friday and that of Walter on Monday.

April 13, 1900

• Jenn Blair was at Delhi Wednesday.

• W.C. Russell was at Andes Monday.

• A.O. Butts made a trip to Bloomville Monday.

• Adam Scott was in this place from Delhi Tuesday.

• Alex Johnson Was down at the County Seat Tuesday.

• Thomas Miller and wife went to Walton Monday.

• Dr. Ormiston and wife were up from Delhi on Sabbath.

• Miss Mary Liddle was in town from Andes on Sabbath.

• Mr. and Mrs. David Oliver were over at Andes Monday.

• F.R. Coulter and W.L. White were at the County Seat Tuesday.

• Ed Gladstone and James N. Laing were seen in town Tuesday.

• Dr. Seacord and William Armstrong were County Seat visitors Monday.

• Mrs. A.O. Butts and Miss Margaret Chisholm were visitors at Delhi Tuesday.

• Alex. Hilson went to New York city Monday to purchase a stock of new goods.

• Arthur Neish is moving into the upstair rooms in the old Stott cooper shop from the Kinmouth house.

• Rev. and Mrs. W.L. C. Samson were at Walton Tuesday, the former to attend the meeting of Presbytery.

• William Ruff and Emmett Knapp went to Oneonta Tuesday, to be on hand to attend the Ayer & McKinney sale of stock.

• James L. Ormiston has secured a position as herdsman on a fancy dairy farm near Philadelphia, and will begin duties about May 1. The farm was formerly owned by the Buckhanan family.

• For the year ending March 31st the amount contributed to missions by the United Presbyterian church was $923. This does not include anything that has been contributed by the Sabbath School.

• Michael Dickson died last Friday, in the 76th year of his age.  He was born at Dunfriseshire, near Fairloans, Scotland, in June 1824, and was a son of Gilbert Dickson, and with his parents came to this country in 1831, and has since resided in Bovina.  He was one of a family of nine children, having five brothers and three sisters, and of these only two brothers and two sisters are now living.  A widow and two sons survive him.  The funeral was held on Wednesday, Rev. Slater officiating.

April 20, 1900

• Roads are in bad condition.

• Mrs. William T. .Black was at Delhi Monday.

• Marion Robertson was over at Andes Monday.

• Frank Miller made a trip to Delhi on Thursday.

• Thomas Gordon and wife were at Delhi Monday.

• Thomas S. Doig was in town from Andes Saturday.

• An agent for the Walton Chronicle was in town Saturday.

• Miss Effie Hughes, of Andes, is visiting relatives in town.

• Edward Turnbull and sister, M. Ella were here from Andes Wednesday.

• A.O. Butts, John Blair and James E. Hastings were at Delhi Monday.

• Miss Jennie Hastings is home from the Oneonta Normal for a vacation.

• William Johnson, wife and child, of Delhi were in this place on Sabbath.

• Rev. H.F. Brown leaves Saturday for his new charge at East Kingston.

• William T. Black was in New York this week attending the Republican state convention.

• Dr. J. B. Lee, of Franklinville, arrived in town Wednesday to renew old acquaintances here.

• Adam Laidlaw and Milton Hastings started for the west Monday, and their destination is Auburn, Washington.

• Monday W.L. Ruff and James E. Hastings got the calf home which they bought at the Ayer & McKinney sale.

• At the collection taken in the United Presbyterian church on Sabbath for the suffering in India the amount was $87.75.

• It is reported here this (Thursday) morning that Thomas C. Strangeway has purchased James L. Ormiston’s dairy of cows.

• Friday a disastrous fire was narrowly averted at David Oliver’s.  Mr. Oliver lives in one part of the house and his son in law, Marion Roberton, who runs the farm lives in the other, and Mrs. Oliver went up stairs with a gallon oil can to fill it from a five gallon can which they kept upstairs.  She had the small can filled, but for some cause could not stop the flow of oil from the large can, and it ran down the stove pipe near which she was and the blaze flashing up struck Mrs. Oliver full in the face blinding her for an instant.  Her cries brought her son-in-law who was taking in the situation caught up some old carpet and throwing it over the blazing oil can pitched it through a window.  By quick work the remaining fire which was burning where the oil was scattered was put out.  The house was filled with smoke and it will necessitate repapering and some of the woodwork was blistered.  In Mr. Robertson’s part some rooms had just been newly papered and it will now have to be done over again.  It was insured in the town company and Saturday directors, John R. Hoy, F.R. Coulter and B.S. Miller visited the scene and the loss was adjusted for $57.71.

April 27, 1900

• Perry Shaw was in town Tuesday.

• John Blair went to Meredith Monday.

• Thursday James A. Liddle was at Delhi.

• Thomas E.. Hastings was at Delhi on Saturday.

• Quite thick ice was frozen here Wednesday morning.

• John Connor was seen in town from Andes Tuesday.

• Elmer Hastings made a trip Monday to Bloomville.

• Mr. Dibble, of Bloomville, was in this place Monday.

• James Robson was down at the County Seat Monday.

• George Cable and family were down at Delhi last Thursday. 

• Elmer Close and George Gladstone visited Delhi Saturday.

• Dr. Lee started for his home in Franklinville on Tuesday.

• W.T. Black and Dr. Seacord were at Bloomville Wednesday.

• Joseph Raitt arrived in town Friday to renew old acquaintances.

• Dr. Lee preached in the United Presbyterian church on Sabbath.

• Gideon Miller and wife visited his parents at Andes over Sabbath.

• C.R. Monroe and W.J. Hyzer were here from Andes last Thursday.

• William H. Liddle and Bert Elliott, of Andes, were here on Monday.

• Mrs. E.G. Gladstone and Mrs. W.J. Doig visited the County Seat Tuesday.

• W.C. Russell, wife and daughter, and Miss Ella Forrest were down at Delhi Tuesday.

• Mrs. W.T. Black was at Delhi Friday after her husband on his return from the state convention.

• Rev. H.F. Brown left Saturday for his new charge at East Kingston. Rev. Williams, the new minister arrived on Friday.

• Thomas Gordon, D.L. Thompson, Thomas Miller, Andrew Doig and wife, Mrs. John A. Irvine, Mrs. James L. Coulter, were among those at Delhi on Tuesday.

• In 1857 Thomas Miller was elected an elder in the United Presbyterian church and for 43 years has served in that office. All his associates elected at that time are dead. 

• Schools in town have resumed their sessions after the Institute at Roxbury. The teachers are loud in their praise of way in which they were entertained by the people of Roxbury.