Here's the compilation of the postings from August 2025 on the Town of Bovina Historian Facebook page:
106 years ago today, the August 1, 1919 Catskill Mountain News reported that "there is being planned the Bovina annual Community Picnic for the last Thursday of August. This fact has been announced in the churches." The paper went on to report that "Efforts will be made to secure a good speaker, and there may be a band to furnish music. There will be a formal program of speech in the morning, then a picnic dinner, then a number of athletic events to shake down the dinner, also a ball game." The event did take place as planned and was a success.
Ninety-five 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.
Two hundred years ago today, August 3, 1820, this receipt was issued for $2.25 for payment from the town supervisor to the poor master, David Thomson.
This postcard view of the Bovina Center school is postmarked 1910. The postcard, as were many postcards before World War I, was printed in Germany. It is a black and white image with the color added by the printers. From everyone I can tell, this schoolhouse was never painted red. The postcard was sent to Ethel Harrington. Ethel later married Stanley Bussy. He died in 1955. Ethel married again in 1965 to Andrew Coulter, who died in 1980. Ethel died in 1984.
Fifty-eight 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. This chauffeur license image of Fred Ganger was taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy around 1940. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.
Sixty-one 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 World’s Fair at New York….."
116 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. The foundations of the farm still exist. Here's the news article about the dramatic fire from the August 12, 1909 Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin:
130 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 someone borrowed two cakes."
This picture of Fletcher and Lois Davidson comes from the Davidson family and probably dates from the late 1960s, after Lois had a stroke. She lived a number of years after the stroke, dying in 1976. Lois and Fletcher were married in 1921 in Bovina. Lois would have seven children, four of whom made it to adulthood.
198 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. He was the grandfather of long-time Bovina town clerk Margaret Hoy.
127 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. Here's a picture of Catherine on her wedding day with her bridesmaids, including Marjorie on the right. Image courtesy of the Hilson family.
This image of Archibald Phyfe came from an album of photos kept by James Ormiston. Archibald was James brother-in-law. He was born in Bovina in 1848, the son of John Phyfe and Matilda Loughran. He married Mary Ormiston in 1875. They had two daughters, Anna and Bertha. Mary died in 1885. Archibald continued to live in the family house in Bovina with his sister Sarah keeping house and helping to raise his children. More about Archibald Phyfe is on the Bovina NY History Blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2011/02/dangers-of-coal-gas.html
Seventy-two 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
137 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.
Seventy-three 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 were 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."
These images of Don Boggs were taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in 1937/38 and in 1940. Donald Coulter Boggs was born in 1907 in Bovina, the son of J. Russell Boggs and Margaret Ann Coulter. He married Winona Bowen in 1929. They spent their early years on a farm on Reinertsen Hill Road and later moved to Corinth, NY with their three children. He died there in 1986 (his wife died in 2006). McMurdy 1937-38_001, 1940_001 and two Bov Ctr Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.
132 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 100 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).
113 years ago today, August 20, 1908, the Bovina Cooperative Creamery Company issued this account for the estate of W.L. White. White had died in January 1907. This was known as the 'uptown' creamery. It closed in the 1920s/30s and was demolished in the 1960s. 1908-08-20 Bovina Coop Creamery acct
142 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."
123 years ago today, on August 22, 1902, the Bovina Fortnightly Club held an entertainment.
155 years ago today, the August 23, 1870 Bloomville Mirror carried this plea concerning the post office in Brushland:
Ninety-nine 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.
114 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 101 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."
In 1946, Delhi photographer Bob Wyer took a series of aerial pictures around Bovina in a plane piloted by Eddie Davidson. This is an image of the Jim Boggs farm, which is on Boggs Road, not far off Bovina road and near the Maynard School. The farm belonged to Jim's father, Thomas Boggs. Jim had the farm until his passing in 1972. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.
Ninety-seven 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.
117 years ago today, August 29, 1908, the 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.
144 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."
164 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.
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