USA > New York > Schuyler County > Schuyler County, N.Y., the first hundred years, 1854-1954 > Part 3
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KEEPING THE HILLS FROM RUNNING AWAY
4-H Club youths learning to make diversion ditches under Soil Conserva- tion Service expert at Conservation Training Camp, Cayuta. The Soil Conservation District now has nearly half the farms in Schuyler County as cooperators with plans developing to keep the farms productive for gen- erations to come.
-State 4-H Club Office
A NOTE OF THANKS
The assembling of a century of County History has taken a "heap of doing" but the Centennial Committee feels it is vital that we remember "The means by which one's ancestors made both a living and a life upon the land."
We are deeply grateful to all those who have helped collecting, selecting and picturing history of the century.
Major contributions in time and effort have been made by Mrs. George M. Layton, Myron Bates, Mrs. Guy Caywood, Charles Har- rington, Frank Severne, Irving Goodrich, Glen Mickel, Irving Davis, Mrs. David Bell, A. Weston Woodward, B. L. Piper, Miss Nancy Howell and Charles Haight.
Parade pictures were contributed by Mrs. Marjorie Bleiler and Mrs. Nelson Longstreet.
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Jane A. Delano, Schuyler County's brilliant and dedicated nurse. In 1909 she was a member of the War Relief Board of the American Red Cross, Chairman of its National Com- mittee of Red Cross Nursing Service; President of the Nurses' Associated Alumnae; President of the Army Nurse Corps; all Red Cross and Army nursing under her guidance.
Born March 12, 1862 at Townsend, she died at the American Base Hospital at Aaveny, France, April 15, 1919. She was buried with military honors in Arlington Cemetery, Washing- ton, D. C.
A movement is on foot to have an American Stamp issued in her honor and she has been adjudged worthy of such honor by the National Red Cross. The centenary of her birth, 1962, has been suggested as the propitious time to urge such action by the Post Office Department.
Ten American Legion Posts have been named "Jane A. Delano"; also several nurses' homes. -Photo from American Red Cross
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DOCTORS - MEDICINE
Since blacktop roads and autos, doctors have tended to gather in the larger villages. There are fewer doctors but transportation permits more people to visit them. In 1894, there were 39 physicians; now in 1954, 12 in county.
In 1904, a girl who needed hospital surgery after an accident while horseback riding could be taken care of in this way, Dr. A. H. Jackson relates. "I would phone the railroad, if the regular train had gone through, I'd get a fast thru train stopped, would ride with the patient to Sayre and then return by train that same day." This took time. Our modern ambulances and first-aid crews and the founding of Shepard Relief Hospital in 1920 (renamed Schuyler Hospital in 1953) saves travel, life and a doctor's time.
Pioneering in nursing service was a Montour Falls woman, Jane A. Delano who from 1910-17 established the American Red Cross Home Nursing Service and
wrote the first text book. She died still serving in 1919 while in France.
Appalling infant and maternal death rates evident in our cemeteries could not be materially reduced until the studies of Pasteur and Lister had been wide- spread. Even then until immunization methods were developed at the turn into the 20th century diphtheria and smallpox could be stopped only by isolation. Then in the 2nd quarter of the 20th century the anti- biotics were developed and pneumonia, a major cause of deaths was under control. As this is written in August 1954 we hope medical science has found an effective control of infantile paralysis-so damag- ing in 1953 locally. Millions of dollars are being spent to learn to control cancer. Health insurance and hospital plans such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield have been developed in the last decade to enable families to save for medical services as needed. Radio and television, motion picture and color photography are being used both in preventive medicine, general health education and medical schools.
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BETHSAIDA SANITARIUM at Havana where D. C. Clawson offered a wide assortment of cures and rests. These spas were combina- tion hotels and medical centers, making it almost agreeable to be ailing. Clawson Boule- vard starting up Odessa Hill was the site for this building.
-Photo from the Montour Library
SAFETY
Fire companies are not new but like doctors they needed to be adequately equipped. During most of this century Watkins Glen, Montour Falls and Odessa have had fire companies on a volunteer basis and worked to get hand pumpers to replace buckets, horse and motorized equipment to replace hand equipment. The dread days when a fire meant certain complete destruction of a large block are past. Yet rural fire losses reinain high and since World War II trained
rural fire departments well equipped with trucks and equipment have come into being in Hector, Burdett, Mecklenburg, Tyrone, Beaver Dams and Monterey. Due to these organizations, insurance rates have been maintained at a reasonable figure despite rising values of property. These fire companies also do yeoman's service in erecting Christmas decorations, providing units for parades, and sponsoring educational courses.
HOW EARLY COUNTY BOUNDARIES SHIFTED
Montgomery County originally included most of the unsettled area west of Albany and north to the Canadian border.
In 1791, the land from the Delaware River to the. Pre-Emption Line 6 miles west of Watkins Glen and from the head of Seneca Lake to the Pennsylvania Line became Tioga County.
In 1806 Broome County taken from east end of Tioga and in 1836 Chemung County from west end.
In 1854 townships of Cayuta, Catharine and Dix were taken from Chemung, towns of Orange, Tyrone and Reading from Steuben and Hector from Tomp- kins. In 1860 the town of Montour was taken from Catharine to make our 8 towns.
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THE COUNTY COURT HOUSE AND OFFICE BUILDING - The office building was completed in 1952. This picture was taken to show the county's best to those celebrating the opening of a section of the New York State Thruway.
-Woodward Studio
THE COURT HOUSE at Watkins Glen has been a landmark for 97 years. For a time, pending the county seat contest. its future hung in the balance. In 1935 floods and logs entered its doors, but it has braved both storms. Here plans for the Centennial were begun.
JOURNEY INTO THE PAST OLD IRELANDVILLE
Three miles north of Watkins Glen, on old Bath-Catskill Turnpike, an early 19th century village is being rebuilt and opened to the public. Here you and your friends may see the tools of a by-gone way of life-old black- smith shop, vehicles, country store, church, tavern, barber shop, etc.
This restoration project, rivaling Farmers Museum at Cooperstown, is being undertaken by Century House Associates, a non-profit Educational Foundation. We will welcome as gifts any items appropriate for this historical undertaking and will acknowledge same with a suitable label. If you have mementos of the past you wish to see preserved, write:
DR. L. I. FREEMAN Century House Watkins Glen, New York
MARKET BASKET SUPER MARKETS
SERVING SCHUYLER COUNTY FOR OVER 50 YEARS WITH THE FINEST QUALITY FOODS AT LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES
Watkins Glen - Montour Falls - Burdett
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OF THIS AND THAT THROUGH THE YEARS
--- General John E. Mulford was instigator of Elmira & Seneca Lake Railway Company-the trolleys.
-Havana-born was David B. Hill, Lt. Gov. of New York State, 1885-92.
-The Parish House at Montour built as Clerk's Office has been included in outstanding architecture of New York State in the Bevier Memorial Building in Rochester.
-George Mills, a Havana resident who died in December 1858 at the age of 93, had without chang- ing his home lived in Montgomery County for 1 year, Tioga County for 43 years, Chemung for 18 years and died in Schuyler County.
-Pine Grove Church now gone began as a Methodist Class in 1830, built a Presbyterian Church in 1848, which became a Methodist Church in 1858, but switched to Presbyterian again in '74. Sold in 1934. This church sent a missionary to Persia and started nation-wide discussion and debate when they at- tempted to ordain Lillian Chapman to ministry.
-1867, à record barge-load of coal (231 tons) re- corded at Chemung Canal.
-1864 Duplex Elliptical-Spring Hoop Skirts sold locally. They could be contracted into small space. -1864 announcement that income tax rate would be 5% of any income above $600.00.
-1864 clothing scarce so robberies from clothes lines were reported. Buffalo robes were available however. -New York State population doubled 1850 to 1900 and.again doubled 1900 to 1950.
-- 1851 Amelia Bloomer and Susan B. Anthony had as theme song:
Sound the loud timbrel o'er Erie's broad sea
The skirts will be shortened, our women be free. -Fruit drying used to be a major industry in Odessa and Tyrone among other places in 1860.
-In 1909, local papers noted 26 football deaths double the number in 1907.
-Shepard Hospital started with 8 beds, a small operating room and a kitchen. Now 50 beds.
-Glenwood Cemetery started in 1858.
-Cayuta had county's earliest resident minister, Elder David Jaynes 1799. Cayuta Free Church begun in 1859.
-Dix had the only town poor house with 7 adults and 2 juvenile "customers."
-Havana and Watkins "county" buildings each cost about $24,000.
-Altay's present Baptist Church building dates from 1842. Also Tyrone's Methodist Church. Newest is Weston Presbyterian Chapel 1938.
(Continued on page 36)
JOHN W. THOMPSON, M. D. FOUNDER OF "THOMPSON'S DRUG STORE" in 1856
Two years after the forming of Schuyler County, Dr. Thompson moved to Watkins and established this Drug Store. He had been practicing Medicine in Burdett and had married a Burdett girl, Cordelia P. Jackson, several years before coming to Watkins. In those days it was very necessary for a doctor to own a Drug Store.
Dr. Thompson was a busy man attending the sick, injured, and many maternity cases. In the latter years of his practice he left the store in charge of his son, Frank P. Thompson and other drug clerks. Frank P. Thompson died suddenly in 1884 and Dr. Thompson fol- lowed him in 1885.
Upon the death of Frank P. Thompson, another younger son, John M. Thompson who was a licensed Pharmacist, operated the store and carried it on until his death in 1948. John M. Thompson was assisted by his older son, Francis E. Thompson from 1914 and his younger son, John J. Thompson from 1926. Francis E. Thompson died in 1949. The suc- cess of the store since 1914 has been mainly due to the efforts, inspiration and good business ideas of Francis E. Thompson who greatly helped his father in managing it.
§ The Thompson Pharmacy
Reliable Drug Store Service Since 1856 306 N. Franklin Street Watkins Glen, N. Y.
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THE ORIGINAL COUNTY COURT HOUSE now Montour Village Hall in 1954 resounds to laughter of some 50 to 75 Teen Towners playing bas- ketball, dancing, and learning the art of self government. This group of brick buildings in the civic center of Montour Falls is often admired by artists and architects.
-R. O. Bale photo
Built Ga Charles Cool. Bricks male. nearby.
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SERVANTS WITH A SMILE
"Larry" Morgan, Joe Hoffman and Alfred Woodward.
These three gentlemen are examples of the fine public office holders Schuyler County has enjoyed. Larry Morgan greeted nearly every citizen by name. He was County Clerk for 20 years before he died in 1953. Joseph Hoffman is the present chair- man of the Board of Supervisors and a Catharine farmer. Mr. Woodward was for years chairman and a leading hardware storekeeper. He died in 1950. This picture was taken on one of their trips to solve a county problem in "spare" time.
-William Kelly collection
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ASSEMBLYMAN H. H. GRAHAM OF BEAVER DAMS looks over the family car. Henry Ford set rural folk on the road to equal living with urbanites. With a good home, a good wife and family and friends, what more could a man want when a car was added? This picture is of 1910 vintage.
-Photo from Ira Lafever
OF THIS AND THAT THROUGH THE YEARS
(Continued from page 34)
-- Charles Cook had a design made for a Queen Catharine Memorial.
-Perry City has our only Friends Church now also a community church.
-The railroad changed Peach Orchard to Hector.
-Orange was named for county in New Jersey from which many inhabitants came.
-Odessa C. S. transportation costs $45,000 per year. -General Kernan's home in Tyrone was the early center of Catholic worship. His son Francis was a U. S. Senator and on New York State Board of Regents 1870-92. One daughter married George Quin who started Watkins Catholic Congregation, now St. Mary's.
-NO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EITHER! Editorial in Havana Journal in 1855. "We say that our village of Havana contains a more expensive District School House, a better and more expensive hotel, more expensive and better-finished buildings for mechanical purposes, better market for all produce, more wealth and that more equally distributed, more and truer Whigs, few Know Nothings and more Know Some Things than any village of 1300 inhabitants in Western New York."
WORLD NEWS - 1854
Problems reported by steamer and mail were in 1854 much like those a century later. Some news- worthy events of 1854:
-- A new party was formed, the Republican Party, on the Kansas Nebraska Act and slave issue.
-- United States signed with Japan a treaty of peace, amity and commerce opening ports following Com- modore Perry's visit.
-- The Ostend Manifesto offered Spain $120 million for Cuba or U. S. threatened to take it by force.
-The National debt was $42,242,222.
-The San Francisco mint was first opened.
-The United States in 1854 had 48 steamboat accidents with loss of 587 people; 193 railroad acci- dents killing 186.
-- Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade" was written to commemorate the British fight with Russia in Crimean War over expansion of Russia in Turkey. -- Stephen Foster published "Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair."
-Public libraries were opened in New York City and Boston.
-First railroad suspension bridge was opened at Niagara Falls.
-Geo. Eastman (inventor of popular photography ) was born.
-Cholera took 900 lives in Chicago, 650 in Brooklyn.
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ATKINS GLEN STATE PARK LOOKING WEST -- 1927. The Park is now in the process of extending its boundaries in the water llow) area for flood and gravel control purposes. In the left foreground is now a tent-camping area often holding 350 campers over: ies are on the north (right) brink of the Glen. Reading, Tyrone, Dix and Orange farms extend in the distance. The Glen Spring- F:
dua) is at far right. , The Park is now 91 years old, 48 years as state owned.
-- Picture by Robinson of Finger Lakes Parl: Com :: 1.
THE SCHUYLER COUNTY SEAL
On the cover of our centennial booklet is a repro- duction by Miss Mary Robinson of the county seal. The early founders of the county were business men very much interested in transportation and recognized immediately the vital importance of railroad trans- portation to the agriculture and industries of the county. Hence when the seal was made a railroad was depicted on it.
The present Pennsylvania Railroad was called Canandaigua and Chemung and reached Watkins first in 1850. The Fall Brook Railroad owned by the Magee Family and now the New York Central came to Watkins in 1877. The Lehigh Railroad came in 1890.
When in 1892 the railroads ended stages, mail from Havana (Montour Falls) to Odessa (3 miles) went for a time by way of Canandaigua and Geneva, then back to Odessa (100 miles).
Typical railroad fares in 1888 on the New York Central were Corning to Beaver Dams 39c, to Wat- kins 45c, to Geneva $1.20, and to Lyons $1.65. .
The railroads also replaced the Chemung Canal which had 44 locks each with 10 foot lift between Havana and "The Summit" near Pine Valley.
The railroads now carry millions of tons of coal and heavy goods, employ many county people and are substantial taxpayers in most towns of Schuyler County.
For some time the railroads also brought thous- ands of people to Watkins Glen on excursions or to the hotels and health resorts.
Gradually automobile traffic increased until in 1917 State Police were organized (237 of them at first). They traveled on horses entirely for a time. Now there are over 1,000 State Police in New York State.
CUTTING FLAG ON CATHARINE MARSH
Schuyler County's flag cutting enterprise on Catharine Marsh is little known but has been of considerable extent and interest through the years. Up to 50 men have been employed annually from September through May, the best harvest season.
Selecting the longest canes and leaves and cutting them with a short-bladed, long-handled knife, the workmen bundle these and ship to cooperage plants in different parts of the country.
The 24 to 34 inch leaves are taken from the stalk and placed between staves and head pieces to caluk barrels and casks against leakage.
Burning the marshlands makes for better quality and higher yield. Catharine Marsh flag has earned acclaim for high quality. Many carloads have been shipped annually.
SANTA LIVES
On December 21, 1949, John W. Crawford of Montour Falls died of a heart attack as he dressed in his bright red suit and flowing white beard pre- paratory to his appearance as Santa Claus at Watkins Glen High School. Over 40 years ago he started by being Santa for his son and soon became Santa to all Schuyler County. His wondrous love and under- standing of youth and older folk endeared him to thousands of county residents. A memorial to him is the new children's ward at Schuyler Hospital but his greatest memorial is in the lives and spirits of his fellowmen. May his spirit live on in our county and world.
JOE'S SERVICE STATION THE BEST SERVICE IN SCHUYLER COUNTY
WE HAVE ALL GOOD GULF PRODUCTS N. Franklin Street Watkins Glen
COMPLIMENTS OF
JEANNETTE GIFT SHOP
219 N. FRANKLIN ST. WATKINS GLEN
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THE MEMORIAL LIBRARY MONTOUR FALLS
Portrait above the mantle is George Mills, the first white settler of Ha- vana. Oval framed portrait is of Jesse C. Woodhull, the donor of the Fanton Bank Building which he re- modeled in 1904 to house the young library adequately. The library has a unique local museum, and through the efforts of Librarian Mrs. George Layton, Town Historian Myron Bates, and a committee of loyal supporters serves the present day needs admir- ably.
-Montour Memorial Library
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COMPLIMENTS OF
THE GREAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC TEA COMPANY
LEARN TO SEE LEARN BEFORE YOU BUY DODGE-PLYMOUTH
LEARN MOTOR COMPANY 502 N. Franklin St. Phone 513 Watkins Glen
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SWARTWOOD'S GENERAL STORE, CAYUTA
In the era when Old Dobbin com- peted with Henry Ford. Supervisor Franklin Eaton ran this store for several years. No paved roads in 1909!
-- Photo, Mrs. Harry Dean, Alpine
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THE STROLLER - CAPTAIN PALMER'S BOAT
Successor to a long line of sloops, steamers and other craft which have shown the beauties of Seneca's shores to countless travelers. Oil still comes through the Erie Canal and down the lake to storage facilities on the far eastern shore. Watkins Salt plant is at the right. -William Kelly collection
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Concluding the parade for the 1954 Centennial was the hearse owned by Elmo M. Royce and driven by Lawrence Personius and George Watkins.
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RECREATION AND LEISURE
The new fangled soda fountains of Havana and Watkins were well patronized in 1857 but with excellent crackers to be bought at 6c a pound in 1859, we believe cracker barrel sessions were still popular.
M. Ells opened Watkins Glen to the public in 1863. Brass or cornet bands formed in major villages. P. T. Barnum who had lectured at Peoples College in 1865 started his "Greatest Show on Earth" in 1871.
Following an intensive campaign, McClures (Havana) Glen was opened in September 1868 with a Masonic-sponsored picnic said to have brought out 5,000 people at 25c admission, with proceeds to Peoples College.
John Magee Jr. in 1872 built 9 trout ponds and a hatchery on the Mecklenburg Road, Catharine, costing several thousand dollars and antedating state assistance to make the area a fisherman's paradise.
The first five Granges organized in Schuyler County were Highland and Schuyler (1873), Reading and Olive Branch (1874) and North Hector (1875). These thrived and an additional 9 Granges bring the units to 14 with a healthy growth in membership. Searsburg Grange started in 1885 with 9 charter members, now has 202 members; Highland Grange started with 19, now has 126 members. Grange sponsored picnics drew 400 to 500 people at the close of the century. Reading Grange started a library for their community.
In the 80's and 90's bicycling was mighty popular with tandems and solid tire bikes making extensive trips. Bikes with lights and horns and improved brakes are mighty popular today among the teen- agers.
Choral Unions and Singing Societies were run by enthusiastic leaders in 1875, two years before Edison invented the phonograph; and if you were in bad voice, you could by then read the Ladies Home Journal or the old humorous Life magazine. As early as 1884 Odessa folks could enjoy the telephone too.
In 1879, Watkins had 6 hotels and most every town had a hotel or tavern. Dr. Leffingwell opened the Glen Springs Sanitarium (formerly the Magnetic Sulphur Spring House) in 1889. Here society could rest their minds and bodies from the toil of business.
By 1896 folks could read the spectacular news- papers being published by William Randolph Hearst.
The novel was popular, but the dime novel was even more so, we read.
In early 1904 Montour Library was well housed in the former Hull Fanton Bank. Jesse Woodhull who back in 1866 had been secretary of the new Havana Baseball Club returned from New York City where he made a small fortune at lumber importing and gave the building and funds to remodel it as a Memorial Library. One provision was that a historic museum be included. It still is.
The Glorious 4th of July was always a big oc- casion. Odessa in 1909 fired 13 guns at sunrise, had 2 ball games, an oration, a tub race, greased pig and pole contests, music, afternoon and evening dances and fireworks. Odessa still observes the Fourth but without the 13 guns.
Motion pictures are mentioned as coming to the county as early as 1910-silent, then color, then talkies and all the refinements and 3 dimensions. Until television arrived in 1952, the weekly movie was about as important as a weekly paper.
Ready Mixed Concrete
Washed
Sand - Gravel
Bank-Run and Mason Sand
Road Construction Contracting
FRANZESE BROS.
PHONE 220 or 673
114 MADISON AVE.
WATKINS GLEN
THE WATKINS REVIEW
Serving Schuyler County
For the Past 59 Years
As Your Weekly Newspaper
AND
Looking Forward to
Giving Greater Service
To You and Schuyler County
During the Next 100 Years
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By 1910 college football was in the papers and automobiles were available. Dr. Jackson of Odessa found his 1908 open Ford and his 1910 electrification job mighty nice innovations and soon everyone had an automobile as a family objective.
War days brought the excitement of parades and knitting for the soldiers in 1915-19. And then came the era of bootlegging, flappers and supposed pros- perity and normalcy. Golf and tennis were favored as sports for those with money. Basketball grew in popularity as a winter sport.
The Finger Lakes Association was formed in Auburn with Edward C. Cooper as its first secretary in 1919. This promoted the Finger Lakes as tourist and businessman's mecca ..
Prosperity vanished with the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and a great depression set in. Many were out of work and many lost most of their life savings. This county tightened its belt and, finding itself dangerously in debt, worked to better itself.
A stranded deer in Watkins Glen reported in the press brought record crowds and nation-wide publicity over Labor Day 1933. Mr. Magee's beautiful home, presented to the village, was scheduled to be a home for delinquent children but instead a decade later became a Youth Hostel and conference center. Four- teen thousand acres of idle farm land were bought up by the state for reforestation. Four Civilian Conservation Camps (Watkins, Burdett, Monterey and Cayuta) brought nearly 1,000 young men to improve the woodlands and parks of the county.
School sports were augmented.
Horse racing continued popular until the second World War when corrals emphasizing riding grew rapidly hereabouts.
Youth organizations such as Boy Scouts, 4-H Clubs, Girl Scouts and Teen-Age groups have proven themselves valuable in the past 30 years.
We have become amazingly organized of late. Lodges, Veterans' groups, churches, hospital, firemen and libraries, auxiliaries, fire companies, hobby groups for antiques, photography, archery, rod and rifle, aeronautics, boating, fishing, hunting, bingo playing, community service, professional improvement all have their officers and meetings. An active man or woman may easily get involved in 15 to 25 of these organizations.
Alcoholics Anonymous has taken over part of the Temperance Society work.
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