A priest with a flair for design

A priest with a flair for design

Feb 7, 2020 | Tin Horn

In early 1937, the Catskill Mountain News gave us a glimpse of one man’s efforts to brighten up two local churches and a cemetery.

“The interior of the church of the Sacred Heart at Fleischmanns (now a private home) is being repainted and made ready for the summer. The work is proceeding under the direction of Rev. Edward Gaffney of Arkville. It gives his parishioners here a great thrill to see the learned priest at the work of directing the decoration. At the same time Rev. Gaffney is having the rectory at Arkville and the Catholic church at Arkville decorated. (At that time the church, also named Sacred Heart, was located within what is known as the Maple House, now apartments).”

In the same issue, an article on activities at the Margaretville Civilian Conservation Corps camp reported that Father Gaffney had started a choir among the young men there.

Earlier in the year, Rev. Gaffney had started “the work of remodeling the grounds at the Catholic cemetery at the edge of the village.” (Also known as the Catholic or Irish Cemetery, this burial ground is across the road from the larger Clovesville Cemetery.)

The report maintained that “The cemetery has been neglected for a number of years and was an eye sore to the community. The stone wall along the road will be removed and an ornamental fence will be erected. John Blish who has been the sexton of the Clovesville cemetery for a number of years, has been engaged. Rev. Gaffney hopes to have the village sign on the church property removed.”

For the record, the Irish Cemetery remains in sad shape 83 years later.

The Fleischmanns correspondent was an optimistic sort. “Father Gaffney’s parish extends from the county line at Highmount to Downsville. It will be the most prosperous parish in this county when the New York city dam is built.”

Father Gaffney would not see his parish through that era. He died suddenly of a ‘hemorrhage’ on April 2, 1938 at the age of 44. An honor guard from the local American Legion post stood guard at his wake in the Arkville rectory. Father Gaffney had been gassed while serving as a chaplain in France during World War I. This reportedly caused the poor health that led to his early death. He was laid to rest in Catskill.

The day after Thanksgiving

Nov 29, 2019 | Tin Horn

This interesting article was taken from the Delaware Gazette, Nov. 16, 1825. Except for the Thanksgiving balls, it all sounds so familiar . . . 

The editor of the Connecticut Mirror makes the following remarks, introductory to the Proclamation of Gov. Clinton, setting apart he 24th of Nov, inst. as a day of Public Thanksgiving:

Thanksgiving. It must be gratifying to the many New-England people in the state of New York, to find this good old custom of their ancestors followed so reverently by the authority of the good people of that state. Governor Clinton has recommended the observance of Thursday, the 24th of Nov. next, (the same day appointed in most the New England states,) as a day of public prayer and thanksgiving. All servile labour and vain recreation, to use an old joke, seem in that state to be by law forgiven and to tell the truth, such is the practical construction put on our own proclamations, by very many nearer home. With us there is another festival that has never been mentioned by any descriptive writer within our reading— It is thoroughly observed in all the country towns the day after thanksgiving.

The exercises consist of widely different amusements, to suit all kinds of folks. In shooting turkies and hens, visiting the neighbors, and taking a near view of the eclipsed luxuries of the day before. A pumpkin pie, that on thanksgiving day seemed like the sun, has now the appearance of a waned moon, with a penumbra of bottom crust worth looking at; and he who compared the constellations to bears and eagles etc. would need all his ingenuity in discovering the resemblance of a goose or a chicken to the bones before him.

The ladies are allowed to sit up rather later with their sparks, and the little boys, if there be safe ice in the neighborhood, may skate till 9 o’clock. This is the night for Thanksgiving balls, in the villages around, and many a ticket has been printed here with always a verse to it, sometimes written by the managers, and occasionally, by way of compliment we presume, left to be supplied by the taste and invention of the Editor.

If this seems trifling to the younger part of the community, be it known that on the day we speak of their parents send from their abundance to their poor neighbors. Clothes and quarters of beef and pork, wood, school books for their children, and dozens of other charities are bestowed to suit the wants of the poor in the coming winter. The farmers vie with each other in getting the best cord of walnut for their minister, and the richest Squire sends him the fattest turkey. The minister’s wife too is remembered, and a tribute of yarn, and other domestic comforts, is paid to show the acknowledgment to her husband for the patriotic sermon that he preached about their forefathers the day before.

There is something to smile about in thinking of the day after Thanksgiving. But there is much which excites the deepest and tenderest feelings that a Yankee possesses.

The Ruffs go to Florida

The Ruffs go to Florida

Nov 2, 2019 | Tin Horn

As half the Catskills prepares to load up the car to head to the Sunshine State for the winter, it’s fun to look back half a century or more to see what that trip used to cost. A penciled accounting of the pennies spent on the round trip from New Kingston to Orlando was found in a diary believed kept by Florence Cowan Ruff (wife of Howard, mother of Francis and Floyd, the family that ran Ruff Farms for several decades). The diary was written in the early 1940s; it’s unclear when the trip took place, because it would have been difficult if not impossible to do it during the gas rationing war years.

It took three days to travel 1,237 miles to Orlando. The first day they spent $5.20 on gas, $1.08 on the ferry at New Castle, DE, $3.25 for supper (for two), and $4 to rent a cabin on the outskirts of Baltimore. “Froze stiff,” was the terse comment next to that entry.

Sunday’s expenses included $2 for breakfast, 32 cents for cigarettes, $1 for four quarts of oil, three stops for gas at $1.06, $1.14 and $2.83, and $5 for lodging at Rockingham, NC.

On Monday, they had breakfast at the Greyhound stop for $2.30 and “a good fish supper” at Darien, GA for $4.

By the time they got to Florida, the car had consumed 69 gallons of gas, costing an average of 23 cents a gallon. A telephone call made in Savannah ($1.50) actually cost more than the gas they purchased “somewhere in North Florida” ($1.05).

The trip down cost a total of $48.89 and the return trip set them back $45.56. Total: $95.55.

“Reached home Dec.4th, 6 a.m. Amen.”
Thanks to Dave Burrows for donating the diary to HSM.

Fleischmanns businesses, c. 1950

Fleischmanns businesses, c. 1950

Oct 2, 2019 | Tin Horn

Marilyn Mayes Kaltenborn spoke recently at a Fleischmans history program at Skene Memorial Library. She is the author of “An Unconventional Childood,” a memoir about growing up in Fleischmanns in the 1950s and ’60s, the daughter of Murray and Bertha Mayes. She was also the featured speaker at HSM’s Annual Meeting and Luncheon Oct. 26, 2019.

With help from Richard Pultz and Ian Cohen, Marilyn came up with this list of businesses that existed in Fleischmanns during the 1950s. How many do YOU remember? Add your comments and memories . . .

Businesses in Fleischmanns During the 1950s

By Marilyn Mayes Kaltenborn
with help from Richard Pultz and Ian Cohen
(October 2013)

OPEN YEAR-AROUND:

 

  • 2 toy/candy stores each with a lunch counter (Gale’s – Max and Shirley Geller, Muller’s – Charles and Luella Muller),
  • liquor store (Sid Silberstein),
  • small department store (Glen Haderup),
  • 2 grocery stores (David Solomon and Sam Lipton and at some point
    there was an A&P),
  • 2-3 bars (Cat’s Meow, Monahan’s),
  • doctor (Abraham Rottkov and Elwin Champlin in very early 1950s),
  • dentist (William Cohen)
  • attorney (Gleason Speenburg),
  • 2 drug stores (Phillip Miller and Kaplan’s) ,
  • hardware store (Paul Shaver) ,
  • bank,
  • post office,
  • barber shop (Anthony Cerami)
  • plumbing store (Louis Halpern & Sigmund Halpern),
  • restaurant (Anthony Cerami),
  • Kosher butcher (Meyer Dlasnow),
  • lumber yard (Wadler’s: Herman, Bernard & Arthur Wadler),
  • concrete and paving company (Sam & Morris Slavin)
  • paint store (Izzy Sliverman) ,
  • insurance agency (Flisser-DeGrof),
  • 4 motels (Meinstein’s Lodge – Julius and Lori Gross, Valkarian Motel – Milton & June Valk, Delaware Court Motel – James & Geraldine Cantwell, and DePitt’s Motel. The Northland was built in the late 1950s – George Smith
  • Laundromat (Sollie Darling),
  • 4 garages/gas stations (Meyers’ – Ralph Meyers, Todd’s – Otis & Robert Todd, Lerner’s – Sonny Lerner, and Darling’s – Sollie Darling),
  • car dealership (Ford dealership – Todd’s

SUMMER ONLY
(because thousands of tourists came to the area):

  • a candy store (Milt Hersch),
  • candy store with some clothing (Jack’s was the name of the store, not sure who operated it)
  • 2-3 more grocery stores (Klein’s, Progressive Market, Canned goods and pickles – Nat Israel),
  • fish market (Charles Barrett),
  • hair dresser (Diane Mathes),
  • 2 taxi services,
  • antiquities store (Robert Lustig – opened in late 1950s – had items from ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece),
  • department store (Schwartz),
  • theater opened (name was Onteora Theater),
  • 2 -3 restaurants (Bel-Air, Elsie’s on the Green, Sugar Bowl (a teenage hangout)),
  • lake opened,
  • many hotels (some very large, e.g., The Takanassee Hotel’s pool was so large it had a raft and The Grand Hotel had its own golf course), rooming houses and bungalows opened.

There was passenger train service to Fleischmanns until the mid-1950s.

Annual meeting features Fleischmanns talk

Annual meeting features Fleischmanns talk

Sep 30, 2019 | news archive

The Historical Society of the Town of Middletown (HSM) will hold its annual meeting and luncheon Saturday, Oct. 26 at noon.

Marilyn Mayes Kaltenborn will be the featured speaker, with a talk on “Growing up in Fleischmanns in the 1950s and ‘60s.”

Space is limited. Reserve your spot by October 20 ($20 per person) by calling 845-586-2860 or emailing history@catskill.net.

The luncheon, catered by Anna Blish, will be followed by a business meeting that includes the annual HSM Executive Committee election. HSM members will be asked to approve officers Diane Galusha (President), Bill Blish (Vice President), Marilyn Pitetti (Treasurer) and Amy Taylor (Secretary). Pat Moore is up for re-election as a trustee, and Doris Warner is also a trustee candidate. Both are for three-year terms.

In her illustrated presentation, Marilyn Kaltenborn says, “I hope to give the audience a sense of what it was like to live within an hour’s drive of nearly all of my living relatives, to be distantly related to many of the year-around residents of Fleischmanns, to attend Fleischmanns High School, to work on Saturday mornings at my father’s veneer mill, and to live in a village that became a small city every summer when thousands of tourists (for whom English was a second language) came to town from New York City.”

Kaltenborn, daughter of Murray and Bertha Cowan Mayes, graduated at the top of her class at Fleischmanns High School in 1967, the year before the school merged with Margaretville. She earned a B.A. in mathematics at William Smith College and a law degree at Albany Law School. She worked at the NYS Tax Department for over 30 years.

Upon retiring, she started to write true stories about her Fleischmanns upbringing which resulted in a 2013 memoir An Uncommon Childhood: Growing up in the Catskill Mountains During the 1950s and 1960s. Copies of the book will be available for purchase on October 26.

For more information on this and other HSM activities, visit mtownhistory.org where you can become a member and donate to the Campaign for a Middletown History Center.

Speaker Marilyn Mayes Kaltenborn, age 6