“American Idol” 1949

“American Idol” 1949

Dec 13, 2015 | Tin Horn

Do you remember when TV was in its infancy, in the late 1940s and early 1950s? If you were a kid then (and your family actually owned a TV!) you may recall “Teen-Age Barn,” a popular variety show on WRGB from Schenectady that featured young, local talent.

It debuted on April 4, 1949 when there were only 17,000 television sets in the capital district area. It held a Friday night prime time slot, and by 1959 was the oldest locally produced variety show in the nation. In 1962 the show went to a full hour, and the following year was renamed simply “The Barn.” After 17 years, the Barn doors closed Jan. 29, 1966.

Troupes of Teen-Age Barn alumni were formed to present live shows at local auditoriums and fairs, a sort of forerunner to today’s “American Idol” format. In 1953, the Channel 6 road show appeared three times in the area, July 9 at Margaretville Central School sponsored by the Margaretville Fire Dept., Sept. 11 at MCS sponsored by the Presbyterian Church, and in late September at Onteora Central School sponsored by the senior class.

Admission was $1. A poster for the July event turned up at McIntosh Auction recently. It includes photos of dancer Arlene Fontana, and ventriloquist Richard Cohen as featured performers. A story in the Catskill Mountain News indicated that the MFD show was “the second benefit program sponsored by the firemen to replace their former carnival.” They must have returned to the carnival as it remains the biggest money-maker for MFD today.

Does anyone remember these shows? Did anyone perform in them?

Who lived here?

Who lived here?

Nov 12, 2015 | Tin Horn

The flood buyout program that has cleared at least two dozen lots on Margaretville’s Main Street and contiguous streets in the last 15 years has claimed another historic property, including the brown house in this photo, located between Margaretville Central School and the Dollar General Store. These two buildings may have belonged to the Osterhoudt family, carpenters and harness makers.

The 1869 Beers Atlas of Delaware County shows a carriage and harness shop at this location, with J. C. Osterhoudt and E. I. Osterhoudt occupying homes to the west. An old house that was earlier removed to make way for the Dollar General store may have been the third building on this parcel.

Did the Osterhoudts live here?

In the 1850 through 1865 Middletown census, Elias J. Osterhoudt was a harness maker living here with wife Margaret and son John. Both men were shown as harness makers. Their neighbors during that period were harness maker Daniel Tompkins, German-born wagon maker George Biehler as well as six farmers, a lawyer, two tanners, a shoe merchant, shoe maker, a carpenter, and an inn keeper (William O’Connor, who ran the Riverside Hotel, where MCS stands today.)

The 1870, 1875 and 1880 census records show John Osterhoudt, harness maker, with wife Eliza and a short-lived daughter, Alvaretta, who was one year old in 1870 but does not appear again. Eliza’s father, William Edson, a carpenter, lived with John and Eliza in 1875 and 1880.

(Brothers William, Henry and Alvin Edson were Civil War veterans.)

Exactly what happened to the Edsons and the Osterhoudts after 1880 is shrouded in history.

We know that John C. Osterhoudt was town clerk in 1867. And a David Osterhoudt (1806-76) and his wife Christina Clum (1809-1895) are buried in the Margaretville Cemetery.

If you have any information on these folks, we’d love to hear from you!

HSM welcomes newest trustee

HSM welcomes newest trustee

Nov 5, 2015 | news archive

Amy Taylor of Margaretville is the newest trustee of the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown. She was elected by HSM members at the organization’s tenth annual meeting and luncheon October 26.

Amy, husband Ken and their four children have been active members of the Society for several years, and in particular have served as performers, docents, script writers and site volunteers for the annual Living History Cemetery Tour since it was initiated in 2012.

The tour was one of many 2014 events and activities to be reviewed at the annual meeting, when 45 people enjoyed an autumn luncheon prepared by Anna Blish, and a program by George Quinn, author of Skiing in the Catskill Region.

Winning tickets were drawn for three raffle prizes. Eleanor Mager won a framed work of cut paper art by Marcia Guthrie. Nate Hendricks won a half-gallon of maple syrup made by John Riedel and donated by Anne Sanford. Randy Sanford won a ceramic platter made and donated by Ros Welchman.

 

The Sunday afternoon event brought to a close a busy year that included five programs at the HSM hall on Cemetery Road. Some 250 people attended the programs ranging from Ice Age geology to Old School Baptist Church music. HSM participated in the collaborative headwaters History Days; hosted exhibits at the Margaretville Cauliflower Festival; and joined with the Margaretville Fire Department to sponsor scholarships for two MCS seniors.

The Third Annual Cemetery Tour took place in June at Sanford Cemetery in Dunraven and drew 130 people. Successful fundraising events were also held at Spillian, the former Fleischmann family mansion in Fleischmanns; and at The Raven’s Nest, the Margaretville home of Tom and Connie Jeffers.

A new roof was put on the HSM hall this year, a project that was supported by grants from the O’Connor Foundation, the Community Foundation of South Central New York, NBT Bank and many members and friends of the Society. New lights, along with antique fixtures donated by Dick and Jennie Liddle, were also installed in the hall, which was rented out for two private parties.

 HSM President Diane Galusha extended appreciation to the Town of Middletown and the Village of Margaretville for their support. Treasurer Marilyn Pitetti gave the annual financial report, and noted that the Society now has 148 members.

In addition to the president and treasurer, Executive Committee members re-elected October 26 include Vice President Tina Greene, Secretary Jackie Purdy and Trustee Anne Sanford. Other Trustees are Fred Travis and Henry Friedman, with Amy Taylor the newest member of the team.

Thanks went to outgoing Trustee Roger Davis for his service on the committee.

More information on the Historical Society and on Middletown’s history can be found at www.mtownhistory.org.

Life after Dark

Life after Dark

Oct 29, 2015 | news archive

An illuminating talk, “From Candle to Bulb: A History of Lighting” will be presented by Paul Misko on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 4 p.m. at the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown (HSM), 778 Cemetery Rd., Margaretville.

The program will cover ancient oil lamps, whale oil, lard and kerosene lamps, and end with early flashlights.

Misko will discuss how changes in lighting changed our lifestyles through the ages. He will bring a number of lamps and lanterns and will light up several of them to show how they worked. He will discuss the shortcomings and dangers of the various fuels, and the constant struggle of inventors to improve both the amount of light, and safety of the many types of lamps used.

Paul Misko, a historian from the Woodland Valley area in Ulster County, gives talks, does radio and writes articles on Catskill hiking and history. He is the founder of the Catskill 4000 Club, whose focus is exploring not only great views, but the history of the Catskills as well.

The program is the last of ten events held by HSM during the 2015 season. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is $2 for members, $4 for non-members.

More information on the Historical Society and on Middletown’s history can be found at www.mtownhistory.org.

Annual Meeting, D&NRR talk planned

Annual Meeting, D&NRR talk planned

Oct 25, 2015 | news archive

The D&N started as the Delaware & Eastern

An illustrated talk on the Delaware & Northern Railroad (“The Damn Nuisance”) will be presented Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown’s annual meeting and luncheon.

The event begins at noon at the HSM hall, 778 Cemetery Road, Margaretville. It will include a report on HSM’s activities over the past year. Current and prospective HSM members are most welcome.

The winning ticket for a beautiful painting by Alix Travis, “Mailboxes,” will be drawn following the program. A door prize or two will also be offered.

Admission is $15 and reservations are required for the luncheon of country comfort food prepared by chef Chris McGee (formerly of Hogan’s Back Room in Andes, now of Spillian in Fleischmanns) – tomato glazed meatloaf, mashed potatoes and fresh green beans, with carrot cake for dessert. A vegetarian loaf will be offered for those who do not eat meat. Call 845-586-2860 by Oct. 19 to reserve your seat.

The presentation on the short but eventful life of the Delaware & Northern Rail Road will be offered by John Duda, rail enthusiast, postcard collector and member of the board of the Greater Fleischmanns Museum of Memories.

The D&NRR ran from Arkville to East Branch between 1905 and 1942. Built to link the Ulster & Delaware and the Ontario & Western Railroads, it served communities along the East Branch of the Delaware River that are now under the Pepacton Reservoir, as well as hamlets below the dam in Downsville.

The tale includes a name change, many financial bumps, and a look at the lost towns and a way of life now gone. The slide show includes wonderful historic images, many from the railroad’s earlier years when it was run as the Delaware & Eastern.

An exhibit on the D&N and the communities it served, made possible by a grant from the Catskill Watershed Corp. in partnership with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, will be on display during the luncheon and program.