The transformation of farmers, blacksmiths, merchants and students into citizen soldiers during the Civil War will be the topic when the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown (HSM), welcomes historian and author Frank Waterman Thursday, July 25.
The 7 p.m. program, “Raising Lincoln’s Army,” will be held at the HSM hall, 778 Cemetery Rd., Margaretville. Admission is $4 ($2 for HSM members).
The hall will be open at 6:30 so that visitors can see a special exhibit on Middletown in the Civil War. The exhibit is also on view at the HSM hall Saturdays from 11 to 2 through Labor Day.
During the Civil War, the responsibility for raising troops for the Union Army fell to the towns of Delaware County, each of which was given a quota following Lincoln’s repeated calls for more troops. If the quotas were not met, deficiencies were to be made up by a draft. However, there was such a strong anti-draft sentiment at the time that the towns went to great expense to avoid having their men drafted by providing generous bonuses to volunteers.
Furthermore, during the latter part of the War, towns and the state helped men avoid the draft by providing them with funds to hire substitutes.
Speaker Waterman authored a book on this subject, Raising Lincoln’s Army. He also wrote one titled Mother, You Mustn’t Worry So About Us, a collection of 168 letters Clark and James McDonald wrote home to their family in Meredith during the Civil War.
Waterman is currently President of Meredith Historical Society and Town of Meredith Historian. He is a retired Professor of Medical Physics who returned to his hometown where he now devotes much of his time to researching, writing, and teaching the history of the town of Meredith.
The 250th anniversary of the first European settlement of the Town of Middletown back in 1763 was observed with the dedication of a historic marker at the Town Hall July 12. HSM is proud to have facilitated the marker’s placement, and pleased to have had a small part in the ceremony. It included comments by former Supervisor now Town Historian Len Utter; former Town Historian and current Margaretville-New Kingston Presbyterian Church pastor Shirley Davis, and retired English teacher and local historian Dr. Bill Birns.
Other speakers were Nate Hendricks, 9th generation descendant of one of the original settlers, and State Asssemblyman Pete Lopez.
Adam and Nate Hendricks, 9th generation descendants of one of the first Middletown settlers, unveiled the historic marker with their aunt, Lori Hendricks Ballard. Photo by Roger Davis
The occasion recalled the emigration of a troupe of five Hudson Valley Dutch men: brothers Harmonus and Peter Dumond, Johannes Von Waggoner and Peter Hendricks and Hendricks’ teenage stepson Frederick Kittle. The initial ‘settlement’ was made up of their four farms, all along the East Branch of the Delaware River that had until then been the seasonal domain of the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) Indians.
Several more families came in the years leading up to the Revolution, but conflicts among Indians, Tories and Whigs sent them all back to the Valley until hostilities ceased. After the war, emigration began in earnest and folks arrived bearing surnames that still identify Middletown families: Yaple, Carpenter, Green, Utter, Craft, Mead, Ackerley, Grant, Delameter and many others.
In her prayer of blessing, Pastor Davis said, “We thank you for the first inhabitants of these hills and valleys and for the courage and wisdom You gave them to face the many hardships and dangers they encountered in taming some of the wilderness of these beautiful Catskills Mountains. These brave men – and women – came to this land with hopes and dreams of their own – the hope of new freedoms and new life, dreams of having a place to call their own, a home and community in which to raise not only their children, but a place for future generations to call home and community as well. And we, my friends, gathered here today in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Town of Middletown, are part of those future generations.”
Dr. Birns pointed out that in the decades since these people put down roots, Middletown has been a haven for people of all religious, political, ethnic and social persuasions. “A town that started out with Hendricks, Dumond, Von Waggoner and Kittle has ended up with a big and fairly diverse US – It’s the US we celebrate today, along with those first families.”
A. H. TODD & SON AUTO DEALERSHIP PHOTO GALLERY
Click for a larger view of each image…
An aerial view of the dealership shows how the place looked in the 1970s. It is now occupied by VW Parts.
The Todds sold Fords, a 1924 Model T shown here in the 1963 Middletown Bicentennial parade.
A coal truck on a snowy delivery to Todd’s garage
This was A. H. Todd & Son, Fleischmanns, c. 1958.
This is Augustus Todd, founder of A. H. Todd & Son car dealership and auto repair shop in Fleischmanns in 1921.
This is the ‘son’ in the business, Otis. HIS sons, Oscar and Bob, ran the enterprise for decades after the founders, and Bob’s son Jim kept it going with partner Warren Smith from 1979 to 1989.
Augustus is being brought to life at the Clovesville Living History Cemetery Tour June 29 by his great-grandson, Ward Todd, shown rehearsing with another ancestor, Samuel Todd, played by John Hartner.
The cast is rehearsing and the grounds are being readied for the 2013 Living History Tour of Clovesville Cemetery to be held Saturday evening, June 29.
Advance reservations for this popular event are required. Call 845-586-4736 to reserve a spot in one of seven tour groups who will be led through the picturesque cemetery to meet ten former residents and hear about their intriguing lives.
A 3 p.m. performance for those with mobility issues will be offered in the comfort of the handicapped-accessible hall of the Cornerstone Baptist Church next to the cemetery. Advance reservations are required for that as well.
Rain date is Sunday afternoon, June 30. The cemetery is located just west of Fleischmanns on old Route 28.
The Historical Society of the Town of Middletown is staging this event as a fundraiser.
Living History Cemetery Tour Sponsors include the Catskill Mountain News, Ulster County Chamber of Commerce, Phil O’Beirne, Purple Mountain Press, the Elliott Family, Miller’s Drug Store, Spillian, MTC, Riverside Pizza, Sluiter Insurance, NBT, the Flour Patch, the Cheese Barrel, LaCabana Restaurant, Erickson’s Automotive and Community Bank.
You’re invited to join us on Friday, July 12th at 4p.m. at Middletown Town Hall, 42339 State Highway 28, Margaretville, for the unveiling of a commemorative marker in celebration of Middletown’s 250th Anniversary of settlement.
Dr. Bill Birns will be speaking as well as Town Historian Len Utter. Let’s hope the weather cooperates in making this a moment to remember!