“A Whisper in Time” at Fairview Library

“A Whisper in Time” at Fairview Library

Jan 4, 2012 | news archive

January 3, 2012: An exhibit of nine framed photographs taken at the turn of the last century is now on view at Fairview Public Library, Walnut Street, Margaretville.

The library is open Monday (except holidays), Tuesday and Friday 12:30-5, Wednesday 12:30-7, Thursday 11-5 and Saturday 10-2:30.

The images were among 21 glass plate negatives found above Miller’s Drug Store years ago and donated to the Historical Society of Middletown by Al and Naomi Weiss. Several of the negatives were scanned and restored by Ed Kirstein of Roxbury. They were printed and framed by the Historical Society in 2007, and can be seen again at the library’s conference room through March 1.

The photos, taken by an unknown photographer, offer us a “Whisper in Time.” They show the Village of Margaretville from a couple of different perspectives, and Main Street, when horses and wagons were the principal means of transport.

One image shows a group of Native American woman and children, believed to have been an “attraction” at the Margaretville Fair in 1903. An unidentified group of hunters hams it up for the camera in another photo, while a dapper man with cane and pocket watch, and a handsome couple in formal pose, are also captured for all time.

There is also a mystery photo and visitors are welcome to offer ideas on exactly what they think might be happening there!

Man with horse and wagon, Margaretville Main St., c. 1903

Man on street, c. 1903

Ethel Bussy remembers the Flood of ’50

Ethel Bussy remembers the Flood of ’50

Nov 20, 2011 | Tin Horn

Mystery photo, What’s happening here?

Floods have always been a part of the history of Margaretville.

A devastating flash flood, called “the rain makers flood,” supposedly caused by chemical seeding of the clouds over this area to make rain after an extended period of dry weather, was one of the worst in the history of this area. It occurred on November 21, 1950. There was great damage not only in Margaretville but in Arkville, (Fleischmanns) and throughout this section. The damage done to roads alone were estimated by Middletown officials to run over $1,000,000. The loss to our village was fixed at $500,000. In some places on Main Street there was as much as six feet of water. People were rescued from their homes by boats.

Leyden Smith’s gas station, Bridge Street, nearly ruined in 1950, was destroyed in the 1996 flood. Photo by Bob Wyer, courtesy DCHA

The newly built Delaware Valley Oil Co. and service station of “Denny’s” on Bridge Street, owned by Leyden Smith, was badly damaged, the extent estimated to be $34,000.

An area field director for the American Red Cross was sent to this village to help plan the rehabilitation of families who lost possessions in the flood. The Methodist Church remained opened all night to feed volunteers and house approximately thirty people who were forced to flee their homes.

From History and Stories of Margaretville and Surrounding Area, by Ethel Bussy, 1960

Listening at Thanksgiving

Nov 20, 2011 | Tin Horn

The 4th Annual National Day of Listening, promoted by Storycorps, is Friday, Nov. 25. Ignore the hordes of holiday shoppers and offer the best gift of all to someone you care about – the gift of your time and attention. Use a digital or old-fashioned cassette recorder, your telephone, or a pen and paper to record the stories of an elder family member or a friend. Asking a few questions or offering open-ended statements can get the ball rolling. Here are some ideas (stolen from the current issue of the AARP newsletter!)

  • I remember my parents (grandparents) as being ___
  • I wanted to grow up to be a ___
  • My favorite activity at school was ___
  • My first job was ___
  • My most memorable meal was ___
  • My proudest moment was ___
  • I am happiest when ___
  • The most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do was ___

Well, you get the picture — siblings, chance encounters, accidents, favorite books or music, claims to fame – the sky’s the limit. Have fun! For inspiration, visit www.storycorps.org.

Redkill memories

Redkill memories

Nov 9, 2011 | Tin Horn

I was happy to come across your website and to read about the history of the Middletown area.

For nearly 40 years, my family owned property in “Redkill Valley,” in the town of Roxbury on Red Kill Road. It was purchased from Pete Dezaro, a former dairy farmer whose house and barn were located at the far end of the valley. We spent many of our childhood weekends in the area, and have missed it a lot since my parents sold the property a few years back. The property had the remnants of an apple orchard and fields, but was mostly woods up and over the top of the mountain.

We watched a number of barns (and a house or two) succumb to nature on the roads from Fleischmanns to Red Kill over the years. Attached is a photo of one such barn on Little Red Kill Road just past the Bedell Cemetery, heading towards Red Kill Road up on the distant ridge (actually, the small barn on the right is gone now, too).

Earl “Ted” Hoyt III

Searching beyond Middletown

Nov 1, 2011 | Tin Horn

Looking for relatives or historical information from the Towns of Denning (Ulster County) or Neversink (Sullivan County)? How about the South Kortright-Stamford area?

You may find what you’re looking for at a new history center in Grahamsville, or onlin, in a beautiful 19th-century photo album.

The new Inez George Gridley and Richard George-Murray Local History Research Center in Grahamsville is located in Time and the Valleys Museum, part of the Daniel Pierce Library complex that opened this past summer.

The center focuses on materials from the towns lost to the Rondout and Neversink Reservoirs, and also contains items about other parts of Sullivan County, as well as the construction of the New York City Water System.

Winter hours of the Center are Saturday, noon to 4 p.m., and by appointment on Thursday afternoons. Contact Carol Smythe, Neversink Town Historian, at historian@townofneversink.org; 845-985-2262, ext. 313. Call ahead for directions and to determine whether the Big Indian-Oliverea Road is open.

Another interesting source is a website featuring a photograph album compiled by Hannah Rich of South Kortright (born in 1838). It includes photos of many people from the Stamford-South Kortright-Bloomville area. Thanks to Carolyn Flanders McPherson who sent us this link: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sunnyann/richalbum-00.html

2 responses to “Searching beyond Middletown”

barbara schlafer
Sunday, February 12th, 2012, 3:11

i am looking for info on ancestor Grove Graham. – He was born ( i believe ) in 1785 in Middletown. In 1830 he was on census with Wife and 3 children.
In 1834 he is referenced in LEDGER book of Beadle and Osterhoudt in Griffins corner, and again in the Ledger of Boaz Searles.

He was not listed on the 1840 census – and his family then relocated to Illinois in 1850.

Looking for his death info, burial info, and reason why family may have headed west.

His wife Betsy Graham’s maiden name was Woods, and the Woods and the Canfields (who her sister married) seem to all migrated together,
Appreciate any other clues as to where to look
thanks

Roger Davis
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012, 11:51 am

In a search on ancestry.com I find a couple family genealogy reports listing Graham as being born 1794 and 1780.

On the U.S. and International Marriage Records of 1560-1900, it shows him as being Born 1790 in New York and married to Betsy Wood. Betsy born in 1794.

Back to the family records, one shows Elizabeth Wood married Grove Graham at age 26 in the year 1820. In the year 1840 at age 46 she resided in Middletown, Delaware, NY. Then at age 56 in 1850 it shows her residing in Eagle, Ogle, Illinois. Her death was shown to be March 16, 1856 at age 62 in Ogle County, Illinois.

For Grove the records from the family report show him being born In Middletown, Delaware, NY 1780 and married to Elizabeth Wood at age 40 in 1820. In 1830 at age 50 he was residing in Middletown, Delaware, NY. His death shows at age 60, in 1840, in Delaware , New York.

Children of Grahm and Elizabeth are listed as Hiram P. Graham, Calvin Thompson Graham, Mary Elizabeth Graham, Benjamin Nelson Graham and Anson Graham.