The Deaf Poet

Oct 14, 2010 | Features

The following is excerpted from
Works by James O’Connor, The Deaf Poet, with a Sketch of His Life by A. B. Douglas, Jan. 4, 1879

James O’Connor, the subject of this sketch, was born in Andes, New York, January 26, 1835. He was always an apt scholar, full of study and full of fun, with a smattering of mischief, which occasionally created, as it is said of our late war, “a slight unpleasantness” between the teacher and the taught. . . Notwithstanding these occasional misunderstandings with the autocrat of the rod, he became what may justly be called a first-class common-school scholar.

Few persons that have not made war the profession of their lives have encountered greater dangers, or had more hair-breadth escapes. A few of them will only be mentioned. While engaged in “bark-peeling” in the hemlock woods, he was completely covered from sight by the top of a large tree which some choppers had fallen upon him. He found himself between two of its largest limbs, his body being but a few inches from each; if either had struck him he would have been instantly killed. Providence preserved him, and he came out from that tree-top unhurt.

At another time, a large log came rolling down a hill toward him. It was so near that it was impossible to get out of its way, near by was a small hollow in the side hill, and, with remarkable presence of mind, he rushed to it, and threw himself down into it. The log passed directly over him and he was unhurt.

Upon two occasions he was nearly drowned. He has been run over three times with wagons. Upon one occasion he fell before a loaded wagon, which passed over him, fracturing both of his legs. When he was fourteen years of age, upon a very cold night in winter, as he was returning from school, he ventured upon a pond to have a slide; the ice was too thin, the consequence was he caught a fearful ducking and a fearful cold, which resulted in inflammation of the brain. His hearing became impaired. This affliction continued to increase, until for a number of years he has been entirely deaf.

 

Mr. O’Connor was a close student all his life. The improvement of his mind was the chief object of his life. He was not satisfied with the education to be acquired in the common schools. He prepared himself, and entered Union College, and graduated honorable in the Class of 1858. He chose the Law for a professlon, and began its study; but, on account of his growing deafness, he was forced to abandon his long-cherished hopes. He then turned his attention to the art of printing, which he learned in Oswego, New York. He followed the occupation of printer for some years.

On the 15th of October, 1863, he married Miss Mary J. Dickson, of Lumberville, New York. He then turned his attention from the printer’s to the more busy and stirring life of a farmer. Of late years he has suffered so much from disease of the heart that he has been compelled to abandon almost entirely the independent life of the tiller of the soil.

For several years he has devoted a large share of his leisure time to the composition of poetry; his thoughts seem to flow as freely under the direction of the muses as they do in the sterner vein of prose. His poems, as far as they have frequently appeared in the public press, have been very favorably received by an appreciative public. . .

STORM AND SUNSHINE OF BOYHOOD;
OR, TWO SIDES TO THE PICTURE.

Though bright is the sunshine of boyhood,
Yet all is not pleasant to him,
For the smallest of clouds that arises,
His brightest of moments may dim.
I know that the rambling school-boy
Has innocent joy in his heart,
While he plays with his ball in the meadow,
Or shoots with his cross-gun, or dart.
To wade in the mud, and the water,
To him, is a source of delight,
He loves to be fishing, and sporting,
He loves to be flying the kite.

His spool-tops, his wagons and horses,
His play-house, his hoop, and his cart.
His water-wheel; wind-mill; and hand-sleigh;
Can moments of pleasure impart.
He loves to be skating, and sliding,
He loves to be rolling in snow,
To see him, in all his amusements,
You’d think him a stranger to woe,
And now, we have looked on the bright side,
As people most commonly do;
But, let us turn over the picture,
The dark side is present to view.

The school-house, to him, is a prison,
That weighs down his spirits with care,
He considers his teacher a turnkey,
For guarding, and keeping him there.
He sits on the bench in the corner.
And fumbles the leaves of his book.
For which he receives, from the teacher,
A perfectly barbarous look.
Or, perhaps on his slate he draws pictures,
Or whispers, or laughs, through mistake.
And, as a reward for so doing,
He gets but a cuff, and a shake.
Or, should he, at times, be rebellious,
Or, any ways caught in the lurch,
He receives, from the hands of the teacher,
A smart application of birch.
Though forced to submit, yet, in silence
He curses the despot who stands.
In the shape of a teacher, before him
With rod of correction in hands.
0, how I can sympathize with him,
Yet, sympathy here is all vain;
He trembles at sight of the cane.

In limb, and in joint he is shaking,
His eyes are but fountains of tears;
No promise for future will save him
A cuff, or a pull at the ears.
I have many times thought, as Old Nick
Has oceans of sulphur to spare,
In the gloomiest regions of Tophet,
The teacher was sure of a share.
He deals out his vengeance unsparing,
The school-boy, with visage forlorn.
Beholds his last moments approaching,
And has to ”acknowledge the corn.”
Poor martyr, his woes they are many,
His pleasures are fleeting, and few,
0, Wisdom! behold what the school-boy
Is destined to suffer for you.
And thus you will find, in all pictures,
The bright side presented to view;
But be sure that you turn the leaf over.
That nought shall be hidden from you.

James O’Connor
The “Deaf Poet”
1835-1912

Bark Peeling Contract

Oct 14, 2010 | Features

MEMORANDUM OF CONTRACT between Jesse Tompkins and A. Clark and Son in which said Tompkins agrees to peel from four to six hundred cords of hemlock tan bark on such places on Mill Brook as A. Clark and Son may direct. The Bark is to be peeled, piled and saved in a good and workmanlike manner and good and convenient roads made to draw said bark with a wagon. . . This contract (to be) completed before the first day of October next.

Said Clark and Son agree to give said Tompkins ten shillings per cord for peeling, piling and making roads to said bark as above mentioned.

A. Clark & Sons

Jesse Tompkins

April 27, 1852

This hand written contract is among materials found many years ago in a building, now gone, that was once the Clark’s Factory store. The papers are in the collection of John McMurray.

Brothers in Arms: Thomas Elliot and James Elliot

Brothers in Arms: Thomas Elliot and James Elliot

Oct 14, 2010 | Features

New Kingston Sons of William and Eleanor and grandsons of a Scottish émigré.

Thomas: B. Jan. 22, 1840, joined the 90th NY Volunteers in 1864. Mortally wounded at the Battle of Cedar Creek , Va. which occurred Oct. 18 and 19, 1864. Died Nov. 6, 1864. One of 60 from this regiment to be killed or mortally wounded. From 1880 History of Delaware County: “All that chill November day he lay bleeding on the damp, cold ground, and was robbed by the rebels of all his personal effects, even to his military boots. At nightfall he was found by friends, and carried to the hospital, where after suffering great pain for three weeks, he died full of triumph and faith.” The Elliott family still has the blood-stained diary carried by Thomas.

James: B. 10/23/1841, enlisted Aug. 26, 1862 in the 144th NY Regiment, killed at the Battle of Honey Hill, SC, Nov. 30, 1864, just three weeks after his brother’s death. His father hired someone to find James’ body, but it was never located.

The brothers are memorialized on a monument in the Bovina Center Cemetery.

In Memory of James C. Elliott 144th Regt of NYS Volunteers, killed at the Battle of Honey Hill, SC Nov. 30, 1864, aged 23 years, 1 month, 8 days.

His body lies interred near the place he fell.
“Thy task is done, the bonds are free,
we never saw thy honored grave,
whose noblest monument shall be
the broken fetters of the slave.”

In Memory of Thomas Elliott 90th Regt. NYS Volunteers, who died at Baltimore Nov. 6, 1864, from wounds received in the Battle of Cedar Creek, VA Oct. 19, 1864. Aged 24 years, 9 months, 15 days.

“Pure was thy life, its bloody close
hath placed thee with the sons of light,
among the noble host of those
who perished in the cause of right.”

The following letter was written by the surviving Elliott sibling, John, to his brother James. John was Great-Grandfather to Sally Elliott Scrimshaw who transcribed it. By the time this letter was written, both James and Thomas were dead.

New Kingston Dec. 9, (18)64

Dear Brother James I have not got any letter from you this week. But I will drop you a line to let you know how we are all getting along. We are all well at present for which blessing we ought to be thankful. Father got a letter from you last week. We was glad to hear that you was well. We have sent your box away. There is a few things in it for Dumond Reynolds but they are pact by themselves and they are all marked except a few green apples. I sent you a few also. They may get mixed but you will not quarl about them. Yours are all sweet apples that grew in the little orchard. (by the tool shed-Dutchess of Goldenberg or a Talmond Sweet & also a pear tree according to J. William Elliott – our father?)

I had a letter from Wilson Lewis since I wrote to you. Andrew enlisted about three months ago. He is under Gen Sherman. Wat has allso been in the army for over two years. Moses is also in the army. He is in the C4 New York. He says the rest of them are all well but does not mention the rest of them in particular.

The weather has been very fine this fall. There has not been frost enough to freeze the brook over till last night and I do not think there has been over two inches of snow.

Sam Yeoman is keeping a select school in Margaretville. He has just newly started the last accounts. I heard he had 25 schollars. He is keeping in Northrup’s old store, the first building west of O’Conors Hotel.

There is quite a clan of *copperheads in the back hollow. Dr. Alabon sp? Spoke one night before the election and they raised a Hickory pole and some of them cheered becase Thomas was wounded and some of them wished that Mr Service and him were both shot. What do you think of such slang? There is a story around here that J Z Thompson and A Henderson are very sick of a soldiers life that they would give there bounty and a thousand dollars into the bargain if they were home.

Please write if it is true and who you tent with & what you have to do, what you get to eat & RR.

Yours Affectionately

John W. Elliot

* The Copperheads were a vocal group of Democrats in the Northern United States (see also Union (American Civil War)) who opposed the American Civil War, wanting an immediate peace settlement with the Confederates. Republicans started calling antiwar Democrats “copperheads”, likening them to the poisonous snake. By 1863, the Peace Democrats had accepted the label, but for them the copper “head” was the likeness of Liberty on the copper penny, and they proudly wore pennies as badges.

Transcribed by Mary Elliott (McCormick) & Sally Elliott Scrimshaw on December 9, 2009, at 130 Delaware Avenue, Delhi.

Histories and Photos of 16 sites listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places

Histories and Photos of 16 sites listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places

Oct 14, 2010 | Features

Village of Fleischmanns

Skene Memorial Library
See the Skene Memorial Library application for historic registration here

Congregation Bnai Israel
See the Congregation Bnai Israel application for historic registration here

MaxBilt Theater
See the MaxBilt Theater application for historic registration here.

Mountain Athletic Club Grounds
See the MAC Grounds application for historic registration here.

Village of Margaretville

First Presbyterian Church
See the First Presbyterian Church application for historic registration here

Galli-Curci Theater
See the Galli-Curci Theater application for historic registration here

 

Highmount

Galli Curci home
See the Galli Curci application for historic registration here

Kelly Corners

Hubbell Family Farm and Kelly Corners Cemetery
See the Hubbell Family Farm and Kelly Corners Cemetery application for historic registration here

New Kingston

Presbyterian Church
See the Presbyterian Church application for historic registration here

Hamlet of New Kingston
See the Hamlet of New Kingston application for historic registration here

The Thomson Family Farm
See the Thomson Family Farm application for historic registration here

 

Margaretville Mountain

Van Benschoten Farm and Guest House
See the Van Benschoten Farm and Guest House application for historic registration here

Arkville

Pakatakan Artists Colony
See the Pakatakan Artists Colony application for historic registration here

Halcottsville

Kelly Round Barn
See the Kelly Round Barn application for historic registration here

Old School Baptist Church
See the Old School Baptist Church application for historic registration here

Dunraven

Stone School House
See the Stone School House application for historic registration here

STATE AND NATIONAL REGISTERS OF HISTORIC PLACES PHOTO GALLERY
Click for a larger view of each image…

VanBenschoten-house-Marg.-Mtn

Margaretville Mountain-VanBenschoten house

The-reconstructed-Kelly-Bros-barn

Halcottsville-The reconstructed Kelly Bros barn

Stone-Schoolhouse-1949

Dunraven-Stone Schoolhouse, 1949

Skene-Memorial-Library

Fleishmanns – Skene Memorial Library

New-Kingston-Presbyt-Church

New Kingston Presbyt Church

New-Kingston-community-portrait-July-2010

New Kingston community portrait, July 2010

Margaretville-Presbyterian-Church

Margaretville Presbyterian Church

mac-grounds-with-carriages

MAC Grounds, Fleischmanns

Locke-Residence-Pakatakan-Colony

Arkville-Locke Residence, Pakatakan Artists Colony

Hubbell-Homestead-milk-house

Kelly Corners-Hubbell Homestead, milk house

Halcottsville-Old-School-Baptist-Church

Halcottsville-Old School Baptist Church

Galli-Curci-Theater

Margaretville-Galli Curci Theater

Galli-Curci-home-Sul-Monte

Highmount-Galli-Curci home, Sul Monte

Bnai-Israel-synagogue-built-1921-23

Fleischmanns-Bnai Israel synagogue, built 1921-23

The Grand Hotel: An Architectural and Economic History

The Grand Hotel: An Architectural and Economic History

Oct 6, 2010 | Features

An illustrated lecture by Annon Adams.
Sunday, July 25, 2010, 2:00 p.m.
at the Skene Memorial Library,
Main St., Fleischmanns.

Greater Fleischmanns Museum of Memories (adjacent to library) open from 1 to 2 p.m. and following the program. Program admission free for HSM members, $2.00 non-members. Admission to Museum free, donations encouraged.

Click here for notes of the lecture:

LECTURE NOTES

GRAND HOTEL PHOTO GALLERY
Click for a larger view of each image…

grand-hotel-exterior-summer-wyer

Grand Hotel Exterior, Summer, Wyer

Grand-Hotel-audience

Grand Hotel audience

GrandHotel

The Grand Hotel

2 responses to “The Grand Hotel: An Architectural and Economic History”

John Spriggs
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011, 3:55

Interesting. I would like to know more. Is Summit Mt. actually what we call Monka? I supposedly have a bluestone mantle from one of the fireplaces and would love to get a photo of it at the Grand. Where is the best collection of postcards and photos? Was it taken apart then burned? What was the final demise. The article says 1964 demo started but I’ve also read it was completely destroyed until 1966. I’d like to know more. Thanks ,John Spriggs from The Eagle’s Nest on South Mountain.

Annon Adams
Friday, January 28th, 2011

The first name for what became the Grand Hotel was the Summit Mountain House. I don’t think the name referred to the name of a mountain, but instead to the fact that the proposed hotel would be at the summit of the difficult to engineer and build horse shoe curve in the Ulster and Delaware railroad just west of Pine Hill. I believe that Monka is the correct name.

In regard to your bluestone mantle, I have seen only one interior photograph of a fireplace at the Grand. The fireplace was in the main lobby and was of fieldstone with what looks like a stone mantle. There is a postcard of this fireplace as well as a photograph at the Delaware County Historical Assn. in Delhi. The Historical Assn. has about 50 photos of the Grand taken in 1947 by Robert Wyer, a Delhi photographer.

Bluestone was used extensively at the Grand Hotel for the fountain and walks, so maybe your mantle was fashioned from bluestone used for something other than a fireplace when it was part of the Grand.

I believe that the Grand Hotel was dismantled in 1964. On October 15, 1964 there is an advertisement in the Catkill Mountain News saying the Grand Hotel Sale had been extended for 3 more days – Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 16, 17 & 18. The listing for the sale was “Furniture, lumber, siding, windows, doors, bathroom fixtures, fine bar, back bar and bar stools, chestnut paneling, safe, fire ladders, flooring and many other items.” The owner of the Owl’s Nest attended my talk in July in Fleishmanns and at that time said that his establishment is built on the foundation of the center portion of the original Grand Hotel. Searching the Catskill Mountain News for 1965 and 1966 may provide additional information. (ED: The CMN can be examined at Fairview Public Library, Margaretville.)