Here's the compilation of the daily entries on the Town of Bovina Facebook page for September: 

Fifteen years ago today, the September 1, 2006 Delaware County Times carried this photo of Bovina Fire Queen Faith Burns serving iced tea at the Bovina Fire Department's annual chicken barbecue on August 24.  

Seventy-eight years ago today, the September 2, 1943 Delaware Republican reported in its Bovina column that "Warren Sarle of Chicago is spending a few days with his father, Dr. W.C. Sarle, who recently submitted to an operation for cataracts." Dr. Sarle had been the doctor in Bovina since 1927. He left Bovina not long after the surgery and died in 1946.

154 years ago today, the September 3, 1867 Bloomville Mirror carried this curious item from a Bovina correspondent, dated August 25th, 1867: "Having been a constant reader of your paper for many years, and never as yet having submitted anything through its columns to the public, I thought I would follow the example of others, and send you for publication the following problem. And, although it may have come under the observation of many of your readors, yet to others it may be new, and for the consideration of which, we submit it. It may be that your Bovina correspondent, Mr. Rutherford, he who solves problems as slick as Lincoln got out of the theatre, (or some one else) can solve the following one, as slick as Mr. Butler gained renown by stealing silver spoons :

A person has a wagon with a mechanical contrivance, by which the difference of the number of revolutions of the wheels on a Journey may be determined. It is known that each of the fore wheels are 5 1/4 feet, and that each of the hind wheels are 7 1/8 feet in circumference. Now when on a journey the fore wheel has made 2,000 revolutions more than the hind wheel, how great was the distance traveled." It was signed A.D.

A response was received and published the following week from someone in Kortright Centre: "The fore wheel is 5 1/4 feet in circumference, and makes 2,000 revolutions, which is 10,500 feet. Now the fore wheel is 1 7/8 feet shorter in circumference than the hind wheel, and if it loses 1 7/8 feet in one revolution it would make as many revolutions as 1 7/8 is contained in 10,500, which is 5,600, or the number of revolutions made by the hind wheel in the whole distances, and 5,600 x 7 1/8 - 39,900 feet, or 7 miles and 183 3/4 rods, the whole distance traveled."

121 years ago today, on September 4, 1900, Fred Bramley, of Bovina, and Lucy Jackson, of Andes, were married at Delhi. The Andes Recorder noted that the "marriage occurred just ten months to the day after the death of his first wife." His first wife, Margaret, died in November 1899. They had been married for seven years and had two children, both who died young. His marriage to Lucy lasted 14 years until her death in 1914. They would have five children. Fred would marry a third time, but waited nine years before marrying Christina Close in 1923. He would be widowed a third time when she died in 1943. He died the following year.

179 years ago today, September 5, 1842, Bovina resident Henry Luddington was drowned in the Delaware River near Delhi at the age of 59.  He is buried in the Brush Cemetery in the Bovina Center hamlet.

Thirty-five years ago today, the September 6, 1986 issue of the Daily Star (Oneonta) carried this article by Diane Galusha about Hilson's Store.  

120 years ago today, the September 7, 1901 Delaware Republican had the following item of news ('borrowed' from the Andes Recorder): "Needle in Her Foot - For some time Mrs. Joshua Hobbie, who resides in the upper part of Bovina, has been suffering severely with swollen foot, it was thought she would have to go to the hospital and undergo an operation. Last week she was rubbing the afflicted member when she felt something sharp in the foot and called to others of the family and an examination showed that the point of a needle protruded and when pulled out by Mr. Hobbie it was found that with the exception of being broken at the eye the needle was intact. How the needle got there is a mystery, as Mrs. Hobbie has no recollection of ever running a needle into herself. She still has a very bad foot." This likely is Matilda Pangburn Hobbie. Born in 1862, she survived the needle and died in 1927.

Ninety-seven years ago today, September 8, 1924, Hillis's garage in Bovina submitted this bill for $10.45 to the Town of Bovina for a tire and tube.  This garage later became Thomas's garage and is now owned by Tom Hetterich.  

Fifty-six years ago today, the Bovina column in the September 9, 1965 Delaware Republican-Express reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Robert Burns and older daughter, Amy, have been on a seashore vacation and other places of interest. Mrs. Jack Burns kept the baby in their absence." The baby was daughter Colleen.

173 years ago today, September 10, 1848, John W. Seacord died. Born in 1794, he was the son of William Seacord and Lydia Ganoung. He married Jeanette Fuller in 1821, who survived him. John is buried in Brush cemetery.

Roxanna A. Hobbie, the three year old daughter of Joshua Knapp Hobbie and his wife Sarah, died 186 years today on September 11, 1835.  She is buried in the Bovina Cemetery.

132 years ago today, the September 12, 1889 Hobart Independent had this item: "Archie Maynard, of Bovina, who has been roaming about this vicinity during the summer, and ‘cutting up’ peculiar capers, has been adjudged insane by a commission—which consisted of Dr. Buckley of Delhi, and Drs. McNaught & Odell of Hobart"

131 years ago today, the September 13, 1890 Delaware Republican in its Bovina column reported that "Several of our farmers have refused 22 cents for their butter. From the experience of last year it seems as though they ought not to refuse such an offer as that."

134 years ago today, the Delaware Gazette carried this item in its September 14, 1887 issue: "When the Delaware and Otsego railroad is completed to the county line all the towns will be touched by railroad except Bovina, the richest of them all."

On September 15, 1858, 163 years ago today, Rhoda Davis died in Andes.  As reported in the Bloomville Mirror on September 21, Mrs. Davis was the widow of Samuel.  She was 88 years old at the time of her death.  The paper went on to report that "She was one among first settlers in Bovina.  Her exemplary life endeared her to all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance."

111 years ago today, the September 16, 1910 Catskill Mountain News carried an article entitled "Kindness of the Gerrys.""Through the kindness of Miss A. Gerry, daughter of Hon. E. T. Gerry of Lake Delaware and New York, about twelve children from Bovina and Bloomville and vicinity were sent in care of a matron Tuesday morning, to be placed in various institutions of learning in the city, where they will receive instructions. The liberality of the different members of the Gerry family has been manifested where necessary among the people in the vicinity of their summer home as well as among the poor of the city."

Fifty-three years ago today, the September 17, 1968 Daily Star (Oneonta) included this photo and caption of the new barn being built by Jack and Bob Burns. The barn still is in use by Dominic and Laurie Gullow. 

Forty-seven years ago today, the September 18, 1974 issue of the Stamford Mirror Recorder carried in its Bovina column this item: "Mrs. Charles LaFever, Miss Janet McKenzie, Mrs. Francis Tatem and Mrs. Ernest Russell attended the four county book selection committee meeting on Thursday of last week at the Andes library." The same column also noted that "Miss Kate Birdsall of Albany spent the weekend at the home of Mr. and Mrs. David Roberts."

120 years ago today, on September 19, 1901, a memorial services was held at the Bovina United Presbyterian church for recently assassinated U.S. President William McKinley.  As later reported in the Andes Recorder, the service was presided over by the church's pastor, Rev. Samson.  "Charles Arbuckle read the scripture lesson; Margaret Swart read the President's proclamation, and addresses were made by Rev. Slater, R.E. Bergman and Rev. Samson."

105 years ago today, September 20, 1916, Cecil Russell was married to Isabell Irvine. Here is the invitation to the wedding received by Henry Monroe and his sister Martena. 

Fifty-one years ago today, the September 21, 1970 Binghamton Press carried this notice: "The Bovina Ski Club will sponsor a round and square dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday at the Bovina Center Community Hall. Music will be by Ernie Russ and his orchestra."

105 years ago today, September 22, 1916, the J.W. Coulter Hose Company had a ball game, a Chicken Pie supper and an entertainment in the evening to raise funds.

Sixty-eight years ago today, a newspaper (unidentified) reported in its September 23, 1953 issue that "The first meeting for lessons in first aid was held at the fire hall Wednesday evening, Sept. 16, with 11 enrolled in this course. The beginners course will last for eight weeks and the advanced course will take another four weeks with mettings to be held once a week. This course is being taught by Earl Many and Harold Morse of Hobart. Those enrolled are Mrs. Floyd Aitkens, Mrs. Victor Rose, Mrs. John Renner, Mrs. Howard LaFever, Mrs. Leif Reinertsen, Mrs. Clifford Hall, Mrs. Norton Forrest, Mrs. Magdalena Rosa, Victor Rosa, Floyd Aitkens and George Storie."

Fifty-nine years ago today, on September 24, 1962, Rema Hobbie died on the family farm on Cape Horn Road in Bovina. His obituary was published a few days later in the Catskill Mountain News. [

141 years ago today, the September 25, 1880 issue of the Port Jervis (NY) Evening Gazette carried this item: "Thomas H. Ludington of Bovian, Delaware county, says he milked 17 1/2 cows, calling a two year old heifer half a cow, and he made and sold 240 pounds of butter to a cow, beside what they used in the family. They are paying in Roxbury for choice dairies now 30 cents. That would be $72 from a cow, saying nothing about the pork made from the buttermilk. The butter alone brought over $1,200. How is that for butter making?"

Eliza Atikin, the 31 year old wife of David Atkin, died 177 years ago today on September 26, 1844.  She is buried in the Old Reformed Presbyterian Church cemetery.

Seventy-four years ago today, on September 27, 1947, the Delaware County Jersey Club held its second annual Consignment Sale at the Charles McPherson Farm in Bovina. This was later the farm of Frank and Stella McPherson. Here's the cover of the sales catalog. 

Fifty-four years ago today, the Bovina column of the September 28, 1967 Delaware Republican-Express reported that "Mrs. Leon Tag[g]art of Albuquerque, N.M., is visiting her sisters, Mrs. Helen Hilson and Mrs. Frank Dickson."

Fifty-five years ago today, the Bovina column in the September 29, 1966 Delaware Republican-Express reported that "The Recreation Club met last Thursday for a luncheon meeting. Officers elected for the coming year are: Chairman, Mrs. Stanley Hewitt, vice-chairman, Mrs. Alex Rabeler sr., secretary-treasurer, Mrs. William J. Storie." The same column also reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Howard LaFever and son Allan took their son John to Canton last week-end where he will enter college for his freshman year. They also visited Mrs. And Mrs. Benson LaFever at Massena."

126 years ago today, on September 30, 1895, people around Bovina woke up to snow covering Bramley mountain and Mount Pisgah.

Here's what was happening in Bovina a century ago, as reported in the pages of the Andes Recorder. 

October 7, 1921

·         Frank Miller and wife motored to Andes in their new car Saturday evening.

·         The Bovina state road has been almost impassible the past summer and now the State is having the holes filled with loose stones and gravel.

·         Jacob Gerkins, who has been living on the Alex Bryden farm, has rented a farm on Cabin Hill.  A number of the neighbors made them a farewell party last Wednesday evening.

October 14, 1921

·         Charles J. Russell has purchased a Dodge car.

·         John M. Campbell is putting up the foundation for a new house which he will erect on his farm.  South Kortright carpenters will do the job.

·         Mrs. Elizabeth Irvine, Mrs. Sloan Archibald, Mrs. John Blair, Mrs. Fred Thomson and Mrs. Cecil Russell were on a shopping trip to Kingston last week. 

·         The legal machinery has been set in motion by the New York Conference for the sale of Methodist church and parsonage in Bovina Center.  The membership has been reduced to a mere handful by deaths and removals.  For the last few years no services have been held in the church. [The parsonage is now the home of Chuck and Betty McIntosh.]

October 21, 1921

·         Thos C. Strangeway has the frame up for his new residence in Bovina Center [now the home of Jim and Peg Hilson].

·         Alex Myers is painting and finishing the interior of new house of Gustave Lifgren up Pink street.

·         Mrs. John M. Miller, of Walton, is visiting in town.  Her two daughters, Shirley and Leila, were here over Sabbath.

·         Wendell Ormiston and family, of Goshen, spent a few days the past week with his mother, Mrs. Thomas Ormiston.

·         Elliott Thomson has sold his house in Bovina Center to George Decker for $2,500.  Mr. Thomson will move to rooms in Mrs. Julia McPherson’s house.

·         John Blair and wife were called to Glen Spey, Sullivan county, last week by the illness of their daughter, Mrs. Marshall Thomson.  She is now improving. [This is Helen Thomson, who lived to be 107.]

Bovina Farm Sold

            George Decker has sold his farm, located near Lake Delaware, in the town of Bovina, to Harvey Wickham, of Shavertown.  The sale includes the personal property on the farm and the price is reported to be $6,000 for the farm and $1,500 for the personal.  The farm is the former Thomas Purdy place and Decker had erected a $3,000 house thereon.  Mr. Decker will move to Bovina Center.

October 28, 1921

·         Walter G. Coulter is having his mill re-shingled.

·         Elliott Thomson, who sold his house to George Decker, is moving to rooms in part of Sloan Archibald’s house.  Mrs. Harry Robinson and Mrs. Robert G. Thomson, of Bainbridge, are here assisting.

·         A surprise party was held at the home of Edith Liddle last Saturday evening for Frances Bell.  Games were played after which refreshments were served.  Then each girl went home to dream of Gobblins and ghosts.  

Bovina Has a Runaway

Horse of Paul Furhmann Takes the Thills and leave Wagon

            Tuesday morning as Paul Furhmann, who recently purchased W.C. McDivitt’s farm, was on his way to the creamery his horse attached to a buckboard, started to run on the hill above the U.P. church.  Just above the old Lauren hotel, now owned by T.C. Strangeway [now the home of Jim and Peg Hilson], the outfit collided with a tree and the wagon stopped but the horse continued up Maple Avenue and onto the flat above.  Mr. Furhmann was thrown out but the wagon remained right side up and the milk was not even spilled.  No one was injured and the damage was broken thills.

Boost the committee

            The first number of the Bovina Lecture course has already been given and the next one will soon be here.  Everyone was well satisfied.  Now lets try to boost our lecture course committee by having every seat sold again this time.  Chew less tobacco and gum and give it toward something that is really worth while.

Isaac Horton Maynard from Munsell's History of Delaware County, 1880

Isaac Horton Maynard was a grandson of the early Bovina settler Elisha Maynard. Born on April 9, 1838, in Bovina, he was the son of Isaac Maynard and Jane (Falconer) Maynard. He spent his childhood and early adulthood in Bovina, leaving to attend Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. He was valedictorian of the class of 1862. From there, he came back to the area to study law in Delhi when he was admitted to the bar in 1865. 

Maynard didn’t move very far from Bovina. He settled in Stamford where in 1869 he was elected Town Supervisor for the Town of Stamford. He was re-elected in 1870. In his second year, he also served as chairman the Board of Supervisors of Delaware County. He continued his political career at the state level, serving as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1876 and 1877. He was elected County Judge and Surrogate of the Delaware County Court from 1878 to 1885.

In 1883 he tried for statewide office when he ran for Secretary of State of New York. He was the only candidate defeated on the Democratic ticket. In 1886, he was appointed First Deputy New York Attorney General. In 1887, he was appointed to national office as Assistant U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and remained in office until the end of the First Cleveland administration in 1889.

Afterwards he was appointed Deputy New York Attorney General again. At was at this point that his career took a major hit when he became involved in a case of electoral fraud in Dutchess County. In November 1891, he was counsel to the State Board of Canvassers. The Republican State Senate incumbent, Gilbert A. Deane, had received more votes than his Democratic challenger Edward B. Osborne. The Dutchess County Board of Canvassers did not allow thirty-one votes because of stray ink marks on the edges of the ballots, though many thought the marks could have been made in the process of printing the ballots. Osborne was declared elected, but the Republicans challenged the County Board's decision in court, and on December 5, the judge ordered the thirty-one votes to be counted and instructed the County Clerk to send the corrected result to the State Board. Another judge ordered a stay of the first judge's decision. On December 19, the New York Supreme Court vacated the previous stay, and the County Clerk mailed the corrected result to Albany.

On the same day however, the appeals court stayed the Supreme Court’s decision. The county clerk traveled to Albany and went to Isaac Maynard's home demanding to have the corrected result returned to him. They went to the New York State Comptroller's office, and Maynard retrieved the letter from the incoming-mail pile and handed it over to the county clerk. Subsequently, the original result was canvassed by the State Board, and the Democratic candidate was declared elected, giving the Democrats a majority in the New York State Senate.

In January 1892, Maynard was appointed to the New York Court of Appeals to fill a vacancy. Two weeks later, his connection with the Dutchess County election problem became known to the public. The New York State Legislature, having a Democratic majority, continued to support Maynard, but public indignation never subsided.

In January 1893, Maynard was re-appointed to the Court of Appeals, to fill another vacancy, although the Bar Association had urged the Governor against it. At the New York state election that fall, Maynard ran on the Democratic ticket for a full term on the Court of Appeals. Not only did Maynard lose the election, he dragged down the whole ticket, leading to a Republican victory. 

Maynard continued his legal practice in Stamford and made frequent trips to Albany. It was while on one of these trips in 1896 that he died suddenly of a heart attack in his room at the Kenmore Hotel in Albany. Maynard was buried at the Woodland Cemetery in Delhi.

November 4, 1921

•A victory social will be held at C.A. McPherson’s on Friday evening.

•Cecil Russell is having the interior of his store re-decorated and also wired for electric lights.

•Clarence Lafever and Benson Lafever have returned from the north woods.  The latter shot a deer.

•The Elk Cheese Co. commenced making pot cheese Tuesday at the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery.

•The little child of Lon Joslin, aged about two years, fell into a pail of hot water this week and was severely scalded.

•C.S. Terry went to Vermont deer hunting Saturday. Tuesday he telephoned for his partner, Fletcher Davidson, to come, and he went Wednesday.

•…Robert Smith has moved into the M.E. parsonage, vacated by Mr. [Marshall] Scott.

•A community Hallowe’en party and supper was held in the hall at Lake Delaware on Monday evening.  A party was held at Herman Joslin’s the same evening.

•Fine Hunt has sold his farm (the old Tuttle place) up Coulter Brook to New York parties.  It is reported that Mr. Hunt has purchased the John G. Thomson house and lot at the entrance to the Center cemetery.

•William F. Boggs, who owns the old Gow house, had just finished putting up new steps and railing.  Monday night those out for Hallowe’en tore out the railing from the concrete and bent and twisted the pipes, doing much damage.

•Rev. and Mrs. A.I. Robb, who for 15 years were Missionaries to China, and who have been spending the summer with her people – the Campbells – left last week for southern California, where they will spend the winter, for Rev. Robb’s health.

November 11, 1921

•Frank Miller is having a furnace installed in his residence.

•Charles Boggs, of Andes, is cheesemaker at the Center creamery.

•C.S. Terry, the garage man, has returned from a hunting trip to the North Woods.

•George Cable was home from Bainbrige this week and exercised the right of franchise.

•Edward L. Coulter and son, Walter, who have been at Sidney, returned home this week in time to vote.

•The new residence of Thomas C. Strangeway is ready for the plasterers.  He is having a pipeless furnace installed.

•James A. Gow and wife, from Charlotteville, were here this week looking after their property interests here, and voting.

•George Decker has torn down the old brown building which stood at the rear of his residence, recently purchased of Elliott Thomson.

Bovina Farmer Dead

William S. Thomson passed away at his home on the old homestead farm up Coulter Brook at 5 o’clock on Monday afternoon, November 7, from pneumonia.  He was ill about a week.  Deceased was born and had always resided on the farm where he died.  His age was 60 years.  He married Jennie Archibald and she died several years ago  He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Gailie Hafele, in Bovina, and two sons, Ralph, in Watertown, and Archibald, in Walton; also by two brothers, Edward, in Walton, and Bert, in California, and one sister, Mrs. Andrew T. Doig, in Bovina.  The funeral was held Thursday afternoon from the house with interment in the Center cemetery.  

Died at Lake Delaware

Richard James died at his home at Lake Delaware on Tuesday night, November 8, aged 80 years.  A few weeks ago he suffered a shock and last Saturday had another from which he never rallied.  His parents came from Wales and lived on the mountain back of “The Lake.”  He is survived by two daughters.

A Hot Election in Bovina

Thos C. Strangeway Elected Supervisor by 10 – W.G. Coulter Supt of Highways by 18

The election in Bovina on Tuesday furnished plenty of excitement and the largest vote ever cast in the town as polled – 346.  On the head of the ticket 336 votes were counted and Strangeway won for supervisor by 10 majority.  Three times during the canvass there was a tie.  Coulter won for superintendent of highways by 18 majority.  Mina Wilson, for collector, came through with flying colors and has the distinction of being the first woman elected to office in the town.  Arbuckle, for sheriff, had a majority of 51.  

November 18, 1921

•The work of putting in the stone road up-town was stopped last Wednesday.

•Able Knapp, an aged man who has been at Guy Rockfeller’s, went to the County Farm this week.

•Matthew Elliott, of Delhi, was here on Friday having some repairs made to his Cadallac at the garage of Terry & Davidson.

•Norton Forrest is wearing a black eye as a result of a kick from a horse.  He was stooping over making some repairs to the stall and was hammering when the horse landed him one in the eye.  Fortunately it was at close range and no serious damage was done.

Lake Delaware

•The Gerry cars were all taken to New York the past week.

•Alex B. Jardine is suffering from blood poisoning in his hand.

November 25, 1921

•Mrs. F.N. Crawford was taken ill on Sabbath and has been under the doctor’s care.

•The Village school closed Wednesday for the Thanksgiving recess and will re-open again Monday.

•George Decker now lights his newly purchased residence with electricity, having installed a Delco plant.

•William F. Boggs is making improvements about his residence, putting lattice around his veranda, etc.

•William T. Gordon, who has been here for the past three months recovering from illness, returned Saturday to New York City.

•Ethel, the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Burgin entertained seven of her little girl friends Saturday, the occasion being her birthday.

•Edward L. Coulter, who recently sold his farm on the turnpike, has purchased a small fruit farm near Sidney, among other things on the place is an acre of strawberries.  He moved his household goods thereto this week.

Here's the compilation of the daily entries on the Town of Bovina Historian Facebook page for November:

120 years ago today, the November 1, 1901 Andes Recorder reported that Bovina veteran "Frank Gowanlock, late of Co., E., 144th Regt., has been granted a pension of $6 per month, with back pay from July 1900."

Twenty-seven years ago today, the November 2, 1994, Catskill Mountain News carried this news article about Bovina's oldest ever citizen, Helen Thompson, noting her 105th birthday. Helen would go on to celebrate two more birthdays before dying just shy of 108.

163 years ago today, November 3, 1858, Edward O’Connor signed this document submitting his claim for expenses as commissioner of highways.  O’Connor is noted in history as one of the two men sentenced to hang for the killing of Undersheriff Osman Steele during the Anti-Rent War in 1845.  O’Connor’s sentence was commuted to life in prison and he was released from prison within about a year.  He had been a town official before going to prison and resumed participating in town government after his release. 

The widow of the late John W. Bramley was found dead in bed 122 years ago this morning, November 4, 1899.  As later reported in the Andes Recorder:  “[Mrs. Bramley] had not been feeling well for a few days and had complained of her stomach. The doctor was there Wednesday but it was thought she would be better in a few days. Thursday morning her son Fred, went to her room about 4 o’clock and spoke to her and receiving no answer, thought she was asleep. About an hour later he went back and found her dead. She was cold and must have been dead when he was in the first time. She was 72 years old.” Her husband John had just died two weeks previously on October 19.

About 100 of the 212 women voters in Bovina voted 103 years ago today, November 5, 1918.  As reported later by the Andes Recorder, “Their votes did not change results in the town except to swell the Prohibition vote by about 40.”  Women in New York gained the right to vote in the November 1917.  This was the first time in New York that women were able to vote.  Women suffrage became nationwide in 1920.

Ninety-two years ago today, the November 6, 1929 Delaware Republican in its Bovina Center column reported that "Delbert Dickson had his car badly damaged driving into a hole on the Liberty road which is under construction."

Sixty-eight years ago today, the November 7, 1953 Oneonta Star carried on its front page a report of a fire that destroy my grandfather LaFever's chicken house: 

138 years ago today, on November 8, 1883, James R. Shackelton was paid $1 for taking a quarantine notice to E.L. Dean. 

Seventy-seven years ago today, the Bovina column of the November 9, 1944 Delaware Republican Express included this item: "Miss Jane A. Hilson, who teaches English in the schools of East Orange, N.J., spent the week-end at her home here. She was accompanied by her friend, Miss Elsie Penton."

157 years ago today, on November 10, 1864, tavern keeper Dorcas Aitkin presented this bill for various services to the town, including lodging four recruits likely receiving town bounty to help Bovina meet its quota (who these men were, we do not know).  Her 

Gordon Coulter entered the blacksmith shop of Gideon Miller to learn the trade 114 years ago today, November 11, 1907.  Gordon probably is Elton Gordon Coulter (1891-1945), the son of David and Lucy Coulter and an uncle to Grace Coulter Roberts.

130 years ago today, the November 12, 1891 Andes Recorder had this Bovina column: 

120 years ago today, November 13, 1897, as later reported in the Delaware Republican: "Lester Hoy, son of Thomas Hoy of Bovina, died of consumption Sunday, aged 22. Mr. Hoy was a very exemplary young man, and had a wide circle of friends who will mourn his early death." Two years later, his brother William’s wife Robena gave birth to a son who was named for his uncle Lester. This later Lester Hoy is the one who lived in the Hoy family home, now the home of Tim and Tamara McIntosh.

189 years ago today, the November 14, 1832 Delaware Gazette carried this article about the ordination of the Bovina's Associate Presbyterian Church new pastor, Rev. John Graham. Graham would serve for over 20 years.   More about Rev. Graham may be found in the Bovina NY History Blog. Part I is at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2009/12/reluctant-reverend-part-i.html.  Part II is at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2009/12/reluctant-reverend-part-ii.html

Twenty-six years ago today, the November 15, 1995 Walton Reporter carried this Bovina column by Ann Cairns: 

Eighty-two years ago today, the Bovina column of the November 16, 1939 Delaware Republican reported that "Mrs. Elizabeth McNair has returned to Binghamton to spend the winter with her son, Raymond, and family after spending the summer with her daughter Mrs. J.W. McCune." She would die at her son's home a few months later in April 1940. Mrs. McNair was born in 1852, the daughter of James and Jane Crosier. She married Peter McNair in 1869 and would have four children. Peter died in 1908. She is buried in the Bovina Cemetery.

100 years ago today, on November 17, 1921, Mina Wilson signed this oath of office as the Tax Collector for the town of Bovina. She was the town's first female office holder. More about Mina can be found on the Bovina NY History blog at http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2013/11/bovinas-first-female-office-holder.html

Seventy-three years ago today, November 18, 1948, burial services were held for Mary Dickson Baldwin. She had died three days earlier at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. She was born in Bovina, the daughter of Gilbert and Jane Dickson. She married George F. Baldwin and was an English teacher for many years in Ossining, NY. She had moved to Arlington, Virginia two years previous to her death.

142 years ago today, November 19, 1879 Alexander Meyers was married to Isabelle Laing.  The couple would be married for almost 68 years.  In 1939, the couple celebrated their 60th anniversary with a party given for them in the Bovina UP Church parlors.  Bob Wyer photographed the event. Alex died in 1947 at the age of 91.  His wife Isabelle died 4 years later in 1951, when she was 90 years old.  

142 years ago today, on November 20, 1879, Isabella Coulter Armstrong died in Bovina, aged 81 years. She was the daughter of Francis Coulter and Nancy Glendenning and was the only one of their children to be born in Scotland. She was married to John Armstrong and was widowed in 1864. She was survived by six of her eleven children at her death. (Isabella is my 4 greats grandmother.)

Thirteen years ago today, the November 21, 2008 Delaware County Times carried this picture of Joe Dibble showing off his prize turkey. 

Fifty-eight years ago today, November 22, 1963, Isabell Russell recorded in her diary: "Another grand day.  I put tulips in.  M[arjorie] went & got eggs this A.M.  President Kennedy was shot in Texas where he was in a parade.  Was shot by a communist."  Isabell also recorded the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald on the 24th and the funeral on the 25th:  “Everybody that had television was glued to them all day [to] see the funeral of Pres. Kennedy.  We closed store from 11 o’clock until 2 o’clock.”

120 years ago today, the November 23, 1901 Walton Reporter carried this article about the new Bovina Center Creamery: "The Bovina Center Cooperative creamery building is completed and the company will open it for business on January 1, 1902. The buildings are all first class and satisfactory and the outlook is very good. The officers are Wm. A. Hoy. president; Douglas Davidson, vice president; Jas. A. Thompson. secretary and treasurer. The directors are, W. A. Hoy. Alex Hilson, Silas T. Rockefeller, Douglas Davidson and James A. Thompson.

Seventy-two years ago today, the November 24, 1949 Stamford Mirror-Recorder carried an article about sixth annual 4-H Club Leaders' Recognition Dinner, held at Delaware Academy. The article included this paragraph: "Miss Marian McPherson of Bovina Center received the diamond clover pin for 20 years of service as a 4-H Club leader in Delaware County. This is the highest award ever presented to a 4-H Club leader in this county."

Earl Harold Miller, son of John M. Miller of Bovina, and Miss Rachel Mary Sullivan, of St. Paul, Minnesota, were married 107 years ago today, November 25, 1914, in Minnesota. Miller was living in Minnesota by then, but had grown up on Pink Street, the son of John and Bertha Miller, at the farm that later became Suits Us Farm. He was a lawyer in St. Paul and ran for congress there (unsuccessfully) in 1920. Earl died in 1955 in Walton and is buried in Bovina.

Eighty-four years ago today, the November 26, 1937 Otsego Farmer (published in Cooperstown), carried this item on its front page: "Residents of the upper end of Delaware county are looking forward to uninterrupted, sleep following the arrest of Walfred Hansen, aged twenty-four of Bovina, picked up by Corp. Harold Bentley and Trooper Russell Coons of the Stamford outpost of Troop C, State Police, who charged him with having a siren on his private car. Arraigned before Justice of the Peace Omar Edwards at Stamford, Hansen pleaded guilty, paid a five dollar fine and promised to remove the noise-maker from his car."

137 years ago today, the Bovina column in the November 27, 1883 issue of the Stamford Mirror reported that "D.L. Thomson has finished his job of tinning the roof of the R.P. Church." This church stood where the playground and fire hall now stand. It was taken down in 1943.

Charles F. Smith was married to Christina Lamont 165 years ago today, November 28, 1856.  This was his second marriage.  Born in Scotland in 1824, he first married Annie Williamson, by whom he had two children before her death in November 1855.  There were no children from the second marriage.  Charles was widowed again in 1898 and he died 10 years later in 1908.  He ran the hotel at what is now Jardine's for many years.

103 years ago today, on November 29, 1918, John Elliot moved from his house on Maple Avenue "to the Thomas Miller house."  The following Monday, Mrs. John Irvine, the mother of Isabell Russell, moved into the Elliott house (now the home of Tony and Norma Gabriele).  Note:  I'm still trying to figure out which house was the "Thomas Miller house."

141 years ago today, on November 30, 1880, Fred Henderson was born in Walton, the son of James Henderson and Mary Arbuckle. He married Nellie Hilson on 30 December 1903. They farmed for a number of years at a farm about a mile out of the Bovina Center hamlet. They sold the farm to my grandparents, Benson and Anna Bell LaFever, in 1928 and moved into the old Phyfe farm just outside of the Bovina Center hamlet (now the home of Tim and Kristin Schneider). Fred and Nell were married for almost 68 years at the time of his death in 1971.

200 years ago today, December 1, 2021, a seventh school district was created in Bovina in the area of southern Bovina. 

Eighty years ago today, on December 2, 1941, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Delaware Republican, "Mr. and Mrs. Gay Hafele received word…from California of the death of Mrs. Carrie Doig, the widow of the late Andrew Doig. The remains are on the way here for burial in the Bovina Cemetery." Andrew Doig owned what is now Russell's Store until 1919 when he sold it to Cecil Russell. He died unexpectedly in 1924.

Sixty-seven years ago today, the Bovina column of the December 3, 1954Catskill Mountain News reported that "Mrs. Glenn Hobbie was the only woman deer hunter in this area to get her deer. She shot a three-point buck weighing 140 pounds on Tuesday." Mrs. Hobbie was Anna Boggs Hobbie Lounsbury, who passed away in 2009.

Twenty-five years ago today, the December 4, 1996Walton Reporter carried the following in its Bovina column: "The Bovina Happy Hearts 4-H club held its first meeting of the year on Oct 25 at the Bovina community hall with 19 members present. The officers elected were: president Tom Weber; vice president Brad Darling; secretary, Beth Rossley; treasurer, Heather Hilson; corresponding secretary, Amber Darling; news reporter, Leanne Stewart; games leaders, Cody Weber and Jordan Dibble; song leaders, Erin Mcintosh and Linda Darling; and snack leader, Danielle Stewart.

168 years ago today, the December 5, 1853Bloomville Mirror carried this ad for the sale of a farm near Bovina Center. I'm not totally sure where this was located, but it might have been what is now the Gullow farm, which is about a mile and a half from Bovina Center going east on County Route 6. 

103 years ago today, on December 6, 1918, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "A party was held at A.P. Lee’s…. Dancing was indulged in."

Ninety-two years ago today, on December 7, 1929, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, "M.O. Miller while at the farm in Bovina last Saturday was injured by a horse, and was brought to the office of Dr. C.L. Wakeman, who found that his right shoulder had been dislocated. He will be compelled to favor the injured member for some time but it is hoped that no other trouble may develop." This likely is Mural Oliver Miller, who would have been 33 at the time of this accident. He recovered and was 79 at his death in 1976.

172 years ago today, the December 8, 1849Kingston Daily Freeman carried this small item: "The Delaware People’s Press states that the article about the murder at Bovina, in that county going the rounds of the press, is a base fabrication from beginning to end." This appears to concern the case of Daniel Frazier, who was reported as having killed his father, also named Daniel. It does appear to have been a false article. Nothing showed up in the court records that there was a murder, though the family appeared to have been involved in a case of assault and battery around this time.

124 years ago today, December 9, 1897, Mary Gordon McLean, sister of Thomas Gordon, wrote this letter from her home in Laurel Bank, Scotland to her brother in Bovina. Thomas had been widowed earlier that same year. She mentions the monument, meaning the one to his wife (and his daughter who died at the end of 1896) and the fact that he's living in lodgings after giving up the farm that had been in his late wife's family. More on Tom Gordon's life appears in the Bovina NY History blog at http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-people-of-county-who-knew-him-will.html.

The thermometer registered from 2 to 5 degrees below zero 121 years ago today on December 10, 1900.

Eighty years ago today, on December 11, 1941, Celia Coulter sent a letter from Bovina to her friend Marjorie Russell, who was teaching home economics in Ohio. The first page shown includes a comment about getting "a grim set of facts from the news.." Her reference, of course, is to the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7.  "The dominie" she mentions was the Bovina UP Church Pastor, Harvey McClellan. McClellan had tried to resign earlier in the year but was talked into staying. With the outbreak of war and the fact that he was going to be a naval chaplain, the church agreed to his going. I'm not sure about Mrs. Banuat - I think this was Craig Banuat's mother. If she did have cancer, she survived it, dying in 1968. 

Abigail Fuller was born 167 years ago today on December 12, 1854. The daughter of James Seacord and Esther Close, she married Thomas Fuller in 1878 and was widowed in 1913. Abigail died on her 79th birthday, December 12, 1933 (eighty-eight years ago today).

133 years ago, the December 13th, 1888Hobart Independent carried this brief item: "The population of Bovina Centre is about 215, one hundred males and one hundred and fifteen females."

Ninety-eight years ago today, the Andes Recorder in its December 14, 1923 issue reported that the "Bovina Dairymen have received notice that they must put in three tons of ice per cow.  Must want the milk made into ice cream."

Seventy-four years ago today, on December 15, 1947, Bovina native Harold Campbell was injured while working at a sawmill in Monticello - he was struck by a piece of wood. He developed pneumonia and died a few days later at the age of 53. Harold had moved to Monticello from Bovina about two years previously. His surviving sisters were Evelyn Campbell and Eleanor Worden.

Ninety-five years ago today, on December 16, 1926 - M.T. Hastings sent this bill to Town of Bovina Highway department.  

131 years ago today, the Delaware Gazette for December 17, 1890, reported the following: "For Heresy - Five young clergymen, of whom the Rev. O.B. Milligan, recently of Bovina, seems to be a leader, were suspended by the Pittsburg Reformed Presbytery last Friday. Their offense is in the setting forth their belief that the exercise of the right of suffrage is not sinful, and that they will not forbid members to vote. They made a powerful defense and will appeal to the synod. They claim that they will be supported there by about one third of the clergy. If they fall, they will join the U.P. church, and claim they can take their congregations." Milligan was the pastor of the Bovina Reformed Presbyterian Church for in 1887, staying for about a year before leaving in 1888. And go to the Bovina NY History Blog for more about what happened to Rev. Milligan: https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2016/11/found-dead-in-his-study-with-heart.html 

Eighty years ago today, the Bovina column of the Delaware Republican for December 18, 1941 reported that "Mrs. Sara Archibald is much improved in health; she is able to be about the house part of the day. Her daughter, Mrs. Charles Lichtenberg returned to her home in Massachusetts last week; she had been with her mother for a month."

Ninety-five years ago today, on December 19, 1926, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Attorney Lauren Dickson, who came home from Binghamton to spend the holidays was taken to the Delhi hospital and operated upon for appendicitis...  It was a serious case." He would stay in Bovina about three months before returning to his duties in Binghamton. In October 1927 he died suddenly in Binghamton.

Ninety-three years ago today, the December 20, 1928Stamford Mirror-Recorder carried this item: "Walter Coulter, with a few helpers, is tearing down the red barn by his mill. He will leave the basement and is taking the remainder up to the upper end of the village where he will make an up-to-date shop. They moved the large parts of the building with the tractor." This mill probably was in the vicinity of what is now the town highway garage. The building that Coulter moved still stands behind the house next to the Bovina UP Church now owned by Pat Parsons Miele. Walter Coulter was the grandfather of the late Herb Parsons.

Ninety-seven years ago today, on December 21, 1924, Gladys Reinertsen was born, the daughter of Andrew and Sophia [Larsen] Reinertsen. She grew up in Bovina and married Clark Lay  in 1946. She and Clark raised their four daughters in Bovina. Clark died in 2004. Gladys passed away in 2011. Photo of Gladys and Clark was taken on their wedding day by Bob Wyer.

Jane, the 15-month-old daughter of Walter Coulter and Margaret Storie, died 192 years ago today on December 22, 1829.  Out of the twelve children they would have, four would die before reaching adulthood - a fifth child, their eldest daughter, died six weeks after her marriage.

126 years ago today, on December 23, 1895, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Bovina had a case of Kidnapping on Monday evening. Archie VanBramer came to W.B. Thompson's to see his wife, a daughter of Mr. Thompson, and his child and had the child brought out to the wagon and then took it into the wagon and sent his wife to the house on some trivial excuse and in her absence drove away with the child. The child has not yet been recovered. It is thought that Van Bramer hopes to secure money for the return of the child." The Andes Recorder reported in its January 17, 1896 issue that Van Bramer brought the child back "of his own accord, after having caused the family lots of trouble and worry. If he has any shame about him he should be ashamed of his recent capers." I'm not sure which Thomson/Thompson this was, but there was a William B. Thomson (1843-1929) and he had a daughter Cora - but I have not confirmed this is the same person yet.

Eleven years ago today, the December 24, 2010 issue of the Delaware County Times carried this item on its front page about Bovina's own Mary Hetterich qualifying for the All-State Women's Choir: 

131 years ago today, December 25, 1890, Thomas Ormiston was married to Maggie E. Boggs at the home of her parents, Thomas and Jane (Archibald) Boggs. The wedding also was the occasion to celebrate Mr. and Mrs. Boggs' 25th wedding anniversary. Thomas and Maggie Ormiston were the parents of 7 children, including daughters Lois (who married Fletcher Davidson), Ruth (who married Henry Monroe), Marian (who married Norma Spear) and Marjorie. They also had sons Wendell, Lloyd, and Edwin. They were married for 29 years until Thomas's death in 1919. Margaret lived to be just 3 months shy of 100, dying in 1966.

Fifty-eight years ago today, the December 26, 1963 issue of the Catskill Mountain News carried this obituary for Thomas Archibald, who had died on December 19:  

140 years ago today, the Bovina column in the December 27, 1881Stamford Mirror reported that "Wm. Richardson has sold his premises (the Henry McDonald place) to Alexander Hoy." This property would later become my house. The same paper also reported that "Dr. Dickson has moved his drugs and medicines to the basement of his new building." This is now the Brushland Eating House.

Eighty-two years ago today, the December 28, 1939Mexico Independent (Mexico is a town in Oswego County) carried this death notice and obituary for W. Elliott Thomson, one of the last blacksmiths in Bovina. He was living with his daughter in Mexico for a few years before his death: 

122 years ago, in the December 29, 1899 issue of the Andes Recorder in the Bovina column, the following appeared:  "A new order just received from the State Department forbids the acceptance of any excuse from pupils except for sickness, and that only on the certificate of a physician.  Take warning."

A notice from the Andes Recorder, dated 154 years ago today:  "Estray – Came to the premises of the subscriber, on our about the 16th of December, a Newfoundland dog. The owner can have the same by proving property and paying charges. Jas. Coulter, Bovina Valley, Dec. 30, 1867." Bovina Valley is now the Lake Delaware area. And no, I have not found out if anyone ever came forward to claim the dog.

155 years ago today, December 31, 1866, the Bovina UP Church session passed the following resolution: “Whereas Elder Wm Thomson has for the past 18 months failed to perform his duties as an elder and whereas Mr. Thomson has not given to Session any reason for this course, or formerly tendered his resignation of the office of Elder, and whereas it is desirable that there be a free interchange of views between Session and Mr. T. therefore Res[olved] That Mr. Wm Thomson be again cited to appear before Session to either tender his resignation or give excuse for his neglect of duty.  Res[olved] 2nd That in case Mr. Thomson refuse or neglect to appear at the next meeting of Session, his case be referred directly to the Presbytery for its actions and instruction.  Res[olved] 3 That a copy of the above resolution be given to Mr Thomson, with his citation to appear at the next meeting of Session on the 22nd of January 1867.”  Thomson ultimately resumed his duties.  His absence was due to a family squabble that is further documented in the Bovina NY History blog for May 5 and 17, 2011.  http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2011/05/brothers-in-law-part-i.html

Here's what was happening in Bovina 100 years ago this month, as reported in the Andes Recorder:

January 6, 1922

•The village school opened Tuesday, after the holiday recess.

•Mrs. George Baldwin, Miss Caroline Dickson, C.L. Dickson and Miss Jane Hilson left via Delhi, Tuesday morning for New York City, to resume their different labors.

•Dorothy Bergman, the ten-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bergman, in upper Bovina, was operated upon at the Delhi hospital last Thursday afternoon for appendicitis.

•Charles Boggs has finished his job as cheesemaker at the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery and returned to Andes.  Walter Wilson is the new cheese maker.  The company now getting the milk is the Delaware Cheese company.

Bovina Boy in Luck

William H. Irvine of Seattle, Wash. is to leave there about the middle of January for a trip to China, Japan, and the Philippine Islands, going as director of ceremonies for the Shriners, to put on initiations.  He will be away nearly two months and anticipates a fine trip of sight seeing in these foreign countries.  Mr. Irvine is the eldest son of the late John A. Irvine of Bovina. [He was the brother of Isabell Russell.]

January 13, 1922

•The ice harvesters have been at work this week filling the creamery ice house.

•Bovina had a young blizzard Wednesday and a snowfall of about a foot.  It was piled in drifts.

•Miss Louise Dennis had a sale of household goods Tuesday.  After a visit with relatives in Walton she will go to Virginia to live with her brother, John P. Dennis.

January 20, 1922

•Hilson Brothers are busy taking their annual inventory.

•Fletcher Davidson was at Hamden on Tuesday with C.S. Terry’s household goods.

•William C. Russell has sold his farm above the village of his son, Alfred Russell.

•Frank Myers, of Endicott, is here papering in the new house of Thos C. Strangeway [This is now the home of Jim and Peg Hilson].

•In Bovina Center there is no scramble to be postmaster and it looks as if the office would go begging.

•C.S. Terry, who recently sold his interest in the garage at this place, moved to Hamden this week. [This later was the garage of Clayton Thomas, then Wayne Gallant and then Heinz Bernecker.]

•Mrs. F.W. Hyatt, who has been at her former home in Yonkers for the past four months, returned home Wednesday.

•James Ackerley fell down the cellar stairs at his home in the lower part of the village last Thursday and fractured two ribs.

•Mrs. James D. Calhoun and her mother, Mrs. Kate Barnhart, have moved from the latter’s farm up Pink street, to the house recently purchased in the upper part of the village [now the Len and Ann Cairns home].  The son, Wilford Barnhart, has taken the farm.

January 27, 1922

•Robert Smith has moved into Will Hoy’s small tenant house.

•Born to Mr. and Mrs. Lester Hoy on January 19, a son – William.

•Fred Thomson has been tearing down the old Methodist parsonage this week preparatory to erecting a new bungalow. [Note: he remodeled the building but did not tear it down. This is now the home of Chuck and Betty McIntosh.]

•Mrs. George Stanton died of tuberculosis January 19, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Arthur Bergman, in upper Bovina, aged 77 years. Her maiden name was Mary Leal.  She is survived by her husband, two sons and three daughters; also one brother, John Leal, of Delhi, and two sisters, Mrs. Robert Fletcher, of Stamford, and Mrs. Matilda Stoutenburg, of Delhi.  Burial was in the Bovina Center cemetery Monday.

    This month’s entry on Bovina Ex-pats is a little different from past entries, which have involved people long dead. This one involves a woman who has just passed away at the end of 2021. A woman with a remarkable career in the Women’s Army Corps and a pioneer for women in the army.

    Helen Isabelle Johnston was the daughter of T. George Johnston and Marjorie Shapley. She was born in Delhi in February 1931 and grew up on the Johnston family farm in the Mountain Brook area of Bovina, attending high school in Andes, where she graduated in 1949.

    In January 1952, she entered the U.S. Army in Binghamton. She served in the Women’s Army Corps for almost 30 years with distinction. She completed her basic training in Fort Lee, Virginia. After graduation, she was assigned as an assistant platoon sergeant in the Women’s Army Corps Basic Training Company.

This image of Helen was taken in September 1952 by Delhi photographer Bob Wyer, a few months after she enlisted.

    Helen went overseas in September 1954, working in Munich. In 1957, she came back to the states, working in recruiting in Providence, RI. She went to Albany in 1964 and in 1969 she came to Fort McClellan, Alabama. Helen remained there until 1975. She went back to Germany where she became the first female soldier to assume the position of Command Sergeant Major in an overseas assignment. She returned to For McClellan in 1977, assigned to the 548th Supply and Service Battalion. Helen retired from the army in July 1980.

MG Mary E. Clarke and CSM Helen "Johnnie" Johnston casing the colors on the Women's Army Corps on the parade field at Fort McClellan, AL on 21 March 1979. Photo Credit: US Army Women's Museum

    She received several medals during her time in the Army, including the Legion of Merit Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct National Defense Medal and the Occupation Medal. She was active in retirement, supporting such organizations as the Army Women's Museum, the Foundation and Friends of the Army Women's Museum, the League for Animal Welfare, Meals on Wheels, and numerous other charitable organizations. In November 2017, she was the grand marshal of the Calhoun County (Alabama) Veterans Day Parade.

    The U.S. Army Women’s Museum posted a quote from Helen on its Facebook page in December 2015 in which she does mention a major milestone in her career: “It's rather hard to pick one highlight as I had several during 28 plus years of service.  I have picked one so bear with me.  In 1974 when I was at the Sergeants Major Academy I was told I had to be reassigned to either Ft MClellan or Ft Jackson as they were the only places with female CSM slots.  I chose Ft McClellan and much to my surprise, in 1975 I was the first female CSM to be selected for duty in a combat service support unit overseas. I realized then that integration was really on the move.  My tour in Nurnberg was to a large maintenance battalion (1389 mostly male personnel) and the life affirming highlight was that gender did not make a difference as long as I did my job.”

    I may have met her when I was a young adult, but if I did, I don’t recall. But in January 2017, I had a long phone conversation with her. My purpose was to get more information about her brother Allan, who escaped from Nazi occupied France in WWII (see my blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2017/06/faces-of-bovina-adventures-of-allan.html). When I asked, she said she couldn’t tell me much, then proceeded to tell me pretty much the entire dramatic story of her brother’s adventures. It also was during this conversation that she modestly told me a little bit about her army career. As I dug further after our phone call, I learned that her career path was impressive. We had some contact via e-mail and through Facebook over the next few years.

    Command Sergeant Major Johnston’s obituary is at Helen Isabelle Johnston Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information (klbrownfuneralhome.com)

    The Facebook page of the Friends of the Army Women’s Museum Association posted this tribute after Helen’s passing: “Command Sgt. Major Helen ‘Johnnie’ Johnston’s esteemed Army career blazed a trail for many of us to follow. Helen stepped up to the challenges of the integrated Army once the WAC ended and established a high bar for both women and men. Throughout her military career and following it, she mentored, guided and supported other Army women. Following her retirement, she became an active and engaged supporter of the organizations important to her and to so many of us—the WAC Museum and then the U.S. Army Women’s Museum and the Women's Army Corps Veterans Association, Chapter 62-Anniston. Her work has made a difference to women in innumerable ways. She will be greatly missed!”

Here's the monthly compilation of the entries from the Town of Bovina Historian Facebook page:

181 years ago today, on January 1, 1841, the Trustees of Bovina school district number 9, located on Cape Horn Road, provided this document showing the books in the school's library. Books included Olden Times of New York, Parleys School History, Memoir of Harrison,  and Weems Washington. The latter book was noted for introducing several myths about George Washington, including the famous cherry tree incident.  

This Bovina column appeared 139 years ago today in the January 2, 1883 Stamford Mirror. The last item mentions that Jim has a "felon on his right hand." A felon was an infection/abscess on the fingertip. 

168 years ago today, the January 3, 1854 Bloomville Mirror carried this report of an "Anti-Rent Meeting in Bovina" held the previous month. The Anti-Rent 'War' had been a decade before but farmers still were paying rents well after, as this article demonstrates. 

108 years ago today, on January 4, 1915, Mrs. George Hewitt, of Margaretville, died at the home of Stephen R. Seacord in southern Bovina. She had arrived a few days earlier to attend the January 1 marriage of Stephen Seacord's daughter Rosanna to John Sweet.  On December 28 she became ill with paralysis and never recovered. Mrs. Hewitt was born Cornelia Adee in Bovina 64 years earlier. She first married John Hewitt in 1876. He died in 1887. About eight years later, she married her late husband’s brother, George. She was the second of George’s four wives.  Cornelia’s funeral was held in the Methodist church (where Gert Hall’s home now stands) and she was buried in the Bovina cemetery.

120 years ago, on January 5, 1902, William Wilson Hoy and his wife were guests of his mother, Mrs. John R. Hoy, in Bovina.  Three days later, on January 8, William sailed from New York for London, where he had accepted a position as chief engineer of the Burmah [sic] Oil Company of London.  As later reported in the Andes Recorder, “From London he will proceed to India, where he will remain until surveys are completed, and has to report again at London in September. He receives $500 a month and expenses.” This image of William is from 1895. 

123 years ago today on January 6, 1899, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Anna, little daughter of Edwin C. Burgin died….Her death was a particularly sad one, as she die[d] under the influence of ether, which had been given her to perform an operation on her leg." Anna was seven years old. She was a sister of Edwin 'Ted' Burgin (1904-1993), the father of Cliff Burgin. Obviously, Ted never knew this sister, given she died five years before he was born.

157 years ago today, January 7, 1865, Joseph Raitt signed this statement attesting that he had received a ten-dollar bill that was later "pronounced by the cashier of the Delaware Bank to be a counterfeit." 

133 years ago today, the Bovina column in the January 8, 1889 Stamford Mirror reported that "J.N. Laing, Andrew Doig, and Jennet E. Hoy are going to California." James Nevin Laing was 29 when he made his trip, but he came back and settled in the area, dying in Delhi in 1943. The Andrew Doig who went with him probably was Andrew Archibald Doig, who also was 29 when this trip took place. He settled in Kansas. And Jennett probably was Jennette Ellen Hoy, who had just turned 30 when this item appeared. She too came back to Bovina and later in life married Sloan Archibald. She died in 1942.

111 years ago today, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, " The annual meeting of the Bovina Center Telephone company was held Monday [January 9, 1911] and directors elected are as follows: Thomas Ormiston, O.W. Hill, A.T. Archibald for three years; John W. Blair, M. Every, Fred W. Thomson, for two years. At a meeting of the board of directors Thomas Ormiston was chosen president and general manager, and Walter G. Coulter, secretary and treasurer."

119 years ago, on January 10, 1903, Jacob Cook died at the home of F.C. Armstrong.  Little is known about him. He was single and had come to the United States from Switzerland about 30 years previously.  The report of his death in the Andes Recorder had his first name wrong, calling him "Joseph Cooke."  The paper went on to note that he died "with pneumonia" and that "the doctor was called Friday and saw that death must be the result."  He was about 55 years old and was working, as the Recorder noted "At different times … in Bovina."  He was "buried in the County House burying ground."

139 years ago today, on January 11, 1883, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror, " Miss Nancy Wight, a sister of James Wight, of Lake Delaware, was buried in the cemetery near Brushland … having died at Newark, N.J., where she has resided for some years past."

Ninety-three years ago today, the January 12, 1929 Delaware Republican carried in its Bovina column this item: "Kenneth Kaufman went to New York Saturday to attend the auto show."

The Andes Recorder reported ninety-four years ago today, on January 13, 1928, that “Hilson Brothers will remodel their general store building. A cellar will be dug under it in order to install a furnace and changes will be made to modernize the store. Part of the present structure has housed the mercantile business of three generations of Hilsons.”

126 years ago today, on January 14, 1896, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, Robert C. Scott was seriously ill with erysipelas of the head.  The paper reported that on the 14th his condition was unchanged but that “slight hopes are entertained for his recovery.” Scott died the following Sunday, January 19.  He was 84 years old. Erysipelas is a strep infection of the skin and includes a high fever, chills and vomiting. Robert was the son of Robert Scott and Mary (Miller) Scott. He married Janetta Hamilton and would have seven children with her. Janetta died in 1883.

144 years ago today, on January 15, 1878, Edgar Scott took out a chattel mortgage on a pair of black oxen, one new democrat wagon and one buggy wagon for $172.52, to be paid by James Kerr of Kortright. A democrat wagon is a light farm wagon with one or two seats, usually drawn by two horses. 

114 years ago today, on Thursday, January 16, 1908, as later reported by the Andes Recorder, “a pretty wedding took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James B. Thomson, when their dauter, Pheba Mae, became the wife of Robert Tweedie.”  The Recorder went on to note that “This was the first marriage in town under the new law.”  This new state law required that all persons wishing to marry had to obtain a marriage license from the clerk in the village, town or city in which the marriage took place and present it to the clergyman or other official carrying out the marriage. Robert and Phoebe May had six children. Unfortunately, Robert and Phoebe had been married only 18 years when Robert died in 1926.  Phoebe died 20 years later.

103 years ago today, on January 17, 1919, the Andes Recorder reported that Bovina's "Dr. Whitcomb has increased his charge for calls in the village to $1.50 and other calls accordingly."

125 years ago today, on January 18, 1897, Homer C. Burgin died in Binghamton at the age of 78. He was in Binghamton being treated for cancer, which had plagued him for several years.  He was married and widowed twice and left a son and two daughters.  Burgin is buried in Bovina.

Ninety-three years ago today, on January 19, 1929, as later reported in the Delaware Republican, "Mrs. Grace Dickson, wife of Delbert H. Dickson, died at her home in Bovina Center…aged 28 years. Mrs. Dickson underwent a serious operation at the Delhi hospital last year and had since been gradually failing, a recent attack of measles followed by pneumonia proving more than her frail constitution could withstand. Her death occurred on the anniversary of her marriage to Mr. Dickson."

Fifty-five years ago today, on January 20, 1967, Mr. and Mrs. James P. Cairns of Bovina Center were honored with an Open House to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. James Cairns was married to Mae Fisher on January 10, 1917 in Deposit, New York. The couple moved to Bovina in 1940. James worked on the Gerry Estate for many years, retiring in 1962. They had five children, including son Leonard. Mrs. Cairns died at the end of the year in December 1967. James passed away in 1972.

Sixty-eight years ago today, the Bovina column in the January 21, 1954 Stamford Mirror-Recorder reported that "Clifford Hall has had T.V. installed in his home."

Eighty years ago today, the January 22, 1942 issue of the Sidney (NY) Enterprise reported that "Girl Takes Up Duties as First Supervisor of Dairy Herd Group." The article went on: "First girl to become a dairy herd improvement association supervisor in Delaware county, Miss Beatrice Thomson of Bovina Center, is announced by the Delaware County Farm Bureau…Miss Thomson…is a graduate of the New York State Agricultural and technical Institute at Delhi and has been carrying on the bacteriological work at the Bovina Center creamery since her graduation." More about Bea was reported in the Bovina NY History Blog in June 2017: https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2017/06/meet-lady-cowculators-bovina-dairying.html

117 years ago today, on January 23, 1905, Mrs. Isabella Hoy died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Douglas Davidson of pneumonia.  She was 73.  The Andes Recorder reported that she had just returned a few days earlier from visiting her son at Oil City, Pennsylvania with a severe cold, a cold that "grew rapidly worse."  The Recorder noted that "Her maiden name was Isabella Miller and she was born in Bovina, in September, 1831.  About 1855 she was united in marriage with John R. Hoy, and he died September 30, 1901.  She is survived by three sons and two daughters……"

120 years ago, on January 24, 1902, an entertainment of the Bovina Centre Lecture Course was scheduled.  The Andes Recorder reported that "Among the promised features will be instrumental and vocal music, recitations and a debate, Resolved, 'that in civil affairs women should be allowed to vote on the same conditions on which men exercise the franchise.'” Unfortunately, the result of the debate was not reported.

161 years ago today, on January 25, 1861, Mary Margaret Archibald was born, the daughter of William Archibald and Margaret McDonald. She married Charles Oscar Boggs in 1881 and would have two children before she was widowed in 1891. Mary Boggs died in Bovina in 1945.

139 years ago today on January 26, 1883, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror, a farewell dance was held at Albert Adee's in upper Bovina. Here's the full report (who was going way, if any, was not reported): 

119 years ago, on January 27, 1903, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Miss Jennie E. Miller started Tuesday for Norfolk, Virginia, where she will be connected with the United Presbyterian college for the education of the Freedmen.  She has charge of the buying for the boarding department." The Jennie referred to here likely is Jennette Elliott Miller (1841-1925), the daughter of David and Isabella Miller.

154 years ago today, the January 28, 1868 Bloomville Mirror carried this letter to the editor, dated January 16. This is the earliest newspaper reference I found to the infamous slander suit between Revs. Lee and Kennedy, which went to court in 1869. More about this case can be found in the Bovina NY History Blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2013/03/kennedy-vs-lee-part-i-libel-of-slander.html and https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2013/03/kennedy-vs-lee-part-ii-bed-was-badly.html

Thomas Russell McFarland died 107 years ago today on January 29, 1915 at the family farm in uptown Bovina. Here's the obituary posted in the Delaware Republican for February 6, 1915: 

102 years ago today, the January 30, 1920 Oneonta Star, in its Delaware County News column, reported "At a meeting of the stockholders of the Bovina Center Creamery company, held in town yesterday, a proposition to sell the dry milk plant here to the firm which is operating it came up for consideration. After discussion a vote was taken and resulted in the defeat of the proposition." The dry milk plant stood behind the main creamery building.

142 years ago today, the "Bovina Locals" column in the Delaware Republican for January 31, 1880 reported that "The weather is very 'child-like and bland,' and how we are to tell when Spring commences, if this style of winter continues, is a question that perplexes the strongest minds, and all the reliable old weather sages, who in vain have prophesied the commencement of a hard winter at each change of moon for the past three months, have at least agreed that 'we will catch it sometime,' which remarkable conclusion is probably correct." 

February 3, 1922

•Mrs. Dixon Thomson has been quite ill, but is recovering.

•A.T. Doig had a car load of Cadallac cars arrive at Walton this week.

•Bovina teachers were called to Stamford on Wednesday for a three day meeting of teachers.

•James Ackerly is tearing down the old barn on the lot which he recently purchased adjoining the property of Alex Hilson.

•Harry Craft, who has been employed by Jean Muller was ill the past week from gall stones.  Mr. Muller is also ill with rheumatism.

February 10, 1922

•Thomas C. Strangeway has moved into his new house [now the home of Jim and Peg Hilson.

•Fred Thomson is digging the cellar for his new bungalow on the parsonage lot.

•Lee Lent, of Treadwell, is the new cheese maker at the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery.

•The local Dairymen’s League Co-Operative association have elected the following directors:  Frank Coulter, John Burns, Emil Schneider, James Barnhart and Charles J. Russell.

•Everett Joslin will move from part of the former John Hastings house to A.B. Phyfe’s house.  John Armstrong and wife will begin housekeeping in the rooms to be vacated by Joslin.

Farm House Burned in Bovina

House on the Walter Amos Farm Destroyed Saturday Morning

The house on the Walter Amos farm in Southern Bovina was destroyed by a fire which broke out early last Saturday morning.

The farm, which is now owned by Robert L. Gerry, is occupied by Walter Robson.  That morning he arose and kindled the fire and probably about an hour later something was heard to fall in the attic and on investigation the house was discovered to be on fire, and had a good start.  Neighbors were called by telephone and arrived in time to help save the furniture.  Everything from the house and cellar was saved excepting two beds and a few gallons of maple syrup which were upstairs.

The house was a large story and a half frame structure and the wind was blowing against the fire causing it to burn slowly.  A woodhouse a few feet from the house was saved.  Mr. Robson carried an insurance which will cover the loss on his household goods.

Mr. Robson is moving into part of Mrs. Adam Biggar’s house in Biggar Hollow.

February 17, 1922

•Mr. Redmond, who purchased the W.H. Maynard place up-town, moved his family there Friday.

•Alex Myers started Monday by auto to attend the funeral of his nephew in Margaretville and on Palmer Hill they came upon a car standing in the middle of the road with no one in sight.  The snow had drifted around it so that they could not get past and they had turn around and come home.

•The town board met on Monday [Feb 13] to make arrangements for building a new bridge to take the place of the stone arch bridge at the former Strangeway store in Bovina Center.  The present structure was built about 1858, by James R. Scott, who furnished and hauled the stone and built the bridge for $100.  The highway commissioner was severely criticized for his extravagance, it being alleged that he would bankrupt the town.

February 24, 1922

•Born to Mr. and Mrs. Angelo Belino February 11, a daughter.

•Daniel Franklin, the creameryman, was here the first of the week.

•Mrs. Dixon Thomson, who has been ill for several weeks, is now on the gain.

•F.W. Hyatt had a two-year-old heifer die this week as a result of a fall on the ice.

•Nelson Siring has commenced building the cellar for Fred Thomson on the M.E. parsonage lot.

•The singing school which has been conducted here by H.W. Frisbee will close March 10, with a concert.

•Henry Monroe has moved from part of Mrs. Thos Gordon’s house, to the Dick Smith house across the street.

•Fred Bramley had the misfortune to have one his fine matched team of young horses die the past week with horse distemper.

•James Ackerley, who recently purchased the Northrup house, has the frame up for kitchen on the rear.  He will raise the roof of the old house and make it two story.

Bovina Team Ran Away

The team of Calvin Russell took fright at the creamery Thursday morning and had a lively run.  Coming onto Main street the team ran in at the Hastings feed store and onto the flat above the new street.  Continuing up the flat they went over the wall into a rocky pasture lot of Fred Bramley and were not caught until they reached Bramley’s.  No damage was done and not even the milk cans were thrown out.  How they avoided all the rocks is a miracle.

Donna Weber recently gave me some documents she found related to the Bovina Sesquicentennial Celebration, which took place August 29, 1970. I'm including two items of interest concerning the parade. One is the program announcing the celebration, with some additional notes in handwriting we don't quite recognize (if anyone does, let me know). 

Here's a transcript (this was obviously a copy and it's a bit fuzzy):

1. Delhi Community Band

2. Andes Fire Department

3. Andes Ladies Auxiliary

4. Andes Fire Equipment

5. Bloomville Fire Department

6. Bloomville Ladies Auxiliary

7. South Kortright School Drill Team

8. Hobart Fire Department

9. Bovina Forum Float

10. Bovina Library Float

11. 1934 Chevy - Howard LaFever

12. 1932 Pontiac - Glen Meyer

13. Bovina Co-op Dairy Float

14. St. James Church Float

15. Go-Cart - Denise Lay

16. Bovina Our Heritage Float (Inman)

17. Mountain Brook Float

18. Bovina Ski Club Float

19. 1932 Ford - Florence Thomas

20. 1918 Premier - Clayton Thomas

21. 1927 Ford - George Duphily

22. 1910 Reo - Karl Allmer

23. 1926 Chryser - Bruce Armer

24. 1928 Reo - Bill Chattin

25. Burn-Lou Century Farm Float

26. Pre-school Float

27. Jack and June Burns Float

28. Gas Engine - Ron Russell

29. Don Drum Buggy

30. Dairy Princess - Fred Holcomb Team

31. John Hilson and Mary Beth Float

32. Delaware Pleasure Riders

33. Donna and Maryann Parsons

34. Hilltop Stables

35. Inman Horses

36. Timbertrail Ranch

37. Debbie Bellino

38. Howard Hughes - Pony and Cart

If you want to see what some of these looked like, I have pictures from the 1970 celebration on Flickr: 

Bovina's Sesquicentennial | Flickr

And on July 30, we will have the Belated Bovina Bicentennial celebration, including a parade, which we expect will repeat the route of the parade from 1970. Start thinking about what you would like entered in the parade. We'll be posting more information in the next couple of months.  

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Leonard Cairns, who had been my neighbor pretty much my whole life. Here's his obituary: Obituary of Leonard J. Cairns | Welcome to MacArthur Funeral Home &... (hallandpeet.com)

Leonard was 93 at his death, the oldest man currently living in the Town of Bovina. He had lived in Bovina since he was 13. This Bob Wyer photo was taken in June 1944 at the Andes Central School, from where he graduated in 1947. Leonard is second from the left in the back row. 

Leonard enlisted in the Marines in 1950. This image comes from the Bovina Historical Society 2006 calendar which featured Bovina veterans. Leonard served in the Korean War, receiving the Purple Heart. The image was provided by his family. 

Leonard was on the Bovina Public Library's board and was its President from 1970-1973. During his tenure, the library received an O'Connor grant to convert the old Bovina District 4 school building into the library.

 

Leonard and Ann celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2004.

Leonard celebrated his 90th birthday in 2018.

Leonard and Ann were good neighbors, even as they went into their golden years. They brought food over to my mom after my dad's passing in 2004. In 2011, I had hernia surgery and Leonard came by with a chicken dinner for me during my recovery. 

I close with this photo I took in July 2009 of Leonard and Ann with their neighbors the late Mary Haran and her daughter Regina. They were watching the parade held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Bovina Fire Department.

Here's the compilation of the February 2022 Town of Bovina Historian Facebook entries:

185 years ago today, the February 1, 1837 Delaware Gazette carried this ad, dated in December 1836: "John Reed Tailor. Respectfully returns thanks to the inhabitants of Bovina and its vicinity, for the liberal support tendered him since he commenced business and begs leave to inform them that he has opened a Shop on his new premises with a complete assortment of Trimmings, adopted to the texture and form of the garments of his customers. He has brought up from New York, Draughts, Plates and Reports of Fashions for the season and no expense will be spared to render his establishment commensurate with the growing taste and respectability of the community."

101 years ago today, on February 2, 1921, the Bovina column of the Andes Recorder reported that "The school teachers of the town were at Bloomville attending a conference Wednesday, adding more useless expense on the districts."

Eighty-two years ago today, on February 3, 1940, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, "The Andes girls won over the Bovina Center girls in a basketball game..." The Andes girls beat the Bovina team in Bovina, 43 to 10.

141 years ago today, on February 4, 1881, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror, "'Reuben,' the well-known carriage horse, belonging to Rev. J.B. Lee [of Bovina], was found dead in the stable…" Lee lived in the house next to the church, now the home of Amy Burns and Tom Lamport.

Ninety-two years ago today, the Delaware Republican reported in its February 5, 1930 issue, under the headline "Bovina Man an Inventor" that "W.G. Coulter of Bovina Center has invented a machine for the spreading of crushed stone in the building of public highways which promises to be of great value. He applied for a patent on the spreader and has received word that the patent has been granted."

119 years ago today, the February 6, 1903 Andes Recorder Bovina correspondent reported a rather horrible incident involving a former Bovina resident and a mad dog: "Last week word was received at this place that James. L. Ormiston and his two daughters, who resides at Wilmington, Delaware, had been bitten by a mad dog.  The dog, which belonged to a neighbor, attacked the youngest daughter, aged about seven years, and an older sister went to her assistance, and both were severely bitten when Mr. Ormiston came to their aid.  He succeeded in chocking the dog to death, but not until it had bitten off one of his fingers.  His brother, Dr. Ormiston of Delhi, who went to treat them, reports that no hydrophobia symptoms have developed and it is thought that they will come out all right."

Seventy years ago today, the Delaware Republican Express for February 7, 1952, reported in its Bovina column that Mrs. Bernard Perry and Mrs. Boyce Rossman attended a Stanley Hostess party at the home of Mrs. James Kinsey in Bloomville."

Seventy-one years ago today, the February 8, 1951 Delaware Republican Express reported in its Bovina column that "the arch bridge at the lower end of the village has been closed all week, while repairs are being made." This is the Scott Bridge that stood for about 80 years at the lower end of Bovina Center. The bridge was demolished in 1955 after a new bridge was built.

Seventy years ago today, on February 9, 1952, as later reported in the Delaware Republican-Express Bovina column, "Howard LaFever jr., entertained thirteen young friends at a birthday party on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 9th, in honor of his 6th birthday. One of his guests, Tommy Burns, also celebrated his 6th birthday, it being the same day. There were two birthday cakes, cup cakes, cocoa, and ice cream for refreshments. All had a fine time."

118 years ago today, on February 10, 1904, Pete Johnson of  Bovina died. The Andes Recorder had this 'obituary' of him: "Pete Johnson is No More. Died, at the residence of Barna Johnson in this village[Bovina], February 10, Pete Johnson, cat, aged 14 years, 11 months. Cause of death, stroke of paralysis and alleged overdose of chloroform. We all knew Pete, faithful and loyal to his own home, and other cats and dogs stayed away. Some people had caused it to be suspected that he was occasionally too fond of young chickens; he never said much about it. Other cats can now take the blame."

Seventy-nine years ago today, the Bovina column of the February 11, 1943 Delaware Republican-Express reported that "Clarence Burns has bought the William Stock farm and has already taken possession."

138 years ago today, the Brushland column of the February 12, 1884, Stamford Mirror reported that "Thomas Hamilton, of Bovina, is very low with pneumonia and there is very little hopes entertained of his recovery." By the time that this issue had gone to press, Mr. Hamilton had passed away at the age of 78.

100 years ago, on February 13, 1922, the Bovina Town Board met "to make arrangements for building a new bridge to take the place of the stone arch bridge at the former Strangeway store in Bovina Center." As later reported in the Andes Recorder, "The present structure was built about 1858, by James R. Scott, who furnished and hauled the stone and built the bridge for $100. The highway commissioner was severely criticized for his extravagance, it being alleged that he would bankrupt the town."

154 years ago today, on February 14, 1868, this bond document was signed for Thomas Purdy in his role as constable for the Town of Bovina. 

110 years ago today, on February 15, 1912, Elmer Gladstone, son of George Gladstone, was operated on for chronic appendicitis. He came through the operation fine. In 1925 he was attacked by a bull on the family farm. He survived that too and died when he was 81 in 1956.

A heavy snowfall 102 years ago today, February 16, 1920, prevented the delivery of the mail. It did make it through the next day. Another storm about a month later would prevent mail delivery on March 12 and 13.

135 years ago today, on February 17, 1887, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror, "A large and interesting meeting of the Delaware Co. Dairymens Association, was held in Hastings Hall…Many prominent dairymen from other parts of the county were present and took part in the discussions."

Commodore E.T. Gerry died in New York City ninety-five years ago today, February 18, 1927.  Grandson of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, he spent many summers at home on Lake Delaware. His son Robert and daughter Angelica each later built their own homes at the lake.

101 years ago today, the installation of radios in Bovina seemed to be the rage. The Andes Recorder of February 19, 1921 reported that "John H. Hilson has had a radio installed."  The same issue also reported that "John S. Burns in upper Bovina and Gaylie Hafele up Coulter Brook, have had radios installed."

139 years ago today, the February 20, 1883 issue of the Stamford Mirror reported in its Bovina column that "There has been nearly 50 cases of measles in the Brushland School Dist. At this date. They are also quite numerous in the Andrew Brown District beyond the Lake." I'm not sure what district they mean here, but likely is the one that was on Biggar Hollow Road.

The February 21, 1902 issue of the Andes Recorder (120 years ago today) reported in its Bovina column that "Henry Hogaboom, formerly of this town, is now at the Military Home at Dayton, Ohio."  Hogaboom was a Civil War veteran.  Born in Sullivan County, he moved to Bovina as a boy and settled in Lake Delaware after the war until his move to the soldier's home.  He lived there 19 years until his death there in 1921.  His body was brought back to Bovina for burial.

115 years ago today, on the evening of February 22, 1907, the Fortnightly Club held this program at Strangeway's Hall in Bovina 

Ninety-two years ago today, on February 23, 1930, Clifford Boggs was born, the last child and only son of James and Edith Boggs. Sadly, his mother died in childbirth, leaving Clifford to be cared for, in part, by his aunt (and my grandmother) Anna Bell LaFever. Clifford died in May 1933 when he was 3 years old.  This is believed to be one of the few pictures of Clifford.

126 years ago, on February 24, 1896, a fire that happened during evening church services caused a ruckus. The reported of the fire was in the Andes Recorder: "About 8 o’clock Monday evening [Feb 24] while the people were in the United Presbyterian church attending services, the startling cry of fire ran through the church. In an instant all was excitement and a rush was made for the door and the street was black with people hurrying toward the store of Hilson & Blair where the fire had been discovered.  The fire had started in the rear of the store beneath the floor and within a few feet of the oil tank.  Plenty of help was soon on hand and went to work carrying water in pails, tubs and whatever would hold water.  Boards were torn off and the water poured on the fire and it was soon extinguished without much damage being done.  No cause can be given for the fire as fire has never been kept in that part of the building.  If the fire had gained a little more headway before it was discovered or had occurred a few hours later nothing could have saved the store, as we have no way to extinguish a fire once fully started."

Seventy-three years ago today, the February 25, 1949 issue of the Catskill Mountain News reported in its Bovina column that "Russell Jones of Stamford has moved his family to John Bellino's tenant rooms and will assist John with his farm duties." The Bellino farm was on Pink Street, now owned by Hall Wilkie.

Ninety-seven years ago today, the February 26, 1925 issue of the Hancock Herald under the topic "Farm Bureau Notes" reported on several cow testing associations, including Bovina. "The work of the Bovina Diary Improvement Association is progressing in splendid shape with H.C. Brackville as agent. Records from this association show splendid progress of the work and improvement in the various dairies tested. For the past month the five highest herds of the association reported by Mr. Brackville are owned by Isaac L. Mitchell, A.T. Archibald, John F. Thompson, James A. Boggs and John S. Burns. Considering the fact that many cows in the dairy are dry at this season of the year the average of these herds runs very good. 20 cows in Mr. Mitchell's herd produced 19696.6 pounds of milk producing 840.3 pounds of butter-fat or an average per cow of 42.1 pounds per month. The other dairies also average well for this time of year.

The Andes Recorder from 143 years ago today, February 27, 1879, reported the sad news that "Henry, Son of Wm. D. Thompson, of Brushland, who met with an accident recently, which was supposed to have ruptured one of his kidneys, is not better, and when last heard from he was still failing.  He is about fifteen years of age, and an only child."  Henry, born in 1862, had had three siblings, but they had all died as children, two before his birth.  Happily, Henry did recover from this accident and was married four years later.  He died in 1930, leaving a widow and three children.

191 years ago today, a testimonial appeared in the Albany Evening Journal dated February 28, 1831 for "John Thomson, Botanic Physician:"  "This may certify that I have been afflicted with the Dyspepsia for six years past, and for the last 12 months, have not been able to do any labor. My food was principally dry toast and crackers. I was attended by three of the best physicians in Delaware county, where I reside, to no advantage. Having heard of Dr. Thomson, of Albany, I applied to him on the 2d day of this month, who relieved me immediately; and at this date find myself in a better state of health than I have before enjoyed since I was first taken sick and shall enjoy good health when my strength is fully restored, which is now fast gaining. I can now eat anything that a well person can and have been able to since the third day after Doct. Thomson commenced his attendance. Harriet A. Soper of Bovina." Harriett was 27 years old when this ad appeared. She was the daughter of Peleg and Nancy Soper. Dr. Thomson did something right - Harriett would live to be 82, dying in 1886. 

March 3, 1922

•A Hamden home talent play is to be given here Friday evening.

•Robert Smith has moved to Delhi, and has a position at the County Sanitarium

•Lee Lent, the cheese maker, is at his home in Treadwell for a few days.  Walter Wilson commenced work at the cheese room Wednesday.

•Clarence Lee, son of John B. Lee of this town, was operated upon in the hospital at Oneonta last week.  While serving overseas in the world he was gassed and instead of affecting the lungs it caused troubles of the bowels and the operation was undertaken as a last resort. [Sadly, Clarence died on April 28.]

Bovina Farm House Damaged

The farmhouse of Christopher S. Gladstone was damaged by fire Tuesday afternoon.  During the forenoon the chimney had burned out.  Soon afternoon while the men folks were at work a short distanced from the house they saw fire coming through the roof around the chimney.  By prompt use of water and with the aid of neighbors summoned by telephone, the fire was put out before the much damage was done.  Had the wind been in the opposite direction nothing could have saved the house.

March 10, 1922

•Mrs. William Armstrong is ill with tonsillitis.

•Daniel Franklin was in town the first of the week.

•Alex Myers is redecorating the ceiling in Hilson Bros store.

•Mrs. Lancelot Thomson has been ill the past week with the grip.

•Homer Burgin is now attending the Agricultural School at Delhi.

•Fletcher Davidson is installing electric lights in the United Presbyterian church.

•Hilson Brothers have their Brockaway truck in running order again after a thorough overhauling.

•John Van Valkenburg, of Roxbury, was here the last of the week plastering the cheese room at the creamery.

•Two men from Bainbridge were here this week, crating up some of the stuff in the Dry Milk plant and shipping it.

March 17, 1922

•The concert of musical held here last Friday evening, bringing to a close the series of singing lessons, was largely attended.

•Bovina leads the county on the roll of honor in membership in the Farm Bureau with 102 members.  Last year there were only 23 members in town.

•Jean Muller has sold what is known as the S.G. Bramley farm on the Bloomville road to a Mr. Arnold form Pennsylvania, and the new owners are now there.

March 24, 1922

•Miss Hannah Coulter has moved from the small house on the former Lauren hotel property, to one of Will Hoy’s tenant house.

•Nelson Reynolds commenced work on the re-modeling of the house of Fred Thomson, on the old Methodist parsonage lot, this week.

•Nelson Siring is building the cellar and foundation walls under James Ackerley’s house, which he recently purchased and is re-modeling.

•Thomas C. Strangeway, who recently completed a new house on the former Lauren property, has torn down the house, which was one of the old landmarks of the village. [This was once the Secord hotel, active in the mid-19th century.]

March 31, 1922

•Sloan Archibald has been on the sick list the past week.

•Thomas C. Strangeway was on a business trip to Dayton, Ohio, the past week.

•Douglas Davison was called to Franklin this week by the death of his brother.

•John Northrup has rented the Margaret Hoy farm and will soon move to it from the village.

In July 2016, I posted on this blog some photos from July 24, 1976 when Bovina celebrated the nation's Bicentennial. 

I've recently 're-discovered' some prints that Hugh Lee's family gave me and realized I had never shared them. So here are some great black and white shots from that day forty-six years ago this summer.

Isabell and Cecil Russell on John Mueller's truck.

Jonathan Lee (I think)

Left to right: Abby Brannen, Ira McIntosh, Molly Brannen in the carriage, Carol Brannen, Kim McIntosh, Shana McIntosh being held by Carol McIntosh.

Bovina Fire Department

Bovina Fire Department

Ron Russell and, I think, Peter Haran

Ninety-six years ago today, on March 1, 1926, "D.C. Worden, who purchased the Methodist church some time ago commenced tearing it down…."  [Andes Recorder] He had purchased the building in the fall of 1921.  It was used for a time for roller skating before Worden finally demolished it, using the materials to build a barn on his farm. The church was built in 1849 and used until the congregation disbanded around 1915.  It stood across from the community hall.

Elizabeth Archibald Elliott died 167 years ago today on March 2, 1855. Born in 1832, she was the daughter of Robert Archibald and Elizabeth Hamilton. She married Thomas Elliott in February 1854. That November, she gave birth to her only child, a daughter Elizabeth. The child survived her mother by less than a year, dying in January 1856. Mother and daughter are buried next to each other in the Bovina Cemetery. Thomas remarried in 1858 and died in 1910.

Amanda Burgin died 154 years ago today, on March 3, 1868.  The daughter of Stephen Seacord and Abigail Canfield, she was married to Homer C. Burgin in 1849.  She had four children and was 37 years old at her death.  Amanda is buried in the Bovina Cemetery.

Ninety-nine years ago today, on March 4, 1923, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Miss Margaret Hoy, one of the oldest residents of Bovina, died on Sabbath, March 4, at the home of her nephew, Arthur Hoy, where she had lived since her health failed a year or so ago, so that she could not live alone.  She was the last of her generation and was born in Bovina 85 years ago and had always resided in the town.  The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon, from the United Presbyterian church, of which she was one of the oldest members."

144 years ago today, on March 5, 1878, the following letter appeared in the Andes Recorder: "Messrs Editors: - It is some time since I have written to the Recorder, but having good will to all men, I wish to occupy a brief space in your columns to show your readers that Brushland is still in a prosperous condition, owing, first, to the fact that we have no liquor license; second, we can’t get a license; third, we don’t want a license, consequently we are a sober, industrious people."

178 years ago today, March 6, 1844, a letter from Bovina was written to Mr. Gatchell, a temperance lecturer, from "a drunkard's wife."   The letter was later published in the Washingtonian, a temperance newspaper from Hudson, NY. The article published with the letter noted that the letter had "the genuine, unsophisticated feelings of a heart rejoicing because of the disenthrallment of her husband from the iron bondage of alcohol…how encouraging to the friends of temperance to know that such instances are daily occurring." The article went on to say that "many a wife's heart is made to rejoice when the news reaches her that her husband has signed the pledge; a new hope springs up in her bosom, and 'dreams of bright days to come,' when under the influence of temperance, her home, hitherto cheerless and desolate, shall be glad and happy." The letter read as follows: "Dear Sir-I take my pen in hand to inform you that we are in good health at present, hoping by the blessing of God that you are enjoying the same. All those that signed the pledge when you were here have not put on the fetters again. My husband has become truly pious, which is a great comfort to me. I hope that we shall gain our second independence. Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so early beset us. I am sensibly rejoiced at your success in Bovina and Delhi. I hope that you will continue to take pity on the distressed. I have no other way to express my gratitude at present but my hearty thanks."

D.J. Miller held an auction 122 years ago today, March 7, 1900.  The advertisement for the auction appeared in the Andes Recorder as follows: "D.J.Miller will offer for sale at Public Auction at his residence in Bovina at 10 o’clock a.m. on Wednesday March 7th the following property: 29 young Jersey cows, 4 two-year-old heifers, two-year-old bull, pair of mules also some farming and dairying implements and utensils.  Terms, on all sums under $10 cash, over $10 a credit of six months on approved notes." This farm was on Miller Avenue in the Bramley Mountain area and likely was the ancestral farm of his grandfather, also known as David Miller.

127 years ago today, March 8, 1895, the Bovina correspondent for the Andes Recorder reported what he felt was disturbing news:  "We understand that W.T. Black is talking of selling his farm, we hope it is a false report.  The town of Bovina cannot afford to lose such a man.  He is an honor to the town. Lives an honest, honorable life, respected by everyone.  The best Supervisor we have had in office for years and hope to have him hold the office for the next fifteen years if he lives to see that day.  The echo of the whole town of Bovina." Black went on later that year to build a new barn on the property and continued to farm but gave up being town supervisor.  He ran in 1900 successfully for Delaware County Clerk and sold his farm to John Irvine, the father of Isabell Russell.  Black and his wife settled in Delhi after he became County Clerk.

Seventy-seven years ago today, the March 9, 1945, edition of the Catskill Mountain News reported that "Local Farmers Win Top Milk Production Honors." The Dairy Herd Improvement association awarded “honor roll diplomas” for the year ending June 30, 1944, to farmers whose herds averaged more than 350 pounds of butterfat per cow per year. In third place was Bovina’s Benson LaFever, with 415 pounds of butterfat from his Jersey herd.  Two other Bovina farmers who had more than 350 pounds average were James Briggs and Millard Russell.

The Bovina United Presbyterian Church Session met 154 years ago today, March 10, 1868.  The main topic of discussion was “The subject of promiscuous dancing…"  The pastor was instructed by the session "to warn the Congregation that intelligence has reached Session that a violation of the rules of the church in this matter has been made, and that hereafter Session will deal with offenders for said violation."

Eighty-four years ago, the Andes Recorder in its March 11, 1938, issue, reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Gerry, Jr of New York and Lake Delaware, have gone to Aiken, South Carolina, to occupy Green Shingles for the season."

Ninety-nine years ago, as later reported in the Andes Recorder "Sloan Archibald and his wife and Mrs. Douglas Davidson spent Monday [March 12, 1923] with their aunt, Miss Jennie Miller who is a ‘shut in’ at the Butt End.”  Sloan's wife was the former Jennette Hoy (1859-1942).  Her sister was Margaret Jane Hoy (1866-1936), the wife of Douglass Davidson.  Margaret would be widowed about seven months later.  Jennette's and Margaret's aunt would live another two years, dying in 1925.

107 years ago, "Mrs. Margaret Palmer, who has been visiting her brother, George Gladstone, returned Saturday (March 13, 1915) to her home in Andes.” Mrs. Palmer was the widow of Roman Palmer of Bovina, who was killed in the Civil War in 1864.

One hundred and nine years ago today, the March 14, 1913, issue of the Andes Recorder reported in its Bovina column that "The roads are in very bad condition, the bottom, so to speak, having dropped out in many places."

One hundred and ten years ago, the Andes Recorder Lake Delaware correspondent reported in its March 15, 1912edition that "The superintendent at the Lake is very good to his help, even letting them take the farm teams to dances, parties and even other things. It is tough on the horses, however, to be out all night and then have to draw a load from Delhi the next day, and it has told on some of them."

John B. Dunn was born 190 years ago today, March 16, 1832, the son of John Dunn and Elizabeth Doig.  He became a minister, serving as pastor in East Greenwich, New York.  He died at the age of 29 in 1862 and is buried in the old Associate Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Reinertsen Hill Road.

Ninety-four years ago, as later reported in the Andes Recorder: “The team of Harold Campbell took fright at the creamery Saturday morning [March 17, 1928] and ran away.  They collided with the bridge before reaching the street and left the wagon.  The team continued to run and went up the steep embankment at the Hilson house and into the fields and stopped.  The damage was not great.”

Vera Lillian Davidson was born 131 years ago today, March 18, 1891.  She was the daughter of Douglass Davidson and Margaret Hoy.  She would be joined by two brothers, John George (1893-96) and Howard Fletcher (1895-1987).  Vera later went to Cornell and Stanford Universities and married Bill Storie in 1915.  Vera was widowed in 1963 and passed away in 1967. 

Drusella Clauson was born 208 years ago today on March 19, 1814, the daughter of James Clauson and Sarah Eldridge.  Born in Maine, she married Benjamin Tuttle (1811-1891) in Bovina around 1834.  They had six children.  Drusella died in 1879 and is buried in Bovina.

109 years ago today, on March 20, 1913, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "many streams were overflowing their banks and two bridges on the road above John Blair’s are under water." The road above John Blair's probably was the Miller Avenue area on Bramley Mountain.

109 years ago, the March 21, 1913, issue of the Andes Recorder reported in its Bovina column two challenges facing the town.  The first involved the main road through town, now County Route 6:  "The frost heaved the State road in several places."  The other challenge involved the Bovina creamery. The Recorder’s correspondent also noted that because of the lack of an extra boiler, "the Dry Milk plant is being run night and day."

139 years ago today, on March 22, 1883, the Bovina Town Board met to deal with the fact that David Black, who had been elected Supervisor the previous month had refused the accept the office.  The minutes of that meeting reported how the issue was resolved:  "We the undersigned Justices of Peace of said town pursuant to section 61 and 57 article 3 Title 3 Chapter 11 Vol. 1 of the Revised Statutes of the State of New York hereby appoint Alexander F. Storie of said town to be supervisor of said town.”

154 years ago today, March 23, 1868, Jane Maynard died in Bovina at the age of 70.  Born in New York City, she married Isaac F. Maynard, the son of one of Bovina's earliest settlers, Elisha B. Maynard.  Jane would have five children, including Judge Isaac H. Maynard.  Her husband survived her by eight years, dying in 1876. Both are buried in Bovina.

Sixty-nine years ago, the Catskill Mountain News reported in its Bovina column in the March 24, 1953 edition that "Robert Burns, Robert Boggs and Cedric Kittle all had televisions installed in their homes the past week."

Eighty-four years ago, the Andes Recorder for March 25, 1938, reported that "Alex Hilson, a student at University of Minnesota, is home for a vacation. His uncle, James Hilson, met him at Utica."

232 years ago today, on March 26, 1790, Thomas Winter was born in Northumberland, England, the son of John Winter and Betty Allen.  He married Isabella Turnbull in Northumberland.  They settled in New Kingston, and both died the same year, 1857.  Isabella died in June and Thomas in December.  Thomas was 67 at his death and is buried in the Bovina Cemetery.

Sixty years ago today, on March 27, 1962, Bob Wyer took this passport photo of Sophie Reinertsen. She had this photo taken in preparation for a trip to Norway she took in May 1962 to visit relatives.

Eighty-two years ago today, the Lake Delaware column of the Delaware Republican for March 28, 1940, reported that "Peggy Mabon has recovered from Scarlet Fever and her sister Vallory, who became sick with the disease last week, is also recovering, having had the disease lightly." Valarie and Margaret were the daughters of William Mabon and Elizabeth McDivitt Mabon.

110 years ago today, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "J.B. Gordon, who has the contract to build the State road from Thomas C. Strangeway’s to the Center, was here Friday, March 29, 1912, to make arrangements to begin work. He has hired the barn on the Jennie Miller place below the village of Henry Campbell, and the foreman will be here next Monday and fit it up with bunks for the Italians. Work on the road will be begun about May 1." The state road in question is present County Route 6. Thomas Strangeway's place was on present Route 28, about where Bread Fellows is now located.

Eighty-two years ago, on March 30, 1940, Marjorie Russell and Rae Storie arrived in Bovina to spend the spring recess with their parents.  Marjorie and Rae were students at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio.  Marjorie was a junior and Rae a freshman. They returned to Ohio on April 7.

111 years ago today, the Andes Recorder in its March 31, 1911, issue, noted that "John A. Irvine and James E. Hastings, two of Bovina's progressive farmers, have had acetylene gas plants installed and will light their farm-houses with gas.  They will also use the light [for their] barns."  The Irvine farm was on Coulter Brook (later known as the Elms Farms) and Hastings was on County Route 6, the farm that later became the Damgaard place. 

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS

FOR BOVINA'S BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION!

July 30 and 31, 2022, The Bovina Center Hamlet, McIntosh’s Flat

Volunteers are needed to help celebrate the Bovina Bicentennial. 

•The parade will start gathering on July 30 at 9 am at Lake Jillienne on Coulter Brook Road and step off at 10 am. We need help lining up participants at the start and directing them on their arrival at McIntosh’s Flat.

•The Bovina Bicentennial Festival on the Flat will take place on July 30 from 12 to 6:30. Help needed includes setting up tables and chairs, helping with parking, setting up for the music program and directing people to the different activities throughout the day, as well as distributing flyers about the event to help people get around. We also need help with the children’s games. 

•A potluck picnic will be held at noon on July 31 on the Flat. We’ll need help with clean-up after the picnic. 

If interested, contact Ray LaFever at bovinahistorian@gmail.com or at 607-832-4609 to volunteer for the event itself or if you want to help with our planning efforts. 

A century ago, in April 1922, Bovina lost another young man from injuries received during the First World War. And that same month, the contract for the construction of St. James' church at Lake Delaware was awarded.

April 7, 1922

•John B. Lee was at Mt. Vision last week to see his son, Clarence Lee, who is in a sanitarium.

•Born to Mr. and Mrs. James Boggs, in upper Bovina, March 29, a daughter, - Anna Elizabeth. [This is Anna Boggs Hobbie Lounsbury. She died in 2009 at the age of 87.]

•William Todd, who is employed on the Gerry estate at Lake Delaware, has moved his family from Delhi to the Dickson place up Pink street.

•Captain Billings, superintendent of the Gerry estate at Lake Delaware, has returned from Washington, D.C., where he had been undergoing eye treatment.

•Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Filkins have moved here from Trout Creek and are occupying room sin Mrs. Thos Gordon’s house.  Mr. Filkins will make cheese at the creamery.

•Mr. Berchevsky, of Brooklyn, who is manager of the cheese room at the Center creamery, is in town for a few days.  There will be a suspension of cheese making for ten days or two weeks and the skim milk will be condensed.

Resurfacing Bovina Road

The contract for resurfacing of the Bovina state road, 2.34 miles in length, has been let to DeGraff & Hogeboom, Inc. of Kingston, for $32, 433.  There are ten bidders, the highest being $40, 282.  The engineer’s estimate for the work was $42,779.

April 14, 1922

•Marshall Scott, who last fall moved from Bovina to a farm a short distance from Oneonta, was calling in town.

•Mr. Hemmingway and wife and Mr. Homer and wife have moved from the Maynard farm, up-town to Youngstown, Ohio.

•Walter G. Coulter, superintendent of highways, has commenced work on the town roads. Under orders from the state he has measured all bridges in the town.

Another Victim of World War

Clarence Lee, of Bovina, passed Away in Hospital April 5

Clarence Lee, son of John B. Lee, of the town of Bovina, died on Saturday morning, April 8, at the Mt. Vision sanitarium.  His original illness was tubercular periodontitis, for which on February 20, he underwent an operation at the Fox Memorial hospital in Oneonta.  Four weeks later he was taken to the Mt. Vision institution for general treatment, but nothing could be done for him.

He was a soldier of the world war and in the great drive in the summer of 1918, he was 63 days continuously at the front.  In September of that year he was reported missing, but later was found severely gassed in a military hospital, where he remained for seven months. His age was 29 years.

The surviving members of the family are his father, a twin brother, Clifford, in Andes, a half sister, Margery, teaching at White Plains, and four half brothers, Donald, Edgar, Charles and Romaine, at home.

The funeral was held Tuesday at the family home above Lake Delaware and burial made in the Bovina Center cemetery.  [Note: His half brother Donald was a veteran of the war, dying at the age of 99 in 1995, Bovina’s last surviving World War I vet.]

April 21, 1922

•Sloan Archibald is slowly convalescing.

•A can washer has been installed at the Bovina Center creamery.

•Miss Angelica Gerry and Robert L. Gerry and a party spent over Easter at Lake Delaware.

•William F. Boggs is making changes on the interior of his residence – moving partitions, etc.

•James Ackerley is again at work on his house after being laid up several weeks with rheumatism.

•The Camp Fire Girls will give an entertainment Thursday evening, and a social hour afterwards.

•Carrie Dumond has finished her work in the tea room of Bramley and Waugh at Delhi, and returned home.

•Ernest Smith, who has been doing condensing at the creamery, has finished condensing and returned to Franklin this week.

•There was a very large attendance at the Easter services in the Episcopal church at Lake Delaware last Sabbath and chairs had to be carried in.

They Pleased Audience

Bovina Center Entertained by Geneva Glee Club

The Geneva Glee Club, representing the Covenanter College located at Beaver Falls, Pa., entertained the people of Bovina Center last Friday evening with an attractive programme.  The town hall was well filled with an appreciative audience.

Sixteen young men were on the platform, under the direction of T. Early Yearsley, all at their best, overflowing with vim, mirth and music.  Songs by the Club, readings, quartettes, renderings on the piano and the violin, and crayon sketches, all were given in an excellent spirit and drew from the audience prolonged applause.  The Geneva Glee Club surely did please Bovina Center and failed not to do credit to the college represented.

April 28, 1922

•Two representatives of the Maple Syrup Producers Association were here the past week.

•A number of our young people gave a party at the town hall in honor of Marjorie Forman of Delhi.

•Everett Wickham, on the Decker farm at Lake Delaware, has commenced making improvements on his barn.

•Fred Thomson and Dixon Thomson will install a Delco lighting plant and will light several residences in addition to their own.

•Harvey Burgin is making improvements to the interior of his residence, changing partitions, etc.  He is also wiring it for electric lights.

•Herman Joslin has taken a position as truck driver for the creamery at Frasers and has moved from Lake Delaware to a house on the Hulbert farm below Delhi.

•The two men names Ezorack, who last year purchase the Fine hunt farm up Coulter Brook, have dissolved partnership and one man moved his household goods to Middletown on Wednesday.  

•Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Russell entertained about 30 young people in honor of Miss Thelma Northrop, the occasion being her 15th birthday.  Games and music were enjoyed by all and later refreshments were served.

New Church For Lake Delaware

A telegram was received Tuesday by Rev. Edgelow, rector of the St. James Chapel at Lake Delaware, from Miss Angelica Gerry, of New York, stating that the contract had been let for the new memorial chapel and other buildings which are to be erected on the Gerry estate at the point where the road from that estate comes onto the state road.