For the last few years I have been going page by page through the microfilm records of Warwick's two local newspapers. When I find an article which I consider to be an important piece of local history, I make a photocopy and from there a transcription of the article. In an earlier post I listed the names of the articles and where they can be found. Not everthing I have found has been transcribed. Some is somewhat trivial. Other items are only a sentence or two found under the New Milford reportage. Here is what I have started to do with some of that material.
All of these items come from the Warwick Valley Dispatch. All items are direct quotes unless enclosed in parentheses.
1.06.1885
A pleasant evening was spent at the residence of Postmaster DeKay on New Years Eve. Supper was served and dancing indulged in till the dawning of the New Year.
9.03.1885
The public school has reopened for the Fall and Winter session, with Mr. T.L. Gillison as principal.
9.24.1885
"Our Ticket Agent" sold 25 tickets for the Coney Island excursion and a large number for the County Fair.
10.22.1885
Rev. C.C. Miller, who comes from Edenville each Sunday to preach to the erring sinners of Jockey Holler, generally finds a large and appreciative audience.
12.09.1885
The attendence at the singing school was not very large on Thursday evening, consequently Prof. Miller only obtained eight subscribers. There will be another meeting to-morrow night, and we hope all those interested will attend.
3.24.1886
The old cherry tree that has stood in the sidewalk of Main Street for many years has been hewn down. It has been a faithful guide for those coming or going on a dark night, especially those that came in contact with it.
4.28.1886
The gypsies have been encamped on Church-street, left on Monday for Newburg.
1.27.1892
(Irvington Giveans and a team of horses was killed by a train at the New Milford crossing on Covered Bridge Road.)
4.20.1892
Mr. S.R. Drew has gone to New York with a number of horses recently sold there.
8.03.1892
The sporting fraternity of New Milford was well represented at the trot and ball game last Saturday afternoon at Warwick.
9.14.1892
When you are in need of anything usually kept in a country store, give our obliging merchant, B. Scott, a call. Ed. This store was where the Stanabach store stands. It burned down in 1900.
10.05.1892
Mr. Chas. Thompson is making cider. Price two cents per gallon. Ed. Probably the Thompson cider mill on Iron Mountain Road.
11.16.1892
There will be a box social held at Benj. Scott's Friday evening, Nov. 18. The proceeds will be used in purchasing books for the Sabbath school library.
3.28.1900
(A fire in Jockey Hollow destroyed the hotel/store. The store was owned by Benjamin Scott and the hotel was run by James McCann. Also lost in the fire was the hotel barn, hotel sheds, Mr. Scott's residence, Mrs. Sloan's residence, and a buildig across from the store, half of which was used for storage and the other half was the residence of John L. Springer.)
4.29.1903
A gay gallant who rode his brave charger from Warwick town to call on one of our fair young maidens, hitched his horse to the wrong tie-post, full half a mile away from the home of the young lady. The young man discreetly declined to say whether his modesty was at fault or if he was unacquainted with the neighborhood and people.
8.12.1903
Mr. Phillips gives a great deal of pleasure with his Edison phonograph.
10.14.1903
(The flood of 1903 did great damage in New Milford.)
1.09.1907
Russ Ferguson and Will Talcott expect to go west to the Dokotas in the spring, and with pocketfulls of Orange County sheckels will make a try for fortune in the lumber and milk business.
1.30.1907
The people of New Milford have organized a singing school under the direction of Mr. Robert A. Wheat.
5.01.1907
Capt. O.W. Ferguson , who has been enjoying a two week's visit with his family and neighbors at New Milford, after an absence of three years in the Phillipines, went to Washington Sunday evening to consult with the department chiefs of the Geodetic Survey, and receive another assignment.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Detective Work
The above is a close view of the 1863 map of Orange County. The following short article comes from the Warwick Advertiser, dated June 9, 1866:
NEW MILFORD HOUSE - We took a look upon "mine host" of this House the other day, and were exceedingly gratified with the changed and improved conditions of affairs. A new bar-room has been fitted up in good style in the basement, a large dining hall contructed and furnished, and other improvements carried out. The proprietor, Mr. Campbell, is always found obliging, and his house noted for its good cheer. We doubt not he will merit the favor of the public.
It is on the map and in the artiicle, but I don't have a clue what this place was.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Warwick Historical Papers Volume 6, Part 2
by HILAH HASBROUK
Now that the steeple of the Old School Baptist Meeting House regilded, money must be given to pay the bil. Mrs. Lewis has had a meeting of the church committee and they will plan something to raise money. I thought maybe this article on old times interest our newcomers in past history - a new member of the antiques Club had the meeting last Tuesday, maybe other newcomers will become interested.
The Old School Baptist Meeting House on High Street, with the shining, newly covered weathervane has taken on a new lease of life with Mrs. Madison Lewis and the Warwick Historical Society taking an interest in it. The weatervane can be seen from every road leading into town and has been noticed by the older residents to see if clear weather or a storm are to be expected according to the direction of the wind. The steeple is 93 feet high.
The historical society is a group of people interested in keeping the landmarks of the early days. There is a white stone on Oakland Avenue showing the distance to Newburg. It is said there used to be such stones every mile to the Hudson River. This one on Oakland Avenue was saved by Mr. Frank Sanford who lived next door and bought a strip of land to own that old tree and stone.
The houses along Oakland Avenue were placed the same distance from the street. Those on the east side had a row of maples carefully placed in a straight line to protect those living there from the glare of the sun. The new houses were carefully placed the same distance from the street.
Mrs. Furman, whose husband was a conductor on the L. & H. Railroad, was born and lived as a young girl on High St. She remembered taking the family cow mornings down the main street and across the creek to a vacant lot for pasture.
When a cemetery was needed, it was probably Mr. Clinton W. Wisner who drew the plans for the stone entrance and the driveways. It was land belonging to the Welling family and they kept the knoll between the road and the land they sold so that a view of the cemetery was not seen from the Welling Home.
The village for years was between Colonial Ave. and High St. It was not until the early 1800's that homes were built toward the north. There are photographs in the Chester Bank of the houses between Grand St. and Welling Ave. of which the stone house owned by Genevieve
More to come when I can get it. Didn't photocopy the end of the article. What is publiished here is a transcription of an article from the Warwick Valley Dispatch, dated September 15, 1971. Used with permission.
Warwick Historical Papers Volume 6, Part 2
Drive-in re-opening under new ownership
A long established Warwick business has changed hands.
Frank Seeber of Holiday Lakes, Montaque, N.J. has purchased the Warwick Drive-In Theatre business and land from Charles Finger and has slated a Gala Re-opening for this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Seeber, left, and Finger are pictured above at the Drive-In.
The change in ownership, which became effective on Feb. 15, marks the completion for Charles "Budge" Finger of 52 years in the motion picture business, a career that began at the age of 12 when Budge took a job with Tom and Jeff Wisner at the old Oakland Theatre. After assisting the new owner for a brief time, he will retire.
The new owner brings to the Drive-In considerable experience as a projectionist at a number of Sussex County theatres including the Newton Drive-In. He has been associated with theatres in that area since he was 15.
He is an advertising representative for the New Jersey Herald.
Seeber is active in the Walkill Valley Rotary Club and has just retired from the Kittitiny Regional Board of Education which recently completed a $6 million school building program with the opening of a new school. Mr. Seeber looks forward to being active in the Warwick community and may relocate here at some future time. He will continue the same policies at the Drive-in as followed by its former owner.
The Warwick Drive-in Theatre, located just behind Lloyd's Shopping Center on Warwick Turnpike - Rt. 94, was established 25 years ago by Charles Finger and George Miller. Miller later sold his share of the business to Russell Eurich, who in turn sold his interests to Mr. Finger. The later operated the drive-in successfully on his own since that time offering the finest equipment and services.
This is a transcription from the Warwick Valley Dispatch, dated March 16, 1977. Used with permission.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Warwick Historical Papers Volume 6, Part 2
This is a transcription of an article published in the Warwick Valley Dispatch, dated June 2, 1976. Used with permission. This is an article about the Volga Germans founding a Church in Pine Island around the turn of the last century. It is an interesting history. I grew up with some of these families. The Schadt family was one, and I think the Scheurerman and Schmick families were part of that same group.
St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church to celebrate 75th Anniversary
On June 6, 1976, at 4 p.m., a special service will be held to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Little York Road, Pine Island, N.Y. A supper will be served in the Church Hall following the service.
The Lutheran Church was founded on June 5, 1901, by a group of Russian immigrants who were actually German.
Just about two-hundred years ago, when Catherine II was Empress of Russia, she encouraged Germans to colonize the vast unsettled lands near the Volga: Catherine, subsequently called The Great, who was born a Prussian princess, recognized the farming skills of the Germans. Conditions at this time in Germany were critical - the Seven Years' War had just ended, leaving many risidents in ruin and devastation. Catherine's invitation, therefore, brought new hope to many people.
It is known that the ancestors of the group that founded St. Peter were among a group of eighty families which left Budingen in Hessen in 1766, and a year later founded the village of Jagodnaja, approximately sixty miles north-west of Saratov on the Volga. They were granted certain privileges, as promised by the Empress Catherine, such as right to self-government, religious liberty, exemption from military service, land grants, and their own churches and schools. However, they were disillusioned in Russia and life was very difficult. With German perseverance they made the best of it, and for many years these Germans dwelled peacefully in the land of the Czars. They enjoyed their traditional German life and were progressing in all areas of life - economic and cultural, but towards the end of the ninteenth century, religious, racial, and national persecution became prevalent againist non-Russians, and eventually another eimigration was put into motion.
During the last decade of the ninteenth century many of the residents of Jagodnaja, Russia, migrated to America, and with the help of immigrant missionaries some were steered to settle in what is now known as the hamlet of Little York.
"Die Kirche" (The Church) was always the focal point of social and family life of these people. It, therefore, wasn't long before steps were taken to start a church. In 1898 land was purchased and soon thereafter a church building was started at the present location of St. Peter. By June 5, 1901 the congregation was incorporated and the first pastor was called - Rev. C. George Kaestner. Since then there have been a sucession of twelve pastors, with Rev. Phillip N. Sallach presently pastor in 1975.
At first there were just German services, but in later years English services were also held every Sunday, and in 1964 German services were discontinued.
The orignal church burned down on Christmas Eve of 1917 and the present edifice was erected in 1918. A large hall and Sunday School rooms were added in 1968.
Many of the descendants of the Volga-German fouonders are still active in the church, but as a microcosm of the melting pot of these United States, people of other religious and national origins have also become staunch members and officers of St. Peter.
St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church to celebrate 75th Anniversary
On June 6, 1976, at 4 p.m., a special service will be held to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Little York Road, Pine Island, N.Y. A supper will be served in the Church Hall following the service.
The Lutheran Church was founded on June 5, 1901, by a group of Russian immigrants who were actually German.
Just about two-hundred years ago, when Catherine II was Empress of Russia, she encouraged Germans to colonize the vast unsettled lands near the Volga: Catherine, subsequently called The Great, who was born a Prussian princess, recognized the farming skills of the Germans. Conditions at this time in Germany were critical - the Seven Years' War had just ended, leaving many risidents in ruin and devastation. Catherine's invitation, therefore, brought new hope to many people.
It is known that the ancestors of the group that founded St. Peter were among a group of eighty families which left Budingen in Hessen in 1766, and a year later founded the village of Jagodnaja, approximately sixty miles north-west of Saratov on the Volga. They were granted certain privileges, as promised by the Empress Catherine, such as right to self-government, religious liberty, exemption from military service, land grants, and their own churches and schools. However, they were disillusioned in Russia and life was very difficult. With German perseverance they made the best of it, and for many years these Germans dwelled peacefully in the land of the Czars. They enjoyed their traditional German life and were progressing in all areas of life - economic and cultural, but towards the end of the ninteenth century, religious, racial, and national persecution became prevalent againist non-Russians, and eventually another eimigration was put into motion.
During the last decade of the ninteenth century many of the residents of Jagodnaja, Russia, migrated to America, and with the help of immigrant missionaries some were steered to settle in what is now known as the hamlet of Little York.
"Die Kirche" (The Church) was always the focal point of social and family life of these people. It, therefore, wasn't long before steps were taken to start a church. In 1898 land was purchased and soon thereafter a church building was started at the present location of St. Peter. By June 5, 1901 the congregation was incorporated and the first pastor was called - Rev. C. George Kaestner. Since then there have been a sucession of twelve pastors, with Rev. Phillip N. Sallach presently pastor in 1975.
At first there were just German services, but in later years English services were also held every Sunday, and in 1964 German services were discontinued.
The orignal church burned down on Christmas Eve of 1917 and the present edifice was erected in 1918. A large hall and Sunday School rooms were added in 1968.
Many of the descendants of the Volga-German fouonders are still active in the church, but as a microcosm of the melting pot of these United States, people of other religious and national origins have also become staunch members and officers of St. Peter.
Warwick Historical Papers Volume 6, Part 2
This is a transription of an article published in the Warwick Valley Dispatch, dated April 14,1943. It is used with permission. The Lazear family played an important part in the history of the Village of Warwick. I believe that this family dates back to the Lazears of New Milford. There was a Lazear Tavern on Iron Moutain Road, dating back to the late 18th century.
Cornelius S. Lazear Died Suddenly Saturday
Saturday, shortly after one o'clock, Cornelius S. Lazear, popular and well-known business man of Warwick, died at St. Athony's Hospital, having suffered a stroke a few hours before while at the home of the late John Sullivan, where arrangements were being made for the funeral services of Mr. Sullivan in St Stephens's Church.
Mr. Lazear was the son of the late Wilbur C. Lazear and Jennie A. Smith Lazear, and was born in Warwick, Febrluary 25, 1886. He was a graduate of the Warwick High School and the Renouard Embalming School of New York City. He had been associated with, and finally owned, the undertaking and furnitlure business in the village which his grandfather, Cornelius J. Lazear, had established. His father, Wilbur C. Lazear, conducted the business during his lifetime and during the later years the firm was known as W.C. Lazear and Son. At his death the son took over the ownership, and the firm was known as the Lazear Funeral Service and the Lazear Furniture Store.
Mr. Lazear married Miss Ethel Howe of Warwick who survives. He is also survived by a sister, May, wife of Postmaster Wilmarth J. Tuthill of Goshen, and by several nieces and nephews. One nephew, Wilbur L. Smith, son of his late sister, Belle Lazear Smith, made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Lazear.
Cornelius Lazear was a man active in his community, civic and lodge organizations. His friends were legion and came from all walks of life.
At the services, held at his late home in Hathorn Park yesterday afternoon, the house was taxed to capacity. The Reverend Taber Knox, his pastor was in charge.
In the closing prayer of the service Mr. Knox asked for the blessing and comfort of the household where the Angel of Death had entered. Also for the comfort and blesssing for all those assembled. They were an evidence of the esteem in which the departed was held in this community. Mr. Knox said that most homes here would remember his ready sympathy, his gentle, kindly and beautiful ministrations given them during their own hours of sorrow.
Interment was in Warwick Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Mr. Thomas Lawrence, Mack Bristow, Victor A. Demouth, Charles Smith, Roy Elston and Roy Epting.
He was a member of the Warwick Reformed Church, member of the Board of Education of the Union Free School District No. 12 since 1926, a director of the First National Bank of Warwick, a trustee of the Warwick Savings Bank, a directory of the Warwick Valley Telephone Company, a member of the Warwick Rotary Club, president for the past three years of Excelsior Hose Company of Warwick, and for ten years was chief of the Warwick Fire Department. He was a former president of the Orange County Volunteer Firemen's Association. He was a life member of the Vernon Fire Department. For many years he was clerk of the village.
He was well known in masonic circles being past master of Warwick Lodge F. & A.M. No. 544 and its trustee since 1921; a member of Middletown Chapter of Mason and Cypress Commandry, both of Middletown. Also a member and past treasurer of Greenwood Forest 81 Tall Cedars of Lebanon. He was a member of Wawayanda Lodge No. 34 I.O.O.F.
He was director, secretary, and treasurers of the Warwick Building Association, a trustee, secretary and treasurer of the Warwick Cemetery Association. He was also a member of Warwick Grange No. 918 and of the Historical Society of the Town of Warwick.
Cornelius S. Lazear Died Suddenly Saturday
Saturday, shortly after one o'clock, Cornelius S. Lazear, popular and well-known business man of Warwick, died at St. Athony's Hospital, having suffered a stroke a few hours before while at the home of the late John Sullivan, where arrangements were being made for the funeral services of Mr. Sullivan in St Stephens's Church.
Mr. Lazear was the son of the late Wilbur C. Lazear and Jennie A. Smith Lazear, and was born in Warwick, Febrluary 25, 1886. He was a graduate of the Warwick High School and the Renouard Embalming School of New York City. He had been associated with, and finally owned, the undertaking and furnitlure business in the village which his grandfather, Cornelius J. Lazear, had established. His father, Wilbur C. Lazear, conducted the business during his lifetime and during the later years the firm was known as W.C. Lazear and Son. At his death the son took over the ownership, and the firm was known as the Lazear Funeral Service and the Lazear Furniture Store.
Mr. Lazear married Miss Ethel Howe of Warwick who survives. He is also survived by a sister, May, wife of Postmaster Wilmarth J. Tuthill of Goshen, and by several nieces and nephews. One nephew, Wilbur L. Smith, son of his late sister, Belle Lazear Smith, made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Lazear.
Cornelius Lazear was a man active in his community, civic and lodge organizations. His friends were legion and came from all walks of life.
At the services, held at his late home in Hathorn Park yesterday afternoon, the house was taxed to capacity. The Reverend Taber Knox, his pastor was in charge.
In the closing prayer of the service Mr. Knox asked for the blessing and comfort of the household where the Angel of Death had entered. Also for the comfort and blesssing for all those assembled. They were an evidence of the esteem in which the departed was held in this community. Mr. Knox said that most homes here would remember his ready sympathy, his gentle, kindly and beautiful ministrations given them during their own hours of sorrow.
Interment was in Warwick Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Mr. Thomas Lawrence, Mack Bristow, Victor A. Demouth, Charles Smith, Roy Elston and Roy Epting.
He was a member of the Warwick Reformed Church, member of the Board of Education of the Union Free School District No. 12 since 1926, a director of the First National Bank of Warwick, a trustee of the Warwick Savings Bank, a directory of the Warwick Valley Telephone Company, a member of the Warwick Rotary Club, president for the past three years of Excelsior Hose Company of Warwick, and for ten years was chief of the Warwick Fire Department. He was a former president of the Orange County Volunteer Firemen's Association. He was a life member of the Vernon Fire Department. For many years he was clerk of the village.
He was well known in masonic circles being past master of Warwick Lodge F. & A.M. No. 544 and its trustee since 1921; a member of Middletown Chapter of Mason and Cypress Commandry, both of Middletown. Also a member and past treasurer of Greenwood Forest 81 Tall Cedars of Lebanon. He was a member of Wawayanda Lodge No. 34 I.O.O.F.
He was director, secretary, and treasurers of the Warwick Building Association, a trustee, secretary and treasurer of the Warwick Cemetery Association. He was also a member of Warwick Grange No. 918 and of the Historical Society of the Town of Warwick.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Warwick Historical Papers Volume 6, Part 2
History ... as it should be ..
by FRANK AND ANTOINETTE BARCZAK
1924
We began building our house on Little York Road in March of 1924. While I helped buid the house my wife and two children stayed at her mother's. When the house was partially finished around April 15 of that year she joined me. We set up two cribs, a stove and a table and lived in one room until completion. There were many mud holes in the road hampering travel. Lumber for the house could only be delived a portion of the way onto Little York. I had to bring in the balance of the way with a team of horses. The holes were so bad at one time that they had to fill them witih gravel and stones to allow a funeral procession to pass. Our school tax that year $42 and some change.
1927
We had a herd of about 29 cows on 147 acres of land, 11 acres of which were black dirt. We raised onions, potatoes and carrots. On Aug. 15th of that year heavy rains caused a flood that ravised our entire crop. We had just hauled a load of oninon sets up to the yard before the rains came. It was sold for $1.35 per cwt.
1928
Floods hit us again that year, during June. We had no sets that year, just regualar onion seed. We paid the Lust girls $4 dollars per day to help us with the weeding but lost the entire crop in the flood. Frank took sick in
August and was unable to work. I took care of the dairy with a hired man and hung on until Jan., 1929. We sold the dairy and some hay, managed to pay the taxes and lived on the $4,400 we realized from the sale. We also had chicken, pigs, ducks and geese and kept two cows for milk. Frank began to improve around 1930 and borrowed $3,000 and went to Owego with George Feagles and Bill Janiak and bought 27 cows. They were delivered to Pine Island by train. With the stock market crash of 1929 milk was cheap. We sold it for 89 cents per cwt. Complaits came in that the farmer's milk was of poor quality at that time so we had to drain off the poorer milk from the bottom of the milk cans with a special pipe. We fed that to the the pigs. Standards were set on the milk by the Dariymen's League that regulated the price. For 30,000 lbs.of milk our check was not enough to pay our way around. We needed about $75, so we renewed our note at the bank, paid the interest and borrowed on our life insurance policy to buy 4 tons of fertilizer for the black dirt. The cows took care of the fertilizer for the corn and hay fields. The Florida National Bank closed on Mar.3,1933 and we had $89 in our checking account that was frozen. It was reopened in November of that year. We sold our onions for $1.35 per cwt. that year. We lost our onion crop in July 1942 to the floods again. We fell back on the dairy.
All the work was done by hand on the black dirt and on the dairy farm. We gathered and raked hay by hand. Then in 1935 or 1936 we purchased a Bolens tactor, a hay tether and a set planter in 1937 and a hay loader in 1941. It was in 1937 witih the Rural Electritification Act that we received electricity. With the help of the Farm Bureau who prodded Orange & Rockland we were able to get the electricity and then get a milk cooler. Before that kept the cans of milk in a nearby spring to keep it cold. It was a thrill to get electricity, we can remember going from room to room putting on light switches.
We carried our milk to the Big Island creamery with horse and wagon. When my husband was sick I took the milk in myself. I can still remember one bad mud hole on the way that I thought I would never get through. After that creamery burned down we hauled it to one in Edenville and then to the one in Pine Island. The creamery in Edenville was closed when the Dairymen's League bought it. On our trip to town, it was a thrill to watch the locomotives turn completely around on the turnstyle in Pine Island which was located next to where the Pine Island Liquor Store is located today.
A total eclipse of the sun stands out in our minds that appeared on a cold January morning about 9:30 either in 1925 or 1926, we can't remember which year. It was beautiful, it was very cold, the snow crunched as you walked. My husband took the milk to the creamery with the horse and sleigh at the time. The corona was beautiful and it was like dusk. It was the only one we have ever seen.
We can still remember the taxpayers' meeting, with people complaining about the closing of the Mt. Eve School around 1938. It had been built around 1928. We took our horses for shoes to Felix Aelaskowski in Pine Island. The blacksmith shop was run by Pete and Stanley Majek before Mr. Zelaskowski operated it. We also took them to Mr. Ruszkiewicz in Florida. Life was simple in those days, we don't regret a day of it. The kids were home and were good. As parents we didn't have as much worry about as parents do today.
by FRANK AND ANTOINETTE BARCZAK
1924
We began building our house on Little York Road in March of 1924. While I helped buid the house my wife and two children stayed at her mother's. When the house was partially finished around April 15 of that year she joined me. We set up two cribs, a stove and a table and lived in one room until completion. There were many mud holes in the road hampering travel. Lumber for the house could only be delived a portion of the way onto Little York. I had to bring in the balance of the way with a team of horses. The holes were so bad at one time that they had to fill them witih gravel and stones to allow a funeral procession to pass. Our school tax that year $42 and some change.
1927
We had a herd of about 29 cows on 147 acres of land, 11 acres of which were black dirt. We raised onions, potatoes and carrots. On Aug. 15th of that year heavy rains caused a flood that ravised our entire crop. We had just hauled a load of oninon sets up to the yard before the rains came. It was sold for $1.35 per cwt.
1928
Floods hit us again that year, during June. We had no sets that year, just regualar onion seed. We paid the Lust girls $4 dollars per day to help us with the weeding but lost the entire crop in the flood. Frank took sick in
August and was unable to work. I took care of the dairy with a hired man and hung on until Jan., 1929. We sold the dairy and some hay, managed to pay the taxes and lived on the $4,400 we realized from the sale. We also had chicken, pigs, ducks and geese and kept two cows for milk. Frank began to improve around 1930 and borrowed $3,000 and went to Owego with George Feagles and Bill Janiak and bought 27 cows. They were delivered to Pine Island by train. With the stock market crash of 1929 milk was cheap. We sold it for 89 cents per cwt. Complaits came in that the farmer's milk was of poor quality at that time so we had to drain off the poorer milk from the bottom of the milk cans with a special pipe. We fed that to the the pigs. Standards were set on the milk by the Dariymen's League that regulated the price. For 30,000 lbs.of milk our check was not enough to pay our way around. We needed about $75, so we renewed our note at the bank, paid the interest and borrowed on our life insurance policy to buy 4 tons of fertilizer for the black dirt. The cows took care of the fertilizer for the corn and hay fields. The Florida National Bank closed on Mar.3,1933 and we had $89 in our checking account that was frozen. It was reopened in November of that year. We sold our onions for $1.35 per cwt. that year. We lost our onion crop in July 1942 to the floods again. We fell back on the dairy.
All the work was done by hand on the black dirt and on the dairy farm. We gathered and raked hay by hand. Then in 1935 or 1936 we purchased a Bolens tactor, a hay tether and a set planter in 1937 and a hay loader in 1941. It was in 1937 witih the Rural Electritification Act that we received electricity. With the help of the Farm Bureau who prodded Orange & Rockland we were able to get the electricity and then get a milk cooler. Before that kept the cans of milk in a nearby spring to keep it cold. It was a thrill to get electricity, we can remember going from room to room putting on light switches.
We carried our milk to the Big Island creamery with horse and wagon. When my husband was sick I took the milk in myself. I can still remember one bad mud hole on the way that I thought I would never get through. After that creamery burned down we hauled it to one in Edenville and then to the one in Pine Island. The creamery in Edenville was closed when the Dairymen's League bought it. On our trip to town, it was a thrill to watch the locomotives turn completely around on the turnstyle in Pine Island which was located next to where the Pine Island Liquor Store is located today.
A total eclipse of the sun stands out in our minds that appeared on a cold January morning about 9:30 either in 1925 or 1926, we can't remember which year. It was beautiful, it was very cold, the snow crunched as you walked. My husband took the milk to the creamery with the horse and sleigh at the time. The corona was beautiful and it was like dusk. It was the only one we have ever seen.
We can still remember the taxpayers' meeting, with people complaining about the closing of the Mt. Eve School around 1938. It had been built around 1928. We took our horses for shoes to Felix Aelaskowski in Pine Island. The blacksmith shop was run by Pete and Stanley Majek before Mr. Zelaskowski operated it. We also took them to Mr. Ruszkiewicz in Florida. Life was simple in those days, we don't regret a day of it. The kids were home and were good. As parents we didn't have as much worry about as parents do today.
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