Community Interest Items from the Hart Scrapbook

Thursday Afternoon, September 29, 1932

The Deserted Neighborhood.

“About a century ago there were three fine, mansion-like, stone houses built in Clayton Center,” said the young lady at Grey Stone Inn at Clayton Center, “and this is the only one left that is occupied and kept up.

“One is just over the hill and out of sight from here. Up the highway towards Lafargeville, just a few rods up, at that, you will discover a hidden road that turns off to the right, heavily bordered with trees. A deserted road, you might say. Follow that road down well towards a half a mile and you come to the deserted mansion, located in a deserted neighborhood. Mrs. Ellis over on the Depauville road might tell you about it, for she was born in that house, I think.”

"Over on another road, about a half a mile out of Clayton Center, a visit with Mrs. Cora Barney Ellis revealed much of the early days of that deserted neighborhood.

“Probably it was about a century ago that my grandfather, Lynn Barney,” said Mrs. Ellis, “came from Vermont to locate in this section. He selected this place because at that time Clayton Center was thought to be quite an important community and highly praised as an agricultural locality. Just to get a hint of the importance of this section, one could mention the fact that the first town meeting in the town was held here at Clayton Center in the home of Isaac L. Carter. A man of this section, Hubbard Fox, was elected as first supervisor of the town. Hubbard Fox was a physician and practiced medicine in his home locality. A brother of his, Alfred Fox, was supervisor for a number of terms of the town.

“My father’s name was Almond Barney, a land owner. As I remember it in my girlhood days there were six or seven families that claimed that road as their home. The stone mansion on our own farm was built, I would say, about 95 years ago. It was built much as other of the better stone houses of that time were constructed. The house was a full two stories high under the eaves and there was a roomy attic above, with “quarter” windows to light it. The house was constructed of cut stone and the door and window caps were of huge cut stones about a foot thick. A large fire place was located at each end of the house, one in the parlor and the other in the living room. There was a small wing attached and an excellent cellar.

“Just a short distance from us towards Clayton Center was another stone house and up a short distance beyond that, at the foot of the hill, were other homes and later a cheese factory. Now not a soul lives on this road. It is a deserted neighborhood. The stone mansion stands deserted and I suppose is going slowly into ruin. In the Clayton Center cemetery sleeps Isaac Corbin, the man in whose home was held the first town meeting of Clayton township, and others of his neighbors, famed in their day, sleep nearby him. What a change in three-quarters of a century!”

"A walk down the road that leads to the deserted neighborhood is most interesting with the mellow sunlight of autumn glimpsing through the many trees that line parts of the road. There is the chatter of squirrels to be heard and the aroma of ripening apples is delightful. Evidently the people of that other day had good gardens and orchards. The remains of cultivated orchards can be seen.

"The stone mansion stands quite deserted. Along the front of the house is a row of cut stones that evidently surrounded a flower bed in former years. Through broken window-lights one notes the beauty of the fireplaces around which gathered the neighbors of years ago and talked of the time when plank roads might be common and ships sail in and out of the port of Depauville."

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FRIDAY AFTERNOON, SEPTEMBER 30, 1932.

 

by ERNEST G. COOK

“Grandpa” Patchin’s Garden.

Over in the village of Felts Mills there is a gardener of unusual ability who supplies the community with choice, fresh vegetables and fruits. Not only is the garden of “Grandpa” Patchin somewhat unusual, but the gardener himself has an interesting history and the fact that now, when almost 91 years old, he is still working his garden with all the interest and enthusiasm of a younger man, is an item of unusual interest.

The community of Felts Mills speaks of George Patchin as “Grandpa” Patchin, probably because of his kindly interest in his neighbors and his fatherly helpfulness to all. His work in the local church, his interest in community projects, has brought him many friends and kept him young far below his years. When most men at 90 and over would be sitting in the chimney corner and going feebly about with a cane, Grandpa Patchin is out with hoe enjoying the work in his garden, or going down the street, basket in hand. It is not necessary for Grandpa Patchin to cry his wares; the orders come in for them faster than he can supply them. His garden is not the little city affair. He has several acres of land, although only a portion of it is in garden.

“I can see,” said Grandpa Patchin today, as he visited for a half hour, “that I have to shorten up a bit in my work. But I enjoy the garden and keep at it. Some way, I feel that it keeps me fit and healthy. Of course I cannot work with the same vim that I did five and ten years ago, but I keep busy most of the day out of doors unless the weather is severe.

“My grandfather, Hezikiah Patchin, was born east of the Hudson, in a Quaker community there, but he moved to Russia, Herkimer county, when my father was four years old. There he pioneered some land and did very well. I remember my grandfather telling me stories, of his fighting the Indians. You see grandfather was born in 1764 and was a young man when the Revolutionary war was being fought. I heard the neighbors speak of grandfather as Captain Patchin, and suppose he received the title in the Revolutionary war, although grandfather never told me about that. His stories of fighting the Indians were quite thrilling, to me at least.

“In the year 1818, as I recall the story, my father and grandfather and Uncle Ira Patchin came up to Jefferson county to select some land, for the stories of the Black River country had stirred the people in the central part of the state and father was anxious to try the new country. They selected land near Clayton Center, being among the first to settle that section. Uncle Ira was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was as anxious as my father to locate in the new country. It was all timber land at that time, of course, and I remember that I was quite a young man before I could see the light of more than two neighbors.

“In my youth Clayton Center was quite an important section. There was the hotel, a fine stone structure, standing yet. There was a blacksmith shop across on one corner and Lynn Fox had a shoe shop in the “V” where two roads enter Clayton Center. There was the post office and a cooper shop -- about everybody had to have butter tubs and pork barrels and a cooper had a good business.

“You remember that it was in the home of Isaac Carter, one of our neighbors, that the first town meeting of the town of Clayton was held. I remember when the doctor stopped for a moment at our place to tell our folks that Mr. Carter was very sick and could not get well. He was a man of about 70 when he died. He is buried in the Clayton Center cemetery. While I cannot remember that first town meeting, yet I can remember the people who were there telling of it. The death of Mr. Carter took place in May, 1858, as I recall it.

“Yes, I taught school in my younger days and had some good times with the young people. Some of my pupils became teachers. The first term of school I taught was in 1860, I think, and was near Lafargeville. The school house is gone, and has been for many years. It stood in the ravine across the road from the Haller home of today, on the county road to Clayton.”

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Line Road

_________

George Loveland has returned home.

Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Hart and children spent New Years day in Clayton.

Mr. and Mrs. Lee Lingenfelter and son, William, were Sunday guests in Depauville.

D. Loveland and family recently entertained relatives from Watertown.

Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Barney, of Clayton Center, spent last week with their daughter, Mrs. M. E. Lingenfelter.

Floyd Danewalt, with George Shaver, of Depauville, attended the masquerade at Clayton Thursday evening.

Ira Orvis was in Lafargeville Saturday.

Mrs. S. A. Putnam is sick.

George and Eulainee Loveland gave a party Wednesday evening to their friends and neighbors. Thirty-five were present.

Mrs. Preston Ellis and H. A. Ellis and family, of Clayton Center, were recent guests of M. E. Lingenfelter.

Mrs. Miles Whitney and children, of Chicago, recently visited Mr. and Mrs. B. G. Whitney.

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DEFERNO

May 31, 1934 (pencilled in)

Mrs. B. Wilde of Henderson was a Sunday guest of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Sherman.

George Patchin of Clayton was a recent overnight guest of his granddaughter Mrs. Chas. Dixon.

Mr. and Mrs. John Cantwell and Mr. and Mrs. Alton May attended the Union meeting Sunday evening in the Depauville M. E. church.

Mrs. Howard Cleveland and children of Watertown were recent overnight guests of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Sherman.

Mr. and Mrs. John Cantwell were Sunday dinner guests in Sterlingville of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Fitzgerald.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Beuchel were recent callers in St. Lawrence.

Mr. and Mrs. Amon Putnam and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Sherman and Andrew Gowdy attended the Union Service Sunday evening in the Depauville M. E. church.

Mrs. Joseph Beuchel was a Saturday caller in Clayton of Mrs. Emma Reese.

Mr. and Mrs. Alton May were Sunday dinner guests in Plessis of Mrs. Chas. George.

Charles and Wm. Dixon, Jr., attended the funeral of their aunt, near Kingston Canada who died recently.

Charles Sherman Andrew Gowdy and John Cantwell attended an auction sale, Monday in Pamelia.

The farmers in this vicinity are planting their potatoes.

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Line Road, Aug. 16 -- Mr. and Mrs. John Longway of Line Road accompanied by their daughter, Mrs. A. M. Dillenback and daughter, Alvera of Clayton Center, spent the week-end with Mr. and Mrs. Roy Longway, Saranac. Miss Pern (sic) Longway returned to spend two weeks with her grandparents.

Miss Marian Meeks is spending a few days with Mr. and Mrs. Harold Marshall, Brownville.

Dexter Meeks and family recently enjoyed a week’s camp life at Henderson.

Mrs. Emma Hart recently spent a few days with Prof. R. C. Hudson and family on Grindstone Island.

Misses Sarah Greenizen and Dorothy Hart are at their homes here, after six weeks spent at Potsdam summer school.

Mrs. Frances Jane Patchin, Felts Mills, was a recent guest of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Hart and son, James.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Bunzey, Binghamton, were week-end guests of Miss Vera Smith, at Camp Woodland.

Mrs. Jack Greeizen and children attended the Delaney reunion at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Fulmer, Bald Rock, Sunday.

 

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(pencilled in - February, 1934) (article’s beginning is missing):

benefit of the Clayton Grange. It was largely attended and all reported a good time.

Kenneth Gibson of Ottawa, Canada, is spending a few days with Mr. and Mrs. Alton May.

Mrs. Chas. Dixon was a Wednesday overnight guest of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Gale, Clayton.

Fred Fitzgerald of Clayton was a Sunday caller at the homes of Amon Putnam and Chas. Sherman.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Grant, Jr. were Sunday guests of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Carter, East Line Road.

Mrs. Harriett Putnam who is confined to her bed by illness is just about the same at this writing.

Mr. Chas. Dixon was a Wednesday supper guest of Mrs. Melzer Henry, Clayton.

Mr. and Mrs. Alton May, Kenneth Gibson, Mrs. Gerald Marshall and two children were Sunday callers of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. George, Plessis.

Fred Sherman of Clayton was a Sunday caller of Mr. and Mrs. John Cantwell.

Mrs. Jay Weaver and Mrs. Fred Gray were Sunday callers of Mr. and Mrs. Loui(s) Hechenberger.

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Dwyer of Corbin Corners were Tuesday callers of Mr. and Mrs. Alton May.

Mrs. Chas. Dixon accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Gale motored to Felts Mills Sunday and were guests of George Patchin, the occasion being Mr. Patchin’s 91st birthday.

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Inserted here was wedding item concerning Joseph Buechel and Mrs. Edith Phillips - see Marriages.

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TRAINING CLASS
REUNION IS HELD

___________

Morley, July 2. -- The Ogdensburg training class of 1918 met for the annual reunion Wednesday, June 29, at Boice’s Point on the St. Lawrence. A picnic luncheon was enjoyed at noon followed by a boat ride. It was decided to hold the 1923 reunion in the evening and invite the husbands. Mrs. Ira Morgan and Miss Gertrude Riley were appointed as a committee. Several members of the class were unable to be present and sent regrets to the committee, Mrs. Allen Newman, and Miss Florence Dowd. The teacher, Mary Russell Haggart, and the following members were present: Iva McLear Lavarnway, Margaret Sanderson Edwards, Ethel Beckstead Morgan, Olga Putman Breckenridge, Helen Collins Kring, Florence Dowd, Hazel Chambers Newman and Elsie Chambers MacFadden.

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(another incomplete article - probably a commencement write-up, but here’s what is visible:)

Russell Wright, secretary and treasurer; Evelyn Webster, Lucille Barney, Florence Cree, Valera McDougal and Minnie Cater (sic).

The following program was presented: Selection, orchestera; Invocation, Rev. O. E. Webster; salutatory, Woodrow Covell; essay, “Mount Everest,” Elizabeth Toye; songs, “The Rainbow” and “When Spring Plays Peek-a-Boo” by the junior glee club; valedictory address, Vena Rogers; songs, “Song of the Desert” and “Under the Silver Stars” by the senior glee club.

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CLAYTON HIGH TO GRADUATE
CLASS OF NINETEEN

(1930)

_________

High School -- Alma M. Polley, Phelma G. Gifford, Enos A. Hudson, Martha M. Norton, Marion C. Hubbard, Holland P. Seymour, Marjorie G. Dano, Gerald H. Dixon, Leona C. Ellis, Iola E. Mitchell, Fern A. Swartout, Fremont M. Churchill, Ranald A. Macdonald, Harold G. Donoghue, Earl E. Charlebois, Stewart A. Reed, Leonard F. Blanchard, Claude M. Hutchinson, Erma A. Swartout.

Valedictorian, Alma M. Polly; salutatorian, Fern A. Swartout.

Training Class -- Miles E. Comins, Sarah A. Greenizen, Leilah M. Mitchell, Margaret E. Tobin, Frances E. Bechaz, Hilda M. Donohue, Mildred V. McAvoy, Margaret A. LaRue, Loretta A. White.

Baccalaureate exercises, Methodist church, Sunday June 22, 7:30 p.m. Sermon by the pastor, Rev. B. G. Miller.

Graduating exercises, Town hall, June 23, 8:15 p.m. Commencement address by E. F. McDonald, Massena, N. Y.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Deferno, April 2 (penned in: 1935) -- Joseph Beuchel is ill at his home with pneumonia. Mrs. Kendall of Clayton is the attending nurse and Dr. Fowkes, Jr., the physician.

Mrs. Emma Hart of Clayton is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Chas. Dixon.

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HART -- To Mr. and Mrs. John Burton Hart, of Clayton, N. Y., on June 28, 1914, a son, named James Burton Hart.

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CROSS -- At the House of the Good Samaritan, July 3, 1927, to Mr. and Mrs. Morris Cross, Felts Mills, a son.

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DIXON -- At the House of the Good Samaritan, Aug. 20, 1930, to Mr. and Mrs. William Collins Dixon, jr., of Clayton, a son, William Collins Dixon, jr., 2nd.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

At Felts Mills, November 2, 1923, to Mr. and Mrs. Oscar P. Feistal, a son, Keith Phillip, weight 9 pounds. Mrs. Feistel is the daughter of Mrs. Louis DeLancett of Waltham street.

* * * * * * * * * *

Born -- In Clayton, N. Y., on Saturday, Feb. 20, 1915, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Putnam.

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LINGENFELTER -- To Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Lingenfelter, Jan. 17, 1893, a daughter.

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Clarence Patchin Turned Car Out
Too Far -- May Have Internal in-
juries.

________

A Ford touring car, owned and driven by Clarence Patchin of Felts Mills, turned turtle a few miles outside of the city on the Clayton road, Friday night and resulted in serious injuries to the owner. Although no broken bones can be found, the man is badly bruised and there is a possibility of internal injuries.

Mr. Patchin, who is employed in the paper mill at Felts Mills, had taken his mother and two others to Clayton and was returning. Two other men, friends of Mr. Patchin, were in the car with him.

Following closely behind another car as it was climbing a hill, Patchin thinks that the other car stopped or possibly slowed down suddenly and in turning to pass it, he turned too far to the side of the road. Striking the mud at the side, the car skidded still father over until the wheel struck something and the car turned turtle, pinning Patchin beneath. The other two men were uninjured in any way.

Help was summoned and the injured man was taken to the City Hospital. At first it was thought that several bones were broken but it later developed that the injuries are only bad bruises. However, there is a possibility of internal injuries which may develop later. Mr. Patchin is resting better today.

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Line Road

(1931)

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Ross and daughter, Ellamae of Rochester, recently visited old time friends on Line road.

Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Dixon of Deferno and Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Hart and Miss Dorothy Hart were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Heyl of LaFargeville.

Miss Marguerite McMullin and Miss Helen Kittle of Clayton, called on Miss Dorothy Hart one day last week.

James Hart spent Saturday night at Depauville with Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Priest.

Gerald Dixon entertained Earl Ingerson of Clayton and Fred Barker of Lafargeville, over the week-end.

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LINE ROAD

______

(1932)

Line Road, March 22 -- Mrs. Wm. Juber of Syracuse, spent last week with Mr. and Mrs. Francis Kilmore at Camp Woodland.

Mr. and Mrs. George Warren of Clayton Center, were Sunday guests of E. P. Loveland and family.

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Dwyer entertained at a St. Patricks party, March 17th.

Mrs. Mary Smith is a guest of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Youngs. Mrs. Smith spent the past three months with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ferguson of Orleans Four Corners.

Mr. and Mrs. B. A. Consaul and family have moved from the Anna Goodman house to the house owned by Mrs. Ida McAvoy in Clayton.

Mrs. John Hastings and daughter, Dorothy were recent guests of Watertown and Evans Mills friends and relatives.

Mrs. John Longway spent a few days last week with her son Roy at Clifton Springs. Mrs. Longway states Mr. Longway’s condition as being improved.

Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Youngs entertained Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Potter, and daughter Catherine and Mr. and Mrs. Hanley Potter and children of Alexandria Bay; Mr. and Mrs. George Mott and children of Spicer Bay; Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Potter and daughters, Genevieve Williams and Rosemary of Lafargeville and Mrs. Mary Smith of Line Road, recently.

Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Gale of Clayton were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Dixon.

Gerald Dixon recently spent a few days at the home of Britton Barker, Lafargeville Road.

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LINE ROAD

(1935)

Miss Dorothy Hart of Potsdam Normal spent the week end with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Hart.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Ingram were in Clayton Thursday.

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(1926)

A party of fourteen young people enjoyed their first shore dinner of the season on Sunday, April 25, at Cedar Point. The trip was made in the motor boat Gadabout, owned by Capt. Orlin Percy. The party consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Orlin Percy, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Potter, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Mahar, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dixon, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Hart, Mr. and Mrs. Melzer Henry, Mrs. C. A. Comins and LeRoy Patchin. A fish chowder dinner was served by Mrs. Paul Potter and a quartette composed of Percy, Henry, Patchin and Dixon added to the day’s enjoyment. The weather was ideal for the occasion.

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Line Road

(1913)

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Putnam celebrated their 60th anniversary at their home here July 4th.

M. E. Lingenfelter spent Saturday in Watertown.

George Reese is ill with fever in a Watertown hospital.

Glenn Easton and family, of Depauville, were recent guests of relatives here.

Mrs. J. B. Hart and children recently spent a day in Depauville.

Roy Lingenfelter, of Watertown, was here Saturday.

Ira Orvis was in Watertown Monday.

Mr. and Mrs. Lee Lingenfelter recently entertained Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Dodge, of Watertown.

Georgie Shaver, of Depauville, is spending some time with his cousin, Floyd Danenwalt.

The condition of Mrs. George Brigham is about the same.

Adams Danenwalt was in Watertown Sunday.

A party of six from Whitesboro is spending a week on the river in M. E. Lingenfelter’s houseboat.

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Depauville

Depauville, Nov. 23. -- Miss Ethel Osborne of Sandy Creek is visiting friends and relatives here.

Prof. and Mrs. A. Montague of Lafargeville were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Terry Sunday.

Mrs. Henry Lapatra is quite sick.

Mrs. Joe Sovey of Mt. Vernon, N. Y., is the guest of her mother, Mrs. B. C. McNett.

Miss Nellie Lowe has returned to Watertown.

Miss Nina Tracy is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Will Lowe.

The Selby Comedy company left Monday morning for Adams Centre, after spending a week here. They gave entire satisfaction and have promised to come back for a week in March.

Lester West is sick.

Dr. Vincent of Three Mile Bay was here today.

Mr. and Mrs. George F. Patchin of Felts Mills, Mr. and Mrs. Asa Sheldon and daughters, Alice and Grace, of San Louis Obispo, Cal., Mr. and Mrs. Weddington (sic) Gale of Clayton, Mrs. P. B. Hart of Line Road and Mrs. Lucinda Irwin of this place were guests of Mr. and Mrs. George Patchin Saturday.

Mrs. Fred Dorr is spending a few weeks with friends and relatives in Watertown and Black River.

Anthony Grabber, who has been quite sick, is convalescent (sic).

Mrs. F. T. Dale and Mrs. Charles Durfee spent Saturday in Watertown.

Mrs. Arthur West is spending a few days with Mr. and Mrs. Alanson West near Redwood.

Mrs. Brunson Shed of Watertown will spend the winter with friends and relatives here.

Miss Blanche Whittier was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Hayes Comins of Clayton Centre a few days last week.

Eugene McOmber spent yesterday in Watertown.

Ira Gillett spent the afternoon at Lafargeville.

Ezra Eigabroadt is at work at Lafargeville.

Mrs. Levi Lloyd and three children left for Watertown tonight where they will meet Mr. Lloyd and make their future home.

Roy E. Fairman and Miss Lena Pratt left for their homes in Perch River tonight.

Miss Lola Sherman of Line Road was here Saturday night.

Orla Potter spent Monday in Watertown.

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Line Road

(in pen: March 10, 1919)

C. J. Haas, Dexter Meeks, Emmett Daniels, George Swartout, Perl Ormsby and Horace Smith were at Depauville Saturday.

James Patchin, of Watertown, recently returned from overseas, has been spending a week with Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Gale and Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Hart, and Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Dixon, of this place.

Mrs. F. D. Orvis spent Tuesday with her son and family, Ira Orvis, of Clayton Center.

Ernest Loveland is employed at the shipyard in Clayton.

Lee Lingenfelter has been cutting ice at Clayton.

Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Dixon entertained on Thursday evening of last week, the occasion being the birthday of Miss Lena Dixon, of Elm Flat. Dancing and cards were enjoyed and at 12 luncheon was served. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Alton May, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sherman, Mr. and Mrs. John Graves and children, Miss Ermine May, and Messrs. Harry Garnsey, Andrew Gowdy, Edmund Grant, Jr., and James Patchen.

Mr. and Mrs. John Longway were Friday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Longway of Clayton.

J. B. Hart spent Saturday with A. M. Dillenbeck (sic) of Clayton Center.

Donald and Ruth Loveland were in Clayton Saturday.

Farmers are improving the fall of snow to haul logs and get wood.

Mr. and Mrs. Manchester Whittier and Mrs. Blanche J. Lawrence, of Depauville, spent Tuesday and Wednesday at the Hart farm.

Mrs. Mabel Lingenfelter recently spent a few days with her grandmother, Mrs. Sophronie Sheldon, of Line Road.

Earl Sprague has moved from George Daniel’s farm to the Heyl farm near Depauville; Ed Fulmer and family have moved to the Gillick and Mahar farm near Clayton Center and Mrs. Ida Gabler has moved to Clayton.

Arthur Wood, of Gunns Corners, is the new tenant on S. A. Putnam’s farm. Elton Shaver has moved to the Lowe farm at Smiths’ Corners, vacated by Arthur Wood.

Line Road cheese factory opened Monday morning, with Ernest Ingram as maker.

W. S. Spencer is again living on his farm here. For two years he has resided at Reynolds Corners.

Mr. and Mrs. Allie May were in Clayton Saturday.

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(in pen: 1930)

On Tuesday evening, Nov. 18, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Hart of Line Road, entertained at a six o’clock dinner in honor of “Bill” McKeone’s twenty-fourth birthday. Those who participated were Dan Blackeslee, Neil Havens, Elmer Farman, Bob and “Stub” Vebber, Nick Lang, Carl Adabahr, John Keida, Doug Spratt, Frank Heyl, J. B. Hart, James Hart and “Bill”himself.

“Bill’s” friends presented him with a ring.

Miss Dorothy Hart called on Omar friends recently.

L. W. Priest of Watertown, was in town, Thursday.

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(in pen: 1932)

Deferno, May 31 -- Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Sherman and Andrew Gowdy attended a Grange meeting in Watertown, Tuesday.

Mrs. Emma Hart of Clayton, has returned home after spending the week with her daughter, Mrs. Charles Dixon.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred George, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Bretsch and three children, Richard, Ethel, and Shirley, of Plessis were Sunday evening guests of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. May.

Andrew Gowdy was a recent caller of his mother in Lafargeville.

Earl Charlebois of Line Road, was a Sunday caller at the Dixon home.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Beuchal and Mr. and Mrs. A. C. May attended the funeral of Merritt Lingenfelter, Monday, at Clayton Center.

Mrs. L. Carter of East Line Road, is spending some time with her daughter, Mrs. Edward Grant, Jr.

Charles Sherman and Andrew Gowdy were callers in Theresa Thursday.

Mrs. Melzer Henry and two children of Clayton were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dixon.

Almyra Mae Dwyer of Depauville, spent the week-end with her aunt, Mrs. Alton May.

Mrs. Amon Putnam and Mrs. Joseph Beuchal attended the regular monthly missionary meeting held in the parsonage, St. Lawrence.

Mr. and Mrs. Bert Hart of Line Road were Wednesday guests at the May home.

Edward Grant, Jr., is drawinig the mail a few days for Elgie Consaul, who is having a vacation.

Lee Lingenfelter and son, William, were callers in this vicinity, Saturday evening.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

(in pen: 1932)

Deferno, Feb. 22. -- Mrs. Lewis Hechenberger is confined to her home with the la grippe.

Andrew Gowdy spent Sunday in Lafargeville with his mother.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Fitzgerald of Brownville, were recent guests at the home of Charles Sherman.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Grant, Jr., have moved into their new home, formerly owned by Ward Jackson.

Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Dixon were Monday guests at the home of Richard Greenizen, Reynolds Corners.

Mr. and Mrs. Everett Vincent and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Dwyer were Wednesday and evening guests of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dixon.

Fred Sherman of Clayton, was a recent caller at the home of his brother, Chas. Sherman.

The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Comins who has been seriously ill is convalescing.

The condition of Will Fitzgerlad who suffered a stroke a few days ago, remains about the same.

School opened Monday after being closed two days the teacher being ill with the la grippe.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

in pen: 1932)

Deferno, Jan. 4 -- Mr. and Mrs. Lewern Soule and daughter, Mary Ella, motored from Syracuse Wednesday and spent the day with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Warner.

Several from around here attended the funeral of William Consaul.

Mr. and Mrs. Alton May were New Year’s dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Marshall.

Wm. Gale, game suspector (sic), was a recent caller at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dixon.

Misses Vera Gray and Cecil Commod have returned to Potsdam Normal after spending the holidays with their parents.

Alton May who had the misfortune to break a rib, is on the gain.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Grant, Jr., who purchased the Ward Jackson farm are doing considerable repairing on the buildings and planning on occuping (sic) it the 1st of March.

Earl Ingerson of Clayton, spent the week-end with Gerald Dixon.

The children of the district have returned to school after a pleasant Christmas vacation.

 

Almanac of 1847 Comes To Light

An almanac, printed in Watertown, in the year of 1847 has been brought to The Times’ office for examination and it has been found to contain many interesting statistics of 71 years ago.

Supervisor Lamont M. Babcock of the Twelfth ward is owner of the old Almanac and brought it to the Times office.

The state of New York was then divided in 59 counties, which were subdivided into 841 town and nine cities. There were eight senatorial districts. The fifth senatorial district embraced Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, Oneida, Madison and Otsego, and the fourth, Saratoga, Washington, Warren, Essex, Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Herkimer, Montgomery, Fulton and Hamilton.

The total number of members of assembly under the apportionment was 128. There were 34 congressional districts. The counties of St. Lawrence and Lewis composed the 18th district, Jefferson county the 19th, and Madison and Oswego the 23d.

The rates of postage of that time were five cents on letters--single, or any number of pieces not exceeding half an ounce, 300 miles or less and ten cents over 300 miles.

The almanac contains a short sketch of the “British Attack on Sackets Harbor in 1818,” (sic) a paragraph of which was phrased as follows: “With the dawn of May 29th, the enemy was discovered pressing for the shore. The general prepared for their reception by posting Colonel Mills with his militia behind the breastwork thrown up near to the water’s edge, while the regulars and a few volunteers who formed in line with them under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Backus, were drawn up at a considerable distance in the rear.”

In the list of the county, officers, Charles B. Hoard being county clerk of Jefferson county and Nathaniel F. Wardwell being surrogate, Martin Thatcher was clerk of St. Lawrence county and James Reddington was surrogate, while Julius A. White was county clerk of Lewis county and William L. Easton was surrogate.

The total population of the United States, as set forth in the almanac was 17,062,566, New York’s population being 2,428,921. Jefferson county had a population of 60,984, St. Lawrence county, 56,708, and Lewis, 17,830.

The almanac was printed and published by Knowlton & Rice, the calculations being made by George R. Perkins. Evidently bed bugs were as familiarly conspicuous in 1847 as now, for an advertisement sets forth the best manner of exterminating the “boarders.”

There are many interesting advertisements in the little booklet including “Watertown Bazar, Keller & Fuller, three doors east of Perkins’ hotel, Watertown, N. Y., combs, buttons, threads, pins, needles, jewelry, and a great variety of fancy goods;” “F. W. White, southerly end of White’s block, Watertown, principal dealer in cabinet ware;” “J. N. Smith, druggist;” “D. Huntington, oils, paints, brushes;” “Bunker Hill Clothing Store, Nelson Bennett,” “J. W. Weeks, bookseller and stationer, 3 Exchange building, Court street, Watertown;” “Knowlton & Rice, at the cheap cash book store opposite the banks, Washington street, Watertown;” “Variety and fancy store, W. Genet;” “A. Tubbs, hats and caps;” “John J. Safford, dealer in staple and fancy dry goods;” “H. Sigman, wholesale and retail dealer in hats, fur and cloth caps;” “Fuller, Story & Company, Importers of crockery, china, etc.;” “Fisk & Bates, boots, shoes;” “White & Wright’s hat, cap and fur store;” “P. Munday, wholesale and retail dealer in wet and dry groceries;” “O. & E. L. Paddick, dry goods and hardware, No. 3, Cheap Side, Watertown;” “B. F. Berry, cabinet ware;” “J. W. Peck, soap and candle factory;” “Cooper & Woodruff, hardware;” “Watch repairing, H. K. Newcomb;” “Mrs. Newcomb, milliner;” “D. D. Otis, hardware merchant;” “Perkiins’ Hotel, corner Washington street and Public Square;” “Empire Machine Shop, Goulding & Anderson;” “Dentistry, Drs. E. B. Wells and W. Spalding,” “Foster Lewis & Son;” “Utley & Upham, dry goods;” “J. B. & B. F. Hotchkin, saddles;” “The Clothing Establishment, N. W. Streeter.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Wednesday afternoon, March 26, 1919

Old-Time Rail Fence a Relic
of the Days of the Pioneers

______

Observer Discusses Their Picturesqueness -- A Plea Made For

the Planting of Trees on the Highways.

The Observer in today’s Clayton-on-the St. Lawrence:

The passing of the old-time rail fence!

Who is there, with the least little bit of sentiment in heart, who does not regret this one of the changes that has come to modern rural life and scenery?

A relic of pioneer days, when log houses and log roads were common. Timber was plenty when the rail fence was everywhere to be seen, lands were cheap and farm produce was more than sufficient for the needs of the population, so the ground taken up by the crooked fortifications was not missed.

But, to nature lovers, and those with artistic tendencies, the straggling, shiftlessly built rail fence was never ugly. The most charming never ugly,, ugly. (sic) The most charming small bit of scenery that brush and pallette may reproduce, and that attracts instant attention of all, is of the autumn time. A distant purple hill, the pool of water in the right foreground, a grassy bank at the left just back of which is the clump of tints, and the carelessly flung together rails and stakes of the fence ending at the water edge. In nature, such a scene is at first inspiring, to be followed by drowsy forgetfulness of earthly cars and troubles(word unclear), and there is reluctant departure from the place. In a few more years the last one of the picturesque old rail fences will be but a memory, and all artists will regret.

___________

A few miles out of the village, an old fashioned wooden farm house stands a little back from the road. A former owner of the place was a thorough going and successful tiller of the soil, and besides had natural aptitude in the use of builders’ tools. He built most of the house with his own hands, graded the lawns, planted trees, shrubbery and flowers all about the grounds and also a row of elms along the road in front. When all was done and he was ready for a share of enjoyment of life, he, as thousands of others have, up and died. The place fell into the hands of another, the trees and shrubbery nearest the house died natural deaths, or death by neglect, rather, and the elms along the road were given to a poor neighbor to cut down and cart away. “Why did you allow those magnificent great trees to be destroyed?” I asked the owner. “Oh, because! they won’t nothin’ grow under um,” he replied. The gifts of nature were wasted when offered to such as he, who go through life with eyes blinded to the wonders and beauties all about them. They know to a pound how much more grass will grow where a tree has been taken away, and they also die, sometimes, and trees, grass and flowers keep right on growing.

___________

From out of Bridgeport, Conn., famous as the home city of the greatest of American showmen, P. T. Barnum, there are miles upon miles of roads, east, west, north, along which the branches of elms, many of them a century old, interlock overhead and across the highway. Resident people there are so accustomed to shady roads and streets that they stare in wonder and comment upon the desert like roadsides of much of northern New York. Between Alexandria Bay and Clayton, two famous summer resorts known the world over, there may be a dozen trees, but not many more in the twelve miles distance.

The few that have endured the maltreatment of having tops butchered to hang to swing with the winds are crippled samples of the work of telegraph and telephone employees with their hatchets and nobody cares. Sometime in the future, when civilization may have come to the residents along treeless roads, there will be planting and preserving instead of ruthless destruction of one of nature’s most valuable gifts.

___________

Along and through the fields on either side of the Clayton-Alexandria Bay road, there are acres and acres of low wet places, swale and bog holes, that are almost worthless even as pasturage.

If the owners of any of such places were to be asked “Why not have basswood, elm, or other water-loving trees growing there? All kinds of tree seeds may be had of city dealers. It is not much work to plant them, and a tree from the seed will reach maturity as soon as if transplanted. What would be the reply, do you ask: just this, every time: “I shall not live long enough to get any returns from them, and don’t care to work myself to death for those who come after.”

Now, suppose a landowner has five hundred or a thousand five or ten-year trees. Isn’t the property worth more than without them? Basswood, for one kind, is a fast growing tree. Its lumber is scarce, in good demand and high priced. There might be a million dollars’ worth of young basswood trees growing in Jefferson county and on lands worthless for anything else.

--Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Putnam and daughter, were among a party who motored to Lorens Gorge, near Sackets Harbor Sunday to enjoy a picnic dinner.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

(in pen: 1914)

Saturday, Feb. 7, being J. B. Hart’s birthday, Mrs. Hart gave him a complete surprise by inviting in eight of their friends in the evening. Pedro and story telling were enjoyed until 12 o’clock. At 10 o’clock an elaborate luncheon was served by Mrs. Hart. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Alvah Dillenback, Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Putnam, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Lingenfelter, Walter Gabler and Miss Ida Schell, of Clayton. They presented Mr. Hart with a beautiful set of silver top military brushes as a memento of the day.

Ira Orvis and his mother visited relatives in Clayton, Sunday.

Miss Ida Schell, of Clayton, was a week end guest of her cousin, J. B. Hart.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

(in pen: 1898)

Clayton Centre.

Clayton Centre, April 15. -- J. J. Thompson will make the cheese again at the Empire State factory.

Miss Alveretta Patchen, who has been at Carthage during the winter taking vocal lessons, returned home last Thursday. Will Patchen, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. F. Patchen, leaves next Monday for British Columbia.

Silas Linnell, of Watertown, and W. Linnell, of Brownville, were called here on account of the serious illness of George Linnell.

Allen Patch attended the funeral of Rev. H. J. Baldwin, of Clayton, who died at Frankfort, where he went for medical treatment a few weeks ago. Mr. Baldwin had reached two summers at this place. Mrs. Baldwin and family have the heartfelt sympathy of the people here.

Capt. Chester Hudson and his mother visited relatives in this vicinity last Friday.

Miss Edith Petrie visited friends here over Sunday.

George Orman has painted his house, which adds very much to the appearance of Clayton Centre.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Line Road Locals.

Line Road, Aug. 25. -- George F. Patchen of Felts Mills is a guest of Line Road relatives. --Miss Harriette Fulmer of Pillar Point, recently visited relatives and friends on Line Road and at Lafargeville. --Miss Lillian Peck spent Thursday afternoon with her sister, Mrs. Edgar LaRose, of Lafargeville. --Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Fulmer and two children were guests over Sunday at Pillar Point. --Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Putnam were at Watertown Thursday evening. --Mrs. Lee A. Lingenfelter has been spending the past few days with her aunt, Mrs. George Daniels, of Clayton. --Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Hart entertained Mrs. Blanche Lawrence of Depauville, a couple of days last week. --Miss Ethel Gowdy of Watertown, is spending a few weeks with friends here. --Mrs. F. D. Orvis and son, Horatio, Gertrude and Adelbert Fisher, Miss Nina Matthews and Walter Solar, spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Beryl Chapman and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Leiterman of Lafargeville. --Mrs. Kate Schell recently spent a few days with her daughters, Mrs. Eugene Russel and Mrs. Fred Lalonde, of Clayton. --Mr. and Mrs. Dewitt Hollenbeck and grandchildren, of Clayton Center were guests Sunday of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gabler. --Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Argersinger, and son, of Johnstown, called on friends here one day of last week. --Mrs. Peter Hart, of Clayton, and Mrs. Nixon and Mrs. Galloway, of Gananoque, were guests Thursday of Mrs. Charles H. Dixon. --Miss Florence Bass of River road, was recently entertained by Miss Mildred M. Spencer. --Will Gale is at Depauville, working for B. W. Hart on the town road. --Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Putnam and daughter, were among a party who motored to Lorens Gorge, near Sackets Harbor Sunday to enjoy a picnic dinner. --Mrs. Fred Smith and daughter, have returned to Watertown, after a few weeks spent with Mr. and Mrs. George Gale. --Andrew Goudy and Earl Fulmer motored to Watertown Saturday evening. --Miss Frances DeLaney is a guest of her sister, Mrs. Jack Greinheiser, of Kingston. --J. M. Linnell of Clayton was a caller here last week. --Mrs. Eugene McIntyre is spending a couple of weeks with her parents near Lafargeville. --Mrs. Sophrona Sheldon is visiting her granddaughter, Mrs. Lee Lingenfelter.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

(In pen: Oct. 1931

Line Road, Oct. 12 -- Mr. and Mrs. Roy Longway and daughter, Pern (sic) were in Ogdensburg, Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Heyl, of Lafargeville, were over-night guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Hart, recently.

Mr. and Mrs. John Longway are both confined to the house by illness.

Mr. and Mrs. George Warren will move into the Rees house, Monday, for the winter.

Miss Sarah Greenizen recently spent a week-end with East Ridge friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Dexter Meeks and family called on Mr. and Mrs. Harry Meeks of Watertown, Sunday.

Miss Sarah Greenizen entertained Miss Olive Kenney of Kingston, Ont., Saturday and Sunday.

George Whitney and Leroy Smith of Dexter were Sunday guests in town.

Miss Laura Patchin of River Road, spent the week-end with her cousin, Miss Dorothy Hart.

George F. Patchin has returned to his home in Felts Mills after spending a week with friends and relatives on Line Road in Clayton.

Miss Dorothy Hart is in possession of a very handsome spray of apply blossoms given her last Friday by Stanton Smith, one of her pupils.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Clayton Centre.

Clayton Centre, Nov. 22. -- Dexter Osborne has been visiting relatives at Watertown the last week.

Mrs. Mary Howard of River Road, who has been visiting Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bretch, has returned home.

Mrs. Margaret Rogers spent the past week with George Brigham and fmily.

Mr. and Mrs. George Patchin of Felts Mills have been visiting Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Hart.

Mr. and Mrs. Asa Sheldon and two daughters of California are visiting relatives here.

Harold Mather of Clayton is attending school at Albany.

Mr. and Mrs. I. Arnold have moved into Mrs. Sophrona Patchen's house. Mr. Arnold will work the farm the coming year.

Mr. and Mrs. Solon Rogers of Three Mille Bay, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Bretch and daughter and Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Sampson were entertained at B. G. Rogers' at Three Mile Creek recently.

M. W. Littlefield and family of Orleans Four Corners visited here last week.

Mrs. Will Consaul, who has been visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Comins, has returned home.

Mr. and Mrs. Burton Simmons were the guests of Mrs. George Orman Friday.

Miss Blanche Whittier of Depauville visited Mr. and Mrs. Hayes Comins last Friday.

Pearl Ormsby and family visited here Sunday.

Miss Teresa Barrett, who had diphtheria, is much improved.

Ira Sylvester, who has been ill, is convalesciing.

Mr. and Mrs. G. G. Wetterhahn of Three Mile Creek visited W. H. Littlefield and family at Watertown Wednesday.

The conundrum entertainment at this place last Friday night was a success.

<

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Depauville Church.

On Aug. 20, 1841 -- 90 years ago today -- the religious workers of Depauville perfected an organization with which Free Will Baptists, Universalists and Congregationalists were affiliated. Trustees were elected. They were: Phineas A. Osborn, Nahum D. Williams and H. Norton. But almost ten years before---it was in 1834---the people had erected the stone church, a splendid building which still stands and is now one of the historical spots of the village. As early as 1820 the Free Will Baptists formed a society under Elder Amasa Dodge. There were 15 members to start with, a remarkable number for a small community. That very year the members built a log church and this society is said to be among the oldest religious groups in town. In the year 1834 the stone church was erected and at this time Mr. Depau generously contributed $500. This would be a large amount of money in that day, but the village was carrying his name and so the good man gave freely that the people might have an attractive church building. The Methodist people of the community organized themselves into a class almost as soon as the Baptist people did. In 1821, the year after the forming of the Free Will Baptist, the Methodist had a class. In 1834 they organized and were a part of the old Genesee Conference. They built their first small church in 1823, and the new one in 1852-3.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

September 7:

D. C. Porter good-naturedly contests Mr. Northam’s claim of being the oldest established undertaking business in Northern New York. Mr. Porter was born at Burrville, near Watertown, in 1821, and removed to Lafargeville in 1828. The next year the family came to Clayton and Daniel Porter, Sr. began cabinet making. He made coffins on occasion and conducted funerals. The business was taken up by his two sons, but not until about 1840 was a supply of coffins kept in advance of the demand. It so happened that the brothers, Porter, made coffins to order for three consecutive Sundays. Then a supply was made. In 1845 a stock of coffins was brought from New York. In these early days Mr. Porter’s first work was to hold a candle while his father made the rude boxes with but one angle in the sides. They were stained black and on extra occasions the plane was afterward run around the edge of the cover and a thin shaving removed which left a white line about the edge. Sometimes a few shavings were thrown in loosely and sometimes not. Later a little white cloth was tacked into the head of the casket with brass tacks. Once a member of one of the best families in this part of the county was buried in a $12 coffin! It was thought plenty good enough then. A “town” coffin sold for $2.00. Embalming was unknown and preserving fluids not used. Burial was often had immediately after death. For 15 years Mr. Porter has used an embalming fluid of his own manufacture. Mr. Porter’s business was established at Clayton in 1829. Mr. Ballard, now gone from earthly scenes, began making coffins by hand at Brownville in the fifties. Mr. Porter, now in his 75th year, is remarkably active and enjoying good health. For more than 50 years he has been a pillar in the Methodist church. He takes great interest in the march of progress and keeps fully abreast of the times. He would not return to the good old times of inconvenience and suffering from rude and primitive methods of doing business as well as the matter of living.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Prices in 1898 and Today.

(today is probably 1919)

Kingston, Ont., Whig:

Mr. Robertson, of 35 Mack street, has in his possession a clipping from the Perth Courier of Jan. 6, 1898, giving the market prices. This list, compared with the prevailing prices today, makes interesting reading.

For instance eggs, which are always in such great demand, sold 20 years ago for 17 cents per dozen. Last Saturday eggs could be secured on the local market at 40 cents per dozen, but during this winter, they went as high as 90 cents. My! but what would the dear old ladies of long ago have said if they had been called upon to pay out this amount of money for their eggs. And then butter. The old list has it down for 15 cents, but if it ever dropped to that price here in Kingston, the housewives would faint on the market. Butter has been high all winter, but the latest quotation is 50 to 55 cents per pound.

Loose hay in the old list is quoted at $10 and $11 per ton, while today it is quoted at $15, although it has been much dearer. Following is a table showing prices of some commodities:

1898

1919

Flour (per bbl.)

$6

$6.15 cwt

Wheat (bush.)

90c

$2.25

Oats (bush.)

23c

60 to 70c

Barley (bush.)

30c

$1.20 to $1.25

Buckwheat

28c to 30c

$1.85 to $1.90

Eggs (doz.)

17c

40c

Tallow, pound

3c

15c cake

Butter, rolls

15c

50 to 55c

Hides (100 lbs.)

$7

15 to 16c lb.

Veal skins

40 to 50c

30c

Deacons

25 to 30c

$1.50 to $1.75

Potatoes (bush.)

30c

$1.50 to $1.75

Wool, washed (lb.)

18c

65c

Dres'd hogs per cwt.

$5.50 to $6.50

$21

Beef, cwt.

$3.50 to $4.50

$17 to $19

Hay

$10 to $11

$15

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Taken from our files of 1890

Feb. 14.

--Ham 10c. per pound at Wilcox’s.

--Ed. Gurnsey, Hubbard Gurnsey and Maurice Marshall, of Grindstone Island, crossed the river with a horse and sleigh last Tuesday. This is the first crossing in this manner this winter. The same day J. P. Snider, of Round Island Park, drove up on the ice.

--J. R. Lewis, of Utica, was registered at the Hubbard House Wednesday. Mr. Lewis supplies the retail ice trade in the above city, and was here for the purpose of ascertaining and shipping ice from this place.

--Some owners of ice houses in town have already begun to harvest ice. Altho’ a very poor article has yet been obtained they are seemingly very glad to get it. The clear ice averages from four to six inches, with about the same thickness of snow ice on top.

--The river at Sand Bay is frozen over once more.

--Again! Those desiring that delicious pudding can purchase the same at H. S. Barker’s.

--There is some talk of a summer hotel at Chippewa Bay. A gentleman from Clayton offers to take a fifth of the stock. This shows to what an extent the summer hotel craze on the river has interested American capitalists, but how they can see any money in such an enterprise is a mystery to most people.

--The crossing on the ice is somewhat earlier than last year.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

By L. L. Allen

(June, 1930)

Clayton Grange’s new $10,000 hall was formally dedicated on Wednesday evening by State Master Fred J. Freestone, following the June session of the Jefferson County Pomona grange. It is one of the finest and best equipped grange halls in the state. Nearly 300 members of the order were present at the day sessions of the Pomona and many remained to witness the impressive dedicatory ceremony.

The Pomona session was accompanied by the conferring of the fifth degree on one of the largest classes in the Pomona’s history, 64 being initiated, of which 37 were from Clayton Grange. The lecturer’s program was featured by a song contest in preparation for the contests to be held at the New York State fair in the summer, with about a dozen granges represented.

The Pomona accepted the invitation of Lorraine Grange to meet there August 27 for the third quarterly session of the year. The session Wednesday was honored with the attendance of both State Master Freestone and State Secretary Frank J. Riley, who was also scheduled for two addresses in St. Lawrence county the following day. E. J. Walrath, chairman of the State Grange executive committee was also in attendance.

Pomona Master Archie Holmes of Philadelphia presided at the sessions of the Pomona and conferred the fifth degree at the forenoon session. The session committee on application was George W. Greeney, Mrs. Martha Curtis and Mrs. Clark Sargent. Master Holmes reappointed the members of the legislative committee for another year. They are Alfred E. Emerson, C. R. Smith and B. A. Garner. Mrs. Harriette Reeves was appointed on the home economics committee to succeed Mrs. Wells, resigned. The other members are Mrs. W. A. Flint and Mrs. C. C. Hosmer.

A bountiful chicken-pie dinner was served under the auspices of the Clayton Grange at 12:30 p.m., Mrs. Bert Hart being in charge of the dining room and Mrs. Fry being in charge of the kitchen, each with a large force of competent helpers.

The afternoon session was open to the public and consisted largely of the singing contest, under the direction of Mrs. Laura Fountain of Calcium, Pomona lecturer, with short addresses by State Master Freestone, State Secretary Riley, Pomona Lecturer Louis C. Archer of Lowville and Mrs. Archer, and Deputy George E. Merrill. State Historian L. L. Allen gave a tribute to Oliver Hudson Kelley, the founder of the grange.

The judges in the singing contest were Louis C. Archer of Lowville, Mrs. Harriette Reeves and Mrs. Glen Fults. Those who participated in the contest with solos were Leta Randall of Lorraine Grange, who sang “Over the Garden Wall;” Mrs. Morrow of Champion Grange who sang “Love’s Old Sweet Song;” Mrs. Clark of Pine Grove who sang “Dream Faces;” Harold Watson of Pamelia who sang “Mighty Deeds;” Mrs. Drake of Great Bend, who sand “Silver Threads Among the Gold;” Mrs. Fern Garner of Thousand Island Grange, who sang “Just for Today,” and Mrs. Mina Carr of Philadelphia who sang “Long, Long Ago.” The male quartet consisting of Burt J. Ives and Fred Fawdry of Star Grange and H. A. L. Potter and L. L. Allen of Watertown Grange sang two numbers. The judges gave the first decision to Leta Randall, the second to Fern Garner and the third to Harold Watson.

A delegation from Three Mile Bay Grange sang the special grange song, “Going to the National Grange,” the singers being in costume. Their number was one of the hits of the program.

Mrs. Laura Fountain gave an excellent report of the work of the state lecturers’ school held at Ithaca, which she attended in April being sent by the Pomona Grange.

The Pomona voted to participate in the Farm and Home bureau picnic, to be held at Jefferson Park June 25. A committee consisting of William Bennett, Joseph Wenk and Mrs. Ernest Stalder was appointed to make necessary arrangements on the part of the Pomona.

Miss Fountain announced that at the lecturer’s conference to be held in August at Newark, Delaware, for the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, a debate would be staged on the subject “Resolved, That the Federal Farm Board Marketing Act is a Benefit to Eastern Farmers,” and suggested that inasmuch as Jefferson had been designated as one of the counties to participate in the debate, the Pomona send a representative. C. R. Smith of Perch River Grange was selected as such representative, his expenses to be paid by Pomona.

Deputy Merrill announced that all grange masters in the county had been supplied with sixth degree application blanks for use of those who wished to take the sixth degree in preparation for the seventh degree in preparation at the National Grange session at Rochester in November. He said if at least 300 were desirous of receiving the sixth degree a special session of the State Grange would be held in this county to confer the degree.

On motion of L. L. Allen the Pomona will furnish its lecturers, with a copy of Atkeson’s History of the Grange for use in preparing grange programs. The history is the most complete ever published of the records of this great farm fraternity.

State Master Freestone said that there were over 600 grange halls in New York state owned by the granges, and this week will add three more, as in addition to the hall at Clayton he will dedicate two more on Saturday. He said New York had the largest percentage of granges owning the halls they occupied of any state. During the last six months he said that a new grange had been organized for every working day of the period. As a member of the executive committee of the National Grange Master Freestone said his committee had been called into consultation by President Hoover to obtain the viewpoint of the grange on federal legislation. He called attention to the high position held by New York state in grange work, it having the largest membership of any state, has the oldest subordinate grange and also the largest, has the most honor granges and has furnished the largest sixth degree class. He added that he confidently expected that the state would have at Rochester in November the largest seventh degree class in the history of the National Grange.

Secretary Riley announced that he had sent out already 11,350 sixth degree application blanks to the deputies of the state in the effort to secure the goal of 12,000 members for the seventh degree at Rochester.

The new hall of Clayton Grange dedicated by State Master Freestone, has few superiors in the state, said the state master. It was begun in 1929 and is located on State St., in Clayton village. It was largely built by volunteer labor, the construction being in charge of George Gray, the present master of the grange. Two building committees have been connected with the work, the first consisting of George Daniels, Fred Blanchard, Joseph Robbins and Jasper Rusho. The second committee, under which the hall was completed, included Lafayette Polley, George Daniels and Henry Grant. The building is of stucco finish, with two stories, the dining room, kitchen and lavatories being in the basement and the session a most thriving condition. The original grange was No. 87 and was organized March 7, 1890, with J. H. Ferguson as master and W. S. Rogers as secretary. Consequently the new hall was dedicated on the 40th anniversary year of the hall, 30 by 70 feet, being on the upper floor. The grange has a membership of about 270 and is in the reorganization.

Many of the Pomona people staid (sic) over until evening to attend the dedication ceremonies. State Master Freesone (sic) dedicated the hall and gave an address. Mrs. Charles Sherman, Lecturer of the local Grange, presented a program consisting of music, singing, speeches and recitations. The Grange is very appreciative of all favors granted as the loan of chairs, screens, etc.

The next meeting will be held Saturday evening June 14th.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

June 4, 1930

Following the Pomona day session at Clayton on Wednesday, June 4, many Pomona members remained to attend the dedication ceremonies of Clayton grange hall in the evening. State Master F. J. Freestone was the dedicating officer, assisted by County Deputy Merrill and officers of the grange. A program was presented by Mrs. Charles Sherman, lecturer of Clayton grange, as follows: Address of welcome, Master George E. Gray; piano solo, Maybelle Fults, accompanied by Glennie Fults with the drum. A very complete and interesting history of the Clayton grange was given by Mrs. Mary A. Potter, only surviving woman charter member. A very pleasing musical number followed, Elaine Morse playing a violin solo, accompanied by her sister, Alethea Morse, at the piano. Then came a recitation, “The Building,” by Glennie Fults; address, State Master Fred J. Freestone; song, “Reuben and Rachel,” Lotta Hart and George Bertrand; piano duet, Maybelle Fults and Freda Horning; monologue, “The Ailing Lady,” Edith Gilts; song, “Down the River of Golden Dreams.” The program was closed by the choir singing, “Clayton Grange.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Line Road

Apr. 1920

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Delaney and family, of Depauville, were Sunday guests of friends here.

Miss Gertrude Fisher, of Hermon, and Miss Myra Matthews, of Clayton, were recent guests of their grandmother, Mrs. F. D. Orvis.

C. H. Dixon and J. B. Hart called on W. C. Dixon and family, of Gunns Corners, Sunday.

M. Whittier, of Depauville, was in town Saturday.

Mrs. Philena Hudson and Mrs. Emma Hart spent Easter Sunday with Line Road friends.

Howard Haller, of Lafargeville, recently called on friends here.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Graves were in Clayton Saturday.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Twenty-six young ladies will be graduated from the Watertown Training school Monday night, June 22, at the High school auditorium at 8 o’clock.

The exercises will consist of music, drills and readings by the graduates. An aesthetic dance by the Misses Collins, DeYoung, Clickstein, Hanna, Hall, Gladys Johnson, Marian Johnson, McKenzie, Patchin and Shannon will be demonstrated.

A comedy in two act, “The Rainbow Kimona,” will be staged by the graduates. Mrs. Ella Marie Walradt, Instructor of the training school, has been active in preparing the program.

The following are the graduates under the two-year and one year courses:

One-Year Course

Monica E. Beach, Felts Mills.
Bertha E. Biggers, Brownville.
Jane Collins, Gouverneur.
Nora E. DeYoung, Theresa.
Mina R. Fredenburg, Chaumont.
Hazel C. Hall, Watertown.
Gladys M. Johnson, Evans Mills.
Marian I. Johnson, Evans Mills.
Marion F. McKenzie, Watertown.
Winifred B. Patchin, Felts Mills.
Kathryn M. Reilly, Watertown.
Flossie M. Shannon, Theresa.
Bernice T. Stroetzel, Watertown.
Oleda C. Young, Watertown

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George Schnauber met with quite a serious accident last week, when he fell and broke one of his limbs.

The next regular meeting of Depauville Sunshine society will be held at the home of Mrs. Lina Whittier on Thursday, March 21.

Depauville people were very pleased to hear the whistle of Dailey’s ‘bus one day last week, and hope we will hear it again soon.

The funeral of Mrs. Marion L. Tracey was held at the Methodist church here last Wednesday, Rev. Mr. Sherlock, officiating. The bearers were Adam Dorr, George Haas, B. W. Hart and W. W. Lowe.

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1929

Anna M. Le Faivre and others to Clayton grange, parcel in Clayton.

Elgin V. Consaul et al, to Clayton grange, parcel in Clayton

A     H A P P Y     N E W     Y E A R .

(The next eight items, plus several appearing on the birthday page and a few national items, were included under this page of the Hart Scrapbook)

 

Sleigh Ride Enjoyed

(penned in: 1931)

Clayton, Feb. 2. -- The sleigh ride party and dance held by the Clayton Training class last Wednesday evening was well attended. After a sleigh ride, supper and dancing were enjoyed in the Grange hall. Those attending were Ida McAvoy, John Delaney, Eirma Littlefield, Frank Crandall, Beulah Hyde, John McKinley, Dorothy Hart, Carl Thibault, Laura Hoppell, Charles Turgeon, Margaret Stage, Claude Hutchinson, Elmina McHugh, James Waterson, Doris Putnam, Leonard Blanchard, Vera Herlehy, Robert Moore, Genevieve Kehoe, Earl Ingerson, Elizabeth Cain, Richard Locke, Mr. and Mrs. Allan Halloway, Mrs. Ruth Stanley, Mr. and Mrs. Byron McAvoy, Mrs. Fred Blanchard, Mrs. J. B. Hart, Mrs. Christopher Cain, and Miss Mary Elliott.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

(penned in: Dec. 24 Drowned)

CLAYTON, Dec. 29. -- Schoolmates of Alden Pettit and Lawrence Ingerson who were drowned in the St. Lawrence this week will be pall bearers at the services to be held here Sunday and Monday. At the Pettit services at 2 Sunday in the M. E. church with Rev. B. G. Miller officiating, the bearers will be Robert Marshall, Robert Streets, Harry Mercier, James Stage, Frank Crandall and Leonard Blanchard. At the Ingerson services at the home at 2 Monday the bearers will be Fremont Churchill, Francis Streets, Donald Burgess, James Patch, Osborne Steele, Clarence Nunn, Howard Hudson and Holland Seymour. Rev. W. A. Gardner of the Adams M. E. church will officiate and burial will be in St. Lawrence.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

(penned in: Jan. 10, 1931)

Shirley Cross, 3, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cross, Felts Mills, is in the House of the Good Samaritan suffering from a fractured left thigh bone. The girl was injured when she caught her foot on a rug while running across the floor at her home Saturday night. Dr. M. M. Gardner attended her at the hospital.

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CLAYTON

(pencilled in 1928)

CLAYTON, Feb. 27 -- A bridge party and social evening was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Hart on the Depauville road Thursday evening. Those attending were: Mr. and Mrs. Fred LaTart, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Consaul, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Stalker, Mrs. Edward Marshall, Mrs. Stanley Lewis.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

WARM CHRISTMAS

(penned in: 1932)

(there’s a handwritten note which isn’t entirely discernible:

“Frank, Blanch, Gerald, Adah, Mother Hart, ? ? up

to Berts for Christmas”)

You northerners now sojourning in Florida and the South had nothing on us stay-at-homes for enjoyable Christmas weather. With thermometer around 60 degrees and sunshine all day it proved the warmest Christmas on record in the North.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

(penned in: 1931)

LINE ROAD, June 2. -- Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Youngs accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Potter and daughters, of Lafargeville, motored to Syracuse where the week-end was spent with Mrs. Potter’s sister and family.

Mr. and Mrs. Chester Reed and daughters of Clayton, called at the Hart farm Monday.

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Longway recently entertained Saranac Lake friends.

Ralph Bass Spencer, who spent the past several years in Punta Gorda, Florida, is a guest of Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Ingram. Edward Harmon, also of Punta Gorda, accompanied Mr. Spencer, north.

At a recent meeting of school District No. 7, Line Road, Arthur Dwyer was made trustee for the coming year, Ernest Loveland was reelected collector and Miss Dorothy Hart engaged to teach the school.

Mrs. Brumbey Wilde of Henderson, spent the week-end with her sister, Mrs. Charles J. Sherman.

Fred Mitchel of Stone Mills, was a caller on Line Road last Friday.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

(penned in: May 17, 1930)

George Gale, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Gale of this village, is home for a few days on a furlough from the U. S. Navy. This will be his last visit home before completing his ___?____ of service which expires in about ___?____ months. On his return he will sail on his ship, the U. S. S. Teas (sic), for the west coast. Mr. Gale is doing secretarial work in the Navy.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

(penned in: 1930, Aug.)

Mrs. Amelia Harnett, Charles Harnett and Julia Harnett, Matthew Nagle and Mrs. Anna Breslin have returned to New York City after three weeks spent with Line Road friends. Mrs. Breslin has been a guest at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Hart, during the past ten weeks.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Sunday marked the 13th anniversary of the United States entrance into the World war and recalled to mind the glamor (sic) of the occasion when the gallant men of Jefferson county crossed the ocean to fight for their colors.

On April 6, 1917, at 1:30 p.m., Woodrow Wilson, then president of the United States, signed the joint resolution passed by the senate and the house of representatives which made the country a contestant in the conflict that had raged in Europe for three years.

Watertown men responded and on April 7 the local division of the Naval Militia, left for a destination unknown, and amid the cheers of 5,000 Watertown people. As soon as orders of mobilization were received the city hall rang to notify the men of the division they had been called to the colors and every man of the division reported at the armory. Recruiting officers reported record enlistments. Many men tried examinations for commissions. On April 8 Easter Sunday, 18,000 people attended local churches where flags were displayed and pastors urged men to be ready for war. The now-famous Company C on April 10 marched about the city and with the exception of rifles the men carried full marching equipment.

* * * * * * * * * *

(part of the following headline is not discernible)

When the Jefferson County National
Bank was founded in 1816

Abraham Lincoln was only seven years of age.
The Country was just recovering from the war of 1812.
The steam engine had not yet been developed.
All travel was by stage coach or on horseback.
The telegraph and telephone had not been heard of.
Watertown had a population of only 2,500.

From 1816 to 1930 is a long stretch (114 years). Many phenomenal developments have taken place in the fields of invention, commerce and finance. Through this long period, this bank has fulfilled every demand for a complete dependable banking service and is today.

Note by Typist: I believe the above article was accompanied with several cartoons about the early history of Jefferson County. Since the series appears to be incomplete, I have chosen not to reproduce them here.