-- - Official publication of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association April 1987 THE QUARTERLY Official Publication of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association

VOLUME XXXII APRIL 1987 NO. 2

CONTENTS

Robert A. Wyant and 3 The Thatcher Story Victoria Lez~itt Dorothy Jones Gordanier 10 Potsdam Feed and Coal Steven J. Marqusee 12 Nineteenth-Century North Country Farm Life: The Brown's Farm Excavations Richard Rumm,el 19 SLCHA Annual Report 1986

This publication is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts.

ISSN 0558-1931 The Quarterly is published in Copyright St. Lawrence County Historical Association January. April, July and October 1987 each year by the St. Lawrence County Historical Association.

Extra copies may be obtained from the History Center, P.O. 8, Canton, N.Y. 13617, at $2.00 plus 254 postage and handling. Cover: Thatcher's of Baking Powder as pictured in a 1903 recipe collection of the Trinity Altar Society. (Picture Editor: Judith B. Ranlett courtesy of the Potsdam Public Museum) April 1987 The Thatcher Story by Robert A. Wyant and Victoria Levitt The final decades in the life and career of Dr. Heruey Dexter Thatcher are recounted here. For the initial segment of this two-part article, see the January 1987 Quarterly.

Dr. Thatcher And Baking Powder dent; D. Frank Ellis, Secretary; and sponge cake, jelly cake, delicious We do not know just when Dr. Carlton E. Sanford, Henry S. Wilson banana cake among others. Testimon- Thatcher first began thinking about and James S. Sayles. One might ials printed in the first cookbook reveal producing an improved baking powder. surmise that the company was created that samples had been rather widely His drug store provided a natural in anticipation of providing milk sugar distributed to grocers and hotels as setting; it was there that he had to meet the needs of Dr. Thatcher's early as 1888. The initial price sched- developed his orange color and new baking powder business. ule was: "two-ounce sample cans, 8 cts; condition powder for cattle. We do Dr. Thatcher lost no time in getting Half pound can, 25 cts; One pound can. know that some time prior to April 4, out his Baking Powder Cookbook. It is 50 cts; Three pound can $1.35." 1888, he had converted his butter color not clear how his recipes were Thatcher took the advice of Mr. Park factory behind 19 Market Street to a developed for such delicacies as wheat of Park & Tilford, the fancy grocers, baking powder factory. This is docu- bread, doughnuts, fine cookies, buck- and put his baking powder in glass mented by an entry in Josiah Brown's wheat griddle cakes (best), hot corn rather than in tin cans. His glass diary for that date stating that "many cakes, hot cross buns, puffets, pot pie, were embossed with the words "Thatch- buildin- burned but Thatcher's Bak- nice graham bread, oatmeal cakes. er's Sugar of Milk Baking Powder." On ing powder Factory was saved." Thatcher applied for a patent in 1889 and it was issued in 1890. The same edition of the Potsdam Courier and Freewtan which reported the event also carried large advertisements for both Royal and Cleveland baking powders. The unique feature of Thatcher's baking powder was the ingredient "sugar-of-milk." His formula and reasons for using "sugar-of-milk" are revealed in the patent itself: In making my baking-powder I have found the following formula to give excellent results, viz: of tartar, sixty-seven parts; bicar- bonate of sodium, twenty-nine to thirty-one parts, sufficient to neutralize; sugar of milk, four parts. I prefer these proportions; but by experiment I have found that so small an amount of sugar of milk as two per cent., or even less, when thoroughly mixed with the cream of tartar and bicarbonate of soda, will prevent the mixture from becoming hard and lumpy, acting as a perfect keeper, com- minuter, and preservative of the other ingredients of the powder. Moreover, the sugar of milk which I use, being made from cow's milk, is perfectly wholesome as a food product, being without any dele- terious effect upon the health of the user. It is manifest, therefore, that more or less of the sugar of milk could be used without depart- ing from the spirit of my invention. Sugar of milk was a local product, an unrefined form of lactose made from , a by-product of the industry. In 1892 the Potsdam Milk H.D. Thatcher and Company's baking powder exhibit at the Columbian Sugar Company was incorporated; the Exposition in Chicago in 1893. (Picture courtesy of the Potsdam Public directors were T.S. Clarkson, Presi- Museum) April 1987 a business trip to New York City baking and passing out sample biscuits pauper in 1925. His baking powder Thatcher took samples of his baking at stores in the area and at regional was unprotected by patent between powder into the kitchen at the Waldorf fairs. She remembers sleeping as a 1907 and 1918. There is evidence that Hotel. The kitchen staff was so pleased child beneath the counter over which sugar of milk was also used in Rum- with the results of a trial that they biscuits were served. Sometimes her ford baking powder, but it is not refused to let him depart without parents experimented with recipes in known when that company used it. leaving his entire supply of samples their kitchen at home. In 1889 The principal source of cream of with them. Benjamin Miles wrote the following tartar, another ingredient in the bak- By this time the 1893 opening of the testimonial for the Thatcher Baking ing powder, had been the sludge which Columbian Exposition at Chicago was Powder: settled to the bottom of wine casks. It approaching. Legend has it that Potsdam, N.Y., Oct. 2d, 1889 was imported from France, but during Thatcher decided to invest $10,000 in In traveling for H.D. Thatcher & World War I this source was unreliable. promoting his baking powder at the Co. in the interest of their Baking In 1915, therefore, at the age of eighty, exposition. He had a wooden booth Powder from house to house over Dr. Thatcher developed a new liquid built in the Greek Revival Style at the Northern New York, I have sold form of baking compound equivalent to Batchelder Furniture Factory on Fall hundreds of , guaranteeing baking powder. It was marketed under Island in Potsdam. One might surmise the goods to give entire satisfaction, the name "Thatcher's Fermented Milk that the design might have been and promising that if it did not I Sugar Baking Liquid" with Thatcher provided by the Exposition manage- would refund the money. On going Products Company as the manufac- ment in order to maintain uniformity over the territory the second time I turer. The baking liquid was added to in architecture. It required a number have to say at this date that not one the liquid ingredients in the recipe. of wood turnings and carvings and was party has ever entered a complaint Baking soda then had to be added to finished in gleaming white with gold or expressed themselves dissatis- the dry ingredients before the dry and trim. The over-all dimension at the fied. Almost without exception they liquid ingredients were combined. cornice was 13%feet by 8%feet. It was have bought more goods and recom- Naturally, "Thatcher's Best Baking designed so that it could be easily dis- mended them to their neighbors, Soda" was recommended for use with assembled for transport by rail. At this too. the liquid baking compound. A fine point it should be noted that the drink could also be made by putting Barnharts exhibited their butter color In 1898 Dr. Thatcher moved his two teaspoonfuls of the liquid com- and common-sense-style glass milk baking powder factory from its orig- pound into a very large tumbler three- under the Thatcher Manufactur- inal building behind 19 Market Street quarters full of good drinking water, ing Co. name at the Columbian Expo- to the knitting mill building at 1Maple adding a very heaping tablespoonful or sition. The two exhibits were quite Street where White's Hardware is more of granulated sugar, stirring well separate. located today. Thatcher rented the and adding one level teaspoonful of Dr. Thatcher hired a number of building from Trinity Church for $400 cooking soda, stirring quickly. Potsdam women to go to Chicago to per year. This building and its contents In 1918, at the age of 83, Dr. staff his booth. Using his "Sugar-of- were destroyed in a fire which swept Thatcher obtained his last patent for Milk" baking powder and a recipe over most of Fall Island on June 2, an "Improved Baking Powder." The from his cookbook, they baked and 1900. Thatcher's loss was estimated at ingredients for this baking powder served baking powder biscuits at the $30,000 and, as usual, he had no fire were cream of tartar, 67 parts; baking rate of eight thousand a day for the insurance. His principal loss was in soda, 31 parts; sugar of milk, 4 parts; benefit of the visitors at his booth. The equipment and raw materials for and casein, 7 parts. Thatcher's reason baking powder received an award for manufacturing baking powder and for adding the casein was that "it "Excellence of quality of a cream of . He also lost a new stiffens the walls surrounding the cells tartar baking powder ,with a milk press used for printing created by the leavening gas, so that sugar filling." cookbooks and labels. foods in which the baking powder is Following the Exposition the booth Soon after the fire, Dr. Thatcher used are less likely to fall or give way was returned to Potsdam. Eventually it restored his manufacturing operations while in the oven or soon after being was given to the women of the Method- in a large new building constructed withdrawn." The improved baking ist Church, who used the serving coun- between Raymond Street and the powder was put up in smooth glass jars ter portion for church dinners served original butter color factory behind 19 bearing a paper wrapper carrying the at the Potsdam Fair to earn money to Market Street. He continued the manu- corporate name "Thatcher Products build what is now the United Methodist facture of baking powder and paper Co. Successor to Firm of H.D. Thatch- Church on Main Street in Potsdam. containers in this building until the er & Co." After being stored in numerous attics bankruptcy of H.D. Thatcher & and barns over the years, two pieces of Company in 1913. The Disposable Paper Milk the long cornice survive. One piece in In 1901 Messrs. Pettingill of Boston And Other Ventures its original condition is on permanent and Barlow of New York City made display at the Potsdam Public Museum. Dr. Thatcher an offer for purchase of Following the sale of his drug store One of the women who baked biscuits the baking powder business, an offer in 1895 Dr. Thatcher directed his at the Chicago Exposition in 1893 was which was never accepted. It should be inventive talents toward paper con- Bertha Clark Miles, mother of Mrs. noted that the original baking powder tainers. He was still concerned with William A. Dart. Mrs. Dart recalls that patent was due to expire in 1907. There the problem of delivering germ-free she was only two years old when her is a tale to the effect that there was milk from producer to consumer. He mother went to Chicago, leaving her in another offer of $150,000 for the patent was not satisfied that the available the care of eight older brothers and rights plus a royalty on every can of methods of cleaning glass milk bottles sisters and her father, Benjamin D. baking powder sold and a forty-nine between trips would leave them in a Miles. Benjamin Miles also worked for percent interest in the business. It is sterile condition. As early as 1895 he Dr. Thatcher in promoting the sale of likely that if Thatcher could only have was thinking of a disposable paper his baking powder. Mrs. Dart recalls sold the business to a reputable pur- for delivering milk. His that her parents were often engaged in chaser, he would not have died a choice of paper as a material may have April 1987 been influenced by the fact that paper anticipation of the new business. Di- considerable time in New York City was a product of Potsdam industry. rectors of the new corporation were serving as a consultant to the corpo- His first invention in this field was a Bertrand H. Snell, Aldis L. Lockwood ration. He continued to manufacture paraffined paper for which he was and Hervey D. Thatcher. There is no paper containers in Potsdam under the granted a patent on January 28, 1896 evidence that paper milk bottles were corporate name of H.D. Thatcher & (#553,794). Information in the patent ever manufactured in any significant Company from 1896 until it declared indicates that he was proposing to quantity. bankruptcy in 1913. deliver milk in these pails. During the same year, at the age of The transportation of milk from 72, Thatcher embarked upon a cam- H.D. Thatcher & Co. 1895-1924 the producer to the consumer in a paign to promote the use of the manner which shall avoid contamin- disposable paper milk bottle. He vis- Dr. Thatcher's principal corporation ation has heretofore been very ited the Boards of Health and the was H.D. Thatcher & Company. It was imperfectly accomplished. The major dairymen at several large cities under this corporate name that he glass is an improvement over in the northeastern United States. pursued his business interests in the the old delivery systems; but its However, his efforts were largely in drug store, butter color, early glass aggregate weight makes transpor- vain. Apparently the world was not milk bottles, baking powder and paper tation between the producer and ready for such a milk bottle. Probably containers, including the disposable consumer expensive. There is also economics were against him. The glass paper milk container. The corporate a constant loss arising from fre- milk bottle cost about five cents to name came into use some time prior to quent breakages and failure to produce and had an average life of 1873 when it was listed in The return the jars when emptied. The thirty round trips. It probably cost Northern New York Directmy for that most serious objection, however, is more to manufacture a paper container year. However, there seems to have that the glass jar is not sanitary. that was good for only one trip. It is been no legal record of incorporation The glass vessel in which milk is likely that general acceptance of the until 1894. The name "H.D. Thatcher to-day delivered to an untidy disposable paper milk bottle was de- & Co." must not be confused with the family or to one in which sickness layed as well by improvements in name "Thatcher Manufacturing Co." prevails, may to-morrow carry in- technology for handling, cleaning and which was primarily associated with fected food to a healthy child in a sterilizing the glass bottles. the and supply home where every sanitary law is business starting with the Barnhart One should remember that in Dr. management shortly before 1890. It is carefully observed. It matters not Thatcher's time tobacco chewing was that in the meantime the jar has doubtful that Dr. Thatcher had any- very common among men. In the male thing to do with the latter corporation been subjected to such washing workplace cuspidors, often in highly and cleansing as may be thought after 1890. polished brass, had to be placed at Following the sale of the milk bottle necessary. The disease germs are strategic points. Dr. Thatcher recog- not removed, and thus they are business to the Barnharts in 1890 and nized a need in the home, a need which the sale of the drug store to Brown & added to the very food which it is he could easily meet using the tools and sought to have pure and beyond Perrin in 1895, H.D. Thatcher & Co. machinery employed in the manufac- dealt largely with dairy supplies while suspicion. This is the danger which ture of paper containers. His product the physician and sanitarian are at continuing to manufacture baking was described in one of his catalogs powder and paper containers. The the present day most concerned in thus: eliminating from our daily lives. company was producing and distrib- To this end my invention consists The sanitary cuspidor is an attrac- uting baking powder and paper con- of a paper vessel which when tive article and should find a place tainers from 1 Maple Street in 1900 employed once to convey milk from in every household. It is made by a when the great fire destroyed the producer to consumer is then special process from Pulp Board, building and most of its contents. At promptly destroyed, not only thus handsomely ornamented and filled the time of the fire, Dr. Thatcher was lightening the labor of delivery, with colored excelsior, all of which 65 years old. but delivering milk absolutely is rendered non-inflamable [sic].It The Sanborn Insurance map of 1904 pure and without a shadow of risk presents a tidy appearance and indicates that H.D. Thatcher & Co. of spreading disease. A new con- instead of the occasional ablutions operations had been moved to a greatly tainer is thus provided each day, incident to those of metal com- expanded building between Raymond which when emptied is committed position, it is cremated in the stove, Street and the original baking powder to the flames. furnace or range and a new one factory in the building between 19 put in its place. It is so inexpensive Market Street and the river. Thatch- Dr. Thatcher proceeded to acquire, that its use is not the least extrav- er's financial problems increased and the necessary machinery for the manu- agant in families who institute the the company was on the verge of facture of paraffined paper pails. Sev- most rigid economy. bankruptcy. On June 8, 1904 news eral problems were encountered and as broke that arrangements had been a consequence he made improvements A note had to be added, saying "They substantially completed for the ap- in the design and was granted a second are fireproof and will not burn but will pointment of a receiver for H.D. patent on February 7, 1899 (#619,099). consume in a strong fire." The Sanitary Thatcher & Co. because of "disagree- In this patent he listed butter, milk, Cuspidors were 7 inches in diameter ment among common and preferred lard, and oysters among the substances and 2% inches high and they sold for stockholders, Directors and manage- for which he thought the pails would fifty cents a dozen or $17.50 for five ment." This action was taken in spite of be suitable. In 1907 he filed applica- hundred. the fact that unfilled orders took up tions for three patents (#891,877 In 1909 Dr. Thatcher became in- twenty long ledger pages and new through #891,879) pertaining specific- volved with the Single Service Package orders were arriving daily. Liabilities ally to the cylindrical disposable paper Corporation of America of New York amounted to $17,000. At this point the milk bottle. City. This corporation took initial steps company's directors and officers were In 1907 the National Paper Milk to acquire property in Potsdam suit- Hervey D. Thatcher, president; E.M. Bottle Company was incorporated in able for a factory and Thatcher spent Perkins, secretary; Dr. Jesse Reynolds, April 1987

treasurer. By now Dr. Thatcher was 69 years old, and it is possible that he had let THIS IS THE COOK the business get out of hand. However. WHO AT Edward A. Everett apparently had great faith in the potential of H.D. Thatcher & Co., for he raised $25,000 to meet the liabilities and furnish working capital. Consequently the bank- ruptcy proceedings were annulled, thereby restoring the company to its original condition. Mr. Everett was made president and manager of the company in 1904. Mr. Everett's faith may not have been justified, however. By 1913 the company was in trouble again, with liabilities amounting to $59,708. Mr. Everett and his wife, Susan T. Everett, were the principal creditors, claiming $45,000 which they had personally advanced for the benefit of the company. Total assets amounted to $18,000. Of this amount, $2500 was estimated for rights to the "patent on butter packers" and $2500 for the "trade mark on the Sugar of Milk Baking Powder." Little is known about the role Dr. Thatcher may have played in the company between 1904 and 1913. In 1914 H.D. Thatcher & Co. was sold to Robert H. Byrns who filed a certificate of incorporation naming Robert H. Byrns, Fred L. Dewey and Ira Kendall as directors. The new business manufactured and sold bak- ing powder, condition powder and paper containers. This is a confusing point, for in 1914 a newspaper reported BAKING POWDER that Kimball J. Snell, brother of Congressman Bertrand Snell, had bought the rights to the baking powder \ business. Snell had blotters printed carrying advertisements of the baking powder-and colorful pictures of pretty , tREAM TARTAR BAKINL POWDER,.,, girls. There is essentially no evidence that baking powder was ever produced by the new H.D. Thatcher & Co. It was primarily engaged in the dairy supply business. In 1918 Ira Kendall terminated his connection with the company in order to establish his own creamery supply business which would eventually be- Hence it took a Medal Medals were dike) come the Kendall-Lamarr Corporation. / MI1 \ It appears that the company's use of / BUT ITS \ the Thatcher name starting in 1914 was without the doctor's permission. He requested in his will that his attorneys take appropriate legal action requiring Byrns and Kendall to discon- tinue use of the H.D. Thatcher & Co. corporate name. This is another point of confusion because the State of New York Department of State records show that H.D. Thatcher & Co. was officially dissolved in 1924. It may be that the dispute was settled before An advertising symbol for Thatcher's Sugar of Milk Baking Powder. (Pic- Thatcher's death but he did not revise ture courtesy of the Potsdam Public Museum) his will accordingly. April 1987

The Later Years 1915-1925 Thatcher's contribution, again, was in where the Sanborn Insurance Map for packaging. The playing field was a 1910 showed the D.A. Moore Sash Fac- Olive Thatcher died in 1912 and in map of the United States printed on tory. The fact that the 1924 Directory the following year H.D. Thatcher & Co. heavy paper 26" x 42" and showing the did not mention the sash factory was bankrupt. Thatcher had sold his pricipal railroad routes. The map was suggests that the building might have entire interest in the glass milk bottle bordered on two sides by advertise- been unheated and unoccupied in business prior to 1890. In 1900 he sold ments of firms who we might assume winter time. It was in this building the building which had housed his had been familiar and sympathetic that Dr. Thatcher was found ill and in drug store. Never a particularly astute with Thatcher's financial condition. bed by his friend, Charles J.B. DeLon- businessman. Thatcher was said to be These firms included Thatcher Manu- gey, who took him to his home at 12 set in his ways and disinclined to listen facturing Co. of Elmira; Perrin Drugs, Spring Street where he died on May to good business advice. He was gen- successor to Thatcher Drugs; The 24. 1925. erally said to be better at starting than Courier and Freeman; and People's at finishing a project. Many of his Bank, among others. One might sur- Dr. Thatcher, the Public Citizen products had not been protected by mise that in his financial desperation patents and little was done to redress he sold this advertising space in an Hervey Thatcher the pharmacist, the patent infringements. His famous but- attempt to gain a little more income. inventor, the entrepreneur, was also a ter color had never been protected by In 1915 Dr. Thatcher sold his fine community-spirited man in other areas. patent and was now being produced home at 100 Market Street to Frederick If Josiah Brown's evaluation is any and marketed by both the Thatcher Ritchie. The Potsdam Directory for indication, Thatcher's efforts were rec- Manufacturing Co. of Elmira and the 1919 listed him as having rooms at 95 ognized and appreciated. In his diary new H.D. Thatcher & Co. which had Market Street, the home of Oscar A. for 1891, Brown wrote, "Dr. T. is sick emerged from bankruptcy under the Wilkinson. The business address for with perityphlitis, if anybody in the ownership of Ira H. Kendall, Robert H. Thatcher Products was given as 1 world knows what that is. I hope the Byrns and Fred L. Dewey. The paper Maple Street, and baking powder and Doctor gets well for he is too useful a container business had also been taken jams were listed as the company pro- man to spare now." over by the successor company. Thatch- ducts. At this time, Frederick P. While Dr. Thatcher never practiced er's baking powder patent had expired Barnhart, one of the nephews Thatcher medicine in Potsdam, he seemed to in 1907 and the business had been had taken in, was listed as secretary of value his MD degree. When the doctors acquired following the bankruptcy by Thatcher Products Co. He had the rep- of the community signed a petition Kimball J. Snell, brother of Congress- utation for being somewhat eccentric. relating to the public health, Thatcher's man Bertrand H. Snell. There wasn't He sometimes acted strangely and on signature was in evidence. An item in much left for Dr. Thatcher, who by one occasion he was found loitering on The St. Lawrence Herald for May 16, now was deeply in debt to many people a porch at the home of a doctor in 1890 indicates that he joined other in Potsdam. Norwood. The doctor shot him in the medical doctors in expressing faith in In 1913, Hervey Thatcher was arm. the abilities of J.F. Butler, a specialist seventy-eight years old, but he was not Because baking powder could be in fitting lenses. He also gave public ready to quit. He was back in business packaged with a minimum of equip- presentations on medical matters of publishing another booklet describing ment, Dr. Thatcher was able to continue interest to the community. One such his latest wares. The Courier and marketing his baking powder up to the presentation was reported in the Freeman for May 28, 1913 carried the time of his death in 1925. There was a December 20, 1905 issue of The Cour- following announcement: "Dr. Thatch- brief break during the years of World ier and Freeman: "Dr. H. D. Thatcher er of the Carrier Spring Water Com- War I when he brought out his baking will deliver a free lecture at Town Hall pany has recently issued an attractive liquid as a substitute for dry baking in Potsdam to men and boys Friday booklet telling of the merits of this powder and in 1918 he was granted a evening Dec. 22, commencing at 8 spring water. This spring has long patent for an improved baking powder. o'clock; subject, 'Care of the Human been noted and now that the water is As the years went by there is little Body,' with some reference to the pre- placed on the market and well adver- indication that Thatcher was able to vention of hernia or rupture." Hernia tised it should meet with ready sale." improve his financial condition. In was probably very prevalent in those The Potsdam Directory for 1913 1921 stock certificate #7 for the years when so many men were engaged continued to list Dr. Thatcher as the Thatcher Products Co. was issued for in heavy work in the woods and stone president of the National Paper Milk one share to Hervey D. Thatcher. The quarries. Bottle Corporation, with a business certificate, signed by Frederick T. vnr* ". many vears Dr. Thatcher was address at 1 Maple Street. Because he Swan, Treasurer, indicated that the also an ardent member of the Potsdam had lost the paper container business capital stock was $60,000 and a value Sportsmen's Club and he frequently he now adopted a new corporate of $100 was given for each share. From participated in the annual hunt. In the name-Thatcher Products Company- today's vantage point, it seems very 1886 hunt, he scored 700 points, one of to be used in his new business, and he doubtful that any such sum of money the highest scores. No squirrel, wood- again set his inventive mind to work. could possibly have been invested in chuck, raccoon, crow or pheasant could In 1914 he invented and received a Thatcher Products Co. in 1921. How- have been safe anywhere near Potsdam patent for his "King-Bridge Checker ever, the stock certificates were during the hunt, and while Dr. Thatch- Game.'' The deluxe edition of the game beautifully printed. er had the reputation of being a sensi- was packaged in a very attractive and The Potsdam Directory for 1924 tive and gentle man, wild creatues who colorful cardboard box, demonstrating listed Dr. Thatcher's residence at a ventured within the range of his gun that he still had a flair for packaging. point on Maple Street between the old apparently risked nearly certain death. A short time later he brought out his sandstone grist mill building and the Concerns of church and school were edition of "U.S. Checkers or U.S. Rail- west bank of the Racquette River. also concerns of Dr. Thatcher during road Map Game.'' The game itself was Today this would be between the Mr. this period. In 1890 he was elected Ves- not Thatcher's invention. It had been Donut Shop and the river. The same tryman of Trinity Church, along with invented and patented by J.E. Yost of location was listed for the Thatcher Thomas S. Clarkson, Luke Usher, Wil- Arkansas City, Kansas, in 1911. Products Co. and was also the site liam A. Dart and others. With his fel- April 1987

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j5. jl. 5i\L*ll$,1lc ~~i:ililtf.,rt,,rc, ~.lt7~c~h,:~3~,- - - - Xkll, y!7rlk J ~lzerswhich Kirnball J. Snell had printed about 1914 to advertise Thc ztcher's Sugar of Milk Baking Powder. (Pictures courtesy of the Potsdam Public Museum) low churchman Thomas Clarkson, Mr. Smith describes the rest of the ten in long hand on a steno- Thatcher was a firm believer in the proceedings: grapher's pad and all that I value of education. Upon the founding remember of the speech was the of the Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial In the due course of time five or fact that he lost his place and read College of Technology in 1896, he six members of the Board of Trus- three pages twice (much to my became a Trustee. For a number of tees accompanied by President or disgust as it prolonged the exer- years he served as Secretary of the as he was then called Director cises.) Board of Trustees and at his funeral on Aldrich and the speaker Dr. H.D. Finally they all received their May 26, 1925, six members of the Thatcher [arrived]. After they were diplomas and everyone went home senior class served as pallbearers. duly seated the trampling of feet happy, especially myself. Howard M. Smith, Potsdam resident heralded the approach of the seven and member of the CCT Class of 1916, men of the graduating class (which If Dr. Thatcher lacked the speaker's recalls hearing Thatcher speak at the turned out to be just the male skill to impress a nine-year-old boy, he 1903 commencement of his sister, Hat- members) who marched (without nevertheless was steadfast in his com- tie M. Smith. The commencement was music) bravely to the front seats mitment to the school. Even during the held in the chapel, the large single and then sat down. Then after a very difficult years up to the time of room on the third floor of Old Main. short pause, the three ladies who his death, he continued to serve faith- Mr. Smith, then a boy of nine, recalls were to graduate came up the fully as a trustee of the college. Others that parents and other guests arrived stairs and into the hall. Apparently also have recognized his interest in early, and waited impatiently in the there had been no rehearsal as to education and community service. heat of the June day, feeling uncomfort- the procedure for as the ladies Thatcher Hall on the campus of the able and sticking to the seats, "when approached the Director looked State University of New York College in walked 'Old Bill Davis,' the janitor, pretty sharp at the gentlemen who at Potsdam is named for him, and in with the neatly tied diplomas in a with one accord arose and then 1960 that school established the Hervey waste paper basket which he deposited everyone sat down. Dexter Thatcher Memorial Scholar- on the rostrum and then made a hasty The address was given by H.D. ship with a grant from Thatcher retreat." Thatcher, who had his speech writ- Manufacturing Company. April 1987 9

It is ironic that this man who con- BIBLIOGRAPHY Patent, Canadian. #36,653, May 20. 1891, Baking tributed so much to his community Arrandale. James A.. T/rc, Efrrl!l Histoty oj t/re Powder. H.D. Thatcher. Inventor. should have come to the end of his life T/ttrtc./rc,r.Mnrrrt.firctrrr.ir,y Co., Elmira. 1967. Potstltrrtr Corrt*ic,r.n/td Fve(,sn/r. "H.D. Thatcher & Berry. Watson. "Early Butter-Makers Added Co. & Thatcher Manufacturing Co.." May 25. with so little of the material comforts Color." Wtrtrttorc~rr Tirtrc*~. Farm & Garden 1892. p. 2. that his efforts might have earned for Section. Feb. 4.1950. A,tstlnrrr Herrrlti. "Glass Milk Bottle Revolutionized him. Local history writer William Berry. Watson. "Any Dairy History Would Have Industry." June 1, 1950. Article includes fine Sawyer suggests that friends and rela- to Include the Dr. Thatcher Story," Wfrtc~/orcvr photo of Thatcher bottles. tives would have been glad to offer him Tittrrx. Farm & Garden Section. Jan. 29. 1955. Recipes. Collection of Tried & True Recipes. a home, but he preferred his solitary Barnhart, Harvey Patten. Obituary. Potsdam Arranged by Ladies of Universalist Church. Corrric,r trrrtl Fr~~~t~~rrr,Sept. 12, 1928. Winthrop, N.Y., 1899. Many recipes call for living arrangements on Fall Island. He Thatcher's baking powder. Barnhart. Samuel Lindsey. Obituary. Potsdam apparently ate well enough when he Coctr.irr trrrtl Ft.c,c~ttrcrtr.Aug. 15. 1917. Reed. Robin K., "Born of Sorrow;" paper won Governor's Trophy at annual YORKER Conven- had money, but was often broke. It was Brown. Josiah. Diaries. Potsdam Public Museum his contention that the American peo- tion at Saratoga Springs. May 4. 1985. Paper Archives. Potsdam. NY. available at Potsdam Public Museum Archives. ple ate too much generally and "dig Dewey. Dayton. "Dr. Hewey D. Thatcher. Inventor Potsdam, N.Y. their own graves with their teeth." of Glass Milk Bottle." St. Lawrence County Reynolds. Leonard J., "Tribute to Dr. Jesse Perhaps he had something; certainly Historical Asociation Qrrtrtlc,rl,~~v. 4, n. 3. July. Reynolds." October 1954. p. 11. Dr. Reynolds lost some current research in nutrition 1959. approximately $40,000 backing Dr. Thatcher's Dupont. Mimi. "H.D. Thatcher - Doctor. Inventor. enterprises. poses a similar theory. People who Pharmacist, Humanist." Adrcrrtcc) Nerra. Ogdens- knew him have said that he looked Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for Village of burg. June 8,1975. p. 12. Potsdam. 1884,1887.1892.1904 & 1910. much younger than he was, even as a "Fire on Fall Island (destroyed Thatcher's baking Sawyer, William E.. "Dr. Thatcher -The Invention man well past eighty. But his underfed powder factory)."St. Lnrt3,rtrccJ Hc,rnltl. June 8. of the Milk Bottle." 1946 Manuscript, Potsdam figure drew the sympathy of many and 1900. p. 3, col. 4 & 5. Public Museum Archives, Potsdam, N.Y. it has been said that friends would Lovering. Frank W.. "Rag-doll in a Milk Can." Shorter. Shirley. "Albert Augustus Barnhart's invite him into a restaurant on some Floridtr G/ortrr & Rtrrrcka,: August 1954. Absolutely Pure Milk Bottle." Tlrr. Cltrriorr Merwin. John "Thatcher Glass. A Failed LBO, Is (Ottawa). April 5.1978. p. 3. pretense and while engaging him in in Chapter 11." For11c.x. June 17. 1985, p. 106. conversation would manage to engage Taylor. Gordon A.. Milk Bottlr Mcrtrrtcrl, Old Time O~~dens111o:clJortraal, Thatcher Bicentennial Edi- Bottle Publishing Co.. 611 Lancaster Drive. him in a meal as well. tion. Aug. 14. 1948. This is by far the best Salem. OR 97301.1971.1887 Catalog of Thatcher Even though Hervey Thatcher came account of Dr. Thatcher's invention of his glass Mfg. Co. is reproduced on pp. 86-101. to the end of his life a financial failure, milk bottle and his early efforts to secure its Thatcher, Hewey D.. Letter to R.W. Niver, it is clear that his contributions to his adoption by dairymen. Author was anonymous. Thatcher Mfg. Co., Elmira, N.Y., July 1, 1919. community were important in his time Patent, US. #282,683. Aug. 7. 1883. Hand Device Potsdam Public Museum Archives, Potsdam, for Cows - H.D. Thatcher & H.P. N.Y. and for the future. We should remem- Barnhart. Inventors. Thatcher. Hervey Dexter, Obituary. Potsdam ber that Dr. Thatcher in his various Patent, US, #340,833, Apr. 27, 1886, Fastening Hrtaltl-Rrco,rirr, May 29, 1925. enterprises had provided employment Device for Bottles. H.D. Thatcher & H.P. Thatcher. Hewey Dexter. Obituary. Thatcher and opportunity for a good number of Barnhart. Inventors. This was Dr. Thatcher's News, Thatcher Manufacturing Co.. Elmira, first and only patent pertaining to the glass milk N.Y.. July 1925. his fellow citizens. One hundred years bottle. after the invention of his glass milk Thatcher. Adelaide Olive Barnhart. Obituary. Patent, US, #379,252, May 13, 1888, Adjustable P(~tstlnr/tC,'orrriclr. trttd Fr~or/tntt.Sept. 18, 1912. bottle, he remains a significant figure Shelf Fastener, H.D. Thatcher. Inventor. in the history of Potsdam and St. Law- p. 4. col. 4. Patent, US. U411.368, Sept. 17, 1889. Means for Thatcher, Hewey D. Dairyman & Farmer's Guide rence County. Capping and Sealing Milk Bottles. H.P. & S.L. Book. H.D. .Thatcher & Co., Potsdam. N.Y.. Barnhart Inventors. This patent described the 1883. second generation of glass milk bottles using the disc-like paper cap for sealing. Thatcher. Hewey D.. Tlttrtrltrr~:~Bnkirrg Potc*tlvr Cookbook, ca 1890. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Patent. US. #422.464, May 4. 1890. Baking Powder. H.D. Thatcher. Inventor. Tutton. John, Udder Delight. Early American The authors wish to thank all those people and Workshop, Rte 4, Box 929, Front Royal, VA, organizations who generously contributed to the Patent. US, iY474.436, May 10. 1892. Milk Jar and 22630. This book presents an excellent account success of this project. Some provided information, Closing Device. H.P. Barnhart, Inventor. of history of glass milk bottles including the others donated or loaned artifacts to the Potsdam Patent. US. #553.794. Jan. 28. 1896. Paraffined Thatcher and Barnhart bottles. Public Museum on the occasion of the Thatcher Paper Pail. H.D. Thatcher. Inventor. This patent U.S. Census Records for 1850 through 1910. Centennial Exhibit in 1984, and a few participated clearly presented the concept for the disposable in research leading to this paper. It is impossible paper milk container. Watertown Dnilg Tirttos. "Invention Labeled to mention all contributors but the authors 'Common Sense Milk Jar'."July 6. 1981. pp. Patent, US. #561.191. June 2. 1908. Bottle 12-14. particularly want to recognize the following: . H.P. & S.L. Barnhart. Inventors. Roy Arrandale, Elmira. N.Y.; Therese Ashley, Worldk Colrtnrhinrt E.:.r.ltositiotr, Clr irrrgo. IX!).J: Potsdam. N.Y.; Erik Brant, Cincinnati. Ohio; Patent, US. #564,732. July 28, 1896. H.P. & S.L. Report of General Managers ojNYState Exhibit, Molly Bicknell, Potsdam, N.Y.; Chemung County Barnhart. Inventors. Lyon Press. Albany, N.Y., 1894, pp. 239 & 532. Historical Society and Martha Kelsey Squires, Patent. US. #619.099. Feb. 7. 1899. Paper Pail. Elmira. N.Y.; Jane Clough, Potsdam. N.Y.; H.D. Thatcher. Inventor. Columbia University. Health Sciences Library. Patent. US. #688.365. Dec. 10. 1907. Paper Pail. New York. N.Y.; Robert Douglass, Potsdam, N.Y.; H.D. Thatcher, Inventor. Sanford Dewey. St. Augustine. Fla.; Stephen Patent, US. U891.877. June 30, 1908. Bottle or Foster. Toronto, Canada; Tom Gallagher, Editor Container, H.D. Thatcher, Inventor. of The Milk Route. Westport, Conn.; Eileen Gerrish, Potsdam, N.Y.; Peter Gowdey. Patent Patent. US. #891.878. June 30, 1908. Paper Attorney. Washington, D.C.; Herbert Judd, Receptacle. H.D. Thatcher. Inventor. Canton. N.Y.; Lloyd Library, John B. Griggs, Patent. US. #891.879. June 30. 1908. Bottle or Librarian. Cincinnati. Ohio; Doris Parker, Hag- Container. H.D. Thatcher, Inventor. erstown, Md.; Earl Pattison. Potsdam, N.Y.; Patent. US, #1.005.095, Oct. 3. 1911. Game Potsdam Public Museum Archives: Emma Rem- Apparatus. J.E. Yost. Inventor. The Railway About the Authors: ington. Parishville. N.Y.; Richards Library, Anne Checker Game packaged and marketed by Dr. Robert A. Wyant is a member of the Purnell. Newport, N.H.; Shedd Free Library, Thatcher bore this patent number. staff of the Potsdam Public Museum Zaida Cilley, Washington, N.H.; Shirley Shorter. Patent. US. #1,106.991. Aug. 11. 1914. King Ottawa, Canada; William Spencer, South Colton. Bridge Checker Game. H.D. Thatcher, Inventor. and Associate Professor Emeritus, N.Y.; St. Lawrence County Clerk's Office, Canton, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New N.Y.; St. Lawrence County Historical Association, Patent. US, U1.286.143, Nov. 26, 1918, Baking York. Victoria Levitt, a writer living Canton. N.Y.; John Tutton. Front Royal. Va.; and Powder. H.D. Thatcher. Inventor. Wheaton Museum of American Glass, Mrs. Gay L. Patent. Canadian. #35,292. Oct. 25. 1890, Milk in Potsdam, holds a Ph.D. in English Taylor. Millville, N.J. Bottle. H.P. & S.L. Barnhart. Inventors. from the University of Utah. 10 April 1987

The office of Pot.sdam Feed and Coal Company at 10 Main Street in Potsdam about 1922. Left to right, Tennyson A. Jones and Frank Riggs, Sr., clerk. (Photograph courtesy of Dorothy Jones Gordanier)

the Potsdam Feed and Coal Co., Inc., on Willow Street. Potsdam Feed and Coal had furnished fuel oil, building supplies, seeds, fertilizers, farm sup- plies and, of course, feed and coal, to the area for sixty-six years and had employed an average of twenty-two people. In 1915, Tennyson A. Jones, owner of a feed mill in the hamlet of Deer River in Lewis County, joined with six others to buy out H.J. San- ford's Feed and Coal business in Potsdam. They took it over on January 1, 1916. In 1934. Tennyson A. Jones' daughter, Dorothy, and her husband, Elmer Gordanier, entered the company, and ultimately became sole stockholders. A disastrous fire in 1962 destroyed the grain elevators and feed mill. A new mill was built, one vastly more modern and efficient; it was this new mill which was torn down in 1986, after the property was divided by the Relief Route and the mill was separated from the railroad siding it depended on for Cosette and Tennyson A. Jones in 1905. He was a founder of the Potsdam bulk deliveries. Feed and Coal Company, Inc., sewing at various times as Treasurer, This photo essay is a tribute to a St. Secretary and President until he retired in 1957. (Photogragh courtesy of Lawrence County business. Dorothy Jones Gordanier) April 1987 11

A 1954 Henry De Wolf aerial photo- graph of Potsdam Feed and Coal Company. (Photograph courtesy of Dorothy Jones Gordanier)

--..-- ---.- The office entrance in 1963, after the m.ibb...... was.. . . - reh~~ilt...... and...... m.odern,ized... . - ...... (Photograph courtesy of Dorothy Jones Gordanier)

Signs of modernity in the new mill: Left, grain from a mixer fills a tote bin; center, tote bin is "toted"to rack; right, truck loads from tote bin. (Photographs courtesy of Dorothy Jones Gordanier) 12 April 1987 Nineteenth-Century North Country Farm Life: The Brown's Farm Excavations by Steven J. Marqusee

are the "old-timers" who remember Introduction perspective. First-hand accounts may provide a personal view of the world. when the site was occupied and pro- Archaeology is the study of past peo- All are useful in obtaining a complete vided us with first-hand accounts of the ple and cultures through analysis of understanding of a past culture. area. the artifacts they left behind. Encoded History books dealing with the North The Brown's Farm Site was first into each individual artifact is a mes- Country, such as Hough (1853). portray brought to our attention in 1980 by sage that describes an aspect of human North Country life in terms of key fig- Evelyn Riehl. She had done much pre- behavior. It is the task of archaeolo- ures (usually white, male, and wealthy) liminary and valuable research on the gists to decode these messages and to and major events. In other words, we area. I thank her for her invaluable combine them into meaningful state- learn who settled particular areas, help. Niagara-Mohawk has been gra- ments about the past. Historical archae- when railroads were first introduced. cious enough to give us permission to ologists are those who study cultures and where North Country regiments excavate on its land. I thank the com- that lived since the invention of writing trained during the Civil War. None of pany and my contact, Dave Armstrong, and who either wrote their own histo- the sources, however, describe what for making it easy for us to do our ries or were written about in other's life was like for the majority of the work there. I thank former Dean historical documents. Historical archae- North Country population. Richard Hutchesen and current Dean ologists' analysis, then, may be aided by The Brown's Farm Site provided us Richard DelGuidice and Potsdam Col- historical documents dealing with that with an ideal location to begin to dis- lege for their regular support of our culture and sometimes by first-hand cover this important information. It summer archaeological field program. ethnographic accounts of participants was ideal because the site had re- Finally, I thank all 40 students and in that culture. These three sources of mained virtually untouched since its assistants who provided the muscle and information-archaeological artifacts, abandonment in the early part of this moved the dirt during our three field historical documents, and first-hand century. It has been protected in recent seasons at Brown's Farm. accounts-can combine to give the his- years by Niagara-Mohawk, on whose torical archaeologist a rather complete land the site is located. There are also Historical Background picture of a past culture. Each pro- great quantities of historical informa- Brown's Farm was located in the vides a somewhat different kind of tion dealing with the family that occu- former township of Wick. Wick, com- information. Archaeological artifacts, pied the site from its initial occupation prised mostly of the estate of Dr. if interpreted accurately, may provide in the 1830s to its abandonment. Much Samuel Moore of New York, along us with the "real" world. Artifacts are of this information is readily available with Sherwood, Harewood, Granshue, concrete remains of past activities. at the St. Lawrence County History Matildavale, Cookham, and part of Historical documents, such as census, Center in Canton, New York. Ceme- Catherineville, comprised the town of birth, death, and military records, may tery, census, birth, death, and military Parishville as it was formed from provide a somewhat "official" or "ideal" records, maps and atlases, abound with Hopkinton on March 18, 1814. About view of the world from an insider's information on this area. Finally, there 1850, Wick was divided into Upper Wick and Lower Wick. Upper Wick eventually became known as Blake. Many of the families living in Wick had moved there from Vermont where land shortages had apparently forced them out. The community of Blake had, by the mid-1850s, several hundred inhabit- ants. It consisted of a schoolhouse that also served as a church, a store that housed the first post office, a commu- nity hall that later became the Baptist Church, a saw mill, the Blake Cemetery, and several dozen households. Census records indicate that lumber- ing was the most important economic activity in the area throughout the nineteenth century. In fact, saw mills were frequently the first structures constructed in early settlements. Logs were driven down the Racquette River to mills located from Blake to the St. Lawrence River. It is also clear that a variety of crops were grown in the area. These included spring wheat, oats, buckwheat, corn, peas, potatoes, beans, and flax. Cattle were raised for The Brouw farm house about 1900. (Photograph courtesy of Everett Brown) beef as well as the milk, butter and April 1987 cheese they produced: pigs were raised barn came by sleds during the winter period of occupation. Rather, historical to be slaughtered; and chickens were from the south side of Joe Indian Pond. archaeological research attempts to kept for their eggs and their meat. The barn is unique, apparently con- answer questions of general cultural Maple syrup was also produced, though structed over a natural spring that significance. We are less concerned usually in small quantities and prob- provided a permanent water supply for about the behavior of particular individ- ably for family consumption. The the animals housed there. uals than we are about how individual documents indicate that, though small Census records from 1865 give us a behavior reflects wider cultural ideals in size, Blake was a thriving community great deal of insight into the economic and values. throughout the mid- to late 1800s. activities of the Horace Brown family. When Evelyn Riehl first brought the The community of Blake, however, The records are restated below: Brown's Farm Site to my attention, it virtually disappeared by the end of the seemed like the perfect place to exca- second decade of this century. The improved acres ...... 80 vate. Since the excavators were going declining fertility of the land, decreased unimproved acres ...... 340 to be students participating in Potsdam lumbering activity, and the lure of the value of land ...... $2500 College's Anthropology Department "big village" life in Potsdam, Canton, value of stock ...... $700 archaeology field school, I was looking and elsewhere, all contributed to its value of tools...... $250 for a small nearby site where the demise. Much of what was Blake has plowed acres...... 8 essentials of archaeological investiga- now been flooded or otherwise destroyed pasture in acres...... 48 tions could be taught quickly. Brown's as a result of the massive hyrdroelectric meadow in acres ...... 22 Farm was ideal. The site wss well- projects constructed by Niagara-Mo- tons of hay...... 4 preserved. The site had discernible hawk in the 1950s. A few cellar holes acres of spring wheat...... 3 surface features such as cellar holes and foundations from abandoned bushels of spring wheat...... 12 and foundations. There were ample houses, the Blake Cemetery, notations acres of oats (1864) ...... 3 historical data dealing with the Brown on early maps, archaeological artifacts acres of oats (1865) ...... , 6 family, much of it already located by and the remembrances of "old-timers" bushels of oats ...... 75 Mrs. Riehl. There were people alive are all that remain. acres of buckwheat...... 3 who remembered the site when it was acres of Indian corn ...... 112 occupied, particularly Everett Brown, acres of potatoes (1864) ...... 1% The Brown's Farm Site grandson of Horace, who could be acres of potatoes (1865) ...... 4% questioned. Brown's Farm was the One of the earliest residents of the bushels of potatoes ...... 300 ideal place to teach archaeological community of Blake was Horace Wood- acres of peas (1864)...... 1% methodology. ard Brown, born near Burlington. acres of peas (1865)...... 2% Brown's Farm has turned out to be Vermont. in 1810. In 1828 he married bushels of peas ...... 40 even more valuable, for at Brown's Emily Folsom, but moved without her pounds of Farm we were able to get a glimpse of to Blake in 1833. There, along the maple sugar produced...... 100 what life was like for a segment of Racquette River, he built a log cabin gallons of syrup ...... 6 nineteenth century North Country cul- on 26 acres of land he had purchased calves ...... 2 ture - the farmer - the backbone of for $120.93 from the Avery family. milk cows (1864) ...... 2 North Country life. The purpose, then, Eventually the land holdings of the milk cows (1865) ...... 4 of our study has been to learn what we Brown family totalled 420 acres. For cattle killed for beef...... 1 could about what life was like for rural the next thirteen years, Brown made butter cows (1864)...... 2 farming families one hundred and more frequent trips back and forth to butter cows (1865)...... 4 years ago. Vermont. Finally, in 1846 he moved his horses 2 years or older...... 2 wife and, by then, four children, to pigs ...... 2 Methodology and Goals Blake permanently. Eventually Horace pigs slaughtered .. .1(250 pounds) and Emily had ten children. About the value of poultry ...... $4.50 We decided at the outset that this same time Horace's family moved to value of eggs...... $12.00 would be a three-year project. The first year would consist of excavations of the Blake, his brothers Sylvanus ("Sair") Though David Brown died in 1899, and Charles and their mother, Phoebe, house; the second, the old barn; and the his family occupied the farmstead until third, the more recent barn. The also moved nearby. Horace and Emily 1911 when Everett graduated from the raised their family on this land. general strategy in excavating each Agricultural School in Canton and structure was to delimit the boundaries Eventually a larger house was con- moved his family there. The land, structed there by Horace's son, David, of the structure so that the context of almost completely worn out by this discovered artifacts could be main- who lived there with his family. Cem- time, was sold to P.X. Blake in 1912; he etery and census records have allowed tained and reconstruction therefore used the house as headquarters and would be possible. We used five foot by us to reconstruct the family tree of bunkhouse for his lumbering activities Horace Brown 'and his descendants. five foot grids, with two students in the area. Eventually, in the 1950s. working together in each test unit. Photographs provided by C. Everett the land was purchased by Niagara- Brown (recently deceased), a grandson Because of the shallow deposition, we Mohawk when it built extensive hydro- were able to trowel to sterile soil. Our of Horace and son of David, reveal that electric projects along the Racquette the Brown farmstead consisted of a excavations at Brown's Farm took River. Today, all that is left of the place in 1980,1982, and 1984. large frame house with attached out- Brown Farmstead is the cellar hole for building, an old barn of traditional Although our general goal was to the house and the foundations for both learn what we could about nineteenth- North Country style called an "English barns. Three Bay Barn," and a larger barn century North Country farm life, we had more specific goals in mind for constructed in 1900. Everett, in an The Problem interview with Evelyn Riehl, remem- each summer's work. bered that the carpenter for the newer We undertake excavations of partic- 1980 - The House barn was Dave Riggs, the stone mason ular sites not to learn specifics about was a Mr. O'Hara from White Hill, and the family that lived there or the Our specific goals for our first year that the stone used in constructing the activities that took place during a of excavation were to delimit the 14 April 1987

boundaries of the house and related outbuildings, to locate, if possible, the refuse dump associated with the house, and to test thoroughly the cellar hole and perimeter of the house and outbuildings. 1982 - The Old Barn During the 1982 field season, we attempted to determine the dimensions, layout and activity areas in the old barn by revealing the stone foundations and thoroughly testing the interior and exterior of the structure. With the guidance of Richard Lunt, folklorist at Potsdam College, we posulated that this barn would conform to architec- tural standards of English Three Bay Barns typically utilized during the middle to late 1800s in the North Country. 1984 - The Recent Barn Our goals for the third and final field season were to determine the kinds of activities that took place in this larger structure by testing the interior of the cellar hole and the exterior perimeter of the structure. Discoveries In our three years of excavating Brown's Farm, we discovered well over 120,000 artifacts. While most were square cut nails, fragments of broken window glass, and bottle and ceramic sherds, objects those who own old houses regularly find, they were still of value. The context within which these objects were discovered helped us interpret the site. For example, a concentration of window glass frag- ments found in a particular area of the perimeter of a foundation may well indicate the location of windows. Be- sides these common kinds of artifacts, a number of unique and important objects were also discovered. Below are Wick in 1865. (Map courtesy of Steven J. Marqusee) brief discussions of the results of each year of our excavations and the most important artifacts found in each part of the site.

During this first year of excavating we were able to determine the layout of the house and outbuildings. Our excava- tions revealed concentrations of partic- ular kinds of artifacts so that it was possible to determine locations of win- dows and other architectural features as well as functions of outbuildings. We were also successful in locating the refuse dump. A partial list of artifacts discovered follows: The House square cut nails I I The Brown Family in Blake: The First Four Generations. (Chart courtesy window glass of Steven J. ~ar~usee) rain gutter and drainpipe segments April 1987 15

windowshade hangers ink bottle carriage bolt ceramic china fragments shovel harness buckles tin roofing and roofing nails deer and cow bones plow blades sewing machine parts paintbrush with red paint The Outbuilding elixir, whiskey, and various other hammer stove legs bottles knife handle square cut nails clam shells cultivator blades wood screws perfum bottle marked "France." mowing machine parts china fragments comb door jam 1863 penny tobacco can ash grate for woodstove china doll During the second year of our exca- bottle "Hires Carbonated Beverage" fork vations, we were able to delimit the axe heads, one reading "(EK) Roo1 1886 penny dimensions of the old barn as well as Canton Cast Steel Patented" activity areas within the barn. Accord- several bottles, one reading "Lini- The Cellar Hole ing to Richard Lunt, the dimensions, ment, Earl S. Sloan." water pipes 20 feet x 60 feet, conform to the 1:3 hinges ratio of English Three Bay barns mason jars common during the latter part of the 1800s. A partial list of the most We met with limited success during The Refuse Dump important artifacts associated with this our final year at Brown's Farm. Much structure follows: of the lower portions of the barn cellar bottle of mercury hole were under water making excava- thin metal heart "Souvenir of tin roofing tions difficult and messy. We were Ogdensburg" square cut and horseshoe nails able, however, to make some general flower pot latch and hinge conclusions concerning activities that lantern parts tracking for barn door took place in this structure. A partial pitchfork lantern parts list of the most important artifacts leather shoes and boots window glass discovered in this structure follows: leather fragment dated 1897 horseshoes harness buckle bit bone fragments double axe heads stirrup from MacCullen saddle round and square cut nails clock parts (post Civil War) harness buckle

The David Brown family about 1900. (Photograph courtesy of Everett Brown) April 1987

hand water pump house led us to predict that this may ture also housed these objects. The ash wooden pegs have been a summer kitchen. High grate suggests the structure was prob- leather boots 2nd gloves concentrations of square cut nails and ably heated. Finally, the 1863 penny two perfume bottles wood screws in another part of the gives us a rough timeframe for the use elixir and tonic bottles. outbuilding may have indicated that it of the structure. was also used as a workroom-storage The artifacts discovered in the more area. Both suppositions were con- recent barn were not nearly as con- Interpretations firmed in an interview with Everett clusive. Discovery of the harness buckle The artifacts we discovered allowed Brown. The outbuilding must have had and leather boots and gloves there us to make some specific interpretations a wooden slat floor, for many objects makes sense; the perfume, elixir and of life at Brown's Farm. A majority of were discovered in the dirt below: tonic bottles, however, do not. our artifacts were square cut nails. fragments of china and glassware, a The exact context for those artifacts They were found in rather high con- fork, several crushed chewing tobacco recovered from the refuse dump has centrations near the house and old cans, a china doll and an 1886 penny. been lost, making specific interpreta- barn. The recent barn (dated 1900 in a The cellar hole for the house yielded tions difficult. The artifacts, neverthe- photograph) yielded some square cut few significant artifacts. They did, less, provide much valuable informa- nails, but mostly round nails. This is however, provide some important in- tion. This information forms the basis significant. Huey (1969) has determined formation. We found evidence of water of the final section. that square cut nails were commonly pipes in the cellar suggesting that used in construction between the 1830s water may have been pumped to the Conclusions and 1890s when technology made mass- house from a nearby spring. Relatively produced round wire nails possible. high concentrations of mason jars and Based on the evidence from Brown's This confirms the general dates we had jar fragments suggest, not surpris- Farm, it is possible to make several proposed for the construction of the ingly, that the cellar may have been generalizations about nineteenth-cen- three structures: the mid-1800s for the used to store canned goods. We were tury North Country farm life. The house, the mid-1800s for the old barn, also able to locate the foundations for Browns, like, no doubt, many others, and the early 1900s for the recent barn. chimneys, their locations verified by were clearly what anthropologists term The presence of high concentrations photographs of the house. "subsistence agriculturalists." They of window glass fragments at various The distributions of artifacts through- grew most of the food necessary for places along the perimeters of the out the old barn enabled us to determine their own consumption. They sold any house and both barns indicated the the various activities that took place in surplus goods for cash which they used locations of windows. In the of the the structure. Concentrations of arti- to purchase goods and services they house and the recent barn, our predic- facts such as horseshoe nails and could not produce. The 1865 census tions were confirmed by photographs. horseshoes, a bit, stirrups, harness records indicate that most of what was The locations of other architectural buckles, and a carriage bolt probably grown - hay, wheat, oats, buckwheat, features, such as rain gutters and indicated a tack room. Concentrations corn, peas, maple syrup, milk, beef drain pipes, doors, and tin roofing, of other artifacts such as a paintbrush, cattle, pigs, poultry, and eggs - was were also predicted from the locations hammer, knife handle, and axe heads, produced in large enough quantities to of artifact concentrations and con- no doubt indicated a tool room. The have provided for only the Brown firmed by photographs. remains of farm implements such as family . Archaeological evidence sug- The discovery of cast iron stove legs the cultivator blades and mowing gests that deer and perhaps freshwater in the outbuilding attached to the machine parts suggest that the struc- clams may have supplemented their diets. The sewing machine parts dis- covered in the refuse dump suggest that they made their own clothing. The bottle of mercury may be evidence that the Browns were tanning hides, as mercury is a key ingredient in the process. What made this kind of subsistence necessary was the rela- tively short growing season in the North Country and the poor soil. Our excavations revealed a soil deposition of no more than 12 inches throughout the site. Everett Brown, in fact, attended the Agricultural College in Canton specifically to learn techniques to improve crop yields at the family farm. When he learned that this could not be accomplished, he sold the farm and moved his family to Canton (E. Brown, personal communication). We find a parallel situation in the North Country today. Many farmers are, once again, subsistence based. Rather than from poor soil, today's problems may stem from poor prices for dairy and farm products. Like 75 years ago, many farmers today are forced to give up farming and seek employment in English three-bay barns. (Drawing by Richard Lunt) larger communities. (UMOJ~llaaaa3 jo bsa?moa ydsa8oloyd) '0061 ?no9v 'days 'Bop RpucvJ umo.~gayJ

(UMOJ~~la~aa3 JO bsal~nor, yd'e~8qoyd) '0061 Inoqv u~vqmau ayJ

I 18 April 1987

The Racquette Rit'er near Brouw 's farm prior to the Niagara-Mohawk hydroelectric project. (Photograph courtesy of Niagara-Mohawk)

It is difficult to determine what nineteenth century farm families were a different appreciation for what kinds of surplus goods the Browns hard-working and industrious but tra- life is today, and was in the past, were producing. Butter and potatoes, ditional folk, much as they are today. can be achieved. however, may be likely candidates. The There may be useful lessons for us census records for 1865 indicate the today in learning how farm families of REFERENCES Browns were producing 250 pounds of the last century coped with their Beers, S.W. and D.G., Neil, Typologienl Atlax of St. butter and 300 bushels of potatoes. The problems and survived under very Lauvmce Countg (Philadelphia. Stone and potatoes may have been sold to the difficult conditions. This is the kind of Stewart. Publishers. 1865). local starch factory. Archaeological information historical archaeology in Deetz. James, k Small Thi~rgx Forgotten: The evidence suggests that their profits the North Country can provide. James Archeologpl of Earlq American Lqe. (Garden Deetz, probably the most experienced City. N.Y.. Books. 1977). were spent on goods usually produced Hough. Franklin. A Hixtolty of St. Lair~enceand locally. The excavation of an axe of all historical archaeologists, has said Franklin Countiex. New York. Fn~mthe Earlient produced in Canton, elixirs bottled in (1977), Period to the Present Time. (Albany, N.Y.. Little the area, souvenirs from Ogdensburg, and Company. 1853). and so forth, suggest that local farmers It is terribly important that the Huey. Paul. Handhook oj Hixtoriral Artifartn. then, as now, pumped a great deal of 'small things forgotten' be remem- (Voorheesville, N.Y.. Heldeberg Workshop. money back into the local economy. bered. For in the seemingly little 1969). Farm families also purchased luxury and insignificant things that ac- items. Fragments of imported china, cumulate to create a lifetime, the the souvenir from Ogdensburg, and the essence of our existence is captured. About the Author: many French perfume bottles discov- We must remember these bits and Steven J. Marqusee is a member of the ered at Brown's Farm suggest this. pieces, and we must use them in Department of Anthropology of Pots- Finally, our excavations suggest that new and imaginative ways so that dam College. April 1987

SLCHA Annual Report

by Richard Rummel

Not since 1973 when the St. Law- rence County Historical Association began a fund drive to purchase the Silas Wright House and secure a permanent location for the county museum has there been a more impor- tant and eventful year than 1986.

As you know, at the close of 1985 the :SF-* -. , . .a- . Historical Association's capital/endow- . -.,: ..1- . ment campaign, "Endowing Yester- Work underway on addition to museum, June 1986. (Photograph courtesy day's Future," had raised $279,000 of of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association archives) the $300,000 goal. A year later I am pleased to report that over $301,000 has been pledged and almost $211,000 finishing touches being applied is, to of the Hennepin County Historical received, with much of that amount say the least, a huge relief. The Society, Minneapolis. As you know, already at work in stocks and secur- inconveniences, however, seem a small John guided the Association through ities with the investment firm of Smith- price to pay as the museum is now some extraordinarily difficult years. Barney and in money market accounts considerably more functional. I cannot and his absence is felt very keenly. As with local banks. Most are aware of the adequately nor realistically acknow- acting director I have tried to carry on ever increasing uncertainty of govern- ledge all the people who have had a to the best of my ability in the finest ment support of cultural institutions direct hand in making the museum SLCHA tradition, and while the good around the country, a real and unfor- addition a reality, but certainly special moments have far exceeded the bad, I tunate fact of our time. The Board of recognition must go to Mr. and Mrs. wish to continue work developing pro- Trustees has always felt that depen- Richard Venier of Massena and grams. My job as acting director over dence upon public funding is stopgap Massena Building Supply for the do- the second half of the year was made at best, and that solid, continued nation of the new kitchen. Such gen- considerably easier, and certainly a lot growth has to be tied to a broader, erous giving is and always has been the more fun, by the many people who had more stable and secure endowment. lifeblood of the Association. Others who a great eye for smoke signals and came While work remains to be done to have made equally generous contribu- to my rescue. For their assistance and secure not only the remainder of the tions are: Vernon Green and Green's moral support I am grateful. Replacing outstanding pledges but to recoup the Furniture of Canton for the donation John has not been easy, but I am happy nearly $40,000 in campaign expenses, and installation of kitchen and bath- to report that the position has been the success of "Endowing Yesterday's room floor coverings; James Hutchin- offered to a young man very highly Future" in 1986 was no small feat, son of Canton for the purchase of a sink regarded by all who have met and thanks to the hundreds of St. Lawrence disposal; Bernard Sperling and Sper- worked with him, and we look forward County people who responded gener- ling's Furniture for very generous to his arrival as we begin the new year. ously from a sense of commitment to considerations on carpet and a double The schedule of exhibits and pro- and an appreciation of what we are wall oven; and Clickner's Furniture of grams throughout the year proved both about. Reaching our goal was, of Ogdensburg for very generous consid- informative and provocative and was course, crucial, but equally important erations on a dishwasher. Moreover, I indicative of the organization's commit- was the message received: the people of would be remiss if I didn't mention ment to quality and professionalism in this county value this Historical board members Betty Coots, Ruth interpreting local history. We began Association and its museum. There is a McKean and Harry Wheaton for their the year with a very popular traveling great deal to be proud of in that, for all energetic and dogged pursuit of these exhibit from the Gallery Association of of us. contributions. Work has begun on the New York, "New York State Barns- More obvious fruits of the campaign second phase of the building improve- Form and Function." Education in are readily seen by anyone visiting the ment plan-to restore the original rural schools, prior to decentralization, museum these days, as the new wing, kitchen to its 1830-50 period. This long was the subject of perhaps the most begun in May, and housing a new overdue and greatly needed restoration popular and well-attended exhibits in a lobby, fully modern kitchen, full base- will add significantly to the lifestyle very long time. Hundreds of school ment for workspace and storage, bath- interpretation of the period. children and many adults as well who rooms, and new gallery and office Nineteen eighty-six also saw the recalled their own experiences in the space, nears completion. For those of departure of Historical Association little school houses dotting the county's us who have lived with the day to day director John Baule, who left in July to landscape visited the museum's gallery. chaos of construction, seeing the accept the position of executive director A joint effort with the Brainerd Art 20 April 1987

Road rallyers at Gouverneur Museum, August 1986. (Photograph courtesy of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association archives)

Gallery of Potsdam College gave an curator Andrea Bellinger has developed host of love-sick patrons smarting from exciting glimpse of a hundred and fifty the eight-page reader into a very Cupid's arrows. A 1905 Ladies' Home years of landscape art. Some of this valuable in-class resource, linking local, Journal provided decoration and food country's greatest landscape artists state, and national history, as well as ideas, while a cast of local school were exhibited. And, as always, the profiling prominent people, in an imagi- children performed a Valentine's Day Christmas exhibit delighted the young native and concise way. In the fall of the skit that had once charmed families and the young at heart, as literally year Andrea began a teachers' work- and guests in Victorian parlors. hundreds of toys produced from the shop series on the use of The Chronicler Once again the success and hard late nineteenth century to the nineteen- in the classroom and to coordinate work achieved during the past year fifties were featured. student projects involving the paper's would not have been possible without Museum programs included a lecture/ lead subject. A successful and popular the tireless efforts of our volunteers, discussion on the formation of the dairy example of such projects was an Board of Trustees, and staff. The union in New York and its effect upon investigation and discovery of historical Association's Board provided the neces- St. Lawrence County, where some of Main Street. sary leadership in the management of the more heated and violent confronta- Many members took advantage of the capital/endowment campaign. The tions occurred; two separate Speakers the tour schedule arranged by the staff budgetlfinance committee of Harold in the Humanities programs: a film in 1986 by signing up for trips to Wilder, Donald Pearson, and Mary series about Mohawk basketmaking Washington, D.C., to see the Treasure Jane Watson pursued a diligent, long and legends, and a slidellecture pro- Houses of Great Britain show; Wil- term investment policy. Betty Coots gram on photo-documenting small town mington, Delaware, to visit Winterthur, and Ruth McKean coordinated volun- America. A slide presentation showing the Hagley Museum and Longwood teer work performed on the new folk art created by older northern New Garden; Toronto (the first train trip), addition and designed and oversaw the Yorkers was given in Hammond. The and a one-day theater outing to Ottawa. installation of the new kitchen. Associa- Association's Summer Road Rally held Over $6000 was raised for the Associa- tion president, Varick Chittenden, and its fourth annual event in July, and tion from this popular fundraising Search Committee chairperson, Marilyn once again had many fun-filled sur- program. Mintiner, spent a grueling five months prises. Rallyers toured the Gouverneur The sights and smells of gourmet din- screening and interviewing candidates. Museum on route. ing were sinfully in evidence at the mu- The Quarterly was stronger than ever We are very excited with the success seum as guests enjoyed a variety of Am- in 1986, thanks to the continued fine of The County Chronicler, now in its erican and French cuisine. An old-fash- editorship of Judith Ranlett. Regular second year of publication. Education ioned Valentine's Day party brought a assistance from such people as Mary April 1987

Ruth and Herb Judd. Jane Clough . Lois Bell in the archives. as well as Dot Mackey and Mickey Williams in main- BALANCE SHEET-December 31. 1986 taining collection records. provided ASSETS very valuable behind-the-scenes work . Current Assets ...... $ 43.111.53 The Association is very fortunate in Fixed Assets ...... 293.871.23 having on its museum staff Janet (Silas Wright House and Museum) McFarland and Stephanie Michaelson. and regular volunteer and endowment/ Investments (at market) ...... 93.291.68 records coordinator Jane Wilken . Total ...... $430.274.44 $430.274.44 Museum work requires a variety of skills. sometimes under very trying LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCE and difficult circumstances. and these Liabilities: women have been remarkably resource- Withheld Payroll Taxes ...... $ 750.96 ful in rising to any occasion . Mortgage Payable ...... 9.422.52 New challenges await us in 1987 . Total Liabilities ...... $ 10.173.48 $ 10.173.48 This is certainly nothing out of the Deferred Restricted Support ...... $ 4.000.00 $ 4.000.00 ordinary; but I strongly feel that the Fund Balance achievements of the past year have Restricted ...... $218.130.04 been extraordinary. and although ideas Unrestricted ...... 197.970.92 and plans are only as good as the effort Total Fund Balance ...... $416.100.96 $416.100.96 exerted to realize them. more potential Total Liabilities and Fund Balance ...... $430.274.44 $430.274.44 exists for doing great things over the next five years than at any other time in our life . With progress and growth . of course. comes greater responsibil- STATEMENT OF INCOME & EXPENSE AND FUND BALANCE ities. A strong. final push to complete FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31. 1986 satisfactorily the capital/endowment 1987 1986 1986 campaign is needed . I am confident we Income: Budget Budget Actual can do this. And I am equally confident St . Lauqrence Countg: that the dedication and hard work Historian ...... $11. 000 $11. 000 $11.000.00 responsible for the accomplishments of Operating ...... 11.000 11.000 11.000.00 the past. which overcame adversity Village of Canton ...... 0 2.000 0 during a difficult period. will mean an NYSCA (operating) ...... 7.000 7.000 26.280.00 even stronger St. Lawrence County IMS Grant ...... 8. 500 6.400 9.326.00 Historical Association in 1987 . Fund Raising ...... 10.000 9. 000 7.858.61 Advertising (Quarterly) ...... 2.500 4. 500 1.837.50 Book Sales ...... 2. 500 3. 000 3.641.26 Investment 7.740.89 Endowment ...... 5.650 Meldrim ...... 2.200 . 12.000 ,,iriall.ncl Other ...... 1. 000 ~nlemt 2.912.67 Dues ...... 18.000 17.000 15.648.50 Board of Trustees Gifts ...... 3.000 6.000 733.78 Miscellaneous ...... 6.200 1. 200 8.939.95 Pres...... Varick Chittenden. Canton Total Income ...... $88.550 90. 1000 $106.919.16 VicePres...... Harry Wheaton. Expense: Ogdensburg Staff Expenses Secretary ...... Lynn Ekfelt. Canton Salary-Director ...... $15.400 $19.000 $ 16.673.13 Treas... Mary Jane Watson. S . Colton Salary-Program Coord ...... 16. 100 15.000 10,384.56 Salary.Historian/Admin . Asst...... 12.000 11.000 11.423.16 Term Expires 1989: Benefits ...... 2. 000 600 334.90 Joan Brandy. Ogdensburg; Robert Payroll Taxes ...... 4. 350 4. 500 3.865.79 Burns. Potsdam; Beverly Markkula. Exhibits & Programs ...... 4. 500 4. 500 5.716.03 Canton; Kay Wyant. Potsdam. Conservation ...... 2. 000 2. 000 2.444.62 PublicationsfPrinting i...... 7. 000 7.500 6.594.72 Term Expires 1988: Utilities ...... 5.000 9. 000 5.915.08 Christopher Acker. Ogdensburg; Interest/Amortization ...... 3. 600 4.700 818.87 Betty Coots. Canton; Marsha McCarthy. Repairs ...... 3.000 2.500 4.932.63 Norwood; Harold Wilder . Canton; SuppliesfPostage ...... 6.000 4. 500 6.901.68 Nicholas Viskovich. Massena . Insurance ...... 5.000 3.000 4.049.47 Subscriptions ...... 600 800 519.80 Term Expires 1987: Travel ...... 1.000 1. 000 570.04 Helen Chapple. Potsdam; Dwight Miscellaneous ...... 1. 000 500 4.320.64 Mayne. Massena; Ruth McKean. Can- Total Expense ...... $88.550 $90.100 $100.745.12 ton; Don Pearson. Canton; Bernard Sperling. Ogdensburg . Net Campaign Receipts ...... $194.503.28 EXCESS OF RECEIPTS OVER DISBURSE- Staff: MENTS FOR YEAR INDICATED ..... Jon Austin. Director; Richard Rum- FUND BALANCE .Beginning ...... mel. Programs Coordinator; Andrea FUND BALANCE .ENDING ...... Bellinger. Education Curator; Janet McFarland. Admin . Asst . Stephanie Michaelson. Admin Asst . . . 22 April 1987

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