The Quarterly
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The Quarterly OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY HISTORICAL,ASSOCIATION October 1970 Page Two The Quarterly Official Publication of The St. Lawrence County Historical Assn. ASSOCIATION OFFICERS CONTENTS OCTOBER 1970 VOL. 15 NO. 4 President EDWARD J. BLANKMAN Page Cantor. First Vice President VARICK CHITTENDEN Sights and Sounds Hopkinton THE STIR OF NATURE by Wm. N.Carr Second Vice President HOWARD K. SMITH Potsdam Beloved "Institution" Treasurer DR. GRANT C. MADILL by Valeric Pikr DONALD A. BLOUNT Canton A c.ri.ctant Trewrer Poet of ltie Adirontlacks EDITH L COSIA Canton HELEN HINSDALE RICH by Georg~J. hioffat 8 Corresponding Secretary MARIANNE SAVINC Heuvel ton RAYMONDVILLE SCHOOL by Susan C. Lymari 8 Financral Secretary MRS. W. B. FLEE'IXAM F. & A. M. DelBeys!er FREEMASONRY IN Richville Building MRS. JOSEPH WRANESH ST. LAWRENCE COUN'I'Y by Clarence Anltstrong g Richville f'romotio~r EUGENE HATCH BEHOLD, THE STONE! by Lillia?~Adams 11-15 Russell Sprcral Gifts MRS. EDWARD BIONDI POETIC PORTRAITS 16-17 Canton Historic Sites and .lluseums 1-ALVHENCE (;. BOVARD SEED WREATH (Picture) I9 Okdmsburg ,Vo~ttr~tatrons EUtf'AIiD F. HEIM PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 20 ('antun )'orbt.r Clubs MRS. JOSEPH WRANESI SUMMER TOURS 20 Hrrhville Fairs 2 I MAXINE RUTHERFORD LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Harnm~~nd .\ft'>11~~t3rs/rib RESEARCHERS 23 THE QL'AK'I'ERLY .\IARY H HIONDI Edltor MARGARET GI-EASON Assistant Editor ADC'ISOK}v BOARD Eugene Halch Russell Dr. Paul F. Jamieson C'nnton llarold Storie Couverneur THE QUARTERLY is published in January, April, July and October each year by the St. Lawrence Coun- ty Historical Association, Editorial Office. Box 43. Canton. Changes of address, dues. memberships to Box 8, Canton, N.Y. Publication at Gouver- cleur, N.Y. EXTRA COPIES may be obtained from Mrs. Edward Biondi, St. Law- rence County History Center, Court Cover Photo-- House, Canton. at $1.00 each or from Box 8. Canton, N.Y. 13617.Ph: 3x5- GOTHIC REVIVAL HOUSE, 46 Elm St built in 1852 by busi- nessman E. W. Foster, now home of Alpha Delta Sorority, 386-4581. SUNY, Potsdam. Page Three sights and sounds ST lR OF NATURE by ~iliamH. hrr N northern New York State. far above the ancient the music of the water comes up from the valley and rustles Adirondack Mountains, is a littleriver thatflows in the tree tops. One feels as though he were really in the sometimes gently and sometimes swiftly as it trees. They cluster all about so comfortably and seem, some- goes down and down to the sea. The brown, leaf- how, to be companionable and very friendly. Oh! the roof peak stained water makes its changing way among is a fine location from which to see the lands round about and smooth, slippery rocks, into shallow pools and to dream real, summer dreams of the peace and quiet of the along green and gray forest-lined banks. At country. Always, comes the low, rushing sound of the St one shadowy spot, talldark hemlocks and spruces Regis River as it jumps headlong into the waiting pool ever reach straight up toward the sky. Here the river, splashed with white spray. at first very deliberately and then gathering speed like that Yes, there is a very keen joy in sitting still up there on the of a charging host of cavalry horses, takes a great, dashing rain-washed shingles and just looking and listening to the leap into the canyon-like channel fa. below. The farmers sights and sounds that the world has to offer. It is the world who live nearby call the thundering waters, "Allen's Falls." of nature; the world of the trees, the birds and the clouds. Even Not far away, standing patiently on a high rolling hill among the old gray woodchuck sun- itself on the stone wall. ALLENS FALLS. (From the Parishville Historical Association collection) many clean-leaved apple trees is a little old house. When one where the blackberry vines struggle for a foothold, is a part climbs over the cedar-shingled roof to where the chimney of that world; and the yellow butterflies, dancing up and down rears its dark, red head above the gable, one may see faint above the small garden, also have their important places in wisps of smoke rising from the steamers on the distant St the warm sunlight. Everything has its color. The red squirrel, Lawrence. dashing recklessly along the topmost crooked bar of the split rail fence, lends a bright streak of russet as it bounds into This roof top, so near the falls. pakes a wonderful seat on an apple tree in search of seeds so well hidden beneath their warm summer days, for a cool breeze bearing the breath and skins and pulps. F- One may not sit up there on the roof beam very long without The "squeak" of the pump-handle is anotherwell-knownsound. beginning to wonder about the nearby and the far-off things Even if one were in the dark haymow up in the barn, he would that are to be seen and heard. Where do the butterflies come still hear the pump making the same complaint and the same from'? How do the squirrels know there are seeds in the "squeaky" protests as it was forced to draw up the water middle of the apple? Where does the river start, and what that always seems so reluctant to leave its damp clay bed. makes it follow the same course, year in and year out, as it These are sounds that may seldom be mistaken, just as sweeps on through the centuries? the sight of "Bessie" and "Carey," the twotan horses, though Now, it is one thing to wonder about all of these puzzles they were a long distance away onthedusty road, could seldom and it is another to solve them; to discover what are the be confused with the sight of any other horses. These animals answers to these and to other equally fascinating questions. have a certain "swing" to their bodies;afamiliar way of Step Down below, in the old farmhouse, some one is busy with ping, that would tell without a doubt that they could be no other the dinner dishes. One may hear the soft "thump*' as they are than the two carriage horses whose home was in the barn, being placed upon the pantry shelves after they have been Of course they are "Carey" and "Bessie," one simply washed and dried. One recognizes that sound, for it has been knows. One may be positive of these facts because of having heard often. The back screen door closes with a "bang," as grown to know every motion of the two horses and having some one Roes to the deep well to pump a pail of cool water. lived with the song of the pump. He may well be certain of ALLENS FALLS IN ITS HEYDAY. (Archives of Parishville Historian) the sound made by the dishes upon the wooden shelves, <or red-shoulder would be all the information needed to "fix the many are the dishes that he has had to dry and put there name." himself l "Are you sure that you saw red on the shoulder?" he asks. But what about that soaring hawk, sailing so gracefully "One does not get so close a view very often." overhead? It has circled above the falls for a few minutes Uncle Elias Bell, who has long since left forever the and now is coming nearer and nearer. What kind of a hawk is country that he loves so well, was acareful observer of nature. it? There are many different hawks, but it seems that this He could tell one a great deal about birds and other animals one is seen most often. The farmers say that it is a "Hen- and many were the questions that he answered. All his life hawk" or a "Chicken-hawk," but they call other hawks by the he had been a close observer of nature, although he would same name tool Surely they must be mistaken1 The large probably have laughed if anyone had called him a naturalist. bird draws quite close as we sit perfectly still. One may His answer would have been that he was mzrely a farmer1 plainly see that the ends of its wings are rounded and that there is a dull reddish tinge upon its shoulders, as it glides down over the field directly in front of us and below the level of our eyes. In the house, there is a good book about birds. The hawk with scarcely a "flap" of its wings is now going around and around in slow circles, rising higher and higher until at last it appears as only a black dot against the skv. While the impression of the bird is still fresh and clear in our mind, we slide cautiously down the roof, take a firm grasp upon the trembling eave spout and reach the ground in safety. The book says that the bird is a Red-shouldered Hawk. With- This brings us to the question, "What and Who is a natur- out a book, we could have made a good effort to give it that alist?" What are the qualifications, the special habits and the name ourselves1 Uncle Elias, who sits on the porch reading, talents that one must have to be really known as a "naturalist"? confirms this name and says that the rounded wings and the (Continued on Page 21) Page Five beloved ''institution" Dr. Grant C. Madill By VALERIE A.