THE QUARTERLY Official Publication of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association

VOLUME XXVIII JANUARY 1983 NO. 1

CONTENTS

Rosuhrl Parker Meushut(* 3 Searsy Comes to Parishville Center

Vurick A. CItitte)tden 6 Winters for a St. Lawrence County Settler-From Elisha Risdon's Diaries of 1812-1849, Hopkinton

11 Back When Winter Was Winter!: A St. Lawrence County Postcard Album A)ldretcv Ttrck 14 Memoirs of Andrew Tuck-Part I11 Bc~ts!jCogger Reze1)nan 18 Reflections on Some North Country Folk Art

21 SLCHA Annual Reports

The Quarterly is published in January. April, July and October each year by the St. Lawrence d County Historical Association. This publication is made possible in part with public funds from As a courtesy to authors and the the New York State Council on the Arts. editor, the Association asks any- one wishing to reproduce all or part of material included in The Quarterly to submit a specific re- quest in writing at least 30 days in advance of its anticipated use. Extra copies may be obtained from the History Center, P.O. Box 8, Canton, N.Y. 13617, at $2.00 plus 259 postage and handling. Cover: Postcard view of the St. Lawrence County Jail after the "Great Ice Storm", March 27, 1913. (Courtesy SLCHA Archives. photo by Editor: Varick A. Chittenden Dwight W. Church, "The $5.00 Bill" Photo Co.. Canton) January 1983 Searsy Comes to Parishville Center by Rosabel Parker Meashaw

With the arrival of mail order catalogues in the late nineteenth century, life for many rural people. including those in St. Lawrence County, would never be quite the same. The vast array of products available with such convenience would end some of the isolation that such people had always before taken for granted. Great stores like Montgomery Ward and Sears Roebuck could and would sell almost anything, including houses and automobiles. Here is the account of one family's excitement over the arrival of their first Motor Wagon, in a large crate, in 1913.

At all social gatherings I was always "Who? Oh, the quiet one," but I did have one opening line I could use-"My father bought his first car from Sears, Roebuck & Co!" But then, no one believed me. Conversation languished. But Papa did buy his first car, mail- order, from Sears, Roebuck & Co.! Why not? Practically everything that con- tributed to our well being came from there, F.O.B. and guaranteed: station- ary engines, milk separators, house fur- nishings, family clothing, groceries even. Large flakes of raisins on the stem, halves of salt codfish, hundred pound bags of sugar, and five pound cans of coffee beans. If we needed it, S.R.& Co. had it ready to ship. So out goes an order in early spring 1913 for one Motor Wagon, purchase price $495.00 (no tax) and a later entry on Papa's accounts dated March 13,1913- "by freight one auto, $28.13." My two mechanic sons rate me very low on mechanics but I remember what I saw, Sears Model "P" Four-Passenger so I plunge on. There came a card (lv postage): one Price, $495.00 crate at depot, invoice # . Our good neighbor, Charlie, needed some I I I I grain so Papa borrowed his wagon to HE Sears Model "P" Four-Passenger is a combination pleasure pick up grain and crate. It was near and business motor car. If we were to ask double the present supper time when the team pulled into T our yard with crate lashed atop the price for the Model "P we could not build an automobile wagon, behind a mound of bagged that would give its owner better service. This model is equipped with a grain. The car had arrived! Only it was removable extra seat which is uniform with the regular seat equipment. chore time on the farm, so wagon was but can be taken off or put on at will. As a single seated two-passenger parked, cows came first. On the good old ten party (telephone) runabout you will find the Model "Pan ideal car for hurried trips to line, news traveled fast and, ours being town or for taking a load of vegetables and dairy produce to market. the first car in the neighborhood, This model can be used on week days for farm business, but on Sunday received prime time. As it grew dark, with the extra seat equipment it can be converted into a four-passenger with days work completed, the kero- touring car for driving the family to church or taking a long trip into the sene lanterns began to converge on our yard to light up the miracle-one skel- country. The Model "Pis a two in one all purpose automobile and etal crate some nine or ten feet long, will give more all around service than any other car we manufacture. five feet high, with plenty of peek- space. The car consisted of one wooden No. 218343 Price, $495.00 box filling the length of the crate, about eight inches high, wheels lying flat under the back to give rise to accommodate the little air-cooled motor slung under the front. There was one built-in front seat, two passenger wide, The Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue description of the Model P four and one removable back seat allowing passenger automobile, 1913. (From Sears and the Automobile, courtesy of for quick change from family car to the author) farm truck. The conference decided to January 1983

leave until morning when the men could meet again (after chores) to assemble the pieces, thus giving Papa time to study the manual and causing Specifications Model "P" me to miss all the fun. School! Bah! When I came home from school next SEATING CAPACITY-Fw. with pien- WHEELS-& rety hest "A" gdn day, there sat Searsy in all her glory, (y of room for each p-w. Top of cwh- wheels, dccted hickory 1%-inch spoka, Su- buggy-sized, wooden spoked wheels ion. 34x16 inches. van's patent metal hub and spoke flu~ge.pmp- FRAM&Pd steel. chumel sectia. re- erly dished. galhered and aet. No better with solid rubber tires lifting the inforced with corner plates and c- members. wheels can be &$abed. seating compartment high off the All hot riveted. TIRES-38.2-inch cuahim tires, am lii ground. Small round metal plates sus- MOTOR-Two-cylmder. horizmtal oppaed rubber. Mat resilient cushion tim knowa. pended on brackets at the side helped a type. of the mat improved duia. 4%-inch STEERING-By side lever. The lo* lady to step up and over to a seat. She bore. 4-inch stroke. All p.m accurately 6ned. e6jCient md quickest rnelhod of .raring thd Bearimp of very hi+t type- Annular can employed in .,, automobile, inuring (Searsy) boasted no protection from the ball thrust braring 414 inches in dieter. elements from above, side or back, and safely. HORSE POWER-14-hom power (A-L- CONTROGSput and thr~nlekvcn eon- only a leather dashboard some eighteen A. M. rating). veniently located on steering pat. Left fod inches high in the front. It required no LUBRICATION-Machanicd fom feed pedal applies frictia. Right foot pedal great time to realize that this vehicle oiler and rpluh system. inuring perfect lubri- operatu brakes. was for fair weather only. We did have iation on all working p.m. CARBURETOR--SdKbler. The highat a huge red and yellow umbrella with a ICNITION-J~~ dry C& type float feed. with auxiliary air inlet. Same sapling for a handle, long used over and non-vibrating coil. This coil is of the very U used on the maiorily of high prid can- the lumber-wagon to advertise some highat type. and rmlu lmoog the highest fa TANK-Hear). gauge mterial. located brand of fertilizer and hog-feed. One economy. under the seat, having a capacity for 150 miles. try proved this not only belittling but TRANSMISSION-Frictia disc type. The Cravivfeed to -t escimt, flexible and ecoaomieal )r.n~- SPRINCSI-Four 6'st%- hard to handle over a car bowling Iclsprrd vev knO.rm, piti"= under the were Kve-leaf. full elliptic. oil md along at speeds of from twelve to conditions. insures absolute safely. reilient, insuring very easy ridha. fifteen miles per hour. BODY-Spring wagon body. Hudwod My father soon picked up information lick chain fmm sills, very stmngly built of thoma& -ed shaft' mat e'cimt .pplyina- lumber. for delivery service. side -b 8 bcha at the blacksmith shop. Some man over power known. Hopkinton way was dismantling an old high. dmp tailgate. patent leather duh. length REAR AXLE-HeaVY* -lid. of body 7 feet 6 inches, width 32 inch extra surrey and peddling the parts. A quick dmp forged. seat which is removable. a business md pleuure trip netted the fringed top with all FRONT AX-Heavy. 1% inches, wlid, combination. brackets and bolts, side-curtains even. drop forged, with steering knuckles and spindles FINISH-Highest qualily. We call ).au There is no record of the cost but Papa of the latest design. very highest qlulilg of attention to our specif~catims in this ca~alo~. was a close bargainer. Well, that forging. showing the detuled informatiem in rrg.rd b helped but she still threw mud, soft BRAKES-Double acting expdiig brakes Bish. Brewster gman nmning gear md wheels tar, whatever the wheels encountered. on the rear wheels. positive in their application. md black body. Furthermore, our ankle-length, full non-rattling. and powerful enough to hold the UPHOLSTERING--Genuine leather. with car on my grade. Emergency bnke, the plain spring cushions and tufted back. gathered skirts, aided by a couple of WWCHT-1.275 pounds. This i n s u res long petticoats, collected any available reverse on the transmission. WHEEL BASE-^^ iock, in,,,&# eul long tire life and the leut pouible wear and debris as we climbed. Back to the ridiig. md equal to a longer wheel base in *" the car. blacksmith shop where Papa and can with 26-inch wheels. smithy, Allen Shaw, designed and Eqrripmen t TREAD--% inches- We do not furnid~ Two fmat oil I-. tail Iunp. horn. full tool executed two galvanized tin fenders to with wide track. qui~rnent,1 gallon of lubricating oil. sod pu~. bend up and over the back wheels, and CLEARANCGI3 inches, m&g it p- For aha quipment ue page 20. heated and hammered some iron rods sible to tnvel roads with deep ruts or high cea- Shipping weight. knocked down md crated into presentable braces. The front of ten without injuring the workii parts. 1.650 pounds. the car was still a problem with nothing For detailed description of Scara cona~ruclionsee pap 22 to 30. to help with that except gauntlets, goggles, yellow dusters and rubberized lap robe for front seaters to pull up over their torsos. Heads and arms were The list of spec$ications for the 1913 Model P Sears automobile. (From left out to the weather. I expect we Sears and the Automobile, courtesy of the author) were the main reason that the UFO's didn't show up until recently. They hand powered car came out of the barn ments of S and G so he got in the seat, couldn't stand the competition. and around into the east meadow, the hired man cranked, and Lo! he was But here we are, running even before ready for cranking. traveling. My older sister Isabel and I we have learned to creep. Papa had Electric needs were furnished by were trotting behind. When he had never driven anything with other than four (I believe) dry-cell batteries prop- made a couple of rounds missing all lines (reins) but from the time he could erly connected and controlled by a mudholes and fences, we were invited read c-a-t he had studied and made an little push and pull button (S for spark) aboard, thrilled pink. ever-widening range of mechanisms on a short stem atop a perpendicular From our backseat perch and with described in Young Scientist and other pipe (A) at the left hand of the driver; my father's tutoring, we became ac- publications. He felt no qualms other the gas feed was a companion button quainted with the few accessories-two than could he stop when he wanted to? (G). The steering apparatus was another small kerosene lamps that would So he studied the braking system. hunk of pipe (B) hinged at the juncture scarcely disturb the dark from their After that first day of stand-in-place- of A/S/G so it could stand politely to let positions on either front corner of the gape, all hands pushed the car back the driver mount, then snuggle across box; one kerosene taillight with its red into the barn, and so to bed. The his lap to be push-pulled to make left bullseye to show its tiny glare, and one pushing crew rallied again next morn- or right turn. Papa had studied the little rubber bulbed horn that beeped ing, Saturday (Hurrah! no school). The manuals' cautionings about adjust- pitifully. (Papa soon replaced that with January 1983 5

, - -. The Parkerfaniil!j it1 front of theirhome at Parishville Center, in their Sears automobile. Inscribed on the back: "Aug. 4, 1914. We head out for Boston. Background-east end ofozcr home. "(Photo courtesy of the author) a larger horn and bulb that was prac- small lean-to with two barrels laid on believe that the motor somehow caused tically useless because, if blown to pass their sides on jacks, faucets on the a vertical cogwheel to go around. a team, one good blast would send the ends, one for gasoline for stationary meshing with a mess of horizontal cogs horses off at such an alarmed pace they engines, one for household kerosene. that activated a fiber wheel that ran would leave us putting along behind.) Both barrels were serviced by a small with (or against) a thick aluminum The springs were of the graduated leaf tank-wagon powered by mules. With plate some 30 inches across and hung variety, common to buggies and well the greater need for gasoline, the kero- flat beneath where we sat. If that's not tied down to carry the load, with sene barrel had to stand on its own perfectly clear, don't blame me. The minimal cushioning action. The shock bottom at one side, the space preempted only fact I can clearly remember is absorbers were simply those built into by the second gasoline barrel. As gas that the above interaction caused a mal- the passengers' own frames. There was was needed it was drawn out into a function that kept us sitting in a Keese- no trunk nor other provision for lug- long nosed gallon can and poured into ville garage all one hot afternoon. But gage; some cars had luggage racks on the little tank under the front seat on good days all the above caused the the running boards but we had no having a capacity for 150 miles, gas sprockets just under the outer edge of running boards. Spare tire! We needed feed strictly gravity. Well, one day the box to go around, carrying chains. none; solid rubber never deflated. Papa forgot to pour. He had two routes The chains drove the wheel sprockets There was no speedometer either. We for taking passengers for a demonstra- and us to travel. "Be careful, little girl, didn't need that either. We always tion, one (the Deluxe) to Stafford don't let your skirts get near that knew where we'd been. Corners, round trip six miles, the other chain!" Searsy conducted her own driver- (regular) to the top of Cemetery Hill, In the 1913-14era winter roads were education program. The first lesson round trip four miles. This day he "kettled out" by farmers dragging a was given the morning after one of chose the regular. We got to the top of caldron kettle up one side and down Isabel's all night toothaches. Papa was the hill; the car sputtered and stopped the other to show where the road would speeding her to the dentist at the usual dead. Other farms along the road had be if there were one. Horses came back twelve to fifteen miles per hour. The not yet gasoline-ized so the nearest into their own. They could wade where rush of cold air brought on the need of supply was back to our own barrel. no car could. Even the village cars his handkerchief which was stashed in Isabel, being older, always got the soft were housed, parked on wooden blocks an outside pocket. He nearly forgot jobs (she could steer). The rest of us lit to save the tires and protected by dust- Searsy didn't have the road instincts of out, pushed up hill and coasted down, covers. Cold weather cranking was the old horse and neglected his steering back to home base. frustrating, often futile, so Searsy while he fished and suddenly found My father was never one to accept hibernated. Peace, quiet and sleigh himself and his aching passenger deep mere performance without finding out bells ruled the land. in the heart of a roadside brushpile. By why and explaining to us. Isabel was the time they got their laps unloaded semi-mechanical minded but I'm sure I the toothache was gone but the driver was just one big disappointment. All I had learned Lesson I-Cars have no remember about the propulsion is the About the Author brains. little two cylinder engine's Pop-Pop- Rosabel Parker Meashaw is a native of Lesson I1 was "cars never whinney Pop and the drive chain's rattle and Parishville Center and a frequent con- for their rations." Papa had built a grind. My mind still hears them. I tributor to The Quarterly. 6 January 1983

Sketch of tnen ''snon* paring" or Iervling otct the sno~c*cor9er of rural highu~aysto make for better sleig/~i~g.(Courtesy of Eric Sloane's Arnerican Yesterday. Wilfred Fauk. Inc.) Winters for a St. Lawrence County Settler- From Elisha Risdon's Diaries of 1812-1849, Hopkinton blj Varick A. Ch ittenden While the winter season today may seem inconvenient and difficult, it can hardly measure up to the d$ficulties it cazcsed settler families of Northern New York in the first half of the nineteenth century. Edited selections froin one man$ diary girle et~idenceof the many hardships, and yet thegreat hope, that srcclt fa m il ies e.rperie~lcedrvith 117 inter, our best-knoton season.

"Cold windy weather. My health is may go forth, wandering over his long the daily activities of those people in not good. The winters in this latitude hidden fields with delightful and heart- that period we can see that winter was are too severe for my constitution. For felt affections raised to that Almighty nearly always on their minds-either nearly four months the earth has been Being Who is the source of all the preparing for it, living (or trying to hard frozen and covered with snow. beauty and sublimity in nature. But oh! live) through it, or cleaning up after it. Deep snows and the piercing cold and Thou God of all goodness forgive, Depressing though that may seem to cold, chilly winds confine me to the suffer not they puny creature man to many of us, settlers like Risdon ac- house." arraign thy wisdom, which shines so cepted it as their fate and were thank- On March 20, 1836, Elisha Ridson of conspicuously in the changing seasons ful for the good they could derive from Hopkinton recorded the above entry in with equal grandeur in winter as in it. From the many pages of this diary. his diary, a forlorn and almost desper- summer." one can find numerous references to ate note, to which he then added this These words of a humble pioneer various stages of and attitudes toward poetic cry for spring: farmer, one of the first Vermonters to winter as observed in the first half "Oh! when will the spring return. settle in Hopkinton, in 1804, were his century of permanent settlement in Oh! return and once more cheer this private thoughts, first made public as this northern frontier. sad heart. Oh! welcome ye soft southern part of Carlton E. Sanford's Early The following text is made up almost gales and warm solar rays. Oh! hasten. History of Hopkinton. published in entirely from the verbatim entries that Bring with thee gentle showers. Dis- 1903. Observations of the weather were Risdon made, selected and organized to solve the snow. Free the ice fetterd a perfectly natural thing to expect of a represent specific relationships these earth, that again the woodsman's axe, farmer, and many a diary has been settlers had to the cycle of the seasons the teamster's hollow voice, the lowing found for which the daily entry begins that inevitably returned to winter. herds and the bleating flocks shall echo (and often ends) with such notations. In in praise the coming spring. That Elisha Ridson's journals (those Sanford again the redbreast. oh! sweet bird was able to locate) which began in 1812 Vegetation Dying Away return. Return with thy train of sum- and ended in 1849, Risdon did fre- Time and again there are references mer birds and grace once more with quently record the weather conditions. to the gathering- of food for the table, cheerful songs thy long absent bowers: But he also included many other kinds feed for the livestock, and fuel for the that again all naturn shall smile from of information that today serve as clues fireplace and stove; otherwise there are winter's universal gloom; the landscape to how Northern New York settlers notes about raising buildings or sheds become adorned with her thousand coped with winter when life was not in time for winter, going hunting, start- shades of vivifying green, that man nearly as easy as it is for us. In fact, in ing school (notice the date!) and more: January 1983

1813 1841 with six yoke of oxen along here break- September 30, Falls (Parishville Low- December 6th. Filling woodhouse. ing roads. Heard the people from Par- er Falls or Allens Falls) hunt, shot a Have forty cords of two and half foot ishville came out here to break roads deer. October 2, shot two deer. October wood. Will cut fifty so as to have a with nine or ten yoke of cattle. 4, shot a deer. October 5, shot a deer. year's supply at hand. 1834 October 6, shot a deer on my own land. May 13th. Snow has fallen about October 28, wounded a deer. October 29, three inches and still snowing. 5 p.m. founded my wounded deer. November 3, Raw weather. Cattle and sheep lowing shot four deer. November 11, shot two Wholesome Winter Weather about fields. May 14th. Snows this deer. November 19th, got them home. In this northernmost part of New morning. Have but a trifle of hay for York State, we have come to expect my cattle. Noon, still continues to snow. 1833 large quantities of snowfall every November 26th, Assisted Deacon The storm has increased since noon, 4 winter. While we seem to think that p.m. I never knew so severe a storm at Aaron Warner raising a stable. Novem- our winters in the last very few years ber 27th, Assisted Isaac Snell raising. this season of the year, froze hard last have been relatively mild in terms of night. Sundown, storm continues. My November 29th, Killed six hogs and a inches of fallen snow, and that in the beef. Hogs weighed 1240 pounds, beef cows are all in stables. May 15tk, days of our own youth there was much Gloomy morning. Snow six inches in weighed 538 pounds. more, we can see in the notes selected December 1-4. J.D. Rider and Mr. depth and quite cold. Harmon at With- from this early diary what these first erills after hay. May 16th. Pleasant. Oliver here making shingles, shaved settlers had to endure. It should make till nine o'clock in evening. Harmon sun looks warm. Hard frost last night us feel better. Notice the dates on some and the grond is covered with snow. split and Stone held the candle. At of the entries. Julius Peck's raising barn. Peck had Dressed some flax. Snow does not melt. 1812 1836 many raisings of mildams, flumes, etc. March 29, The snow fell about ten December 5th, Harmon, Clarinda, and February 13th, The Indians call Feb- inches. The snow is about three feet ruary the "snow Moon," meaning that Mary at Reuben Post's in the afternoon, deep. Thanksgiving supper. more snow falls in that month than in 1817 any other. We are buried in snow. Feb- 1834 Februaw 18, Started for Vermont, ruary 27th. The papers state that the October 1, Burn some heaps over reached ~urlin~ton.Started for Dorset snow is four or five feet deep in Oneida where I had rye. October 3rd, warm. by way of the lake. Storms too severe to County, and also in the eastern states. Husking corn in garden and orchard. travel on the lake. The snow here is about two feet. Hay is December 6th. Rider and the French- 1819 $20 per ton in Vermont. man have cut twenty-four cords this December 19th. It snows fast and March 8, Widow Hopkins here assist- week. looks likely for deep snow. I feel ambi- ing to make a grave robe for Nathan tious to set off in the morning and shall Peck. Harmon and Sheals with teams 1835 breaking roads to Mrs. Peck's, fear dif- December 12th, Am wintering four if I am well and my family is well and the snow is not too deep, for I have ficulty in getting down with the corpse. horses, seven cows, two pair of oxen, November 26th, Stage on runners. five two-year-olds, eleven yearlings, three deer in the woods which I want to three calves, thirty-six sheep, six take care of or the wild vermin will 1838 shoats, geese, etc. destroy them. I feel sensible in my January 9, Stage on wheels. mind is too much engaged in the con- 1841 1836 cerns of this world, especially in sport- March 12, The snow is four feet deep September 14th, Reaping and logging. ing with my gun, but I really hope and in the woods. Severe storm, such as our December 1, John commenced school. pray that I may not be so taken up with fathers tell of sixty or seventy years ago. Clarinda boards with her sister Mary objects of time and sins as wholly to dis- October 21, Charlotte sporting in the (in order to go to school). regard the concerns of immortality. snow. For certainly that Being who was the 1838 cause of existence and who still con- 1842 December 13th, Have in woodhouse tinues His goodness towards me ought June 11, Snow this morning. Lies on seventeen cords two and a half foot to have my highest morning. the roofs and trees. thermometer thirty- wood. December 20th, Monday morning, one degrees in the morning. 1839 Snow about eighteen inches. Set off for 1844 October 20th, Vegetation dying away. my hunting camp. I gave Mr. Cowless January 5, A snowstorm, such as the October 21st. Get seventy bushels of one dollar for assisting me up with Yankees tell of in New England sev- corn to the acre. Have gathered one pack and cutting me one load of wood. enty-five years ago. thousand bushels of potatoes. October Shot one deer. The snow is so deep I October 30, Seldom so severe a storm 24th. Sold Chauncey five hundred can't hunt. Lodged at my camp with at this time of year. Now have fifteen bushels of turnips (probably mostly for Mr. Cowless, warm and comfortable. inches of snow. animal feed). 1820 1845 November 4th, John and myself as- January 14th, Wholesome winter Februaw 4, Very cold. Mrs. R. is sisted Mr. Wallis raise a shanty. Novem- weather. January 15th, Been up to my sick. A ~ankeestorm is raging. Febru- ber 6th, Third day of election. Three hunting camp after some articles I had ary 6th, The storm continues. The stage inches of snow. November 8th, Com- there, killed two deer. A severe day's passes greatly out of time with much menced doing off small room in the task, the snow is so deep. January 18th, assistance from the inhabitants. Mrs. woodhouse. November 9th. Set out hunt- Mr. Laughlin with two yoke of oxen R. is no better, is quite sick, has had no ing, but soon returned. The bushes breaking roads. Been over to Mr. John- nurse but Clarinda for three nights loaded with snow. November 22nd. son's for dinner, to Mr. Covey's for and days. February 7th. The storm has Paid Jane Green seventy-five cents for some bags and several other errands in abated. Mrs. R. continues sick. Mary R. sewing. Have a fulled cloth cloak, cost the village. January 21, Weather mod- called in. Mrs. Kent came over and $10; pair of pantaloons, $2.50. erate. P. and J. Durfey and D. Covey remained with Mrs. R. all day. January 1983

1846 for my cows these cold nights. However, report to work." By contrast, consider March 31. The winter has been I give them plenty of hay. December the months of confinement for pioneer remarkably moderate, over one hun- 11th. Cold weather, blustering. Been families who had no dreams of getting dred days in succession of good sled- over to village with cloth for a great out for two weeks in Florida or even ding. Snow neither deep nor too thin. coat. I agreed with the tailor to make being entertained by afternoon re-runs Hay is plenty, provisions of all kinds it, and a straight bodied coat also; am of I Love Lucy. Sickness and despair sufficient for man and beast. to pay him in grain the 1st of February were all too frequently part of Risdon's Ortoher. 17. Snows merrily. Boys next. December 12th, Sunday, cold, entries during the long winter days of husking corn. Bad time. blustery weather. Not well. None of the his life. Decetnher 3. Snow mostly off. I hear family go to meeting. December 31st, 1820 two feet of snow fell in south woods Cold weather. I have cut some wood January 2d., Sunday, not well. None (Adirondacks). Clarinda and Harriet today. Very severe weather for cattle of us go to meeting, communion day. quilting. December 17. Very little snow. that have no shelter. I fear some of my Lonesome times. We are all sick. No People using wagons. Crouch drawing cows will almost or quite perish before one comes in to cheer or assist us to a mill logs. Dece~nber25. The young Mr. Coolidge gets the hovel built. Mr. fire. January 20, Pleasant, thaws some sleigh riders will not have a pleasant Mosher carried the children.to school on the south side of building. Not well, time, as it thaws. Christmas at Mr. in a sleigh. But very little passing to- the cold weather does not agree with Newman's. Robinson lady and sister day. Church meeting day. I cannot me. out. attend. I am not well. It is as much as I 1834 1848 can do to take care of my cattle and cut December 18, Clarinda is steady at J~rrrtrr~!l$l.Forty-four years ago my wood and keep fires. school, notwithstanding the cold. The today I left Vermont for Islington (a 1834 chimney in our house has a poor section of Hopkinton). The snow in the August 25th. Cool. A frost in some draught. We are much afflicted with Chateaugay woods was then four feet places last night. smoke in the kitchen in particular. In deep and on the first of March it was 1835 the cold weather it is attended with a five feet all over this country. February 10th. Mrs. R. has made me great deal of labor to keep fire. The a pair of socks to wear over my boots. wood has to be carried through three (orler boots, not exactly clear why!) doors. I find the fatigue of getting in 1836 the large wood, together with the suffo- Siberian Winter Februavy 2nd. Seldom colder, if ever. cation of smoke, to be unsupportable. I While some snow storms and annual Do chores and sit by fire. February 5th, think it best to remedy the evil by a accumulations of snow may amaze or Mrs. Smith says that our American stove. (his first mention of a stove, even appall some newcomers to the winters are more severe than in likely proof that he-and most others- North Country, for many it has been England. were still using fireplaces) the severely cold temperatures-espe- April 24th. We are having a Siberian 1835 cially in the northernmost counties- spring on the back of a Siberian winter. March 22d, Winter appears deter- that have been the most difficult aspects 1839 mined to contest the possessinn of the of winter with which we have to cope. earth awhile longer with sprlng. For some it has been a test of endur- Jltne 12th. Severe frost. The frost damaged beans, vines and corn in April 13th, A raven picked out the ance; for others, especially when it eye of a live lamb. Clarinda takes comes to discussing it with wide-eyed places. June 19, People wearing cloaks and coats. Jttne 23rd. Very raw weath- tender care of the one-eyed lamb. April outsiders, it can be graphic proof of er. We have not had a warm day since 14th. It is now better than six months one's ability to survive, perhaps even to September last. since I began to stable my cows. I am the point of occasional and slight exag- still stabling them. April 22d, The face geration! Here, probably without much 1840 of the earth is covered with snow. It is exaggeration, are some of Elisha Ris- January 1. Thermometer eighteen a task for all of us to do the chores, and don's observations about cold weather. below zero in morning and twelve in tend the sugar, sheep, lambs, cows, 1819 evening. (the very first reference he horses, hogs, hens and one old goose. It Decernber 5. Sunday, severe cold. makes to a thermometer, no doubt a fas- is a gloomy time, but thank God we are Mrs. R. and Angeline gone to meeting. cinating invention for the time) all well and in hopes of pleasanter days. I have no greatcoat. I cannot sit in a 1844 October loth, There is something cold house without one. Rhone and January 20. Very cold, sixteen below pleasing in all the changing seasons. Sally Abbot in here to warm. Decenrber zero. Even the lonesome fall and melancholy 10th. Severe cold north wind. Regret October 1st. Very cold. Ice an inch winter give something to delight. that I am not in the woods hunting. I thick in wash kettle. 1836 am fond of being in the woods on a cold 1845 March 12th, A person passed without day, especially if there be a lively brisk May 30. Quite a frost. Ice in tubs and coat, vest, or hat, singing merrily. It is wind from the north. The air is then kettle. said he was crazy, and I should say as clear, the blood circulates lively. More he was. than all that the deer are skipping April 16th, Stage on runners and at about on the hills such days, all which full speed. Hay very scarce. Some have tends to enliven and animate a person not even any straw left. Corn sells for of my turn of mind. I am sensible I A Season for Sober Thought $1; rye, seventy-five cents; oats, forty- possess an immoderate fondness for When we feel confined for a day or two cents. Many cattle must die and hunting. My very nature and constitu- two because of a snow storm or frozen are dying for want of food. It is said the tion were formed for fatigue and hard- water pipes, we may be a bit frustrated present winter exceeds the hard winter ship. I am so used to it, it has become a from the inconvenience. We may even of 1780 in severity. The Newburg(h) second nature. I cannot sit idle and sit welcome the unexpected vacation: we Gazettc, Orange County, says hundreds easy. About eight o'clock severe cold. It listen to the radio for "school closings" of cattle are dying for want of fodder. worries my mind that I have no shelter or "hazardous driving conditions; don't and that the average depth of snow and January 1983 ice is now and has been for one hundred woods. Made thirty-five pounds of and twenty-days about three feet over sugar, twelve gallons of vinegar. April the whole county. A Boston paper says 20th. Warm showers. The snow melts there is ice in the streets formed from fast. April 22d, The snow is pretty the snow that fell November 3, more much gone in the cleared fields. than four months ago, and good sleigh- 1820 ing more than a third of a year. April. The first days of April pretty 1839 cold. though the month of April may be November 14th, Caleb Wright died said with propriety to have been a suddenly by his own act. November pleasant one. The fields afforded suffi- 17th, Harmon and his wife at Caleb cient feed about the middle of the Wright's. I attended the funeral of Mr. month for sheep. Cows have wanted Wright. Elder Joel Green preached the may to the latter part. I have fifteen sermon to a crowded audience. Heard a lambs from my ewes this month which woman in Canton had hung herself. are alive. November 19th, Hear that Mr. James Mow. Good weather for grass and Upham attempted to hang himself last wheic-sheared my sheep on the 29th. evening. He is still alive but very Peo~lehave in general mostly finished feeble. Two hour's rubbing brought their spring's sork. him to life. The attempt was made in a 1834 clump of alders near where he lived, April. Mrs. R. and Mary making using a handkerchief for a cord. His candles. Made in all three hundred life was saved with much difficulty. pounds of sugar. Clarinda spinning November 24th, Sunday, Mrs. R. quite tow. Been this afternoon (no date) after unwell these days. Hear a young man a hatchel. Been getting out some flax. in Potsdam, Coolidge by name, has made poor work of it. Sewing and committed suicide by cutting his throat dragging on the 11th. Did not stable and hanging himself (While there is no cows last night, so mild 14th. Clarinda proof that these suicides were directly and myself been after cowslips, saw related to winter, one can speculate two deer, 21st. My half of fence with that the onslaught of bad and depress- Deacon Warner is on the north end, ing weather may have played its part.) that on the south end in the woods we 1841 repair together. October 31st. Sunday, Another short Sketch of New England man 1835 summer ended. Pensive autumn is at wearing three sets of shoes and March 5th, Stage on wheels these hand. The green verdure and beauty of giant "overstoekings".(From Eric days. the season are fast fading away. The Sloane's An American Yesterday) May 17th, Can just discern the buds sun is receding; the shadows are length- starting on the apple trees. May 18th. ening. I am often at loss which most to E. Post is drawing logs on the log way. admire, the wisdom of Deity in the Mrs. Kent at funeral of Mrs. Sheldon. February 14th, Charlotte and Edna are May 19th, Had cowslips (marsh mari- order, regularity and variety of the golds) for dinner. The most springlike seasons, or that spirit of love which we very sick children. February 18th, Dr. Witherill's child is dead. February of any day this season. May ZOth, are permitted to enjoy in them as they Planting potatoes. Feed cows once a succeed. 19th, Our children some better. Daniel Sanford is sick. day on hay. May 21st, Sowing peas. May 23d, Pleasant. Smoke rises in 1842 1843 January 24th, Clarinda watched most all directions, people burning with Mrs. Andrews. Dr. Sprague been September 30th, Gathering potatoes. their brush, etc. (clearing the land and unwell all winter. Mrs. Eli Roburds Another short summer has passed selling for potash manufacture). May away. The foliage of the forest is taking 24th, Sunday, pleasant. Family all at sick. January 25th, Clarinda at Mr. on a pale yellow, and all vegetation. It Roburd's. Very sickly time. January meeting except myself. Why I remain 27th, Mry R. sick. January 29th, Dr. is a season for sober thought. from meeting is I have no hat, poor Witherill to see Mary R. January 30th, Signs of Life excuse. The forest trees begin to have a Mary R., Sarah, Charlotte and Edna Despite the great hardships and the changed look though not yet green. sick, Charlotte quite so. Have doctor. extended misery of life through the May 25th, A warm shower. Women February Zd, Mrs. Orin Andrews long winter season for the North washing. Sheals and myself planting died this evening, aged nearly forty. Country pioneer families, their respect corn. May 26th, Peter Post had ten She was one of our best women. Leaves for the abundance of nature and their quarts of seed corn. Women whitewash- a young family and a numerous circle great faith in each other and their God ing the house. May 28th, Boys plough- of friends to lament her death. Febru- seemed to pull them through. The ing at the other place. Chester Tupper ary 3d, Harmon at funeral of Mrs, arrival of spring was cause for joy, and and others set out for the western Andrews with wagon. Charlotte ill. time to begin the work that would country. May 29th. Fine growing time. February 4th, Harmon at funeral of come full circle only a few short May 30th, Clarinda and myself been Mr. Sampson's child. J. Henderson's months away. after evans root and also fishing. Apple child, Fanny M., is dead. Sally Hopkins 1812 trees are mostly in blow, and the forest here. February 6th, Charlotte is better. March 31st. Warm and pleasant. Mr. trees have a beautiful green. Edna has the doctor. February loth, Kent is thrashing his wheat. 1836 Mrs. Gaius Sheldon is dead. She was April 8th, The snow is two feet deep. April 1, Pleasant. E. Post has a yoke one of the first settlers. Harmon has a Began to boil sap. April 15th, The of my four-year old steers to use for sick house, two children and Ann. Feb- ground is to be seen in some fields. The their keeping till his spring's work is ruary Ilth, Harmon, Mrs. R. and snow is about fifteen inches in the done. January 1983

1838 May 22d, A light frost. Preparing apparently lost forever from the pages April 15th, The robins have been land for potatoes. of his diary, what remains in the words about and sung a few tunes to us, but 1848 of Risdon are most informative and since the cold weather lately they are March 28th, For over seven years I inspiring accounts of life here over one mute. April 30th, Ground covered with have been in more or less distress, yet I hundred fifty years ago. The foregoing snow. The birds sing even in the storm. do some business. The fields free of have been only a very few selected May 27th, Sunday, currants in blos- snow. The people at spring's work. entries. Together they provide us with som. Trees show signs of life. Some ice considerable insight into a season in dooryard yet. Elisha Risdon was born in 1782 in which we ourselves all know, sometimes Dorset, Vermont, was educated for a too well. Somehow, however, our exper- 1839 time at the Dorset Academy, lived for a April lst, Warmest day since last iences seem to pale a bit when we read short time with his father and family of those who have gone before us. October. Been out in the fields to-day. in Livonia, Ontario County, in the May 30th. The young women rode Genesee Country of New York State, out in their white dresses, resemble the and came to Hopkinton, as did several About the Author apple trees in blow. other Vermonters at the urging of Varick A. Chittenden is a native of 1844 friends of Col. Roswell Hopkins, the Hopkinton, a great-great-great grand- April 30th, Sowing wheat. The women town's founder. He died there in 1851. son of Elisha Risdon, and the current have commenced cleaning house. While a few years-1820 to 1832-are editor of The Quarterly. The Year Without a Summer The year 1816 appears in many accounts of the period as one of the most difficult encountered in the recorded history of the United States. While there have been other years when more snow or more severe cold has been experienced, it was said that for many places, especially in the Northeast, that not one single month went by without at least some freezing temperatures or some accumulating snow. Several studies have been undertaken from the contemporary newspaper or scientific accounts of the time to analyze the meteorological or agricultural conditions of such a phenomenon. Few accounts could seem more real in human terms than the following selected, weather-related entries from the diary of Artemas Kent, friend and neighbor of Elisha Risdon of Hopkinton, from the period when Risdon appeared not to have kept such a record of his daily activities or observations. March 9 Snow is two and one-half feet deep in the woods. June 7 Very cold. Froze ice one-half inch thick. March 27 Tapped our sugar works. June 8 Snowed till nine A.M. and in afternoon. Melan- choly aspect. April 3 Snow mostly gone in the fields. June 14 It has frozen every night since June came in, April 12 Full four inches of snow has fallen. We now feel except a few rainy, foggy nights. the distress due to frost and rain last fall. Flour is eighteen dollars per barrel; pork, thirty, and June 28 A little frost. potatoes, one dollar per bushel, and not to be had We are alarmed not only as to present want at that. Hay is twenty dollars per ton. Indeed, it July 11 can't be bought at any price. There is the greatest but future stores. All crops are very backward scarcity ever known in this country. and promise but little. Our present necessities are great. Many of our best neighbors are April 22 Snow fell three inches in depth last night. without bread. The prospect of getting it from abroad is almost "dried up". Our only source April 30 First day of election. Warm and thick smoke fills is in Him who supports all. He has said there the air. The sun looks as red as blood. will be seedtime and harvest. Let us put our May 3 Election ended yesterday. Grass is giving some trust in Him and not complain. feed. August 12 Began haying. Been very dry and warm of May 15 Has frozen for past three nights uncommonly late. hard. August 24 Last night there was considerable frost, May 23 Many people are out of provisions of nearly every though no great damage done. Vines and even kind. Though flour begins to come from west- corn in some places are ruined. ward* money is scarce and the prices so high August 30 Went to Louisville. Many farmers still haying. that it is impossible for poor people to buy it. The Saw much corn damaged by frost. season is cold and backward and the prospects look dark for another year. In Him who has September 1 Melancholy time indeed. The people have been promised us seedtime and harvest is our only reduced to a state of starvation and now have hope, and in Him may we trust. little prospects. May 29 It froze so hard last night that the mud will bear October 17 Snow fell eight inches. The backward season a man when it was three inches deep. and frost have entirely cut off the crop of corn and very much damaged late wheat, so that June 1 Sheared our sheep, got forty-one pounds of wool grain will be very scarce. from seventeen. June6 Snowed from early morning till one P.M., melting as fast as it fell, excepting on the north side of buildings. .. January 1983 11 Back When Winter Was Winter!: A St. Lawrence County Postcard Album Selected'by Douglas Welch,Archiwist, SLCHA

Somehow, as we look backwards to our younger days, the times we had often seem bigger or better or more dqficult or more something than those times we now have. For Northern New Yorkers those observations may well apply to winters when the Big Storm hit or the Bitter Cold set infor weeks at a time. Here we offer some visual documents of selected winters past in St. Lawrence County, just in case you thought we were complaining . . . or bragging! And on postcards yet, to send to the relatives in warmer climates as proof of the senders' good sense of humor or their ability to survive. (Unless otherwise indicated, all postcard views by Dwight W. Church, "The $5.00 Bill" Photo Company, Canton. Courtesy of the SLCHA Archives)

Winter scenes of Business Section, Gouverneur, c. 1912.

I ., Winter Scene of Busi~lessSection, Gouverneur, N. Y.

Unidentified farmhouse, no date. (Photo by Louis R. Murray, Ogdensburg) Streets closed, Ca,nton, 1913. 12 January 1983

- Torc.,~Hall and Mnin Sfred, Cnaton, no date.

Waddi~~gtan,no date.

Slii Hill nt Soltflr Colto)t,Sf. Ln~r~rolcc~ C'tr ic.r).sit!/. Oc.tohc,r !!/.i~. January 1983 13

Isaac Walker's sheep, Rich ryille, c. 1904. D. W. Church $5.00 Photo Shop, Canton, no date.

Unidentqied children, possibly at Hem~on,no date.

A record-breaking load of logs, 7 logs, nearly 1000 board feet of lumber to a log, between 28-50 tons. Bert Benson, driver; Milo Woodcock sitting on logs; Will Woodcock standing, at Woodcock Sauvnill. Unidentified zdicle and men, no place, no date. Edwards. No date. January 1983

Memoirs of Andrew Tuck-part 111 From the last pages of the extensive memoirs of Lisbon's distinguished citizen Andrew Tuck comes this conclusion to the three part story. Building a late Victorian farm house and local politics consumed a large part of the last years of his life.

In 1870, '71 and '72 we were prepar- to square the cellar for the wall, when I with all roofs similar to ours to watch ing to build barns. We had a good man saw your mother on her knees at the for leaks in the gutter, for, while our the year round (Kenneth Todd from window upstairs in the old house, gutters were made of the best tin, the Canada) and we got most of the timber facing our work. You will all realize frost has broken the joints and a few on our own place and got some on our what that meant. I wish I could have times I found the paper wet, and if so, place in DePeyster, which meant long her strong faith. would remain stained. I wish we had cold hauls. But in 1873 we built a cow In those days and in the building of had the present furnace in years ago. barn 96 feet long and 44 feet wide, suit- our home the children did very much We can readily heat the house with the able for housing 30 head of cattle, and to help us. In fact, it was said, "Tuck is present with wood. a horse barn 62 by 26, a hog pen and working the children too hard"; it was The walls of all outside cellar-ways hen house, which made a lot of work said we were "spoiling them." We both the country over are not durable. We outside as well as in. Your mother was took a lot of pleasure in looking way on built our walls about 4 by 3 feet wide as much interested as I, often doing ahead in anticipating what the house at the bottom and brought them at the more than she ought though she had would be and to the comfort and con- top to a foot in width, one long wide good help, Susie Cook, who was with us venience of it. I had fears for winter stone, two stones for the top of the for seven years. From now on the house use of water as the tanks in the attic entire wall. It never has moved. We was the paramount problem. We looked would be likely to freeze, something bought the best of double thick French at many, got Perry Scott to draw some which could be prevented later. We put glass. It ought to be a warm house. We plans, and finally settled on the one in some plumbing, some bowls through first put on one sheeting of matched after which our present home is a copy. the house, bath tub, etc., but the closets spruce 718 inch thick, sheeted diagonal- Mother did about all the planning to in the country at that time were not a ly, nailing the lower end of each board which Mr. Scott lent his best thoughts success. They are now; the septic tank to the sill, and well nailed. When gone -and he had good judgment. Mother is no more an experiment. It would be over once we put on a good quality of aimed entirely to make that portion of very easy to put in the septic tank and paper and then put on another layer of the house convenient where much of closet as the house has been laid for it some matched lumber, nailing the last her time would be spent. The pantry, and protect the water from freezing, or sheeting on horizontal and another coat- cellar-way, kitchen and dining room take it from the cistern as there is a ing of paper before clapboarding. We are fit examples of her good judgment. very large cistern in the cellar. The put short boards on the inside and All the stairs and steps inside and out- present drain-a 6 inch vitrolized nailed a piece over everywhere there side the house are the same rise, seven tile-passes out of the cellar under the was a crack or knot sheeted on the inches. The back stairs, which had to cistern with a removable plug so the inside of the studs, and before lathing be winding, were provided with an latter can be drawn from the surface of we stripped the joist overhead a foot easy railing. More than ordinary atten- the water. apart with 1%inch thick and 2 inches tion was given the back stair problem Mother and I were uneasy a few wide strips. This necessitated an extra for Mother thought usually the latter years ago about the beam running nail in every four foot lath. When the received but little thought in the lengthwise with the cellar overhead as fellow lathed a while he came running country. while the newel1 post, not the timber was getting dark and we out to Mr. Scott carrying language unlike an only child, was usually well imagined it was getting soft, for there unsafe near shavings. He had a job. We petted. Mother's pantry and back is such a condition of timber where a added 115 and he began to breathe stairs, and cellar-way with its railing, dry rot takes place. Mother oiled a long natural. as well as many other conveniences of piece of this timber which colored it. The old house was cold and the chil- the house might be of interest to any There are two flues to the top of the dren were getting cold. Early in the one building a country home. It was in chimney, from the bottom of the chim- fall we got a web of cotton cloth and the spring of 1882 that we moved the ney and the bottom of the cellar, of fixed the windows up early. It was on old house off the cellar, which was a course, with an ash box in the bottom. the 8th of December, 1882, a holy day, hard job as the ground was so hard. The furnace pipe only enters one flue. that Mother decided to move, notwith- The previous winter I drew those The dining room stove enters the other standing the day. But we had plenty of stones in the cellar wall, on the outside, which opens down into the fireplace fires. The furnace was not put in until from the Nevin quarry on a wagon. and from there through an opening in a little later. Mother hung curtains There was not much snow that winter the bottom of the latter into the ash box between the parlors and Mother and I and the common stone I got at the in the bottom of the chimeny, from used the back parlor and Perry the quarry in the neighborhood where which the ashes can be removed from front parlor. We very soon had the James Thompson now lives, and that the cellar. All stove pipes enter the furnace in and from then on we decided great flat stone opposite the house. chimney below the ceiling and in plain to let Perry finish alone, which took nearly turned up against the wall, I sight. way into the second year. All that work pryed up and loaded alone with the Since completing the chimney I built around the stairs including the "well" team. The house was all built by day's it about thirty inches higher a few was worked out by hand as well as the work and I well remember the morn- years ago, as the wind came over the arches for the parlor doors. I should ing the masons and Perry Scott came top of the cupola and interfered with not have said arches, which they are to work when the cellar was dry. I its drawing. We also got better draft not. If they were, those could have been happened to look towards the house as from the cook stove when the fireplace worked out by machinery, but they are the men began to put their lines down is closed. I find it is a good practice segments, no part of an arch and had to January 1983 15

Early view of the home of Andrew Tuck on the Tuck Road in the Town of Lisbon, with thefamily posing infront. (Photo courtesy of the collection of the Town of Lisbon Historian) be worked out by hand and Perry could chimney as before described, but the nan was nominated by the Democratic do it. Those double doors ran as well as mason had to make a very nice little party for Governor of the State of New they did when Perry put them on. turn in the opening, about midway, York and the Republicans nominated Mother wanted some little thing on the which extended from top to bottom of John A. Dix. In those days we held our ceiling in the parlors. John Mitchell, the chimney. During its construction I elections in the Flackville schoolhouse. who was a fine mechanic with mortar think pieces of soft mortar must have The ballot of that date was not regarded or plaster moldings of any kind, made accumulated on the inside so as to have as a very sacred right. They would the molds and built that cornice on the temporarily closed the opening and I come to us with great large sheets and ceiling in the parlors. got Frank Murphy to take up the prob- a few hearty fellows who had their fall We found our fireplace was smoking lem as it never let the soot down. I plowing done, about three, would be as most do, for but few know how to don't mean by this that the chimney delegated to cut the ballots. About build a fireplace that will draw prop- was a failure, for it was not, for eight three more over twenty-one years of erly. Oh smoke! Smoke! and Mother feet below where the furnace pipe age-but not seventy and a little on the had her heart fixed on a firep!ace. entered there was neither ashes or soot. fleshy side-would be granted power to Mitchell said low to me, "I will fix it But I wanted that chimney clear on the see that those pieces of paper had when I put up the mantel." I went to inside to the cellar. Frank did it by names put on one side with printer's school with him to the Ogdensburg taking about 16 feet of light iron old ink, together with a name on the other Academy. In fact. I met him that next buggy tire and dropping it down from side, so that this strip of paper would morning after I took up "my chest" on the top of the chimney. Then he took be readily known from many other the top of the load of wood to Ogdens- out the furnace pipe and putting in his strips of paper. And we had an Elec- burg. Just think how we must have hand and taking the iron in his hand, tion board of three good men elected at looked! This Mitchell was a good he punched the iron through this soot, the preceding town meeting and they student but he was a strong drinker ashes and sand till he put it down to appointed two clerks. If those three and, shortly after he did those nice the bottom and into the ash box-a com- became deeply interested in the discus- pieces of work, he became missing and plete success. I left his iron up stairs so sion of politics or religion, or perhaps never was found. it can be used if ever necessary. both, then the board would receive the 1 intended that all soot, cinders, and It was during my administration as ballots open and perhaps fold them, ashes would pass into the bottom of the Supervisor that Hon. Francis E. Ker- which they had to do to get them into January 1983 the boxes. I never knew of liquor to be ballot from where the men were cutting Ogdensburg, N.Y. used on our board or in the polling and handed to an inspector to fold as Jany 24, 187(?) places-weren't we good? My dear chil- many others were doing. I did not Hon. F.E. Kernan dren, the whole system was woefully know till days afterwards tht my poli- Utica, N.Y. loose, with so little respect for a free- tical belief was in doubt by any one. Dear Sir: man's prerogative. A man's judgment Such a character ought to be despised I am sure you will be amazed at was the foundation of our entire govern- by all civilized people, whether in poli- receiving a letter from one entirely ment. The present is a wonderful tics or religion, and more particularly unknown to you, but having been an improvement on the old system. the latter which is a condition between eye witness to some of the opposition to It is now the 24th of March and quite man and his maker. Everybody keep you as a candidate for Governor of this late in the evening. The clock is just from between; let all be in the open. State at the recent election, and also going to strike nine and over a year has The older I grow, the greater respect very reliable information from those passed since I did any of this (writing). I have for the conscientious belief of whom I think ought to know, that I was going to say foolishness, but I any man who openly practices it. Don't many of the Democratic party refused will not, with the dining table strewn interfere in his religious belief. And to vote for you because of your religious with books, papers and magazines, for now back to vote at that election for my belief thereby defeating you for the I have moved the encyclopedia to the political party and candidate for gov- office of Governor. I am a Catholic and dining room just under the clock which ernor. John A. Dix, who was elected, Republican and voted for your oppo- makes it much more convenient for me, defeated Mr. Kernan by an unusual nent, John A. Dix, and accidentally which means more use. majority. I subsequently learned that voted an open ballot, thereby defeating In 1872 we had an election for gover- Mr. Kernan did not receive near the the statement which I subsequently nor. John Adams Dix was nominated Democratic vote, as voters throughout heard-"That if Tuck is a good Catholic, by the Republican party very much on the State refused to support the latter he must vote for Kernan." This is my his war record. The Democrats nomi- because of his conscientious belief-a first year as Supervisor of the town in nated Francis Kernan, an able lawyer Roman Catholic. which I reside, Lisbon. of Utica, and who some years after- This state was to elect a U.S. Senator While I voted against you for Gover- wards was the grandfather of the in the year 1873, and Mr. Kernan's nor, and if I were in the Legislature young Mr. Kernan who married Miss friends, among whom were such men also, I would have voted against you Mary Spratt of Ogdensburg, eldest as former Governor Seymour and because of your politics-but since the daughter of Mr. Thomas Spratt. Samuel J. Tilden, Mayor Grace of New Senator from this State must be a Gen. Dix was elected Governor. Mr. York City and many other influential Democrat,-I am glad it will be you, Kernan's vote showed that he did not Democrats of that day, insisted on Mr. for I believe we can be true to this receive the vote of his party. Very Kernan allowing his name to go before great government and also sincere in many Democrats declared they could the Legislature as a candidate for the our belief of the Church, and that your not support Mr. Kernan because of U.S. Senate, to which Mr. Kernan actions will justify that belief-that it religious convictions, (a Roman Catho- finally consented and was elected as is safe to trust us. lic), a condition that was very apparent the Democrats carried the Legislature Kindly pardon me for obtruding this here in the city of Ogdensburg. of that year. long letter, but I feel better for having This was my first year as Supervisor But Mr. Kernan did not seem to feel written it. It is not in any way neces- and while there was quite an open sary to acknowledge the receipt of the hostility to me because I was a Catholic, that the defeat for governor as many thought he would, on the gound that above. I will not expect it. I could not do much harm and there Very sincerely yours, seemed a consensus of opinion that I his religious belief stood in the way of good citizenship as I will immediately Andrew Tuck. knew our town was paying more than P.S. Some time if you think of it, I wish its share of the taxes and would make endeavor to show. So long as the representative from you would recall the above when pres- an open fight to reduce the unfair ent with your friend here, Mr. Daniel equalization. The strongest men among this State must be a Democrat (elected by a Democratic legislature), I was Magon. my friends and who met the question of A.T. religion were my two good Presbyterian glad to see Mr. Kernan made U.S. neighbors, John and Fleming Craig, Senator, the responsibilities for which Very unexpectedly, and soon after I and particularly the latter who was are in many ways more onerous than mailed the above, I received the fol- emphatically outspoken in what he the office of Governor. I never had seen lowing: thought was right. anything in my religion that in any Utica, N.Y. I was watched on the day of election way interfered with my devotion to my Mr. Andrew Tuck for it was said by many if Tuck is a country. I had always understood it Ogdensburg, N.Y. good Catholic, he cannot vote against was former Governor Seymour who Dear Mr. Tuck: Kernan. In those days the ballot was was the power that made Mr. Kernan Yours of the inst. is received and I not made as sacred a right as today (as one of the Senators of the State of New gladly note what you state in reference I have explained heretofore) for in the York. to my defeat for the office of Governor morning we designated a couple of Immediately after his election as of the State of New York. good fellows to procure shears and cut U.S. Senator, I wrote him the following The American people are fair. They up the sheets of ballots, and a couple letter. As I grow older, I often wonder will judge the tree by its fruit. If we more to fold the same, all this being how I could have had the courage (I are good citizens and good Catholics, done in the little red school house on wish I could use some other word) but I they will give full credit for it when the desks. Sometimes we would pass will have to be content with presump- they know us well. I found when I was around through the house with a tion to write Senator Kernan a letter- a young man, whether it was in politics handful and, if in a hurry, give the a fellow away up beyond the North or religion, in presenting a full open ballot open to the clerk, and he would Woods near the St. Lawrence River, front in what I believed-acting the fold it so it would enter the ballot box. yes, and may be a "tramp" or "crook" hypocrite in nothing-never obtruding Fate fixed it so that in my haste to do or some stranded fellow looking for an my belief in the faces of others. I found some little thing, I picked up an open easy job: universally that I always had the respect of the best class whose judg- during the stopping of the car, so I ment I appreciate and was worth some- asked Speaker Erwin "Who is he?" He thing. said, "Don't you know? Why that is Ex- Give a I thank you for your very kind letter Senator Kernan." I said I wanted to and for your frank open course. speak to him. "Come now, I will intro- Year-Round Gift I would like to meet you some time. duce you." I said no, not now, wait till Sincerely, those men get away and the train is Regular Annual Membership F.E. Kernan moving-"Now," I said, "if you will come with me and see me introduce $ I 5.00 In the winter of 1886 when going to myself" and did so by referring to the Albany, I saw a man come in and take above letters which he instantly re- Sustaining Annual Membership a chair in the car in which Speaker called, and went over in detail much of $50.00 Erwin and I were riding, and was his young days in the manner outlined receiving the attention of many men above.

3 The Republican Journal, Monday, February 26,1917. FUNERAL OFANDREW TUCK TOMORROW GRAND OLD MAN OF LISBON DIED ON SATURDAY NIGHT. The funeral of Hon. Andrew Tuck Lawrence County, recorded one of its In all of his public and private rela- who died at his home on the Tuck road old time Republican pluralities at the tions, he was the sincere man, the able in the town of Lisbon Saturday evening election last fall. Always firm in his and faithful official, and through his will be held from his late residence at 8 beliefs, strong and loyal in his friend- sense of fairness in all things he won o'clock and from St. Mary's Cathedral ships, his word was as good as govern- the confidence of his townsmen which 10 tomorrow morning. The remains ment bond. His friends were legion and he held through life. In the days of his will be placed in the vault at St. Mary's the sorrow over his death will be deep legislative career he formed a high cemetery and in the spring will be and far-reaching. regard and friendship for Col. Theodore interred in the family plot beside his Born in the town of Lisbon November Roosevelt which was most heartily wife who died two years ago. 9, 1833, Andrew Tuck lived his life reciprocated by the Colonel and which Long past the psalmist's span of life, there among those whom he loved best was never broken. The Colonel never Andrew Tuck, Lisbon's grand old man, on earth. His father was John Tuck, a had a better well wisher than Andrew one of its best known farmers and most native of Ireland, who came to this Tuck and no one could ever have done highly esteemed citizens, has passed country in the year 1832 and settled in more for another than Mr. Tuck did for away at the ripe old age of 84 years. He that town. During all his life, he devoted him. had been in failing health for the past most of his time to agricultural pursuits There were not many men in North- two years but had only been confined to although he was deeply interested in ern New York better known or more his ;bed for the past two weeks. education, the affairs of his town and highly esteemed than Mr. Tuck. Young To few men is accorded the universal State and national politics. He made a men were among his warmest admir- esteem and love that was Andrew success of farming and during recent ers, because of his readiness to aid Tuck's. He was a man of forceful char- years had been engaged in the manage- them in whatever way he could. He acter, genial, affable, and public spir- ment of his farm on scientific princi- never considered himself in the shady ited, and was imbued with those quali- ples. Throughout his life Mr. Tuck was side of life and when 81 years of age, he ties which make for the finest citizen- always active and interested in public told the writer that he was not 81 years ship. He took a broad view of all public affairs. In his earlier years, he repre- old but that he was 81 years young. He questions, but when once convinced sented the town for several terms on always looked upon life optimistically. that he was right he never faltered and the Board of Supervisors and in 1885 Mr. Tuck was a faithful member of presented his opinions fearlessly and he was elected to the assembly and was St. Mary's Cathedral. In 1865 he was courageously. This characteristic of his re-elected the following year. In those united in marriage to Miss Marie life was distinctly shown in the presi- days St. Lawrence County had three Lynch and five children blessed the dential campaign of 1912 when he sup- assembly districts, Mr. Tuck's then union, four of whom are still living and ported with all his vim and energy Col. being the second. In the year that he are as follows: Mrs. Dennis B. Lucey of Roosevelt for the presidency. Up to was first sent to the assembly the this city; Major John B. Tuck, of Syra- that time he had been a Republican as Republicans of the first district con- cuse; Attorney Andrew E. Tuck, of earnest in his support as he was for the ducted a campaign that has never been Rochester; and Prof. Charles H. Tuck, Progressive party in 1912. That he had forgotten and which resulted in the a member of the faculty of Cornell great influence and that his opinions election of an independent ticket of the University and who is now in Man- were highly cherished by his townsmen late Gen. N.M. Curtis who defeated his churia, China. All but the latter were were shown in the manner they followed Republican opponent, the late Judge present at the bedside when their him in the memorable campaign of Gerrit S. Conger of Gouverneur. For father passedaway. four years ago. Before he died, Mr. many years he was one of the two Thus passes from earth, Andrew Tuck, like hundreds of other Bull United States Loan Commissioners, Tuck, in every sense of a man who, Moosers, returned to his first love, the named for St. Lawrence County, and during his lifetime, did his share Republican party, and although in he held this office until the position toward the development of Northern feeble health, his influence remained was discontinued some years ago. The New York, making it one of the choicest and his town of Lisbon, which had been other commissioner was the late Wil- sections of this great commonwealth. the strongest Progressive town in St. liam L. Bradford of Louisville. 18 January 1983

Hua r-ts. Ha )ds, (I rrri Sta rs crib (114 ilt a nd e ighteerrth Wooden Angel Gabriel rreathertwtte and decorated cetttlo.y pn inted chest. stone ware pottery. Reflections on Some North Country Folk Art by Betsy Cogger Rezelman

From September 12 through October 9, 1982, the Silas Wright House and Museum exhibited fify selected examples of folk art from the northern counties of New York State, all from a larger exhibition which had first been installed at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute in Utica earlier in the year. During its four week installation in Canton-the first of four such displays also in Oswego, Watertown, and Plattsburgh-hundreds of visitors saw the variety of items fashioned in the region from the eighteenth century to the present. Here one visitor, an art historian, reflects on some of what she saw. All photographs are by Wayne Lincoln.

One of my vivid childhood memories manifested itself. When I first saw the removed from its high vantage point is of me and my family, seated around New York.North Country Folk Art and brought down to within range of the dining room table, watched over exhibition in Utica, the thrill of redis- the viewer's minute scrutiny. Though it each evening by a haunting painting of covering a vital native artistic heritage retains its power as an image, one a youthful female angel with omnis- surfaced. needs to imagine that figure seen from cient eyes and fan-like wings. Though Coming up the stairs at the Silas a distance, shifting directions at differ- her body was flat and she hovered in a Wright House, where a selective version ent times of day and under changing spaceless blue-grey sky, her silent of the show was shown this fall, I weather conditions. Devoid of unneces- presence used to mesmerize me as my encountered the Indian archer weather- sary detail its bold outline could be mind wandered from the adult conver- vane, a piece which continued to attract clearly distinguished against its atmos- sation. Not until years later did I move me on successive visits. The label pheric backdrop. Selected features- from the position of experiencing the stated that "over fifty years ago, this the bulbous nose, prominent chin, powerful impact this and other folk weathervane, handmade sometime be- spiky headdress, and thickened neck paintings my mother collected to one of tween 1800 and 1850, still was being and left arm-were exaggerated by the learning about the men and women used on a building in the eastern artist so as to render the form easily artists who created them and the wide Oneida Lake region." Like so much of identifiable from a distance. As with range of forms in which their creativity mankind's art it is now out of context, much non-western art, correct anatomi- January 1983

fii't~tt~trw /1(111 ~~(~ll(~r,~j,it~clr((iitrg tho Itrtiiatt A t.c./tcr Star c?f Llethlrhr~ttr ptrtr./rrc,ork qtrilt f't.ott1 St. rc*r~nthet.rn)~e.I)C~I))ICI)I.S/I ip dra r(~iwq.s.(I rrd por-tra its. Latc*renceCorcttt!~. cal proportion was less important than with detail, it is an obvious ancestor to forms, despite the wide range of materi- emphasizing characteristic parts. the one under consideration. als used. Nellie Kittle's Star of Bethle- Though probably untrained in the con- Another early weathervane, that of hem quilt pulsated from the center out- ventional sense, the artist possessed a the Angel Gabriel from c.1790, is illus- ward, its red, white, blue, and orange keen understanding of the use of trated on the cover of the exhibition's colored diamonds creating as much negative space or the spaces between catalog. Wooden vanes dating from energy as an op art painting. Across solid areas. The observer's eye is drawn before the mid-nineteenth century are from it the flat red hearts, hands, and not only to the silhouette but to the rare; most were painted. Gabriel was a stars on a white crib quilt equally com- dynamism of the voids created by the popular motif chosen for both churches pelled the viewer's attention because of space within the bow and between the and homes; this example is a highly its stark simplicity. One does not need legs. The Indian steps energetically for- simplified version. The carver has an explanatory label to understand ward, clearly serving his function of chosen to concentrate his attention on what the work is about. The viewer is indicating the wind's direction with his the heads and wings, reducing the one not compelled to decipher and interpret taut bow and drawn arrow. arm to a short, handless, horizontal the message or understand the moral Weathervanes have been used projection and the legs and feet to or sentiment. The artist seems to have throughout the Christian era and were minimal appendages. As with the responded to ordinary, familiar designs produced in this country since the mid- Indian the power of the image results and arranged them in a repetitive com- seventeenth century. In his book, Amer- from reducing the form to its essentials, position for the delight of the user. ican Folk Sculpture, Robert Bishop in this case the profile and serrated Symmetry was not a requirement as writes that in 1716 Deacon Shem wing. The gentle curve of the wing's the four pairs of hearts and hands on Drowne, one of the most respected upper edge reinforces the pointing the left are balanced by only half a American craftsmen designed a "glass- gesture of the arm and nose. The eye, a design on the right. The four edge eyed Indian with bow and arrow for round hole revealing the ever-shifting strips, consisting of single stars enclosed the Peter Sargeant mansion . . . the natural lights beyond, relieves the solid by slanting bars, were obviously made home of the royal governor of the Prov- expanse of the wood and gives life to separately and applied without concern ince of -Massachusetts" (1974: pps. the flying messenger. for either completing a unit at the 45,47). Though Drowne's Indian is Throughout the exhibition I was con- corner or uniting that unit with the one stouter, more upright, and embellished stantly attracted by the power of the perpendicular to it. This freedom from

Tyler cotorlet. Northern Pike carving, and farvn- Child's chair by Isaac Johnson of wadding to)^ and stead painti,zgs (Ashr~orthfarm near Heztr,eltorz at 1979 quilt of Randall Farm, Spraguer.illc road, lo/c.er right). Goutjerneur. 20 January 1983

Penmanship drawing; nineteenth cc 'ntrrr!y pa inted Ice fishing tip up from Lisbon; rr-h irligig and ho~tsc arrd stencilled chair from Canton. shrine. the constraints a trained painter or cane and groping step. Mary Weaver's viewpoint to survey the landscape, a sculptor would have felt is refreshing conglomeration of clothes and "Old logical solution to the problem of The space is filled and disequilibrium Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher's" jaunty bonnet depicting layers of objects arranged in is not the result. A facility for uniting are equally expressive of their owners' depth. Despite this naive handling the dissimilar fragments is evident in personalities. look of the land and its vitality is truth- other quilts and in folk paintings. Folk painters frequently included fully portrayed. A taste for realism or naturalism is what their educated counterparts had As I left the Silas Wright House I the characteristic which distinguishes been taught to overlook or idealize. thought again of the series of "isms" American arts. Typical of nineteenth- Ferguson G. Veeder's "Veeder Home- that have marked the changes from century portraiture, genre, landscape stead" of 1840 is an excellent instance one modern art movement to the next and still life painting is an attention to of the honesty with which the folk and compared that to the steady output the natural world and details of place, artist portrayed the changing rural of folk art throughout our history. Folk costume, textures and facial features. landscape. In the background of the art whether one hundred years old or The "Eight Inmates of the Fulton neat and productive farm, he promi- more recent communicates with the County Poor House at West Bush as nently includes a recent invention-the contemporary viewer as forcefully as it they appeared in January 1858" exem- locomotive. While cheerful country did to its original audience. Though art plifies well this native penchant for the scenes rather than the harsher aspects historians have been slow to appreciate idiosyncracies of the American scene of rural living were the norm in the these artists' unique visions, recogni- and its characters. Though untutored .mid-nineteenth century, signs of mod- tion of their accomplishments is now in the skills of modeling, perspective, ernization were generally avoided. In widespread. Folk art will continue to and anatomical rendering, this anony- Vedder's work the past, present and be a living American tradition as long mous watercolorist individualized the future peacefully coexist. This artist is as the need to and love of creating shall men and women, conveying the unique more sophisticated in his handling of exist. qualities of each person. "Old Mr. light and space than many of his peers Clement Brandow" has a serious de- in this genre but like them his inclina- meanor and walks at a slow careful tion toward a two dimensional world About the Author pace; Robert Cunningham possesses and his repetitions of simplified forms Betsy Cogger Rezelman is a specialist hefty calves despite his age and walks resulted in the lively decorative surface in nineteenth century art history and a briskly; Abraham Kring's slit eyes com- patterns characteristic of folk art in member of the Department of Fine municate his blindness as much as his other media. He also utilizes a raised Arts at St. Lawrence University.

Examples of Adirondack rustic furniture; early Local painted scenes; tin tazyern chandelier. hooked rug. January 1983 Annual Reports of the SLCHA Director's Report As I organized my thoughts for my seventh annual report to the members and friends of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association, there was a great temptation to begin with a chronicle of incomplete projects and goals not yet attained. That, however, would be extremely unfair not only to the Association as a whole but also to the many individuals who have worked diligently to make 1982 one of the most active-some say frenetic-years since Guests at Victorian Dinner, Septe~nhe r 2.5. 1982, including Edward Blank- I have been Director. And while there man at right, former Trustee and Pres ident. (Photo by Wayne Lincoln) have been some disappointments, there Public Museum, and with the support Council on the Arts and with the have been considerably more solid of the North Country School Study excellent efforts of Patricia Perry, the accomplishments. Council and area teachers, a workshop Association's collections are now in The Association's most visible activi- on using local history in the classroom satisfactory condition. Over ninety ties remain centered around the Silas was held at a county-wide School percent are completely accessioned; a Wright House and Museum. There has Superintendents day on February 12, new silver and glass storage area was been a number of fine temporary exhi- 1982. The response from county teach- built with the dedicated volunteer help bitions: a reconstruction of late nine- ers was so encouraging that the origi- of Al Garner; furniture and other large teenth century parlor and dining room nal cooperative education committee is items are centralized in clean dry sections complete with many of the now working with St. Lawrence-Lewis storage; and ultraviolet filtering has accoutrements of a lavish Victorian BOCES to establish better dialogue been placed on all museum windows Christmas; nineteenth century photo- between area museums and schools. and fluorescent fixtures. Furthermore, graphs of county people and scenes as We hope that this input will help the 1982 saw a marked increase in the recorded on glass plate negatives in the Association formulate more effective number and quality of new gifts. A collections of the Association and St. local history materials for the schools complete laundry list is not possible, Lawrence University; and a four week as we do not yet have a strong museum but some of the highlights include showing of representative North Coun- education program. pressed glass, a fine Empire sofa, a try folk art pieces. This folk art show, Bus tours during this past season melodeon made in Morley, cranberry the research for which was funded by a were exceedingly popular. The eight glass lamps, quilts, archival material. National Endowment for the Arts tours-to Utica, Albany, Ottawa, a Rushton canoe, Empire chest, cherry grant, first opened at the Munson- Niagara-on-the-Lake, Kingston, the drop-leaf table, an Estey parlor organ, Williams-Procter Institute in Utica LeRay Mansion at Fort Drum, Toronto a wonderfully peculiar Victorian read- under the guest curatorship of Varick and Mohonk Mountain Resort in the ing stand, an early 19th century sten- Chittenden, and the Association was Hudson River Valley-were quickly ciled rocker, carpentry tools, and much fortunate to be able to host a traveling subscribed, and we are already receiv- more. Such generosity is greatly appre- version here. Finally, in early Decem- ing requests for the 1983 schedule. ciated. ber, a handsome new permanent orien- Equally well-received were the Physical plant improvements con- tation exhibition on St. Lawrence monthly candlelight dinners, a delight- sisted primarily of regular maintenance County history opened. Entitled "Nor- ful Victorian dinner, and a Christmas work during 1982 except for the con- thern Trilogy" and generously funded brunch in the period rooms of the struction of a handicapped access ramp by the New york State Council on the Wright House. The special events com- and long overdue driveway repair. The Arts, the exhibit fills a major gap mittee under the successive leadership improved accessibility was made possi- because the Wright House, as the only of Doris Wheaton and Betty Coots ble with the support of the Corning county-wide museum, has long needed worked diligently to earn the Wright Glass Works Foundation. a permanent installation to acquaint House an enviable reputation for fine The publications program remains the visitor with the county's history as dining. Although neither the bus tours one of the Association's strongest and a whole. Professionally designed and nor the good meals directly promote most appreciated services. The installed by John McCarthy, it is local history, they are vital to the Quarterly, under the able leadership of without question an asset to the county. Association in generating the publicity, Varick Chittenden, continues to receive The winter lecture series in coopera- good will, and money so necessary to compliments and win new members. tion with the Potsdam Public Museum insure the success of the organization Past Association produced publications continued throughout the early months as a whole. such as Landmarks and Lemon of 1982. Such topics as early nineteenth Less visible, but equally significant Crackers, and Old Hollywood, remain century interior decoration, St. Law- advances have been made in the care available; and the Heart of Lakes Pub- rence County's religious history, and and feeding of the Association's grow- lishing Company's new reprint of the the collecting of old kitchenware attrac- ing collections. Long virtually ignored 1878 History of St. Lawrence County ted a number of people and helped the in the years before the purchase of the will soon be distributed partially by Association in its constant quest to Wright House, artifacts suffered from the Association. disseminate information more broadly poor storage conditions and inadequate All of the above activities are in- about our county's past. inventory methods. Again with the tended to meet responsibilities devel- Also in cooperation with the Potsdam assistance of the New York State oped by the St. Lawrence County His- January 1983 torical Association over the past 35 insure that local history is adequately Association through some difficult years. However, in May of 1982, the preserved and promoted. The secre- times, new president Dwight Mayne of Association assumed control of the tary's position, for instance, was cut Massena is equally well equipped to archival holdings formerly cared for sixty percent, and some programs did guide the Association in the coming by the St. Lawrence County Historian. not receive sufficient funds to grow as year. The efforts of all these people Following the retirement of County needed. A revitalized finance committee recently earned a great compliment Historian Mary Smallman on Decem- is, on the other hand, investigating new when the American Association of ber 31, 1981, and under the terms of a sources of support. Also, four bequests Museums announced on December 17, contract with St. Lawrence County, the have made possible the creation of a 1982, that the Silas Wright House & Association agreed to take over the modest endowment fund. The estates of Museum, only nine years away from its future management of this material. Louis Greenblatt (Potsdam), George original purchase, has met rigorous While this responsibility, at first glance, Dickson (Alexandria Bay), Marion professional standards and is now a seems awesome and new, historical soci- Gibson (West Stockholm), and Earl fully accredited museum. This cli- eties in all states except New York Meldrim (Richmond, California) have maxed over three years of intensive have traditionally maintained such not all been fully settled, but the self study and outside review of all local archives as a normal part of their commitment of these people to the aspects of Association operations; and duties. Even here, ever since the fund- Historical Association is exemplary. it is an affirmation that the Association ing of the St. Lawrence County Histor- This endowment and its future augmen- is progressing. ical Association in 1947, these archives tation is truly the Association's hope I cannot help but wish Edward have been extensively used to support for the future. Blankman were still here to appreciate The Quarterly and other Association Volunteers and the support staff the notification of accreditation. His programs. So the link is a natural one. have been largely responsible for these commitment, good humor, ability to Mr. Douglas Welch has been added to many activities and efforts in 1982. meld different viewpoints, knowledge, the staff on a half-time basis to care for Vivienne Conjura, although nominally integrity and plain hard work have the materials and make them available paid for some of her services, works helped shape the growth of the Associ- to the public. In order to improve willingly and hard during even the ation through the past tumultuous accessibility and better utilize space, most trying times. Mary Ruth Beaman, fifteen years. The St. Lawrence County Doug has been devoting most of his Jane Clough, Dorothy Gaffney, Ruth Historical Association exists as it does energies to relocating all materials to Romoda, Harmon Smith, Doug Welch, today largely because Ed Blankman the first floor of the building. The members of the Board of Trustees, encouraged others to believe in the assistance and patience of local town Association committees and the many organization. historians has been recognized and people who find the time to cook, clean, Looking ahead to the immediate appreciated. address envelopes, or just supply moral future, two paramount goals emerge. Financially, the Association has had support all evidence a real belief in the During the next twelve months the a year of pluses and minuses. Even organization that both makes my job Association needs to improve its lec- with some added general operational easier and the Association stronger. ture, workshop and other outreach pro- income from increased membership And even though I miss the unfailing grams to serve residents throughout dues and the federal Institute for leadership of Allen Splete who saw the the county better. With the support of Museum Services, the Association is continually hard pressed to maintain and expand services urgently needed to President's Message Dear Members and Friends: * December. They both will be missed. The cost of publications and other Thank you for your support during However we have been fortunate in get- operating expenses of the St. Law- the past year. All things being consid- ting four strong new members to the rence County Historical Associa- ered it was a year of progress for the Board of Trustees: the Hon. Robert C. tion are partially subsidized by Association. Many good things hap- McEwen, and Harry Wheaton from this advertising support. pened in 1982: a ramp for the handi- Ogdensburg, Harold Wilder from Can- 9 capped was built at the rear of the ton, and Byron Gale from Pitcairn. Silas Wright house, made possible by a Looking forward to 1983, we would 8& 4 grant from the Corning Glass Corpora- like to see a substantial increase in our tion; word has been received of two membership. We are now about 1,100 bequests which will be added to our strong, which is very minimal when Mayhews small but growing Endowment Fund; you consider the number of people in the second Victorian Dinner held on St. Lawrence County. We encourage Wholesale I nc. Sept. 24 and 25 was highly successful; you to influence others to become mem- the Association recently received notice bers. We would like to see our financial that it has been accredited. When one position improved. While we receive The considers that out of over 5,000 such generous support from many friends Associations, only about 500 become and organizations, we are short of Barnhart Trust accredited, this gives us reason to be having the resources to make building proud. Space does not permit the improvements, provide adequate staff listing of all the other good things that help, and provide other services that and other Friends happened during the year. we feel are necessary. Unfortunately we lost two faithful Again I want to thank each of you for of the Association members of the Board of Trustees dur- your support during the past and to If your corporation or institution ing the year. Allen Splete, who had ask for your help in making 1983 a would like to support Association served admirably as President for sev- good year. work, a representative will gladly era1 years, moved from the area, and Sincerely, discuss details with you. Ed Blankman, a long time stalwart of Dwight L. Mayne the Association, died suddenly early in President January 1983

the New York State Council on the BALANCE SHEET-December 31. 1982 Arts a one-year full time staff position Operating Capital has been created to do just that. Second. ASSETS Total Fund Fund we must complete the assumption of Current Assets Cash in Bank ...... the County Historian's duties and Inventory ...... increase the services and visibility of Certificate of Deposit ...... the archives department. With the sup- Total Current Assets ...... port of members and friends. these Fixed Assets: goals will be actively sought. May 1983 Silas Wright House and Museum ...... be another banner year . Investments Dean Food Stock (25 shares) ...... Total ...... LIABILITIES & EQUITY Board of Trustees1983 Liabilities Withheld Payroll Taxes ...... President .... Dwight Mayne. Massena Advance Payable on Old Hollywood ...... Vice.President ...... (Vacant) Architectural Fees Payable ...... Secretary ...... D . Lynn Case. Canton Mortgage Payable ...... Treasurer ...... Mary Jane Watson . Loan Payable-Cookbook ...... South Colton Total Liabilities ...... Term Expires 1983: Restricted Funds Paula Faust. Canton; Dori Lyons. Greenblatt Endowment ...... New York State Council on the Arts ...... Canton: Beverly Markkula. Canton: Blankman Endowment ...... Nicholas Viskovich. Massena; Harold Wilder. Canton . Total Restricted Funds ...... Equity ...... Term Expires 1984: Total ...... Byron Gale . Harrisville; DeeAnn Martin. Canton: Robert C. McEwen . STATEMENT OF INCOME & EXPENSE AND RETAINED EARNINGS Ogdensburg: Doris Wheaton . Ogdens- FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31.1982.... burg: Harry Wheaton . Ogdensburg. 1983 1982 Operating Capital Income: Budget Budget Total Fund Fund Term Expires 1985: St . La umnce County: Richard Buckley. Piercefield; Varick Historian ...... $11. 000 $ $11.067.12 Chittenden . Canton; Elizabeth Knap. Operating ...... 11.000 11.000 11,000.00 Ogdensburg; Allan Newell. Hammond . NYS Council on Arts ... 0 3. 000 3.000.00 Dues ...... 15.000 15.000 14.641.10 Staff: Gifts ...... 3. 500 2. 100 4.418.88 John A . Baule. Director; Vivienne H . Interest ...... 500 400 1.047.50 Conjura. Secretary; Douglas Welch . Village of Canton ...... 5.000 5.000 5.000.00 Archivist; Richard Rummel . Programs Admissions ...... 200 200 86.00 Coordinator . Cookbook ...... 5. 500 2. 000 1,296.81 Miscellaneous ...... 500 500 507.06 Rental ...... 0 0 150.00 Fund Raising ...... 6.000 7. 000 5.832.61 IMS Grant ...... 5.000 8.000 3.342.00 Advertising (Quarterly) ... 5. 500 0 0 Finance: Grant R'burs'ments ..... 0 8.000 3.137.35 Varick Chittenden. chair; Paula Total Income ...... --$68. 700 $62. 200 $64.526.43 $64.361.03 $ 165.40 Faust . Bob McEwen. Mary Jane Wat- Ex~ense: -- son . Harry Wheaton. Harold Wilder . Salary-Director ...... Salary-Historian ...... Membership: Salary-Secretary ...... Allan Newell. chair; Richard Buck- Fringe Benefits ...... ley. Elizabeth Knap. Beverly Mark- Payroll Taxes ...... kula. Nick Viskovich . Supplies & Postage ..... Utilities ...... Public Relations: Insurance ...... Byron Gale. chair. Interest ...... Repairs ...... Special Events: Publications ...... *Betty Coots-chair; *Judy Gibson . Printing ...... *Win Gulick. *Connie Hanson. *Marilyn Exhibits & Programs ... Jones. DeeAnn Martin. *Ruth McKean. Subscriptions ...... *Anne Piskor. *Betty Randall. *Joan Conservation ...... Travel ...... Saltrelli. *Claire Stuba. Doris Wheaton . Miscellaneous ...... Exhibits. Programs Acquisitions Grant Expense ...... *Joan Kepes. Dori Lyons. Lynn Case. Contingency ...... *Kelsie Harder. Co . Historian Expense . . Total Expense ...... Quarterly Net Income for Year .... Varick Chittenden. editor . Equity-Beginning ..... *denotes non-trustee member Tr'nsf'rsIDebt Reduc .... Equity-Ending ...... Address Correction Requested Forwarding and Return Postage BULK RATF Guaranteed U.S. POSTACE P.O. Box 8 PAID Canton. N.Y. 13617 PERMIT NO. 21 Canton, New York 13617 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

When You Think of Giving, Think of SLCHA

As the St. Lawrence County Historical Association continues to grow, we urge our members to consider the opportunities available to you in terms of charitable gifts. Basically, gifts to the St. Lawrence County Historical Association fall into three categories, all of which provide considerable tax benefits to the donor. I. Current Gifts: These support the current on-going programs of the Historical Association.

3. Deferred Gifts: Here assets are transferred to the Historical Association by a donor who retains income rights or other benefits from the gift during his lifetime.

Don't Feel Left Out; Join Us Now!

Senior Citizen & Student

Send checks to: SLCHA P.O. Box 8 Canton, N.Y. 1 361 7