Oswego County iistorical Society R.ef 1963 Twentu-Sixth Publication of the Oswego County Historical Society 1963 » cm-"Jt7 LIST OF OFFICERS President H. Fred Bartle Mrs. Hugh Barclay John C. Birdlebough Dr. Johnson Cooper F. Hosmer Culkin Charles A. Denman Grove A. Gilbert Fred S. Johnston Arthur C. Mengel George M. Penney Francis T. Riley Frank Sayer Mrs. Charles F. Wells Wallace F. Workmaster Vice Presidents Recording Secretary Richard Daley Executive Secretary Anthony M. Slosek Treasurer Adele De Santis Curator , Anthony M. Slosek Program Chairman Dr. Charles M. Snyder Board of Managers Thomas A. Cloutier Mrs. Francis M. Dann Ralph M. Faust Dorothy Mott Dr. W. Seward Salisbury Dr. Charles M. Snyder Officers of the Society II Table of Contents ._, III & IV Annual Report of the President V Dedication , -frOfl-35Cfl^VO-i»- VI & VII HI . TABLE OF CONTENTS Officers of the Society Annual Report of the President Table of Contents Indication BEFORE THE SOCIETY IN 1962 THE OSWEGO RIVER IN ITS NATURAL STATE presented by Albert P. McCarthy, January 16, 1962 10 AVON CALLING presented by George DeMaas, Jr., February 20, 1962 17 TIMES HAVE CHANGED, LIFE IN OSWEGO TOWN AT THE CLOSE OF THE 19th CENTURY presented by Ellen Sivers, February 20, 1962 23 THE WAR OF 1812 AND THE LAKE ONTARIO THEATER presented by Wallace F. Workmaster, May 15, 1962 28 THE HCth OSWEGO COUNTY INFANTRY IN THE CIVIL WAR presented by Rev. Mr. James Nicolson, October 16, 1962 40 THE 147th OSWEGO COUNTY INFANTRY IN THE CIVIL WAR presented by John Flower, November 20, 1962 BEFORE THE SOCIETY IN 1963 THE PREHISTORIC INDIAN CULTURES IN THE OSWEGO COUNTY AREA AS REVEALED BY ARCHEOLOGICAL DIGGINGS AND ANALYSES, presented by George W. Perkins, January 15, 1963 AN OSWEGO BOY AND THE FAMOUS RAID OF PANCHO VILLA presented by Howard E. Johnson, February 19, 1963 CIVIL WAR ESSAY CONTEST presented by Oswego County Civil War Centennial Committee, April 16, 1963 52 OSWEGO FIRES presented by Anthony M. Slosek, March 8, 1963 53 HISTORIC SITES IN NEW YORK STATE presented by Anna K. Cunningham, May 21, 1963 HISTORY OF ST. MARYS CHURCH OF OSWEGO, presented by the Rev. Mr. Robert Hall,, October 15, 1963 73 HANNIBAL'S HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS presented by Gordon Sturge, November 19, 1963 81 Necrology ... 91 IV OSWEGO CITY LIBRARY Dedication Charles McCool Snyder On March 18, 1947, Charles M. wego, at the University of Penn­ Snyder read a paper, "Story of sylvania and at Washington College the Oswego Canal," to the Oswego In Chestertown, Maryland. Since County Historical Society. The fol­ coming to Oswego in 1946, he has lowing year his name, spelled in­ been active in many public activi­ correctly we note apologetically, ties and has served with consider­ appeared in the Society's yearbook able distinction on the faculty of among the list of members of the State University College. His first Program Committee. In 1951, he book, published in 1958. was a study became Recording Secretary, In of Jacksonian politics in Pennsyl­ 1952, Program Chairman, and In vania. 1954, President of the Society. He We dedicate this yearbook to Cool retired as President in 1963 to be­ with our thanks for his leadership, come both a member of the Board scholarship, his energy, his kind­ of Managers and, again, Program ness, and his Interest in our coun­ Chairman. ty's history. We dedicate this year­ During this same time he has book to him as a small acknow­ published more than a dozen arti­ ledgement for the devotion he has cles on Oswego County's history. long given to the best interests of He has also published a biography the Society. Yet It is not really of Dr. Mary Walker and is the enough to say that we dedicate author of the Society's 1962 year­ this yearbook to" Cool because of book. Oswego County in the Civil his past (and future) services, rath­ War. He is currently1 at work' oh er we must Indicate that some por­ $et another volume of local history, tion of this dedication is to him one which will trace the history because he is a cordial example of the Oswego River valley. of the kind of person local history Dr. Snyder is a native of Miff- most needs. His many-faceted In­ linburg, Pennsylvania. He earned terests relate the details of local a B.A. degree from Bucknell Uni­ history to the broad patterns of versity In 1930, and an M.A. from our regional and national heritage. the same school in 1933. His doc­ The Board of Managers of the So­ torate is from the University of ciety Is itself honored to be able to Pennsylvania. He has had high school dedicate the twenty-sixth annual teaching experience in Pennsylvania yearbook of the Oswego County and taught, before coming to Os Historical Society to Dr. Charles McCool Snyder. Annual Report A society Is many people. Any During the past year Headquarters attempt to list the names of the House has received some useful at­ members and officers who have tention. The roof and chlmnleswere contributed time and energy to the sealed and rebuilt where necessary, Oswego County Historical Society's and most of the wooden exterior was activities this past year would sure­ painted. During the coming year ly founder in incompleteness. How­ several changes are planned. A new ever, it would be even more gre- caretaker's apartment will be> con­ vious to fall to thank Dr. and Mrs, structed on the ground floor' of the Charles M. Snyder for their com­ building, thereby making available bined efforts. Both have given so a new room for display purposes generously to the Society in the on the second floor and three rooms past that we shall feel no hesi­ on the third floor for storage, lib­ tancy calling upon them In the fut­ rary and office space. This will ure. Special gratitude should also substantially Increase the capacity be extended to Mr. Frank Sayer, of the building to suit the Society's who has been a cordial volunteer future needs. The room on the in his capacity as Chairman of our second floor which has been used Headquarters House Committee. Ot­ for the display of colonial kitchen her officers and members of the items will be re-opened as a chil­ Society — Anthony Slosek, Adle De- dren's room where selections from Santis, Richard Daly, Grove Gilbert, the Society's collection of dolls John Blrdlebough, Mrs. Hugh Bar­ and toys will be assembled. clay, Dr. and Mrs. Charles Wells, Dorothy Mott, Ralph Faust, Alfred On Saturday, August 17, 1963, Tucker, Mrs. Elizabeth Bates Bow­ the Society's annual tour was con­ les (by mall), Miss Anna Post, Mrs. ducted, this past year to Sackets Harold Dann, Wallace Workmaster, Harbor in commemoration of the Seward Salisbury to name only a 150th anniversary of the battle there. few—have been equally helpful to a Although rain marred the morning, freshman president. The prosperity approximately sixty-five members of the Society is certainly assured of the Society left Headquarters as a result of their continuing In­ House to rendezvous at the block­ terest. house on the Sackets Harbor battle­ field. Brigadier General G. Stanley In October 1963, Mrs. Glenn Ran­ Smith, U.S. Army, retired, conduct­ dall announced her retirement as ed a tour of the battlefield. Mr. the caretaker at Headquarters Ralph Dodge Johnson, President of House. For seventeen years she the Jefferson County Historical So- had given the Society exemplary city, greeted the Society at the service. Our property was secure Pickering - Beach Historical Mus­ in her hands. We hope eventually eum, near the battlefield. The mus­ to fill Mrs. Randall's position with eum's curator, Mrs. Georgia Reed, a person who could be a resident assisted by a number of volunteer curator at Headquarters House. As ladles from Sackets Harbor, show­ the number of our artifacts in­ ed Society members through the creases, greater care and main­ museum, the home of former New tenance of them is reqired and York State Lieutenant Governor Al­ a resident curator would contribute len C. Beach; not only are Beach significantly to the vitality of our artifacts on display, but so are museum. VI many relics of the War of 1812, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Keed, mementoes of General U.S. Grant's and the Jefferson County Histori­ tour of duty at Madison Barracks, cal Society and the Pickering - and other material of local Inter­ Beach Museum for making the trip est. Mrs. Reed also showed the a successful one. group a number of military items The meetings of the past year recently recovered from Lake On­ have been well-attended; our col­ tario by skindivers. Following a lection of historical memorabailia tour of the museum, six old homes has been broadened through the in Sackets Harbor were opened to generosity of the County's citizens; us: the Elisha Camp House, through our membership has increased, al­ the courtesy of General and Mrs. though we would certainly be pleased G. Stanley Smith; the Augustus Sac- to have more members; our summer kett house, oldest home in Sackets tour was a pleasant one. May I Harbor, courtesy of Mrs. Francis take this opportunity to extend an Joynt; the Brewster house, cour­ eager invitation to all persons In­ tesy of Mrs. Basil VanCamp; the terested in the County's history to Holden house, courtesy of Mrs, visit Headquarters House and to Elizabeth Phillips; the Amos Ro­ participate in the Society's activi­ berts House, courtesy of Mrs. Char­ ties.