Jonathan E. Hoag on Dionondahowa Falls

A running theme of my blog seems to be "While researching something else, I came across this cool thing!" & today's post is no different. I was just searching online for some local suffrage images for a colleague (& myself), when I came across a great virtual cemetery on Find A Grave listing members of the Easton Political Equality Club. I noticed a lot of family names, so I started trying to piece together how folks were related. 

Then I came to Jonathan E. Hoag. & the next person on the list turns out to be his third wife Lydia Martin (nee Dwelle) Hoag. The couple joined the EPOC in 1892, just one year after it's founding. So we have husband/wife suffragists in Easton. Cool! As I start reading Jonathan's bio on Find A Grave, I notice that he was poet & friends with Howard P. (H.P.) Lovecraft! Very cool! Since I just happened to be working in the Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library at the time, I went over to the OPAC & located a copy of The Poetical Works of Jonathan E. Hoag with an Introduction by none other than H.P. Lovecraft.

Jonathan Elihu Hoag of Easton, NY poet & suffragist

Suffragist Lydia (nee Dwelle) Hoag of Easton, NY

Jonathan Elihu Hoag was born in Valley Falls (Rensselaer County), NY on February 10 1831 to Abigail (nee Gifford) Hoag & her husband, Robert Nesbit Hoag. The family, including six other children, moved to South Easton when Joanthan was 8. He moved to Greenwich in 1911, & lived there until his death on December 17, 1927. He was 96 years old, & had outlived three wives.

Hoag wrote poems for family & friends

A brief search of New York Historic Newspapers brought the above clip. Apparently Jonathan was fond of writing poems for family members to commemorate milestones, like his cousin's 80th birthday. There are some such poems in his book, including a few for his mother, and one for his sister Hannah Hoag Balch.

I have yet to read the entire volume of Poetical Works..., & while I have not yet found a poem entitled "An Ode to a Suffragist", I did notice one about Dionondahowa Falls. Please enjoy...

An Ode to the Falls of Dionondawa [sic] 

by Jonathan Elihu Hoag (1917)

Ye towering rocks o’er which the waters fly,

Pray tell me whence ye came and when and why;

Your revered age reveal, your purpose show,

Unseal those mysteries of long ago!

Was it at Nature’s noon that first your height

Rose to the fulgent rays of solar light?

Or was it at the dawn, when nascent earth

Glowed like the nebula that gave it birth?

Speak, hoary torrent of the primal scene,

And trace the course of ages that have been;

Reflect once more that ancient sky, whose rays

Lit the first drops with mist-enshrouded blaze;

Recall each memory, and display the whole

On revelation’s all enlightening scroll!

Tell the long story to yon clinging vine,

On that proud sentinel, the wind-swayed pine;

In whispers tell the tinted flowers that spring

Close to the banks where your swift waters sing;

Tell the green groves by balmy winds caressed,

Where twittering wrens and chirping robins nest;

Why be so loath your secrets to unfold,

Ere time shall leave your gorges dry and old?

Some fateful day the sage will seek in vain,

Where now your ripples run, a numerous train;

And many a weed and thorn will lift its head

O’er the mute pebbles of the arid bed.

So speak, thou cataract, while time remains,

And I will spread thy fame in Doric strains;

Thy wondrous tale to millions shall be dear,

And generations yet unborn shall hear!

When glacial cohorts on the heights arrayed,

In icy wonder watched thy tall cascade;

With deadly purpose scanned thy gorge below,

And stalked with hypoborean skill the foe;

Didst chant a warning, and the glaciers greet

With prophecies of peril and defeat?

On sunny plains to Phoebus wont to yield,

They left their rocky bones strewn o’er the field!

And when the Red Man in primeval pride

In admiration sought they pine-clad side;

In each white spray a Manitou to trace,

And bow before the spirit of the place;

Didst thou to him thy secret then relate,

And tell the copper visitor thy fate!

See Cossayuna, stately, gray and tall.

With question grave, address the waterfall;

“You tell me some,” he grunt, “Me tell you more,”

But naught is heard above the mighty roar.

Then lovely Minnewawa, she whose eyes

Gleam brighter that the stars of midnight skies;

“You tell,” she says, “the many things you know;

“Me tell you Indian lore of long ago.

“Your rocks and torrents, I’ll preserve to fame,

“And your proud falls, Dionaondawa name!”

Then spake the rocks, whose ancient lips so long

Had lain in silence, dumb to speech and song;

With thunderous accents they the records read,

Kept through uncounted years of varied dead;

“Behold our sides, by time’s sharp chisel rent

“When Nature rocked the rising continent,

“Dark were the thick veiled skies, no sound was heard

“Save the black Vulcan’s subterranean word.

“The sooty Cyclops, with gigantic might,

“Heaved up the rocks from realms of Stygian night,

“Plutonian silence and Cimmerian pall

“In hideous mantle shroud and cover all;

“In sunless, moonless, starless, soundless space,

“A new world joins the planetary race,

“Then falls the fiat as the Almighty speaks,

“A rift of light through the deep vapor breaks—

“Sun, moon, and stars their wonted paths assume,

“And ordered heaven supplants the primal gloom.

“We gaze above, where circling seraphim

“Induct a foaming torrent o’er our brim;

“With sprightly grace the crystal waters flow,

“And loud reverberate in the gulf below;

“Through the deep gorge with rushing force to rage,

“And serve the mill-wheels for a future age.

“In days to come a million souls shall reap

“The blessings our tumultuous waters keep,

“And industry, with all her copious store,

“Shall feed the mendicant and clothe the poor.

“Its work complete, the useful stream shall glide

“To where the river meets the salty tide;

“And there the laboring flood at least shall rest,

“Safe sleeping on Old Ocean’s ample breast!”

Dionondahowa Falls from the Easton side looking toward the Stevens & Thompson Paper Mill

While doing a bit of unrelated research... look Kim Gannon!

While doing a bit of unrelated research at NYS Historic Newspapers today, I came across this article about Kim Gannon. 

Greenwich Journal and Fort Edward Advertiser, March 12, 1958, Page 1

Kim Gannon to Testify Before Congressional Committee in Washington

                Mr. and Mrs. Kim Gannon left yesterday for Washington, D. C., where Mr. Gannon will appear before the Smathers congressional committee now holding hearings on an anti-trust bill involving the broadcasting companies’ ownership and control of recording and music publishing firms.

                Mr. Gannon, together with Oscar Hammerstein, Arthur Schwartz and Joan Whitney, were asked to appear as representatives of the song-writing business. The Smathers committee is investigating the monopolistic control the broadcasting companies exercise over what music is published and broadcast, and Mr. Gannon and the other songwriters have been asked to testify as to their experiences in having songs withheld from being published or broadcast.

                After testifying Thursday Mr, and Mrs. Gannon will drive to Florida and then fly to Varadero Beach, Cuba, for 10 days vacation. On their return they will attend the masters golf tournament at August, Georgia, the fisrt week in April.

Greenwich Journal, March 12, 1958

As you can see by the little red rectangle in the image above, I was actually searching the Greenwich Journal for references to Cuba & happen to run across this article. I did a brief bit of digging & found nothing on this particular hearing related to anti-trust in broadcasting & music publishing. It must not have come to much, because even George A. Smathers, the head of the committee, doesn't mention it in his interview regarding his career in the Senate, even though he does say "I think the committee is really the most important assignment that a senator has, and it doesn't take a senator long to realize that it's the committee that he serves on that gives him stature and importance."

Lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, who wrote such memorable musicals as Carousel, The King & I, and The Sound of Music with Richard Rodgers, also testified. As did Arthur Schwartz, composer of "That's Entertainment", and "Dancing in the Dark". Schwartz was also a former lawyer, just like Kim Gannon. Finally, the lesser know Joan Whiney Kramer testified as well. She was a former show girl, singer and songwriter, having co-written songs like "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens".

The Gannon Legacy in Greenwich, NY & St. Lawrence University

On Friday, December 21, 2018 I spoke with Mark Mulholland about James Kimball "Kim" Gannon. I think the reporter from WNYT was just expecting a little story about "I'll Be Home For Christmas" & the lyricist who called Greenwich home. I don't think he realized the impact Kim & his wife Norma had on Greenwich & their alma mater, St. Lawrence University.

To here & read the news cast, click HERE.

"I'll Be Home For Christmas" was originally sung by Bing Crosby in 1943

Below is an article about the Gannons, written by Sandy McReynolds, Gill Room Historian.

The Greenwich Journal & Salem Press

December 18, 2014

Old News
From the Archives of Gill Room
By Sandy McReynolds, historian

The Gannon Legacy

Gannon in 1934 as an Albany Law School graduate

I’m sure by now many have read numerous articles over the years in regards to James Kimball Gannon. This article is intended for those that are unaware of the connection between Greenwich and the gentleman behind one of Christmas’ greatest songs. Kim and Norma Gannon have become household names over the last decade due in part to the generosity of Mrs. Norma Gannon. Upon her death on April 1, 2000, Norma had left a sizable endowment for the purpose of providing programs and services for the youth of the village to better themselves and their community. 

James Kimball “Kim” Gannon was born in Brooklyn on November 18, 1900, to parents James H. and Harriet Kimball Gannon. After graduating high school, James eventually found himself at St. Lawrence University where in his senior year of 1924, had written a song that would become the schools alma mater, on campus it is referred to as “The Scarlet and the Brown”. It was also during this time when Norma Allen came into his life and the two eloped.

It was in 1929 when the couple had made their way to Greenwich and James began work in the local office of the New York Power & Light Corporation. Working in the office wasn’t enough and in 1931, he began Albany Law School. While in school, he began work in a law firm in Ballston Spa and commuted from Greenwich. Deciding to move again in 1933, he and Norma settled in Ballston Spa. The following year he graduated and passed the New York Bar exam. During all of this, he began hosting a show on Schenectady’s WGY radio station under the name of Johnny Albright. Entertaining was in his blood.
Finally in 1939, he relinquished the idea of practicing law and pursued his true path in the musical world. James and Norma moved once again, this time to New York City where he found work writing lyrics for other composers, and eventually catching the attention of Warner Brothers, who signed him to contract in 1942. Hollywood came calling next and he and Norma headed to the West Coast. It was here that he began to mingle with the stars of the day usually out on the golf course, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope most notably. He was hired by other studios to work on projects as well. 

Kim Gannon’s work has been heard in nearly 30 films, and what is rarely heard about is, some use of his songs has been used in cartoons. Several Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck cartoons from the Warner Brothers collection have included his songs.

However it is the 1943 classic written with Walter Kent, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” that has endured. It is hard to find anyone that in this day and age that has not heard of this holiday song as there have been over 200 version recorded by artist of all genres. Bing Crosby was the first to record the song and it appeared on the flip side of another of Crosby’s classics, “White Christmas” in 1943. The following year “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” became the most requested song at USO shows by the soldiers of World War II. Two decades later on December 17, 1965, the Crosby recording became the first ‘request’ (by astronauts James Lovell and Frank Borman, Gemini 7), that was broadcast into outer space.

Other songs of Gannon’s have been recorded by such artists as, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Cab Calloway, Jimmy Dorsey and Tommy Dorsey Orchestras, Dick Haymes, and Johnny Mathis. His final song to be recorded was “I Want to Be Wanted” by Brenda Lee in 1960.
1949 saw the Gannon’s return to Greenwich. Though NYC was from where Kim worked from, they spent their off time back here in the village. Changing things up a bit, he and Walter Kent collaborated on a Broadway play “Seventeen”, writing thirteen songs for the show that was produced by comedy great Milton Berle. 

Kim Gannon wrote the lyrics to the Broadway Musical "Seventeen"

Upon his retirement from the entertainment field, it was Greenwich where Kim and Norma made their home. An avid golfer, Kim spent many hours at the Battenkill Country Club. They were both active members of the community and supporters of Mary McClellan Hospital. A plaque was placed in memory of James Kimball Gannon in the East Wing after his death.
They spent winters in Palm Beach, Florida and on April 29, 1974 it was there that James passed away. He was buried here in the Greenwich Cemetery, with the words “A Song Is Forever” engraved upon his headstone. 

Norma Gannon spent the remainder of her life in the village that she loved. Mrs. Norma Allen Gannon passed away at home on April 1, 2000, and is also buried in the Greenwich Cemetery. It was upon her death that an endowment was left for the youth of Greenwich. Though it did not become publically known until 2006 that she had done so, the Gannon Trust consisted of mutual fund investments valued at approximately $800,000; 14 acres of village property, a value of nearly $100,000; and continuing royalties from song copyrights. 

An organization was formed and named Citizens Committee for Greenwich Youth, Inc. (CCGY) to represent the youth and to oversee the usage of the trust as Mrs. Gannon had intended. The first project was the repurposing of the village seasonal ice rink to a year round activity center for the young children. In 2009, Gannon Park was dedicated to coincide with the village bicentennial. This “pocket playground” was designed with the small children of the village in mind. A whiffle-ball field “Little Fenway”; playground equipment; basketball courts; and the favorite among the visitors in the hot summer months—the splash pad (which was added in 2010). Two scholarships have also been created for graduating seniors, the James “Kim” Gannon Scholarship for Performing Arts and the Norma A. Gannon Memorial Scholarship for Community Service. 

For the kids that fall in between the very young and the seniors, something else was needed. A youth center was created and opened in June of 2011. Gaining in popularity yearly, the Greenwich Youth Center (GYC) has added hours and programs to accommodate the needs of the kids in grades 3 to 12. The newest item to be added to the center is the radio station, WGRE 105.1, the kids have been creating and broadcasting podcast on the radio equipment. Whenever the center is open, the youth flock to it, as there is always something going on. Looking at the number of local youth that utilize this program proves beyond a doubt that the CCGY has been fulfilling Mrs. Gannon’s wish.

The Gill Room & Battenkill Inspired

Sandy McReynolds, Gill Room Historian, is not one to appear on camera, but Hannah DeGarmo can put even the most behind-the-scenes type of person at ease. Learn about all of the treasures in the Gill Room at Greenwich Free Library.

I hope you enjoy the video. Currently, all of the Battenkill Inspired videos can be seen at kiosks at Crandall Public Library, & Greenwich Free Library. Or you can view the videos on the Folklife Center's YouTube channel. There are currently 28 shorts, including films on Cliff Oliver, Susan B. Anthony, Eddy Plow Works, & Bob Warren.


"Battenkill Inspired: The Flow of Creativity, Ingenuity, and the River" celebrates art and culture throughout the Battenkill watershed. Videos are released weekly as part of the celebration of the Folklife Center's 25th anniversary and Crandall Library's 125th year. . Filmed, Directed, and Edited by Kevin Rogan, Sara LaPell, Hannah DeGarmo & Todd DeGarmo Opening & closing music composed by Benjamin Phelps Closing image: "River Reflections" by George Van Hook www.georgevanhookartist.com Produced by Todd DeGarmo 2017 based on the exhibit, Battenkill Inspired Folklife Gallery January to June 2015 Funding for this project came from a 2017 Corridor of Commerce Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Additional support was provided by: New York State Council on the Arts - Folk Arts Program Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust Helen & Michael Casper Fellowship for Internship Support

Bob Warren & Battenkill Inspired

Bob Warren has been a part of the local music scene for many years. He is also great at turning local history (his song cycle of Susan B. Anthony) & the local community (Greenwich: The Musical) into entertainment! He is also a patient & talented producer, with a studio in his home along the Battenkill.

I hope you enjoy the video. Currently, all of the Battenkill Inspired videos can be seen at kiosks at Crandall Public Library, & Greenwich Free Library. Or you can view the videos on the Folklife Center's YouTube channel. There are currently 28 shorts, including films on Cliff Oliver, Susan B. Anthony, Eddy Plow Works, & the Gill Room.


"Battenkill Inspired: The Flow of Creativity, Ingenuity, and the River" celebrates art and culture throughout the Battenkill watershed. Videos are released weekly as part of the celebration of the Folklife Center's 25th anniversary and Crandall Library's 125th year. . Filmed, Directed, and Edited by Kevin Rogan, Sara LaPell, Hannah DeGarmo & Todd DeGarmo Opening & closing music composed by Benjamin Phelps Closing image: "River Reflections" by George Van Hook www.georgevanhookartist.com Produced by Todd DeGarmo 2017 based on the exhibit, Battenkill Inspired Folklife Gallery January to June 2015 Funding for this project came from a 2017 Corridor of Commerce Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Additional support was provided by: New York State Council on the Arts - Folk Arts Program Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust Helen & Michael Casper Fellowship for Internship Support

Cliff Oliver & Battenkill Inspired

Cliff Oliver is one of the best people in Greenwich. His provocative slave narrative photographs, which utilize the Battenkill river, will stir your soul. & if you ever have the chance to catch one of his re-enactments of Solomon Northup of Twelve Years a Slave fame, take it.

Cliff (Harlem Hellfighter) & I (Suffragist Cyclist) at the 2018 Whipple City Days parade

Cliff Oliver as Solomon Northup

I hope you enjoy the video. Currently, all of the Battenkill Inspired videos can be seen at kiosks at Crandall Public Library, & Greenwich Free Library. Or you can view the videos on the Folklife Center's YouTube channel. There are currently 28 shorts, including films on Bob Warren, Susan B. Anthony, Eddy Plow Works, & the Gill Room.

Twelve Years is a Long Time to Hope, 2014 redwork embroidery by Tisha Dolton 

"Battenkill Inspired: The Flow of Creativity, Ingenuity, and the River" celebrates art and culture throughout the Battenkill watershed. Videos are released weekly as part of the celebration of the Folklife Center's 25th anniversary and Crandall Library's 125th year. . Filmed, Directed, and Edited by Kevin Rogan, Sara LaPell, Hannah DeGarmo & Todd DeGarmo Opening & closing music composed by Benjamin Phelps Closing image: "River Reflections" by George Van Hook www.georgevanhookartist.com Produced by Todd DeGarmo 2017 based on the exhibit, Battenkill Inspired Folklife Gallery January to June 2015 Funding for this project came from a 2017 Corridor of Commerce Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Additional support was provided by: New York State Council on the Arts - Folk Arts Program Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust Helen & Michael Casper Fellowship for Internship Support

Susan B. Anthony & Battenkill Inspired

If you follow this blog, or are from Greenwich, NY & the surrounding area, you know that famed suffragist, Susan B. Anthony spent much of her early life here along the Battenkill river. I have mentioned her numerous times, but two of the more interesting posts are Happy Birthday Susan B from 2013 & Susan B. Anthony Memorabilia from 2015.

The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library has created a bunch of 2 minute shorts about various aspects of the Battenkill. It couldn't be done without mentioning one of it's most famous daughters.

I hope you enjoy the video. Currently, all of the Battenkill Inspired videos can be seen at kiosks at Crandall Public Library, & Greenwich Free Library. Or you can view the videos on the Folklife Center's YouTube channel. There are currently 28 shorts, including films on Cliff Oliver, Bob Warren, Eddy Plow Works, & the Gill Room.



"Battenkill Inspired: The Flow of Creativity, Ingenuity, and the River" celebrates art and culture throughout the Battenkill watershed. Videos are released weekly as part of the celebration of the Folklife Center's 25th anniversary and Crandall Library's 125th year. . Filmed, Directed, and Edited by Kevin Rogan, Sara LaPell, Hannah DeGarmo & Todd DeGarmo Opening & closing music composed by Benjamin Phelps Closing image: "River Reflections" by George Van Hook www.georgevanhookartist.com Produced by Todd DeGarmo 2017 based on the exhibit, Battenkill Inspired Folklife Gallery January to June 2015 Funding for this project came from a 2017 Corridor of Commerce Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Additional support was provided by: New York State Council on the Arts - Folk Arts Program Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust Helen & Michael Casper Fellowship for Internship Support

Eddy Plow Works and Battenkill Inspired

In 2013 I wrote a brief blog post about the Eddy Plow Works here in the village of Greenwich. This year, after seeing that blog post, Hannah DeGarmo, who was working on a series of short videos for the Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library, contacted me about speaking on camera about the Eddy Plow Works. I agreed & we met on the Easton bank of the Battenkill River near the recently restored, & currently for sale, Eddy Plow building. We basically did my speaking portion in a couple of segments & decided on a filming without a script. I tried to speak in a conversational manner...

I hope you enjoy the video. Currently, all of the Battenkill Inspired videos can be seen at kiosks at Crandall Public Library, & Greenwich Free Library. Or you can view the videos on the Folklife Center's YouTube channel. There are currently 28 shorts, including films on Cliff Oliver, Bob Warren, Susan B. Anthony, & the Gill Room.



"Battenkill Inspired: The Flow of Creativity, Ingenuity, and the River" celebrates art and culture throughout the Battenkill watershed. Videos are released weekly as part of the celebration of the Folklife Center's 25th anniversary and Crandall Library's 125th year. . Filmed, Directed, and Edited by Kevin Rogan, Sara LaPell, Hannah DeGarmo & Todd DeGarmo Opening & closing music composed by Benjamin Phelps Closing image: "River Reflections" by George Van Hook www.georgevanhookartist.com Produced by Todd DeGarmo 2017 based on the exhibit, Battenkill Inspired Folklife Gallery January to June 2015 Funding for this project came from a 2017 Corridor of Commerce Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Additional support was provided by: New York State Council on the Arts - Folk Arts Program Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust Helen & Michael Casper Fellowship for Internship Support

Suffrage School in 1917

A bunch of us have been getting together to research the suffrage movement in Washington & Warren Counties in preparation for this year's New York State Suffrage Centennial. We even formed a committee to create events, like last month's Suffrage Rally in City Park. I thought I would share this article from The Post Star, March 22, 1917 which mentions some women from Greenwich & Easton participating in a suffrage school. Suffrage schools were created to educate women about civics, politics, and economics, so that when they finally got the right to vote, they would be knowledgeable voters.

GREAT INTEREST IN SUFFRAGE SCHOOL

Large Attendance is Source of Much Satisfaction to Leaders

At the Hudson Falls Suffrage School yesterday afternoon delegations were present from Greenwich, Easton, Fort Edward and Glens Falls, and the sesion was most interesting. Miss Elinor Byrns, dean of the school, gave a talk on suffrage, history and there was an argument by Mrs. Sophia Sisson of Easton who read a splended paper on pioneers. Remarks were made by Mrs. L.V.H. Gill and Mrs. Herbert Van Kirk of Greenwich. An information discussion closed the meeting.

Practical campaign instructions and drill in answer question occupied the first period of the evening session. These were followed by addresses by Miss Byrns and Mrs. Mitchell.

This afternoon addresses will be given by Miss Byrnes, and by Mrs. Brodie G. Higley, secretary of the Washington County branch of the new York State Suffrage Party, and one of the presidents of the Hudson Falls Political Equality Club, who will speak on Why Women Want to Vote.

The Rev. S. K. Emurian of Fort Edward will deliver an address at 8 o'clock this evening on Consecration to a Cause.

Tomorrow afternoon the Rev. O. D. Kellogg will conduct a class in Parliamentary Law, and on Friday evening Leroy V. Chew, editor of the Salem Press, will speak on Suffrage and the Press.

The large attendance at all sessions of persons who have hitherto given little heed to the equal suffrage cause, is a source of much gratification to the suffrage leaders.

Suffrage School in Wisconsin*

Thanks to the researchers at the Chapman Historical Museum who found this particular article.

Photo source: *http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/WIReader/Images/WER1372.html

Susan B. Anthony Memorabilia

All historians have a focus. & many of them have a reason for that focus. My particular research focus is the Suffrage Movement, & one of the main reasons is because Susan B. Anthony lived, with her family, in Battenville here in the Town of Greenwich for a number of years.

Here is a look at some of my personal suffrage memorabilia collection, with a specific focus on Susan B. Anthony.

Post card of Susan B. Anthony's birthplace in Adams, MA

Post card of Susan B. Anthony's birthplace museum, Adams, MA

Flyer, sticker, and button from Susan B. Anthony Days, 1970

Susan B. Anthony finger puppet

The Susan B. Anthony finger puppet  can be purchased from The Unemployed Philosopher's Guild.

Susan B. Anthony Doll by Hallmark, 1979

Susan B. Anthony envelope and stamp postmarked 1936

This stamped & postmarked envelope was unopened & appear to contain something inside. Being curious, I used steam to loosen the glue & open the envelope without damaging any of the paper. This is what I found...

Found inside Susan B. Anthony envelope from 1936

I wonder what items will be created for the upcoming NY state Suffrage Centennial in 2017, or the US Suffrage Centennial in 2020! #ny4suffrage

*All items presented here are from the private collection of Patricia F. (Tisha) Dolton

Rough & Ready: Part One- Fire Extinguishers

My fascination with glass fire extinguishers goes back to my days as a site interpreter with the San Diego Historical Society (now the San Diego History Center). One of the house museums I gave tours of was the Villa Montezuma, an amazing Queen Ann Victorian built for an eccentric, Spiritualist pianist named Jesse Shepherd. In the basement kitchen, lining the counter, were a number of brightly colored "bottles" filled with clear fluid. They were fire grenade fire extinguishers.

I hadn't seen more of these beautiful glass fire extinguishers until I stepped into the Rough & Ready Firehouse Museum in Greenwich, NY during the Whipple City Festival in 2010, but I didn't have a camera with me (& I wouldn't own a smart phone for another 3 years). So, last month, I made sure I walked down to the museum during Whipple City Days to snap some pics. Gary St. Mary met my mom & I outside & walked us around the main floor talking about the various artifacts, & chatting about the locals, then & now.

Rough & Ready Firehouse Museum, Greenwich, NY

Fire grenades were invented in England in the late 1700s & became very popular in the US when Alanson Crane obtained a patent around 1870. They were used widely for the next 40 years until gradually replaced by metal canister extinguishers filled with refrigerant. The idea behind the glass fire grenade extinguisher was simple. A glass container was filled with fluid, typically carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) until it was discovered to cause respiratory problems, & was changed to less effective salt water. Thrown at the base of the fire, the fluid spilled from the broken container, & extinguished the flames.

Harden Hand Fire Extinguisher Company of Chicago, IL

Harden Hand Fire Extinguisher Company of Chicago, IL appears to be the most common of these US made extinguishers. They are typically blue in color with either a quilted diamond pattern, or a star with vertical ribs. They were generally one pint or 1 1/2 pints in volume.

The red "light bulbs" a common extinguisher from 1900-1920, & came in a six pack. These had a spring release that would cause a metal arm to break the glass when the fusible link melted in the fire. 

Fire extinguishers at the Rough & Ready in Greenwich, NY

 For more information check out the Antique Shoppe. & be careful if you have any of these glass fire extinguishers. You probably won't know if you have one filled with a potent chemical like carbon tetrachloride. So handle with care. A leak could require a HazMat Team.


This post is Part One in a series about the artifacts in the Rough & Ready Firehouse Museum in Greenwich, NY.

Linen Thread Donation

I saw some familiar faces at the Battenkill Inspired exhibit a couple of weeks ago, but I also met some new people! One such person was Nancy Hand Higby, a garden designer from Salem. Nancy told me that her great-grandfather worked at the Dunbarton Mill & she had a bit of linen twine. Would the Town be interested in having it? Of course, I said "Yes!" & here it is...

Spool of linen twine from the Dunbarton Mill, Greenwich, NY

Nancy writes, "This spool of linen thread was given to me by my grandmother, Florence Wallace Hand, whose father managed the Dunbarton Mill where the thread was made."

In looking through William T Ruddock's book Linen Threads and Broom Twines... Volume 2- The Directory, I was able to find the man in question. James Wallace was born to Hugh & Elizabeth (nee Hunter) Wallace in Loughbrickland, County Down, Ireland (now Northern Ireland) in 1859. After graduation, Wallace spent 7 years at Dunbar, McMaster & Co. in nearby Gilford. In 1888, he was promoted to General Manager of the Dunbarton Mill in Greenwich, NY & married Jennie Arnold. The couple had one daughter, Florence (Nancy's grandmother). Mr. Wallace also held important positions after leaving the Dunbraton. He was director of the Mahican Pulp & Paper Company, Consolidated Electric, & the Adirondack Trust Company. He died in 1909 due to complications after contracting ptomaine poisoning. His wife, Jennie, died in 1940. (pp.376-8)

Ruddock's 2 volume set about the Dunbarton

For more information on the Dunbarton Mill & the people involved, I highly recommend William T. Ruddock's 2 volume set, Linen Threads and Broom Twines.

Greenwich Artifacts on Display at Crandall Library

When Todd DeGarmo, Founding Director of the Folklife Center, asked me if I had an artifacts pertaining to the Batten Kill to round out his exhibition I had to step back & think. As a public historian, not a museum, or historical society, I don't collect objects. This is mainly because there is little to no place to store anything properly, but I looked around my office & found a few items.

As you can see from the images below, there was a bit of adjustment until the objects were finally set, & the labeling complete.

First stage of setting the objects for display

Adding some maps

Some of the artifacts are from Hollingsworth & Vose Co. The paper company still operates two factories along the Batten Kill in Greenwich & Easton, has made many different kinds of paper products over the years. Featured here are automotive filters, paper used at the top of drapes, and a disposable bed sheet.

The layout is taking shape with maps, images, & labels

Also included is a painted serving tray attributed to the American Tea Tray Co, linen broom twine attributed to the Dunbarton Mill, & parts from the Eddy Plow Company. (There is an Eddy Plow on display, but it is not owned by the Town of Greenwich.)

To see the completed exhibit, which includes much more than the artifacts seen here, stop by the Folklife Gallery at Crandall Library during regular library hours. Or, better yet, come to the Open Reception on Thursday, March 12, 2015 from 5-7 pm. RSVP on Facebook.

See you there!

Battenkill Inspired exhibition at the Folklife Center of Crandall Public Library, Glens Falls, NY

1907 Diary of Malinda Reynolds: Part One

Ther.    Tues. Jan. 1, 1907    Wea. Warm
Annual dinner & meeting at Ch I worked in kitchen
Ma down to meeting
seats sold in --- --- called at ------ Teffts -----most all gone

 Ther.    Wednesday 2          Wea.cold
Mr. S Homidia sick
I called at Cronkites  & Mr Dannings Re sick
I --- to meeting --- St John ---------


 Ther.    Thursday 2            Wea.Cloudy
and rainy at Ch all day
Julia and I  Hate Coffee
I cooked an -------- quilt
send down to office in eve

First diary entries

So begins the arduous task of transposing a diary...

Town of Corinth Historian, Rachel Clothier, contacted me via my Facebook page a couple of weeks ago. She had come across the 1907 diary of one Malinda A.C. Reynolds of Greenwich, NY at a local antiques sale. She said I could borrow it for my blog.

Malinda Reynolds 1907 diary

Diary entries from October 1907

It's a small diary. Smaller than a 3"x5" card when it's closed. The writing is kind of difficult to read because it is small, the ink has started to fade, and there is some of this cross writing as seen above.

I need to do a bit more research in the Gill Room. Hopefully I will have more information in the coming weeks. In the mean time, if anyone has any info on Malinda Reynolds, please leave a comment below, email me (toghistorian@nycap.rr.com) or shoot me a message on Facebook.