“It’s hot and dry: we need rain!” “Haven’t we had enough rain, yet?” And so it goes - it’s SUMMER! Hop vines are about to pull down their poles! Cardinal Flowers are starting to bloom. The best place for viewing is along the banks of the Sangerfield River in Nine Mile Swamp.
Get Well Soon wishes to Pat Mangan, who was hospitalized for a few days a week or so ago, and also to Mrs. Gallagher and Mr. Lew.
The New York State D.O.T. Paving of Rt. 315 has left more than a few residents wondering if the engineers did, indeed, have a plan! Some sections of the new surface are well above or below the abutting sidewalks or lawns and both drainage and mowing are an issue.
There’s an oversized sign in the front window of the former Scerbo building announcing that SUBWAY is coming! That was a rumor about a year ago - possibly, this time, it will become a faît accompli! There’s rumor, as well, that a coffee shop/diner will be opening at MACs and the writer has been advised that next week’s issue of The Waterville Times will hold an announcement about the future of the Bank Building.
Less than three weeks ‘til the Madison-Bouckville Antique Show - August 18th and 19th - and “Picnic Tables” and “Blueberries” top Rotarians lists!
Thursday the 26th the Waterville Red Hats (Crimson Bonnets) held their monthly luncheon at the Buffalo Head Restaurant in Foresport. Mrs. Martin writes that, “The drive was long but worth it for around 26 members. We ordered off the menu and all were more than satisfied with our meals. We were invited to Flo Fabrey's home (only a few miles from the Buffalo Head) for a cool beverage on the deck and a boat ride around the lake. It turned out to be a very pleasant day and we thank Flo for arranging this outing.”
And recent discussion about the history of the Borden Milk Plant on Osborn Avenue - or South Street, as it was then - prompted this reply: “Hi Times. I enjoyed the write-up about the old Borden’s plant. My dad worked there when I was a kid. On clear days you could hear the milk cans being loaded and unloaded, all over town. We used to play up on the beams when it was under construction (but) one of the kids fell and got hurt badly that stopped that game. I used to go help my Dad pick up milk on the routes. (He used Steve Manion's big flatbed stake truck, about a 39 Chev) . I remember Doug Elliott's farm ( Nine Mile Swamp). He (Doug) would lift the full cans up onto the truck with one hand, and never break a sweat. Now we go to a gym to ‘try-to’ stay in shape, and I forgot what I had for breakfast. Respectfully ...gil condon”
As mentioned last week, the current issue of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America’s magazine, “Generator & Distributor,” held a photograph of the Norm Hanna Chevy Dealership that was once located on Sanger Avenue and several people have offered interesting bits of history about ALL of the dealerships that were located there! (People DO love to “talk history!”)
The Editor and Publisher of The Waterville Times certainly had a memorable week: leaving Waterville last Wednesday morning she drove northward to Canada and set out on a 300-mile loop, travelling those miles on her bicycle! She sent E-mail Greetings last Thursday, saying: “I've done 90 miles since leaving H2Oville Wednesday morning. 10 of those were on the fantastic Burlington Bikeway in Vermont. The rest has been on Route Verte 1, from Granby west to Montreal. Tomorrow I head east on the north shore of the St. Lawrence toward, but not to, Quebec. The loop I'm planning is 300 or so miles, if my kilometers to miles calculations are close. Mostly a flat and hard dirt surface, interspaced with blessed pavement. The 60 miles today were tough after the first 30; not a cloud in the sky and most of the trail is open. I stopped a couple of times for ice cream and water. I am now about to go out and explore a bit of Old Montreal, with the idea of dinner and cold drinks in mind.
Mr. Donald Brown of Sanger Avenue has been adding to his front entryway and at Mrs. Davis’ residence, farther southward, the “enclosed” part of her front porch has been removed. Results in both cases are most pleasing!
Travellers are leaving and returning from places near and far. The Writer is currrently on vacation near Alexandria Bay and, so, there will be no column until August 15th (unless the staff of The Waterville Times provides one!)
Timely, August 15, 2007
We are delighted to be able to relay this Special Greeting to Waterville which has been sent, with love, from Dot Cowen in Rochester by way of her wonderful friends, June Richmond and her daughter, Terry Tanner! They visited her recently, and report that Dot keeps track of goings-on, here, through The Waterville Times and “In Timely Manner.” (And from the Writer back to Dot: a big “Thank You!” and a hug!!!)
There were lots of hugs and greetings all around the village, too, when people caught sight of the O’Dowd Kids! When Stephen comes home from Tel Aviv, which is about once a year, they all gather in Waterville: John, who lives in Amherst, New Hampshire, couldn’t make it, but Michael came from Chicago and Mary Margaret from Maine and David from Boston! The writer, herself, had the great pleasure of talking with David and his partner Hershel up at “Roc’s” and meeting two of Stephen’s children, Lliam and Caitlin. Caitlin will, in fact, be returning to this area very soon when she begins her first year at Hamilton College!
Myrt and Bill Furness, who live on Osborn Avenue, received a most delightfully unusual Christmas present, last year: gift-wrapped in Best Wishes, their children gave them Bill Vetter and his house-painting crew plus ladders and paints and brushes and a promise that Bill would get there just as soon as painting season started! And now their home is a lovely shade of pale green. (If you get a chance, ride by and see how nice it looks!) Myrt and Bill would like to thank Joe and Claudia, Sandy and Dick, Nancy and Dennis and Linda and Dan for this unexpected and beautiful gift! And they send their thanks, also, to Bill Vetter and his crew for all their hard hot-weather work.
On Wednesday August 8th the Garden Club members had a Picnic meeting at Bonnie Dobmeier’s home on Frog Park Rd. The food was outstanding, including shish Kabobs cooked by John. Eventually the eating did subside but it had proved so invigorating that members enthusiastically planned the fall schedule which included participation in Cruisin on September 22nd.
The Book Group has been reading “Desert Queen - The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia” by Janet Wallach but the Book Group meeting, which was to take place last week, was canceled because the only two members who were in town had already discussed the book with each other!
“Fever & Thirst,” by Gordon Taylor - available at the Waterville Public Library - is about another historically noteworthy individual most of whose lifetime was spent in the middle east. But the name of Asahel Grant, medical missionary, is more familiar to many of us than Bell’s: Grant was born 200 years ago this coming Friday, the 17th, in the farmhouse that still stands half-way down the Grant Road hill between Hanover and Maxwell Road. That homestead is indicated by an Historic Marker placed there by the Marshall Historical Society.
Now, American Flags fly from all of the telephone poles along Route 12 from the northern boundary of the Village all the way to the village limits at the south. And a resident of Barton Avenue proudly adds that all of the homes on that street also display “the colors” - either as flags or banners.
Only during the month of August can worshipers attend services at Historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church - established in 1797 - at Paris Hill. This year’s series, already under way weekly at 4:00 each Sunday, continues as follows: August 12 - Celebration of the Connecticut heritage of the founders; August 19 - Celebration of the New York heritage of the parish and Bishop Hobart; August 26 - Celebration of David Pendleton Oakerhater, Deacon and Missionary to the Cheyenne, who trained for ministry at Paris Hill. (His feast in on the Episcopal Calendar, September 1st.)
Maureen Wratten and her daughter, Lindsey, spent a week in Paris -Paris, FRANCE, that is - doing as much sightseeing as they possibly could and having a wonderful and memorable time!
Patty Louise and her daughter, Mary Kate Gannon, spent last Wednesday in New York City playing “tourists.” That was the day that the flooding of subways had turned traffic to turmoil - there was a two-hour wait for cabs! - and so some places they’d hoped to visit were put on a “next time” list. However, they did a lot of walking; went to the Museum of Modern Art, had lunch at Lindy’s and then dashed over to the Gershwin Theater for a matinée performance of “Wicked,” the Tony-award-winning smash hit musical that tells “the untold story of the witches of Oz!” - all a very special Graduation Present for Mary Kate.
Members and friends of the Waterville Travelers Club went on an outstanding bus trip, last week. Because members had been studying “Rivers” during the year, “Tours by Design” planned the trip accordingly and proceeds went to the fund for the scholarship that the organization always presents at Graduation. The “Dutch Apple Cruise” on the River departed Albany and proceeded downstream to Castleton-on-the-Hudson where an AMTRAK obligingly roared through. The Cruise included a very good lunch and there was an excellent commentary throughout two hour excursion. From there the group proceeded to the New York State Museum where most were drawn to the 9/11 exhibit. The next stop was at the Johnson Hall State Historic Site, in Johnstown, where a superb introduction was appreciated. The last stop was at “Gems Along the Mohawk,” in Herkimer, for a meal or shopping. A 12 hour day filled with interest and enjoyment.
The Writer’s vacation at Alex Bay, while hardly that intellectually edifying or culturally enriching, was still a great delight to the traveler who did some sightseeing on her own that included the must-do, two-nation tour on the Uncle Sam sternwheeler, exploration of a mansion or two, essential souvenir shopping and - midway between Waterville and the St. Lawrence - a ride through the “Maple Ridge Wind Farm,” west of Lowville, where there are about two-hundred windmills. Should readers wish to see that site for themselves, they will find it easily if they follow Route 12 to Lowville and watch for the “Stewart’s” store on the left at the corner of Stowe Street. As the clerk in Stewart’s told me, “You just take Stowe Street, right there, and keep going. Go past a four-way STOP and keep goin’ straight an’ pretty soon you all’ll be in Windmill Heaven!”
A nice letter to the Writer from Cindy Gallagher of Sangerfield reads, “We wanted to let folks in the area know that Gallaghers’ Farm will not be selling sweet corn this year. We truly miss providing the service to our town but physical ailments on behalf of one of the major "pickers" (Cindy) caused Paul to make the decision that the work is too taxing for the time being, so he didn't plant any for his wife to sell. We hope that people will frequent the many other places to buy fresh vegetables such as Pryputniewicz family on Rt. 12, Savicki's Farm market on Rt. 12, Moshers’ market below Bouckville and the local Farmer’s Market. If the Gallaghers have extra from this year's small and late plantings, Kristen Gallagher may sell some at the Farmer’s Market.” Cindy added that ”Roseann Gallagher is currently in the Lutheran Home for rehab following her most recent stroke. She is in room 216 and is improving daily. Would appreciate continued visits and calls from friends. This lady won't be still for long - has already attended bowling at the home and has visited Mrs. Belfield, also a new resident. Hopefully she will be home in 2-3 weeks.”
We’ve been told that Lois Newsom, recovering from surgery, felt sufficiently well to visit friends and play a little bridge and that her game is better than ever. (Way to go, Lois!)
And the same “Congratulations!” to her granddaughter, singer Lucy Savage! See story elsewhere in this issue and see Lucy tonight (Wednesday) appearing with her dad’s band at the Concert in the Park!
This coming weekend: it’s the 36th Annual Madison-Bouckville Antiques Fair 18th and 19th. If you go, remember to look for the Rotarian’s Food Tent - it should be right smack in the middle of the field under the big sign, just like always!!!
Also this weekend: there will be a huge Garage Sale on Friday and Saturday, from 9 - 5 at 1518 Hanover Road sponsored by 15 Boy Scout Families. The purpose of the event is to raise funds so that the boys can attend “SeaBase” in Florida next Spring. Nicki Suba, Garage sale coordinator and host writes: "The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base is owned and operated by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America to offer unique educational aquatic programs to our members. Located in Islamorada, the heart of the Florida Keys, the near shore reefs offer unparalleled opportunities for long term and short term programs year round." The boys will be sea kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling and participating in every other activity you could do on a spit of sand off the Florida Keys. “It is a great opportunity for our boys and we are working diligently to make it happen. Thank you in advance for considering our cause!”
From several very reliable sources we have word that a new Coffee Shop will open in the former “Macs” around the first of September and that it will be operated by sisters Theresa and Angie Davis and managed by Angie. (The writer remembers the delicious muffins that Angie baked when the Sweeney family operated the establishment, there, and will eagerly be waiting for more!)
Timely, August 22, 2007
Some of the days, last week - and before that brief spell of real Autumn - were so perfectly blue and beautiful that the Writer joined the many others who wished for weeks of the same. Goldenrod and tansy, Joe Pye weed and Boneset, and now the first of the Fall Asters bloom and crabapple trees are covered with little red dots.
The Gardens at the Waterville Public Library are at their finest! The several varieties of hemorocallis, hydrangeas in white, blue and pink, bright phlox and hollyhocks, heaps of gloriosa daisies, roses in bloom and new mounds of mums all made a lovely setting for a small gathering that took place there last Tuesday afternoon. At that time, the members of the Board of Trustees and Library Director Jeff Reynolds presented to Mrs. Howard Lally, the generous benefactress who has provided for the garden and its upkeep, an impressive wooden plaque designating the area as the Howard H. Lally Community Garden. Two small metal signs, similarly worded, were placed conspicuously in plantings. Mrs. Lally was also given an album containing some photographs taken in the garden by PsBrown and then spent time admiring plants, chatting, posing for pictures and enjoying refreshments - lemonade and an elegant selection of treats - that were served - where else? - beneath the garden pergola.
Lance and Sharry Whitney of “Mohawk Valley Living,” along with program host Richard Enders, will be in Waterville today (Wednesday) filming the “AFTER” views of the village. When they were last here, nearly two years ago, the “BEFORE” films showed not much more than mud and dust! Sharry said that videographer Lance hopes to be able to duplicate some of those views to show the changes that have taken place. With new sidewalks and pavers, he Rotary “Town Clock,” Victorian lamp posts and trees - “Just wait ‘til they see us now!”
The demolition of Putnam Hall - a.k.a. “the Knitting Mill” - on the corner of Putnam Street and Conger Avenue was commenced last week, and by Friday all that remained of the frame addition to the brick structure was a pile of kindling. A steady stream of villagers - looking for all the world like mourners at a funeral - passed by, taking a last look or photograph of an old friend and watching as even the boiler - dated 1864 and weighing an estimated 15 ton - was removed. As of this writing, a larger piece of equipment was expected to reach the site on Monday morning, and the beginning of the end for the fine old building would follow soon thereafter.
In addition to those who knew exactly where to look for the Rotarians’ food tent in the center of the big field, the 36th Annual Bouckville Antique Show drew thousands of other antiquers and just plain curious gawkers to the area over the weekend, slowing traffic on Route 20 but making up to restaurants and motels in business what was lacking the 51 other weeks of the year when they didn’t come. One need not have gone that far, however, to find a fine selection of antiques and other treasures: offerings at a Boy Scout Rummage Sale on Hanover Road ranged from lovely old rocking chairs to skis to computers to household goods and clothing and toys and Very Good Lemonade at a very reasonable 25 cents! In Sangerfield at the Antique Exchange, extra tents and tables appeared on the lawns and there was even an enticing display of more treasures at the foot of Craigfoot Road!
Last week we mentioned that Mrs. Gallagher was in Room 216 at the Lutheran Home and now a kind reader informs us that her neighbor, in Room 215, is Mr. Bill Lew and that both of them would love to have us visit or send cards!
The Annual BOOK SALE at the Library is in progress, this week, and everyone who emptied shelves to supply the sale is now happily taking home new books to fill shelves up again!
Quite a few of the “youngsters” whom we have enjoyed seeing behind cash registers and counters at Foodking and Dairy Isle are leaving to go back to college, and we wish them all a very good year!
Emily Alcott, returning from a summer job in Colorado, made a brief stop at her home in Pleasant Valley before continuing on to New Hampshire where she will start a new job with the Appalachian Mountain Club “right next to Mt. Washington!”
The Brouillettes of Barton Avenue entertained Missy’s sister and her daughter for two weeks, and her parents - also from Florida - will be along later in the season.
There’s something going on at the Car Wash! Suddenly, last Friday, part of the roof was removed, giving an entirely new meaning to the sign that read “OPEN!” Fortunately, other bays remain in working order so no one need be seen driving a dirty automobile!
And - speaking of “horseless carriages,” - a very inventive gentleman whose name we do not know but whom we must admire has been testing just such a device out on Hanover Road. The machine has four wheels, a buckboard seat, steering rod and braking device. I do not know the power source, but it certainly does make alot of noise! The driver/inventor declared that he was “Just having fun!” I wonder if that’s what a Mr. Snell thought, too, when he invented an automobile here in Waterville in 1900. His reached a startling 15 m.p.h. and The Times reported that that speed was considered “too fast for our roads!”
Lots of refurbishments have been taking place at the Burback residence on Sanger Avenue and, while the Kloster-Northrop & Bentz Funeral Parlor on Main Street gleams with fresh white paint, the color of choice on Sanger Avenue seems to be “coffee ice cream with French Vanilla trim - as first seen on Mrs. Davis’ home and then on the residence at #202.
Mark your calendars!! On Thursday, August 30th, the community at large will be treated to Roc-Star Ice Cream by the staff of First Niagara Bank at their branch office at 129 West Main Street between 1:00 and 2:00 P.M. How nice!
And a personal ”Thank You” to the gentleman who, tho he sounded so gruff and angry when he ‘phoned The Times wanting to know “Who writes that column!?” that the receptionist refused to tell him! Actually, he wasn’t angry at all - at least not about the content of “In Timely Manner” - and simply wanted to pay the Writer a compliment - which she accepts, with pleasure!
Timely, August 29, 2007
“The Mill.” Who would have thought that in its last days, as bricks and mortar crashed to clouds of dust and the wooden trusses above the third-floor ballroom finally fell, so many mourners would have gathered there. Some from curiosity came - and stayed - and as stories were swapped about the day when the first railway train came (1867) and the elegant parties and concerts that took place there and, of course, days of “piece work” when a 1-cent raise was impressive the scores of cameras and cellphones clicked and hundreds or thousands of pictures were taken.
“Are you going to get a brick?” asked one; “I’ll write on it where it came from and put it on a shelf with others,” said another.
Yes: it was a nuisance; and Yes: it was dangerous. It had to come down. Everyone agreed. But it was sad.
Jeff Reynolds, Director of the Waterville Public Library, has invited photographers to post their prints of that historic event on the library’s Gallery Wall. All they need do is take their photographs and some thumb tacks to the library and place the pictures on the display panel, themselves. This should make a startling exhibition - between the color and black & white and digitally enhanced views, we will want to look carefully at all of them.
One very pleasant note: the writer had an opportunity to speak with the gentleman who seemed to be directing operations at the demolition site and his son, the “claws” operator. They’re both named “Philip” and they both think Waterville’s outstandingly nice and they want to come and live here!
The corner of Putnam Street and Conger Avenue may have been the ONLY place in town that the film crew of “Mohawk Valley Living” and host Richard Enders did NOT visit when they came to town last week to film for their Sunday morning program. The show - sort-of an “after” view of Waterville that was preceded a year-and-a-half ago by a visit during the great highway reconstruction project - included a climb to the bell console in the tower of the Masonic Temple, a tour of he Library - new since the last time they were here - a stop at the office of The Waterville Times, lunch at the New York Pizzeria, a look at the action at the Skate Park and a spur-of-the-moment visit at the Karram residence on Tower Street. (They did not realize, when they were there, that that lovely home was another one of mill-builder George Putnam’s creations.
Glen Carroll, Vice President of ParTech International, wasn’t able to watch “Mohawk Valley Living,” but he wrote from Singapore to say that he follows “the blog” because it’s nice to keep in contact with home whilst traveling. “I shared the link to the blog with his offices in Australia so that they can have a better grasp of the people from the area of the company.”
If you haven't found “the blog” online, yet, you can either search Google for “at home in the Huddle 2” or type
Walter, “Jr.” Bartlett was in town a week or so ago, visiting Jack and Darcy Ruane and his sister Dottie in Stockwell. A few days later he E-wrote that, “The Old Town looks great and I can't wait to come down for deer season!” But then he went on to say that down at Bailey Lake there was lots of garbage that is being left on the shore and asked if I could bring it to someone’s attention that we should pickup after ourselves! “Broken bottles plastic and just a mess left on the bank in a big pile. Fished there over the years and this is the first time ever I have seen anyone do this. Great week and weather except for one bad storm that wiped out a row of trees at Dotties. All my Best to my friends that are still in the hometown.” (When I went to look at the trash he’d described, it was gone. It’s a shame that it was there in the first place!)
The “Crimson Bonnet” report has just arrived, thanks to Sandy Martin, who writes: The Waterville Crimson Bonnets held their August get together at Gems Along the Mohawk in Herkimer. About 15 of the members had lunch at the Waterfront Grille. As always the meal and the service was great. After lunch the members browsed the 62 specialty shops there that showcase many of the manufacturers of the Mohawk Valley. Some did more than browse - some made purchases. Our September meeting will be held at the Trackside Tavern on September 20th.
A large sign has appeared in the window at “Hap’s,”the new restaurant at the corner of Main Street and Buell Avenue. “Opening Saturday, September 1, 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 P.M. Good Home Cooking!” it says. There’ll be a crowd there, I bet!
Don’t forget to go to First Niagara between1:00 and 2:00 on Thursday for your FREE servings of “Roc Star” ice cream!
Are you counting the days or hours until the schoolbuses roll? I’m unaware that the students are as eager as some mothers and grandparents are! The good news is: faculty and staff go back to work next Tuesday. The return on Thursday - and that is (from the The Time’s Wednesday publication date) only 7 days; or 168 hours; or 10,080 minutes! It’ll go fast - you’ll see. And before you know it, it’ll be June, again!
The writer plans to take another bit of vacation, and so there will be no column on the 5th but “Timely” will return on the 12th!
