Most recent newsletter is first.

Looking back on two centuries of public health history in Skaneateles will be the topic for the Historical Society's March program, presented by local pediatrician and public health specialist, Dr. Philip Gioia. A special focus of the program will be Dr. Stephen Smith, a famous physician who was born on a farm in Spafford in 1823, and became a pioneer in sanitary reforms in New York City. In 1872, Dr. Smith was the founder and first president of the American Public Health Association. Dr. Gioia is a 1975 graduate of Upstate Medical School in Syracuse who summered for many years at his family's Skaneateles camp. In 1981 he started his practice in Auburn and last fall opened a Skaneateles office on Fennell Street. Please join us on Tuesday, March 25, at 7:30 at the Creamery, to hear more from Dr. Gioia about the beginnings of public health practice, both locally and nationally, and about native son Dr. Stephen Smith, who played such a critical role.

Judy Bryant has been researching her family and its history for many years. On Tuesday, April 22, Judy will present a program on her family in the context of the search experience. Judy's grandfather, Demsey Bryant, born in New Bern, North Carolina, in 1848, was the son of freed slaves and served in the Civil War. Only 17 when it ended, he headed north and settled in central New York and eventually Skaneateles where he owned five houses on West Elizabeth Street, in one of which Judy grew up. Judy's father, Henry "Hank" Bryant, was a noted local musician and active in Skaneateles community affairs, especially the Lions, and government; her mother, Gladys, was Harriet Tubman's great-grandniece. Judy has acquired the unofficial title of family historian as she has sifted through family memorabilia, visited the town of her grandfather's birth in North Carolina, and done research online and at the Historical Society. She will spotlight the resources and invaluable research assistance available at the Creamery.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 at the Creamery. All are invited.

Because of bad weather, we had to cancel the February program on post and beam barns. We are hoping to reschedule the program, perhaps in the fall. Keep your eyes peeled on this newsletter and the local papers to learn when it may occur.

Several times this past winter we have been surprised, delighted, and relieved to discover that the Creamery porch had been shoveled. (The Village plows the parking lot.) A little detective work determined that Charlie Major and Bill Miller were two of the Good Samaritans, and we thank them for their thoughtfulness and muscle. If anyone else was part of this good work, our thanks to you, too.

1924 – The Skaneateles Village Board denied a move by 83 property owners on Railroad Street to change the name of that street to Fennell Avenue in honor of Martin Fennell, retired boat captain and engineer. The board agreed to change the name to Fennell Street, but not to avenue on the grounds Railroad Street was not an avenue. The board contended that an avenue was a thoroughfare lined with beautiful trees, shrubbery and flowers. Since Skaneateles Railroad runs through Railroad Street, and there were no beautiful trees, shrubbery and flowers, the board refused to name it an avenue.

Thanks to Ken Wooster for spotting and passing on this tidbit.

On April 19, Skaneateles can say that the Village was incorporated 175 years ago, in 1833. At the centennial celebration of the same date, in 1933, there were grand festivities in the Village. I quote from an editorial in the then Syracuse Herald: "It is a wholesome, patriotic sentiment that inspires American villages to recognize their centennial anniversaries with up-to-date celebrations marked by reminiscent fervor. As in the case of Skaneateles Village, demonstrations of this class arouse a neighborhood enthusiasm which the average large city cannot match in point of local ardor." The 100th celebration was a success from every angle; the weather was perfect, and there were thousands of visitors to the Village who were very impressed with the week-long pageant. A temporary museum was set up by the residents in a home on Genesee Street.

A civic holiday was declared by the then mayor, Charles DeWitt; all business was suspended to witness a parade that included a covered wagon driven by a descendant of the Cuddeback family (our first settler). Dr. Alexander Flick, the State Historian, and Judge Frank Hiscock spoke that day. During the week, the Central New York Firemen's Association opened a two-day convention; 210 delegates attended and more then 2000 firemen of the 14 CNY and Southern Tier counties took part in an all-day program. The Skaneateles Firemen also were celebrating their centennial.

In 1983 the Village was to celebrate again, this time for the 150th, the sesquicentennial. Under the wonderful leadership of Dave Chase, Don Stinson, and their committee, events dotted the whole year and a souvenir booklet was published that is used today by anyone who wants to have a quick and easy knowledge of our history. The booklet has been reprinted by the Historical Society and is on sale at the Creamery. Every Village resident should have one in their bookcase. Let me quote from Mr. Chase's foreword to the publication: "This booklet can only touch on the people, events and accomplishments that have made Skaneateles what it is today. I do hope, however, it will stimulate many of you to look further into our rich history and to become more aware of the personalities and the vital additions over the years that have enhanced the quality of living in our lovely community."

So here we are today, the 175th, yes, the quartoseptcentennial. May the word feel right and be easily said by April 19 when both the Volunteer Firemen and the Village will celebrate the day and the year. Happy Anniversary!

Ninety years ago, on November 21, 1918, the Skaneateles Creamery Company transferred its plant and its Benson Street skimming station to the Best Ice Cream Company of Syracuse. The Creamery Company then dissolved and went out of business. The capital stock of the business was $4,000, and it was thought the stockholders would receive about $100 for each $50 share of stock held by them.

With spring and warmer weather right around the corner, the activities in connection with our planned museum expansion are heating up as well. An asbestos inspection has been completed within the old boiler plant that will be renovated to house transportation and boat exhibits. Regulatory approvals for our project have been secured. David Secor of Secor Building Solutions has been chosen as construction manager. Architect Bob Eggleston is steadily progressing with the renovation plans as well as the plans for the connecting wing and the "ice-house" addition. An asbestos removal contract will be awarded in a few weeks. Renovation of the old boiler plant will proceed immediately following asbestos removal.

Our Board of Directors and the Campaign and Steering Committees have been very active sending out letters to prospective donors. We are pleased to report that to date more than 66% of our goal of $530,000 has been reached. We have also submitted applications for grants to federal and state sources as well as to local foundations. At this time we are very optimistic that the generous support we are receiving at all levels will enable us to move directly from the boiler renovation to construction of the two additions.

Doubling the museum footprint will allow for expanded and improved exhibits. Chase Design, Inc. has generously volunteered to help us with the planning of this. The "ice-house" addition will allow us to expand research and archival spaces. A subcommittee of museum volunteers is working on how to optimize the layout of these "back rooms." The current gift shop will be renovated to house our museum director and administrative activities, allowing us to move office equipment out of the public meeting room. The gift shop will be moved to a prominent location in the new connecting wing near the new main entrance to the museum.

As we progress we will provide further updates, but make sure to take the opportunity to stop by and see for yourselves what is happening.

"Firemen of the [18]50s," by William S. White in Skaneateles Democrat, April 21, 1910: To remind firemen of their monthly meetings, "a tin horn of fair dimensions . . . inserted in the nozzle of the long discharge pipe and filled by a few strokes of the breaks [handles] would emit a scream that would cause a lighthouse fog siren to turn green with envy."

"The village fire inspectors have examined the Skaneateles High School [the old Academy] building and will officially report to the village trustees at their next regular meeting. It is rumored that fire escapes are to be recommended from the second floor on the west of the building, and that the oiling of floors will be condemned. At a fire drill yesterday morning the High School building discharged all the scholars to the grounds outside in less than a minute." Skaneateles Press, March 13, 1906.

Ed. note: The high school moved up State Street in 1910 and was there until the fire in 1952 that some people believe spread so quickly because of the oiled floors.

"Fire Alarms Keep Firemen From Senility The Skaneateles Fire Department has had a very busy week this week" . . . In the course of four days, the firemen were called out to seven fires, six of them grass fires and one of them a car fire. "Police have issued a warning to people to be very cautious in the conduct of their bonfires.” Skaneateles Press, April 18, 1958

Architect Bob Eggleston and Steering Committee member Bent Thomsen will present an informational program on our museum expansion project. They will explain the plans for the renovation of the recently purchased former boiler plant at 24 Hannum Street into a boat/transportation museum. They will also present plans for a building that will connect the new museum and the Creamery and an addition at the northeast corner of the Creamery, in an area that was once an icehouse. What will these new spaces be used for? Please join us to find out, on January 22, at 7:30. PowerPoint handouts will be available.

FEBRUARY 26th PROGRAM: EARLY POST AND BEAM BARNS

Rich Haven of Fayette (Seneca County) will speak on "Early Post and Beam Barns and How They Were Constructed" at the February meeting. With hand-hewn timbers and old tools on display, we will see how the barns of the 1800s were shaped and raised. Join us for the program at 7:30 at the Creamery.

1865 NEW YORK STATE CENSUS INDEX

Two of the Society's most dedicated and indefatigable researchers, Jim Dougherty and Ted Prindle, have completed the index for the 1865 Skaneateles census. The index is now on the shelf in the meeting room. Since finding out about their families is the number one quest of people coming to the Creamery, such an index is an invaluable tool for research. Thank you, Jim and Ted, for the countless Saturday hours you put in to this project!

HANDICRAFTER MEMORIES?

Hart Larrabee, grandson of Marshal and Elizabeth Larrabee, is setting up a web page about his grandfather and Skaneateles Handicrafters. If you worked there between 1930 and 1965 and have memories you'd be willing to share, please get in touch with Hart at hart@valley.ne.jp

THE FIRE BELL Beth Batlle, Town Historian

All through the 1800s the large bell tolled for alarms. Anyone knowing of a fire would run to the fire station and ring the bell. Eventually more modern forms of alerting the fire fighters of an emergency were used, such as electrically operated roof top sirens and fire alarm boxes located on utility poles throughout the Village. The last time the bell was rung from the old fire station was October 4, 1964, when the fire department moved down the street to its present location. The brick pedestal for the old bell was constructed in 1975, made of the same yellow brick as the fire station. Inside the base was placed a copper history box: a time capsule of sorts, it contained 1890 items from the cornerstone box of the old fire station, such as a copy of the Skaneateles Democrat and Skaneateles Free Press. Items from 1975 were added, including a copy of the Skaneateles Press and Pennysaver.

Editor's note: If you haven't had a chance to see Lisa Leubner's gingerbread model of the red brick fire house, please make a point of visiting the Creamery to check it out.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Gleanings from 1958 Skaneateles Presses:

THE SURFWOOD ROOM AND BAR UPSTAIRS IN THE TOWN HOUSE REOPENS TONIGHT ••• Our recent fire did not in any way damage our upstairs Surfwood Room. A visit will please you.

THE TOWN HOUSE Jordan Street

RIEDL'S RESTAURANT "Where the chatter is on the platter." 44 East Genesee Street

SKANEATELES GRANGE SUPPER: Tomato juice, chicken and biscuit, mashed potatoes, squash, peas, home-made rolls, brown bread, cabbage salad, pickles and jelly, pie, tea, coffee, milk--$1.50

EARLY SKANEATELES SIDEWALKS Beth Batlle, Town Historian

Early sidewalks in Skaneateles were made of wooden planks. In the winter snow would accumulate, sometimes up to a depth of four feet, making it difficult to walk to the post office or other essential places.

In 1867, Freeborn Jewett opened a flagstone quarry near Stag Horn Point as there was a demand for flagstone to improve the sidewalks in the Village. In 1868, a flagstone walk was laid from Legg Hall to the bridge. Scows were built to carry the flagstone down the lake to the Village. Unfortunately, one of Jewett's scows, "Dunderburg, loaded with flagstone, sank near the coffer dam.

Also in 1867, the Village passed a bill giving the Trustees the duty of seeing that winter snow-and ice were removed from the Village sidewalks, keeping at least one sidewalk on each Village street free from snow. The pathmaster (as the superintendent of highways was then called) used horse-drawn scrapers and plows to cut a path 4-feet-wide early in the morning after a snow storm.

Two hundred dollars from the highway tax funds was to be set aside to pay for the service. E.N. Leslie, in his History of Skaneateles said, "There is no other expenditure of money received from taxation that all the residents get more value from and more comfort from than the cost of scraping the snow from the sidewalks-here in the village." He called this a "Skaneateles invention." This convenience remains in effect today, although of course more modern equipment is now used.

In 1904 and 1905, Village crews began to pour concrete sidewalks throughout the Village. However, at least one flagstone sidewalk remains today and can be found on the south side of the Creamery building on Hannum Street.

"THOSE WERE SOME GUYS" Pat Blackler, Village Historian

Jerry and Tom Shallish came to Skaneateles from Somersetshire, England, in the 1840s, before they were ten years old, two brothers coming across the ocean with their family. The voyage took eight weeks and four days. When Jerry died at 95 in 1926, he was one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of the Village.

When he was 19 years old, Jerry started a plumbing and tinning business and carried on his craft for 71 years. From 1888, his shop had its location in Legg Hall. In his 90s he still ran ads in the newspapers to publish his plumbing business. Jerry was regular and temperate in his habits, working winter and summer in all weathers. He was never intoxicated in his whole life. He was proud of his Masonic record, holding the office of High Priest for 18 years. He was also a Knights Templar and a Shriner.

In the late 1800s, he bought a lot on Leitch Avenue (#10 today), made the plans and built the house. In early 1908, when most men of his age would feel they should take life easy, he wired his home for electricity and installed all the fixtures. "I never turned down a job because I thought I couldn't do it. I took anything that came my way and did it. Copper and tin work, silver plating for carriages, opening safes: I have done them all." (Skaneateles Press, July 13, 1923) He also assisted in putting up the pipe organs in each of the Skaneateles churches. He claimed in a 1923 interview for the Post Standard that people were softer then than they were in the old days. What would he think of us today in 2008?

And what about Jerry's younger brother Tom? The "Laura," for many years the champion sailboat on Skaneateles Lake, was captained by Tom Shallish, carriage maker and sailor. Henry Latrobe Roosevelt owned the "Laura," which had been designed in 1856 by George Steers, who had also designed the "America," the first winner of the America Cup races, in 1851. The "Laura"was built in Skaneateles.

Captain Shallish had a 12-man crew; the "Laura" was a sandbagger in those days. To celebrate her victory in the Inter-Lake races of 1874, Mr. Roosevelt had a picnic on his lawn (116 East Genesee Street) in honor of the winning sailors. The prize was a silver set composed of a teapot, coffee pot, water pitcher, sugar bowl, cream pitcher, and spoon holder. The crew were given gifts of money, but the silver service was given to Tom Shallish. The set is inscribed: "First Sailing Race won by the Laura at the Regatta on Skaneateles Lake, August 20, 1874." The "Laura" was sailed for 75 years on Skaneateles Lake. The silver service is now owned by the Historical Society and can be seen at the Creamery.

Tom died at 71 in 1905; his wife Nancy died five months before her 100th birthday in 1939. Tom and Nancy were the great grandparents of Peggy Palmer Major, who lives on Austin Street. You have some great genes there, Peggy.