The Museum is Open on Saturday!

The Old Town Museum on River Road in Eaton, will be open on Saturday from 1 - 3 pm.  Come Down and learn some History!....

You know history does march to a different drummer in Eaton.  I live here and marvel at the fact that on every corner of the Hamlet... once called “Eaton Village”… history lived.

The very spot where we usually host our event on Memorial Day Monday - Eaton Day…and our lectures…is one of the town’s historic places…a place  of national importance actually…for it is the site of the birth of the Camelback Key and Sounder for Morse’s telegraph!  Yup.. in old Eaton, New York.

Early Sounder

If you go behind the old auction barn building you will find the spot where Samuel W. Chubbuck did all his experiments … a place that was his father’s Mechanic Shop.  Samuel Chubbuck and his family moved to Eaton, then called Log City, very early and his son Samuel it was said could fix anything.

Samuel eventually became noted for his many ideas, which include not only telegraph equipment but also the modern battery post used in our cars, lift bridges, and so much more.  If an idea came to him in a dream he took no patent on it as he believed in came from God.

His camelback key is actually patented to his cousin Charles Chubbuck?  I have always wondered if he gave it to Emily Chubbuck’s father to give him some income… (His family was very poor.) Oh yes did I mention Emily Chubbuck Judson…the missionary known also as the famous writer “Fanny Forrester”… was his cousin. And yes, the brook that wanders behind Samuel’s work spot is the brook that she made famous in her “Alderbrook Tales!”

Anyway Samuel went on to become a very famous and rich man who gave lectures all over the USA as Professor Chubbuck.  It is interesting to note that one of the men he influenced with his theories on “electricity” who gave him credit was Thomas Alvah Edison.  Chubbuck’s company made all of the early equipment for Morse’s Telegraph…something that modernized news and communication.

A humorous piece on his family is noted in Luna Hammond’s history of Madison County:

“After the Skaneateles turnpike went through, there was need of better tavern accommodations; Mr. Samuel Stow, therefore, built and kept a tavern on the corner opposite the lower hotel. Samuel Chubbuck, living opposite to him, carried on a blacksmith shop. These two men had by some disagreement become violently opposed to each other. In a spirit of competition, Mr. Chubbuck was a staunch Democrat, and this was a time soon after the war of 1812; so upon one side of his attractive sign board was displayed the dying words of Commodore Lawrence, as a motto, --- "Don't give up the Ship!" --- and on the other side, "Free Trade and Sailor's Rights!" Mr. Stow immediately erected another blacksmith shop to match Chubbuck's, which stood very near where Coman's store is, and swung out his sign directly opposite to Chubbuck bearing these words: "Don't give up the Shop!" and on the reverse side, "Free Trade and Mechanic's Rights!" --- alluding to his neighbor's giving up blacksmithing for tavern keeping. Those unique signs hung out for many a year. “

PS   If you didn’t ever hear of this piece…it was because S F B Morse was and ego-maniac and took credit for everything he could!

Historic Travel videos for Mohawk Valley Talk

Here are a bunch videos you can view to plan your trip along the Mohawk

and if you. click subscribe you can see all of my blogs on the talks we gave.

Here are a bunch videos you can view to plan your trip along the historic Mohawk Vally trail.... 

Palatine Church part of the Mohawk Valley History

This week has been busy with stacking wood and getting ready for winter & our upcoming Talk on the Mohawk Valley at the Old Auction Barn next to the Eaton Post Office on Route 26 in Eaton at 6pm..  In In my heart however, I wanted to be on the road again visiting my favorite places for fall travel...The one I love the most is the old Palatine Church on the historic Mohawk trail to Albany near Nelliston.  I take people to it whenever we are driving by.... it is probably the most notable German Palatine structure in upstate New York.

Rising off the highway it stands on a hill near a spot that was once the settlement of Fox’s Mills. The limestone church dates to 1770 when it was erected by the subscription and the labor of a number of families in the area. The Garoga Creek, which flowed near by, provided waterpower for a number of mills and businesses in the small community, now gone which is today called Palatine Church.

Most notable among the families of the area was that of Hendrick Nellis who not only donated the land it stands on, but helped build the church with other community members.

Nellis and his grandson however remained loyal to the Crown at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War and had to flee to Canada. Other members of the family remained so typical of the division of loyalties at that time.

History has it recorded that in October of 1780, when the Tory forces under Sir John Johnson dropped down from Canada with the allied Native Americans to burn the farms and harvest of the valley, the church was saved by a British Officer who stopped it saying he had promised Nellis.

The site is also a historic marker site as it was the camp of the American Army under General Van Rensselaer after winning the Battle of Clock’s Field retreated to this site to make camp. Van Rensselaer refused to pursue the Tory forces, an act for which he was later tried for treason.

Today the church has been restored including its famous raised pulpit with sounding board and has had its organ rebuilt by noted organ builder Robert S. Rowland. Rowland built it in the style of old colonial organs. The inside has many historic artifacts on display as well as a rare 13 star American Flag that was found during the renovation.

Visitors from all over the world come to what is today call “The Shrine of Lutheranism in the Mohawk Valley”, and all passing it on Route 5 still admire its Colonial beauty! I love it!

The timeless beauty of Fort Klock Reminds us of our Historic Past

I did a talk last week on the Battle of Oriskany and thought about all the wonderful remnants of that. period of our settlement,  That night I thought about the burning of the Mohawk Valley and all the wonderful history day trips we can all take to celebrate our 250th year.

A trip to Old Fort Klock near Johnsville on Route 5, is a great way to revisit New York States historic “past.” The L shaped stone farmhouse served as a Fort in two different Wars, the French and Indian as well as the American Revolution. Built in 1750 by Johannes Klock one of the many Palatine Germans who populated the area, Fort Klock actually saw one of the last skirmishes of the Revolutionary War on October 19, 1780 at the Battle of Klock’s Field, also referred to as “The Great Raid”.

The Fort and grounds have been restored and new farm buildings erected in the Dutch style so that the Fort Klock Restoration, the group that now runs it, can keep it open yearly from Memorial Day to Columbus Day for visitors to learn of its unique history.

It is written that many famous personages of the time including Chief Joseph Brant, General Clinton, Alexander Hamilton and King Hendrick, were all guest within its walls at one time or another.

Fort Klock, was built on a hill overlooking the Mohawk River and just above the King’s Highway (now the railroad bed). For protection against raiding Indians it contained “loop holes” so that it could be fortified by long rifle from within its walls during raids. It served as protection for other settlers in the area during these times. Its formidable stonewalls that are two feet thick could ward off munitions as well as fire.

The story of the many raids that took place from Canada are featured in the book “The Burning of the Valley” by Gavin K.Watt”, a wonderfully researched book with a story and maps of the famous “Burning of the Harvest at Klock’s Field”. Humorously, the book gives us the view from the British– Canadian raiders side. So few of us realize that many of the Mohawk Valley settlers who remained loyal to the Crown had to flee to Canada, leaving their homes behind and that many of these settlers participated in these burning raids as retribution.

Fort Klock (actually there were more than one) was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, being listed as – “A site of exceptional value in commemorating or illustrating the history of the United States.” And as that, it truly is a place worth visiting!

  

Day Trip to Old Fort Johnson

Take a Trip back in time to 

                 New York's Colonial Past!

Old Fort Johnson located on Route 5 near Amsterdam, New York

A writer for the Rome Daily Sentinel in 1930 wrote that people in their automobiles are traveling miles to see and visit historic sites of the American Revolution such as Valley Forge, Lake George etc. when all they have to do is take a ride down old Route 5 from Utica to Albany. Today that statement is as true.

For a wonderful history lessen a trip down old route 5 today will bring you to historic sites including Fort Stanwix, (Schyuler), Fort Klock, Fort Hunter, and Old Fort Johnson.

Damaged by a flood, the National Historic Site reopened on August 11, 2012 and greets visitors with a history that spans time from 1743 to today.

The Fort was built by Sir William Johnson who came to America to help his Uncle Peter Warren with his land dealings... eventually becoming the “Superintendent of all the affairs of the Six Nations and other Northern Indians.” Johnson occupied the Fort until he built Johnson Hall. The Fort was the site of Indian treaties; it saw the meetings of the great tribes and Sachems of the Iroquois Nations.It is the home that he occupied with Molly Brandt and the place that Joseph Brandt would leave to go to the white man’s school.

The block style home has a varied history as it passed from William Johnson who then passed it to his son Sir John Johnson. John Johnson had married (Mary) Polly Watts who came from a distinguished family of Colonial times. It had a progression of owners until in 1905 when the home was purchased by Mary’s relative General John Watts de Peyster and was presented as a gift to the Montgomery Historical Society... who still own it today.

A French spy traveling the area in the 1750’s gives us a wonderful description of the old fort. “Col. Johnson’s mansion is situated on the border of the left bank of the River Mohawk; it is three stories high; built of stone, with port holes (crenelees) and a parapet and is flanked with four bastions on which are some small guns”.

Today the Fort still has its colonial nature and still stands as a reminder of our colonial past. Its shining demeanor invites us to “step back in time” with a special grace that few spots do today, and a visit is a great way to learn about a man who worked tirelessly to keep upstate and the Mohawk Valley in the hands of the British.

The Deaf White Cat that came in from the Cold!

                                                                        Whitie

 I have had so many cats that have wandered in to get a free meal and in many cases help, I can't remember them all.!  One such cat is "Whitie", he is mostly white and is mostly deaf.  He wandered in with blood on him and was starving. Nobody claimed the poor fellow and all he wanted was food and a place to sleep!  It was the dead of winter this past year and I found he would hide on the back porch under the chair,,,it was freezing out there.  

This summer he has turned into a good looking white cat but only wants to eat and be in the house, which is driving my house cats crazy.  What I need is  to find a home for him.  He is fixed now and someone would have a great, friendly, and very gentle cat.  Humorously, Whitie is the opposite of my blind black cat Willie... so I wondered if maybe we should start a "disabled cat ranch" down here!

Please if you can find a home for White you will have no trouble... only a food bill and I can have a happy home again in my kitchen!  The thing that worries me the most is the upcoming winter weather as once again the porch will be freezing cold and an electric heater will be unaffordable with this years  electric rates.

It reminds me of  "The Cat who came to Christmas" by Cleveland Amory.  I am the "Curmudgeon" that seems to always gets stuck feeling sorry for them, mumbles under my breath, and then finds love from them...  Animals unlike people who want everything...new cars, fancy phones, overpriced houses... only want a home and food...and I might add "...they show much love back.

This is the reason we founded our "not for profit.  4 Community Cats Inc".  This is our way of helping to control the animal population in our little area and to put a website out with information on vets, neutering and spaying, and health tips..Please help us help the community and cats like White!

4CommunityCats.Inc.   We have a go Fund Me Page or you can mail check to 4 Community Cats Inc in care of 5823 Brooklyn Street, Eaton, NY.   https://gofund.me/7356f605 

We are a NYS and Federal Not for Profit Charity!

Winston Churchill and his Love of Cats and Me!

Here is the story of my family home, Winston Churchill and a famous cat called Jock!

Winston  Churchill’s mother was Jennie Jerome, a beautiful American who actually has great ties to CNY.  The Jerome Family farms were in CNY and the land that my family built its house on was part of the Jerome Farm…home of Jennie’s grandmother.  

Thoughts of the Jerome farm led me to ponder the fact that for Christmas one year I gave my brother the gold watch dad had given me...he had found the old gold watch in the family garden as a young man...a garden that would later become the family compound of homes.  Repaired and running, I thought it was a great family history piece and a great present.

Churchill was supposed to come to speak at a family reunion in Syracuse once, but had to turn back
because of the presence of U Boats. He did send a telegram to the family group assembled…a piece of history I learned from the Wood-Eaton sisters who visited me years back in Eaton.  They were relatives and were to be at the reunion and remembered the trip well.   The woman had come to Eaton to visit their great grandfather Allen Nelson Wood’s house, the house,,,the house I live in.  Isn’t it strange how life is full of so much serendipity?

Mr. Wood was named for Allen Nelson Wood...Nelson for Lord Nelson a hero his family honored with the name for many generations…and then suddenly my grey cat Rascal jumped in my lap…hint …one of Winston Churchill’s most famous cat’s  (grey) was named Nelson to honor Lord Nelson.

Churchill was a cat lover, actually an animal lover.  Winston and his wife Clementine signed their love letters to each other with little drawn pictures…he a dog (Pug) she his cat...and their daughter the PK or puppy-kitten.

His cat stories are famous and many can still picture him speaking with a drink in one hand and the grey cat next to him. One story I love is... after one of his famous speeches (he had a lisp as well as drank) a woman MP in Parliament said, “Sir, you are drunk!”  His replay was “Madame that may be true, but in the morning I shall be sober whereas you will still be ugly!”

His favorite cat in later life cat was a ginger-marmalade colored cat he called  “Jock”, named after Sir John Coville his secretary who gave it to him.  Churchill loved the color and the cat so much that after giving his home Chartwell to the National Trust… he stated in his will that it should always have a ginger colored cat in residence…and to this day it does…and always named appropriately “Jock”.

Great piece of history don't you think...

Please help us get the funds to spay and neuter this years drop offs go to our go fund me page or mail a check to 4 Community Cats inc. a charity 502 3 c.

https://gofund.me/7356f605: