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!

  

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:

Chenango Canal, Eaton, Ellis Morse, and New History

Some interesting information on the Chenango Canal!

     “Dear Sir: I am waiting very impatiently for instructions from the committee whether to remain here and try to get the bill through or return home and let it take its course.”  This excerpt is from a newly discovered letter written on March 18, 1835 from Albany by Robert Henry of Eaton.

     Eaton had introduced an Act in Assembly on March 13, 1835 to make the proposed West Branch Feeder of Chenango Canal navigable to the Hamlet of Eaton.  In a letter to Ellis Morse and others from Carbondale, dated January 23, 1835, we find that Mr. William McAlprin had made an estimate of the cost involved and found that of the two routes proposed, one using “Pettis’s Pond” the other the proposed feeder, that they would be about the same both in distance and in lockage and in cost. ($20,000 for one $21,000 for the other.)

     A main factor involved with the success or failure of this plan, however, must be somehow realized, it was politics.  Though this feeder would certainly benefit the public interest (which was a main criteria in the Legislative Act), the politics that were still somewhat in power at that time and involved with the Chenango Canal (though supporters of this venture throughout) was the Anti-Masonic Party.  

The Anti-Masonic movement in New York State had gathered great political force and power, and it was well known that Ellis Morse and Eaton had remained a hot bed of loyal Masons who had remained active while other lodges and orders had closed from political and public pressure.  This canal improvement would have made it easy for Ellis Morse’s (high ranking Mason) large distillery in Eaton to get needed grain and for him to ship his product.  I believe that this is why the act was not passed!

     Eaton would latter connect to the canal via Peck’s Port and an area now referred to as “Fiddler’s Green.”  Peck’s Port in its prime had as many as four barges docked at one time.  Peck’s Port was literally the most active port on the canal because of the Town of Eaton goods and businesses.

     The Chenango Canal opened in May of 1837 with limited success which gained and waned as the years went on.  Some of the original problems included porous canal walls which had to be sealed (flooding occurred in the basements of some communities where the canal was put through its many streets because of the loose soil.) higher loses of water through lock gates that became less than tight when closing because of sediment and loose gravel and, the inability of the Canal Authority to accurately gauge the tonnage of the canal boats, since there was no weight locks on the cnal and the shipper’s figures had to be used.

     In spite of this all, before 1859 the canal ran quietly with ordinary repairs and maintenance of its bridges and tow banks.

     The 1860’s, however proved costly as extensive repairs could not be more to the dilapidated locks.  J. P. Goodsell the Resident Engineer of the Middle Division of the State Canals in his 1861 report said: “I have made a personal and thorough examination of all the locks upon this canal and find that those from the summit (Peck’s Port) North which are built of lime and sandstone of that vicinity, have retained their original proportions entire, with the exception of a few of the lower wings.

    

Rev. William Dean & the Missionary Movement

The missionary movement of the early 1800’s was very much a part of our local history, and doing the research on it has been interesting and informative. While on my search for information on the different missionaries from the Eaton area, I came across an interesting bit of information on the Reverend Dr. William Dean.

 I knew of his fame but was never able to put words to it.  After much searching and reading I came across a site on the Anniversary of the Hong Kong Baptist Mission which marked in 2002 their 160^th year.  There smack dab in the middle, was the honored story of the Reverend William Dean and his wife.  

I did some more digging and have come up with a wealth of information that links him to many things in the missionary movement.  In the biography of Emily Chubbuck I found out that it is Dr. Dean who baptized her when as a young women she was finally formally entered into the Baptist Faith.  Dr. Dean was also the corresponding secretary as a young man for the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution.

 In an interesting letter that was sent to Dean as recording secretary was a reply by Andoniram Judson, American missionary to Burma.  In the letter Judson says:

     “I feel called upon to answer, for you ask my advice on several important points.  There is, also, in the sentiments you express, something so congenial to my own, that I feel my heart knit to the members of your association, and instead of commonplace reply, am desirous of setting down a few items which may be profitable to you in your future course.  Brief items they must be, for want of time forbids my expatiating.”

The rules basically covered rules for those contemplating the missionary life.  Among them are remarks that include his telling them to come out to the missionary field for “life” not just for a limited term.  He also gives them information which I still laugh over and my women readers will enjoy-please read:

     “In choosing a companion for life, have particular regard to a good constitution, and not wantonly, or without good cause, bring a burden on yourselves and the mission.”

We can only assume he had what he considered “good cause” when Judson married for the third time a very unhealthy young lady by the name of Emily Chubbuck!

 William Dean was born in Eaton, N.Y. on June 21 of 1807.  Eaton had just become a town and early settlements were started in 1793, so his family was one of the early residents.  Dean being a brilliant student went on to attend the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution, which became Madison University then Colgate University.  In 1833 he was ordained a Baptist minister and sailed for Siam to become a missionary for the Baptist Missionary Union to the Chinese in Bangkok, arriving in Thailand in 1835.  

Of note* He received his confirmation just before he “Baptized Emily,” we learn this from her biography!  Dr. Dean was the first pastor of the Baptist church organized there in 1837.

 In the year 1842 he moved his labors to Hong Kong where he founded a Swatow-speaking Baptist church in 1843.  Dean remained in Hong Kong until 1845, when he returned for a year to America.  Dean returned to Hong Kong and continued working in the missionary field there until 1865.

His worked included publication of mainly translations and tracts on the Bible to the Chinese language.  Many of them were translations of the New Testament in part and unbelievably some early texts were printed by local printers (in Chinese) using wooden blocks.  

Dr. James Pratt - Eaton's First Physician & Teacher

In 1797 Eaton’s first teacher and physician made his way to Eaton.  At that time Eaton was no more than a “log city” with promise for the future.  Dr. James Pratt and three brothers settled in Eaton and Dr. Pratt, though eminently qualified to teach at a college level, commenced to teach school for the settlers’ children.

The schooling would take place at the homes of different prominent men in the area, with the students boarding at that house while school was in session.  The first month it was at Joseph Morse’s house (the first Morse house at the foot of what is now Hamilton Hill Road), the next at the home of Joshua and Waitstill Leland at Leland’s second house at the pond, and the third at the Thomas Morris residence in Morris Flats (which become Morrisville).

James Pratt was a member of the Madison County Medical Society and in 1806 was its’ Treasurer.  In 1808 he became the Justice of the Peace and was an early member of the Congregational Church.  This church, established in 1805, was located in Eaton Center Which no longer exists.

One of the young Morse students he taught was later to become his much younger wife.  Eunice it is said, took a long time to transform herself in the Doctor’s eyes, from student to wife.  Theirs was the first marriage in the new Stone Morse Mansion and they resided in the red house on Route 26 which,  was noted by a New York State Historic marker, both house and the marker have disappeared from history.

     It is believed that Dr. Pratt was killed by robbers while traveling with a large amount of money and word of his death took much time in arriving because he was traveling in disguise, as many wealthy people did in those days, to prevent such an occurrence.

     Humorously, in reading certain historic records it is important to make sure that you are reading about the right person.  This is true in the early Eaton record books as in Eaton at the same time, 1807, there was indeed another James Pratt.  James Pratt was a tavern keeper in the village from 1805-1807.  This James Pratt was a Juror in 1828, and was a member of the Anti-Mason delegation in 1829. Since we know that this James Pratt died in 1836, at the age of 68 and is buried at Madison Lake, we feel that we are right in assuming that Dr. James Pratt was the man killed by thieves, especially with Eunice’s letter to her family from the west saying, “…that it is true about my poor husband.”

     Dr. Pratt’s three brothers, one of whom he taught and who traveled with him during the school year, were all Physicians.

O & W & Midland Railway & Historic Bonney Farm

Still standing in Eaton on Route 26 is the old O & W Depot Building. 

This unique structure has remained in place and in use, with a short exception, since its original occupancy.

The building was erected on a piece of property considered one of the hamlet’s first farms, settled in 1794 by Levi Bonney. Bonney needs to be celebrated in a new NYS Historic Marker to replace the old stating that he was the first to come to this valley and stay. Some say he was Eaton’s first founding father and he claimed that he was Eaton's first abolitionist.

The depot is situated near the first road, “the Indian trail,” and by what became in the first decade of the 1800’s the plank road known as the Georgetown Turnpike and a stones throw from the Skaneateles Turnpike.  These roads were built by the Morses and the businessmen of the area and used to transport the early products of the area. 

The Georgetown turnpike was used to link Eaton with the Chenango Canal. The hamlet itself boasted Madison County’s first creamery, cheese factory, and the county’s first distillery, which became the very successful Empire Bottling Works.  It was also home to the nation’s 3^rd steam engine company, then A. N. Wood, later renamed the Wood, Taber & Morse Steam Engine Works.

As these businesses, with others, grew in importance, the necessity for better transportation brought about the need for the community to have its own stop on the railroad circuit.

The Midland Railroad (New York, Ontario and Western) was an important part of the Hamlet of Eaton’s business for freight as well as for passenger transport.  Nobody pushed harder for its building than Wood, Taber & Morse.  The company was swelling as a business and became what is considered the largest traction engine company in America by the 1880’s with it’s introduction of the first 4-wheel drive steam traction engine.

On January 11^th, 1866, the New York, Ontario and Western was chartered, after much political pressure in the legislature to secure funding, on August 29^th—the first passenger train was run on the main line for the purpose of transporting hop pickers.  It was drawn by Engine #4, with Edwin Williams the Engineer.

By October 20^th, the last rail was placed in Eaton, and on that Wednesday evening the last spike was driven.  Mr. Ezra Leland, one of the first settlers of Eaton still alive, was allowed to fire 

the first cannon blast to celebrate its completion.

Eventually, this site became the home of one of the largest milling companies in this part of the state, Moses and Cronk.

In 1957, the last piece of freight on the railway arrived; a ladder from Sears and Roebuck for Huber Cramphin.  When the train left so did the O & W service to Eaton.  It is said that the rail rise in Eaton was the steepest railroad grade this side of the Rockies.  The small rail station building is standing today.

Melville Landon - Known to the World as Eli Perkins

If traveling near Eaton in the late 1800’s, you might have gone out of your way to see an oddity as noted here in HOUSE BEAUTIFUL MAGAZINE. 

“Eli Perkins Japanese Bungalow at Eaton is a unique summer home. It looks up and down the Chenango Valley for miles, and it is so pretty that travelers go out of their way to see it. Outside and inside it looks as if it had been dropped down from feudal Japan. The lawn is dotted with huge Japanese vase and porcelain lanterns, and scampering around them were a half dozen sacred Japanese dogs. Inside are Japanese servants dressed in the costumes of old Japan, and when they walk around porcelain curios, bronze storks and ugly dragons from Kyoto, the visitors think they are in the “Flowery Kingdom” 

Melville Landon was born in Eaton, N.Y., 1839, he was known under the pen name of Eli Perkins. Landon attended Madison University (now Colgate) and graduated from Union College in what was called the ‘war class of 1861.’ 

After graduating from Union College, he went to Washington with other Union graduates. After Fort Sumpter was fired upon, he assisted in organizing and then serving in the famous Cassius M. Clay battalion, which bivouacked in the White House, War Department and Capitol until the Seventh New York Regiment and Fifth Massachusetts marched through Baltimore to Washington attaining the rank of Major. During the War he was asked to take over two seised plantations that he ran to prove that free men would work harder than slave labor.

It is recorded that he passed many an hour in a literary rendezvous, under a Fifth Avenue Hotel, with many of his celebrated friends, Atemus Ward, Petroleum V. Nasby, and Josh Billings.  

He became friends with the Emperor of Japan and was given 4 scared dogs that he bred in Eaton and gave away for fundraisers, one of which is buried in the Eaton Cemetery. The Eaton Museum has much information and artifacts on him, as well as a book I wrote as a fundraiser that contains his humor. 

Landon became the President of the New York News Association and attained much wealth, spending his later years traveling to raise money for the YMCA & Civil War Veterans and their wives, spending summers at his Eaton Bungalow. 

His family home and his Japanese Bungalow are still standing on Landon Road today, and he is buried in the Eaton Village Cemetery at the top of the steps that lead to Landon Road. His beautiful Coptic cross monument, erected by his wife has an hourglass carved into it with the words. 

“HE MIXED REASON WITH PLEASURE AND WISDOM WITH MIRTH”. 

The Sage Tavern - Missing Markers & Log City

Isaac Sage built the first tavern on the site of Eaton village in 1802; it was situated on the corner opposite the site of the later Exchange Hotel  (now apartments) and remained standing for over one hundred and fifty years.  It was notable as it was also the first stick build house in the entire area since early builders at that time used logs... which is why Eaton was referred to as "Log City".

Few people who live in Eaton realize that because of water source of the Alderbrook, today's Eatonbrook,, Joseph and his son Ellis Morse were able too ran a sawmill in Eaton shortly after its settlement. With improvements, I am sure; the building stood as a beautiful early structure that stood until a few years ago when it was taken down.  Past owners just let it sit.


In an early book on Muller Hill it was explained that Louis Anthe Muller whole stayed in Hamilton until his Muller Mansion was livable, often stopped at Sages Tavern on his trips to his building site above Georgetown.

Sage eventually moved west and opened a few other taverns going west until he reached Ohio, since I believe he is most likely the Isaac Sage who is buried there.

I love this interesting story from Hammond's history tells this story about one of Eaton's less desirable tavern stops, however the moniker of Eaton remained "Log City" for many years....

A stranger who had traveled hither, and' was generously  entertained by the hospitable people, was found to be the  prince of good fellows and withal a wag. In the midst of their jollification, he took a flask of "good cheer," ascended J  one of the low roofed log buildings, and in the presence or  a group of admiring comrades, delivered a short and witty  harangue, flourished his bottle, and drank to the health of  " Log City," which was answered by the waving of hats andthree rousing cheers.

The Old Union School and Eaton Education History

The schools in Eaton date back to its earliest days.  The Morse, Pratt and Leland families immediately started schooling and Dr. James Pratt acted as the teacher.  The original school rotated from the Morse House to the Leland House to Dr. Pratt’s house with students staying at each house during the winter weather.

From there a small schoolhouse was built in the area now known as the Eaton Village Cemetery, which, was located on the old Indian Trail.  That path is still the entrance to the cemetery today.  

 During the Bicentennial of Eaton the tie capsule was buried there.  This is the school that Charles Grandson Finney attend as a young boy when he stayed with his aunt and Uncle the Sylvester Finneys.

Another structure was eventually built at the foot of the hill across from the Cramphin farm on Landon Road as Mrs. Cramphin {Anna Cleveland} was the schoolteacher.  Mr. Cramphin later moved the building onto the Cramphin farm to use.

Eventually the Union School system was formed and a proper school was built on the site of a private school on Brooklyn Street during the 1850’s, that school was in use until the brick school on Morrisville Eaton Road was built.  The house next door was also used for schooling. Today of course the school system has centralized. 

The Brooklyn Street school was eventually purchased and turned into a home with the windows from the Drugstore that was torn down installed on the first floor living room..

The Old Town of Eaton Museum has probably more memorabilia of the different schools than any other thing and has a great collection of pictures, books and even schoolbooks.  One photo of its last graduating class is available to purchase at the museum.

The Bicentennial Cake was set infront of the school that was then Pauline Brown's House and if you view the video below you will see so many people enjoying its grounds once again including many members in the picture above that were still alive in 1995.

The Sylvester Finneys & Charles Grandison Finney & another NYS Marker

Today many people have little knowledge of probably one of the most important evangelists of the 1800’s, Charles Grandison Finney.  Finney was born in Conneticut, but moved with his mother and father to western New York in 1792. Finney lived a part of his youth in the Oneida County, and stayed during his earliest years in Eaton, New York with his aunt and uncle the Cyrus Finney’s. A marker for this site is on Route 26. Finney is also remembered in Hammond's History of Madison County because of his prank of putting the school master's dog in the oven where he baked bread on the side. The dog was rescued of course, and his school mates told on him. This school was located in today's Eaton Cemtery where the flag post and bench new. We are lucky enough to have an early school book handwritten by the schoolmaster on display in the Eaton Museum.  Finney remained friends with some his schoolmates that included Ellis Morse.   Charles was a bright boy who did not go to college but taught himself much, and studied law under an attorney in Adams, New York.. It is there he claimed to have had a mystical experience while walking, an experience in which he met Jesus face to face. Soon after this “spiritual awakening” he began preaching, eventually being ordained in a Presbyterian minister in 1824. Finney was so overwhelmingly good on the pulpit that his following grew and his conversions to the faith multiplied in leaps and bounds. Stories of his revivals brought request for his special form of preaching and conversion using what he termed “anxious seats”. It is estimated that he converted over 100,000 people to Christ in the mid 1850’s. Finney had a good sense of humor and dressed in gray, a different look from the all black ministers of the day, and is remembered for when he came to the Syracuse area at the request of ministers who heard him preach. Unable to accommodate them at the time of their request, he returned the following year and is credited with helping to reopen the churches to the faithful. Below a video on the Skaneateles Turnpike site at the end of it where it linked with the  Third Great Wester Turnpike (the Cherry Valley) in Monticello.

More on the Holocaust & Safe Haven and CNY History..

With all of the wrangling about immigration and the refugee problem I thought it would do us well to look to the past.  Our past has been clouded by bigotry for many years, as a matter of fact because of our quotas during WWII we acted selfishly in forcing our Allies and friends to take in refugees but failed to do it ourselves.  Here is a local story on history that you can learn about today and part of it took place at Christmastime.

One of the least known Christmas time stories from history happened on December 22, 1945, when the then President Truman issued his “Truman Directive” executive order. This order finally allowed the United States to fill immigration quotas with what were then labeled as DP’s, “displaced persons”.

This story had its immediate impact with the only refugee camp for DP’s in the United States, a camp at Fort Ontario in Oswego, NY, now known as Safe Haven.

This little known piece of history is an interesting look into the policies of the United States on immigration, (especially Jewish). A time when we set tight limits on the number of immigrants allowed entering the USA, because of the war that was on.. The fact remained that as the Allied Forces swept through Europe and Nazi Concentration Camps were liberated, the many people who lived through the horrific experience had no place to go. Though countries all over the world took in DP’s the, United States did not.

With much political pressure, Roosevelt finally in 1944 allowed 982 Holocaust survivors and political prisoners of war that were liberated or displaced to come the United States as his “Guests”. Interior Secretary Harold Ickes sent Ruth Gruber an assistant to escort these refugees to the United States and to record their stories..

The people who were chosen met a criteria that consisted of those who had helped in the Allied War effort, had lost relatives in the Holocaust, had family in the United States or had talents that could help run the American shelter. The selection also gave preference to those who had several family members with them. The catch was that after the war they would all have to return to their homeland – they had no standing; they were only regarded as guests of the President.

The group left from Naples, Italy on the troop transport Henry Gibbons under heavy escort; the ship also carried another 1,000 wounded service men. Ruth Gibbons in her book “Haven” which was made into a TV movie, chronicled the trip and stories of these refugees. It also showed how much pressure had to be used to get just this small group of mostly “Jews” to the United States.

As the war came to a close in 1945, these immigrants who had learned English, whose children attended school in Oswego, and who had become part of the American spirit were to be shipped back; many to homes that no longer existed and to a world devastated by war.

The “Truman Directive” issued while Congress was on Christmas holiday came in time to keep these people from this. The fact was however, that they had to leave the United Sates and then return with visas. Taking the refugees to the Rainbow Bridge in Canada, and then allowing them to reenter with visas accomplished this. Of the 982, only 100 chose to return to their homeland.

Today the Safe Haven Museum at Fort Ontario welcomes visitors and through beautiful displays and video helps tell about this dark time in American history, a time when we ourselves turned our backs on not only Jewish immigrants, but also on our own American Japanese citizens.

The fort itself  is trying to gain National Park status and it is my hope they succeed. The Safe Haven Museum located on its grounds is open year-round and for more information on its open times and directions go to www.oswegohaven.org.