[Page 24]

When General Sullivan and his troops marched through the Valley, they laid a corduroy road through the narrows where the road branches off to go to the College Domes. Then another corduroy road at the Seven Acres swamp at the north end of “The Summit,” which has quite a history!

Pine Valley derived its name from the extensive growth of pine trees throughout the valley.

These pines were cut and taken to the various mills situated at different places along Catherine Creek and sawed into lumber. This lumber was used for building purposes by such landowners as James Stoll, Richard Dilmore and Curtis Miles. Much of the lumber was also used for building boats to be used on the Chemung Canal. Such early residents as William H. Bank, James Stoll, Hiram Lattin and James Roberts were engaged in boat building. Pine Valley was known as “The Summit” by canal people, as this was the summit level between Fine Valley and Horseheads. It was a frequent sight for the older inhabitants to see a continuous line of canal boats across this level for over two miles. John Magee of Watkins owned wealthy coal deposits in Pennsylvania. At first he transported a great deal of coal through this region by canal and lake boats. Later he built the Fall Brook Railroad which is now known as the New York Central Railroad. Henry Starring, at one time, operated a hotel on the site of the Daniel Soper residence. This hotel was later purchased by Mort Bentley who also ran a store. It is still there. The places where the boats were repaired were called “dry docks.” Some of these were owned Lewis Lattin, Phinney Tanner and Frank Stoll. There were many mills throughout the valley. Some of the sawmills were run by Sex-tan, Charles Hall, and Henry Miles. Mortimer Williams, Judge Banks, Elonzo Banks, Augustus Botsford. James Lock and Kingsberry. There were also several gristmills. The Arnot mill bought grain and boated it away. Another was owned and operated by Abe Richmond. The present mill at Millport, owned by Mr. Starr, was run by Treman and later by Banks and Allen. Pine Valley at one time had three blacksmith shops. Henry Burris was a very well known smith. His sons, Henry Jr., John. George and Joe carried on his business. The other shops were operated by various men as: Charles Mac Kentire, and Samuel Cooley. Sidney Rose built the rug factory, and conducted a well. Remember wagons and paint shop. A creamery at Pine Valley where cheese was made was operated by Doe Hoke and later by Hiram Lattin. Boat building was also a favorite industry in this thriving village and was carried on at many places. Judd Sterns and Lynn Louis had shoe-shops; Joe Burns and Charles Soper had undertaking establishment. G. Chandler was proprietor of Pine Valley Hotel, which is still there. (1979)

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Notice: — The Rev. J.D.Gilbert, of the Protestant Episcopal Church is expected to preach in the upper district School House, in this village, on Sunday next March 24th, 1833 A M, & P.M., Service to commence at the usual hour.
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Thirteen rattlesnakes  was killed lately opposite the Gang Mills Erwin, by VanCamp, a Corning man.[1867]
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The estimate  cost of building a  railroad from Cauyga to Ithaca, exclusive of rolling stock, is $700,000.[1867]
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The Utica herald hears it estimated that hundreds of tons of hay have been lost this season in the valley of the Mohawk, between Oriskany and Herkimer, by the high water of last month.
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A meeting of the Directors of the Erie Railway was held in NY city last week, at which it was decidde to build a new depoit at Elmira the coming Fall, at a cost of $28,000.
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Drafting Begins June 18th. 1917
Draftubg fir the first 5000,000 men to be raised ffor our neew army will begin June 18th. The names will be chosen by the jury wheel system. all men whose names are drawn will be instructed to appear for physical examination before and official medical board in the first instance, he will have the privilege of appealing to the board of Review one of which will be established in each Federal Judicial district. Here decisioon will be final aside from a possible appeal to the president.
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April. 1916
The Hotel Mathews at Beaver Damns, formerly knownas the Dimon House was destroyed by fire last sunday, about noon, together with most of its contents. It is thought the balze was caused by an overheated stove, and it had made good headway when discovered. Nothin gcould save it. as the village has no fire fighting apparatus. Grant Mathews the proprietor, had $1,500 insurance on the building an d$500 on the contents, in the Pellet agency of this village. The hotel was among the oldest in this county.
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Trial Jury List

Schuyler County Clerks office Watkins NY Dec 24 1909

Minutes of the drawing of a name of 26 trial jurors to serve at a term of the county court to be held at the court house in the village of Watkins, in and for said county on the second Monday[10 may] of Jam. 1910 at 10 o’clock.

William H Piece, Moreland, farmer

Edwin K Corwin, Watkins, farmer

Alfred C Woodward, Watkins, Merchant

William Haring Monterey farmer

Seaman F Northrup Watkins lawyer

Lewis Fink, Burdett merchant

Edwin J Pierce Montour Falls, farmer

George P Egbert, Logan farmer

Albert Weller Watkins mechanic

Charles Doolittle Montour Falls, farmer

Elmer F Rhodes Moreland Station merchant

Lyman brown Cauyta farmer

Edgar Waugh, Sugar Hill farmer

Michael Fennell Moreland Station laborer

Charles E Shafer Tyrone mechanic

J W Miller Watkins R D farmer

Lyman Depew Odessa farmer

John G Cole Watkins R D farmer

F C Bond Bennettsburg farmer

Barnett Collins, Watkins laborer

Delos Raymond Montour Falls farmer

Zera Putnam Monterey farmer

A J Erway Watkins Carpenter

R A Hopkins Burdett merchant

Duane Smith Odessa farmer

Lafayette Davenport Orange farmer

Luther C Staley Moreland Farmer

Luther C Staley Moreland farmer

Mortimer Crum sugar Hill farmer

Phillip L Beach Watkins R D farmer

O H Budd Hector farmer

Charles R Watkins, clerk

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1884

Mayor Parsons, of Rochester, is preparing to enforce the law against the sale of obscene papers and books. He has given warning that hereafter all persons found guilty of exposing such articles for sale or exhibition will be treated with all the severity of the law affords.

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Ca 1903-06

Man hurt when auto scares Team

Edson Van Liew of northern Orange, met with an accident in which he sustained serious injuries as he was leaving this village last Friday afternoon. While going up Steuben St. near the Brown residence his team became frightened at the Forbes automobile of this village and backed up so rapidly that a neck yoke strap broke, lowering the tongue and allowing on e horse to jump over it. As a result the wagon was overturned and Mr. Van Liew thrown heavily to the sidewalk, receiving the severe injuries about the back and abdomen. The team started to run down the hill, but were soon caught. Mr. Van Liew was taken to the office of Dr. Bennett where his injuries were attended to and later he was taken home. He has since been confined t o his bed. At last t reports he had little or no use of his lower limbs and it was feared that his injuries might be lasting.

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The Pike Farmhouse

The Pike which stood on the Watkins Townsend Rd. near the tracks of the NY Central RR was destroyed by fire on the evening of Sat. Jan. 18, 1913, during the prevalence of a sudden gale of wind. From that direction, doubtless enlivened the fire and blew a spark against the roof. David Pike, who was of the pioneer families west of Watkins to the southward of the Glen, built this house over half a century ago, and at the time it was one of the finest farm residence in this section. It was one of the first square roofed dwelling erected in this locality and the best of workmanship and material entered in to its construction. It was the home of Mr. and Mrs. David Pike during their declining years and then passed into the possession of their son, the late Hiram E Pike, whose widow succeeded to it ownership.

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Why do white people call this season of the year “Indian Summer” was asked of Mr. Curtis W Lindley, the lecture and traveler, who comes to Eneca Falls as his home, with his wife and little daughter. The Indians do not eat green fruit nor unripe corn, but wait until this warm season, just before cold weather sets in when they begin gathering their crops. They as a people are far healthier by so doing. Inside of their wigwam they dig a deep hole lining it with wild grass and where they put away supplies enough to last them about one moon at a time. The balance they place the caves or nearby places such as bean and wild rice, corn etc. And this season of the year is called Indian summer- Seneca Falls Review.

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If you will gather leaves from an elderberry bush when they are green and let them dry and put them into a pillow and sleep upon them nightly for about three months, said a Petersburg, Tenn. man they will cure the worst case of asthma. After they are dried the leaves have a peculiar but pleasing odor. By inhaling this odor the asthma is cured. I know of a number of people who cured themselves of asthma by sleeping on dried elderberry leaves.

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May 1884

The Rochester Democratic and Chronicle of Saturday last Contained the following emanation from the pen of the sun spot editor: An observation of the sunspot yesterday showed three groups of sun spots in different solar latitudes, coming into view by solar  Rotation. One of them could probably have been seen on Thursday afternoon if the sky had been clear. The spots which appeared yesterday are in two groups, one containing three storm centers and the other two,
The later being barely visible at noon: The two groups appeared to be active and were surrounded by facum. It is probable that the heat of yesterday was due in a great measure to the facular storm raging about the sunspots.
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The Future of Raspberry Culture.

The acreage devoted for raspberry cultivating is so greatly Increased in this increased in this section of the State, as to cause an apprehension in the minds of some that the business will be overdosed. An authority in such matters, thinks differently and addresses the following in support of his opinion: The present outlook for fruit promises good prices will be realized to grower this season. The peach crop because of The peak cold winter must necessarily be a small one as many were killed or badly Injured, we can expect only a little crop for several years to come. The three years Failure in apples indicates a continued shortage. Not a speedy abundance as many hope.
The black raspberry itself is badly injured in many places so there need no fear of an over cop this season and as it is being used more and more and through the evaporating and canning establishments, introduced over a large and continually increasing territory, we are confident that the use and demand will quite keep pace with he supply for the present. It is quite probably that at temporary check may result from the very wide planning of this spring and prices drop for a time; but as the evaporated and canned fruit becomes thereby staple, it can be helped  for a time till the increasing demand calls for it. It is well to take good care of the fruit.
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An Imposter - Our neighbor of the Schuyler County Democrat publishes this week a sensation story entitled “Eighteen years among the Indians” The story we believe that appeared in the Elmira Advertiser, and has been extensively copied by the press throughout the country. It appears from the following opinion by the Bath Courier that the yarn is a humbug, and that Brother Ells and other gentlemen of the editorial fraternity in this vicinity have been made the victims of a cruel hoax. The Courier says: “Mr. Newell Kimball, father of James Lulaski Kimball, the would be eighth wonder, called upon us a few days ago, and expressed his shame and mortification at the false position assumed by his son. He says James is a bad egg, and so strongly questions his veracity that if as he expressed it he owed the Devil ten thousand liars and he wouldn’t take that boy or pay he should think, his Satanic Majesty a hog! Mr. Newell Kimball is a hero of the war of 1812, a straight forward truthful, patriotic old man, and his son’s conduct grieves him exceedingly. the familiarity of James with the Indian tongue was brought about by fleeing to Canada after jumping two or three bounties during the late rebellion where he mingled with the redskins. The two daughters said to have been left behind as wives of Indian Chiefs are now aged, Mr. K thinks six and eight years respectively. it was decidedly rich to hear the old gentlemen dispose of the details of the extravagant yarn wrought in the Advertiser.

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BURNING OF THE DECKERTOWN MILLS

Taken from the Watkins Express of Oct. 6, 1887
The Deckertown Mills at Havana, Meeks Brothers proprietors, were burned last night. Residents in the northern part of Watkins saw the flames at about midnight, and the smoke was still rising from the spot this Thursday morning. a cook Academy student sends to the Express the following facts regarding the event, obtained from one of the Messrs. Meeks. The old Decker grist mill factory, storehouse, sheds, etc. were entirely destroyed by fire last night. Loss estimated at $14,000; insurance $7,000. The cause of the fire is unknown. When the flames wre first discovered at 11:50 o’clock by one of the proprietors, the mill was all ablaze, the conflagration being so far advanced that nothing be saved. The building was looked over at evening as was the custom before leaving it after work, and nothing was found amiss. The fire raged for several hours the structures destroyed having been of large extent. The mills were build by the Decker Brothers about fifty years ago. For twenty years previous to hte 1886 they were owned by the Messrs. Dunham. In august of that year they were brought by the Meeks Brothers, who were residents of Havana and for several years previous in the employ of Messrs. Dunham. Since purchasing the mills they have inaugurated many improvements, and had just expended $700 in the purchase of new bolting machinery. they are young men of energy and perseverance, and the prospects are the mill will soon be rebuilt. The property was insured in company’s represented by Pearsall
A. Huey of Watkins.

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FARMERS FIND BEARS TAKING SHEEP, HONEY [Dec 1935]

Bears are giving farmers along the Pennsylvania line near Olean considerable trouble these days. The bruins are reported destroying sheep and bees of the farms south and southeast of this city.
A E Perkins on the Lyon farm on Sweden Hill, lost a lamb, and was unable to find any trace of it. Destruction also came to a colony of bees on the farm, and the work had the marks of an outlaw bruin. Pennsylvania Game Protector Art Logue made a trip to the farm and found bones and wool and was convinced that a guilty bear had feasted on spring lamb. After losing one hive of bees, M L Burton of the Grom Hill road put a lighted lantern on one of the hives of bees. He was there to step out with a ,45 -70 rifle and fire two shots at Mr. Bear only 25 years away. The bear got away. Oscar Andrews of Keating lost three hives of bees, and he has no doubt concerning the responsibility.
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WILD ANIMAL ATTACKS BEAVER DAMS WOMAN [1935]

Mrs. Alice Everts, residing on a farm west of Beaver Dams, was attacked by a mysterious animal near her home, Friday of last week. Mrs. Everts had left the house to dispose of garbage when the beast attached her. she described the animal as either a wildcat or a wood gray fox weighing about 25 pounds. Her screams attracted her husband, Rand Everts who secured a heavy stick and succeeded in killing the animal after hitting it four times.

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Dec. 16, 1869

Oil at Whitesville, Allegany co.
A letter received from Our Wellsville correspondent, dated the 14th inst. contains very important information. Our correspondent says: The citizens of Wellsville were startled this morning by this news that oil had been found at Whitesville, a small place twelve miles from here, on a branch of the Geneseo river. Within the last two months a well has been put down in the depth of 500 feet, when indications of oil were found. On Saturday last pumping was commenced, and within two hours oil was flowing under the action of the pumps at the rate of 40 barrels per day. Large quantities of the oil have been brought from the well to this town today and great excitement prevails. Some three years ago a well was put down at this same place, to the depth of 1,000 feet and good evidences of the presence of oil was found. the new well is down but a little over 500 feet. The oil produced has been tested and showed a gravity of thirty.
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[ca. 1867]One day last week Mrs. Raynor of South Sodus, noticed that eleven of her young turkeys were dead, and that they had been bitten in the neck. A trap was set and the next morning a large snake was captured.
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ca 1867
A crematory will soon be built in buffalo at a cost of $6,000. Wood, instead of coal will be used in the furnace. The institution will be open to the public, a fee being charged. The money is all secured, and work will begin at once.
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ca. 1867
John Seddons, an English glass cutter was struck by a train on the Erie Bridge three miles east of Corning, on July 4th and fatally injured. He intended to spend the day fishing, and was hurt about 5 am, dying about one hour afterwards.
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ca 1867
large numbers of trout are being caught in the vicinity of Bluff Point, Lake Keuka. The largest one of the season was captured a few days ago by P T VanLew, proprietor of the Idlewild Hotel, which weighed twnety three pounds.
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ca 1884
Flames at Penn Yan
Special Dispatch to the Advertiser
Penn Yan Aug. 26 [ca 1884]
Fire broke out in Edward Sheridan’s exchange and livery stables on Main Street at 8:30 o’clock this evening and consumed the entire building and sheds, also John Simmons’ stage barn. The wagons and horses were saved, but the store of hay and grain was burned. the loss will aggregate between $3,000 and $4,000 partly insured. the origin of the fire is unknown and is still raging.
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ca 1884
Parties going west can get lowest possible rates by applying to E R Backer, passenger and ticket agent, at Delevan house, Elmira. On Mondays and at Mansfield on Saturdays or each week. No charge of cars between Elmira and Chicago, or St. Louis Baggage checked through to destination. Maps circulars passenger and freight rates sent.
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ca 1910
Miss Florence S Barnes, of this village and Stewart Warner of New York city had a very unpleasant experience on the lake on Tuesday evening of last week. They were in a canoe about one eight of a mile from the shore, off Weller’s point when the small craft capsized throwing the occupants into the water. Mr. Warner heroically clung to hte overturned boat and held his companion’s head above the water until assistance arrived, fully half and hour later. At that time Miss Barnes was unconscious and her companion was almost exhausted. Other members of the same party who were picnicking on the shore heard Mr. Warner’s calls for help, but owing to the darkness had considerable trouble in locating the imperiled couple, who were thoroughly chilled by their long contact with the water.
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ca 1869
A dog which recently died near Marseilles is believed to have committed suicide. Its owner thought it showed symptoms of hydrophobia and drove it away from the house. It was also driven away from the door of an intimate friend of its master. It apparently took the matter to heart and ran down towards the river howling piteously. Upon reaching the bank it plunged into the stream head first, and when it reappeared on the surface it was dead.
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ca 1869
Williamsport Gazettee and Bulletins of the Wednesday.
Disastrous Fire at Williamsport.
Destruction of Woodward’s Wooden Pipe Factory.
A disastrous fire visited our city yesterday morning completly destroying the large wooden pipe mills of Mr. John a Woodward, situated on the South side of the basin, nearly opposite Elmira St. The facts in relation to the cause of the fire are as follows: the mill had been shut down for the winter, but on Monday and order was received from Elmira for a number of “thimbles” or connections for pipe. Mr. Woodward being desires of filling the order, decided to start up this morning and manufacture them . Accordingly at half past five o’clock he proceeded to the mill in company with the foreman, and proceeded to fire up. The coal oil lamp which lighted his operation being nearly burned out, he extinguished and lighted another lamp and proceeded to fill the one which he had been using; owing probably to the warmth of the lam generating gas, an explosion occurred. Mr. Woodward naturally threw the blazing lamp oil from him and they fell in the brick floor, breaking the lamp and spreading the oil over the floor, and in less time than it takes to tell it, the whole side of the mill was in flames. Mr. Woodward estimates his loss in the neighborhood of 815,000 on which he has an insurance of 85,000 in the Lycoming Mutual insurance company. The sheds and outhouses of the main building containing all the manufactured stock, were saved.
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ca 1900
Alleged Kidnapping
Henry W Heist, formerly of Townsend, and at one time an employee of the Glen Springs Sanitarium in this village is under arrest in Albany charged with kidnapping. It is alleged that Heist, acting for Mrs. C Sigel, attempted to kidnap ex-Alderman Fred Ebel, of Albany who is paralytic. Mrs. Sigel had been a nurse for Mr. Ebel, and it is said tha their object was to secure money. Heist who was acquainted with Ebel, took him in a carriage Sunday from a hotel near Albany to the Stanwix in that city, and later was to take him to Elmira, but his courage failed. he disclosed the plot to the police. Both he and the woman were arrested, the latter being released under $2,500 bail. Their hearing was set down for yesterday but we have not learned the result of it.
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ca. 1884
The total assessed valuation of real and personal property inside the corporate limits of Dundee is $555,845. The amount of real estate is $349,945; and that of personal property $205,900. . Pretty good for a small town...Dundee Record.
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There is now on exhibition at the drug store of Millard Brothers a family bibl that is 156 years old, having been printed in 1728. The book is the property of Mrs. Sarah McConnell of this village, and has been in the family for many years. Dundee Observer.
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Ca 1884

William H Francis was on Saturday convicted at Canandaigua of murder in the second degree, for the killing of Benson Hawkins. the defense waived the two days which the law allows previous to sentence, and it was accordingly pronounced. Imprisonment at hard labor in auburn prison for his natural life.
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It is said that thousands of trout were destroyed in the Luzerne county streams by the recent forest fires. Various theories as to what caused the deaths have been advanced the scientific people believing that the water absorbed the carbonic acid of the smoke to such an extent as to kill the fish. Wellsboro Gazette ca 1884
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ca 1884
The acerage of peppermint will be much larger in Wayne county this season than for several years and the demand for peppermint roots is greater than for the past three or four years. Wayne county it is estimated furnishes about three fourths of all the peppermind oil used in the world, and wiht many farmers here inte pepperming yield is the main source of revenue each season Palmyra Courier
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ca 1884
A flock of carrier pigeons owned by a party of Belgians in Syracuse, was let loose in Geneva at 8 o’clock on Sunday morning and allowed to fly back to Syracuse. There were several wager as to which bird would arrive there first, and there was a large crowd out, anxiously watching for their appearance. At 9:35 nearly all had arrived in Syracuse, flying forty four miles in ninety five minutes or a mile in 2:10.
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ca 1904
CHILD STRUCK BY BULLET
Narrow Escape of a Townsend Boy
[special to the democrat]
Townsend Sept. 5- a very peculiar incident and one tha tmight easily have had a fatal termination occurred here last Sunday morning. AS the family of Bert Barker were seated on the porch of their house the sharp report of rifle was heard. At the same instant the little son of Mr. Barker, aged about two years gave a cry and staggered backward. It was soon ascertained that the child had been struck on the head by a stray bullet which made a server but not serious scalp wound. had not the force of the ball been nearly spent, the child undoubtedly would have been killed instantly. It is said that several young men were shooting at a mark some distance east of Mr. Barker’s at the time and no doubt the bullet came from their rifle. If the child had been killed lifelong remorse would have been the price paid for a little Sunday morning sport. They have reason to congratulate themselves that the incident resulted so fortunately.
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July 1907
Barn in Dix burned
During the electric storm last Saturday afternoon lightning struck and burned the barn on the old Albert Tracy farm, east of Townsend, now owned by A L and B L Piper of this village. The barn contained several tones of hay, a grain binder, corn binder, reaper, mowing machine, wood saw and other implements, all of which were consumed. Persons were on the scene a few minutes after the bold descended but the fire was so fierce that the barn could not be approached very closely. The property was insured in the Farmers Reliance Insurance Company, there being $250. on the building and $300. on implements and an additional amount on other contents. The loss is several hundred dollars above the insurance. REVIEW
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SHOT AT MARK; STRUCK A BABY [ca Sept 3,1905]
A serious accident occurred here last evening when a party of friends visiting at George Raplee’s were shooting at the mark for pastime. The bullet from a 32 calibre revolver struck the one year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Barker, who was playing on the porch of his home. Fortunately the bullet passed a trifle high to be fatal. Dr. Coyl Tracy of California who is visiting at James Raplee’s was called at once and the little fellow’s would dressed. Two stiches were necessary, the wouldn being across the top of the head, the skull not being injured. It is hoped he will recover. At present he is suffering more from the shock than the wound. the bullet after passing over the child was found inbedded in the window casing .
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Elevations in Schuyler
the topographic sheet of the US geological survey gives interesting information concerning the height of various points in this locality. the highest point of land in Schuyler county is two miles northwest of Beaver Dams, near the Main farm, the altitude of which is 2,034 feet. The highest point in Hector is a mile southeast of Smith Valley and a mile and half north of Cayuta lake, which is 1,850 feet high. Seneca lake is 443 feet above sea level, Cayuta Lake 1,272, Odessa 1,054, Frost Hill 1,678, Beaver Dams 1,262, the J D Gano hill 1,320, Baker Hill near Moreland 1,720, Townsend 1,300, Reading Center 1,253, Watkins NYC station, 1,000; the hill just northwest of Townsend 1,820, Burdett, Lehigh station 1,003; Bennettsburg 1,000. Logan 1,400, Mecklenburg 1,200, Cauyta 1,114, Alpine 1,200, while of the hills between them the one north of Cauyta creek is 1,788 feet, and that to the south is 1,764.

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W J Weed has moved his tailor shop from the Stevens block to the store recently occupied by Mrs. McLafferty in the McKeg block.
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