Thanksgiving 1901

by Louise Smith Posted on November 24, 2010

Swamp Mills, December 4, 1901
My goodness what a snow. I got my two calves soaked. Like a fool I forgot
my leggings this morning.

Gladys’ folks have company—a Mr. Hankins from Tusten—some relative to
Mrs. A.S. Myers.

Poor George [Crandall] was not feeling well Sunday. He looks better than he has in a good while.

Thanksgiving I had sparerib, cabbage, potatoes, chocolate cake, apple pie, pickles, cranberries and some other I don’t know what and coffee.

I went in to see Olive Wormuth and downtown and skated 25 minutes. I went over to the store, had 5 invitations out, beside yours and did not accept any.

At night went down to Bertha Wilsons and stayed till twelve o’clock at night on the ice.

Mrs. Abendroth, Will Wilson, Alex Wait and I ate supper. Next we went to church then to the gymnasium. After that on the ice and skated till half past twelve.

I am sorry I cannot come.

Your friend, Jennie [Crawford, who latter married George Crandall.]

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Boarding Houses Information Request

by Louise Smith Posted on November 21, 2010

After hearing from a Straub descendant this morning, I thought perhaps there are others that read this blog that might have information/photos for some of the boarding houses I am writing about in “Echo Hill and Mountain Grove.”

EHMG is about life in Highland Township, Sullivan County, New York, from 1880 to 1920 and includes the boarding houses in the area.

Here is a list of boarding houses and/or owners that I could use more information on. You can send a comment to me on this post or email me
at: info at halfwaybrook dot com Thank you!

Herman Barber Mt. Farm House in Yulan

Bodin Cottages: Justin and Adel and later Henry and Blanche

Bornstein, Edward and Georgiana

William Bosch, The Lake House

James and Margaret Boyd, The Piermont

Atwell Bradley, Lakeview Cottage

Cantwells
Continue reading →

Posted in Echo Hill and Mountain Grove, General information | 4 Comments

Visit Eldred, May 9, 1913

by Louise Smith Posted on November 17, 2010

Dear Lillie,
Can’t stay a whole week, but come Sunday if you get this in time and I’ll be glad to go home with you.

If you can’t come Sunday, come Monday and I’ll be at Mother Crawfords.

Lovingly, Jennie [Crawford Crandall]

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An ocean of letters

by Louise Smith Posted on November 14, 2010


Most of box #2, courtesy of Kathy T.

I have spent most of this week typing up a wonderful group of ‘new’ old letters for Book 2, that were sent to me by my newly found Austin Cousin, Kathy T.

Kathy’s grandmother was Lillie Austin Calkin, daughter of James Eldred Austin and his wife Emma Parmenter.

Lillie was born in 1884 in Solomon City, Kansas, and we will meet her in Echo Hill and Mountain Grove, the book I am currently writing.

Very fortunately for me and our family, Lillie saved about everything, I am told.

Many of the letters were Austin letters and/or photos. I will post them at Austin/Leavenworth info as I have time.

There were a number of letters of Jennie Crawford Crandall that were included and talk about a number of townsfolk who have been or will be a part of the story that I am writing. As I have time, I will post some of those here.

Back to typing up letters!

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World War I soldiers in Highland

by Louise Smith Posted on November 10, 2010


Photo courtesy of my cousin Cynthia.

I had two uncles who were in World War I. They both wrote letters home and the letters were saved and are a part of Book 2 which I am currently writing.
This is the list of names on the plaque in Highland.

Raymond Austin [my uncle]
Claude Angell
William Ashauer
Raymond Beufve
Herman Bosch
Edward Bosch
Ralph Bosch
George Beck
Ernest W. Beck star
Ferman Beck
Joseph Cox
Edwin L. Crail
William W. Conrad
Clarence Clouse
George Dunlap star
Davis Raymond
George E. Eldred
Joseph Claab
John Horton
Ernest Horton
Abram Hulse
Raymond J. Keller
Martin E. Kendrigen
Jay Lass
Ralph Livingston
Emmet Livingston
Emerson McBride
Ezra Mc Bride
John Metzger star
Fred Metzger
Wesley Morgan
Fred Morgan
Edgar Mitchell
John McQuirk
Harvey Myers
Earl Owen star
Fridolin Straub
Edward Schumacher
Walter Toaspern
Mathew Volmer
Clarence Wormuth
Will Raoul
Carl Wolff
Everett Wells

Highlands Martyrs
M. McKinley Austin [My uncle, my dad’s oldest brother.]
Frank E. Clouse
Henry J. Loerch
C. Dewey Liebla
Edwin T. Wolfe

Posted in Echo Hill and Mountain Grove, Letters and information | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Eldred Year Books 1939 to 1950

by Louise Smith Posted on November 9, 2010

This post is to let you know about the link to Eldred Yearbooks from 1939 to 1950. Credit for uploading the Yearbooks is given to Russell Amore from Glen Spey Troop 102. Thank you so much Russell. It has provided several people I know with hours of enjoyment.

I was surprised to find out that my dad, Art Austin (only graduate in 1930), was the president of the Eldred alumni in 1940.

Book 3 in my series, Memoirs of Eldred, New York, 1800 to 1950, will mention a number of the teachers and students in these yearbooks. Some of the teachers and students are in Book 2, Echo Hill and Mountain Grove, that I am currently working on.

Eldred Yearbooks link

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