There are quite a few cute children here along with some older young people.
Second from the left is my mom Mary Briggs. Her brother John is behind the hammer. The next adult is Laura Briggs. My grandmother Myrtle Briggs is on the right and next to her is Mildred Briggs.
On May 7, 1915, the R.M.S. Lusitania, an ocean liner owned by the Cunard Line, was torpedoed by a German U-boat, 8 miles off Kinsale, Ireland. The Lusitania sank in 18 minutes, and 1,198 of the 1,959 people aboard were killed; 128 were Americans.
The Lusitania was carrying ammunition for the Allies to use against the Germans. The U.S. threatened to sever diplomatic relations, and the Germans re-imposed restrictions on U-boat activity.—wikipedia.
C. Raymond Austin 1900–1983
William S. Austin 1903–1979
Clara Leavenworth 1907–1967
Clinton Leavenworth 1909–1983
Arthur L. Austin 1913–1991
Anna Leavenworth 1913–1974
Robert C. Austin 1915–2008
James Leavenworth 1922–2003
Charlotte Hirsch Schroedel
1924–November 27, 2012
I was saddened to hear that Charlee Hirsch Schroedel, who once lived in Echo Hill Farm House, had passed away. Charlee was the last of the 9 Austin/Leavenworth first-cousins around whom the Memoirs from Eldred, New York Series has been written.
My grandparents Charles Mortimer Austin and Jennie Leavenworth had 4 sons that lived into adulthood. Raymond married Gladys, a descendant of Abel Myers (and his first wife) who had long lived in the area. Art (my dad) married Mary Briggs whose family moved to Barryville in 1934.
Jennie Austin’s brother Garfield married Phebe Ella Sergeant (the Sergeant family had been in the area a very long time). Garfield and Ella had 4 children. Clinton, better known as Goldie, married Stella Clark whose family were long time residents; Anna married Bill Meyers (who also had relatives in the area for some time), Clara married Lee Hansen (a boarder from Brooklyn), and Jim married Gisele who was born in France.
Jennie’s sister Christina and her husband Anthony Hirsch were the parents of Charlee who married a boarder at Echo Hill Farm House, just as her mother had done.
I did not realize it at first, but including the history of the Sergeant, Clark, Meyers/Meyer, (Abel) Myers families in my story along with my ancestors/relatives—Austin, Leavenworth, Eldred, Hickok, and Myers (Martin and Jane Ann Van Pelt Webb), made it possible to tell the story of not only my ancestors, but that of many others who lived in the 5 villages of the Town of Highland.
1 can baking powder .20
5# baking powder .80
3 qts. beans .36
1 broom .50
1 bottle Castoria .35
1 package cinnamon .10
cloves .10
1 can cocoa .30
2 box cocoa .50
2# coffee .60
1 coffee pot .50
5 cornmeal .25
2 cornstarch .16
1 box exgrease .10
1 sack of flour 1.60
1/4 ginger .10
3 kraut .36
2# lard .30
3 milk .36
1 gallon molasses .60
2 oleo .56
1 bottle peppermint .10
6# pork .96
raisins .30
5 rice .40
saleratus (baking soda) .16
1/2 box salt .30
1 pk. salt .15
1 shirt .50
6 cakes of soap .25
1 pr. shoes 2.25
10 sugar .56
1# tea .50
3 tomatoes .30
3 box yeast .15
Purchased from M. Quick & Company.
The Titanic sunk in 1912. It was also the year that latecomers New Mexico and Arizona became states.
The back of the postcard reads: Have been very lucky so far. Hope it continues. Expect to stay here about two more weeks. Art; Co.G,Camp Upton, N.Y.
Earlier I posted a list of folks who served in the Armed Forces in WWII. This is an updated list, many of whom I found listed at a WWII Memorial Site. I know that Kevin Marrinan contributed quite a bit of information for that site. Any corrections or additions are appreciated.
George Andersen, Highland Lake, U.S. Army
Arthur Lawrence Austin, U.S. Army
Robert Clinton Austin, Eldred, U.S. Army
Wallace R. Austin, Barryville, U.S. Army
William Sherman Austin, Eldred, U.S. Army
Ethel Barker, Eldred, U.S. Marine Corps
Emmet ‘Steve’ Barnes, Barryville, U.S. Army
Franklin L. Bartle, Eldred, U.S. Navy
Frank A. Bello, Barryville, U.S. Army
Clarence ‘Sailor’ Blaut, Barryville, U.S. Army
Paul Bodin, Yulan, U.S. Army
Henry Bosch, Highland Lake, U.S. Army
William ‘Bill’ Boyd, Highland lake, U.S. Merchant Marine
Clarence Bradley Barryville, U.S. Army
Mary Briggs, Barryville, Cadet Corps Nurse Continue reading
I have accumulated quite a collection of photos, letters, and information about WWII, as well as an extensive list of the many Town of Highland residents who were part of the Armed Forces during WWII.
My dad Art Austin was with the Fifth Army in North Africa and Italy. Dad worked at 5th Army Headquarters and I have a few stories about his time in Italy. In the photo below, my dad (on the left) was presented with the Legion of Merit emblem by Lt. General Mark W. Clark. The Battle for Salerno occurred in September 1943.
Mort and Jennie Austin had 5 sons who fought in the World Wars: 2 in “the war to end all wars” which ended on November 11, 1918 (Armistice Day); and 3 who fought in World War II. Their oldest son McKinley was killed in France in 1918 (the details and letters are included in Echo Hill and Mountain Grove).
Bill, Art, and Bob Austin fought in WWII. Bob Austin, a lineman, was wounded twice and received 2 purple hearts. Above is the telegram their brother Raymond Austin received the first time Bob was wounded in September 1943.
It’s been very busy here the last couple weeks at Halfway Brook in Arizona as I have been majorly working on Book 3, Farewell to Eldred, which covers the years 1920 to 1950.
I have a rough storyline for the years from 1921 to 1947 so far. A number of the folks featured in this (somewhat fuzzy) photo make their appearance in one or 2 of the 4 diary records I have that cover 1931 to 1950.
I have had some wonderful photos and stories contributed to what I already had and am looking forward to incorporating all photos and information into the story of the Town of Highland and its residents in the years 1920 to 1950.
