WWII List Update

by Louise Smith Posted on November 13, 2012
February 4, 1942 postcard from Art Austin at Camp Upton, to his uncle Lon Austin in Eldred.

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 →

Posted in Farewell to Eldred, World War II | 1 Comment

Fifth Army

by Louise Smith Posted on November 12, 2012
Art Austin’s 5th Army card when he was a Technical Sergeant.

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.

Sgt. Art Austin decorated by General Mark Clark.
Posted in Farewell to Eldred, World War II | Comments Off on Fifth Army

Armistice or Veteran’s Day

by Louise Smith Posted on November 12, 2012
September 1943 Telegram when Bob Austin was wounded.
Robert Austin, World War II.

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.

Bill Austin entered WWII at age 39.
Posted in Echo Hill and Mountain Grove, Farewell to Eldred | Comments Off on Armistice or Veteran’s Day

Do you recognize any one

by Louise Smith Posted on November 9, 2012
Front row: Mary Briggs, ?, Gordon Knorr, Kay Randolph, Laura Briggs. Row 2: Paul Knorr, Frances Knorr holding Arlene, Mrs. Quick, Charlotte Middaugh Myers holding Marion Hulse, Minnie Nelson, Will Quick. Back row: Mildred Briggs, Hazel Angell, Mr. and Mrs. Dewey, Pearl Defeo in front of the Deweys, Stanley Myers, ? John Briggs, Alberta Myers, ?, Marie Hulse Photo from 2 sources.

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.

Posted in Farewell to Eldred | 2 Comments

Charlotte’s 1913 letter

by Louise Smith Posted on November 2, 2012

Charlotte Leavenworth, my great aunt, taught school for 50 years. She was 19 when she started teaching in Fosterdale. There she taught 8 grades for three years. Next, in 1911 Charlotte taught 50 students in grades 5–8 in Eldred. The following year she taught 8 grades in Tylertown. In 1913 Charlotte taught 7 grades in Wellstown, and graduated from the Port Jervis Training Class.

In the spring of 1913, Lon (Albert Alonzo) Austin, the Eldred School Trustee, must have offered Charlotte a teaching job in Eldred.

Charlotte's letter to Lon Austin.

Posted in Letters and information | 1 Comment

1914 Liquor License Holders

by Louise Smith Posted on November 2, 2012

Barryville
Meta Meyer: Spring House Hotel

Eldred
James Y. Parker: Parker House
Fridolin Straub: Straub’s German Hotel

Minisink Ford
Fred Graf: Highland Bridge Hotel

Narrowsburgh
Charles Beers: Oakland Hotel
Albert Meyer: Arlington Hotel

Yulan
Mary H. Metzger: Hotel

Pond Eddy
John McKechnie Sr.: Sky Farm
Jacob Portz: Mountain View House
William Rixton: Riverside Hotel.
—Certificate Holders in Sullivan County, Documents of the Senate of the State of New York; 137th session, 1914; Vol. IV No. 9 Part 2.

Posted in Boarding Houses | Comments Off on 1914 Liquor License Holders

1910 to 1915 Boarding House Ads

by Louise Smith Posted on October 10, 2012
Highland Bridge Hotel in Minisink Ford. Postcard courtesy of Kevin M.

Highland Bridge Hotel, Minisink Ford First class Hotel and Boarding House on the Banks of the Beautiful Delaware River. Good Boating Bathing, Fishing and Hunting; $8 to $10 per week. George A. Schulz Prop.—The Newtown Register, May 30, 1911.

Woodbine Cottage, Yulan Pleasantly situated; near all attractions, boating, bathing, fishing dancing; all home comforts. Address Mrs. A. John.—Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 12, 1910.

West Shore Cottage, Yulan Accommodates 40. Write T.W. Racine, Prop.—Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 12, 1910.

Minisink Lodge, Yulan On Washington Lake. Accommodates 60. Excellent table; 2 mails daily. McCormack and Haff, Proprietors.
—Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 12, 1910.

Mountain Grove House, Eldred Before making arrangements for your vacation write to Diedrich Schroeder, Proprietor. Mountain Grove House, Eldred, Sullivan Co., New York.—New Rochelle Pioneer, June 1910.

Highland Lake House 120 guests; 7 miles from depot; on water. Henry Asendorf.—Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1913.

Mills House 40 guests Mrs. Geo. Mills.—Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1913.

Posted in Boarding Houses, Echo Hill and Mountain Grove | Comments Off on 1910 to 1915 Boarding House Ads

World War II Honor Roll

by Louise Smith Posted on October 8, 2012
May 5, 1944 Honor Roll Program, courtesy of Mary A.

I have recently pulled together the diaries and letters from 1942 to 1945, to form the skeleton of the text for the years of WWII. The following is a list of the Service men and women that I gleaned from 4 sources, including the Honor Roll Program shown above.

If anyone has name corrections or additions, please leave them either in the comment section or email me: info (at) halfwaybrook (dot) com. Note: Those listed with the same last name are not necessarily related.

Also if someone listed is your relative and you know the branch they served in, the country they were in, and the years they were in service, it’d be great to have that info, too. Thank you so much!

Anderson, George
Austin, Arthur L., Robert C., Wallace, William
Balaban, Emil, William
Bartle, Franklin
Bodin, Paul
Bosch, Henry
Boyd, William
Bradley, Clarence
Briggs, Mary
Burgess, Adga Jr.
Campbell, Russell, Walter
Cantwell, John C.
Clark, Orville Continue reading →

Posted in Info/photo request | 1 Comment