1908 Cochecton, New York

by Louise Smith Posted on September 3, 2012
Photo taken from High Rock, Cochecton, New York, August 4, 1908. Postcard to Anna Leavenworth, Eldred, N.Y., from her friend, Lizzie Kruck. Postcard courtesy of Mary A.
“McKinley, this is I where I attend church this winter. Anna Leavenworth.” Lillie Austin sent a postcard just like this one to her mother. “How do you like the calf? Lillie Austin.” Postcard in the collections of both Mary A. and Katherine T.
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Blueberries

by Louise Smith Posted on August 31, 2012
The Briggs family and friends pick blueberries. Photo courtesy of Mary A.

I really like living in Arizona, but sometimes I miss picking my own fresh fruit: peaches, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, apples, pears, or as in the case of the photo above—blueberries.

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Young Charlotte Leavenworth

by Louise Smith Posted on August 28, 2012
Young Charlotte Leavenworth. “She is a very nice girl indeed.” Photo courtesy of Mary A.

Charlotte Leavenworth, my great aunt, taught several generations of children in Eldred. Charlotte was referred to in a letter from 1908 when she was 19. Charlotte started teaching in 1908 in Fosterdale. She walked 1/4 mile to school and taught 8 grades with 50 students for $540.

E.M.S., Fosterdale, N.Y. to Lillie Austin, Cortland, N.Y.
October 13, 1908
My dear Lillie,
I can’t go anyway for I have whooping cough not very badly, but enough so that I should stay away from people who might
take it.

Charlotte Leavenworth, you may have heard, has the school and is with me. She is a very nice girl indeed. I like her personally very much and hope that she may do well with the school. If she will only be sufficiently “ugly.”

Miss Bush is going to walk out and stay with us tomorrow night and get a little acquainted with Miss L., that she (Miss B.) may not feel so entirely alone when she is among an Institute of York State teachers.

All of Angie’s children have the cough. Also Mary and myself who are old enough to be immune. Also Edna and all the Edlemens, Harold, and an assortment of younger Magans, and the Wormuths. And now the well part of the school has been exposed, including Miss L. who has never had it. Continue reading →

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Sun All

by Louise Smith Posted on August 27, 2012
Postcard with Jennie Austin and her horse Sunall courtesy of Mary A.
Sun All photo courtesy of Mary A.

One of my favorite photos of my grandmother Austin is a postcard from September 2, 1908.

Jennie Austin is standing with her horse, Sun All, who was named for a famous horse at that time.

The postcard was addressed to Miss Mary Kyte. Mary Alice Kyte, a granddaughter of Rev. Felix Kyte, would marry Harry Wormouth. Aida Austin would write about Mary Wormuth in her 1940 diary.

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View of Eldred to the West

by Louise Smith Posted on August 21, 2012
Bird’s-eye-view of Eldred. Photo courtesy of Mary A.

Does any one know where whose property the photographer was on when this photo was taken?

On the left is Orchard Terrace which became the school for some years. The Congregational church can be seen next. The Slonek home is in the distance behind the church. Sunshine Hall is about in the middle of the photo, across from what was one time the C.C.P. Eldred home.

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Who and Where?

by Louise Smith Posted on August 19, 2012

The following two photos came from my mom’s seemingly never ending treasure trove. This is a lot to ask, but does the location in either photo look familiar? Or the two men in the bottom photo?

Unknown man on path. Photo courtesy of Mary A.
Two unknown men. Photo courtesy of Mary A.
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