Orchard Terrace

by Louise Smith Posted on June 10, 2012
Orchard Terrace, home of Abel Sprague and Maria Hankins Myers. The Congregational Church is on the left, hidden by trees. Photo courtesy of Chuck M.

In the following letter, Jennie Crandall mentions Cleta (Myers) Horton, the daughter of Abel and Maria Hankins Myers. The Abel Myers’ family lived at their Orchard Terrace boarding house on the hill near the Congregational Church in Eldred.

Orchard Terrace became the school which my father attended at least for high school from 1926 to 1930.

Jennie Crawford, Eldred, to Lillie Austin, Bethel
April 24, 1904
Dear Lillie,
I was at Middletown, Otisville, and to Port Jervis. I went to see Lottie Scott and Aunt Matt. They were all well. I saw no one but Aunt Matt. Milt was downtown and Uncle John is laying flagstone up in Germantown.

We have the sitting room cleaned. Aunt Maud Crawford has been operated upon. She is in Christ’s Hospital Jersey City. The tumor weighed 16 pounds. She is in a very critical condition.

Edna Beufve and Mr. Deale were over two weeks ago tonight. Bertha Wilson has been to the city and has had the measles along with her visit.

Cleta Horton went up to Lackawaxen and came home sick with the measles.

Alex Wait is home. You know he intended to learn stenography when he left.
Continue reading →

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Eldred’s north corner about 1904

by Louise Smith Posted on June 7, 2012
Eldred Corner around 1904. Postcard courtesy of Christene M.

The building on the left is currently called The Corner in Eldred. It may be of interest that (thanks to Lou Monteleone), Echo Hill and Mountain Grove is available there.

The building second on left (in the background) was the home of Charles W. Wilson and his second wife Elizabeth Hoatson Clark Wilson.

The center building was the store of William H. Wilson (brother of Charles).

On the right was the original Parker House that Autenrieth’s owned until Fridolin and Juliana Straub bought it.

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The New East River Bridge

by Louise Smith Posted on June 3, 2012
“This is our new East River Bridge, opened in 1905. Wish you could see the real bridge. Lovingly, Jessie F. Hill.” Postcard courtesy of Mary A.

Three suspension bridges were built across the lower East River in New York City to connect lower Manhattan with Brooklyn.

The above postcard to Mort and Jennie Austin is of the Williamsburg Bridge, the second one to be built after the Brooklyn Bridge.

Williamsburg was started in 1896, and opened December 19, 1903, according to one source, though Jessie Hill wrote it opened in 1905.

Manhattan Bridge, the third to be built, was opened to traffic in December 1909.The five ferry routes at the Brooklyn Landing between Grand Street and Broadway went out of business by 1908.

Jessie Hill wrote on the front of the postcard because before 1907, no written material could be on the address side of a postcard.—wikipedia.org

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Eldred early 1900s

by Louise Smith Posted on May 30, 2012
Turn of the century photo of Eldred, NY, courtesy of Chuck M.

View of Eldred from the east in the early 1900s. A.S. Myers owned the Orchard Terrace boarding house on the far left behind the Congregational Church.

The house in the distance, past the Congregational Church, was originally owned by the Slonek family.

The house on the right, past the bridge, was C.C.P. Eldred’s.

    C.C.P. Eldred had the Post office in his home (located near Halfway Brook Village) starting around 1850—except when the political party was different.
    I have read that the Post Office wanted a shorter name than Halfway Brook. Depending on which story you choose, Charles C.P. Eldred named the village after his father James Eldred or himself.

The Methodist Church in about the middle of the photo, is still without a steeple.

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Sunshine Hall, 1904

by Louise Smith Posted on May 23, 2012
Sunshine Hall and Congregational Church, October 2, 1904. Postcard courtesy of Mary A.

Sunshine Hall
A 1904 postcard of Sunshine Hall in the Austin Collection, is an invitation for a Congregational Church Reunion, October 2, 1904. The Hall was next to the Congregational Church, and was also used for the men’s Bible study meetings.

A couple letters from Jennie Crawford (Crandall) to Lillie Austin (Calkin):

Jennie Crawford to Lillie Austin
August 7, 1904
Dear Lillie,
Lillie, I am going to teach at Eldred; wages $10. I was surprised Isaac Sergeant said I had his consent the very first one. I hope I make a success of it.

Would you send me the address to get a “Milna’s Arithmetic?” I want to get an arithmetic and key. Success to you in exam and school matters in general.

Bertha is much better, so is Dad, but he lacks much of being well yet. George Parker and May Hammond have just been here to see Dad, also Nels Hulse and Fred Myers. Continue reading →

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