The Arlington 1913

by Louise Smith Posted on May 8, 2012
"The Arlington 1913 courtesy of Juliana.

Recently a Halfway Brook reader sent me this delightful 1913 photo of her mom (the little girl in the center) at The Arlington boarding house mentioned in the previous post.

    My mother’s parents were Frank J. and Julia Wolff. I believe that they moved to Eldred from New York City in 1913 when my mother (Emily Wolff) was three years old. The family lived there from 1913 to 1915.

    The two boys in the picture are most likely my mom’s brothers—Frank and Frederick. The other two girls in the picture may be cousins. I don’t know if the Wolff family owned the house, but they ran the boarding house for two years and then returned to the city.

    I know that my mother visited Eldred sometime in the 1960’s, and the house was still there. However, when she went back—maybe ten years later—it was no longer there. That’s about all the information I have.

Louise: At one time the Onderdonck’s owned The Arlington which may have originally been Twin Lake Farm owned by J.P. Gallagher in 1885.

I haven’t researched the Arlington in the years from 1920 to 1950. Does anyone have more information about it?

I pieced together possible earlier information on The Arlington in Eldred (there were other Arlington Hotels in Sullivan County) that you can read here if you are interested. Continue reading →

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Popular Boarding Resorts in 1903

by Louise Smith Posted on May 6, 2012
William and Phebe Middaugh Owen's lovely Oakdene boarding house. Postcard courtesy of Pam D.

For Sullivan County Republican Watchman, July 1903
Popular with New York visitors are the following hotels and boarding houses:
Washington Lake House at Yulan
Pine Grove Farm at Eldred
West Farm at Yulan
Myer’s Farm House at Eldred
Minisink Farm at Eldred
Laurel Cottage on Washington Lake
Crest Hill Cottage at Barryville
The Arlington at Eldred
Orchard Terrace at Eldred
Oak Dene, Pine Grove Cottage, and Lake View Farm at Yulan

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Beware on your way to the Library

by Louise Smith Posted on May 5, 2012
The Rusty Library, May 2012. Photo: L. Smith.
First Rattlesnake warning. Photo: L. Smith.
Rattlesnake Crossing at the library.
Where the rattlesnakes might be, unless they are basking on the walkway to the library. Photo: L. Smith.

It is a bit of a conundrum that I can collect research and write books in Cave Creek, AZ about a place 2500 miles east with “real” green trees (in the summer) and numerous blue streams and lakes. (We do have a blue, blue sky most of the year, though the palo verde shown here is about our greenest “tree.”)

I have recently been enjoying trips to the nearest library (affectionately called “the rusty library” because of the re-rod architectural theme) for research and books including some about WWII which will be included in my next book.

The last couple visits to the library, I have been especially cautious. I thought that perhaps Halfway Brook readers might enjoy photos of the warning signs.

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Congregational and Methodist Churches 1901 to 1903

by Louise Smith Posted on May 3, 2012
Barryville Methodist Church Cornerstone, 1902. Photo: Gary Smith

Congregational Church
In 1901 Edna Gardner, Archie A. Myers, and Georgia Clark (later Mrs. Walter Styles) were received into membership at the Congregational Church.

The following year, James K. Gardner, Charles Breen, George Layman, Mrs. Ami Quick, Phebe Drake, Mrs. Shotwell, and Gussie and Edith Davenport were also received into membership. Rev. W.J. Carter was pastor from 1900 to 1903.

Methodist Church
Eldred’s Methodist Church had been built in 1859. Sometime after 1900 a steeple was added. There was also a wagon shed beside the church for the use of members who drove some distance to church.

The Methodist Church in Barryville was built in 1902. The parsonage at the Barryville Church was owned by both the Eldred and Barryville Methodist churches.

E.R. Kalbfus and Ira M. Austin of Barryville, along with James Boyd and my grandfather C.M. Austin of Eldred, were the original trustees of the property. Rev. S.O. Rusby was pastor from 1896 to 1901. Rev. F.L. Rhodes was pastor from 1901 to 1904. Continue reading →

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Town of Highland’s WWII Serviceman

by Louise Smith Posted on May 1, 2012
WWII soldier group with Bill Austin standing in back on the right.
Art Austin in WWII.

I have recently been reading books about World War II for background information for Book 3.

Many from Highland served in World War II including my father, his brothers Bob and Bill Austin, and their cousin Jim Leavenworth.

If your relative from the Town of Highland was in WWII, I would appreciate knowing that person’s name, how and where they served, and what branch they were with. I know there were also some nurses from the area and some folks worked at factories in other states.

Also, it seems people took different watches at the golf course. If anyone has more information about golf course watching during the war, that would be great.

You can comment on this site (I’m sure others would be interested in reading comments) or email me: info (at) halfwaybrook (dot) com Continue reading →

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September 6, 1901: President McKinley is Assassinated

by Louise Smith Posted on April 25, 2012

William McKinley Jr., a Civil War veteran, had become President in 1897. On September 5, 1901, President and Mrs. McKinley were at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, where he had delivered a speech on tariffs and foreign trade.

The next afternoon, the President greeted people at the Temple of Music. Leon Czolgosz was in line with a pistol concealed by a handkerchief. Leon fired twice. The second bullet went through the President’s abdomen and lodged in the muscles of his back.

President McKinley was reported as being concerned about how they told his wife what happened. He also wanted Czolgosz protected from the angry crowd which was severely beating Czolgosz.

Eight days later, the President died from gangrene. His last words were, “It is God’s way; His will be done, not ours.” Vice President Theodore Roosevelt then became President. There was a 1903 photo of the Theodore Roosevelt family in the Austin memorabilia.—wikipedia.org.

1903 President Teddy Roosevelt and his family. Photo courtesy of Austin Family.
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Jacob Clouse and Emma Wagner

by Louise Smith Posted on April 24, 2012
Jacob Clouse and Emma Wagner's wedding certificate courtesy of C.W.

Jacob Clouse of Barryville and Emma Wagner of Eldred were joined together in holy matrimony on January 7, 1884 by Rev. John E. Perine. Herman F. Rixton and Aida A. Austin (my great aunt) were the witnesses.

I have the original Clouse wedding certificate thanks to the thoughtfulness of C.W. A high schooler at the time, she was helping to clean out a real estate office (Reber’s I think) in Barryville in spring 2010. Recognizing the name Aida Austin which she had seen on my site, she contacted me, and sent me the actual certificate by snail mail.

Here is some Census information on Jacob (his father’s name was also Jacob, I think) and Emma Wagner Clouse and their family.

1900 Census
Jacob Clouse, 38, m. 16 years, day laborer; Emma wife, 36
sons: Herman, 15, mail carrier; John, 14, day laborer, William, 10, Frank, 5

I have Jacob Clouse’s death as 1903 and his wife Emma’s as 1934. Continue reading →

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Places to stay 1900 to 1905

by Louise Smith Posted on April 21, 2012
Abel Myers' Orchard Terrace which will one day serve as a school. Photo courtesy of Chuck M.

Lake Side Cottage
25 guests near water. $6. E.H. Moore.—Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 17, 1900.

Orchard Terrace, Eldred
4 miles Shohola; elevation 1,600 feet; beautiful balsamic and pine clad hills; broad piazzas, hunting, fishing, boating; fine scenery; modern improvements. Booklet. A.S. Myers.—Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 19, 1900.

Pine Grove Farm, Eldred
Beautifully situated; good board from our own farm; circulars. Jos. Maier.
—New York World, August 29, 1900.

Highland Cottage, Yulan
On Washington Lake, Yulan; Capacity 100. Amusement Hall, bowling alley, boating, bathing; terms moderate. Booklet. R.C. Miller.
—Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 29, 1902. Continue reading →

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