Old Roebling Bridge Photos
Posted in Bridges, Echo Hill and Mountain Grove
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Roebling Aqueduct—Toll Bridge
In 1898 the last boat moved over the waterway [of the Roebling Aqueduct] and the following year the physical plant of the system was liquidated.
Of the four suspension aqueducts that Roebling designed as part of the major enlargement operation, only the Delaware had any apparent adaptive usefulness. The spans over the Lackawaxen, Neversink, and Roundout were all simply abandoned and eventually demolished.
The Delaware Aqueduct was purchased privately and converted into a highway bridge. The tow paths were sawn off, a low railing was run along the downstream side of the trunk floor to provide a separated pedestrian walk, a toll house was built at the New York end, and some grading was done at each end for accommodation to the existing roads…
The first private owner was Charles Spruks, a Scranton lumber dealer, who specialized in the heavy timbers used as supports in the area’s coal mines. His principal timber lands being in Sullivan County, N.Y., he purchased the aqueduct primarily to afford a simple means of getting the logs across the Delaware to the railroad in Lackawaxen. The collection of tolls from common road traffic was actually a side line.—From Edward H. Huber, Scranton; Roebling Bridge, HAER No. PA-1, 52, LACK; page 7.
Posted in Bridges, Echo Hill and Mountain Grove
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SUNY Oswego 1861 to 2011
Do you recognize Dr. Edward Austin Sheldon? He is sitting with the class of 1897, about 10 years after Aida Austin attended Oswego State Normal.
You can read more about Dr. Sheldon and Oswego’s 150th celebration on the following links:
Posted in Echo Hill and Mountain Grove, People
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Aida Austin, Dr. Edward Austin Sheldon, and Oswego Normal School
Aida Austin attended State Normal School (a teacher’s college) from about 1884 to 1887. In one of her several photo albums (courtesy of my mom) were photos of Welland Dormitory where Aida stayed, the school, Dr. Edward Austin Sheldon, and several photos of Oswego. There was also a letter that Aida wrote to Dr. Sheldon.
Dr. Sheldon founded Oswego Primary Teachers’ Training School in 1861 to prepare future educators to teach based on the “object teaching” methods of Johann Pestalozzi (1746 to 1827). Some of Pestalozzi’s Principles were still taught when I took education classes in college some 100 years later. You can read about those principles on p. 99 in Echo Hill and Mountain Grove.
Continue reading
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Mills Boarding House
Around 1850 Alexander and Margaret Gillies Mills built their home on Highland Lake, north of the lake’s “little finger.” The home was added on to and at some point became a boarding house.
(The Mills children—Martha Myers, Margaret Boyd, Mary Wait, George Mills, and Christina Wilson who died in 1895—all play a part in the story.)
In 1900 (the year Alexander died) George and Elizabeth Gillespie Mills ran the boarding house. George Mills was also a farmer.
George and Elizabeth Mills’ children in 1900: Belle, James G., Agnes, and baby Alexander.
Little Alexander would one day be the proprietor of the Spring House in Barryville. The Spring House was originally owned by George Layman. It belonged to Chris and Meta Meyer by 1910. Alexander Mills would marry their daughter Minnie Meyer.
Town of Highland Postmasters
Barryville Postmasters
James A. Ozenbaugh 08/24/1885
Menzo Quick 09/12/1889
James A. Ozenbaugh 11/24/1893
Menzo Quick Postmaster 04/23/1897
Eldred Postmasters
Robert Kelso 12/23/1885
Abel S. Myers 5/01/1889
Moses B. Eaton 11/24/1893
Isaac M. Bradley 1/18/1896
Charles W. Wilson 8/27/1897
Yulan Postmasters
The first Postmaster: John Metzger Sr.
James A. Ozenbaugh 8/24/1885
Menzo Quick 9/12/1889
James A. Ozenbaugh 11/24/1893
Menzo Quick 4/23/1897
Venoge Postmasters
James Boyd 6/18/1897
Venoge became Highland Lake on 12/4/1911.
Posted in Echo Hill and Mountain Grove
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Thanksgiving 1917
Ruth Colville, Barryville, N.Y., to McKinley Austin
January 15, 1918
Dear Friend,
Received your letter last week. We were glad to hear that you were still in America.
We haven’t any horses this winter, so I hardly ever get to Eldred or in fact anywhere. They had a box social in the fall and another one around Thanksgiving, but I was in Brooklyn, so naturally I did not get to that one.
It certainly has been a very cold winter. 30 degrees below zero some of the time, but we really haven’t much to kick about in that direction as we have plenty of wood.
I have a cousin who is a major in the Aviation Corp. I have not heard since where he went.
Ruth Colville
Posted in Echo Hill and Mountain Grove
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Thanksgiving 1898
Addie Thompson, N.Y.C., to Mary Ann Austin, Eldred, N.Y.
November 24, 1898
Dear Aunt Mary,
At last I seat myself to scribble a few lines to you. It is snowing quite hard now. We expected company today, but it has snowed so nobody came and we ate our Thanksgiving dinner alone.
I don’t see why you did not get in that barrel and come down. We would have been very glad to see you. It seems as if I would never be able to get up to see you, try as I will.
The winter has sot in very early this year. I hate to see so much snow fall before Christmas. The winter seems so much longer when we have snow so early.
I have had a fearful cold on my lungs and a gathering in my head’ have not got over it yet, although I am better, but the weather is so changeable every one seems to have colds
Ida Clinton was here the week before Thanksgiving. All were well then. How is Aida and Lon getting along?
But it is half past 11 and I am very tired and guess you are too. So I must say good night sweetheart and hope to hear from you very soon again.
Ever your affectionate Addie
Posted in Austin letters, Echo Hill and Mountain Grove
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Thanksgiving 1888
Maria Austin, N.Y.C. to Aida Austin, Eldred, N.Y.
Dear Sister Aida,
Well, I didn’t spend all Thanksgiving eating as you did.
But you may think I spent it worse when I tell you I was reading “Mignon.” I think Mignon perfectly hideous, but I blame her husband more than I do her. Although he was a splendid man, no woman could love nor respect him. I had no patience with him. But I was just in love with Leo and Olga. I am so glad they are married for they are just lovely. You had oughta read the book.
The tall man and the short man are boarding at Net’s. I haven’t seen her yet. Ida goes to Philadelphia tomorrow to spend the week.
My pencil is only about an inch long and my hand is tired of holding it so I will stop writing.
Ever your loving sister,
Maria
Posted in Book excerpts, Echo Hill and Mountain Grove, The Mill on Halfway Brook
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Thanksgiving, 1881 (New York City and Kansas)
N.Y.C., Wed., Nov. 23, 1881
Very cold a little snow this morning but it soon turned to rain and is rainy yet tonight.
N.Y.C., Thursday, Nov. 24, 1881
Thanksgiving Day. All home to dinner. Mort, Mary, Uncle Gussy, Aunt Maria here this evening. And Harry, Mr. Clinton and I have been playing checkers. Very cold.
The above was from Aida Austin’s 1881 Diary.
Sutherland, Abilene, Kans., to A. Austin, Cuffey’s Cove, Calif.
November 24, 1881
Friend Lon,
Today is Thanksgiving. The stores have closed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. I am now working for Sterl and Zahner of this city. Have been here a week or ten days.
There is going to be a Grand Ball here in Abilene tonight. I am staying at present at Mr. Merchant’s Hotel here. I would like to go to the Pacific Coast next spring and hope to hear from you occasionally between now and then.
I am not making as much money here as in Solomon, but I had a racket with Arthur and would rather work for less here, but if I stay, I will try and get a raise. I have to put in long hours here, about 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The weather has been very nice for this time of year. Have hardly any snow or ice yet. The boys in Solomon are getting along in the same old way. Henry Whitley has built a nice bridge over the “race” for to cross his carriage or wagon.
If I would come out to California or Oregon, do you think I would have much trouble in finding work at good or fair pay? I would like to strike a good position in a bank.
Write soon.
From your friend,
Wm. G. Sutherland
Posted in Book excerpts, Echo Hill and Mountain Grove
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