Tag Archives: kelley

Posted on by

Temperence in Schaghticoke – by C. Kelley

Last week I gave a brief history of the beginnings of the temperance movement in the U.S. It began in the churches, first urging people to moderate alcohol intake, then to abstain totally.

I have found some early evidence of the Temperance movement in Schaghticoke.  Apparently New York State had begun its society, the NY Society for the Promotion of Temperance, by 1829, as the group published its 3rd Annual Report in 1832. In this report, I found that Wyatt Swift, President of the Schaghticoke Powder Mill, was President of the local group, which had an amazing 392 members, an increase of 211 over the preceding year. Wyatt wrote, “We have much to encourage us to persevere in the cause of temperance; we have had three public meetings at which addresses were made on the subject.

Article in the June 2 edition.

Posted on by

Possessions of an 1840 Family Farm – by C. Kelley

Let’s look at the probate file of John Baucus, who died in 1832 at 59. He was a farmer who lived near the current town hall. He and his family attended the Lutheran Church, and he is buried in the cemetery at the junction of Melrose-Valley Falls Road and North Line Drive.   In the 1830 census for Schaghticoke, John, age 50-59, had a wife the same age plus one son from 10-14, two from 15-19, one from 20-29, and two daughters from 10-14.

Article in the 04-28 edition

Posted on by

The Express Newspaper October 8, 2015

Posted on by

The Express Newspaper March 5, 2015

Posted on by

The Express Newspaper – November 27, 2014

Posted on by

Schaghticoke Point: 19th Century Boom Town – by C. Kelley

 

 I have been working on the contents of this and the many following articles for several months. It has been hard to make the decision to publish, as I feel I will find more information. But I could work on it forever! I know I have shared information before on the industrial revolution in Schaghticoke, beginning about 1800, but I don’t feel I have emphasized it enough- and, as you will see, I have a lot more to say. To prepare for this I visited two great museums: the National Park at Lowell, Massachusetts, and Hanford Mills Museum at East Meredith, NY. I wanted to really understand the operation of mills, from water to finished products, and both places let the visitor see that in action. I recommend both places to you. Hanford Mills is near Oneonta, very accessible to us. Lowell is filled with textile mills and the canals and machinery needed to operate them. Hanford Mills has a grist and saw mill plus several other wood working machines which operate off the same water wheel, or with a steam boiler.

 

Read the entire article in the Aug. 7 edition of the Express.