Allegany AreaHistorical Association

March 2013 Issue XXXII Vol. 1w w w . allegany.o r g

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Our farm implements that we had loaned to the Cattaraugus County Museum have been returned. But we are a lot smarter now as to what some of them are. Brian McClellan, the museum director, and his fa-ther-in-law, who is a farmer, told us exactly what all the items were used for. But even they were stumped by two of them! Anyway, we have been able to put them neatly away. Hopefully we will be able to do a display with them at a future date.

Our annual Cookie Sale and Community Christmas Service were roaring successes! We made $1,179.50 on the cookie sale and had over 30 people attend the church service. Thanks go to Linda Kruppner of Nature’s Remedy for allowing us to have our cookie sale there again this year. Our thanks to Pastor Dan Buringrud and the St. John’s Ensemble, led by Jim Schultz, from St. John’s Lutheran Church for their par-ticipation in the Christmas service. The ensemble was 18 strong and filled the church with joyful Christmas music. We also collected $48 and many things for Genesis House, a homeless shelter in Olean, and they were delighted to receive them. We also sent the remaining goodies from our cookie sale to Genesis House, and received a nice note from them saying, “Our families loved the baked goods – especially the children!”

Alicia Bockmier gave AAHA a framed picture of the Bockmier farm on the West Five Mile Road from days gone by – the farm used to be the A. L. Bozard farm. This is in memory of her late father-in-law, Jim Bockmier. Thanks, Alicia.

It wouldn’t be AAHA if we didn’t have a story about our furnace. On a Monday, New York State Electric and Gas moved our gas meter from inside the building to the outside. They, of course, had to shut off the gas to do this. On the following Thursday I happened to stop at the building and found that the furnace wasn’t working – it was 42 degrees inside! Fortunately this was during our January thaw so the daytime temps were higher than usual and the overnight temps weren’t too cold. I contacted NYSEG and a man showed right up, and he said the furnace had been working just fine when they left the building. After looking at it, he said it was a furnace problem, not a gas problem so I called Mazza Heating. A very nice young man came and determined that a screw had come off a motor mount, the motor was tilted and couldn’t run. It was just pure coincidence that NYSEG had been there at the same time. Anyway, he fixed it in a jiffy and we now have heat. Dead skunks, dead woodchucks, broken motors - I can hardly wait for the next furnace adventure!

One of our newer members, Wes Martin, has been doing interviews with some of our older citizens. So far he has talked with 90 year old Merle Schultz and George Schreiber II. I’ll be featuring these interviews in upcoming issues. Thanks, Wes, for doing this. Hans Sendlakowski is taking the tapes and converting them to CD’s so we have backup copies.

In November I mentioned that we have started a “paint fund” to help us get our Heritage Center build-ing painted. As of press time we have collected $2,160.00, a good start to our fund. Donations can be sent to AAHA, PO Box 162, Allegany, NY 14706. Thanks for your help.

We have received an 1887 wedding dress from Liz Williams of Olean. The dress was her grandmother’s. She wanted to give the dress to a historical group, rather than throw it away. It will be a nice addition to our clothing collection and will be displayed when we show some of our antique clothes. FRANCIE POTTER, President

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I spent the evening of December 10, 2012 doing a delightful interview with Celestine Welch. I hope you enjoy the results.

Celestine was born April 6, 1921 in Corydon, Pennsylvania. Corydon doesn’t exist anymore as it was flooded in the construction of the Kinzua Dam. She is one of four sisters – Geraldine, Mary Elizabeth and Ann. Many people in Allegany will remember Geraldine McLaughlin from her storied career in the Allegany school system. Celestine’s parents were James A. and Romaine Griffin McLaughlin. Her father was a sci-ence and math teacher at St. Bonaventure College, and commuted from Corydon, but when Celestine was young the family moved to Allegany, where she grew up. To her, Allegany was “the big city” after tiny Corydon!

Her father became ill when she was young and died when Celestine was 12 years old, and things then changed drastically in the family. For one thing, her mother had to learn to drive the family Hudson. Her mother had been doing some substitute teaching in Allegany, but then became a full time teacher. Her mother had gone to Edinboro School, and St. Bonaventure gave her a break on classes so she could get her bachelor’s degree to be able to teach in the public school system. The college was also very helpful to the family and arranged for them to live in a house on Main Street in exchange for Celestine’s mother keeping the records for St. Bonaventure Cemetery. She remembers that when people came from out of town looking for a particular gravesite, her mother would drive to the cemetery with them to help them out. Her mother was later elected as tax collector so that also helped the family.

Celestine and her sisters went to grade school at St. Bonaventure –“Little Bona’s” – and then high school at St. Elizabeth’s. The local students were “day hop” students; their freshman year was free and after that they paid $50 a semester. If the weather was nice, she would roller skate to St. Elizabeth’s, hide her skates and skate key in the bushes and roller skate home after school. Everyone knew where the skates were “hidden” but nobody ever took them. Of course, these were the clamp-on skates, nothing fancy. She took piano lessons and singing lessons from the nuns.

Celestine remembers that Allegany had many grocery stores when she was growing up – Sam Gagliaro’s (where Collins Memorials now stands), Leo’s, Market Basket, Willard & Smith which became Smith & Schul-tz, and others. Clarene Norton was the head clerk at Smith and Schultz who took the grocery orders, and Clarence Smith then delivered the groceries. She remembers the pleasant clank of the linotype machine at the Allegany Citizen when she walked by. The family went swimming in the Five Mile Creek at Archibald Cross Road. Her mother drove them there and packed a picnic lunch so they could eat after swimming. They also went to the movies in the theater at the town hall. When you went in the front door, the post office was on the left hand side, and Joe Norton was the Postmaster. On the right was Charlie Norton’s newsroom. Upstairs was the theater and Charlie Norton acted as the unofficial usher.

The telephone company was across the street from the town hall, upstairs at 45 West Main Street. Agnes Dieteman and Rita Sheridan were the operators who ran the switchboard. Celestine would try to call her friend, Irene Grader, and Agnes would say, “Oh, honey, she’s not home. I just saw her going into the Town Hall.” Irene’s phone number was 341R and Celestine’s was 83J. Of course, everyone had party lines, and keeping things private was very hard. When the fire whistle blew, Celestine, and lots of others, would call the operator to find out where the fire was!

There were two doctors in town, Dr. Wintermantel and Dr. Andres. Dr. Wintermantel’s office was at 4 East Main Street in the basement. If you had to go to the hospital, there was Olean General Hospital, the West Side Clinic at 7th and West State Street in Olean, and the Mountain Clinic on East State Street in Olean.

Allegany was a very friendly place to grow up. Nobody had cars like they do now so the kids were de-

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ANOTHER ITEM FROM THE SAND PAPER OF NOVEMBER 24, 1910-John A. Ryan, our genial supervisor, gives the following timely and valuable suggestions on the proper manner of carving a fowl: Place the bird on the platter then insert the fork and start to cut diagonally and longitudinally. In case the bird slips and lands in the lap of a lady guest, tho covered by confusion and gravy, you should rise, make a polite bow and say, “I’ll trouble you for that hen, please”, and then resume the autopsy.

pendent on their parents to go places. The parents all took turns doing the driving. There were dances at St. Elizabeth’s and the Knights of Columbus. Square dances were greatly enjoyed. Her mother would take the girls to the Cuba Lake Pavilion for dancing or roller skating but this didn’t happen too often. There were no “R” or “X” movies, everything was fine for kids to see. It was a very big occasion to go to Buffalo for shopping. The family took trips to visit aunts in Bemus Point and Elmira, which was considered “the end of the world”. They drove through Woodhull and Jasper on old Route 17. The long Jasper hill was very hard on brakes.

Celestine started college with extension courses at St. Bonaventure, and she had to go at night as girls were not allowed to take classes during the day. She worked days at Montgomery Ward. When she went to Elmira to help take care of an elderly aunt, she finished her college education at Elmira College. She started teaching at Mount Morris, and would get rides home for visits on the mail truck. After four years there, she took a job teaching at Cattaraugus, again for four years. Then Principal Bob O‘Donnell offered her a position in Allegany where she taught 10th grade for four years and then quit to get married. She went back to teaching after she raised her family.

She got married in 1947 to Chester Welch who had grown up on Maple Avenue. He had served in the Army, in the Infantry, and also worked as a fireman on the railroad. He then took a job as a lab technician in the research department at Hysol. They lived in an upstairs apartment on First Street, and went on to have five children, Jeannie, Jim, Sally, Fred and Tom. She has ten grandchildren and 4 great-grandchil-dren. There were a number of newly married couples in Allegany right after the war, and they all helped each other out. Celestine and Skip Soplop often watched each other’s children. When they bought their first TV, they invited all the neighbors to come watch the shows! Celestine has lived a long, happy life and is still enjoying herself, and her family and friends.

Thanks, Celestine, for sharing your memories with us.

MemorialsFor: Robert PotterFrom: Steve and Betty Eaton

For: William BrandelFrom: Shirley Brandel

For: David BergreenFrom: John and Jillian Walsh Donald and Margaret Bergreen

For: Margaret McCaffery CapozziFrom: John and Jillian Walsh Kathy Premo

For: Bruce and Betty BradleyFrom Donald and Margaret Bergreen

For: James L. AlborgFrom: Donald and Margaret BergreenTo Honor: Francie PotterFrom: Don and Lucy BensonHonorary Donation For: Bob and Francie Potter’s Wedding AnniversaryFrom: Linda Potter

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GAS LIGHTSBy Gertrude Schnell

The Delia Rehler Schnell house on the Lower Birch Run Road had no electricity until after World War II. When I was a young girl visiting the farm, light was provided by kerosene lamps or gas lights.

In the side yard was a tank buried with a shingled roof over it. Inside this tank was water into which were dropped pellets of calcium carbide. Acetylene gas was formed and captured in a “bell” that would rise and fall with the volume of the gas. Then the volume of the gas became slightly pressurized and was piped into the house.

On the walls in the downstairs of the house were pipes protruding with gas light fixtures on them. In the dining room was a large fixture with multiple lamps. The only time I saw them lighted was when a card table was placed under it and the men of the house, Norbert and Arthur, my Father, Edwin, and Uncle Frank Rehler from Buffalo sat down and played Euchre.

If replacements were needed the Linde Air Products Company, which was a unit of Carbide and Carbon Corporation, was contacted. The Home Lighting Department would ship the “Colt” Generators fixtures and supplies.

When electricity arrived the gas lights were taken down and packed away, but the piping still protruded from the walls. At the time of emptying the house the gas lights were found and I donated them to the Allegany Area Historical Association.

Thanks, Gertrude, for another interesting article. I always wondered what that little roof in the yard of older houses was for – now I know. Ed.

WE GET MAIL————————————————————————Jerry Perry of Nashville sent AAHA some material about the Sheldon family. Clara Shel-don was his great-aunt. Among the material was a copy of a talk given by Jennie Arms Sheldon in 1911 concerning his ancestor, John Sheldon, who survived the Deerfield, Mas-sachusetts Massacre of 1704, but his wife and youngest child were killed. His house, which had been strongly built in 1698, still stood after the battle and over the years became known as “The Old Indian House Homestead.” After the dust settled, Ensign John Sheldon was appointed by the Massachusetts government as Envoy to Canada for the redemption of the captives taken at Deerfield. He went along the Mohawk Trail to Albany, then north through the forests to Lake George and Lake Champlain, and eventu-ally reached Quebec. He managed to get five captives released. He was ordered to make a second trip and got some more prisoners freed. He made four trips total and secured the release of 113 captives, including four of his children. He died in 1733, revered as a leader in civic affairs and honored for his part in gaining freedom for so many of Deerfield’s citizens. It’s quite a story, and the complete text is available at the Heritage Center for everyone to see. Margaret Sutherland of Yuma, Arizona asked for a copy of our Heritage Days “street sheet” and really enjoyed all the news items about all her relatives, Geise, Nenno, Carls, Bockmier, Gerringer, Martiny, For-ness, Mohr (her mother was a Mohr), Rehler and many more. She, like a lot of people, is related to half of Allegany!Many thanks to all who included notes with their dues about how much they enjoy the newsletter. Among them were Steve and Betty Eaton, past presidents of AAHA. They are in a retirement community in Penn-sylvania, and wish to be remembered to all their Allegany friends. Bill Ryan of Rush, New York also enjoys the newsletter. Karen Field Streif remembered all the baking her father, Vernon Field, used to do for the Cookie Sale, and the pies that their neighbor, Mary Rickard, made, especially her blackberry pies. Mary died in November – she and the Fields were the best of friends. Clyde Johnson of Port Allegany, Pa. sent a post card of the new home of the Port Allegany History Heritage Club – it is in an old church (sound fa-miliar?) that used to the Glass Museum. He says it needs work on the outside but the inside is all good.

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DR. LEE-O-NETTO

We received an inquiry from Nancy Lecompte, who want-ed information about Dr. Lee-O-Netto who lived at 54 West Main Street, and who died in December of 1939. The house was torn down and the 5 Star Bank building and parking lot is now there. We were able to provide her with Dr. Lee-O-Nenno’s obituary and a picture of the Town Hall that also showed the front part of the home. Dr. Lee-O-Netto was a member of the Kanistanaux family who lived in Stockton, NY. The male family members were Broth-ertown Indians and the women were most likely Abenaki Indian from New England and Quebec. You can see all her research at her blog: www.nedoba.blogspot.com. She would be grateful for any local information anyone might have about Dr. Lee-O-Netto. Perhaps some of our older members might have memories that they could share with her – her e-mail is: nancy@nedoba.org.

Allegany Area Historical AssociationP.O. BOX 162Allegany, NY 14706

NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE PAIDPERMIT NO. 32OLEAN, NY 14760

INSIDE SPECIAL ISSUE:

RetuRN SeRvice RequeSted

Presidents Report

A Little Gas“I’ll trouble you for that hen, please”

w w w . a l l e g a n y . o r g

NEXT MEETINGOur March meeting will be on Sunday, March 24 at 2 p.m. at the Heritage Center. Our speaker will be Michael Doyle, Ed.D retired. Mr. Doyle is the President of the Cuba Friends of Architecture. He will give a presentation about the Palmer Opera House – >From Collapse to Renewal. Highlighted will be the history of the Opera House, early activities that took place there, and some of the transitions that have taken place during the last 140 years. The Palmer Opera House dates from 1874 and was a centerpiece of cultural activity in Cuba form many years but fell into great disrepair. Mr. Doyle will fill us in on the tremendous effort that has been required to bring the building back to life. Please join us for this interesting talk.

SUNDAY, MARCH 24 • 2 P.M. • HERITAGE CENTER