Sandy Creek/Lacona Historian

Historians’ Corner

October 23, 2009

Photo: Home of Hiram and Elizabeth (Estes) Young on Sand Road (Castor Road on later maps) Town of Sandy Creek. The house fell into disrepair and was completely demolished in the 1950s.

Hiram and Elizabeth (Estes) Young, born in Dutchess and Saratoga Counties, moved to Sandy Creek in 1838. Their son John L. was born October 18, 1844, being one of eight children. In 1866 John married Elvira Sprague, who survived him as did two sisters, Mrs. J. H. Morey and Mrs. C. M. Grimshaw of Mannsville. John died February 11, 1908; he had a brother Oscar and his sons were William H., Hiram O., Bert L., Fred E., and George A.

To conclude Genealogy 101: New York State Archives:
The index at the NY state archives covers the entire state outside of New York City and starts in June 1880 (deaths) or 1881 (marriages and births).
Birth indexes are made available after 75 years, marriage and death indexes after 50 years. An index entry states only the name of the person, date and place of event, and State certificate number. The indexes do not include births and deaths in Albany, Buffalo, and Yonkers prior to 1914, or marriages in those cities prior to 1908. Search fees for a single name in the state archives index is 1-3 years $10 plus; 4-10 years $20 plus; 11-20 years $40 plus. These fees are approximate, the exact amount to be determined upon request. Each certificate copy from the NYS Department of Health is $22. Payment methods: check, money order, PayPal credit. email requests to: nysresearcher@gmail.com

The New York State Library's Newspaper Project: A Project partially funded by a National Endowment for the Humanities grant and administered by the New York State Library. The New York State Newspaper Project, which began in 1987, identifies, describes, and preserves on microfilm New York's community newspapers. The Project has been carried out through nine regional projects based on the state's nine regional Reference and Research Library Resources Systems. Obituaries, birth and marriage notices can often be located and photocopied. The link to the contents of this collection: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/nysnp/index.html Search fees: $40.00 per hour with a one hour minimum (includes copies and postage). Payment methods: check, money order, PayPal credit. email requests to: nysresearcher@gmail.com

Ok, I have given readers some insight into what records are available to family historians recording their family history and now I will include what records are available to researchers at the Sandy Creek History Center.

Sandy Creek Census 1830 through 1892; Cemetery records and books documenting all cemeteries in Sandy Creek; Scrapbooks; Sketches; Sandy Creek News (microfilm), Yesterdays Album (MKP); Photos (family and local views); Family genealogies; History files; History Books including House Histories by Sanford Wheeler; Pierrepont Papers; Church histories; Hadley Marriage Records; Fire Department Records and History by Helen Potter; Maps of Sandy Creek 1854, 1867, 1889 and Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Lacona and Sandy Creek villages which identify individual buildings on each block and information includes a given building's height and street address and much more and many photographs which have been imaged and scanned for public viewing.

Family researchers needing help can call my office for an appointment.

Christmas Tree Event will be run this year by Rae Allen, the deadline to reserve a tree is October 31. The theme this year is “Youth” and all ornaments must be hand made. All decorated trees this year will be displayed at the Sandy Creek Library. Voting will be from November 10 through December 1. Call Rae Allen at 387-3666 to reserve a tree.

A special thanks to Steve Satler and Mark Harvey for the loan of Masonic Lodge photos which were imaged and scanned and preserved for future generations. Also, for showing me the exact location of Rice Cemetery.

Historians Office has moved to the medical center building at 3 DeMott Street for the duration of the Town Hall renovations. The phone number remains the same, research hours continue on Fridays from 9am to 4pm or by appointment but it is a must that researchers call ahead so I can have the appropriate genealogy research materials pertaining to their family search with me at the DeMott site. Appointments may be made by calling 387-5456 x 7 or e-mailing me at historian@sandycreekny.us.

Charlene Cole

Sandy Creek/Lacona Historian

Historians’ Corner

October 30, 2009

Photo: Clock Tower

This history of the Clock Tower and Coterie Club was written by Carol Ann Wihera and will be presented in this column in two parts.

In 1913 a few enterprising and community minded ladies of Lacona organized the Coterie Club. The purpose of the club was to benefit and beautify the village of Lacona. After considering several different projects they decided to present the village with a working electric clock housed in a beautiful tower.

In 1917 after holding several fundraising events the ladies managed to raise $700 which was the amount necessary to complete their project. Their plans however were halted with the outbreak of World War 1.

At the first Red Cross drive the public spirited members of the Coterie Club decided to donate the money they had raised to the war effort. They invested $500 in Liberty Bonds and $200 in Postal Savings Stamps. Throughout World War 1 Coterie members ceased all club work in order to devote all their time to volunteering at the local Red Cross chapter.

When World War 1 ended the ladies discovered that the cost of building the clock tower and installing the clock had risen substantially. Still determined to enhance the village of Lacona with what they had come to refer to as the “clock”, the Coterie Club quickly resumed fundraising. By 1924 the Coterie had amassed $1,400. The next task was to decide where to have the clock erected. The site chosen would have to be not only aesthetically pleasing but also located in a place where the clock chimes could be enjoyed by as many citizens of Lacona as possible. After much discussion it was decided that the best location for the clock would be on Harwood Drive next to the First National Bank of Lacona. The decision to use this site for the clock was made easier when the bank donated the land. Prior to the building of the bank there was a small village park at this site. The park stretched from the railroad tracks to Salina Street. The donated land which is less than one-tenth of an acre was a perfect choice for the clock tower because it contained no other structures, it had a green lawn and most importantly the clock was visible from the main street as well as the busy railroad depot.

The Coterie Club, aided by citizens of Lacona, managed to get the clock built and the final cost was one thousand dollars. A solid brass American eagle weather vain was placed at the top of the tower; the weather vain was a gift of four generous citizens of Lacona. The clock tower is a three tier red brick tower with a square plan and a pyramidal roof. It is constructed of brick and is accented by two vertical header courses on each side and contrasting buff brick creating a quoin like effect at the corners. The buff brick also accents the corbelling between the tiers and around the arched door and the clock openings. A panel door on the north side provides access for maintenance. The second stage features a working electric clock with a round marbleized glass face within segmental arched openings in all four faces of the building. The belfry is the third stage of the clock tower. It has rectangular openings on all four sides and contains the village bell. The pyramidal metal roof is topped by a brass weathervane. The clock’s premiere performance was at sunrise on Thursday, July 2, 1925 when it struck one hundred times officially opening Lacona’s centennial celebration. At 3 P.M. there was a formal dedication with Mr. John Hollis presiding.

The Coterie Club disbanded in the 1930’s but was revived in 1949 by twelve prominent women who were unaware that there had been an earlier Coterie Club. This newly formed club adapted the motto, Friendship in Hand and Knowledge, which corresponded with their stated objectives of the study of interesting topics and participation in worthwhile projects. In addition to such activities as the distribution of small Christmas trees and donations of cash awards to outstanding students, in the nineteen sixties the club sponsored a campaign for street signs. The signs were subsequently purchased and installed in the twin villages (Sandy Creek and Lacona).

In 1992 the four clock faces were replaced and at the same time the village chimes installed and a small dedication ceremony was held.

The past few years we have invited local children’s groups to take part in the annual Christmas Tree event. This event was supposed to be a one-time event and conclude the Bicentennial Celebrations in 2003 but each year since we have been asked to continue. The premise was to get local children involved in a community project that ended with each group locating a needy family or elderly person to donate their decorated tree to. Every year they do a “theme” tree and invite the community in to vote for their favorite tree. The ballot reads: “I love all the trees but my favorite tree is No.___. This year, Rae Allen will take over and the trees will be decorated and displayed at the Library. The community is strongly encouraged to vote for their favorite tree. Contact Rae Allen if you know of a person or family who could benefit from a lovely decorated tree. Residents receiving trees last year were deeply touched and the children enjoyed the decorating and giving. The theme this year is “Youth” and all ornaments must be hand made. Voting will be from November 10 through December 1. Call Rae Allen at 387-3666 to reserve a tree.

The Historians Office has moved to the medical center building at 3 DeMott Street for the duration of the Town Hall renovations. The phone number remains the same, research hours continue on Fridays from 9am to 4pm or by appointment but it is a must that researchers call ahead so I can have the appropriate genealogy research materials pertaining to their family search with me at the DeMott site. Appointments may be made by calling 387-5456 x 7 or e-mailing me at historian@sandycreekny.us.

Charlene Cole

Sandy Creek/Lacona Historian

Historians’ Corner

November 6, 2009

Photo: Coterie Club World War I

The history of the Clock Tower and Coterie Club part two, written by Carol Ann Wihera, continues:

During World War II the brass eagle atop the clock tower was donated to a scrap metal drive and after the war, replacing it became a Coterie goal. Achieving that goal was reached with the help of Larry Miller. Mr. Miller who lived locally was a wood burning artist and he committed the clock tower to wood. The masterpiece he created was valued at eight hundred dollars. A photo and story about the wood burning was featured in a local newspaper. The article was seen by a Pulaski native who at the time was living in Virginia. The man who wished to remain anonymous purchased the picture with the stipulation that it remain on display at the Salmon River Fine Arts Center in Pulaski, N. Y.

In November of 1997 the Coterie Club purchased a new eagle and Lacona Village workers installed it. In May of 1998 a mason was contracted to repair the base of the clock tower. When that work was completed, flowers were planted around the base in accordance with a new Town Beautification Program.

On May 20, 1998 a ceremony was held and the eagle was dedicated in memory of Kent Steele. Mr. Steele had been a pharmacist in Lacona and he longed to see the eagle returned.

Today the Coterie Club remains committed to preserve and maintain the Clock Tower which with age has become rather costly. In the fall of 2008 the roof of the clock tower needed to be repaired and in the spring of 2009 masonry work needed to be done.

The clock tower has been a source of pleasure to everyone and many local residents have assisted in its care and beautification such as Don Marquart and Harold Brown who added Christmas lights to the tower. Steve Grove of Lacona continues to be a contributor to the clock tower’s many needs. After September 11, 2001, with patriotism first and foremost on everyone’s mind, local resident, John Munson, created a flag of red, white and blue lights which is displayed in front of the clock tower. Appropriate music can be heard on various holidays throughout the year. In 2003, the Coterie Club began what has become a yearly Christmas-time event, the lighting of a Memory Wreath outside the Lacona/Sandy Creek Village Offices. Every year a different organization is selected to be the recipient of all monies received as a result of Memory Wreath donations. At the ceremony all names on the wreath are read and then everyone is invited inside for refreshments provided by the Coterie Club and the village of Lacona.

The Clock Tower has watched over the village of Lacona through a depression, several wars, times of joy as well as sorrow and it has survived many of our violent North Country snow storms. It is not only the most prominent landmark in the village of Lacona, it remains as beautiful and as appreciated as it was in July of 1925.

Pauline Tanner doesn’t remember too much about the dedication of the clock tower. She was there and recalls the centennial celebration but clocks and towers just didn’t interest the 19 year old woman. Had she realized that she and the clock tower were destined to have a long association she might have paid more attention to the events of July 2, 1929.

Pauline Smith was born November 25, 1910 in Sandy Creek. During Tanner’s childhood Sandy Creek like many small towns fulfilled the needs of its citizens. The village had a full compliment of shops. There was a grocery store that supplied most of the needs and wants of local citizen’s. Tanner recalls that when her family needed butter they would bring a dish to the grocer who would take the butter out of a barrel. The butter was then carried home on the dish. The village also had a hat shop, where new hats could be purchased or old hats redecorated. There was a jewelry shop and a hotel as well as a lunch shop. Pauline Tanner’s father-in-law worked for the railroad and because the village of Lacona had a depot it was not only a busy village but an important hub serving northern Oswego County.

On November 10, 1936 Pauline Smith married Frederick Tanner. During the early years of their marriage they lived in Pennsylvania and Ohio but when the opportunity presented itself to return home to Sandy Creek they packed and moved back home.

It was in Tanner’s living room in 1949 that the Coterie Club was reborn. At that first meeting Tanner became the president. Even today she still speaks of the talents and commitments of the ten women at that meeting. Their vivacious and enthusiasm was always focused on projects that would benefit the twin villages.

In reference to the clock maintenance, Mrs. Tanner notes that “the village could not afford to do what we have done all these years.” That is one of the reasons Tanner would like to see Coterie continue so that the clock will chime for generations to come. “You are welcome to sit on my porch and listen to the chimes”, she graciously offers. You might want to take her up on her offer, the chimes are beautiful, so take the time to stop and listen.

The Historians Office has moved to the medical center building at 3 DeMott Street for the duration of the Town Hall renovations. The phone number remains the same, research hours continue on Fridays from 9am to 4pm or by appointment but it is a must that researchers call ahead so I can have the appropriate genealogy research materials pertaining to their family search with me at the DeMott site. Appointments may be made by calling 387-5456 x 7 or e-mailing me at historian@sandycreekny.us.

Charlene