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Volume 4, Issue 1
THE SRAC JOURNAL
April 2008
Volume 4, Issue 1
THE SRAC JOURNAL T H E R EG I ON ’ S A R C H A E O LO G IC A L , C U LT U R A L , INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
AND
H I S T OR I C A L R E SO U R C E
CHARLES (CHUCK) LUCY, CLOSE FRIEND AND FELLOW AVOCATIONAL
Charles (Chuck) Lucy
1
SRAC’s New Location!
1
Thanks to Recent Contributors
3
Francis Slocum Story Coming
5
SRAC Around the Community
6
Lore of Painted Post
7
Native Indian Cave Recovery
11
Come Dig With Us!
14
Coming Events
15
SRAC Being Assembled
17
Membership Form
18
! now e nlin in C o to A g/jo r R o o . S G nter n Joi e A C y! .SR toda w ww
ARCHAEOLOGIST, HIGHLY RESPECTED BY THE PROFESSIONALS BY TED KEIR, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, SRAC Chuck Lucy, in stature, a small man but huge in wisdom and generosity. He grew up in the Susquehanna River Valley in Bradford County. He graduated from Athens High School and attended Cornell University for three years where he played in the big red band. World War II was underway and he tried to enlist, but they told him he didn't weigh enough. This is understandable if you knew Chuck. He then took a job in tool inspection at the Ingersoll Rand Pneumatic Tool Plant in Athens, where he worked for a number of years. He and his wife Elizabeth (Liz) raised five children and she went along with her husband's hobby. I remember seeing her with a trowel and brush working (Continued on page 2)
SRAC’S NEW LOCATION!
• Our Vision The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies (S.R.A.C.) is dedicated to education, research and preservation of the Native American archaeological, cultural and historical assets of the Twin Tier Region of Northeastern PA and Southern NY.
BY
Chuck Lucy (right) with Dr. Barry Kent, former PA State Archaeologist.
DEB TWIGG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SRAC
Since 2005, when SRAC was founded, it has always been the plans of the co-founders to raise enough funds to house our collections to be shared with our community, and to provide educational programs to share the history that is attached to them. In December 2007, our dream became a reality. While our headquarters will remain in Sayre PA, where we are incorporated, we are the proud owners of a new location in Waverly, NY! As most of you know, the building that we decided to buy was what the locals refer to as the “old Phillie Sales building” that is located at 345 Broad Street in Waverly, NY. It has three floors including the basement and has 5,000 square feet per floor. Upon the purchase of the building, we decided that the main floor would
SRAC at 345 Broad St. Waverly NY
be dedicated to a gift shop, museum/exhibit space, and lecture area. However, much work needed to be done to have anything in this building as is was badly in need of repair. (Continued on page 4)
The Susquehanna Archaeological Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org BecomeRiver a member of Center SRACof Native today! See back page for more information.
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
CHARLES (CHUCK) LUCY
CONT.
Volume 4, Issue 1
(Continued from page 1)
with Chuck on some interesting excavations. I often walked with Chuck on our favorite sites following stream flooding and plowed farm fields. We shared each other's knowledge of projectile points associated with local native American cultures. Chuck took a special interest in local clay pottery. He was considered an expert by the professionals, identifying several dozen tribes or clans by the tempering used and the pot's rim decorations found on various excavation sites. John Witthoft, considered Pennsylvania's most knowledgeable archaeologist, became Chuck's mentor, especially on ceramics and he visited the Lucy home a number of times and in 1948, asked Chuck to become his assistant. Chuck declined because the pay was so low. Lucy was very active in the Andastes #5 chapter of the Society of Pennsylvania Archaeology, and he worked closely with the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission, recording a number of sites in both states. He also held active membership in the New York State Archaeology Association and the Eastern States Archaeology Federation. Some of the sites Lucy and I worked together on were: Kennedy site at Tioga Point; Pepper Farm at LeRoy; Point Farm, between the Chemung and Susquehanna Rivers; Cowenesque Dam, Tioga County; Canoe Camp, Mansfield, Tioga County; Blackman site, Hornbrook; Scrivens site and State Aggregates Mallory Run site in Sheshequin. Lucy worked on a number of other sites: Wilson site, East Towanda Fairgrounds with Catherine McCann; Ellis Creek site, Tioga County, NY; Abbe-Brennan site, S. Main St. AthAt an excavation site, far left Tom Vallilee, front ens; Schoonover and Nagle sites in
Chuck Lucy, and Jim Herbstritt facing sideways.
Sheshequin and the Murray Farm site in West Athens. Lucy had a number of his archaeology works published: The Owasco Culture, 1959, 1991; Tioga Point, 1950, 1952 and 1991a; Lucy and Vanderpoel, 1979; Brule and Spanish Hill, Lucy and McCracken, 1985; Friedenshutten, A Multicomponent site, near Wyalusing, Lucy and Keir, 2002. Chuck Lucy passed away on June 29, 2003 at the age of 81. His wife Liz lived only 40 days after Chuck's death. They meant so much to each other, I said she died of a broken heart. (Continued on page 3)
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
CHARLES (CHUCK) LUCY
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Volume 4, Issue 1
(Continued from page 2)
The Tioga Point Museum in Athens has some of Chuck's artifacts and he left them an excellent display of local pottery and projectile points, individually identified. A number of things went to the state museum in Harrisburg including a tremendous book collection. Sad but true, if we had organized SRAC a few years earlier; perhaps we would now have a number of collections for display to help preserve our local history. Two of the many diagrams Chuck did of local pottery rims for identification purposes are included in these two pages.
Volunteers Needed! Like History? SRAC is looking for volunteers to work at our events on some weekends and evenings as well as in our gift shop during the day at 345 Broad Street Waverly. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Deb Twigg at (607) 565-2536!
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING RECENT CONTRIBUTORS TO SRAC Angelo Mazzerese
Dr. Charles Ellis
Lucio & Susan Bartolai
Barb and Bob Twigg
Dr. Kenneth Meyer
Mike & Jeri Sanders
Bill’s Carpet Cleaning
Duane Wells
Nancy & Mike Arcesi
Claire Borits
Friend's Lab
Rebecca Olivet
Corning Painted Post Historical Society
Guthrie Clinic
Robin Munn
Inga Wells
Shawn Reep
Deb Twigg
Jack Rowe
Sue Hakes
Dick and Marcia Cowles
Jeff Terwilliger
Susan Fogel
Donald Claire Montgomery
Karen & Bernie Dugan
Ted Keir
Dr. Barry Skiest
Lillian Warren
Tom Vallilee
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
Volume 4, Issue 1
SRAC’S NEW LOCATION! CONT. (Continued from page 1)
I cannot explain the feeling that I have about the outpouring of support in the form of donations, volunteer hours, and support by the community that came to us. Within the following 4 months, we actually have the gift shop and lecture area open and hope to have the museum/exhibit space open before the next newsletter is published! If you knew the building’s shape just last December – you would have said this was an impossible task, and I just may have silently agreed with you – but today it is a reality, thanks to all of the friends of SRAC.
to face the larger projects that Tom could not hope to accomplish with his smaller crews during the week. By mid-March, we had finished the renovations in the front gift shop that is a huge space of approximately 28 feet by 60 feet. Next came building an inventory to fill the space that would enhance our front space. Mike Buynak, Dick Cowles, Jeff Terwilliger, and We sent out emails to many local artists, and offered a 25% commission which is the lowest you will find in the area. The response was incredible. To date we have incredible photos by pro-
Tom Vallilee take a much deserved lunch break.
have many volunteers in our gift shop. If you would like to have your items in the gift shop or would like to volunteer, please call 607-565-2536 to learn more!
Our lecture hall is also open I cannot make the last stateand in use. Able to seat ment without saying that witharound 100 people, the space out Tom Vallilee, one of is a comfortable place with all SRAC’s board leaders, none of great seating thanks to the the renovations could have wonderful donation of over 200 occurred as professionally or swivel chairs by the Guthrie as timely. To SRAC, Tom is Clinic! We put in a small stage our quiet warrior, who has and podium and board memspent hundreds of hours workber Jessica Quinn and her dad ing 6 days a week often in the Shawn Reap installed a combuilding without asking for anyplete sound system with sound thing back but the satisfaction board! As a result, we are rentof knowing it would be done ing out the space and of and done right. Another great course have a great list of upattribute of Tom is that he is coming SRAC events planned! the type of man that others like Tom Vallilee, SRAC Board Member, hard at work at the new Center, Please refer to the SRAC where you can find him just about every day. to work with, and for that reaEvents listing in this publicason, he was constantly being tion to learn more. met on many days by other SRAC sup- fessional photographer Dr. Ed Cordes, porters who would spend the day on carved gourds by Gloria Reigal, bead- Lastly on the main floor, we finished up whatever project he had planned for work by Marlene Hulbirt, homemade the public restroom and we continue to the day. As you might expect, the tim- soap by Suzette Noti, pencil artwork by work on the museum/exhibit space. ing of each move in a project as large Sue Hakes, woodwork by Craig Fitted with over twenty cases donated as what we took on was hugely impor- Maurey, as well as our own inventory to us by the Corning painted Post mutant. Having a person like Tom who of historical books, kids items and seum, (some of which will be transcould both help me understand what gems and minerals. We are lucky to ported by a team led by SRAC Board member Dick Cowles and his son out funding and timing was needed each the second story window because of step of the way allowed me to plan their size!) I am sure it will be the speahead. As a result, each small project fell into the larger plan month after cial place we have dreamed of to share month and continues to in a way that our incredible collections with the community we are dedicated to sharing would make even large companies them with. envious. The weekdays were followed by a Saturday workshop for the first few months and I would say that we had 12 – 15 people on average every week. This again was such a great help for us
Our grand opening will be scheduled when we are able to have a date that the museum will be ready to be (Continued on page 5)
Inga Wells and Anne Meikle brainstorming.
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
Volume 4, Issue 1
SRAC’S NEW LOCATION! CONT. (Continued from page 4)
opened early this summer. Stay tuned for quite a celebration that we are currently laying the plans for! If you are inspired to be a part of this incredible experience that we believe is making history as well as sharing it, please consider joining or donating to SRAC. We appreciate your support!
SRAC Lecture Hall and our first in-house event.
SRAC’s Giftshop and some of the many items available for purchase.
Mary Jane Safford In loving memory of my husband Bernard
THE FRANCIS SLOCUM STORY COMING TO SRAC Thursday, May 8th from 6:30 – 8pm Frances Slocum, a white child of the American Revolution, was stolen from her Quaker family in 1778 by raiding Delaware Indians. Her family would not be reunited with her for nearly 60 years. The film production of the story of her life includes her travels through our local area and is full of incredible imagery that documents history of Revolutionary War times in our region. Producer Bill Bachman and actress Florence Howanitz will come to present the film and answer questions about this important piece of history! In addition, the film's musical composer/director/arranger, Jonathan Pineno, will be join us and he will be doing demonstrations on the Indian flutes used in the film. Come join us for an exciting, rare opportunity to see an artistic piece based on our regional history! Admission: Adults $10 SRAC members $8 Children $6 Refreshments will be available The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
SRAC ARO UND
THE
COMMUNITY
SRAC has gone through a whirlwind of changes since our last journal. We’ve moved into our new building, and we’ve even opened to the public already. All the while our board members continue to participate in all sorts of events. The year is off to an exciting start! We’ve begun having events at the new building and hope to open the museum in not too many months! Stay tuned for announcements of upcoming events, and check the current listing on page 13! We hope to see more and more of you as we continue to grow!
Dick, Jack Andrus, and Deb getting dirty.
Deb and Gloria Reigel, gourd artist, discuss plans for the SRAC gift shop.
Ted and Deb at the Chehanna Rock and Mineral Show
Sylvia Wilson and Deb at the Trow Women’s Book Club Dick Cowles holds a replica of the birdstone once owned by his father, Ellsworth Cowles.
Marty Borko gives much needed help with painting.
Deb with good friends Barb and Earl.
Andrea Seeley presents Eating Out Healthy at SRAC
Lon Kuterick and Ted in the midst of the museum construction.
Our painters and our friends, Jeri and Mike Sanders, always hard at work. Diane Nobles, Carol Reed, and Deb at a special regional meeting of the Lioness Club
Evelyn Keir with her grandsons Chris and Brennan
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
Volume 4, Issue 1
THE LORE OF PAINTED POST BY ELLSWORTH COWLES On September 15, 1990 Newtown Battle Chapter, N.Y.S.S.A.R., held a Ceremony dedicating a plaque memorializing a portion on the Sullivan- Clinton campaign. The plaque reads- "The final episode of the Sullivan Clinton Campaign was the advance of Col. Van Courtlandt’s Brigade up the Canisteo River to this area 2 miles beyond the Tory Indian town of Painted Post. Burned by Capt. Simeon Spaulding’s Riflemen, September 28, 1779." A copy of a speech made by Ellsworth Cowles on the occasion of the dedication of the monument by the Sons of the American Revolution follows. Cowles drew his information from several sources; (N.Y. historical documents, etc.) Quotes and spellings are as derived from those references. Away, away, and away back, in the 1940' s when I was appointed town of Erwin Historian, I soon learned that to a generation not acquainted with the lore of Painted Post, the name had acquired a bucolic fame rivaling communities such as Peoria, Oshkosh, Paducah and shall I say it "Horseheads." Painted Post has been used as a setting in a mystery story, written by a president of the US. It was frequently mentioned by a former leading radio comedian. It achieved characterization as a motion picture, "The
Man from Painted Post." The story of the final, aggressive act of General John Sullivan's punitive campaign into Indian territory in western New York in 1779 is not found in local history books, the General failed to mention it in his report to President Washington, written from Fort Sullivan, now Athens, PA, two days after the event; an event for which we dedicate this monument today. So now since I assume you came here today to find out, let me tell you what really happened at the Painted Post on a chilly September 28, 211 years ago. In the spring of 1779, rumors had reached the English loyalists living along the Susquehanna west branch river valley and southward that a huge rebel army, led by a red headed Irishman, General John Sullivan, was being assembled at Easton, PA. It was reported that his marching orders to reach and destroy the British frontier outpost at Fort Niagara, would lead him north over the old Andaste trail up the Susquehanna and Chemung Rivers and on through most of the populated area of the Seneca Indian homeland. Many of the Tories on the Susquehanna frontier did not agree with the Indians that Sullivan's troops could be ambushed and turned back, as had been the case with General Braddock, since that strategy had never been successful against artillery. Consequently, most of them did not wait to have their escape route cut off by General Sullivan's advance. Singly, by families or in small groups, they packed their belongings on the backs of their cattle and horses, or in flat boats, abandoned their farms and trekked north, moving from one Indian village to another, stopping for a spell wherever they were recognized as friends. Chemung, Newtown, Squeedowa at Big flats, Kanawolahola at Elmira, all destroyed by Sullivan in his later advance, and Painted Post were favorite Tory way-stations along their route to Fort Niagara. Some of them were recognized by former neighbors then held as captives in those towns
Mr. Ellsworth Cowles, father of SRAC cofounder Dick Cowles.
and the meetings were not cordial. A number of Tory families were reported to have decided to settle down among a few other whites already resident among the Indians living at the Painted Post. There they built for themselves some log and split-board cabins with fire hearths, barns, sheds, split-rail garden and horse coral fences, and other improvements. All this in the belief that in their new location they would be far enough west of the main route to Niagara to be safe, since that route ran north from Catherine’s town at Montour Falls, along the east shore of Seneca Lake to Geneva. That way, they were told by the strategists among them, would be Sullivan's Route, if he were lucky enough to get that far, since he would thus leave no strategic Indian towns behind him. In such an event, Painted Post town would be by-passed. And so, temporarily, it was. The well planned ambuscade set by British regulars, butler's Tory rangers and Joseph Brant's Indians to trap Sul-
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(Continued on page 8)
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THE LORE OF PAINTED POST CONT. (Continued from page 7)
livan's main army at Newtown failed miserably on August 29. Following the precipitous retreat of the enemy, the General advanced his forces to Kanowollohola, Elmira. In the meantime Sullivan had learned from Lt. John Jenkins, Luke Swetland and Daniel McDowell, all of whom had spent some time in Indian captivity, that there was an Indian and Tory settlement a few miles up the river at Painted Post. Therefore, in order to protect his further advance from a flank attack the General left a garrison of riflemen at that point with orders to erect a strong palisade fort at the mouth of present Newtown Creek, Elmira. Then the main army, strung out for a mile, followed by another mile-long train of beef cattle and packhorses moved laboriously, destroying everything in its path, apple orchards, peach orchards, cornfields, until it reached Geneva. That Seneca town with Butler's Rangers headquarters was burned. Then the army turned westward, penetrating Seneca country as far as little beards town, a large village on the Genesee River near present Geneseo, which they burned in September. There Canada geese were passing southward over their heads, all signs pointed to an early frost, many uniforms were in tatters, and army rations were reduced to little more than what could be salvaged from Indian gardens. All hopes of a farther advance upon Fort Niagara were gone, and the army's return march began. At the crossing of the trails at Horseheads, the whitened skulls found along the Sullivan trace at that point accounts for the name of the village. On the return of the army from their scorched earth campaign across western New York they went into camp at Kanaweeola. They immediately began the dismantling of the palisaded log fort that Colonel Reed had erected at the
mouth of Newtown Creek when the army moved north. It was a wise move, since it was not only an advanced supply depot and rendezvous point in case of necessity, but also prevented the enemy from gathering behind Sullivan's forces in a flanking action, from their old base at Painted Post. Having learned from Lt. John Jenkins, Luke Swetland, Daniel McDowell and others who had spent some time in Indian captivity, that there was an Indian and Tory settlement and other improvements at or near the Painted Post, General Sullivan, on September 26 ordered Colonel Van Courtlandt up the Chemung River to investigate. The morning of Sunday September 26 opened with a heavy downpour, however, and the detachment of three hundred riflemen who were "to be sent up the Chemung River for the purpose of destroying a town or two," and what houses and corn fields they could find remained in camp. The following day the same detachment, reinforced by the addition of two hundred more men, paraded at seven in the morning and marched off. This "large party" of five hundred soldiers, which moved out from Fort Reed under the overall command of Colonel Van Courtlandt, divided into two companies. One contingent, led by the Colonel, formed a long sinuous line as it advanced in the well worn trail on the north side of the river. The other party under the command of Colonel D'Hart, crossed the river and advanced westward on the south side. On the river a small cluster of boats, making a flotilla of thirty in all, under the command of Captain Daniel Livermore (a revolutionary war ancestor of Mr. Marion Halm of Painted Post) were poled up the stream, trying to keep abreast of one or the other of the two columns on land.
route to Skweedowa, now Big Flats, some of the boats were filled with corn, pumpkins and other vegetables "which were in great plenty." Apparently working in well guarded groups they trampled and burned the fields, burned an occasional house or cabin, and gathered produce to send down the river in the boats to the main army encamped at Kanaweeola. Various parties passed and repassed each other which accounts for the discrepancies in the distance reported by several journalists, as to how far their group advanced up river. Captain Livermore and most of the group of men assigned to him to man and pole the boats, with the exception of those actually serving as polemen, had to make the best of their way along the shore for most of the day, in order to lighten the boats sufficiently to pass the shallows. The captain reported that his "great difficulty of getting the boats up so rapid and shoal a river prevented his land party from proceeding more than five miles. Where the boats landed, we found large fields of corn with a few houses. The mountains (here) closing nearly to the river on
"After destroying...and burning...a considerable amount of corn" along the
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
(Continued on page 9)
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
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THE LORE OF PAINTED POST CONT. Seneca Lake and the Genesee River." both sides. Here the boats were all Some of the cabins loaded to capacity. At sunset I set out burned by Capt. at with my whole fleet and at nine o’clock Spaulding arrived at Fort Reed, fatigued with my Painted Post would have been the march." homes of the rangIn addition to Captain Livermore’s first ers. group, according to Lt. John Jenkins, another "large fatigue party was sent Erosion caused by up the river nine miles, where they the 1936 flood unloaded nine boats with corn and vege- covered the charred tables and brought them down." nine foundation logs of a miles would place the second foraging small cabin with a party at Big Flats. Another boat party fire hearth near the did even better, since Lt. Colonel Cohocton River on Adam Hubley reported that a part of the Robert Dann "the detachment ordered to march yes- farm. terday moved this morning up Tioga branch to an Indian village, about Within and without twelve miles from Fort reed, with or- the charred rectanders to destroy the same... At dusk this gle of the cabin ruin evening, September 27 the detach- were found brass, ment which marched this morning re- pewter and gilded turned, after destroying a considerable buttons, some of the Replica of carvings on the Painted Post provided by Corning quantity of corn, beans, and other latter stamped LonPainted Post Museum vegetables, sixteen boat loads of don, large brass shoe which they brought with them for the buckles, rusted table knives and two- cer in that detachment, wrote in his use of the army. They also burned a pronged forks, pieces of "china" cups journal on the 28th that his and saucers, long stemmed clay pipes, "detachment moved up the Chemung small village. . ." Skweedowa. broken iron kettles, musket fittings, five miles above where we were yesAlthough Colonel Van Courtlandt with chunk lead, a lead bridle rosette, a terday (near Big Flats), and burnt two most of his command returned to Ft. metal mirror, cast lead bullets of vari- or three Indian houses, (near the Reed that evening, September 27, a ous sizes and other artifacts of home mouth of Post Creek) - (which had small party led by Capt. Simeon use. Post moulds for a fence along the been bypassed by Capt. Spaulding) Spaulding, under orders from Van edge of the river terrace nine feet "and destroyed corn on each side of Courtlandt, "was sent farther up the away, had also been uncovered. About the river. A little before night I went up river," where after bypassing several eighty feet southeast of the cabin was the river 5 miles further (or two miles Indian houses, apparently near the the grave, apparently of a white man, above Painted Post) with Col. Van mouth of Post Creek they discovered a with the arms folded across the chest, Courtlandt and Captain Spaulding but Tory Indian settlement with a few who had been buried in a wood coffin found no corn and returned where we horses still wandering in the woods, box. The darker stain lines in the "found our detachment encamped in and with "ten acres of corn, beans and sandy soil indicated the outline of the one of the corn fields without tents. squash, piles of hay…rail fences, etc." coffin boards. They had been held towhich bore unmistakable evidence of gether with handmade rose head iron Apparently Captain Spaulding and his having been built by white people. In nails. This burial was at the edge of an advance party had burned the Tory the abandoned Tory settlement near older Indian burial ground, where and Indian hamlet at the Painted Post the Painted Post, they would have en- seven graves were found, two of them several hours before the arrival of camped during the night of September indicating torture deaths. Colonel Van Courtlandt and Lt. Beatty 27. He and his men destroyed the setwith their men, who would not have Getting back to Colonel Van Courtlandt tlement the next day, September 28. arrived until late in the day. Then, and his command on the morning of about dusk, the Colonel with Capt. It is known that "during the revolution, September 28th, he again moved up Spaulding and Beatty and a group of Tory rangers and Tory sympathizers the Chemung River with his command riflemen crossed the Conhocton and who did not get to Canada were scat- to rendezvous with and assist Captain proceeded along the Forbidden Path to tered among the Indian towns on the Spaulding's riflemen at Painted Post if (Continued on page 10) Susquehanna and Chemung rivers, necessary. Lt. Erskins Beatty, an offi(Continued from page 8)
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Volume 4, Issue 1
THE SRAC JOURNAL
THE LORE OF PAINTED POST CONT.. (Continued from page 9)
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a point beyond the Gang Mills, making no further discoveries. In his autobiography Colonel Van Courtlandt reported that he also went 2 miles above Painted Post, as ordered by General Sullivan. It would have been after nightfall when they returned to one of the corn fields three miles below the post and found their command encamped in the trampled corn. There, across from the chimney narrows, and near the present Guthrie Clinic, the men ate roast corn in the light of their camp fires and spent a short night in the open, under a cold, late September moon. Lt. Beatty indicated that the men, encamped where the Moravian missionary, Ziesberger had camped twelve years before "slept tolerable well, rose early, loaded two of Capt. Livermore's boats which we had with us, with corn and set off down the river about 7:00 o'clock. Arrived where the camp had been (at Kanaweeola) where we found the army had destroyed Fort Reed and left in the morning‌" General Sullivan's chief guide, John Jenkins reported that "the army left Fort Reed and marched ten miles toward Butler's breastworks. At the Newtown battle site we encamped that night on a flat 2 miles below Chemung," about nine o'clock that night the two commands, "Colonel Van Courtlandt's and Captain Spaulding's," with Lt. Beatty arrived. Among those stragglers from the Painted Post rendezvous were Private William Mapes and Lieutenant Nathan Dascum from brigadier General Maxwell's brigade, of the New Jersey line. Both veterans settled at Big Flats in after years, Dascum being buried there in 1840, and the 103 year old Mapes likewise in 1846. According to their accounts, which have not been corroborated, after destroying corn and other crops near Big Flats, they advanced to a point near the mouth of Post Creek at Gibson where Lt. Beatty had reported burning Indian cabins, and then were engaged in a skirmish with several Indians, each party shooting at the other across a small ravine which drained a swamp at a place since called Bloody Run. It is so named on the large 1857 map of Steuben
County. Both old soldiers are said to have definitely located the site of the engagement which legend has since labeled the "Battle of Bloody Run." The aged Oliver Rouse of Gibson reported the following, which he said he heard from the lips of Capt. Mapes, "General Sullivan started off scouting parties, one of which was ordered to follow up the Chemung River a certain distance. They followed the trail of the Indians, and as it appeared rather fresh, proceeded with cautiousness, and near evening encamped not far from the spot now called Bloody Run. Early next morning they arose and started again, but perceiving smoke ahead they crept up stealthily to surprise them through what was then a swamp overgrown with laurels. At last looking into the bed of the creek they saw several Indians at their camp fire... Sullivan's men... fired upon them and five Indians fell into the creek, while the same ran with their blood, which gave it its present name - the remaining Indians jumped across and made their escape..." In the same article it is noted "in the spring of 1819, a man by the name of Talada discovered a hole in a large white oak tree on the top of a little knoll situated a little to the left of the road as it is now (1867) runs near the run. His curiosity being aroused, he concluded to take his ax and chop into it... He did so, and found all together the chins (jaw bones) of six men. . ." but only five Indians are assumed to have died in the creek! Again, another would-be historian wrote that "the Americans were fired upon by the Indians in ambush, at a ravine called Bloody Run, over which the road now (1867) passes just before entering the narrows between Big Flats and the Village of Corning. After the skirmish some of Capt. Spaulding's men crossed the river and followed up the south side over the site of present Corning until they came to a fording place, near the future Patterson Inn. Then they recrossed to join their companions who went up the north side of the river, to form a united column under Colonel Van Courtlandt who recorded, "... the General sent me with a command up the Chemung River
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(Continued on page 11)
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THE LORE OF PAINTED POST CONT.. tent of the country ruined than had ever before been the case on this continent. Before the army left Fort Reed Early settlers in the valley stated that their base of supplies at Kanaweeole, the location of the skirmish at Bloody it had destroyed in all some 1,600,000 Run was indicated up to 1814 by bushels of corn, forty Indian towns and seven oak trees standing near the road hamlets with their fruitful peach, plum, where it passed the swamp. On three and apple orchards and improvements, of them were painted or carved repre- along with untold quantities of garden sentations of Indians with hatchets, produce such as beans, squash, while on the other four were repre- pumpkins, cucumbers and all else the sented soldiers with guns. These were Indians could not carry away. The corn considered to have been of Indian ori- was described as the "finest ever gin, memorials of the engagement, seen," some of the ears erected by the Indians following the being twenty inches in length. withdrawal of the army. (Continued from page 10)
and two miles past the Painted Post..."
The historian stone wrote that during the Sullivan expedition more towns were laid in ashes, and a broader ex-
However, the destruction caused and the captives taken during the retaliatory
Indian forays against the New York and Pennsylvania frontiers during the following two wars were proof that General Sullivan's punitive expedition while a tactical success and an outstanding achievement of the revolutionary war, was a practical failure. Captives were still brought to Painted Post; two captives were burned at Painted Post. It was still standing when the first settlers arrived.
The Olivet Family In memory of Grandpa Ellsworth Cowles
S O M E N O T E S O N N A T I V E I N D I A N G R AV E R E C O V E R Y RELATED ISSUES BY MARSHALL BECKER, PHD “Some Notes on Native American Grave Recovery and Multiple Related Issues” – (adapted from a ms in progress, from a paper presented at the 2008 meetings of the Middle Atlantic Arch Conference, Ocean City, Md.,) by Marshall Becker, PhD, Senior Fellow Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania Marshall Becker, PhD
Introduction
In the interest of “full disclosure,” my training in anthropology was in a program that prides itself on a strong fourfields approach. The training has served me well over the years. I have applied my skills as a physical anthropologist as well as my knowledge of archaeology in the recovery of literally thousands of burials, from Honduras and Guatemala through North America and Europe, to Greece and Turkey (Becker 1999). In addition I have analyzed the bones from hundreds of other graves, both cremations (Becker 2005) and inhumations, and from scattered other
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contexts (Becker 1996, 1997) that have been recovered by others. Among the bones from more than 100 excavations in which I have participated or studied1 are only a very few that derive from native North American sites. Four of these sets of bone derive from native sites of some significance (see Becker 1971, 1972), while a single native grave of the later historic period from the area of Toledo, Ohio (cf. Prahl and Becker 1966) also is of note for several reasons. The skeletal remains that derive from a Lenape cemetery in Chester County, Pennsylvania and dated to ca. 1720 – 1733, are of particular importance because the Lenape are the people who have been the focus of my studies for the past 40 years. During those 4 decades there have been incredible and important changes in the ways that we do archaeology. Some observations on these processes, and the contexts in which they have taken place, are of considerable interest to professionals as well as to the public in general. For these reasons I have outlined a few of the major points now involved in the recovery of Native Americans from grave and other contexts (see Becker 1987), with considerations of some of the issues that now impinge on archaeological research.2
Physical Recovery The processes involved in locating, recording, excavating and publishing the archaeological record relating to human remains has improved in many ways in recent decades. Archaeological detection, however, may be a bit constrained by concerns for various laws (cf. MacDonald 2008), rendering more complex the physical recovery of (Continued on page 12)
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bones and traces of related human remains as part of the archaeological record. We have become vastly more sophisticated in the recovery process as technologies for analysis have improved. Television programs of the 21st century may exaggerate what can be done, but given infinite resources anthropologists can recover and analyze human remains in ways undreamed of only 25 years ago.
Identification of Bones: Are they Human? Perhaps once or twice a month for the past 40 years I have been contacted by the Office of the Coroner of Chester County [Pennsylvania] to examine one or more bones. The basic concern is to determine if they are human, and if the evidence might indicate that a crime had been committed. The vast majority of these finds are the remains of deer, with a portion of a bear sometimes appearing. Scattered human remains are rare, but generally can be traced to a “relocated” cemetery. The traditional low bidder approach to “relocating” a cemetery had been to collect any stone markers from a burial ground and relocate them to another place. Often the new location is a new church, which then has a scenic burial ground with no skeletons. “Markerless” cemeteries abound, as well as the dozens of farm cemeteries or small private burial plots, that abound in every township and county of Pennsylvania provide an abundant source of skeletal remains. Usually these sources for skeletons can be identified with some ease. Quite often they are hilltop locations, as in the famous “Boot Hill.” Contouring the land for construction projects often reveals these abandoned burial locations.
Identification of Native Remains For the most part human remains are assigned an ethnic (or racial) affiliation based on the context in which they are
recovered. This is far from optimal, but remains the principle mode of determining affinity. Associated artifacts also are used to assign “race.” A burial in a “white” colonial cemetery, in a coffin, with a shroud pin and/or coffin hardware would be identified as “white.” If she were 100% native descent but had married or lived among the colonists, she would be identified as “white.” The presence of trade silver with a burial, or sterling silver objects made in specific forms specifically as objects for native users (Becker 1992), invariably provides evidence for a “native” burial, even if the individual had been a runaway colonial or captured as a child and reared among a native population. We can do much better at identifying human remains through DNA studies, but that is another part of the subject. Random finds of bones (partial skeletons, single bones) often warrant closer scrutiny. Isolated burials commonly are identified as being native, without further consideration. A socalled “native” burial from a rock shelter near Broomall, PA had long been inferred to represent a native. A supposed “study” has never been made, but the bones were “repatriated” to a claimant “Lenape” group and have since disappeared, as has the group. During the transfer I aided my “kin” in packaging these bones for transport, a procedure that I pointed out would be in violation of a number of different laws. I then noted that at least two people were represented by the skeletal material they were “claiming,” and that none of these bones appeared to represent a local native population of southeastern Pennsylvania. The full tale of the transfer, or disposal of these bones, merits its own story. As I understand it, the first step mandated by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) involves the study of the skeletal material and the assignment of an “identity,” whether native or not. These data then should be provided to any modern native group that would reasonably be
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considered to be the descendants of the individual(s) in question.
Crime or Burial? If the remains are human, are they from a burial context or do they represent a crime. We’ll ignore the possibility that formally buried remains may represent a crime and concentrate on other contexts. If the remains are in a suitcase or other less traditional location for a corpse one may infer that they are related to a crime, unless they have evidence for drill holes or wiring that would suggest that these bones may have been imported anatomical specimens. The age of the remains also is important. If the possible crime had been committed more than 100 years earlier, the perpetrator may be assumed to be dead and the crime not pursued. If the remains are from a cemetery or otherwise known source of human bone they generally are of no interest to law enforcement agencies even though the “movement” of a corpse (in these cases only pieces of a corpse) is subject to considerable legal restriction. In most states it is illegal to call a cab for a deceased relative and thus transport their remains to a mortuary, or any other location. If human remains are not the result of a crime, what do we do with these often random bits of bones? They are a problem that, like the proverbial boomerang, cannot be thrown away. Dumping them in a landfill simply provides a problem for future physical anthropologists. Use in teaching or research is problematical as each bit of bone requires documentation and cataloguing, and then permanent curation. Storage of bone is a major problem in America, as it is in most of Europe. Only in the Czech Republic have I seen laudable storage facilities and complete records that simplifies the process of locating them and provides access for research (Becker 2000). Disposal should be total, with my favorite method being to pulverize (Continued on page 13)
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or grind them to dust and regale a rose fancier friend with the results. Other disposal methods that are less drastic can create a different type of problem. Simply breaking bones into small pieces duplicates the effects of smashing cremated bone, a situation that leads to the problem of disposing of a cremation. The cremation of human bodies do not produce cigarette-like ash, despite the common use of the term “ashes” to refer to the resulting materials. More recently the neologism “cremains” has become popular, but the belief that these are simply powdery ashes remains common. Cremation destroys soft tissue, but bone burned at high temperature often vitrifies. That’s why porcelain or bone china actually uses bone with the fine clay to create a glass-like material. The higher the temperature used to cremate a human, the more difficult it is to destroy the resulting bone. These bits of “burned” bone, like broken bits of bone, are readily identified by a physical anthropologist. Age and sex often can be inferred from the smallest sample of these fragments (e.g. Becker 1997b). In short, one cannot simply throw human bones away, no matter whose they are (originally or legally). Discarding human bones, and to a lesser extent the soft tissue, is an issue that rarely is discussed. I have never seen reference in print to the process of soft tissue disposal, which commonly occurs on an informal level. Basic to activities involving human remains are the legal situations that determine who actually owns these objects. When one is alive and functioning, one has control of one’s own body. Some if not all control may be lost through transfer of power of attorney. When one dies, one’s body becomes an object that is simply part of the estate – a piece of property to be handled by the legal heir(s). There are laws limiting and directing what can be done with a body or its parts, but otherwise they become part of one’s es-
tate.3 One may express one’s wishes in a will or other legal instrument, but much of the decision-making process rests entirely with the heir(s). Unless a will is extremely carefully written, to divert inheritance in cases on noncompliance, an heir may do much as they please. But what about bones left in a grave for generations? What about bones discovered in a long abandoned and unmarked cemetery? In general bones, coffin hardware, shroud pins, and any other materials with a burial are the property of the owner of the property on which they are found. In theory, there are legal restrictions regarding what one can do with these remains, generally covered by modern laws involved with desecration of a corpse or the moving of a body. These strictures are, in general, not applied to “archaeologically” recovered remains.
Who Wants the Dung? Human coprolites (feces) are often found in the dry and protected areas of caves and rock shelters. Recently, in Oregon, Prof. Dennis Jenkins excavated some of the earliest known human coprolites in the Americas. These “artifacts,” and the associated DNA (Science online, April 2008), provide important information about the early peopling of the Americas. Not only do these items suggest possible biological associations with populations in Asia, but the routes taken by these early immigrants and perhaps the numbers of migratory waves may be inferred. Whereas the bones of the producers of these coprolites might generate considerable interest among native claimants, to date no one besides the scientists seems interested in this artifact category.
Public Outreach A number of successful collaborative programs have brought archaeologists and physical anthropologists together with “native” populations to further goals of mutual concern – knowing their pasts. These programs are ex-
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tremely successful (see Tielser and Cucina 2008) where the native population has integrity, in every sense of the word, and interest in their own history. However, in the more recent past, more and more claimant groups appear, morph, and often disappear, in interesting patterns. I attempted to trace these over a period of about 25 years, often including some groups as far away as Maryland. The study of these groups, their origins and dynamics, will make a fascinating doctoral dissertation, but in the context of understanding native history these groups are counterproductive. In my opinion, none are interested in scholarly research on any level as each one wishes to have its own made up story accepted as a valid version of native history. My own experience is that none of the leaders of these groups, and often there are no followers, has any information regarding native peoples. These claimant groups come and go, led by or composed of individuals with business cards attesting to their official status. Simply listing them, with their officers and membership, for any state is a difficult task that remains to be achieved. These people, however, provide much of the so-called public outreach available to interested individuals and to those whose taxes support public archaeology as well as academic institutions.
In Conclusion It is safe to say that I have only scraped the surface of all of the issues concerning modern archaeology as it relates to grave recovery. Other questions abound such as “Where no bones or artifacts are detectable in a grave “pit,” do any laws apply?” “How does excavation on private property differ from public lands?” “When a physical anthropologist is also the archaeologist in charge and consultant to the Coroner’s Office, a Catch 22 effect is created.” “When people who are (Continued on page 14)
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(Continued from page 13)
probable native descendants decide to support an archaeological excavation, are their written statements helpful to the archaeological team?” “What happens when native claimants to human remains found in graves are the descendants of the people who can be documented as having killed that population?” I am confident that this brief review given of personal experiences will have served to further confuse the issues discussed. This most fittingly explains why these controversies live on.
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US!
Susquehanna River Archaeology Center (SRAC) members and Society of Pennsylvania Archaeology (SPA) members (Andastes Chapter #5) have an opportunity to participate in a Historic and Pre-historic educational excavation in Bradford County, Pa. A husband and wife team, Dan and Maureen Costura, are working on thier doctorate at Cornell University, and are planning the excavation at French Asylum, near the Laporte House. They are going down to plan the layout the last week of April and expect to be working all of May and into June. Individuals interested in helping on this dig should contact Ted Keir at 570-888-2718.
T H E S R AC B OAR D Deb Twigg - Executive Director Dick Cowles - CoDirector of Archaeology/Curation
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DIRECTORS
Ted Keir - Chairman of the Board, CoDirector of Archaeology/Education
Susan Fogel - Chief Financial Officer Jessica Quinn Tom Vallilee The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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COMING EVENTS SRAC History's Mysteries - The Mound Builder Myth Tue, Jun 3, 6pm – 8pm – SRAC, 345 Broad Street Waverly There’s a lot going on at SRAC these days! We have all kinds of events and programs most every week. Watch for announcements of all current offerings in the newspapers, in flyers, and on the web!
Carla Cohen presenting a series on healthy living, “Spring Into Spring.”
SRAC Wildlife Rehab Series Thu, May 15 6:30 - 7:30 pm - SRAC, 345 Broad St. Waverly Barb Cole and LIVE Animals! The SRAC Wildlife Rehab Series will be presented every third Thursday of the month starting in May and will include many topics throughout the year to include discussions on owls and other large birds, porcupines, deer, reptiles, bats, water fowl, garden birds and more! Live animals will be present every night! Admission is $3 for children under 18, $5 for adults and $3 for SRAC members. Refreshments available.
SRAC and the Andaste Chapter of PA Archaeology present “The Lamoka Site” Mon, May 19, 7 - 8pm - SRAC - 345 Broad St Waverly Anyone who has collected artifacts in this region is familiar with “Lamoka” points. Charles Van Buskirk was born not far from Lake Lamoka and early on heard of the famous Indian site. Natural curiosity developed into a fascination with these ancient people, and it became a private research hobby. He made a trip to the Albany museum and photographed the Lamoka diorama and used his photos to produce large posters for use with his lectures. Van Buskirk has written a concise history of the Native Americans from the Paleo through the Iroquois time periods, published by the Steuben County Historical Society. Admission is free to the public.
When many of the ancient mounds and earthworks in North America were discovered by white settlers, they believed that they were made by: • Aliens • The People of Atlantis • The Vikings. Deb Twigg will take you through time and show you many mounds that she has personally visited in her quest to unravel what has become known in the scientific world as the “Mound Builder Myth.” Doors open at 6pm. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for SRAC members and children under 18.
~ NEW ~ SRAC ROUNDUP EVENTS! SRAC Roundups are events that will gather together as much of a specific and unique type of artifact as possible with the help of museums and collectors, to include guest speakers and specialists.
Birdstones Sat, June 7th 1pm - 4pm - SRAC, 345 Broad St. Waverly Presented by SRAC with a special guest presentation by Ralph Rataul, PhD of the NYS Museum. In addition, we calling out to all collectors to bring their birdstones from around the region. Secure storage available. Setup from noon to 1pm. Join us for a very rare afternoon of sharing and learning. Admission is $5 Adults, $4 SRAC Members, $3 Children
Wampum and Beads Sat, August 23rd 1pm - 4pm - SRAC, 345 Broad St. Waverly Join us for a Saturday filled with wampum and beads! Many pieces will be on display! Presentation on wampum and it's usage by SRAC Advisor, Dr. Marshall Becker! Collectors are invited to bring any beads or beadwork to exhibit for the day! Secure storage available. Setup from noon to 1pm. Admission is $5 Adults, $4 SRAC Members, $3 Children
May 30th, 2008 66-8 pm - Kids Night Out ! Storyteller Night Storyteller night will be presented by SRAC member Jack Andrus! Jack will come dressed in Native Indian costume and share interactive Native Indian children stories that all ages will enjoy! Authentic stories! Fun for all ages! Kids $3, Adults $5
Wishing Barbara Twigg a speedy recovery!
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Volume 4, Issue 1
PLEASE CONSIDER SPONSORING THE SRAC JOURNAL WITH YOUR CONTRIBUTUION AT ONE OF THE LEVELS LISTED BELOW. Many of you are familiar with our quarterly journal, and the quality and volume of educational information we try to bring to the community throughout the year. In fact our range of readership includes high school students to retired persons as well as professional scientists and local universities. The journal has grown into a well read and respected publication; and we hope that it will continue to grow and be a resource of educational and entertaining material for years to come. Obviously, with this continued growth not only in content and pages but distribution, there are added costs associated. For this reason, we have decided to offer sponsorship by local individuals, families, and businesses who want to help us in our efforts. We currently publish and distribute 1,000 copies each quarter ~ that's currently 4,000 copies each year, with our coverage mainly in Bradford County PA and Tioga and Chemung Counties in NY, but we have readership that reaches far beyond these boundaries as well. How Can You Become a Sponsor? 1.) Choose your level of sponsorship and how many issues you would like to sponsor below. If you would like to sponsor multiple quarterly journals (4 per year) or even a whole year, just multiply the sponsorship level. 2.) Tell us what you would like us to print 3.) Include your check along with this completed form. Thank you for being an active supporter of this worthy cause!
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF SPONSORSHIP LEVELS WITH FORMATS AND APPROXIMATE SIZES. Our top level of sponsorship! With your donation of $500 you will be facilitating 1,000 copies of one quarterly journal. Your donation will be recognized with a full half-page gray-scale or black and white ad that can measure up to 7 1/2” wide by 5” tall. (Sorry, but we can accept only one Platinum sponsor per issue; however, you can reserve for future issues.) Please email artwork and text you wish included to sfogel@hughes.net.
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Send check along with this form to: For additional information call Deb Twigg at 607-727-3111 or email Info@SRACenter.org
SRAC PO Box 12 Sayre, PA 18840
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SRAC MUSEUM SPACE CURRENTLY BEING ASSEMBLED major project, the core of SRAC; our museum space.
SRAC's Co-founder Dick Cowles and son Kurt Since purchasing the building located at 345 Broad Street Waverly in December 2007, the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC) has nearly renovated its whole 5,000 square ft. main floor. Already, visitors can stop in a huge gift shop between 1 and 5pm weekdays or attend events many evenings during the month. On Saturday April 12th we began another
This accomplishment is due largely to our friends at the Corning Painted Post Museum, who donated over 25 antique museum cases to SRAC last summer. While many cases had been moved to the Valley at that time, some still remained in Painted Post until the most recent move. This is because the remaining cases could only be removed the same way that they were moved in; through a third floor window. After months of planning, these huge cases were placed safely on a huge pallet created by Kurt Cowles. One by one they were gently brought to the ground by a forklift which then placed them into trucks for their journey to their new home at SRAC. Amazingly, these same cases had been placed in the Painted Post Museum decades ago by a well known amateur archaeologist and local historian, Ellsworth Cowles; and he brought them from Waverly, NY. With the help of a dozen workers and an oversized forklift, Ellsworth's son Dick and grandson Kurt reversed what he had done and delivered them safely back to Waverly. The Cowles family not only planned and managed the whole project, but funded it as well.
SRAC museum cases were removed from the 3rd story of the Painted Post Museum
Cases placed in truck for the trip to Waverly Thanks to the Corning Painted Post Museum, the Cowles family, and a group of selfless men with good backs, Waverly, NY will soon be the home to the largest museum space filled with local Native Indian artifacts in the region. We hope to have a grand opening early this summer.
“Seeing the pictures of them I was reminded of the many times I went to the Erwin Town Museum on Friday nights from 7-9 in the winter with Ellsworth. [During the summer the museum had more hours and students were hired by the town to work there.] Sometimes there would be a scout troop visiting or a local history buff would stop and chat. Many times it was just the two of us. Me jumping back and forth from excitement to utter boredom and him patiently working on some project or talking with me about life before the white traders came. The place was dusty, out of the way idiosyncratic with bits of whatever people wanted to donate that was old. But in the end it helped preserved a lot of stuff and now you and SRAC are focusing and re-energizing the community to learn its history. As I said to Dad when I talked to him last night, if I could believe in an afterlife than I know that Ellsworth was smiling yesterday.� Charlotte Cowles
Large case safely returned to the ground
Forklift removes cases form 3rd story window of Painted Post museum
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