The Historical Society of the Town of Clarence 10465 Main Street P.O. Box 86 Clarence, NY 14031
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Clarence, NY PERMIT #17
Fall 2014
Fall 2014
News and Notes Save the Dates Oct 14, 2014 - "Jim Lally A Brief History on Glenn Curtiss" - biography and museum Nov 11, 2014 - " The Red Baron & WWI" by Greg Kinal Dec 7, 2014 - Pearl Harbor Remembrance
For additional information, call 759-8575
Happenings… How do you like THEM apples?? Let’s congratulate Dan Gamin, member, for his first place showing at the County fair in the apple growing contest. Dan, who has won first place for at least eight (8) years in a row, had the top entry for Baldwin apples and Quince apples. The prize is awarded for appearance and firmness of texture. The apples are picked before completely ripened. Dan’s apples are smooth, round, lack any imperfections whatsoever, and, when mature, are the best tasting things around. You can find him working on his trees almost year round in the orchard on Kraus Road, near Greiner. Say “hello” to him and thank him for making Clarence the home of champion apple growing. Also, a member secret, the trees which produced the champion Baldwins are growing on Clarence Town Park property right next to our Landow Log Cabin! Please do not pick the apples! If you see any deer over there, shoo them away!
THANKS!! Let’s offer another thank you to Mason Winfield, local historian, who spun a tale of the War of 1812 for us at our September program meeting. Mason covered every battle of the War, the entire fight for the Niagara River forts in 90 minutes. He even threw in a few ghost stories. See him if you want to know more about dueling, but don’t upset him, or you might be asked to defend your honor with pistols at the length of a handkerchief. (True story, the dueler was General Isaac Brock. See this hero’s statute at Niagara on the Lake).
Genealogy Update: We have two new computers and a new scanner at the Gerber-Greatbatch Genealogy building. Stop in to examine your Clarence roots with the power of the microchip. We are trying to making the study of Clarence’s unique history easier and more convenient for those who undertake this worthwhile effort. While you are there, say hello to May Coppola and friends, who literally have dedicated their lives to the study of Clarence’s families. These people are volunteers. Can you believe it? We are proud to be associated with them. Words do not do justice, cannot describe, their worth and the value of services we receive from their efforts. Thanks to them all!
From the Clarence Archives: Excerpts from: THE G. A. R. GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
Weithea Miller, 1958 This April it is 97 years since President Lincoln called for 78,000 volunteers to protect the Union. Many who answered his call were only boys but they were a husky lot. They proved their stamina on many a battle field. Thousands of them did not come home again. The old song “Tenting Tonight,” “The Faded Coat of Blue,” and the “Vacant Chair” were written from the reality of blood and tears. It had been predicted that the North would have a lot of trouble absorbing the thousands of soldiers into civilian life. But all the predictions were groundless. The soldiers took off their blue uniforms and put on the working garb of the farmers, factory workers and various businesses, and almost overnight there were no more soldiers, just loyal citizens, busy at restoring what four years of war had torn down. But they did not forget their war experiences. They took immediate stops to preserve the friendships and fellowships of the war years and organized themselves into the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R). This organization had its beginning at Springfield, Illinois in March 1866 when a small group of veterans met there and planned a ritual and by-laws and during the summer held a state encampment at Springfield, Illinois. The first national encampment of the order was held at Indianapolis, Indiana in November, 1886. None was held in 1867 but after that there was a National Encampment every year, always in one of the large cities. Two encampments were held in Boston, two in Detroit, two in Cleveland, two in Philadelphia and two in Washington, D.C. Cluet and Mrs. Berry told of watching the parade in Washington when the blue clad soldiers marched all day in review. The 31st Encampment was held in Buffalo August 23-28, 1897, one of the largest gatherings. The veterans, many of them former residents of New York, came from nearly every state in the Union. New York had furnished over half a million soldiers for the War. Not all of our present 48 states were represented at the G. A. R., there being only 36 states at the time of the War. Probably never again after 1897 were there in one city so many thousands of men wearing the little bronze button of the G. A. R.
Three of memorable sights of the Buffalo encampment were the living flag and the living shield and the colored citizen’s tribute. The flag and shield were formed by children dressed in red, white and blue. The colored citizens had erected a huge G on one side of the street, a huge R on the other side and above them, the A forming the arch with a picture of President Lincoln and the inscription “They fought be set us free.” Left: Nearly 50,000 veterans of the Union Army traveled to Buffalo in August 1897 to remember their Civil War service and be remembered by the host city, Buffalo. There were parades on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the encampment week by various groups, but the biggest was the Grand Parade that began at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
William McKinley was our president in 1897. He was from Ohio and had the rank of Major in the War. His comrades gave him a wildly enthusiastic welcome in Buffalo. Before him we had had four other presidents who were members of the Grand Army, which for 40 years was a power in national politics as well as State and local governments. The local groups in towns and villages were called “Post” and were named for officers of the Northern Army. The Clarence group was W. B. Ransom Post 432, named for Colonel Wallace B. Ransom of Clarence. They were given a charter November 14, 1884 and in all about eighty members were mustered in. Of these a few were later dropped, or transferred to other Posts and at least three were transferred from Akron when the J. J. Peck Post 398 surrendered their charter. The J. J. Peck Post had about 118 names on its roster. There were several Indian members of whom David Moses was one. The first commander of Wallace B. Ransom Post 432 was Lieut. Tobias Berry of Clarence Center, followed by Jacob F. Humbert, Jacob Klicker, Marshall, Aaron Gunn and then again Lieut. Berry who held the office till his death Jun. 10, 1906, about 12 1/2 years. After 1906 there, were only two others, Irving U. Miller and John Fidinger. Buffalo had the largest Post in the nation, Chapin Post 2 named for Buffalos General Chapin. There were ever 700 members and Chapin Post led the parade at all the national encampments.
In December the Posts elected new officers and early in January they had an Installation which was always a big day and a happy one for the “boys.” To the last, the veterans were the “boy” but sometimes they were referred to as “Lincoln’s coffee coolers.” At these Installations, there were always visitors and members of other posts were invited and the installing officer for Ransom Post came from Buffalo. One that came many times was Lieut. Alfred Lyth of Buffalo. The Installation and dinner were always held in the village of Clarence. There was always an Installation dinner provided by the Women’s Relief Corps, and featuring oyster stew sad baked beans. These were held at the Lodge room above Humbert’s Store on the corner of Main and Ransom Road. Later when there were few veterans, the dinners were held in their homes. After dinner came the Installation ritual. Sometimes the Installation was held first followed by an evening meal and then a campfire at which the visiting veterans spoke of their war experiences and sang old war songs. One of the songs in memory of the army mules ran something like this: “Good old mule, army mule, both your ears were so graceful and long. You were true to our flag so we praise you in story and song.” The other big day for the veterans was Decoration Day, May 30th. The Sunday proceeding May 30th was called Memorial Sunday and the “Post” went to church in a body. This church service was always e union services in our village, and was held in a different church each year. The commander of the Post would send an invitation to the pastors of the churches to join together in this tribute to the veterans. The pastor of the Church where the service was held preached the sermon.
Postcard, Grand Army of the Republic 1915
The Post marched in with their flag which was placed in the front of the church. The color bearer was Martin Racquet of Clarence Center. He was a striking figure with head of thick dark hair and his face covered with a heavy beard as was the custom in Civil War days. The clean shaven veterans were always urging Martin “to get rid of all that foliage,” but he never did. The Women’s Relief Corps marched in behind the veterans. At the close of the service the veterans marched out first while the congregation stood in silent tribute.
On May 30th the veterans met about ten o’clock and marched to Fillmore Cemetery where flowers were placed on the comrades’ graves beside the flags which had been placed there by a committee of veterans. After the Clarence Cornet band was organized on October 1, 1907, the band would march with the veterans. Later on the Scouts also joined the parade and still later the Girl Scouts, School children with bouquets of flowers always marched with the veterans. The ritual of the Grand Army was read at the grave of the last veteran who had died a volley over the grave by the firing squad and taps was sounded by the bugler. They then marched back to Main Street and by that time dinner was ready. The veterans and their families, the ministers of the town, teachers and the band enjoyed the food and fellowship. After dinner there was always a program by the high school and grade pupils and a special speaker. Two things that were always repeated in every Decoration Day program were the first Memorial Day Order by General John A. Logan who was the second commander and chief of the National G. A. R. and Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. The latter given by a high school pupil and the form read by one of the veterans. There were recitations by the pupils. There was special music, a solo or duet or group singing by the children. One of the never-to-beforgotten songs by the children posed a question: Who in the years to come, will play the fife and drum? Loudly the bugle blow, bravery to meet the foe Who in the nation’s need, will every war cry heed? Who’ll be our loyal men? Who’ll be the soldiers then? We will the soldiers be, over the land and sea Loudly the bugle blow, bravery to meet the foe We in the nation’s need, will every war cry heed We’ll be our loyal men. we’ll be the soldiers then. During the lifetime of Lieut. Berry the Decoration Day dinner and program were held alternately at Clarence Center and at Clarence. The Clarence Center School furnished the program by school children, and there was also a speaker. Later the programs were always at Clarence. The Birth of the Women’s Relief Corps The women of the North, during the war years had organized to help the war effort whenever they could. Some went to the front as nurses. Others worked in the Christian sanitary commission which did splendid work in furnishing supplies for the sick and wounded.
After the war came the organization known as “Women’s Relief Corps.” (W.R.C.) auxiliary of the G. A. R. whose purpose was to assist in perpetuating the work of the heroic dead and to aid needy veterans and their families.
In those earlier years there was often actual need among the veterans. And there were of course no government sponsored educational advantages, no rehabilitation program and no social security. The soldier who had lost an arm or a leg came home and took up his task as best he could. So that in the years directly after the war, there was need of the W.R.C. Nationally the W. R. C. has founded homes for veterans, their wives and mothers and was instrumental in placing an American flag over every schoolhouse.
Budget News: As you may know, all of our Museum and Genealogy operations are funded by the Town of Clarence. We have been operating within tight constraints for several years, foregoing needed improvements to our equipment, supplies, displays and technology. During the last two years we have upgraded our computers at the museum, obtained internet access there, and most recently, upgraded the computers at the Genealogy building. The new technology does not work by itself. We have hired an Assistant Curator to help with new archival methods and technology applications. She is doing a fantastic job. We need to budget dollars for this position on an annual basis going forward, rather than dip into endowed funds designated for major capital expenditures or long term strategic projects. Due to these expenses, and other rising costs of operation, we had no choice but to ask the Town for an additional $10,000 in this year’s budget. Here’s what you can do: 1.
Send a note to the Town Board at One Town Place, Clarence, N.Y. 14031, asking them to support the Historical Society Budget Request. Tell them how much you enjoy our Museum, programs, and genealogy sources.
2.
Make a contribution to the Society. Your contribution is fully tax deductible. We are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Did you know that we are organized and chartered under the authority of the New York State Department of Education?
We need to keep our program strong to ensure continued compliance with state law requirements for the education of the public in local history. Thank you for your continued support.
Just For Fun!
The Magic Bank Account
Think it Over!
Imagine that you had won the following prize in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private account for your use. However, this prize has rules: The rules: 1. Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you. 2. You may not simply transfer money into some other account. 3. You may only spend it. 4. Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400. 5. The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say: “Game Over!" It can close the account and you will not receive a new one. What would you do? You would buy anything and everything you wanted, right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people you love and care for. Even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself, right? You would try to spend every penny, and use it all, because you knew it would be replenished in the morning, right? Actually, this game is real. Shocked??? Each of us is already a winner of this prize. We just can't see it. The prize is time! 1. Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life. 2. And when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited to us. 3. What we haven't used up that day is forever lost. 4. Yesterday is forever gone. 5. Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time WITHOUT WARNING. SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds? Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars. Think about it and remember to enjoy every second of your life, because time races by much quicker than you think. Take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life! Here's wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day---and start “spending.”
~Elaine
Indian Fry Bread INGREDIENTS---- 1 pkg. dry yeast 2 1/2 c. warm water 1 tbsp honey 1 tbsp salt 7 c. flour (divided) 2 tbsp butter (melted) Oil for frying Combine yeast, water, sugar & salt. Stir; Let sit ‘til foam appears on top of liquid. Stir in flour and oil. Add only enough flour to make a sticky dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface; kneed only until combined. Let rest while oil heats in pan. Heat oil ‘til it is quite hot. Place remaining flour in a bowl or on counter. Pinch off about 1/4 c. dough. Roll it in flour, flattening it. Shake off excess flour and place in hot oil. Fry til browned on both sides, turning once. Remove to rack or paper towels to drain. Can be used to sop up gravies, as a "plate" to hold foods or you can sprinkle with sugar and eat as a dessert. From "America's Cookbook"
* Fun Fact----During powwows Native Americans would share fry bread as a sign of intertribal unity. In 2005 South Dakota made fry bread its official state bread.
We celebrate the past to awaken the future ~ President John F. Kennedy
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