Interesting family facts from Obituaries - Thomas Jefferson Austin

 

Interesting family facts from obituaries.

 

In researching Stratford families I came across an obituary for Thomas Jefferson Austin a Stratford resident. Thomas passed away in March of 1894. at the age of 86. Despite being an obituary for Thomas the article also provided family history. What I found interesting was the description of the personal traits of the Austin boys. 

 

"The Austin boys were quite above the average size, possessed great physical power and some of them were marvels of mathematical ability." 

 

This article also provide insight in both the hardships of the family and the family accomplishments.

 

 

The court case of the People vs Henry Cool Et All

 

The court case of the People vs Henry Cool Et All 

 

In 1885, the Forest Commission was established to protect land in the Catskill and Adirondack mountains. This commission raised a case against Stratford Resident Henry Cool for trespassing and cutting down trees in a lot in Jerseyfield. The trial, held on October 17th,1887, addressed issues related to tax assessment, property occupancy and the state takeover due to nonpayment of taxes. Mr. Cool, who did not own the property, claimed he had been given permission to cut trees.

 

Through the case it was found that the taxes had not been paid on the property for 3 years and the state took over the property. At that time notice was not required to advise that the state in fact now owned the property.

 

Cool and his associates was charged with cutting down 226 trees at $50.00 per tree for a total of $6,250. A high price even in today’s standards.

 

In a further (pictured) article on November 15, 1887 it was advised that it was an incorrect statement that Mr Cool along with Henry Jones and Samuel Webster had stolen timber. They had in fact bought and paid for the timber from the party who had the deed.

 

 

Stratford Fire Department - Furnishing the new Fire House

 

 

 

 

In 1961 in order to furnish the new Stratford Auxiliary Fire department the Stratford Volunteer Fire Department and Women's Auxiliary held a Variety Shower. A list was made of all items required for the fire house. Each member chose an item and brought it to the event. As always refreshments were served with homemade pie and coffee.

Helterline Store - 1916

 

A picture of the Helterline Store dated 1916.  Located  on what what then would have been Maple Ave., but is now 29A.    David Helterline built this store in about 1895, around the same time that he built his house at the corner of 29A and Piseco Rd.   The store was named D. Helterline & Son when it opened.    In 1898 due to the ill health of David Helterline , the store was transferred to Nicholas Helterline to continue the business.

The Stewart's Landing- The Black Hole

 

 

 

 

In a 1995 interview with Stratford Resident George Lepska, which was conducted by Betty Brown and Karen Gniewek, George Lepska discussed the Stewart’s Landing Black Hole.   George described the location of the Black hole.  The Black Hole is located above the Long Level as it turns toward the bank.   There is a dark stretch of water which they call the Black Hole.   Area legend is that the Black Hole is over 100 ft. deep.  

The 1938 what Stratford achieved by centralizing its school districts into one.

 

In 1938 the Oppenheim and Ephratah school districts  were considering centralization.   Stratford had centralized its school districts with the building of the Stratford Central School.   To understand better what centralization would mean to the Oppenheim and Ephratah school districts if centralized, an invitation was extended to Professor Marvin B. Loveys, the principal at the Stratford Central School to speak at the Lotville Grange on the achievements that resulted when Stratford centralized its school districts.    The 16-piece Stratford Central School Orchestra played at the meeting.

 A few of the interesting points covered in the speech on the accomplishments of Stratford Centralizing its school districts:

Before centralization, only two children could play a musical instrument.  By 1938 over thirty students received daily individual instruction.   This was a huge achievement.

The tax rate dropped significantly from $22.50 in 1928 to $7.60 per thousand assessment after centralization.

Stratford Central School was one of the smallest central rural schools in the state, with a population of 125 students, of which 20 – 30 are high school students.

Stratford Central School offered 20 secondary class courses.   Due to the smallness of the classes and individual instruction, the regents average for the school was 99 percent.

Prior to centralization 95 percent of the students dropped out after the eighth grade.  With only a few continuing to secondary education in other towns.   Since 1933 more students continued to a higher education, including universities. 

Youth were more ambitious and progressive.

Stratford Students participated in many group endeavors.  They published a weekly newspaper which served the entire community.  

 They had a student council, glee club, orchestra, dramatic club, 4-H club and Boy Scouts.

 

The Stratford Central School continued to be a focal point in the town until its closing in 1984 

 

 

 

 

Stratford, and the Great Blowout of November 25, 1950

  

The Great Blowdown was a powerful rain and windstorm.  Some described it as a Nor’easter, and others a hurricane.   It occurred on November 25, 1950.  Most of the damage came to the western and central Adirondacks, with winds exceeding over 100 mph and rain.  Depending on the account it was estimated that 420,000 acres or in some reports 800,000 acres of timber were severely damaged or destroyed by the wind.   It shut down roads and trails across the park.   In many cases it changed the landscape of the Adirondack Park. 

 

The storm also affected those in the park.  It was the last weekend of hunting season, and many hunters were in the forest.  Hikers and campers also were caught in the storm.  Many were trapped by the fallen trees.

 

In 1951 the Legislature gave the Conservation Department (pre-DEC) the ability to sell the felled timber to private contractors who were hired to clean up the debris caused by the windstorm.  It was felt leaving the fallen logs was a fire hazard.   There were an estimated two million cords of softwood, and 40 million feet of hardwood knocked down by the storm.  Allowing private contracts into the Adirondacks was quite controversial. The Adirondacks, known as Forever Wild, did not allow loggers to work in protected forests.   It was argued that it would be difficult to determine if the contractors were just clearing the land of the fallen trees or also taking down trees. 

 

So, what was the damage in Stratford?      As in most reports about the storms impact on the Adirondacks, the Stratford or southwestern areas of the Adirondacks were not mentioned.    From the map, the most impacted areas of Stratford were the northwest corner and the north end of Pleasant Lake.   Of two local description of the north shore of Pleasant Lake years later,  an account from a hunter's family, and an online devastation map provided a clearer insight into how the storm impacted Stratford.  One  mentioned his father and other family members were up in the area hunting.  They have first accounts and photos of the devastation.  Another  mentioned that he and his father hiked the north shore area of Pleasant Lake and could see the aftermath years later of the fallen trees that had been uprooted. 

 

Do you or your family members have any recollections of the 1950 Great Blowdown?