APPRECIATION

  

   First, the wild flowers. No, Bernie, they’re not for you; they’re for your wife. I apologize for visiting you unannounced. Don’t get up. I don’t want to interrupt or disturb anybody.

   This is a special occasion. I want to say a few things that I don’t think I had time to say when we were together last. This is important to me. You don’t have to say anything--just listen.

   You and I have known each other for over forty years--forty-five, to be exact. We became best friends in a very short time. I forget where we first met, perhaps at some political event or at Ponderosa. You and I, we seem to share similar interests. Both of us were still working when we met. I worked for the phone company and you worked for Brockway. We didn’t see each other often in the early days. Family responsibilities were more important priorities.

   One day you asked me to join you skiing at Greek Peak. That was an adventure I’ll never forget. You were an expert skier, I was a novice. You were patient and a good teacher. I moved from the Bunny Slope to the top of the mountain on 'beat up' rented skis, falling down on every turn in the beginning. But I acquired a measure of confidence and I improved, and by the end of the first season I could keep up with you on the easy hills and flat runs. You led me into the woods once, saying, “Follow me.” You crouched and went up and over a high bump and then stopped by the side of the ski trail to watch me as I followed. I fell backward instantly on that bump, as you knew I would. I found out the hard way that you were teaching me another lesson. 'Keep your weight out over the skis.' We both laughed as I brushed the snow away from my coat and goggles, and we went on to ski Elysian Fields. It was a beautiful day.

   Today is a beautiful day. Have you noticed? Too early in autumn to snow, but the sun is warm and the sky is a deep thoughtful blue. I don’t see any clouds up there, do you? It’s an Indian summer day, very comfortable and warm.

   Remember when we went to Syracuse to join the welfare protests? It may have been about 1969. I’m sure you remember. You criticized a welfare mother who held a sign: THANKS FOR NOTHING! The organizers were asking for an increase in monthly cash allotments. Later we visited her apartment with others and you admitted she didn’t have much of anything and you complimented her for keeping a clean apartment and looking for work. I think that convinced her to forgive you for your earlier criticism.

   If a smile was worth money, you would be worth millions of dollars. It’s not just my opinion of your smile. I’ve heard favorable comments from so many people over the years about your smile. My wife often comments on your smile. She thinks it's a permanent feature. And I’ve heard strangers say something about your smile after they met you. It’s the biggest smile in Cortland, some people say.

   Excuse me a moment. I brought some music for your entertainment. It’s in the car. I’ll only be a moment.  

   Alright, here it is. A CD player with music, just for you. I have some Italian opera and some church music. You don’t have to thank me. ”Praise unto God” is one of the songs. There’s also “Amazing Grace” and “Born Again.” There’s more. Give me another moment and I’ll set the player down and start the music. There!  Let’s start with “Amazing Grace.” If that’s too loud, I’ll adjust it down a bit. I will set it at a background level. I know how much you and your wife appreciate good music. She plays piano, but the music you make, Bernie, as I recall from our vacation trips and sharing hotel rooms, is mostly hot air. Don’t deny it, and don’t laugh like that. You’ll shake the earth and cause an earthquake.

   I know both of you are devoted Christians. That’s why I brought church music. Later I’ll play “Memories” from Cats, and some opera selections from La Boheme.

   Bernie, although you are a born-again Christian and I am an agnostic, I really appreciate the fact that you never pushed your religious beliefs on me. You did get me to stop swearing, but that wasn’t so much a religious dogma thing. That was advice on good manners and good taste. You suggested substitute words. I still shout “Sacramento, California” when I get angry. As you say, it lets the steam out. On the subject of anger, I recall your story about the guy who lived on Otter Creek Place, how he was dumping his junk across the street from his house by the creek. You saw that pile grow bigger day after day as you drove by. One day you stopped to talk to that guy, remember? You told him of your concern, and he asked if you had a badge. You said, "No, but I will get a person with a badge." You left him there and drove home. You said that you did not contact the city police but just wanted that guy to think about it. Next day the junk was gone. God works in mysterious ways.

   I have always admired you as a person of unusual accomplishments and as a person who always leads by example. My coming here today is about expressing my appreciation and gratitude to you. Don’t try to hush me. I think of you as my neighbor, a friend, a good-natured Italian-American gardener and fix-it-up man. Bernie isn’t your real name. Don’t laugh. You started to use it a few years ago when you brought fresh vegetables from your garden and gave them to my wife. You’d say to her, “Bernie has a present for you.” You were always a generous man. You had a big garden and worked faithfully for years until you gave it away for your relatives to use. I guess you got rid of it because you were getting old, huh? Or was it another generous gift?

   You taught me plumbing and cement finishing at my house. Remember installing the hot water heater? I taught you about phones and electricity at your house. You were never interested in the Internet. I guess that had something to do with our age difference. Let’s see, aren’t you about fifteen years older than I am? Hush.

   Do you recall that vacation trip we made in Florida? Sure, you do. That was the vacation that took us from Orlando to Key West and back up on the west side in less than one week. Remember the old lady at Bush Gardens who called us orangutans? Of course, you do. I wonder if you remember our trip to visit the National Parks and, in particular, the buffalo crossing at Yellowstone? You went right into the woods after them to take a photo, crossing over fallen trees and through deep brush. If one of those animals got ornery, it may have run you down. That was dangerous. You’re an impulsive man, and you seem to enjoy danger, but that was too risky. I cautioned you but you ignored me. How about that place in Canada called Heads Smashed in Buffalo Jump? That was interesting, wasn’t it?

   Your wife and my wife always allowed us those vacation trips, no disagreements or regrets from either of them. They both said that they preferred to stay home and weren’t interested in the adventure and hardship of our trips. How often did I say to you, “Bernie, your wife is glad to get rid of you for a few weeks?” When we visited India it was unbearably hot, noisy and odd-smelling everywhere. I’m not sure our wives would have enjoyed that place. Remember the elephants we rode? I was ahead of you and my elephant stopped and crapped. You commented that you never saw so much crap come out of an animal before.

   We had some interesting times in Mexico too. When thieves tried to steal my money from an overhead bag on a bus parked at the bus station in Leon, you wouldn’t let them off the bus. I called the bus driver who was standing outside, and when I got his attention, he ordered the thieves off the bus. There were three of them, as I recall. They left the money on the floor of the bus, and one of them said that I dropped it there. I also remember a time when you argued over the price of a room with a hotel clerk in Chihuahua. It was after we returned by train from Los Moschis. He wanted $20 for a room and pretended not to understand English, and you shouted to me to stay in the lobby with our bags while you went down the street to get a better deal at another hotel. When you came back about fifteen minutes later, you shouted, “I got a room for $8.” That’s when the hotel clerk suddenly spoke English and said, “I’ll give you a room for $7.”

   My thoughts just now switched to the time you introduced me to your son and daughter, who were visiting when you and your wife had your fiftieth wedding anniversary. He looked like you, and she looked like your wife. Nice, good-looking young adults. They have the same good manners as their parents. Too bad they live out of town. I'll probably never see them again.

   When you were in your forties, you parachuted from a private plane three times in one day. It happened over at Norwich. You came home and told your wife and she didn't believe you. The next day you did it again and returned with a certificate. A month later you walked all the way to Syracuse and back on a bet made at work. No money was involved. You completed the walk in less than 20 hours and your fellow workers bragged about it to anyone who would listen or care. 

   I remember that old black and white photograph of you and your wife when you got married. She was absolutely beautiful and you looked so handsome. Didn’t you go on a belated honeymoon after the war ended? Yes, you told me that you drove a Nash Rambler with fold-down rear seat and you both slept in the car and only slept in a motel when it was time to take a shower. You travelled across the United States, with forays into Canada and Mexico. Obviously, adventure was in your blood at an early age.

   Didn’t you tell me that you went to the Soviet Union with exchange students from SUNY? That was in the early 60’s during the cold war. You studied the Russian language and took the role of activities director on the six-month trip. You were much older than the others. You separated from the other students on the way back and took a train to Poland and East Germany. At the Berlin Wall you dropped a book on the pavement and the flat side of it made a loud noise when it fell, and the Russian guards came running over to you with drawn weapons. The barrel of a gun was less than two feet from your head. You explained to them what happened and they left. Did you realize that you could have triggered an international incident?  

   That stubborn streak that you and your family are known for, that side of you that is inflexible and resembles self-righteousness, has served you well over the years. It managed to keep you disciplined and focused on goals and other activities until they were accomplished. But there were some notable exceptions. Remember the argument you had with the convenience store owner when we stopped for gas and a soda on our way from Merida to Uxmal, Mexico? You took a soda but forgot to pay for it. You were talking to the guy all the while and I guess that’s why you forgot. As you walked outside the store, he followed you and asked for payment. You told him you already paid for the soda. That started an argument. He thought you were cheating him, and you thought he was a double-dipper. Both of you got angry and had words, but your Italian was no match for his Spanish. Besides, neither of you was communicating. You’re smiling now as I recall this because you know that I intervened and convinced you that the store owner was right and that you hadn’t paid.

    Another serious international incident was avoided when you paid for the soda and both of you shook hands and apologized.

    And when I think about our several trips to Mexico, I will always be grateful for your attachment to peanut butter and crackers. I remember we took a bus at Villahermosa for Palenque, and the bus driver dropped us off at an intersection about seven miles outside Palenque. It was getting dark, and we hitch-hiked a ride into Palenque. We got a hotel room and then tried to visit the ruins at Palenque. It was closed for the day. So we returned to the hotel. We looked for a restaurant or grocery store but none was open. So we went back to the hotel room. That’s when you opened your overnight bag and pulled out heavenly peanut butter and crackers. We ate all of them and drank bottled water, then went to sleep. Next day we were amazed and impressed by everything we saw and heard at the ruins.

   You visited the Holy Land, too, didn’t you? That was back in the 60’s. The Israeli soldiers on a bridge that crossed from Jordan gave you a hard time. Was it your stubbornness that got you into trouble with them?  I think you’re smiling again. You explained to them that you left your visa in a hotel room in Jordan. They sent you back to get it.

   Part of your enjoyment of life is your unceasing urge to play practical jokes on friends, relatives and even strangers. Your high school classmates called you a trickster. They had you pegged. Some of the things you did were outlandish. I won’t mention them now in front of your wife, or even strangers or officers of the law. City police wouldn’t leave a stone unturned in pursuit of you, even though the complaints were about pranks such as hidden blue recycle bins or misplaced political signs. You surprised me at your house on Halloween once, when you answered the door dressed as a ghost. Speaking of ghosts, didn’t you and some friends play a trick on a visiting church official who slept over at your house?  After a night of conversation and an evening prayer, everyone went to bed except you. You stayed awake. About an hour later you put a sheet over your head and went into the guest’s bedroom. You made an unearthly sound like moaning. The church official, a man in his forties, bolted upright in his bed, pointed at you and shouted: “Begone!” Before you left, you heard him say it again, and then he asked God for forgiveness.

   I could go on and on about you, but I didn’t come here to disturb your routine or remind you of things that you may have forgotten, or things that may upset you. I just want you to know how much I love and appreciate you as a friend and mentor.

   The music has stopped. I think it's time to change CD’s. Let’s hear some Puccini. O Soave Fanciulla and Che Gelinda Manina--how icy-cold your little hand is--from La Boheme.

   Mind if I rearrange the flowers? There, that looks better. I placed them on the side of the tombstone, so the engraving with your name and your wife’s name are clearly visible.

   It’s a quiet, beautiful day and I miss you.

Recommended:

Two Orangutans Vacation in Florida:

http://www.jeffpaine.blogspot.com/2011/09/two-orangutans-vacation-in-florida.html

O Soave Fanciulla, You Tube: http://youtu.be/EZJqR_8uE9s

THE "LOYAL" COLUMN

 

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, August 1, 1896.

LOYAL COLUMN.

   The bicycle has been the means of killing the joke about the slowness of the messenger boy. The little fellows never loiter on the road now, the exhilaration of the wheel has over them such an influence that they couldn't go slow if they tried.

LOYAL WHEELS ARE ALL RIGHT.

   There is no doubt at all in Germany as to what position a woman shall occupy on a tandem. According to German law, whenever there is an accident, the rider in front is held responsible. That settles it. You couldn't get a German girl on the front seat of a tandem if you gave it to her.

"THE EASY RUNNING LOYAL."

   The bicycle is the poor man's horse and he ought to give it at least half as much attention as he would an animal. If it actually were a horse he would have to water and feed it and rub it down when he brought it home after a ride. The feeding and watering may be dispensed with in the case of a wheel, but it is no more than fair to rub it down. Yet how many simply put away the wheel night after night without so much as a wipe off and then wonder and complain when the machine breaks down!

   Yes, and then send it back to the manufacturer and expect him to repair it under his guarantee. Loyal wheels are guaranteed against defects in workmanship and material, for one year, but no wheels are guaranteed against misuse.

   Still they come! Consumption of tobacco has fallen off twenty-five per cent; light novels, fifty per cent; ardent liquors, forty per cent; chewing gum, one per cent; doctors' bills, ninety per cent; theatre going, eighty per cent; dressmakers' bills, three per cent; shoemakers' bills, seventy-two per cent. But why drag out this harrowing list, and get everybody down on the innocent wheel? All the money thus saved must certainly go somewhere, unless the savers are putting it into the banks, which is not likely. It will all flow back into the channels of trade, and the bereaved tradesmen will have their innings once more.

ADVERTISEMENT.

WANTED.

100 RIDERS FOR "LOYAL" BICYCLES—APPLY AT FACTORY.

   "Loyal" bicycles are built of the best materials and put together by first-class mechanics. We guarantee all our wheels against defects of workmanship and materials for one year from date of sale. Our motto is, "STANDARD GOODS, STANDARD PRICES, STANDARD TERMS TO ALL.

 

THE WESSON-NIVISON MFG. CO.,

CORTLAND, N. Y.

DAVID  WESSON, PRES. AND TREAS.

 

 

A Fine Excursion.

   To-day is a beautiful one for an excursion and a large number availed themselves of the opportunity offered by the employees of the Wickwire mills to spend the day at Long Branch and Syracuse. The excursion train left the D., L. & W. station at 8:20 this morning. There were fifteen coaches and no one was crowded. By actual count there were 470 people on the train when it left Cortland and over thirty got aboard at Homer, so that there were over 500 people on the excursion.

 

Wickwire Mills, Cortland, N.Y.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, August 12, 1896.

Cycle Notes.

   To clean a muddy bicycle proceed as follows: Let the mud dry, then take a cloth with a little oil on it, pass it around each tube of the frame, and holding the ends one in each hand, pull them alternately, dragging the cloth backward and forward. By this means, and with the aid of a spoke brush for some of the parts, the mud is quickly rubbed off and the enamel left unscratched.

   A newspaper in the City of Mexico keeps the following standing matter at the head of its cycling column: "Pedestrians should not stop short or run ahead when crossing the path of a wheelman, but should pursue their course unmindful of him, as the cyclist has all the advantage of dodging front or rear. All accidents are caused by the indecision of pedestrians. This rule should become universally known."

   In repairing a single tube tire, it is well to exercise a little care estimating the size of the plug patch. The tire is often condemned when the plug does not hold, while, in reality, the fault lies in the inefficient material used. A plug with a blunt edge patch should in all cases be of as ample area as the aperture to the tire will permit of inserting. A common mistake is the application of a thick plug with no patch base, which common sense should tell the user will not answer the purpose. A single tube tire can be [repaired] both easily and permanently, provided proper care is used in the selection of the material.

   A bicycle chain should not be tight, says the L. A. W. Bulletin. No chain and wheels can be made which will run well unless there is a little ."slack"' to the chain. In fact, there is no danger of the chain being too loose so long as it cannot possibly get off the teeth of the sprocket wheels. If you have any doubt as to whether a chain is loose enough, roll the machine forward a few steps, and while it is still moving forward, slightly take hold of the lower part of the chain, and unless it has the feeling of being perfectly loose, the adjustment is too tight. A chain should be kept well oiled in its bearings. But very little oil, however, should be allowed to remain on the outside.

Black Diamond Express

New Engines on the Lehigh.

   The Lehigh Valley's new engines from the Baldwin locomotive works have arrived at Easton. There are twenty-nine altogether, five with the six-foot driving wheel for passenger service, and twenty- four with the five-foot wheel for freight trains. Fifteen will be taken to Sayre, one will be stationed at East Mauch Chunk [Jim Thorpe] to draw fast freights and the others will be used on the lower divisions. Engine No 655 has two driving wheels and a large poney truck behind them, also a large tank to hold water enough to run from Sayre to Wilkesbarre without stopping, and it is to be used on the Black Diamond express.—Elmira Advertiser.

  

Reference:

http://wickwirepool.wordpress.com/2012/10/14/a-wickwire-family-portrait/

Fire at Old Gillett Novelty Works

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, August 1, 1896.

LAST NIGHT'S BLAZE.

Old Novelty Works Nearly Went up in Smoke.

   Shortly before 10 o'clock last evening some one came running up South Main-st. shouting "fire." LaBre Ingraham at once turned in an alarm at box 432 at the Messenger House corner.

   The department soon arrived at the scene of the fire which proved to be in the two-story wooden building at the rear of 134 Main-st. The lower floor was occupied by A. D. LeRoy, manufacturer of the Climax Welding compound. The second floor was occupied for storage by L. L. Gillett, the owner of the building. The entire building was formerly occupied by Gillett's Novelty works.

   The fire was in the front of the south wing occupied by Mr. LeRoy. Orris and Water Witch turned two streams in at this side, while the Emeralds attached to a hydrant on Tompkins-st. and directed their stream into the burning building from the rear. The Hitchcock Co. was promptly on hand but it was unnecessary for them to lay any hose. The flames had not secured such headway but that they were soon subdued by the large volume of water. The flames broke through the roof in several places, but by prompt action were checked.

   The building and machinery were owned by L. L. Gillett who carried an insurance of $1,800 in the New York Central Lloyds, placed with Pierce, Cone & Bates. This will cover his loss. Mr. LeRoy had no insurance, but $100 will probably cover his loss. Mr. E. A. McGraw had several carriage tops and cutters stored in the second story which were damaged not to exceed $25, mostly by water.

   The fire is thought to have originated from a spark from a small portable forge which had been in use just previous to stopping work for the day. The fire started near this forge.

   To-day Mr. LeRoy is moving his goods to his residence, 54 Clinton-ave., where he will soon begin the erection of a building in which to continue the manufacture of the compound.

 

To Picnic at Glenwood.

   Mr. P. S. Millspaugh, traveling passenger, agent of the Lehigh Valley railroad, was in Cortland last night and completed arrangements with a committee from the Presbyterian Sunday school for a picnic at Glenwood [located 3 miles north of Ithaca on the west side of Lake Cayuga--ed.] on Cayuga lake on Friday, August 7. A special train for Ithaca will leave the Lehigh Valley station at 9 o'clock. At Ithaca the electric cars will transfer the party to Renwick landing where a special steamboat will take all on board and will then take a trip down the lake. The boat will go as far as may be desired, but the plan is to get back to Glenwood, which is one of the most delightful resorts and picnic grounds on the lake, at about 1 o'clock. Dinner will then be served and a stop will be made here until some time after 4 o'clock. The train will leave Ithaca at such a time on the return as to bring every one back to the station at Cortland at 6 o'clock.

   The fare for the round trip, including train, street cars at Ithaca and steamboat on the lake will be 60 cents for adults and 40 cents for children. This will be one of the finest excursions out of Cortland this year. There is variety enough in the trip so that no part of it will get tiresome and it is just long enough.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, August 8, 1896.

THE GLENWOOD EXCURSION.

Presbyterian Sunday-school Spend a Day on Cayuga Lake.

   The Presbyterian Sunday-school excursion to Glenwood on Cayuga lake yesterday proved to be one of the most enjoyable outings of the season. Certainly no one could complain of a lack of variety on the trip. There was the railroad ride to Ithaca, the trip across the city by streetcar and a delightful boat ride down the lake to Glenwood. There were a little over two hundred tickets sold and the entire trip was made without the slightest accident.

   A large majority of the excursionists took their dinner with them, and those who did not secured dinner at Hotel Evans, the new summer hotel at Glenwood. A delay in the dinner arrangements, caused by a failure to properly deliver a telegram sent from Freeville after the train started notifying the hotel people of the number expecting to get their dinners only sharpened the appetites of the excursionists and caused them to enjoy the excellent dinner even more when it was served.

   A number came back to Ithaca early in the afternoon and spent the remainder of the day on the campus, others took a short trip down the lake, while the remainder enjoyed themselves in various ways at Glenwood until 4 o'clock when the last boat left for Renwick. The return train arrived at Cortland at 6:30, enabling all to reach home before dark.

 

Reference:

Ruby Lane: http://www.rubylane.com/item/610965-865/Early-20th-Century-Climax78-Welding

Crooked Lake Review, Steamboating on Cayuga Lake: http://www.crookedlakereview.com/articles/136_167/148may2008/148palmer2.html

A. O. H. Excursion to Thousand Islands and Cortland Park Land Company

Thousand Island steamer St. Lawrence

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, July 25, 1896.

Cortland's Population.

   Mr. Samuel Parsons, who has just issued the new directory of Cortland, Homer, Marathon and McGrawvllle, is usually able to make a pretty close estimate on the population of a place from the number of names in his directory. In Tonawanda he issued a directory the same year the official census was taken and his estimate came within 150 of the official census in a place of 15,000 people. Applying the same principle and percent of estimate to Cortland he figures that our population at present will exceed 12,000 by a few people. That is a little more than we had supposed we had, but while Cortland has not boomed at all for some time there is a steady and healthy growth and perhaps we have reached this 12,000 mark.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, July 26, 1896.

HAD A FINE TIME.

The Excursion to the Thousand Islands a Delightful One.

   No excursion ever proved more enjoyable than the A. O. H. excursion to the Thousand Islands last Saturday. At 7 o'clock that morning over 300 excursionists left the D., L. & W. station in a special through train. Clayton was reached at 11:30. Here the passengers took the steamer Empire State for a ramble among the islands. The ride down the river was delightful. On the way short stops were made at Round Island and Thousand Island parks. Leaving Alexandria Bay, the ramble was continued among the islands until the bay was reached again at 6 o'clock. At 8 o'clock the grand searchlight excursion was taken, returning to Clayton at 10 o'clock when the train was taken for the return. The excursionists reached Cortland at 3 o'clock the next morning all exceedingly well pleased with the day's sight seeing.



 

 

THROWN FROM A WAGON.

Charles Odell of South Cortland Seriously Injured.

   Mr. Charles Odell started this morning from his residence near South Cortland to go to Blodgett Mills on business. He drove one horse attached to a top buggy. When within about one mile of his destination a hog jumped from some bushes by the side of the road, frightening the horse which jumped and forcibly threw Mr. Odell from the wagon to the ground. He suffered a compound fracture of the left ankle. Both bones were broken and one protruded through the flesh. Dr. Jerome Angel was called and reduced the fracture. It will be a long time before Mr. Odell will recover the use of the limb. The horse continued to the house of a neighbor where it stopped without doing any further serious damage.

BREVITIES.

—The special excursion train under the auspices of the M. E. churches of Cortland to Cascade leaves the Lehigh Valley station at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning and returning will arrive at Cortland at 6 o'clock P. M.

—The locomotive, I. H. Palmer, which has been standing on the track of the Erie & Central New York R. R. was taken Saturday to the Adirondack mountains, where it will be used as a passenger engine between Saranac Lake and Fulton Chain.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, July 28, 1896.

Thanks Extended.

   The Ancient Order of Hibernian's, through the columns of The STANDARD, begs permission to thank, for courtesies shown, Mr. W. T. Bushby, of this place, Clare Hartigan, traveling passenger agent, R. W. & O. R. R. Co., the conductors and trainmen of our train, the captain and crew of the Empire State; also in particular all those who joined us in making our excursion to the Thousand Islands on July 25, the great success that it was.

 

Elm Street trolley bridge located at bottom center of drawing.

 

Desirable Building Lots Cheap.

   The Cortland Park Land company has laid out the land south of the park into very desirable building lots, and will place them on the market through their agent, Lewis Van Duyne of Boonton, N. J. These are some of the most desirable lots in or about Cortland, and the opportunity should be improved by every man or woman who can save $1 a week. No such opportunity as this has ever been offered to the people of Cortland. Read their advertisement, you will make money by it.

 

 

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, August 3, 1896.

Struck by a Trolley Car.

   Henry Driscoll, a deaf mute residing at 30 Crandall-st., was struck by a park car Saturday evening on Elm-st. near Crandall. He was playing ball in the street and when struck was just outside the track. He was thrown about twenty feet and received a bad bruise on the left leg. The left hand was split open between the third and little fingers. It was a very narrow escape, for had he been standing between the tracks he would probably have been fatally injured as the car was going at a rapid rate. The car was in charge of Conductor L. M. Head and Motorman Hollenbeck, who thought Mr. Driscoll saw the car and was walking off from the track.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, August 10, 1896.

AT THE PARK.

Grand Display of Fireworks Saturday Night. Music and Dancing.

   There were plenty of attractions at the park Saturday night, and a great many people went over there. The cars were crowded for hours. The cool breezes were delightful and all had a very pleasant time. The display of fireworks, consisting of skyrockets, Roman candles, pinwheels, etc., was fine. The Cortland City band gave one of the best concerts ever heard at this pleasure resort. McDermott’s full orchestra furnished excellent music for dancing which was engaged in by many. It was one of the largest crowds that ever assembled on the park hill and a large number were present from Homer and McGrawville.

 

Editor’s note:

   I. H. Palmer was an attorney for the railroad, and former mayor of Cortland. A photo negative of the locomotive can be found at the New York State Library in the Frank F. Sornberger Collection. The book Cortland County Traction: The Story of Cortland's Trolley System (available at the Cortland County Historical Society) tells us that "numerous lots were sold by the company over the years" and that "the park's popularity continued for a decade until Little York (now Dwyer Memorial Park) was developed in 1906, after which it was abandoned." Left click on Cortland Park drawing to enlarge.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_and_Central_New_York_Railroad

http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/msscfa/pri5347.htm

http://www.gegoux.com/St-Lawrence.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome,_Watertown_and_Ogdensburg_Railroad

 

Grand Army of the Republic Veterans' Reunion in Cortland

Elm Street Trolley Bridge over Tioughnioga River (facing Cortland)

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, July 24, 1896.

THE REUNION OVER.

EXERCISES AT THE PARK YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

Stirring Speeches by R. T. Wright of Cortland and W. D. Bingham of Watertown. Mr. Israel Rlckard Present.

   After the business session of the Nineteenth New York Infantry Volunteers and the Third New York Light Artillery the members of the association took the electric cars for Cortland park, where a large crowd was in waiting. The exercises took place from the bandstand in the north grove. President George E. Ashby introduced B. T. Wright of Cortland who delivered the address of welcome. He said:

   Mr. President and Comrades of the Nineteenth New York Infantry and Third New York Light Artillery: By request of the citizens of this beautiful village whose hearts are filled with patriotism, it is a great pleasure to me to welcome the brave men who offered their lives in defense of their country in its time of great peril and danger. You can look back and recall the days when you rendered heroic service in behalf of the Union and for the preservation of the flag we love so well. When we think of those days it makes the cold chills run down our backs to recall the great sacrifice made by so many brave men.

   But we in Cortland know you to-day as we have never known you before. We want to make your welcome just as hearty and just as full as we possibly can. Only four members of your organization reside with us. They are George E. Ashby, William S. Barker, William H. Martin and Henry R. Greenman. We love those men, we respect them, we honor them. Then all hail, comrades. I am here in the name of the citizens and am authorized to give the town over to you. We have not a golden box in which to give it, but we give it just the same. We surrender to you, as many another has done, but in a far different way and under far different circumstances. We welcome you with gratitude, with a sense of honor and with cheerfulness [text highlighted by CC editor]. I say welcome, thrice welcome, the town is yours.

   Comrade W. D. Bingham of Watertown was then introduced and he spoke for a few minutes as follows:

   Mr. President and Citizens of Cortland: When the soldier laid down his arms after the war, returned to his Northern home and resumed his occupation, no such spectacle had ever before been witnessed. There was some apprehension expressed lest so many thousands of men fresh from the scene of battle and from camp life might work disaster, but no such crisis ever came. A man is a better citizen for having been a soldier. The soldier has learned to obey; having fought for the maintenance of the constitution and the laws he has as abiding a respect for them as the man who made them. in 1860 the population of the Union was 31,500,000, now it is 70,000,000, then there were thirty-four states; now there are forty-five. The American soldier has much cause for self congratulation for his achievements having made such progress possible. But we soldiers must not get egotistical. However, the most valued treasure in my possession is the thought and the realization that I too am a soldier.

   Immediately after the war we soldiers met infrequently, but later and now we meet more often and have formed permanent organizations. In imagination we live over again those stirring events of years ago. But our enjoyment is mingled with sorrow for we with each recurring year miss some faces and our ranks are gradually growing thinner. Comrade Wright, in behalf of the Nineteenth New York Volunteers and Third New York Light Artillery, I beg to return to you and to the citizens of Cortland our hearty thanks. I hope that we may leave with you as pleasant recollections as we shall certainly carry away with us of our reunion in your beautiful city.

   Comrade Martin Edgcomb then took the platform and briefly outlined the life of Comrade Israel Rickard of Cortland, who occupied a chair on the platform. Mr. Rickard enlisted in September, 1861, at the age of 61, as a wagon master in the Seventy-sixth New York Volunteers. Later he served as a private in Co. G. of the same regiment.

   Mr. Rickard was asked to say a few words and he arose amid loud applause. He said:

   Comrades, ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you to-day as a monument of God's mercy; my age has been lengthened, but I am on my feet well aware of my inability to say anything. I am no orator, gentlemen, but my heart is as warm as it was in ‘61. My comrades if it was as necessary to-day as it was in '61, I don't know but I should have the vivacity to go again. I feel very grateful that I am permitted to see this glorious banner waving here; it Is known throughout the world; all nations know it and revere it and we all feel, that it is a safeguard to us. Gentlemen, I thank you, but there is no use in my trying to say more, I am not an orator.

   When Mr. Rickard had closed three loud and hearty cheers were given for him.

   Secretary Greenman then gave a short history of the regiment, or rather of the two for they were consolidated in 1862. A selection by the Cortland City band closed the exercises of the day and all took the cars for the village, the excursionists returning to Auburn by special train over the L. V. R. R. at 7 o'clock.

NOTES.

   Comrade Judson Sennet came from San Diego, Cal., to attend the reunion.

   Mrs. Stewart, the widow of Lieutenant Stewart was in attendance. The scene at the park when she pinned the association badge upon the breast of Comrade Rickard was a pretty one.

   Many were the happy chats the old soldiers had with one another. One veteran as he alighted from the Lehigh Valley train yesterday morning grasped Captain George E. Ashby by the hand and said, "Why, George, how glad I am to see you, I have not seen you since '72.”

   For the success of the reunion great credit is due to the four resident members of the association: George E. Ashby, W. S. Barker, William H. Martin and H. B. Greenman.

   The Auburn band accompanied the excursionists and played several very fine selections both before going to and at the park.

   The playing of the Cortland City band was of course excellent.

   Comrade Rickard refused an offer to ride over on a car saying he had not much to do and was in a hurry to get there and so would walk over. He walked the whole distance and on the way crossed the electric car bridge.

   The reunion next year will be held at Auburn.

   With few exceptions the excursionists were entire strangers to Cortland, but were very favorably impressed with the  town and with the park which all agreed was a beautiful place.

   Mr. G. F. Beaudry who has the refreshment privilege at the park was liberally patronized yesterday. He is the right man in the right place.

    Mr. D. M. Totman, one of the superintendents at the park, was very courteous in looking after the convenience of the guests.

   Several Cortland families took luncheon at the park yesterday.
 

 

Recommended:

Private Israel Rickard, 76th NYSV: http://www.bpmlegal.com/76NY/76rickardi.html