Allegany AreaHistorical Association

March 2015 Issue XXXIV Vol. 1w w w . allegany.o r g

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

The Board members and Trustees have made a necessary decision to cease having Heritage Days. Our group is getting older, and without newer, younger members to carry it forward, now is a good time to stop. We held it for 32 years – a good stretch – and watched it change over the years from being in the Town Hall Park and along Main Street to the Heritage Center to just being at the Heritage Center. Our attendance dwindled each year, and while we still made money on it, our profit dwindled also. I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard over the years to make Heritage Days the success it always was. We had fun, made friends, but always slept very well when it was over. This year we will do the street sheet, listing events for Alumni Weekend, and we will have the Heritage Center open on Saturday, August 1 for alumni and others to stop in and see our exhibits on the Civil War and the Allegany Central School class pictures.

Our annual Christmas Cookie Sale was once again a huge success. We made $1,163.00, thanks to all our bak-ers! We had 22 more dozen of assorted cookies this year and managed to sell most of them. What we had left went to Genesis House, a homeless shelter in Olean, along with $132.00 that we collected at our annual Commu-nity Christmas Service on the next day, as well as several boxes of paper products, which they always need. Our thanks to Fr. James Vacco, O.F.M. from St Bonaventure Church for leading the service. A special thank-you to Linda Kruppner of Nature’s Remedy for allowing us to have the cookie sale at her store – it’s a good location for us.

Allegany lost its oldest citizen in November with the death of George Hall at the age of 106. I had done an oral history interview with George in 2007 when he was 99, which appeared in our October 2007 newsletter. George was very sharp mentally and lived by himself to the end. He also kept house by himself – my house should be so neat and clean! He was a font of information about Allegany’s early days and remembered quite clearly all the stores and businesses along Main Street. A life-long Presbyterian, George was a mainstay of the Allegany church, acting many times as the handyman, even as he got up in years. In fact, he had to be scolded about getting up on the ladder to fix things! He was always very interested in people and what they had been doing. His ready smile and dry humor are among the many things we miss about George.

We had two hand-made maps of Cattaraugus County done in 1856, and both were in deteriorat-ing condition. Margaret Parker searched around and found a paper conservator, Laura Schell, in Lockport who was willing to take on the task of restoring the maps. One was in worse condition than the other so Laura used that one to repair the other one. They were both paper on linen and the description of what Laura did in the repair completely fills one page! It wasn’t cheap but the finished product is stunning. The map is now at The Ink Well in Allegany for fram-ing. The map will be dedicated in memory of Shirley Russell who had a “thing” for maps and genealogy, and this map will be a definite aid to genealogists. We will let everyone know when our treasure is avail-able for viewing.

Page �

THE ROAD TO AN EDUCATION By Gertrude Schnell

If you lived on the Lower Birch Run Road in the late 1890’s, getting an education was a challenge. The nearest school was on the South Nine Mile Road. This meant a long walk through a dense pine forest, across a swamp, and in snow and ice.

The oldest sons and daughters of the Joseph Rehler family never attended school. They were needed at home to clear the land, farm the soil, and run a saw mill. Will and Frank went a few weeks between seasonal work on the farm. My grandmother, Delia, youngest of 13, went when her two brothers went, but never alone. She told me of how nervous she was because of “Big Tom”, a Seneca Indian who lived in a hut alone the way. Nothing ever happened and he often visited the farm, bringing baskets to sell that the Indian women had woven. However, the sight of him was a concern to a small girl.

When the next generation of the Frederick and Delia Schnell family was living on the farm on the Lower Birch Run Road, the rural elementary school was located on the Upper Birch Run Road. This was the early 1900’s, and the walk to school was still very long. The journey started at the path from the back door to the side road, through the gate in the fence, along Russel’s pasture up to the Witz house. Then turning east through the Witz farm on a dug road in the pasture and up the grade brought you to the Upper Birch Run Road. After Lewis Witz left home this route was barred to the Schnell children. Mr. and Mrs. Witz had become a bit odd and thought the children were causing harm.

Now the father of the children, Frederick Schnell, had to blaze a trail for them to the school. The new trail was through Russel’s pasture across from the house and then over a stile which went over a wire fence. Next the trail went up a logging path overhung with branches and berry briars. Then the children entered a cleared woodland following their father’s marked trees, veering to the right and over a fence without a stile, and then traveling a well-worn cow path, and came out of the woods. They could see the school, but still had to go downhill, pass a small spring, climb again until the Upper Birch Run Road was reached. Winter was an especially trying time and many school days were missed.

My grandmother, Delia Schnell, told me she didn’t let my father, Edwin, start school until he was eight years old because he was a small, puny child. Little did she know that he would live to be almost 93!

Thanks, Gertrude, for another fascinating story. You really wanted to have an education back then, since getting to school was such a chore!

I had the pleasure of attending a birthday party in November for one of our founding members, Marge Green, who turned 95! Marge is as sharp as ever and says “Hi” to all her longtime friends in the historical association.

Thanks to Liz and Greg Williams for the generous donation of baby dresses from days past. They are a nice addition to our collection.

Our long-time Secretary, Shirley Russell, passed away in January. She had been the Chief Clerk of Family Court in Cattaraugus County from 1968, when Family Court started, to 1994. Our minutes were never as good as Shirley knew shorthand – a lost art – and captured everything we talked about. She was a tireless volunteer at AAHA. Her maiden name was Kyser and she seemed to be related to everyone on the south side of the Allegheny River. She also knew genealogies and family histories so she could really help our visitors looking for family history. Her sparkling personality and great smile are missed.

FRANCIE POTTER, PRESIDENT

Page �

As those of us who live in Allegany know, there has been a lot of activity and renovation going on in the Hamm house on the corner of Main and Second Streets. It is very old and is of double plank construction. We received an interesting article from Carl Hamm concerning the house and family – we know you will enjoy it.

HISTORY OF THE HAMM FAMILY by CARL HAMM

The Hamm’s came from Germany in the early part of 1800, where they settled in the Allegany area. My Grandfather, Andrew Hamm, and his brother John were young men at the time. My grandfather Andrew bought the house at 140 West Main and 2nd Street. Prior to the purchase, the house was a meat market. Andrew turned that large home into the Central Hotel and the Andrew Hamm Bar.

My father, Herman Hamm, was born in 1881 and died in 1969. He was the oldest of 7 chil-dren. The youngest sibling was Carl Hamm, who lived on the back Five Mile Road.

There was a large barn across the street which Andrew turned into a livery stable. People who travelled through town stabled their horses there. In back of the barn Andrew built an ice house, cutting ice in the winter time from the Allegheny River, which he sold to people in the village and the bars all year long. Andrew also had the land on Fourth Street where the high school (Allegany Central School) is. He fenced that land in for feeding cattle.

Andrew’s cousin John owned the land/hill behind the school. He built a greenhouse and started a green-house business.

Hamm House - 2015The house on West Main and 2nd Street is well over 200 years old. My father Herman and mother Minnie (Karnuth) moved into the house in 1942. I had one sister, Marie (Hamm) Bump, born in 1920. I was born in 1926 and entered the navy in 1944, serving for 4 years. I re-turned to Allegany and began working for Mobil Oil. I met my wife, Gene (Williams) Hamm in Olean. We were married in 1949 and moved to Bellingham, WA in 1954 to work in a new refinery for Mobil.

P.S. – I very much enjoy reading the Allegany historical paper!

Page �

TO ALL OF THE AAHA MEMBERSHIP from Pat Dominessy

On January 13th we all lost a very dear friend. To some of us, Shirley was like a sister. She was influential some years ago in getting me to join the historical association and I looked forward to the summer months when my husband and I could return to our summer home in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in rural Cuba, N.Y. I had the pleasure of getting to know some of you when summer came and rain or shine we had the Strawberry Ice Cream Social or the Country Cupboard to go to. I loved working at those events alongside of Alice Altenburg, Shirley and many others. Chances were that we might see some high school class mates from ACS Class of 1952 or just some neighbors and acquaintances from my years of living in Allegany. I am sending this donation to AAHA in memory of my dear friend, Shirley Kyser Russell. I will miss her forever, as I know will many of you!

HORTON FAMILY FIRST SETTLED IN ALLEGANY OVER 129 YEARS AGO -

According to old records, the Horton family first settled in Allegany about 1825. The first settler by that name was Sylvester J. Horton who was born in Owego, August 10, 1800. He died here on June 5, 1885. Mr. Horton married Emily Strong of Great Valley on September 20, 1828. She was born in Royalton, Vt., September 17, 1807, the daughter of James and Clifford Strong. She died at Allegany on December 6, 1870.

A son, William Wallace Horton, was born in Allegany April 19. 1830 and marred Sarah Jane Terry of Elli-cottville, daughter of Asa Terry and Mary Ann Covel, on July 13, 1851. She was born in Coldspring, Putnam County on March 31, 1829 and died here January 11, 1907.

William Horton owned the farm settled by his father and after his death the property was purchased by N.V.V.F. Munson. A few years ago, Mr. Munson moved the house, built by Sylvester Horton, about a quarter of a mile back from the road into a maple grove.

Ed note – Van Munson sold the house, located on the Five Mile Road, to Steve Boser and it is now owned by his descendants. The Strongs were also early settlers of Allegany.

DUES-----DUES-----DUES-----DUES

October was the month to pay your dues!! A single membership is $10, family is $15 and a patron mem-bership is $20 or more. Make your check to AAHA and mail it to PO Box 162, Allegany, New York 14706. Don’t forget – do it today! We do not send out reminders to members since each member gets the news-letter – we take this method of telling you to renew your membership and it saves us postage. If you paid your dues at Heritage Days or soon thereafter, you are paid for the year. If you don’t renew your member-ship, we will take you off the mailing list and I know you don’t want to miss our always interesting articles and updates on what is happening in your old home town.

RENEW TODAY!! RENEW TODAY!!

Page �

MemorialsFor: Nicolas PendlFrom: Milton and Christine Bailey James and Pat Schreckengost

For: Raymond MartinFrom: Sam and Sherry Quattrone Caroline and George Schreiber

For: Teresa MeyersFrom: Francie Potter

For: James F. HastingsFrom: John and Jillian Walsh

For: Bill KeimFrom: Perry and Margaret Butler

For: Rochelle Joan Boser KellyFrom: Merle and Mary Ann Kyser

For: George HallFrom: David and Beth Deitz

For: Charles and Joan Phearsdorf

From: The Charles Rehler Family

For: Erica LambersonFrom: Bill and Kay Palmer

In honor of Francie Potter from David and Eva B. Potter

For: Shirley RussellFrom: William and Janet Bailey Alice Altenburg Bobby and Nancy Adams Thomas J. Capra Bob and Susan Bubbs Robert and Mary Labanowski Mary and Merle Kyser Shelia and Scott Kyser Melanie and Tim North Margaret Parker Francie Potter

Michael and Martha Nenno Janet Hitchcock Virginia Hemmerly Janice Rickey Larry Russell Michele Russell Gary Russell Vern and Linda Bottoroff Jean Geiger Marion Elling Patricia Dominessy

Roger and Barbara Best Charles and Karen Brown Ed and Mary Farrell Price James and Joanne Carls Mr. and Mrs. Ed Melanson Robert Chatham Regina Chio Eunice A. Schiferle Paula McNulty, Wanda Mucke Arleen McWilliams

Allegany Area Historical AssociationP.O. BOX 162Allegany, NY 14706

NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE PAIDPERMIT NO. 32OLEAN, NY 14760

INSIDE SPECIAL ISSUE:

RetuRN SeRvice RequeSted

Presidents Report

Getting to School

Hamm House Renovation

w w w . a l l e g a n y . o r g

NEXT MEETINGWe will meet on Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m. at the Heritage Center, 25 North Second Street,

Allegany. Dr. Darwin King, an accounting Professor at St. Bonaventure will speak about the practical side of the Civil War. He will discuss the types of reports created by Union troops in an effort to maintain a complete and accurate accounting system.

He will also discuss Confederate Bonds, and will bring multiple examples of both Confederate Bonds and Union accounting records. Dr. King has been collecting these authentic documents for over 32 years.

It will be interesting to hear the “back story” of the Civil War – how the war was run behind the scenes.

PLEASE JOIN USSUNDAY, APRIL 12 --- 2 P.M.

HERITAGE CENTER25 N. 2nd Street, Allegany

This meeting is later than usual due to Dr. King’s schedule