DHS News - Deposit Historical Museum · Richard Axtell, President DHS News The Official Newsletter of the Deposit Historical Society January 2013: Vol X, Issue i The Deposit Historical

President’s MessageToday I’m a weather vane predicting fair skies but extremely cold temperatures. I sit high above the community of Deposit. For nearly 1.5 centuries I feel watched over but sometimes mostly forgotten. My occupation foretells of daily situations and promises for better times ahead. People have been peacefully hinting that the group ought to move cautiously with any overwhelming projects that require more help than we can provide. We need all the help we can get!! As members of the Historical Society, you can volunteer to assist in our many projects ranging from organizing and preserving our collections, baking for bake sales, providing refreshments for our programs, general maintenance, writing for new publications, and sharing ideas for new ventures. As members, you can keep us moving forward. Please step up!This weather vane would rather be a colorful stained glass window. I always provide entertainment without provocation. Given a chance, I could prove useful and greatly appreciated. I am sure that this year ahead is heading toward our best ever.A newly refurbished entrance-way to the bank museum is underway. A substantial grant from Deposit’s Closet gave us the impetus to get cracking. That will open new pathways to visitors in 2013. The Annual Meeting in March will provide the year’s budget and some of our plans, since most all the programs are in place for the year. We’ll be entertained after the supper with historical skits from local theatrical talents. Be sure to join us for another taste of the history it is our honor to provide!Fund-raising events are in the planning stages. All are invited to partake of the Folk and Craft Festival May 18 at the museum grounds. The Museum will be officially open on Memorial Day Weekend. Come on ahead and keep me whirling in the wind!Sincerely, Richard Axtell, President

DHS NewsThe Official Newsletter

of the Deposit Historical SocietyJanuary 2013: Vol X, Issue i

The Deposit Historical Society145 Second Street

Deposit, New York 13754(607) 467-4422

Website: www.deposithistoricalsociety.org

Note: You can view our newsletters with color pictures in pdf format on our website!

Annual Meeting, Covered Dish Supper, and Program:

On Wednesday March 20th we will have our annual covered dish supper at 6:30 PM, followed by a short Annual Meeting at 7:30 PM to present the

budget for the year. After the meeting concludes, there will be a live theater production, Ghosts of the South, based on the Civil War. Actors bring to life their stories of adversity and triumph from slavery to freedom. Be sure you don’t miss it!

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Folklore and Legends, the Mystery of Hoodoo CornerMichael Keene, our speaker the evening of October 17, is the author of Folklore and Legends of Rochester, the Mystery of HooDoo Corner. He is also the writer, director, and producer of the documentary series Visions, True Stories of Spiritualism, Secret Societies, and Murder.Although Mr. Keene has been employed as a full-time financial advisor for the past 25 years, he has combined his interests in local history, writing, and film making in the exploration of unique and fascinating chapters of 19th century Western New York folklore and legend. Mr. Keene weaves a clever tale. For example, using the term hoodoo in the title of his book was part of a well thought out plan. Hoodoo is a word with many meanings all of which exactly fit the story Mr. Keene had to tell about the intersection of Main and Elm Streets in downtown Rochester, NY. Hoodoo can be used as an expression of bad luck. It is also used to describe a form of predominantly African-American folk magic that incorporates practices from African and Native American traditions. The word can be used to mean a magic spell and sometimes takes on a disparaging connotation, such as “There is a lot of hoodoo going on over there.” Finally, hoodoo can refer to large rock and stone formations that have bizarre shapes. Now the question is, how can

all of these meanings be tied to a single intersection in Rochester? The story begins in 1837 at 9:00 p.m. Ten-year old Thomas Dixon, at the corner of Main and Clinton Streets (one block up from hoodoo corner—the intersection of Main and Elm) heard a gun shot. He saw the outline of a man wearing a shiny hat. The next morning, they found the body of a man, his wallet gone, and his hat lying on the ground a few feet away. Under the hat was $5,000 in bank notes; the victim, 37-year old William Lyman had four children and was the first murder victim in Rochester. The “shiny hat” implied a French-Canadian laborer. Hannah Chamberlain saw three men

talking. They had a pile of money. One of them was wearing a shiny hat. She reported this to the police and Octavius Baron was arrested and put on trial. His mother refuted her son’s alibi. He was declared guilty and sentenced to death and executed in 1838. He was the first murderer and first person executed in Rochester. He was also the first person interred in the Mt. Hope Cemetery. He was 17 years old. Mr. Keene used original court transcripts when writing this part of the book. The book also tells the story of the Fox sisters who could hear rapping sounds. They said the rapping came from a dead man who was murdered and buried in the basement. This was in 1848. When the sisters traveled to Rochester, the rapping sounds followed them. They performed on stage and quickly became international celebrities. By the 1880s, they had become alcoholics and eventually confessed that they made the rapping sounds by cracking bones in their ankles and fingers. They died paupers. Ten years after their death, a group of children playing in the cellar of the Fox cottage, where this all began, discovered that there was a false wall. Behind this crumbling cellar wall, they discovered…

Keene makes a point

One of Keene’s Books

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Mystery PhotoCan anyone provide us with information about the below photo? Does anyone know anything about the people or the place the photo was taken? Could it be in an Elks Lodge, since there are elk antlers with a reclining figure on the center of it? This was part of some recent donations but we have no other information.

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To satisfy your curiosity, you will have to read the book yourself to find the answer to this and to learn how the Anti-Masonic Party morphed into the Republican Party of today and what both of these historical events have to do with the corner of Main and Elm Streets. Mr. Keene is a superb storyteller and his program was perfect for a dark night in the month of October and the approach of Halloween!

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Deposit Free Library Donates Artifacts to the Museum

On December 2, 2012, the Deposit Free Library held an open house to celebrate its 75th anniversary. During the celebration, Board of Trustees President, Becky Hochuli, introduced past and present trustees, called everyone’s attention to the display of beautifully preserved and organized artifacts, and donated several items to the Deposit Historical Society. The items donated are:

Hand-sewn flag with 37 stars: The flag was found • in the library attic. Its origin is unknown. Period flags are scarce. The 37th star was added to the flag when Nebraska became a state. The period for 37 stars lasted for 9 years. Even though the period is rather long, 37 star flags are relatively scarce when compared to other post-Civil War star

counts. Most flag manufacturers, prior to the Centennial in July 1876, anticipated Colorado statehood, and therefore produced 38 star flags rather than 37 star flags. Colorado became a state in July 1876.Royal typewriter used in the library: Clark Minor, an important • benefactor of the library, purchased this typewriter in 1937 for $38.15.Book press used in library: Its origin is unknown. It was used in the •

binding and rebinding of books.

Over the Top Thermometer Sign from 1929: local woodworker John Sanford • made the sign. It was used to track the progress of donations to start the new library building.

History of the DAR in New York State 1938 – 1953: The Koo Koose Chapter • of the DAR presented the book to the library.

Souvenir Program from September 1888 • Civil War Monument Dedication: See the separate article (facing page) for more about this event.

Mrs. Hoculi shared that many of these items were discovered in the attic of the library. The Board of Trustees felt that more people would be able to see and enjoy these important pieces of Deposit history if housed in the DHS Museum.Based on information from the Deposit Chamber of Commerce website, here is some of the history of how the Library got its start in Deposit...It was in 1929 that members of the Deposit Civic Club determined that the community should have a public library. A charter was granted by the state of New York on April 23, 1929 and the Deposit Free Library opened to the public

The book press

Mary Colvard accepting Library items on behalf of the Historical Society from Becky Hochuli. The 37 star flag can be seen in the background.

Over The Top Thermometer Sign

The typewriter

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Soldiers’ Monument Dedication

One of the artifacts donated to the Historical Society by the Deposit Free Library is a Souvenir program for the dedication of the Civil War Monument that sits at the intersection of Monument and Second Streets. The dedication took place over a two-day period, September 26 & 27, 1888. Events that were part of the dedication included the “Fifth Annual Reunion of the Survivors’ Association, 27th and 33rd Regiments, New York Volunteers and 1st New York Veteran Cavalry.”The first day, Wednesday September 26, a business meeting was held in Red Mens’ Hall at 1:30 P.M. There was also a banquet at Stone’s Opera House at 8:00 P.M. followed by an Address of Welcome and Response. The second day there was a parade at 10:00 A.M. “passing through the principal streets to the Monument, where the Dedicatory Exercises” took place. From the program, the order of the exercises was:

Music by the Deposit Band.• History of the Erection of the Monument, by Dr. O. T. Bundy.• Presentation of the Monument to Eggleston Post, G.A.R., for Dedication, •

by A. Devereux, Esq.Dedication Ceremonies by the G.A.R.• Music.•

Address, General Geo. H. Sharpe.• Music.• Address, General H. W. Slocum.• Benediction•

C. M. Putnam & Son funded the souvenir program. A message inside the program stated:“We present this Souvenir with our best compliments and extend to you a cordial invitation to visit us and inspect our magnificent new stock of Dry Goods, Carpets, Wall Paper, Ladies Cloaks, Clothing, Boots, Shoes, etc. Special Offering this week only of Ladies Plush Sacks, and Men’s and Boy’s Clothing. The very Best. C. M. Putnam & Son. On the back of the program is the name of the printer—Press of the Deposit Courier.

on July 6th of that year. The two front rooms above Smith’s Drugstore on Front Street served as home. It quickly outgrew this space and, in the 1930s, moved to its current location. The Civic Club raised $3,000 to purchase the site. Local benefactor Clark Minor donated most of the funding for the building. Mr. Minor was a Deposit native and businessman. During World War II, he became a vice president for the International General Electric Company. The new facility, located at 159 Front Street, opened to the public on December 18, 1937. The library facility was expanded in 1962. Two 18 by 20 foot rooms were added to the back of the original building which currently house the children’s room and the non-fiction collection.

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October Mystery Photo Revisited...In the October issue of the newsletter, we ran a photo of what appeared to be a band and a gathering of WW I soldiers and their families. We asked if anyone could provide us with additional information. DHS member Malcom Hess responded with the following:“I am not sure of the location of the photo (most likely the Deposit area), but I believe it is a picture of the Deposit military band or part of the band. I am sending a photo of the Deposit Military band taken possibly in the old elementary school cafeteria/auditorium. Please note the similar service banner/flag in all pictures and my great-grandfather Edward Hinman co-founder of Deposit’s Hinman Mills.” We would like to thank Mr. Hess for sharing the

information and additional photos with us. Information such as this enriches the museum’s collection and broadens what can be offered to those seeking information.

Entering the New Year

Some of you may have noticed that the front doorway of the Deposit Historical Museum is boarded up. Thanks to a grant from Deposit’s Closet and a donation from an anonymous donor, we are finally able to repair and refinish the front doors. The paint has been chipping and the beautiful moldings have been breaking off for several years.

It was felt that since there are no programs or meetings planned until March, this would be the perfect time to remove the doors and get the needed work done. They were taken to Binghamton to be stripped and have returned to the museum where they are being repaired and painted. Volunteers Lars Updale, Harry Dilello, and Terry Raymond have done much hard work.

A new look to the museum entrance will be a great way to begin a new year!

Door repairs in progress...

Really closed for the winter!

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Christmas Program at the MuseumAs usual, it was a cheery Sunday afternoon with music by the Holdrege family singers. Reindeer antlers appeared for the first time (while Santa got run over!) , thanks to Kathy Watkins. This time Pete Hempstead was the target of Santa Baby, and of course the whole crowd loved the 12 Days of Christmas! Cookies, punch and other goodies were enjoyed by all. Be sure you don’t miss the program next year!!For those who missed this year’s program, Deb Stever has posted a video on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=31T7VNB1JjQ Take a look—It will bring a smile to your face for sure!

Membership Renewal Time Again..If you are not a lifetime member, it is time to renew your membership for 2013. Please send us your check for the amount due, along with your name and address.We welcome additional donations too!

The current rates (per individual) are as follows: Lifetime membership $100, Annual membership $20, Senior or Student membership $10.

Please make the check out to Deposit Historical Society and mail it to Mary Colvard, 24 Bobolink Ct., Deposit, NY 13754. Thank you for your ongoing support!

Upcoming Events (October through December) at the Deposit Historical Society…Be sure to check the DHS web site for the latest details and updates.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013 6:30 PM Covered Dish Supper, 7:30 PM Annual Meeting and Program.For more details, see article on page 1 of this newsletter. Wednesday, April 17, 2013 7:30 PM A Living History Program with John DarrowHistorian John Darrow will present a living history program on the life of Binghamton’s Dr. Willis Sharpe Kilmer, founder of the Binghamton Press and also known for his Swamp Root Medicine! Refreshments (not Swamp Root Medicine) will be served following the program.

The Calendar of Events for the year is nearly completed. It will soon be posted on our website: www.deposithistoricalsociety.org The calendar will be updated as more information becomes available.

Contact the DHS News editors for information, suggestions, or address changes... If you have information to share with us about our mysteries, historical events, or suggestions for new articles or projects at the Museum, or if you have moved, mail it to DHS Newsletter editors Mary Colvard and/or John Bartsch at 24 Bobolink Ct., Deposit, NY 13754, or email it to one of us at [email protected] or [email protected]. We will be delighted to hear from you! Thanks!!

The Deposit Historical Society Newsletter 24 Bobolink Ct. Deposit, NY 13754