Miscellaneous - Partridges attack Afton Buildings, 1932

Flock of Partridges Open War

on Buildings in Afton, 1932

 

Afton [Chenango Co., NY]:  A flock of partridges seemed to have been hostile-minded toward Afton, and therefore waged two battles against the public buildings and dwellings of the village Sunday afternoon.  Death and destruction followed the battles.  One of the enemies' lives was lost and another brave hero escaped in the war.  Both battles were effective.  Slight damage was caused to two buildings in the village.

 

The first attack was made on a dwelling owned by Douglas Eldred of Academy Street, father of Clarence Eldred.  One of the partridges crashed through a window of the Eldred home.  The window was shattered.  The bird, although injured, was not killed.

 

Mrs. Eldred told the following story:  "Mr. Eldred and I were alone in the house at the time.  We were sitting in the living room.  All of a sudden, we heard a terrible crash upstairs.  I went upstairs to see what had happened and the big partridge flew right into my face.  I screamed and my husband came upstairs and caught the bird.  Then we found our bedroom window shattered.  It not being in season, we released the bird out of the window."

 

Following the raid on the Eldred house, the partridges made a counter-attack on the Afton Central School Building.  One partridge flew through a large window on the second story of the High School building, the glass being shattered to bits.  This partridge was killed as the result of the invasion.  Workmen quickly repaired the window of the school and cleaned up the broken glass, in preparation for school.