Early Story of Afton NY - She Got the Silk Dress

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She Got the Silk Dress - Story from Afton, NY

Rev. E.T. Jacobs

Chenango Union, October 11, 1906

When the white people came into the town of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], they followed the course of the river from the north.  They found little clearings where corn had been raised and apple trees were growing.  Their only means of crossing the river was in canoes.  Two ferries were early established and became somewhat celebrated.  "Harper's Ferry," about opposite Nineveh Junction and "Watsal's Ferry," one mile above Unadilla.  The latter was crossed by my mother with her large family, coming from Dutchess county in 1811.  Between thirty and forty years the inhabitants crossed on the ice in the winter, and forded and ferried in summer.

 

A company was chartered in 1825, for the purpose of building the first bridge in the town.  Not having success in the old town records, I cannot name the officers of that company, but the bridge was built by Lord & Bat--- at a cost of $2,400.  It was a rude structure according to present ideas of bridge structure; but the hills, covered with pine and oak, furnished abundant material for the heavy timbers.  The road sills remain as sound as when they were first laid.

 

An incident is related by the old inhabitants as occurring when this bridge was being built, that shows some daring on the part of a young "school marm."  A Miss Hamlin was teaching on the west side of the river while her home was on the east side.  She was in the habit of crossing in a boat, but one night when she was ready to return home, she found the boat was on the opposite side of the river, and like most of her age she did not care to wait.  The piers of the bridge were up and the chords laid, covering the three spans--nearly 400 feet.  The timbers were fourteen inches broad and she proposed to walk on them.  The three spans with the rise and fall of the chords made it much more perilous than a level surface.  As she attempted it the workmen all stopped.  Not a blow was struck, not a word was uttered, as she passed one man after another till the shore was reached. Turning, she waved her handkerchief in triumph as the men sent up cheer after cheer for the brave little girl. The workmen had agreed among themselves that the first lady that crossed the bridge should have a silk dress, and Miss Hannah Hamlin got it.  We wish we had a remnant of it.