Early History of Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY

Early History of Bainbridge, Chenango Co ., NY

Covering 1776 to 1876

 

Detailed Account of Early Days, taken from bound volumes of history, and offered so that all Villagers can better appreciate reasons for anniversary celebrations this year [1939]. 

The first celebration of the Fourth of July by the people of this town, which can now be called to mind, was in 1828 or 1829, forty-seven or forty-eight years ago [in 1875/6], when Dr. Starkey delivered the oration and the reader of this history read the Declaration of Independence.  Major Warner, an old Revolutionary soldier, was president of the day, and many of those who had participated in the struggle for independence were honored guests.  The church had recently hung its first bell, the only one then in town, and the military authorities had provided a cannon which was to make its home in this place for the use of and assistance in drilling the gallant artillery company of this vicinity--a necessary article in a celebration--which had just opportunely arrived the day before the fourth.  Several zealous military or unmilitary men were so anxious to try  its power, for noise that they procured some of the best rifle powder and, while in the act of ramming it down, the cannon was prematurely discharged, prostrating the rabble bystanders to the ground and sending the ramrod through a part of the body of John Reese, and tearing off the right arm of Dr. Wm. Knapp and the left arm of Elisha Sharpe.  The accident cast a gloom over the prospects for the next days celebration, but it went on of course.

 

The bell rang, the cannon roared, and the patriotic people shouted long and loud hosannas to liberty.  Since that time, the people of this town and vicinity  have, on almost every return of the 4th day of July, manifested their patriotism and love of our political institutions by an appropriate celebration of the day.

 

On the 4th of July, 1840, it being a time of great political excitement, the people of this vicinity turned out in large numbers and wended their way in a long procession, stretching from hill to hill, headed by a band of music with flags and banners floating in the wind and a veritable log cabin supplied with a barrel of  hard cider, ears of corn, young live coons and old coon skins.  About 20 years afterwards, in 1861, when a real war commenced, the young men of this town shrunk not from performing their share in the severe and protracted struggle for mastery between the South and the North, and many of them left the beautiful valley of the Susquehanna for the last time.

 

In 1850, the project of a slack water navigation between Bainbridge and Lanesboro, Pa., a station on the Erie railway, was agitated. The distance by the Susquehanna River is some 31 miles.  A stock company constructed a steamboat 112 feet long, with stern wheel and flat bottom, called the "Enterprise."  The boat was supplied with an 80 horse-power engine and carried 30 tons burthen.  It was launched with great pomp and ceremony near the bridge, a beautiful and queenly lady naming and christening it "The Enterprise," by breaking a bottle of liquor over its prow, and it glided smoothly into the waters of the river amide the glad shouts and hurrahs of a large concourse of people from this and the surrounding towns.  Under the command of our then enterprising, but now rather venerable friend and fellow citizen, Captain Jacobs, it gave us a few rides up and down our beautiful river to the great joy of young men and maidens, old men and boys, many of whom never enjoyed any other ride on a steamboat. And during this time, while their hearts were gladdened by the sound of the steamboat whistle, the good people had a picnic and enjoyed a feast of fat things and a dance on the ground, on an island in the river, to and from which they were conveyed by Capt. Jacobs in the splendid steamboat, "Enterprise."  But a year or two later, the near prospect of the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad (while by-the-by was not half so near as we then thought it was), allayed the slack water navigation fever, and ere long the beautiful boat was conducted by its projector and godfather, Capt. Jacobs, to deeper waters south, never to return.

 

A newspaper called the Bainbridge Eagle was started here in 1843 by J. Hunt Jr.  In 1849, it was changed to the Bainbridge Freeman.  The Bainbridge Ledger was issued by G.A. Dodge in 1866, and E.H. Orwen commenced the publication of the Bainbridge Republican in 1870, which still continues, under the management of Harvey Ireland, to spread its intelligence and salutary influence far and wide.

 

To be continued