Centennial Year for Afton [Chenango Co., NY]
Afton Enterprise, Dec. 27, 1956
Mrs. Isabelle Jennings has been greatly interested in the Centennial of Afton [Chenango Co., NY]. In writing about early historical events, she wishes to extend best wishes for health happiness and prosperity for the New York of 1957 to all her friends.
It is Afton's 100th anniversary, this 1957. Sweet Afton, nestled among the beautiful hills in the Susquehanna Valley. That with the river, was a great part of the early history of this section. Many changes have taken place, but these are some buildings still in use, built 50 years or more earlier when this was South Bainbridge. Why doesn't everyone who has some historical data, let it be printed in the paper for all to read?
As far as I know I am the oldest resident that was born and grew up in Afton, and except for 35 years when I was learning to teach, teaching, married and living in Oneonta, this has been my home. Our early beautiful suspension bridge, the finest between Binghamton and Cooperstown, was built in 1868. The one now in use is the second one built since then.
St. Ann's Church was built in 1868. that burned in 1900 and the present church was build in 1901.
Many of the early settlers were Universalists and the Universalist Church was the first one built on the East Side in 1804.
Heath Kelsey, Revolutionary soldier, who was given a large land grant for his services, built the house now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Cook, calling it Kelsey Inn, and Kelsey Creek was also named for him. Mr. Kelsey gave the land for the Baptist church and cemetery. The M.E. Church was second or third and the Presbyterian Church was the result of the work of Robert Yale.
The youngest church is St. Agnes which has already grown too small for its number of communicants.
Our Afton Union School and Academy was started in 1870. the Principal was Mr. Rogers. He and his wife and son William lived where Mr. and Mrs. MacNayr now live. The Preceptress was Anna Greene, aunt of the late Mrs. James Keel. There were two rooms down stairs, primary and intermediate. There surely has been growth in our school. Doesn't seem possible that Afton should require such a large school as we now have. Let's hope it has been figured out how to enlarge easily for from prognostications the number of school age children will increase greatly in a few short years.
Mrs. Jennings Has Early Notes About Afton
Afton Enterprise, May 2, 1957
It was November 18, 1857, that several names were mentioned for South Bainbridge at a meeting of the men of the Village of Afton. When Mr. Charles Loop said "Afton," Daniel Carpenter said "Let it be Afton. A comes before B," and Afton it is.
Elnathan Bush born in Sheffield, Mass., was the first white settler. He and his wife and four children came on horseback to Cooperstown, stopped on the West side of the river about opposite what is known as Stowell's Island in 1796. About this time, one Hezikiah Stowell a "Vermont Sufferer" came to Bainbridge. In the course of time, he and Mr. Bush exchanged properties. Mrs. Stowell owned land on the East side also.
Although The Enterprise has been printed over three-quarters of a century, there were other papers published, J.B Kirkhuff started one but printed only one copy. Another published a paper for one year. John Seaman published the village newspaper "The Afton Sentinel." George Tanner a former member of The Enterprise staff, learned his trade in the office of the Sentinel.
The first bank was a private one, owned by Enos Johnston & Co.
Notes from Sketch by Mrs. Mae Liggett
Afton Enterprise, May 16, 1957
The setting sun still casts the glory of reflected gold through windows which hold memories of other happy days in Afton.
Many years have passed since that June morning when Mary and Sally were sitting on the steps of the Bank and T.L. Willey's store watching the people as they passed. It was a long wooden building with two wide steps extending the length of the stores. In the bank was Mr. Devillo Church and his sons Fred and George and the large white bulldog which seemed to lead such a lonely life.
Then the next was the store filled with so many interesting things; there were counters of gay calico and glass cans filled with long sticks of colored peppermint candy and one filled with bright Jackson balls; then there were shelves filled with glass oil lamps and chimneys and lanterns to carry when the streets were dark at night.
Next was the furniture store of Mr. Howard, painted white, and part of the house where his wife and two daughters, Hatty and Grace lived. Mr. Howard was also the undertaker and his nephew Grant MacDonald had come to help him.
In the other direction they saw a long line of horses, wagons and some buggies. Farmers and their wives were coming to town to do their shopping and the line of hitching posts which extended in front all the stores gave them a place to tie their horses. A team of oxen had been driven down from his farm by Mason Martin.
In front of the saloon which was run by Mr. Hunt, many of the men were tipped back in comfortable arm chairs enjoying the morning sunshine. The saloon was painted a light pink. Then came the drug store of Henry Carr while above the store, the Masons held their meetings. Then came another drug store, that of Mr. Tuck Hyde. In both these drug stores were comfortable arm chairs which were in the back of the store next to the round stoves which kept the stores and men warm when the snows of winter howled outside. Mr. Carr was very peaceful and when the arguments became too heated for comfort, it was always found that the chairs had been removed to some unknown quarter and politicians had no place to sit.
Sally and Mary were always attracted to the large blue and red glass globes in front of these stores. But today their attention was centered on the train which was to bring a car filled with boys and girls from New York City They were fresh-air children and were to be taken into the different homes. They had walked down the wide wooden walk and run up and down the stairs and slid down the railing at the sides which was quite thrilling as the stairs were steep and the distance down the bank would have meant a bad fall and they still had a long time to wait so it would be better to see what was going on in the town.
Underneath the store next to the railroad walk, Mr. Zenas Tarble had a meat market and inside it was always nice and cool. On the other side of the building, Mr. Hickox had a hardware store and on the steps a mowing machine and rake and tools were standing. Inside there was a high bicycle which was the envy of all the boys in town. George Church had one and was often seen riding.
Mr. Hill had the grocery store. He lived on the hill overlooking the town and was helped in the store by his son Marshall. All the children knew Marshall was their friend and would often trade candy for eggs when they could not get pennies from their own families.
Across the street Mr. John Chamberlin and his brother Ralph had a place where coal was sold and back of it was a livery stable where horses and buggies could be rented by the day. They were known to all the young people as Uncle john and Uncle Ralph because they always had time to notice children and sometimes Uncle John would let Kitty Shay take a little black pony which would follow her around the street. Kittie had the long dark braids reaching from below her waist, her father owned the Shay block and kept a grocery store. He lived in the next house with the long French windows.
(To be Continued)
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