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Daily Update
Today the wayback machine set for 1947 tales of carpet school, the mill shutdown and big bands. Sunday Prattle "32 Minutes"
The Historians with Bob Cudmore, over 400 episodes recorded in the last eight years.
Many people "You Know" from The Mohawk Valley, New York State and around the World. Scroll Down
Are you kidding, Bob has talked history with the public and the private
Bean Hill Congressman corresponded with town of Florida soldier
By Bob Cudmore
Tomorrow, Monday, January 10, 2022- Story Behind the Story podcast is an audio version of Saturday’s column on an Albany Congressman who corresponded with a town of Florida soldier. "6 Minutes"
William T. Byrne, who was elected a State Senator and Congressman representing the Albany area, was born in 1876 on Bean Hill Road near the hamlet of Minaville. Although Byrne lived in Loudonville in later years, he maintained a summer home in the town of Florida, south of Amsterdam.
Debbie Miller wrote, “My dad Ronald Hopkins grew up in the town of Florida and from what I understood, Byrne was a wonderful mentor to my father throughout his childhood. While my Dad was serving in the Air Force (1951), Representative Byrne and my Dad corresponded regularly.”
Miller added, “From a letter I found (1946), Mr. Byrne would mail my Dad magazines and books when he was young to encourage reading. They would also correspond with one another so that my Dad could practice composing letters and good penmanship.”
She continued, “Mr. Byrne seemed like a kind man who inspired the youngsters in the town of Florida to get a good education and to also lead an honorable life. In his letter, he mentioned that good habits and keeping good company will pay big returns which he knows from experience. I’m sure Byrne influenced many other youngsters and aside from his political career accomplishments, I believe he should be recognized for his outstanding character.”
After Air Force service in the military police in the Korean War, Ronald Hopkins, Miller’s father, raised a family and built a career as an engineering designer and manager at Beech Nut-Life Savers. He died at 81 in 2014.
Byrne’s parents were Richard Henry Byrne, a carpenter, and Margaret Manifold Byrne, a school teacher. Both were Irish immigrants. When William was a youngster, the family moved to Albany where his father operated a tavern on Broadway.
A graduate of Albany High and Albany Law School, Byrne attended the 1896 Democratic national convention in Chicago where William Jennings Bryan delivered his famous Cross of Gold speech opposing the gold standard. Byrne also became proficient as a public speaker.
Back in Albany Byrne developed a lucrative law practice. He ran as a Democrat and was elected to the State Senate in 1922. He was part of the Democratic Party machine headed by Dan O’Connell.
A liberal and associate of Governors Al Smith and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Byrne was co-sponsor of state legislation that created unemployment insurance.
Byrne and his wife Josephine lived in Loudonville in a house now on the National Historic Register. They had a summer home on Bean Hill in the town of Florida. A devotee of exercise, Byrne sometimes walked to Bean Hill from his Loudonville home.
The Byrnes’s summer home was adjacent to the Amsterdam YMCA farm called Camp On-A-Nol. Byrnes struck up a friendship with the family of YMCA physical director Leon “Prof” Huston and his family.
Byrne knew a breeder of spaniel dogs and arranged for a dog to be shipped by train to the Hustons. The family named the dog Senator, “Sen” for short. The Hustons moved for a YMCA assignment in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 1942 where Senator the dog was struck and killed by a car.
By then Byrne was serving in Congress, first elected in 1936. When notified of Senator’s death, Congressman Byrne shipped another spaniel to the Hustons. They named the new dog Representative, “Rep” for short.
Byrne’s wife Josephine Diener Byrne was hostess at many gatherings at their summer home. She died in 1948. They were married for forty years and had no children.
Congressman Byrne died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1952. He was eulogized as the “genial gentleman from Albany” by future U.S. Senator Jacob Javits.
Mohawk Valley Weather, Sunday, January 9, 2022
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...Freezing rain and some sleet and snow expected today.
Total sleet and snow accumulations less than one inch and ice
accumulations from freezing rain between a light glaze and a
tenth. Higher amounts between a tenth and a quarter inch of ice
expected in portions of the Mohawk Valley, Taconics,
Berkshires, Litchfield Hills and southern Greens. Winds gusting
as high as 35 mph.
* WHERE...Southern Vermont, northwestern Connecticut, western
Massachusetts and all of eastern New York except for the
southern Adirondacks.
* WHEN...Until 7 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Untreated ground surfaces will be
treacherous due to ice.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
Mohawk Valley News, Sunday, January 9, 2022
Daily Gazette
Sharp vaccination-infection split exists between Capital Region, Mohawk Valley
Nearly two years into the pandemic and nearly one year after COVID vaccines became widely available, the risk of death…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
A frightening saga: Woman alleges she was kidnapped, tortured for 6 days in Fulton County
During six days of alleged brutal torture inside a trailer on Fulton County Road 107, a...
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
State clears firm linked to Schenectady’s Rivers Casino to begin mobile sports betting
by John Cropley
https://www.leaderherald.com/
View all episodes
By Bob Cudmore
Today the wayback machine set for 1947 tales of carpet school, the mill shutdown and big bands. Sunday Prattle "32 Minutes"
The Historians with Bob Cudmore, over 400 episodes recorded in the last eight years.
Many people "You Know" from The Mohawk Valley, New York State and around the World. Scroll Down
Are you kidding, Bob has talked history with the public and the private
Bean Hill Congressman corresponded with town of Florida soldier
By Bob Cudmore
Tomorrow, Monday, January 10, 2022- Story Behind the Story podcast is an audio version of Saturday’s column on an Albany Congressman who corresponded with a town of Florida soldier. "6 Minutes"
William T. Byrne, who was elected a State Senator and Congressman representing the Albany area, was born in 1876 on Bean Hill Road near the hamlet of Minaville. Although Byrne lived in Loudonville in later years, he maintained a summer home in the town of Florida, south of Amsterdam.
Debbie Miller wrote, “My dad Ronald Hopkins grew up in the town of Florida and from what I understood, Byrne was a wonderful mentor to my father throughout his childhood. While my Dad was serving in the Air Force (1951), Representative Byrne and my Dad corresponded regularly.”
Miller added, “From a letter I found (1946), Mr. Byrne would mail my Dad magazines and books when he was young to encourage reading. They would also correspond with one another so that my Dad could practice composing letters and good penmanship.”
She continued, “Mr. Byrne seemed like a kind man who inspired the youngsters in the town of Florida to get a good education and to also lead an honorable life. In his letter, he mentioned that good habits and keeping good company will pay big returns which he knows from experience. I’m sure Byrne influenced many other youngsters and aside from his political career accomplishments, I believe he should be recognized for his outstanding character.”
After Air Force service in the military police in the Korean War, Ronald Hopkins, Miller’s father, raised a family and built a career as an engineering designer and manager at Beech Nut-Life Savers. He died at 81 in 2014.
Byrne’s parents were Richard Henry Byrne, a carpenter, and Margaret Manifold Byrne, a school teacher. Both were Irish immigrants. When William was a youngster, the family moved to Albany where his father operated a tavern on Broadway.
A graduate of Albany High and Albany Law School, Byrne attended the 1896 Democratic national convention in Chicago where William Jennings Bryan delivered his famous Cross of Gold speech opposing the gold standard. Byrne also became proficient as a public speaker.
Back in Albany Byrne developed a lucrative law practice. He ran as a Democrat and was elected to the State Senate in 1922. He was part of the Democratic Party machine headed by Dan O’Connell.
A liberal and associate of Governors Al Smith and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Byrne was co-sponsor of state legislation that created unemployment insurance.
Byrne and his wife Josephine lived in Loudonville in a house now on the National Historic Register. They had a summer home on Bean Hill in the town of Florida. A devotee of exercise, Byrne sometimes walked to Bean Hill from his Loudonville home.
The Byrnes’s summer home was adjacent to the Amsterdam YMCA farm called Camp On-A-Nol. Byrnes struck up a friendship with the family of YMCA physical director Leon “Prof” Huston and his family.
Byrne knew a breeder of spaniel dogs and arranged for a dog to be shipped by train to the Hustons. The family named the dog Senator, “Sen” for short. The Hustons moved for a YMCA assignment in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 1942 where Senator the dog was struck and killed by a car.
By then Byrne was serving in Congress, first elected in 1936. When notified of Senator’s death, Congressman Byrne shipped another spaniel to the Hustons. They named the new dog Representative, “Rep” for short.
Byrne’s wife Josephine Diener Byrne was hostess at many gatherings at their summer home. She died in 1948. They were married for forty years and had no children.
Congressman Byrne died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1952. He was eulogized as the “genial gentleman from Albany” by future U.S. Senator Jacob Javits.
Mohawk Valley Weather, Sunday, January 9, 2022
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...Freezing rain and some sleet and snow expected today.
Total sleet and snow accumulations less than one inch and ice
accumulations from freezing rain between a light glaze and a
tenth. Higher amounts between a tenth and a quarter inch of ice
expected in portions of the Mohawk Valley, Taconics,
Berkshires, Litchfield Hills and southern Greens. Winds gusting
as high as 35 mph.
* WHERE...Southern Vermont, northwestern Connecticut, western
Massachusetts and all of eastern New York except for the
southern Adirondacks.
* WHEN...Until 7 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Untreated ground surfaces will be
treacherous due to ice.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
Mohawk Valley News, Sunday, January 9, 2022
Daily Gazette
Sharp vaccination-infection split exists between Capital Region, Mohawk Valley
Nearly two years into the pandemic and nearly one year after COVID vaccines became widely available, the risk of death…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
A frightening saga: Woman alleges she was kidnapped, tortured for 6 days in Fulton County
During six days of alleged brutal torture inside a trailer on Fulton County Road 107, a...
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
State clears firm linked to Schenectady’s Rivers Casino to begin mobile sports betting
by John Cropley
https://www.leaderherald.com/