Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Daily Update
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Daily Update
...they built a bridge, and it fell into the river
...the West Shore RR was on the southside
...and new this weekend
Saturday, February 5, 2022-Focus on History in the Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorder-Amsterdam barber was an African American political leader.
From the Archives of the Daily Gazette-Amsterdam bridges; a big funeral
Paying to cross
By Bob Cudmore
If and when the new pedestrian bridge crosses the Mohawk River in Amsterdam, it will not charge tolls. That wasn’t the case in the early to mid 19th century.
According to historian Hugh Donlon’s “Annals of a Mill Town,” the towns of Amsterdam and Florida jointly contracted to build a river bridge in 1813. At that time, the only way to cross the river at Amsterdam was by ferry.
The community on the south shore of the river was destined to become a port on the Erie Canal, then in the planning stages. Local business interests realized that a bridge was needed to facilitate the flow of commerce.
The first attempt to build the bridge fell of its own weight during construction. The failed bridge had only one supporting pier. Learning a lesson, builders constructed the new bridge with two piers. The toll bridge and tollgate house were finally completed in 1821, eight years after the start of the process but still in time for the opening of the Schenectady to Little Falls section of the Erie Canal in 1822.
The area on the South Side was first known as Stillwellville after John Stillwell, who operated two canal stores, according to Kelly Yacobucci Farquhar and Scott Haefner in their book, “Images of America: Amsterdam.” In 1835, the village became known as Port Jackson, named after Samuel Jackson, a prosperous farmer. Amsterdam annexed Port Jackson in 1888.
Frequent spring floods led to frequent bridge repair, Donlon wrote, including a new covered bridge built in 1842.
Tolls were collected for over 40 years. When yet another bridge was built in 1864, toll charges were removed by an act of the State Legislature.
Another new bridge was constructed in 1876. That span lasted until March 27, 1913 when part of it collapsed during a flood caused by water poured into the Mohawk River by the raging Schoharie Creek a few miles upstream. A temporary wooden addition was put in place but it too fell to the raging river exactly one year later. Donlon said March 27 became known as Bridge Day in Amsterdam.
A more substantial bridge was built in 1916. That one lasted over 50 years, until the current Route 30 arterial highway bridge replaced it in 1972. By Donlon’s estimation, the current bridge is the sixth span to be built across the Mohawk in Amsterdam. The planned pedestrian bridge would be bridge number seven. Let’s hope it’s a lucky number.
MURDER IN AMSTERDAM
According to historians Farquhar and Haefner, there was a large turnout from the Artisans Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Amsterdam for the funeral of member Charles J. Landry in November of 1895. Landry was a saloonkeeper
A horse drawn hearse is seen in a vintage photograph with six men—possibly the pallbearers—standing in front of the hearse wearing light-colored sashes. Carriages are lined up behind the hearse as far as can be seen. A larger group of men--wearing dark-colored sashes—stand in the foreground, gazing with somber, even threatening expressions at the camera.
Landry’s death made headlines November 6 when it was discovered that his mistress Florence Haun had murdered him. According to Daily Democrat headlines, Haun surrendered to police the day of the murder. A coroner’s jury returned a verdict of willful murder two days later. She was convicted of second-degree murder the following February.
Given a life sentence by a Justice Stover, Haun died of consumption at Auburn prison in March 1897. An appeal for clemency was made to Governor Frank Black shortly before Haun’s death, according to the New York Times.
Tomorrow on The Historians
#408
Bob Cudmore and Mike Patrick
Friday, February 4, 2022-Radio station WGY is celebrating its 100th year on February 20. Bob Cudmore, who hosted a WGY talk show from 1980 to 1993, has audio featuring pioneer WGY air personalities Kolin Hager, Martha Brooks, Howard Tupper, Elle Pankin and Earl Pudney. Current WGY news anchor Mike Patrick describes podcasts Patrick has done with many WGY veterans. The podcasts will be available on wgy.com
Get your winter game on! Take part in the FEBRUARY 15 CHALLENGE. Walk, run, hike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski 15 miles anywhere in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor by 2/28/2022 to earn your badge. Sign up for a 15-Mile Challenge to get started.
https://eriecanalway.org/explore/challenge
Mohawk Valley Weather, Thursday, February 3, 2022
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
5 PM EST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow and a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain.
Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches over the central
Mohawk Valley, and sleet and snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches
for the Helderbergs and Schoharie Valley and ice accumulations
of a glaze to two tenths of an inch.
* WHERE...Southern Fulton, Montgomery, Schoharie, Western
Schenectady and Western Albany Counties.
* WHEN...From 1 PM this afternoon to 5 PM EST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous
conditions could impact this evening commute and Friday mornings
commute.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snowfall rates will increase to an inch an
hour from north to south across the warning area tonight. The
sleet and freezing rain should transition to all snow over
Schoharie County and the Helderbergs before daybreak Friday.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Mohawk Valley News Headlines, Thursday, February 3, 2022
Daily Gazette
Amsterdam hires new marketing firm for $141K
AMSTERDAM — After parting ways with its previous grant-funded marketing firm, the city has hired a new agency to develop…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
Parents, administrators call violence in Amsterdam schools ‘disturbing’
AMSTERDAM — Physical violence by students against their classmates inside of schools captured on...
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
A store for the sole: Rossbach shoe store turns 100
by Andrew Waite
https://www.leaderherald.com/
View all episodes
By Bob Cudmore...they built a bridge, and it fell into the river
...the West Shore RR was on the southside
...and new this weekend
Saturday, February 5, 2022-Focus on History in the Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorder-Amsterdam barber was an African American political leader.
From the Archives of the Daily Gazette-Amsterdam bridges; a big funeral
Paying to cross
By Bob Cudmore
If and when the new pedestrian bridge crosses the Mohawk River in Amsterdam, it will not charge tolls. That wasn’t the case in the early to mid 19th century.
According to historian Hugh Donlon’s “Annals of a Mill Town,” the towns of Amsterdam and Florida jointly contracted to build a river bridge in 1813. At that time, the only way to cross the river at Amsterdam was by ferry.
The community on the south shore of the river was destined to become a port on the Erie Canal, then in the planning stages. Local business interests realized that a bridge was needed to facilitate the flow of commerce.
The first attempt to build the bridge fell of its own weight during construction. The failed bridge had only one supporting pier. Learning a lesson, builders constructed the new bridge with two piers. The toll bridge and tollgate house were finally completed in 1821, eight years after the start of the process but still in time for the opening of the Schenectady to Little Falls section of the Erie Canal in 1822.
The area on the South Side was first known as Stillwellville after John Stillwell, who operated two canal stores, according to Kelly Yacobucci Farquhar and Scott Haefner in their book, “Images of America: Amsterdam.” In 1835, the village became known as Port Jackson, named after Samuel Jackson, a prosperous farmer. Amsterdam annexed Port Jackson in 1888.
Frequent spring floods led to frequent bridge repair, Donlon wrote, including a new covered bridge built in 1842.
Tolls were collected for over 40 years. When yet another bridge was built in 1864, toll charges were removed by an act of the State Legislature.
Another new bridge was constructed in 1876. That span lasted until March 27, 1913 when part of it collapsed during a flood caused by water poured into the Mohawk River by the raging Schoharie Creek a few miles upstream. A temporary wooden addition was put in place but it too fell to the raging river exactly one year later. Donlon said March 27 became known as Bridge Day in Amsterdam.
A more substantial bridge was built in 1916. That one lasted over 50 years, until the current Route 30 arterial highway bridge replaced it in 1972. By Donlon’s estimation, the current bridge is the sixth span to be built across the Mohawk in Amsterdam. The planned pedestrian bridge would be bridge number seven. Let’s hope it’s a lucky number.
MURDER IN AMSTERDAM
According to historians Farquhar and Haefner, there was a large turnout from the Artisans Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Amsterdam for the funeral of member Charles J. Landry in November of 1895. Landry was a saloonkeeper
A horse drawn hearse is seen in a vintage photograph with six men—possibly the pallbearers—standing in front of the hearse wearing light-colored sashes. Carriages are lined up behind the hearse as far as can be seen. A larger group of men--wearing dark-colored sashes—stand in the foreground, gazing with somber, even threatening expressions at the camera.
Landry’s death made headlines November 6 when it was discovered that his mistress Florence Haun had murdered him. According to Daily Democrat headlines, Haun surrendered to police the day of the murder. A coroner’s jury returned a verdict of willful murder two days later. She was convicted of second-degree murder the following February.
Given a life sentence by a Justice Stover, Haun died of consumption at Auburn prison in March 1897. An appeal for clemency was made to Governor Frank Black shortly before Haun’s death, according to the New York Times.
Tomorrow on The Historians
#408
Bob Cudmore and Mike Patrick
Friday, February 4, 2022-Radio station WGY is celebrating its 100th year on February 20. Bob Cudmore, who hosted a WGY talk show from 1980 to 1993, has audio featuring pioneer WGY air personalities Kolin Hager, Martha Brooks, Howard Tupper, Elle Pankin and Earl Pudney. Current WGY news anchor Mike Patrick describes podcasts Patrick has done with many WGY veterans. The podcasts will be available on wgy.com
Get your winter game on! Take part in the FEBRUARY 15 CHALLENGE. Walk, run, hike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski 15 miles anywhere in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor by 2/28/2022 to earn your badge. Sign up for a 15-Mile Challenge to get started.
https://eriecanalway.org/explore/challenge
Mohawk Valley Weather, Thursday, February 3, 2022
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
5 PM EST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow and a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain.
Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches over the central
Mohawk Valley, and sleet and snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches
for the Helderbergs and Schoharie Valley and ice accumulations
of a glaze to two tenths of an inch.
* WHERE...Southern Fulton, Montgomery, Schoharie, Western
Schenectady and Western Albany Counties.
* WHEN...From 1 PM this afternoon to 5 PM EST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous
conditions could impact this evening commute and Friday mornings
commute.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snowfall rates will increase to an inch an
hour from north to south across the warning area tonight. The
sleet and freezing rain should transition to all snow over
Schoharie County and the Helderbergs before daybreak Friday.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Mohawk Valley News Headlines, Thursday, February 3, 2022
Daily Gazette
Amsterdam hires new marketing firm for $141K
AMSTERDAM — After parting ways with its previous grant-funded marketing firm, the city has hired a new agency to develop…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
Parents, administrators call violence in Amsterdam schools ‘disturbing’
AMSTERDAM — Physical violence by students against their classmates inside of schools captured on...
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
A store for the sole: Rossbach shoe store turns 100
by Andrew Waite
https://www.leaderherald.com/