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...Yum ’88 tipped over. Yum ’87 collided with Yum ‘86.
Bobsledding on Amsterdam city streets
By Bob Cudmore, Focus on History, Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorder
Coasting carnivals for bobsled teams were popular winter sporting events in the late 1800s in Amsterdam and other area cities with steep hills.
Vrooman Ave, looking south, slip and slide in winter
The bobsleds had front and rear steering, clanging bells and brake systems, according to “Annals of a Milltown” by Hugh Donlon, “Much depended on the steersmen and brakeman of the teams that ranged from 10 to 20 men, all colorfully uniformed. The Joker Club, for instance, wore red St. Nicholas caps, red coats, blue cuffs and collars, blue knee breeches, red stockings and low shoes.”
The Amsterdam Daily Democrat gave an account of a coasting carnival on Valentine’s night 1887 on Northampton Road.
The weather was not ideal. Amsterdam had thaw and slush, not the clear, bracing weather that was desired. Nonetheless the evening was “fairly successful” according to the newspaper.
A dozen coasting clubs arrived from Albany on the 6:16 p.m. train, which included a special car for their handsome bobsleds or bobs. The Thirteenth Brigade Band of the National Guard played to greet them. The “hungry bobbers” did “ample justice” to food provided at the Y.M.C.A. and the Hotel Warner.
There was a parade before the coasting began. Red flares and Japanese lanterns lighted the course.
Albany’s clubs included several named Yum. Other names were Beverwyck, Monitor and a team named for Tammany Hall, the New York City Democratic Party political machine.
The Beverwycks were in dark blue and white, Yum Yums in orange, Monitors in gray, and Tammany Hall men wore plaid suits.
Monday, February 21, 2022- Story Behind the Story podcast is an audio version of Saturday’s column on bobsled coasting events in hilly Amsterdam.
Clubs from Fort Plain and other points west arrived on the 8:43 p.m. train.
During the pre-coasting parade crowds of people lined the sidewalks and covered the snowbanks. The handsome bobs of the Albany clubs attracted much attention.
At the foot of the hill a string of Japanese lanterns was suspended across the street. There was a fireworks display. The Thirteenth Brigade band escorted the bobsled procession to the top of the hill.
Coasting began at 9 p.m. There were no actual races as it was too dark.
The Democrat wrote, “The bob Beverwyck made the first trip down the slide. As it was turning the corner at the foot of the hill it went over the bank. The bobs Niagara, Bob Moore and Nonpareil, which were close behind, ran into the Beverwyck. The crews of the bobs were thrown into a confused mass. Several persons received injuries.”
Teams of horses hauled the bobsleds up Northampton Road for the next event. Yum ’88 tipped over. Yum ’87 collided with Yum ‘86.
The Historians Podcast fund drive needs your help! Thanks to donors who have contributed $1,000 so far toward our $6,000 yearly goal. For more information or to donate online click here, https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-historians-podcast-2022 Or send a check made out to Bob Cudmore to 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302.
The wounded were taken to the home of Dr. Timmerman. Amsterdam’s first hospital, Amsterdam City Hospital, would not open for another year. One injured man spent the night at the Hotel Warner.
Despite the accidents, the Amsterdam Coasting Association entertained at a party at the Y.M.C.A. after the event. The out of town teams left on midnight trains. Some Albanians stayed overnight and enjoyed a barouche ride the next day. A barouche is a stylish horse drawn carriage.
The 1888 Coasting Carnival moved the bobsled run from Northampton Road to Market Street.
Harley Plantz, 18, was the “youngest member of the Reindeer sled team,” according to Jerry Snyder of Historic Amsterdam League.
Snyder wrote, “With the racing concluded and the winners announced, (Plantz’s) team decided to make one last run just to see if they could beat the night’s winning time.”
Their bobsled hit a lamp post. Harley Plantz died from his injuries during the night and was buried at Green Hill Cemetery.
With increasing automobile traffic, bobsled racing on city streets was finally banned in Amsterdam in the 1920s.
The Saturday Historians Podcast includes the information with the expanation of todays print story and Episode #410 Peter Betz with Stories from The Mohawk Valley "38 Minutes"..does this make sense.
Betz also discusses a program on Fulton County immigrants taking place at the museum in Gloversville.
The Historians on the radio today at 12:07PM
WCSS Amsterdam 106.9FM and 1490AM
Tomorrow, Sunday, February 20, 2022--From the Archives-Historians Podcast Episode 408-WGY radio’s 100th anniversary-featuring the voices of Kolin Hager, Martha Brooks, Howard Tupper, Earl Pudney, Don Tuttle, Elle Pankin and Diane Ward. WGY’s Mike Patrick describes podcasts he has recorded for wgy.com with many WGY veterans. The station airs special anniversary programs from 1-5 pm and 7:30-8 pm, the date of WGY’s first broadcast in 1922.
Mohawk Valley Weekend Weather, Saturday, February 19, 2022
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
10 PM EST THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...West winds 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph
expected.
* WHERE...The Mohawk and Schoharie valleys, Capital District,
eastern Catskills, Taconics and mid-Hudson Valley in eastern
New York, western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut.
* WHEN...From 10 AM this morning to 10 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects.
Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may
result.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.
Mohawk Valley News Headlines, Saturday, February 19, 2022
Daily Gazette
High schools: Amsterdam girls’ basketball shoots way to Class A first-round win
Sydney Hoefs drove, the Mohonasen defense collapsed toward her, and the Amsterdam senior point guard dished it out to her…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
https://www.leaderherald.com/
View all episodes
By Bob Cudmore...Yum ’88 tipped over. Yum ’87 collided with Yum ‘86.
Bobsledding on Amsterdam city streets
By Bob Cudmore, Focus on History, Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorder
Coasting carnivals for bobsled teams were popular winter sporting events in the late 1800s in Amsterdam and other area cities with steep hills.
Vrooman Ave, looking south, slip and slide in winter
The bobsleds had front and rear steering, clanging bells and brake systems, according to “Annals of a Milltown” by Hugh Donlon, “Much depended on the steersmen and brakeman of the teams that ranged from 10 to 20 men, all colorfully uniformed. The Joker Club, for instance, wore red St. Nicholas caps, red coats, blue cuffs and collars, blue knee breeches, red stockings and low shoes.”
The Amsterdam Daily Democrat gave an account of a coasting carnival on Valentine’s night 1887 on Northampton Road.
The weather was not ideal. Amsterdam had thaw and slush, not the clear, bracing weather that was desired. Nonetheless the evening was “fairly successful” according to the newspaper.
A dozen coasting clubs arrived from Albany on the 6:16 p.m. train, which included a special car for their handsome bobsleds or bobs. The Thirteenth Brigade Band of the National Guard played to greet them. The “hungry bobbers” did “ample justice” to food provided at the Y.M.C.A. and the Hotel Warner.
There was a parade before the coasting began. Red flares and Japanese lanterns lighted the course.
Albany’s clubs included several named Yum. Other names were Beverwyck, Monitor and a team named for Tammany Hall, the New York City Democratic Party political machine.
The Beverwycks were in dark blue and white, Yum Yums in orange, Monitors in gray, and Tammany Hall men wore plaid suits.
Monday, February 21, 2022- Story Behind the Story podcast is an audio version of Saturday’s column on bobsled coasting events in hilly Amsterdam.
Clubs from Fort Plain and other points west arrived on the 8:43 p.m. train.
During the pre-coasting parade crowds of people lined the sidewalks and covered the snowbanks. The handsome bobs of the Albany clubs attracted much attention.
At the foot of the hill a string of Japanese lanterns was suspended across the street. There was a fireworks display. The Thirteenth Brigade band escorted the bobsled procession to the top of the hill.
Coasting began at 9 p.m. There were no actual races as it was too dark.
The Democrat wrote, “The bob Beverwyck made the first trip down the slide. As it was turning the corner at the foot of the hill it went over the bank. The bobs Niagara, Bob Moore and Nonpareil, which were close behind, ran into the Beverwyck. The crews of the bobs were thrown into a confused mass. Several persons received injuries.”
Teams of horses hauled the bobsleds up Northampton Road for the next event. Yum ’88 tipped over. Yum ’87 collided with Yum ‘86.
The Historians Podcast fund drive needs your help! Thanks to donors who have contributed $1,000 so far toward our $6,000 yearly goal. For more information or to donate online click here, https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-historians-podcast-2022 Or send a check made out to Bob Cudmore to 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302.
The wounded were taken to the home of Dr. Timmerman. Amsterdam’s first hospital, Amsterdam City Hospital, would not open for another year. One injured man spent the night at the Hotel Warner.
Despite the accidents, the Amsterdam Coasting Association entertained at a party at the Y.M.C.A. after the event. The out of town teams left on midnight trains. Some Albanians stayed overnight and enjoyed a barouche ride the next day. A barouche is a stylish horse drawn carriage.
The 1888 Coasting Carnival moved the bobsled run from Northampton Road to Market Street.
Harley Plantz, 18, was the “youngest member of the Reindeer sled team,” according to Jerry Snyder of Historic Amsterdam League.
Snyder wrote, “With the racing concluded and the winners announced, (Plantz’s) team decided to make one last run just to see if they could beat the night’s winning time.”
Their bobsled hit a lamp post. Harley Plantz died from his injuries during the night and was buried at Green Hill Cemetery.
With increasing automobile traffic, bobsled racing on city streets was finally banned in Amsterdam in the 1920s.
The Saturday Historians Podcast includes the information with the expanation of todays print story and Episode #410 Peter Betz with Stories from The Mohawk Valley "38 Minutes"..does this make sense.
Betz also discusses a program on Fulton County immigrants taking place at the museum in Gloversville.
The Historians on the radio today at 12:07PM
WCSS Amsterdam 106.9FM and 1490AM
Tomorrow, Sunday, February 20, 2022--From the Archives-Historians Podcast Episode 408-WGY radio’s 100th anniversary-featuring the voices of Kolin Hager, Martha Brooks, Howard Tupper, Earl Pudney, Don Tuttle, Elle Pankin and Diane Ward. WGY’s Mike Patrick describes podcasts he has recorded for wgy.com with many WGY veterans. The station airs special anniversary programs from 1-5 pm and 7:30-8 pm, the date of WGY’s first broadcast in 1922.
Mohawk Valley Weekend Weather, Saturday, February 19, 2022
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
10 PM EST THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...West winds 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph
expected.
* WHERE...The Mohawk and Schoharie valleys, Capital District,
eastern Catskills, Taconics and mid-Hudson Valley in eastern
New York, western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut.
* WHEN...From 10 AM this morning to 10 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects.
Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may
result.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.
Mohawk Valley News Headlines, Saturday, February 19, 2022
Daily Gazette
High schools: Amsterdam girls’ basketball shoots way to Class A first-round win
Sydney Hoefs drove, the Mohonasen defense collapsed toward her, and the Amsterdam senior point guard dished it out to her…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
https://www.leaderherald.com/