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Daily Update
...on a public street, more than one
Story Behind the Story podcast is an audio version of Saturday’s column on bobsled coasting events in hilly Amsterdam. Gazette Story "Down the Page"
Tuesday, February 22, 2022-From the Archives of the Daily Gazette—Amsterdam’s Hollywood neighborhood
Paul Russo, who now lives in Johnstown, grew up in Hollywood, sometimes called Little Hollywood. That was the name for a residential neighborhood...
Wednesday, February 23, 2022-From the Archives-July 9, 2021-Episode 378-Ann Maria Bullock Schram of Amsterdam, was a volunteer nurse in the American Civil War. Montgomery County NY historian Kelly Yacobucci Farquhar discusses her research on Schram’s life.
Thursday, February 24, 2022-From the Archives of the Daily Gazette—Collette manufacturing
Clarence C. Collette formed the Collette Manufacturing Company in 1907, taking over the abandoned Clizbe Avenue School in Amsterdam.
This Thursday, February 24, 2022
7 to 9 pm at the Carbone Auditorium, ECJS Building, located at 1600 Burrstone Road, Utica, or virtually via Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/chr.uc/
The Utica College Center for Historical Research will host “The Real Abolition and Underground Railroad History Behind the Novel The Third Mrs. Galway,” a free talk by author Deirdre Sinnott
The Third Mrs. Galway is set in Utica in 1835. Newlywed Helen Galway discovers a secret: two runaway slaves are hiding in the shack behind her husband’s house. Suddenly, she is at the center of not only the era’s greatest moral dilemma, but her own as well.
Bob Cudmore and Deirdre Sinnott Interview
The Third Mrs. Galway
Friday, February 25, 2022-Episode 411-Jim Coulthart is an aviation historian. He has a collection of WWII aircraft incidents, and accidents with ties to Central New York.
Bobsledding on Amsterdam city streets
By Bob Cudmore
Coasting carnivals for bobsled teams were popular winter sporting events in the late 1800s in Amsterdam and other area cities with steep hills.
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.
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 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.
Mohawk Valley Weather, Monday, February 21, 2022
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY
EVENING...
* WHAT...Flooding caused by rain and/or snowmelt and/or ice jam is
possible.
* WHERE...Western and central Mohawk Valley, southern Adirondacks,
Lake George Area, and southern Vermont.
* WHEN...From Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.
* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,
creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- The combination of some snowmelt and 0.75 to 1.75 inches of
rain Tuesday into Tuesday night will lead to rises on rivers
and streams. Some localized flooding is possible, especially
in the vicinity of existing ice jams.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood
Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared
to take action should flooding develop.
Mohawk Valley News, Monday, February 21, 2022
Daily Gazette
Tragic shooting death of Schenectady’s Eddie Stanley being made into film; Filming to begin this week
Many Schenectady residents remember the name Eddie Stanley. The 15-year-old Schenectady High School sophomore was a promising basketball player on…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
Scout honors late teacher with project to help fifth graders entering Lynch
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
Mother Teresa’s Closet has reopened its doors
https://www.leaderherald.com/
View all episodes
By Bob Cudmore
...on a public street, more than one
Story Behind the Story podcast is an audio version of Saturday’s column on bobsled coasting events in hilly Amsterdam. Gazette Story "Down the Page"
Tuesday, February 22, 2022-From the Archives of the Daily Gazette—Amsterdam’s Hollywood neighborhood
Paul Russo, who now lives in Johnstown, grew up in Hollywood, sometimes called Little Hollywood. That was the name for a residential neighborhood...
Wednesday, February 23, 2022-From the Archives-July 9, 2021-Episode 378-Ann Maria Bullock Schram of Amsterdam, was a volunteer nurse in the American Civil War. Montgomery County NY historian Kelly Yacobucci Farquhar discusses her research on Schram’s life.
Thursday, February 24, 2022-From the Archives of the Daily Gazette—Collette manufacturing
Clarence C. Collette formed the Collette Manufacturing Company in 1907, taking over the abandoned Clizbe Avenue School in Amsterdam.
This Thursday, February 24, 2022
7 to 9 pm at the Carbone Auditorium, ECJS Building, located at 1600 Burrstone Road, Utica, or virtually via Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/chr.uc/
The Utica College Center for Historical Research will host “The Real Abolition and Underground Railroad History Behind the Novel The Third Mrs. Galway,” a free talk by author Deirdre Sinnott
The Third Mrs. Galway is set in Utica in 1835. Newlywed Helen Galway discovers a secret: two runaway slaves are hiding in the shack behind her husband’s house. Suddenly, she is at the center of not only the era’s greatest moral dilemma, but her own as well.
Bob Cudmore and Deirdre Sinnott Interview
The Third Mrs. Galway
Friday, February 25, 2022-Episode 411-Jim Coulthart is an aviation historian. He has a collection of WWII aircraft incidents, and accidents with ties to Central New York.
Bobsledding on Amsterdam city streets
By Bob Cudmore
Coasting carnivals for bobsled teams were popular winter sporting events in the late 1800s in Amsterdam and other area cities with steep hills.
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.
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 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.
Mohawk Valley Weather, Monday, February 21, 2022
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY
EVENING...
* WHAT...Flooding caused by rain and/or snowmelt and/or ice jam is
possible.
* WHERE...Western and central Mohawk Valley, southern Adirondacks,
Lake George Area, and southern Vermont.
* WHEN...From Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.
* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,
creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- The combination of some snowmelt and 0.75 to 1.75 inches of
rain Tuesday into Tuesday night will lead to rises on rivers
and streams. Some localized flooding is possible, especially
in the vicinity of existing ice jams.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood
Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared
to take action should flooding develop.
Mohawk Valley News, Monday, February 21, 2022
Daily Gazette
Tragic shooting death of Schenectady’s Eddie Stanley being made into film; Filming to begin this week
Many Schenectady residents remember the name Eddie Stanley. The 15-year-old Schenectady High School sophomore was a promising basketball player on…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
Scout honors late teacher with project to help fifth graders entering Lynch
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
Mother Teresa’s Closet has reopened its doors
https://www.leaderherald.com/