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
...A 1932 City Directory listing reported that Collette’s made Mendets, paper clips, sporting goods and novelties.
...but first
Our mailbox has become a lonely place. We need your help to reach our 2022 Historians Podcast fund drive goal of $6,000. We got off to a good start thanks to our listeners but we haven’t had a new dona a month. Please donate online here on GoFundMe. https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-historians-podcast-2022 Or send a check made out to Bob Cudmore to the lonely mailbox at 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302. Keep history alive by donating to The Historians Podcast—where we are working on Episode 415-Violinist Ann-Marie Barker Schwarz explores the history of music in the early days of radio in the 1920s at WGY in Schenectady. Barker Schwarz is founder of Musicians of Ma’alwyck. Thank you.
Manufacturer improved paper clip
By Bob Cudmore
Clarence C. Collette formed the Collette Manufacturing Company in 1907, taking over the abandoned Clizbe Avenue School in Amsterdam. Collette’s is long gone and the building today has been renovated for offices and is also home to Physical Therapy Associates.
Collette’s began by making “Mendets,” according to late Amsterdam historian Hugh Donlon. These were bolt-like contraptions to plug holes in pots and pans.
The Mendet illustrated the old Dutch and Yankee make-do philosophy, whose motto Donlon said could have been, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
Noryne Dybas of Woodstock, Georgia, has asked for more information on the Collette family. Dybas’s mother was a housekeeper for the Collettes.
“I can recall her speaking of Edna, one of the Collette’s daughters and of their family parrot,” Dybas wrote.
Recently appointed Amsterdam city historian James Marks has been researching the Collette name for Dybas and came up with a major product improvement credited to Clarence Collette.
New Focus on History Story this Weekend
Saturday, February 26, 2022-Focus on History in the Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorder
The winter of 1958
The Modern Mechanix web site reported in an article on the history of the paper clip, “Then there was Clarence Collette of Amsterdam, New York, who got the idea of putting ridges or nicks in paper clips so that they would hold sheets more securely. He cleaned up in a big way because stenographers found his paper clips were better!”
Collette’s later turned to making baseballs and other sports equipment. A 1932 City Directory listing reported that Collette’s made Mendets, paper clips, sporting goods and novelties. Clarence Collette, who lived at 79 Locust Avenue, was company president. His wife Edna was company treasurer. Spencer Warnick was vice president and Josephine Antonucci was secretary.
According to a 1940s article by Earl O. Stowitts of the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce, Collette’s was among the first manufacturers to come up with a way to sew baseballs by machine to keep the cost down. Previously, baseballs were sewn by hand.
“The balls which the company sews by machine are not flat-stitched, but have a slightly raised seam,” Stowitts wrote. The balls were covered with inexpensive leather, Stowitts said, and the cores were made from cotton or felt scraps that were squeezed into a sphere.
David Gordon, whose parents had operated the Toy Tent store on East Main Street, headed Collette’s in its final years in Amsterdam.
The Historians on Google https://podcasts.google.com/search/The%20Historians
Tomorrow
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.
Saratoga National Historical Park will be a beehive of construction activity in 2022 as the primary visitor experience of the historic battlefield area will receive a major facelift for the first time in more than five decades!
https://www.nps.gov/sara/learn/tour-road-improvement-project.htm
Mohawk Valley Weather, Thursday, February 24, 2022
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO
10 PM EST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 8 to 12
inches. Some sleet could mix in Friday morning.
* WHERE...The Mohawk Valley, Capital District, northern and
central Taconics, Schoharie Valley, Helderbergs, northern
Catskills, northern portions of the mid Hudson Valley and the
Berkshires.
* WHEN...From 11 PM this evening to 10 PM EST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous
conditions could impact the morning and evening commutes Friday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Maximum snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per
hours are expected, mainly Friday morning. Snow may mix with or
briefly change to sleet Friday morning.
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, Thursday, February 24, 2022
Daily Gazette
Mask-less Amsterdam doctor sues Wilton butcher for refusing to sell him a steak
ALBANY — An Amsterdam physician who refused to wear a mask in a Wilton butcher shop is suing the shop’s…
Schenectady County Historical Society hosts Black History Month celebration Thursday
“Memories of Black Schenectady,” a virtual celebration of Black History Month by the Schenectady County Historical Society, will be held…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
Glen may opt out of tax law that gives break to solar, wind developers
GLEN — The Glen Town Board will consider opting out of a real property tax exemption requiring the...
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
City residents in Johnstown late on more than $2M in tax payments
by Andrew Waite
https://www.leaderherald.com/
View all episodes
By Bob Cudmore
...A 1932 City Directory listing reported that Collette’s made Mendets, paper clips, sporting goods and novelties.
...but first
Our mailbox has become a lonely place. We need your help to reach our 2022 Historians Podcast fund drive goal of $6,000. We got off to a good start thanks to our listeners but we haven’t had a new dona a month. Please donate online here on GoFundMe. https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-historians-podcast-2022 Or send a check made out to Bob Cudmore to the lonely mailbox at 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302. Keep history alive by donating to The Historians Podcast—where we are working on Episode 415-Violinist Ann-Marie Barker Schwarz explores the history of music in the early days of radio in the 1920s at WGY in Schenectady. Barker Schwarz is founder of Musicians of Ma’alwyck. Thank you.
Manufacturer improved paper clip
By Bob Cudmore
Clarence C. Collette formed the Collette Manufacturing Company in 1907, taking over the abandoned Clizbe Avenue School in Amsterdam. Collette’s is long gone and the building today has been renovated for offices and is also home to Physical Therapy Associates.
Collette’s began by making “Mendets,” according to late Amsterdam historian Hugh Donlon. These were bolt-like contraptions to plug holes in pots and pans.
The Mendet illustrated the old Dutch and Yankee make-do philosophy, whose motto Donlon said could have been, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
Noryne Dybas of Woodstock, Georgia, has asked for more information on the Collette family. Dybas’s mother was a housekeeper for the Collettes.
“I can recall her speaking of Edna, one of the Collette’s daughters and of their family parrot,” Dybas wrote.
Recently appointed Amsterdam city historian James Marks has been researching the Collette name for Dybas and came up with a major product improvement credited to Clarence Collette.
New Focus on History Story this Weekend
Saturday, February 26, 2022-Focus on History in the Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorder
The winter of 1958
The Modern Mechanix web site reported in an article on the history of the paper clip, “Then there was Clarence Collette of Amsterdam, New York, who got the idea of putting ridges or nicks in paper clips so that they would hold sheets more securely. He cleaned up in a big way because stenographers found his paper clips were better!”
Collette’s later turned to making baseballs and other sports equipment. A 1932 City Directory listing reported that Collette’s made Mendets, paper clips, sporting goods and novelties. Clarence Collette, who lived at 79 Locust Avenue, was company president. His wife Edna was company treasurer. Spencer Warnick was vice president and Josephine Antonucci was secretary.
According to a 1940s article by Earl O. Stowitts of the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce, Collette’s was among the first manufacturers to come up with a way to sew baseballs by machine to keep the cost down. Previously, baseballs were sewn by hand.
“The balls which the company sews by machine are not flat-stitched, but have a slightly raised seam,” Stowitts wrote. The balls were covered with inexpensive leather, Stowitts said, and the cores were made from cotton or felt scraps that were squeezed into a sphere.
David Gordon, whose parents had operated the Toy Tent store on East Main Street, headed Collette’s in its final years in Amsterdam.
The Historians on Google https://podcasts.google.com/search/The%20Historians
Tomorrow
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.
Saratoga National Historical Park will be a beehive of construction activity in 2022 as the primary visitor experience of the historic battlefield area will receive a major facelift for the first time in more than five decades!
https://www.nps.gov/sara/learn/tour-road-improvement-project.htm
Mohawk Valley Weather, Thursday, February 24, 2022
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO
10 PM EST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 8 to 12
inches. Some sleet could mix in Friday morning.
* WHERE...The Mohawk Valley, Capital District, northern and
central Taconics, Schoharie Valley, Helderbergs, northern
Catskills, northern portions of the mid Hudson Valley and the
Berkshires.
* WHEN...From 11 PM this evening to 10 PM EST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous
conditions could impact the morning and evening commutes Friday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Maximum snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per
hours are expected, mainly Friday morning. Snow may mix with or
briefly change to sleet Friday morning.
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, Thursday, February 24, 2022
Daily Gazette
Mask-less Amsterdam doctor sues Wilton butcher for refusing to sell him a steak
ALBANY — An Amsterdam physician who refused to wear a mask in a Wilton butcher shop is suing the shop’s…
Schenectady County Historical Society hosts Black History Month celebration Thursday
“Memories of Black Schenectady,” a virtual celebration of Black History Month by the Schenectady County Historical Society, will be held…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
Glen may opt out of tax law that gives break to solar, wind developers
GLEN — The Glen Town Board will consider opting out of a real property tax exemption requiring the...
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
City residents in Johnstown late on more than $2M in tax payments
by Andrew Waite
https://www.leaderherald.com/