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...Meikle wrote, “She has a banner over her shoulder with ‘Miss Jollyland’ written on it. From her hairstyle and bathing suit, I’d guess the photo dates from the late 20’s to early 30’s.
Collector asks: Was Amsterdam ever home to a ‘Miss Jollyland’ ?
by Bob Cudmore
Americana collector Scott Meikle of Brooklyn purchased a photo of a “smiling beauty queen” at a Manhattan flea market that may have an Amsterdam connection.
Meikle wrote, “She has a banner over her shoulder with ‘Miss Jollyland’ written on it. From her hairstyle and bathing suit, I’d guess the photo dates from the late 20’s to early 30’s. I was told the photo came from upstate. I like the image because the girl seems very real and good-humored.”
Meikle wondered if the picture came from the Amsterdam amusement park known as Jollyland. Do you know if there was a local Miss Jollyland contest? Meikle could not provide a copy of the photo.
Historian Hugh Donlon wrote that Edward and Thomas McCaffrey built the facility that preceded Jollyland, which they called Crescent Park, in 1914. “Name change to Jollyland came when the park was taken over by Fred J. Collins in 1923,” Donlon wrote.
Lifelong Amsterdam resident Sophie Gomula said that Jollyland had an aerial swing, a “snap-the-whip” ride and a roller skating rink in the 1930s. Gomula said, people walked to Jollyland or took the trolley.
Thanks to a generous donation from Thomas Stewart, Dave Northrup and James Martin the Historians Podcast 2022 fund drive now totals $1400.00. If we raise $450 more this month we’ll be on our way to reaching this year’s $6000 goal. Please donate online here- https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-historians-podcast-2022 Or send a check made out to Bob Cudmore to the now not-so-lonely mailbox at 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302. Keep history alive at The Historians Podcast—where we’re working on Episode 416-Neil Lanctot’s book on the debate that took place over whether America should enter World War I. Thank you.
Jollyland was renamed Mohawk Mills Park in the late 1930s and became the home of the Amsterdam Rugmakers in the Canadian-American baseball league. In 1977, the park received its current name, Herbert Shuttleworth Park. Shuttleworth was chief executive of Mohawk Carpets and Mohasco and a leading supporter of the baseball team.
In his book “Annals of a Mill Town,” Donlon listed other major parks in the Amsterdam area during the region’s industrial prime. Veterans Field on Locust Avenue was originally a 50-acre tract of land purchased in 1920 by the Sanford Carpet Mills for employee recreation. The property was turned over to the city when Bigelow-Sanford ceased local carpet production in 1955. Akin Park near Old Fort Johnson had a popular dance hall and was adjacent to the trolley line. Karp’s Park along upper Church Street in Amsterdam was a venue for carnivals and circuses.
Creeler’s Park in the East End was used by soccer players from the Shuttleworth carpet mills. Later, baseball was played there. Also in the East End was Ross’ Flats where circuses pitched their tents conveniently adjacent to a railroad siding. In later years, there was an East End park named for Matthew J. Coessens, who was the first Amsterdam soldier killed on the battlefield, according to Donlon. That park became an industrial site in 1967.
MORE ON SNOWMAN
People are still interested in a photo of children standing around a tall snowman in front of the former Firth’s Grocery Store at Locust Avenue and Lindsey Street in Amsterdam, current location of Mirror Image beauty salon.
Beverly Jablonski provided a likely date for the event. Her copy of the snowman photo is dated March 1947. Sharon Brown Bernaski grew up in the Locust Avenue neighborhood and remembered the snowman-building project. Bernaski recalled that a tall snowman was first built on the street but city plows knocked it down. Then, she said, the snowman was built in front of the grocery store.
FORT HUNTER MEMORIES
In a recent column, Fort Hunter native Arnold Wittemeier recalled the 1930s when his father played in the Fort Hunter Military Band. Wittemeier did not know why the musical group was called a military band.
“Traditionally a 'military band' means all the instruments (except the drums) are brass, that is no stringed instruments such as in a concert band,” wrote Peter Betz of Perth.
Another Fort Hunter memory was sent in by Nancy Bebb, who remembered going to the hamlet for ice cream at Annie Brown’s: “My grandmother, aunt and uncle lived in Tribes Hill and a trip to Brown's was a treat I'll long remember.”
Wednesday, March 9, 2022-From the Archives-Episode 187, November 3, 2017, Gus Kappler, M.D., recounts his service in Vietnam as described in his book, “Welcome Home from Vietnam Finally: A Vietnam Trauma Surgeon’s Memoir.”
Thursday, March 10, 2022-From the Archives of the Daily Gazette—Young filmmakers in 1940s Amsterdam
A recent column with a list of names from the St. Stanislaus School eighth grade class of 1940 provided by Fred Wojcicki prompted class member George A. Tralka to recollect stories from his teen-age years...
Friday, March 11, 2022-Episode 413-The first highlights episode of 2022 with excerpts from seven Historians Podcasts including Evacuation Day in New York City, 100 years of WGY radio in Schenectady, a chat with New York State historian Devin Lander, the case for Benedict Arnold and more.
Oneida County History Center
...in person or Zoom
https://www.oneidacountyhistory.org/programs.html
The Bob Cudmore/Wade Wells Podcast "Down the Page"
Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 1:00 p.m.
Sir William Johnson and the Mohawk Valley
Sir William Johnson (1715 - 1774) was the largest landowner and an influential individual in colonial Mohawk Valley. He served as Superintendent of Indian Affairs and his relations with the Six Nations of the Iroquois greatly influenced England's control of colonial North America. Johnson Hall Site Manager Wade Wells will discuss this important figure in Mohawk Valley history.
Mohawk Valley Weather, Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
Wednesday
Light snow likely, mainly after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
Mohawk Valley News Headlines, Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Daily Gazette
Police: Amsterdam man drove drunk, illegally possessed handgun in Saratoga Springs
SARATOGA SPRINGS – An Amsterdam man drove drunk and illegally possessed a handgun and ammunition feeding device early Saturday in…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
Minden got milk when tanker overturned in weekend accident; No injuries reported
by Ashley Onyon
Photo Caption: The scene Sunday. STAN HUDY/THE RECORDER
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
Drone Racing
by Andrew Waite
https://www.leaderherald.com/
View all episodes
By Bob Cudmore...Meikle wrote, “She has a banner over her shoulder with ‘Miss Jollyland’ written on it. From her hairstyle and bathing suit, I’d guess the photo dates from the late 20’s to early 30’s.
Collector asks: Was Amsterdam ever home to a ‘Miss Jollyland’ ?
by Bob Cudmore
Americana collector Scott Meikle of Brooklyn purchased a photo of a “smiling beauty queen” at a Manhattan flea market that may have an Amsterdam connection.
Meikle wrote, “She has a banner over her shoulder with ‘Miss Jollyland’ written on it. From her hairstyle and bathing suit, I’d guess the photo dates from the late 20’s to early 30’s. I was told the photo came from upstate. I like the image because the girl seems very real and good-humored.”
Meikle wondered if the picture came from the Amsterdam amusement park known as Jollyland. Do you know if there was a local Miss Jollyland contest? Meikle could not provide a copy of the photo.
Historian Hugh Donlon wrote that Edward and Thomas McCaffrey built the facility that preceded Jollyland, which they called Crescent Park, in 1914. “Name change to Jollyland came when the park was taken over by Fred J. Collins in 1923,” Donlon wrote.
Lifelong Amsterdam resident Sophie Gomula said that Jollyland had an aerial swing, a “snap-the-whip” ride and a roller skating rink in the 1930s. Gomula said, people walked to Jollyland or took the trolley.
Thanks to a generous donation from Thomas Stewart, Dave Northrup and James Martin the Historians Podcast 2022 fund drive now totals $1400.00. If we raise $450 more this month we’ll be on our way to reaching this year’s $6000 goal. Please donate online here- https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-historians-podcast-2022 Or send a check made out to Bob Cudmore to the now not-so-lonely mailbox at 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302. Keep history alive at The Historians Podcast—where we’re working on Episode 416-Neil Lanctot’s book on the debate that took place over whether America should enter World War I. Thank you.
Jollyland was renamed Mohawk Mills Park in the late 1930s and became the home of the Amsterdam Rugmakers in the Canadian-American baseball league. In 1977, the park received its current name, Herbert Shuttleworth Park. Shuttleworth was chief executive of Mohawk Carpets and Mohasco and a leading supporter of the baseball team.
In his book “Annals of a Mill Town,” Donlon listed other major parks in the Amsterdam area during the region’s industrial prime. Veterans Field on Locust Avenue was originally a 50-acre tract of land purchased in 1920 by the Sanford Carpet Mills for employee recreation. The property was turned over to the city when Bigelow-Sanford ceased local carpet production in 1955. Akin Park near Old Fort Johnson had a popular dance hall and was adjacent to the trolley line. Karp’s Park along upper Church Street in Amsterdam was a venue for carnivals and circuses.
Creeler’s Park in the East End was used by soccer players from the Shuttleworth carpet mills. Later, baseball was played there. Also in the East End was Ross’ Flats where circuses pitched their tents conveniently adjacent to a railroad siding. In later years, there was an East End park named for Matthew J. Coessens, who was the first Amsterdam soldier killed on the battlefield, according to Donlon. That park became an industrial site in 1967.
MORE ON SNOWMAN
People are still interested in a photo of children standing around a tall snowman in front of the former Firth’s Grocery Store at Locust Avenue and Lindsey Street in Amsterdam, current location of Mirror Image beauty salon.
Beverly Jablonski provided a likely date for the event. Her copy of the snowman photo is dated March 1947. Sharon Brown Bernaski grew up in the Locust Avenue neighborhood and remembered the snowman-building project. Bernaski recalled that a tall snowman was first built on the street but city plows knocked it down. Then, she said, the snowman was built in front of the grocery store.
FORT HUNTER MEMORIES
In a recent column, Fort Hunter native Arnold Wittemeier recalled the 1930s when his father played in the Fort Hunter Military Band. Wittemeier did not know why the musical group was called a military band.
“Traditionally a 'military band' means all the instruments (except the drums) are brass, that is no stringed instruments such as in a concert band,” wrote Peter Betz of Perth.
Another Fort Hunter memory was sent in by Nancy Bebb, who remembered going to the hamlet for ice cream at Annie Brown’s: “My grandmother, aunt and uncle lived in Tribes Hill and a trip to Brown's was a treat I'll long remember.”
Wednesday, March 9, 2022-From the Archives-Episode 187, November 3, 2017, Gus Kappler, M.D., recounts his service in Vietnam as described in his book, “Welcome Home from Vietnam Finally: A Vietnam Trauma Surgeon’s Memoir.”
Thursday, March 10, 2022-From the Archives of the Daily Gazette—Young filmmakers in 1940s Amsterdam
A recent column with a list of names from the St. Stanislaus School eighth grade class of 1940 provided by Fred Wojcicki prompted class member George A. Tralka to recollect stories from his teen-age years...
Friday, March 11, 2022-Episode 413-The first highlights episode of 2022 with excerpts from seven Historians Podcasts including Evacuation Day in New York City, 100 years of WGY radio in Schenectady, a chat with New York State historian Devin Lander, the case for Benedict Arnold and more.
Oneida County History Center
...in person or Zoom
https://www.oneidacountyhistory.org/programs.html
The Bob Cudmore/Wade Wells Podcast "Down the Page"
Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 1:00 p.m.
Sir William Johnson and the Mohawk Valley
Sir William Johnson (1715 - 1774) was the largest landowner and an influential individual in colonial Mohawk Valley. He served as Superintendent of Indian Affairs and his relations with the Six Nations of the Iroquois greatly influenced England's control of colonial North America. Johnson Hall Site Manager Wade Wells will discuss this important figure in Mohawk Valley history.
Mohawk Valley Weather, Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
Wednesday
Light snow likely, mainly after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
Mohawk Valley News Headlines, Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Daily Gazette
Police: Amsterdam man drove drunk, illegally possessed handgun in Saratoga Springs
SARATOGA SPRINGS – An Amsterdam man drove drunk and illegally possessed a handgun and ammunition feeding device early Saturday in…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
Minden got milk when tanker overturned in weekend accident; No injuries reported
by Ashley Onyon
Photo Caption: The scene Sunday. STAN HUDY/THE RECORDER
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
Drone Racing
by Andrew Waite
https://www.leaderherald.com/