Monday, November 7, 2022

The story behind the story-Last hurrah for Amsterdam’s Bowler’s Brewery

Tuesday, November 8, 2022 Glimpses of life during the Great Depression

Amsterdam native Isadore Demsky received a few gold pieces as Bar Mitzvah presents in 1929.  Added to money saved from working a paper route, Demsky—who later changed his name to Kirk Douglas--had collected $313, what he termed a fortune in those days.

Wednesday, November 9, 2022 Author Wanda Burch discusses her book, “The Home Voices Speak Louder than the Drums: Dreams and the Imagination in Civil War Letters and Memoirs.”  The late singer-songwriter John Kenosian has set some of these letters and memoirs to music. 

Thursday, November 10, 2022 Selling Amsterdam carpets

Amsterdam rugs made it at least twice to the White House. The Liberty Rug was one of 20 Axminster carpets woven in Amsterdam by the Shuttleworth mills to mark the initial floodlighting ceremony at the Statue of Liberty in New York in 1916.

Executive Order 9066

November 11, 2022 Episode 448- Bruce Henderson, author of “Bridge to the Sun: the Secret Role of the Japanese Americans Who Fought in the Pacific in World War II.”

One of the last, great untold stories of World War II—kept hidden for decades—even after most of the World War II records were declassified in 1972, many of the files remained untouched in various archives—a gripping true tale of courage and adventure from Bruce Henderson, master storyteller, historian, and New York Times best-selling author of Sons and Soldiers—the saga of the Japanese American U.S. Army soldiers who fought in the Pacific theater, in Burma, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, with their families back home in America, under U.S. Executive Order 9066, held behind barbed wire in government internment camps.

The last hurrah for Bowler’s Brewery

By Bob Cudmore

   Time caught up with Bowler’s Brewery and its ghost sign on Route 5 in Amsterdam’s West End this month.

   Emergency demolition of the former brewery and All Seasons Motor Sports building at 399 W. Main St. was ordered by city officials who said the structure had become unstable.

   Phil Bowler said some years ago he really wishes he had the formula for the long lasting paint his ancestors used to write the name Bowler’s Brewery on the building.  Phil also said he never got the family beer making formulas or any of the money either.

   Harry Fitch Bowler started his Amsterdam brewery in 1889.  Born in Ipswich, England, Bowler came to Troy, New York, at age four where his father, also named Harry, operated a brewery.

   Young Bowler grew up in Troy, then worked for a brewer in Virginia.  Two of his brothers ran a brewery in Worcester, Massachusetts.

  He married Julia Imogene Millard of Palmyra, N.Y., and honed his beer-making in several cities before coming to Amsterdam.  To brew beer, he used water from the Mohegan Spring on the firm’s property on Carmichael Street.

   Bowler expanded his wooden Amsterdam plant in 1894.  The facility was destroyed by fire in 1895.  He then constructed the five story brick structure in 1896.  The New York Central Railroad built a siding adjacent to the brewery in 1905.

   In 1912 a Bowler’s newspaper ad stated, “For the sake of the health of everyone in your family, take my advice and tell your mother to always have in the house a supply of Amsterdam Brew, bottled lager beer and still ale.”

   Harry’s wife Julia died in 1913 at age sixty. Harry married an Amsterdam woman, Anna Wood, in 1915.  He suffered from heart disease and traveled to Newark, New Jersey, to consult with a heart specialist.  Bowler, 63, died in his hotel room in Newark on February 9, 1917 before he had a chance to see the doctor.  The wake was held at his 24 Grove Street home. He was buried next to his first wife in her hometown of Palmyra.

   Bowler was eulogized as a charitable, community minded family man, a Democrat, although he never ran for public office.  Pictures survive showing him hosting gatherings for employees and customers, with plenty of beer in sight.

   Bowler’s offspring--Arthur, Harry, and Sarah Bowler Burnham--continued brewing after their father’s death but Prohibition of alcohol became law in 1920. 

   Beer lovers had a temporary reprieve that February.  The federal government let breweries sell beer to those who had medical prescriptions for it.  The medicinal beer had nearly twice the alcohol content of beer sold before Prohibition.

   “Tell the glad tidings to suffering men!” wrote the Recorder. “The hop hounds are howling in happy hilarity.”

   However, Prohibition did take hold and the alcohol industry went underground.

   Bowler’s became Chuctanunda Dyeing and Dressing Company to make non-alcoholic products such as soda, at least some of the time.  Buildings, land and equipment were sold to the John P. Dugan Company in 1923. 

   The operation was renamed Amsterdam Cereal Beverage Company.  In 1924 federal agents staked out the plant and impounded a truck leaving the property which appeared to contain real beer.

   Historian Hugh Donlon said federal agents raided the former brewery “with crippling frequency.”

   In 1927 what had been Bowler’s was purchased by George Largay, a Waterbury, Connecticut, brewer.  Largay and Leo O’Mella of Fonda resumed beer production as the Amsterdam Brewing Company when Prohibition ended in 1933.  

   Products included Amsterdam Porter, Amsterdam Stout and Linden Lager Old German Style Beer.  Beer production ended there in the early 1940s.

Mohawk Valley Weather, Monday, November 7, 2022

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   Bowler expanded his wooden Amsterdam plant in 1894.  The facility was destroyed by fire in 1895.  He then constructed the five story brick structure in 1896.  The New York Central Railroad built a siding adjacent to the brewery in 1905.

The last hurrah for Bowler’s Brewery

By Bob Cudmore

   Time caught up with Bowler’s Brewery and its ghost sign on Route 5 in Amsterdam’s West End this month.

   Emergency demolition of the former brewery and All Seasons Motor Sports building at 399 W. Main St. was ordered by city officials who said the structure had become unstable.

   Phil Bowler said some years ago he really wishes he had the formula for the long lasting paint his ancestors used to write the name Bowler’s Brewery on the building.  Phil also said he never got the family beer making formulas or any of the money either.

   Harry Fitch Bowler started his Amsterdam brewery in 1889.  Born in Ipswich, England, Bowler came to Troy, New York, at age four where his father, also named Harry, operated a brewery.

   Young Bowler grew up in Troy, then worked for a brewer in Virginia.  Two of his brothers ran a brewery in Worcester, Massachusetts.

  He married Julia Imogene Millard of Palmyra, N.Y., and honed his beer-making in several cities before coming to Amsterdam.  To brew beer, he used water from the Mohegan Spring on the firm’s property on Carmichael Street.

   Bowler expanded his wooden Amsterdam plant in 1894.  The facility was destroyed by fire in 1895.  He then constructed the five story brick structure in 1896.  The New York Central Railroad built a siding adjacent to the brewery in 1905.

   In 1912 a Bowler’s newspaper ad stated, “For the sake of the health of everyone in your family, take my advice and tell your mother to always have in the house a supply of Amsterdam Brew, bottled lager beer and still ale.”

   Harry’s wife Julia died in 1913 at age sixty. Harry married an Amsterdam woman, Anna Wood, in 1915.  He suffered from heart disease and traveled to Newark, New Jersey, to consult with a heart specialist.  Bowler, 63, died in his hotel room in Newark on February 9, 1917 before he had a chance to see the doctor.  The wake was held at his 24 Grove Street home. He was buried next to his first wife in her hometown of Palmyra.

Tomorrow

The story behind the story-Last hurrah for Amsterdam’s Bowler’s Brewery

   Bowler was eulogized as a charitable, community minded family man, a Democrat, although he never ran for public office.  Pictures survive showing him hosting gatherings for employees and customers, with plenty of beer in sight.

   Bowler’s offspring--Arthur, Harry, and Sarah Bowler Burnham--continued brewing after their father’s death but Prohibition of alcohol became law in 1920. 

   Beer lovers had a temporary reprieve that February.  The federal government let breweries sell beer to those who had medical prescriptions for it.  The medicinal beer had nearly twice the alcohol content of beer sold before Prohibition.

   “Tell the glad tidings to suffering men!” wrote the Recorder. “The hop hounds are howling in happy hilarity.”

   However, Prohibition did take hold and the alcohol industry went underground.

   Bowler’s became Chuctanunda Dyeing and Dressing Company to make non-alcoholic products such as soda, at least some of the time.  Buildings, land and equipment were sold to the John P. Dugan Company in 1923. 

   The operation was renamed Amsterdam Cereal Beverage Company.  In 1924 federal agents staked out the plant and impounded a truck leaving the property which appeared to contain real beer.

   Historian Hugh Donlon said federal agents raided the former brewery “with crippling frequency.”

   In 1927 what had been Bowler’s was purchased by George Largay, a Waterbury, Connecticut, brewer.  Largay and Leo O’Mella of Fonda resumed beer production as the Amsterdam Brewing Company when Prohibition ended in 1933.  

   Products included Amsterdam Porter, Amsterdam Stout and Linden Lager Old German Style Beer.  Beer production ended there in the early 1940s.

Historians "Something old 7 days a week"

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Glimpses of life during the Great Depression

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Author Wanda Burch discusses her book, “The Home Voices Speak Louder than the Drums: Dreams and the Imagination in Civil War Letters and Memoirs.”  The late singer-songwriter John Kenosian has set some of these letters and memoirs to music. 

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Selling Amsterdam carpets

Friday The very latest Podcast

November 11, 2022

Episode 448- Bruce Henderson, author of “Bridge to the Sun: the Secret Role of the Japanese Americans Who Fought in the Pacific in World War II.”

Mohawk Valley Weather, Sunday, November 6, 2022

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Author Jim Richmond discusses Milton, New York: A New Town in a New Nation.  Richmond and Milton town historian Kim McCartney are co-authors of the book about a Saratoga County town that includes new information on religious conflicts, slavery, mill town history and Civil War soldiers.

Focus on History

The Cudmore story in The Gazette and Recorder on-line edition this weekend "Guy Park Manor"

The Historians Go Fund Me Drive for 2022 needs $100.00 this Weekend 

If you can help keep The Historians History (The way Bob Cudmore tells the stories) on the web and radio, here is the link

https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-historians-podcast-2022

Thanks

Highlights Edition with excerpts from Joe Collea on Ilion, N.Y.; Giovanni Ruscitti visits his Italian roots; Chris Carola discusses Mohawk chief Joseph Brant; Alyson Richman on writing historical fiction David Pietrusza dissects FDR’s landslide 1936 victory;  Norm Bollen meets filmmakers interested in Mohawk Valley; Rod Correll on learning to be a Leatherman.

The Historians Radio Edition this afternoon, Saturday, November 5 at 12:05 and 12:35 WCSS 106.9FM Amsterdam

Tomorrow

Sunday, November 6, 2022

Last hurrah for Amsterdam’s Bowler’s Brewery

Young Bowler grew up in Troy, then worked for a brewer in Virginia.  Two of his brothers ran a brewery in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Mohawk Valley Weekend Weather, Saturday, November 5, 2022

Leader Herald

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Bob Cudmore’s scheduled talk tonight in Hagaman has been cancelled.

The Hagaman Historical Society. 

The event is on tonight November 3 at 7 pm at Pawling Hall on Pawling Street in Hagaman.

The annual Pumpkin Smash will be held this Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Veterans Park in Amsterdam. 

People, pigeons and an Amsterdam fire

By Bob Cudmore 

   People, pigeons and a coin collection were all at risk on Friday, November 23, 1962 in a major fire at 29-31 Market Street in Amsterdam.

   Information was provided by Joseph Inglese of the town of Florida.  Piccolo’s Candy Store, badly damaged in the blaze, was owned by Frank and Sophie Piccolo, relatives of Inglese’s wife, Lucille.  Fire Chief Samuel A. Palombo, who commanded operations that night, was Inglese’s great uncle. 

   The story reminded Inglese of the Gazette retrospective on Amsterdam fires that followed the recent factory building arson on Brookside Avenue.

   “I’m not leaving here until you get my pigeon,” was what one female apartment resident told a firefighter trying to lead her out of the building, according to a Recorder account.

   “So the gallant smoke-eater located the pet bird, resting comfortably in a cardboard box, and carried it down the stairs,” wrote reporter Richard C. Healy. “The woman followed.”

However, another pet pigeon perished.  An onlooker cradled the victim in her arms and left the fire scene. 

A man who had been led to safety told firefighters he had forgotten his coin collection.  Firemen went back inside but gave up the effort because of heavy smoke.

No apartment dwellers were injured but two firefighters—Edward Lampkin and Stanley Lomnicki--were treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries. 

About 60 men battled the flames. Chief Palombo said, “When I saw what a beating the men were taking from the smoke, I ordered all apparatus to the scene.” 

One person was heard to stick up for the firemen, “Where are all these people who squawked about these guys getting a raise?”

The fire apparently started at the rear of Piccolo’s Candy Store in an area rented by John Picco, proprietor of the adjacent Vallee curtain and drapery store.

Smoke also made its way into Britell insurance agency, Ottavio’s luggage shop and Sochin’s men’s store.

The apartment dwellers who were led to safety were M.C. McLouth, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kowalski, Louis Gatto and Raymond Moore.

The Salvation Army and Nicholas Meola of the nearby Rialto Restaurant provided hot coffee to the firefighters and victims.

The flames broke out at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and firefighters finally left the scene about 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

LIFE GOES ON

Advertisements that November day 48 years ago touted an active social scene in the Amsterdam area that weekend.  The Oasis Café at 50-52 Market Street featured music by the Casuals and vocalist Lenny Rocco.  The New Yorkers—a band “that speaks for itself”—were playing at the Wil-Ton bowling alley lounge at 31 West Main Street.  Ferris Tavern out at Mariaville Lake featured round. square and polka dancing to the music of the De-Lo-Ters.

If you were into entertainment for the whole family, Auction City on the Amsterdam-Schenectady Road urged you to bring the kiddies to see the largest Christmas stocking in the world, over six feet tall.  An auction was scheduled that Saturday night and Kiss’n Dolls were the weekend special at five dollars each.

If you wanted to stay at home, you could pay a visit to Eugene W. Brach at his “electronic hospital” on Broadway Avenue Extension on Amsterdam’s South Side.  He would fix your TVs and radios and also offered rock bottom prices, such as a $289 console TV for just $169.95.  A transistor radio with a leather case, listing at $22.95, could be had for $13.95 at Brach’s.

And for the health conscious, apples were still on sale at T.J. Murphy’s Appleland Farm on Swart Hill or at Raymond Rector’s on Scotch Bush-Scotch Church Road.  In each case, you were advised to bring your own containers.

Posted early tomorrow morning, Episode 447

Friday, November 4, 2022

Highlights Edition with excerpts from Joe Collea on Ilion, N.Y.; Giovanni Ruscitti visits his Italian roots; Chris Carola discusses Mohawk chief Joseph Brant; Alyson Richman on writing historical fiction David Pietrusza dissects FDR’s landslide 1936 victory;  Norm Bollen meets filmmakers interested in Mohawk Valley; Rod Correll on learning to be a Leatherman.

The first half of the weekend in The Mohawk Valley and Historians

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Author Jim Richmond discusses Milton, New York: A New Town in a New Nation.  Richmond and Milton town historian Kim McCartney are co-authors of the book about a Saratoga County town that includes new information on religious conflicts, slavery, mill town history and Civil War soldiers.

Mohawk Valley Weather, Thursday, November 3, 2022

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Bob Cudmore’s scheduled talk Thursday night in Hagaman has been cancelled.

Bobs walker has a flat tire, no big deal.

The Hagaman Historical Society. 

The event is on (tomorrow) Thursday night November 3 at 7 pm at Pawling Hall on Pawling Street in Hagaman. 

Today

A history of the Mohawk River with Mary Zawacki, executive director of the Schenectady County Historical Society.  When the last Ice Age began to melt 22,000 years ago, the Mohawk River flowed with more force than Niagara Falls.

Tomorrow, Thursday, November 3, 2022

People and pigeons in Amsterdam fire.

   “I’m not leaving here until you get my pigeon,” was what one female apartment resident told a firefighter trying to lead her out of the building, according to a Recorder account.

Friday, November 4, 2022-Episode 447-2022 Highlights Edition with excerpts from Joe Collea on Ilion, N.Y.; Giovanni Ruscitti visits his Italian roots; Chris Carola discusses Mohawk chief Joseph Brant; Alyson Richman on writing historical fiction David Pietrusza dissects FDR’s landslide 1936 victory;  Norm Bollen meets filmmakers interested in Mohawk Valley; Rod Correll on learning to be a Leatherman.

Mohawk Valley Weather, Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Leader Herald

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Bob Cudmore’s scheduled talk Thursday night in Hagaman has been cancelled.

We’ve raised $5000 so far for our yearly Historians Podcast fund drive.  That’s over 80% of our $6000 goal.  We need to raise $1000 in the next two months.  Please donate online at 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.  You may give anonymously and no donation is too small.  Our latest donation was from Dave Northrup.

Story behind Richard Montgomery

By Bob Cudmore

          Richard Montgomery, for whom Montgomery County in the Mohawk Valley was named, was a hero of the American Revolution.

   According to historian Hugh Donlon’s book “Outlines of History,” Montgomery was born in 1736 near Raphoe, Ireland.  Other sources say Montgomery was born in Dublin.  He joined the British army at 18 and served against the French in North America and the West Indies.

   Donlon said Montgomery was part of the Amherst Expedition that passed through the Mohawk Valley as part of the British conquest of Canada in 1760.

          Montgomery left America to live in England from 1765 to 1772, when he moved to New York City.  He married Jane Livingston, daughter of Judge Robert Livingston in Rhinebeck, a leading figure in the growing rebellion. 

          When war broke out, Montgomery became a brigadier general on the rebel side.  Montgomery’s forces took Montreal in November 1775.  When General Philip Schuyler of Albany became ill, Montgomery took command of Schuyler’s troops.

          Forces commanded by Montgomery and Benedict Arnold, although relatively small, laid siege to Quebec City.  They attacked the city in a snowstorm on December 31.  The British repelled the attack and Montgomery was killed.  Montgomery was buried on the spot.

          His widow pleaded with Canada’s government for 43 years before her husband’s remains were brought back to America.  According to Donlon’s story, when Montgomery’s remains were passing his aged widow’s home at Annandale-on-Hudson, the steamer paused.  Mrs. Montgomery is said to have saluted the vessel, then collapsed.

          Montgomery is buried in St. Paul’s Churchyard in New York City.  Benjamin Franklin directed creation of a stone memorial that was made in Paris that states, “This monument is erected by order of Congress, 25th of January, 1776, to transmit to posterity a grateful remembrance of the patriotic conduct, enterprise and perseverance of Major General Richard Montgomery.”

          Maryland and Virginia moved quickly to name counties for the war hero.  North Carolina followed suit in 1778 and New York was fourth in 1784.  In all there are Montgomery counties in 17 states.

   In New York, Montgomery’s name was given to what had been Tryon County, created in 1772 and named for New York’s British colonial governor, William Tryon.

   Tryon became unpopular in the Revolution, according to Donlon.  He was called “Bloody Billy” and reports circulated that Tryon was part of a plot to kidnap and assassinate George Washington.  Tryon served the British as a military commander when the colony he had headed was placed under martial law.  Tryon led forces that attacked civilians in southern Connecticut.  He returned to England in 1780 and died in London in 1788.

   The original Tryon County was created during the heyday of Sir William Johnson and his family in the local area and the county seat was in Johnstown.  In 1836, the county seat of Montgomery County was moved to Fonda. There was an outcry from the people of Johnstown who were granted their own county. 

   Fulton County split off from Montgomery County in 1838.  That county is named for Robert Fulton, an American inventor credited with creating the first commercially successful steamboat.

Wednesday, November 2, 2022- From the Archives-Episode 433-A history of the Mohawk River with Mary Zawacki, executive director of the Schenectady County Historical Society.  When the last Ice Age began to melt 22,000 years ago, the Mohawk River flowed with more force than Niagara Falls.

Thursday, November 3, 2022

People and pigeons in Amsterdam fire.

   People, pigeons and a coin collection were all at risk on Friday, November 23, 1962 in a major fire at 29-31 Market Street in Amsterdam.

   Information was provided by Joseph Inglese of the town of Florida. 

Friday, November 4, 2022-Episode 447-2022 Highlights Edition with excerpts from Joe Collea on Ilion, N.Y.; Giovanni Ruscitti visits his Italian roots; Chris Carola discusses Mohawk chief Joseph Brant; Alyson Richman on writing historical fiction David Pietrusza dissects FDR’s landslide 1936 victory;  Norm Bollen meets filmmakers interested in Mohawk Valley; Rod Correll on learning to be a Leatherman.

Mohawk Valley Weather, Tuesday, November 1, 2022

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Bob Cudmore will present a history talk this Thursday night November 3, 2022 at 7 pm at Pawling Hall on Pawling Street in Hagaman. The event is scheduled by the Hagaman Historical Society.  Bob will present stories from his newspaper columns in the Gazette and Amsterdam  Recorder, plus his Hiistorians Podcast. 

If Bob can get out of the house at that time of the evening, you can too.

Monday, October 31, 2022-The story behind the story. Shakspeare at the golf course (Turn on your speaker, the story is about eight minutes(or ear buds)

We’ve raised $5000 so far for our yearly Historians Podcast fund drive.  That’s over 80% of our $6000 goal.  We need to raise $1000 in the next two months.  Please donate online at 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.  You may give anonymously and no donation is too small.  Our latest donation was from Dave Northrup.

November 2022 in The Mohawk Valley, the color change is good to great this season

(You should be here)

Tuesday, November 1, 2022-From the Archives of the Daily Gazette—-Who was Richard Montgomery? 

According to historian Hugh Donlon’s book “Outlines of History,” Montgomery was born in 1736 near Raphoe, Ireland.  Other sources say Montgomery was born in Dublin.  He joined the British army at 18 and served against the French in North America and the West Indies. More tomorrow...

Wednesday, November 2, 2022- From the Archives-Episode 433-A history of the Mohawk River with Mary Zawacki, executive director of the Schenectady County Historical Society.  When the last Ice Age began to melt 22,000 years ago, the Mohawk River flowed with more force than Niagara Falls.

Thursday, November 3, 72022-From the Archives of the Daily Gazette—-People and pigeons in Amsterdam fire.

Friday, November 4, 2022-Episode 447-2022 Highlights Edition with excerpts from Joe Collea on Ilion, N.Y.; Giovanni Ruscitti visits his Italian roots; Chris Carola discusses Mohawk chief Joseph Brant; Alyson Richman on writing historical fiction David Pietrusza dissects FDR’s landslide 1936 victory;  Norm Bollen meets filmmakers interested in Mohawk Valley; Rod Correll on learning to be a Leatherman.

Shakespeare at the golf course

By Bob Cudmore

   The Phil Kilfoil Company’s Woodland Players from New York City performed Shakespeare’s comedy “As You Like It” on the grounds of the Antlers Club in Fort Johnson the night of July 13. 1904. 

   The private golf course, today known as Rolling Hills, had opened in 1901 on a 90 acre site.  The original clubhouse was built that year with a spectacular view of the Mohawk Valley from its veranda.

   The play was performed atop a hill overlooking the clubhouse with the woods forming what the Amsterdam Recorder reviewer called “an ideal background” to a grassy stage. 

   Japanese lanterns lighted the audience “with a soft flickering light” and Minch’s orchestra, a local favorite, played popular songs before the show, keeping the crowd entertained while they waited. 

   When the play began, “powerful calcium lights” illuminated the stage and trees with what the newspaper called “a bright but weird glow, which might be well described as exaggerated moonlight.”

   It was chilly for July.  The performance was originally scheduled the night before but had been rained out. 

   An estimated 350 people sat on camp chairs to watch Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy.  Many in the patrons arrived on crowded electric trolley cars from nearby Amsterdam.  The audience loved the play, according to a rave review the next day in the Amsterdam Recorder.

   “Now that the affair is over,” wrote the reviewer, “And has proved an unqualified success, it may not be amiss to state that previously there was just a slight undercurrent of doubt as to the ability of any company traveling as does Kilfoll's at present, to properly present a play of such caliber.

   “But the first lines were scarcely uttered when all questions along this score were obliterated, and the audience settled itself for what would have been a theatrical treat under any circumstances, but was doubly so amid scenes so absolutely fitting.”

   There was apprehension at show time among the actors about the financial solvency of their employer, Woodland Players, owned by the Phil Kilfoil Company of New York City.

   The reviewer said the entire company was good but gave special praise to Ivah M. Wills who played Rosalind, F.J. McCarthy as Touchstone and James A. Young as Jacques de Boys.

      Two weeks after leaving Amsterdam, theatrical producer Kilfoil was charged with passing bogus checks in Oswego, another stop on the tour. 

   Kilfoil told reporters, “We have been victims of circumstances and there was no intention of defrauding any persons in Oswego. We have met with poor business and benefit performances have so far proved a failure." 

   The Oswego and Amsterdam papers reported July 30 that charges were dropped when Kilfoil’s business partner, Charles Wiegand, provided funds to cover the checks.  Wiegand was described as a supervisor of the New York Central Railroad in New York City.

   The Recorder said the actors apparently were among those not getting paid, “The company has been receiving money and one by one the members are leaving Oswego as fast as their remittances arrive.  There will be no more Woodland Players, it is said, and both Wiegand and Kilfoil have expressed their intention of abandoning the dramatic field as a non-paying venture.” 

   I have secured funds, said Kilfoil, to meet every obligation incurred by the company.

      As for the Fort Johnson outdoor venue, the Antlers golf course prospered for many years but its elegant clubhouse burned to the ground in a 1965 fire.  A new clubhouse was built.

   Historian Hugh Donlon wrote the replacement clubhouse is smaller and lacked the “spacious veranda that had contributed so much to summer social life of affluent Amsterdamians for 60 years.”

Mohawk Valley Weather, Monday, October 31, 2022

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The late film historian Rob Edelman discusses his book “From Spring Training to Screen Test: Baseball Players Turned Actors.” Rob’s wife and film professor emeritus Audrey Kupferberg has stories of Jewish merchants in the thriving downtown of the 1950s in her native Amsterdam, New York.

and

Episode 446- What’s it like to be the boss’s son?  Rod Correll is author of the memoir “Learning to Be a Leatherman-A Rite of Passage.”  Correll lived in the leather business for 50 years, from childhood up to when he left the business to return to Yale for an MBA.

Saturday, October 29, 2022 The Latest from Bob Cudmore

Today in The Daily Gazette "The Paper-Paper"

Picture:Daily Gazette

FOCUS ON HISTORY: The last hurrah for Bowler’s Brewery

Time caught up with Bowler’s Brewery and its ghost sign on Route 5 in Amsterdam’s West End this month.

The Sunday Read on The Historians

 Shakspeare at the golf course

by Bob Cudmore

   An estimated 350 people sat on camp chairs to watch Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy.  Many in the patrons arrived on crowded electric trolley cars from nearby Amsterdam.  The audience loved the play, according to a rave review the next day in the Amsterdam Recorder.

Mohawk Valley Weekend Weather, Saturday, October 29, 2022

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