...When Veal died, the Recorder wrote, “Few people- in Amsterdam were better known than he, and for years he had been considered the leader of his race in this section, being prominent in the affairs of St. Paul's A. M. E. Zion church, a liberal contributor to its welfare and people, and a leader in all colored social events.”
Thursday, February 17, 2022-From the Archives of the Daily Gazette
The life and times of “Dixie” Veal
An African-American slave who joined up with New York State troops marching through Georgia in the Civil War was eulogized when he died for having become one of the best-known citizens of Amsterdam.
When General William Tecumseh Sherman’s Union army was in Georgia, young Anthony “Dixie” Veal fled the plantation where his family lived at Spring Mountain near Atlanta and joined the 134th New York Volunteers. Veal’s last name was that of the owners of the plantation where he was born. Veal became a servant for Captain Perry McMaster of Middleburgh.
When the war ended, Veal went to Middleburgh with McMaster. Veal started working in Central Bridge and for nine years was a porter, handling baggage at a Central Bridge hotel. He then moved to the Hotel St. Augustan in Cobleskill owned by Morgan D. Lewis and worked as a porter at that hotel for nine years.
When the Warner Hotel was built at East Main and Walnut Streets in Amsterdam in 1881, Lewis became the proprietor and Veal began a 20-year career as porter there. In later years the hotel became the smaller Amsterdam Hotel and also included Lurie’s Department Store.
In 1882 Veal married Lavina Hunter of Central Bridge. They had one daughter and lived near the Warner Hotel at 15 Walnut Street.
A formidable man, Veal once was reported to have convinced the owners of the city’s Opera House housed in the Warner not to go on stage with an insulting black face impersonation of Veal as a porter.
When Veal died, the Recorder wrote, “Few people- in Amsterdam were better known than he, and for years he had been considered the leader of his race in this section, being prominent in the affairs of St. Paul's A. M. E. Zion church, a liberal contributor to its welfare and people, and a leader in all colored social events.”
His mental and physical health began to decline in the spring of 1903. November 3 of that year he was forced to give up his job because of his apparent mental illness. On January 23, 1904 he was sent away to the state mental hospital in Utica, where he died that April 6. He was buried in Central Bridge.
The Recorder reported that Veal was presumed to have laid away a great deal of money during his many years at the Warner. He sometimes earned as much as $10 per day and lived modestly. When Veal died, his wife did not know what had become of her husband’s savings or money realized from the sale of farm land Veal owned then sold in Central Bridge.
The Recorder wrote, “Now It seems as if "Dixie's" mystery of a secret hiding place has died with him.”
Veal had showed the newspaper a letter received in 1903 from the current proprietor of the former plantation where he was born. The letter had an update on Veal’s brothers and sisters and said descendants of the original plantation owner were involved in several pursuits including a granite quarry. Veal reportedly wanted to go back to Georgia for a visit and “grasp the hands of the family members whose name he bore” and inform them of the prosperous life he was living in Amsterdam.
The Recorder wrote, “Throughout the state no hotel attaché was better known, and even now inquiries are daily made at the Warner and the (New York) Central passenger station as to the welfare of the veteran porter who so long and so carefully looked after the baggage of the Warner's patrons until he seemingly became as much a fixture as any department of the hotel.”
Tomorrow, Good Deeds and how to forcast the Weather
Friday, February 18, 2022
Episode 410-Historian Peter Betz explains how he was able to help a Perth NY family acquire a gravestone at no cost for a deceased family member, Howard Forgette, who was a US Army veteran. Betz also discusses a program on Fulton County immigrants taking place at the museum in Gloversville. And he has the story of a bear who did groundhog weather forecasting work in Sacandaga Park.
If you were injured, they sent you to the doctors house and no need for your medical ID card
Saturday, February 19, 2022-Focus on History in the Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorder-Bobsled coasting events in hilly Amsterdam.
The Saratoga County History Center will host “In Memoriam: Casualties of the Battles of Saratoga,” a virtual presentation using genealogy to examine the American casualties during the Battles of Saratoga tomorrow, Friday, February 18, 2022
This program will be led by Eric Schnitzer, Interpretive Ranger and Military Historian, with the Saratoga National Historical Park in Stillwater.
Friday, 1 pm via Zoom. Information (518) 885-9309.
Rain and Wind in The Mohawk Valley, we have it all for the next 24 Hours
Mohawk Valley Weather, Thursday, February 17, 2022
...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...
* WHAT...Flooding caused by rain and/or snowmelt and/or ice jam
continues to be possible.
* WHERE...Portions of New York and southern Vermont, including the
following areas, in New York, Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady,
Hamilton, Montgomery, Fulton, Herkimer, Saratoga, Warren,
Washington, Schoharie and Warren. In southern Vermont, Bennington
and Windham.
* WHEN...From 1 PM EST this afternoon through Friday 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 snowmelt, frozen ground and rainfall will
lead to runoff into rivers and streams this afternoon into
Friday. This runoff may allow for river ice to break up in
some areas, which could cause ice jams and lead to localized
flooding. In addition, a few rivers may reach minor flood
stage by Friday. Flooding of poor drainage areas is also
possible, especially where snow or ice clogs storm drains.
- 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.
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM EST
FRIDAY...
* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 55 mph
expected.
* WHERE...The Mohawk and Schoharie Valleys, eastern Catskills,
greater Capital District, Saratoga region, mid Hudson Valley and
Taconics of eastern New York, southern Vermont, northwestern
Connecticut, and western Massachusetts.
* WHEN...From 10 PM this evening to 9 AM EST Friday.
* 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, Thursday, February 17, 2022
Dale Smith named baseball coach at Fort Plain, replacing legendary coach Craig Phillips
FORT PLAIN — For the first time since 1975, there’s a new varsity baseball coach at Fort Plain. During Wednesday’s…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
Village of St. Johnsville discovers it has more than twice the number of dogs previously known
ST. JOHNSVILLE — Since taking over dog control duties from the town in June, the village of...
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Always a games guy: Shop owner provides more than business experience
https://www.leaderherald.com/
