Amsterdam woman influenced city culture

By Bob Cudmore

   Mercy Annie Allen Trapnell was an educator and organizer in nineteenth and early twentieth century Amsterdam.

   Born in 1832 at Blue Corners, a West Charlton hamlet, Annie’s family moved to Church Street in Amsterdam when she was young.  She was educated at Amsterdam Academy on lower Market Street.

   She described the Academy as a “large, ancient white structure, with its fine broad piazza extending across the entire building.”

   She taught school in Watertown.  In 1868 she was among the first to teach at the Normal School in Potsdam, today a college of the State University. 

   Returning home she taught at Amsterdam Academy and a Grove Street fine arts school.

   Reverend William Trapnell, rector of St, Ann’s Episcopal Church, courted Annie many years.  In 1872 Reverend Trapnell left Amsterdam for a parish in Maryland and Annie and he finally married.  She was forty, he was sixty.  He died four months later.

   Returning to Amsterdam after a European tour, Trapnell lived at the Allen family home on Church Street.  When not traveling, she spent her days supporting community activities in the growing mill town.

   In 1895 Trapnell was teaching a course in Shakespeare to 25 women. Each woman invited three friends to join what became the Century Club, as the original goal was to have 100 members.  The Century Club in later years built a club house on Guy Park Avenue and is active to this day.

   A club history stated that the founders wanted to share their love for “books and study in a day when women had not yet been received into full intellectual equality with men.” 

   In 1899 Trapnell attracted attention when she spoke at a club meeting in favor of having schools offer girls education in home economics.  Trapnell said such a program would solve the problem of finding domestic help.  Plus, she said, by having girls learn housekeeping as an educational subject, women would no longer regard housework as drudgery.

   In a paper presented to the Century Club Trapnell lamented the loss of trees as Amsterdam became more industrialized. 

   She wrote, “One alderman in answer to an entreaty to spare the trees said, ‘New York City does not have trees.  There are no trees on Broadway.’  What noble trees were sacrificed by those pitiless vandals!”

   One tree remembered by early twentieth century writers was an old pine that stood near St. Mary’s Church on East Main Street,

   Trapnell wrote the “scraggly, irregular” tree was a “trysting place,” marking the goal of lovers’ walks, “And what tales that old tree could have told! 

   “Market Street was handsome then.  Fine trees overshadowed the sidewalks and fronts of the houses.”

   Trapnell was among the founders of Amsterdam Free Library. A charter member and secretary of the library board, she was there when the building opened on Church Street.

   A portrait of Trapnell, painted by Amsterdam artist Mary Van der Veer for the library, was later given to the Century Club.  Some years ago the portrait was stolen.

   Trapnell’s views on education were quoted in the newspapers and her death was front page news.

   In 1908 while on a trip to Hampton, Virginia, Trapnell became ill.  Several friends traveled there and were with Annie when she died November 9.

   Her body arrived by train in Amsterdam and mourners thronged St. Ann’s Church for the funeral.  One floral bouquet included 250 white roses, one for each member of the Century Club.  She was buried at Green Hill Cemetery.

   Trapnell left a $12,000 estate (worth about $400,000 today) including bequests to St. Ann’s, Amsterdam Free Library and the Children’s Home, a local orphanage.

Episode 497

Several topics from Bob Cudmore’s Focus on History newspaper column: Amsterdam NY’s connection to Piscotta, Italy; carpet mill tales; union Leader Leonora Barry.  Plus an interview with Phillip Malcolm Bowler about his ancestors’ brewery in Amsterdam.

Bob Cudmore and David Fisk "Talk Baseball" Scroll Down

Historian and retired librarian David Fiske questions the persistent claim that Ballston Spa native and Civil War general Abner Doubleday invented the game of baseball in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Saratoga County Stories Authors

Dave Fiske, one of our Saratoga County Stories authors

passed away on October 28, 2023 after a valiant fight with cancer.  We remember Dave 

as a dedicated historian with a special focus on the life of Solomon Northup. He has

written several articles in our weekly series. Two months ago he sent me an article on

"Obstinate Betty Jones" which we will publish posthumously  on  November 22, 2023

A celebration of his life

is being planned.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/timesunion-albany/name/david-fiske-obituary?id=53504185

Go Fund Me/November 5, 2023. Update-$2270.00 in need by December 31, 2023

U.S. Mail Bob Cudmore to 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302. 

on-line: The Historians Podcast, organized by Bob Cudmore 

Bob Cudmore and David Fisk talk Baseball

Friday, October 11, 2019-Episode 287-Historian and retired librarian David Fiske questions the persistent claim that Ballston Spa native and Civil War general Abner Doubleday invented the game of baseball in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Mohawk Valley Weekend Weather, Sunday, November 5, 2023

46 degrees in The City of Amsterdam at 4:40AM 

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers is excited to announce the launch of a brand-new website that encompasses our three daily newspapers as well as our newly-acquired arts and lifestyle site.

Each of the four publications still has a separate and distinct home on the website, but they all reside under The Daily Gazette umbrella, and we’ve ensured that they’ve retained their individual identity and scope of coverage.