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His father wanted to name the baby Alexander, after a Polish prince. Paula’s name, for example, was in reality Pelagia Julianna, the name of a Polish princess. However, his mother prevailed and the baby was named Henry, after the American industrialist Henry Ford. The family always called him Harry and he legally changed his name to Harry when he came of age.
The Historians Podcast Go Fund Me for 2023. This Sunday more on Amsterdam’s Wilson family and later this month Episode 467-Charles Morgan Evans is author of Helicopter Heroine--Valerie Andre, Surgeon, Rescue Pilot and Her Courage Under Fire. The Historians Podcast, organized by Bob Cudmore or U.S. Mail Bob Cudmore 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302 Bob Cudmore and The Historians on Radio and The Internet (to be honest, radio is more fun)
Sikora family memories
By Bob Cudmore
Descendants of Albert and Katie Sikora have preserved fascinating accounts of daily life during the 1920s and 1930s in Amsterdam. The family lived on Clark Avenue and in 1931 Albert Sikora is described as a spinner at Mohawk Carpet Mills.
One of Albert and Katie’s daughters, Paula, wrote down her memories of the birth of her youngest brother Harry in 1928. The pregnancy was not discussed with the six other children and at the time of the birth, a “birthing lady” attended their mother.
At first shooed out of the house into the rain by their father, the children eventually were brought inside and told to get sheets for the birthing lady to use.
“(Sister) Kay and I ran to the house and started pulling the sheets off the bed,” Paula wrote. “We tried to give them to the birthing lady but she hollered at us--she wanted unused sheets. Then all of a sudden we were allowed to go to Mom’s room and she introduced us to our new little fat wrinkled baby brother. I had a new doll to play with! He was so cute. Mom was back. All was well again.”
His father wanted to name the baby Alexander, after a Polish prince. Paula’s name, for example, was in reality Pelagia Julianna, the name of a Polish princess. However, his mother prevailed and the baby was named Henry, after the American industrialist Henry Ford. The family always called him Harry and he legally changed his name to Harry when he came of age.
Harry Sikora died March 28 this year at age 79 in Florida. His wife Joan plus three children and their spouses survive along with grandchildren.
Harry Sikora served in the U.S. Army, went to Union College and Syracuse University and became an industrial engineer at IBM, retiring in 1985. His later years were spent at a farm in Bradford, Pennsylvania and a winter home in Clearwater, Florida.
“Was four years old when I started school in the first grade,” Harry wrote of his childhood in Amsterdam. “Mom lied about my age to get me into school early. Believe she had enough of children by the time I arrived.”
The grade school was about seven blocks from their Clark Avenue home and his mother told him to follow the other children to get to school.
His sister Paula married in 1937 but Harry did not want to attend the wedding because he had a perfect school attendance record for six years.
Paula recalled the days when the family had no radio. Eventually, a windup Victrola came their way.
Their father built them a new home on Clarke Avenue and an upstairs flat was rented.
“Our renter had a radio—wow,” Paula wrote. “On Saturday night, there was a program, Fibber McGee and Molly at 8:00 p.m. She would turn it on loud and we kids sat on the hall steps and listened to the half hour program. What a treat!”
As far as Harry was concerned, there always was radio in the house, but not enough.
“Mom would turn the radio off when sleep time approached, usually in the middle of a very interesting program,” he wrote. “No mercy from her here.
“Heat came from a wood/coal stove, which heated the kitchen and living room area. Bedrooms were cold during the winter and hot during the summer. Coal bin was located in the basement. Had to be carried upstairs and ashes emptied daily. Burned tons of coal every year.
“We had two sour cherry trees. One year, dad made cherry wine in the basement. When he wasn't looking, I tasted some of it.”
Wednesday, March 15, 2023-Episode 399 Stephen Riegel is author of Finding Judge Crater: A Life and Phenomenal Disappearance in Jazz Age NY.
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Presumed dead
Friday, March 17, 2023-Episode 466-Kate Fagan is author of HOOP MUSES-An Insider’s Guide to Pop Culture and the (Women’s) Game an Adventure through Basketball History. Fagan is a native of Schenectady. She writes for Sports Illustrated.
Mohawk Valley Weather, Tuesday, March 14, 2023
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT
WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy, wet snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 8
to 16 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 to 45 mph.
* WHERE...The Greater Capital District, Mohawk Valley, and
portions of the Upper Hudson Valley in eastern New York
including the Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs areas.
* WHEN...Through 8 AM EDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Travel will be very difficult to impossible, including
the this morning and evening commutes. The weight of the snow on
tree branches will result in power outages. Snowfall rates will
exceed one inch per hour at times, especially this morning with
locally higher rates possible depending on where the heaviest
snow bands develop. Strong winds will also result in very low
visibility, especially today into tonight.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Very heavy snow expected this morning. This
will be a long duration and high-impact snow event.
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 Headlines, Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Daily Gazette
Paper-Paper, On-line and e-edition
When Credibility Matters
Waite: Fort Johnson election will be remembered even when most residents forget to vote
To get on the ballot for next week’s election in the village of Fort Johnson, candidates needed only one signature…
FMCC basketball teams ready for national tournament
JOHNSTOWN — It’s been a season unlike any other for the Fulton-Montgomery Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams. Both…
https://dailygazette.com/
RecorderNews
AMSTERDAM — Amanda Bearcroft is departing as director of community and economic development for...
SUNY Chancellor extols nursing simulation bill during FMCC visit
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald Make Us A Part Of Your Day
https://www.leaderherald.com/
View all episodes
By Bob CudmoreHis father wanted to name the baby Alexander, after a Polish prince. Paula’s name, for example, was in reality Pelagia Julianna, the name of a Polish princess. However, his mother prevailed and the baby was named Henry, after the American industrialist Henry Ford. The family always called him Harry and he legally changed his name to Harry when he came of age.
The Historians Podcast Go Fund Me for 2023. This Sunday more on Amsterdam’s Wilson family and later this month Episode 467-Charles Morgan Evans is author of Helicopter Heroine--Valerie Andre, Surgeon, Rescue Pilot and Her Courage Under Fire. The Historians Podcast, organized by Bob Cudmore or U.S. Mail Bob Cudmore 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302 Bob Cudmore and The Historians on Radio and The Internet (to be honest, radio is more fun)
Sikora family memories
By Bob Cudmore
Descendants of Albert and Katie Sikora have preserved fascinating accounts of daily life during the 1920s and 1930s in Amsterdam. The family lived on Clark Avenue and in 1931 Albert Sikora is described as a spinner at Mohawk Carpet Mills.
One of Albert and Katie’s daughters, Paula, wrote down her memories of the birth of her youngest brother Harry in 1928. The pregnancy was not discussed with the six other children and at the time of the birth, a “birthing lady” attended their mother.
At first shooed out of the house into the rain by their father, the children eventually were brought inside and told to get sheets for the birthing lady to use.
“(Sister) Kay and I ran to the house and started pulling the sheets off the bed,” Paula wrote. “We tried to give them to the birthing lady but she hollered at us--she wanted unused sheets. Then all of a sudden we were allowed to go to Mom’s room and she introduced us to our new little fat wrinkled baby brother. I had a new doll to play with! He was so cute. Mom was back. All was well again.”
His father wanted to name the baby Alexander, after a Polish prince. Paula’s name, for example, was in reality Pelagia Julianna, the name of a Polish princess. However, his mother prevailed and the baby was named Henry, after the American industrialist Henry Ford. The family always called him Harry and he legally changed his name to Harry when he came of age.
Harry Sikora died March 28 this year at age 79 in Florida. His wife Joan plus three children and their spouses survive along with grandchildren.
Harry Sikora served in the U.S. Army, went to Union College and Syracuse University and became an industrial engineer at IBM, retiring in 1985. His later years were spent at a farm in Bradford, Pennsylvania and a winter home in Clearwater, Florida.
“Was four years old when I started school in the first grade,” Harry wrote of his childhood in Amsterdam. “Mom lied about my age to get me into school early. Believe she had enough of children by the time I arrived.”
The grade school was about seven blocks from their Clark Avenue home and his mother told him to follow the other children to get to school.
His sister Paula married in 1937 but Harry did not want to attend the wedding because he had a perfect school attendance record for six years.
Paula recalled the days when the family had no radio. Eventually, a windup Victrola came their way.
Their father built them a new home on Clarke Avenue and an upstairs flat was rented.
“Our renter had a radio—wow,” Paula wrote. “On Saturday night, there was a program, Fibber McGee and Molly at 8:00 p.m. She would turn it on loud and we kids sat on the hall steps and listened to the half hour program. What a treat!”
As far as Harry was concerned, there always was radio in the house, but not enough.
“Mom would turn the radio off when sleep time approached, usually in the middle of a very interesting program,” he wrote. “No mercy from her here.
“Heat came from a wood/coal stove, which heated the kitchen and living room area. Bedrooms were cold during the winter and hot during the summer. Coal bin was located in the basement. Had to be carried upstairs and ashes emptied daily. Burned tons of coal every year.
“We had two sour cherry trees. One year, dad made cherry wine in the basement. When he wasn't looking, I tasted some of it.”
Wednesday, March 15, 2023-Episode 399 Stephen Riegel is author of Finding Judge Crater: A Life and Phenomenal Disappearance in Jazz Age NY.
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Presumed dead
Friday, March 17, 2023-Episode 466-Kate Fagan is author of HOOP MUSES-An Insider’s Guide to Pop Culture and the (Women’s) Game an Adventure through Basketball History. Fagan is a native of Schenectady. She writes for Sports Illustrated.
Mohawk Valley Weather, Tuesday, March 14, 2023
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT
WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy, wet snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 8
to 16 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 to 45 mph.
* WHERE...The Greater Capital District, Mohawk Valley, and
portions of the Upper Hudson Valley in eastern New York
including the Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs areas.
* WHEN...Through 8 AM EDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Travel will be very difficult to impossible, including
the this morning and evening commutes. The weight of the snow on
tree branches will result in power outages. Snowfall rates will
exceed one inch per hour at times, especially this morning with
locally higher rates possible depending on where the heaviest
snow bands develop. Strong winds will also result in very low
visibility, especially today into tonight.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Very heavy snow expected this morning. This
will be a long duration and high-impact snow event.
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 Headlines, Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Daily Gazette
Paper-Paper, On-line and e-edition
When Credibility Matters
Waite: Fort Johnson election will be remembered even when most residents forget to vote
To get on the ballot for next week’s election in the village of Fort Johnson, candidates needed only one signature…
FMCC basketball teams ready for national tournament
JOHNSTOWN — It’s been a season unlike any other for the Fulton-Montgomery Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams. Both…
https://dailygazette.com/
RecorderNews
AMSTERDAM — Amanda Bearcroft is departing as director of community and economic development for...
SUNY Chancellor extols nursing simulation bill during FMCC visit
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald Make Us A Part Of Your Day
https://www.leaderherald.com/