Amsterdam Day at Sacandaga Park

References for articles submitted to the Sacandaga Express come from everywhere: history books, letters, memories of those who took the time to either write them down or to relate them and clippings from newspapers. In finding an old scrapbook; many original clippings were saved by an unknown individual regarding area outings in Sacandaga Park. Newspaper clippings, although sometimes embellished , maybe a typo, or someone’s name spelled wrong here or there provide for the most part detailed accounts to help form a picture of what events took place and the overall enjoyment of the foray.

This reference will be submitted for the next two weeks.:
August 9th 1912: Merchant’s pleased over day’s outing Excursion to Sacandaga Park - Big Success -Hundreds Enjoy Attractions Afforded -Complimented railroad management upon the manner in which the crowd was handled .

Amsterdam Day at Sacandaga Park Thursday was a splendid success. Thanks to the Merchant Association and the F J and G Railroad Company. Everyone in the over 1800 participants a good time; or at least the ought have.

Anybody who didn’t enjoy themselves in the committee will he please rise in his seat. Nobody? There is one man in the far back row. Your name is what sir? Oh yes, manager of the policeman’s baseball nine.
His pleasure was dampened in the early part of the game.

The general features of the day were: First - perfect weather being neither too warm or too cold Second the admirable way in which the railroad company under direct supervision of Robert M. Colt general passenger manager, and Supt. Nellis handled the crowd; Third the smoothness of the plans of the various committees of the Merchants. Assoc. for the entertainment and sport was carried out.

The special feature of the day was eight inning baseball game between the police and the Merchants Assoc. won by the latter after an exciting verbal encounter.

As a sub special feature might be mentioned Schwartzs now famous “spatter ball” which manager and Officer Maurice Harrinigan of Harrigans Stop on West Main St (A’dam) tried to plaster and was plastered for his effort.

Sleuths Hartigan and Bergen taking up the scent decided from the spattered remains on the policeman face that a white washed orange of questionable age had been submitted for the Spaulding ball.
Jim O’Connell thought the joke was a good one and said that “White or green is a better color for an orange than it’s present tint”

The idea of Amsterdam day a day on which all of the people of the city would get together for a good time originated with the Merchants Assoc.

Several weeks ago the members entered negotiations with the railroad company and generous concessions by the company made the outing appealing. Committees were appointed and for weeks men have been giving their time and energy.

Wednesday night there was some uncertainty as to the weather outlook but the day proved ideal and the first Amsterdam Day was a success and worthy of repetition.

The railroad company more than met all it’s obligations. At no time en route was it necessary for any of the excursionists to stand as ample accommodations were afforded both coming and going to give everyone a seat. Mr. Colt and Mr. Nellis took charge of the cars in this city and just as soon as a car was filled it’s doors were closed and another one brought on. Connecting with the 9:55 train from the park were 10 electric cars to bring the crowds home to this city and again the accommodations were ample.

Most of the excursionists left the city in the morning but it wasn’t until afternoon that the sports got underway.
There was a program of six athletic events conducted by Supervisor of Playgrounds James w. Payne. The judges were Charles D Wright, City Treasurer John V Smealle and Frank J Swan The evnts were won as follows:
Sack race for boys under 15 E Carbonelli 1st; T Griffin 2nd; W griffin 3rd
Three legged race open to all: T Griffin and F Finnan 1st: W Griffin and J Mahoney 2nd
Mixed clothing race: boys under 15: E Carbonelli 1st F Casey 2nd and W Griffin 3rd
Burden Race; open to all W Landsburg 1st; R Brown 2nd E right 3rd
Race around the track: open to all: W Landsburg 1st R Brown 2nd E Wright 3rd.
After three events Jacob Mann’s Boy Scout company the Rough Riders, gave an exhibition drill and sham battle. This afforded lots of fun for the spectators and also for the youngsters who are passing a few days in the park in the enjoyment of camp life.

The ball game followed and it was filled with interesting plays and incidents. The Hospital Aid Society had charge of the refreshment booth in the park on Sport Island and large revenue was reaped in it’s source.
The dancing pavilion attracted hundreds of couples during the afternoon and evening and Minch’s orchestra gave zest and enthusiasm to the dancers. Maney’s band played during the baseball game and headed the ball players and merchants through the main streets of Gloversville that morning. Chief of Police Smith of Gloversville with ten men met the police and headed the parade.

The Rustic Theatre, bathing, burros, and numerous other pleasures afforded by park management took up the time of fun seekers, Stanton Bogaski of The Pines entertained the members of the band and the two baseball nines at dinner.

It is estimated at present that each of the local hospitals Amsterdam and St Mary’s will receive $200.00 though the exact amount is not given at the time. The amount may be considerably over this sum.
The committee consisted of the following: Entertainment Frank J Swan:, John V Smealle, Carl Mark, Charles D Wright, and Fred Ascoff. Advertising: C.A W Platt E O Bartlett, Fred Harrington, George W Goetz Tickets: Issac Mark, PJ Donnelly, John Guiffre, George Smith and NB Smith
Result of the Ball Game

It looked as though Manager Harrigans team would walk away with the ball game against the merchants. The coppers had the game safely sewn up until the fifth inning. With two men out an easy ball was hit to Harry Jeffs in the pitchers box. He threw low to Taberski at first and the runner continued to second. Four runs came in after this.

Jeffs pitched a fine ball although not quite as steady as when he performed against the mail clerks. However he did well enough to win and would surely have done this had not a total of fourteen errors been chalked up behind him.

It was the same old story. The coppers fell down in pinches. In the eighth inning after a double play had been made by them, with a man on third, a bounder was sent down to Maroney at second. He ”booted” the ball and it rolled to Schoeffler at short. He would have got the man at first had he not thrown over Taberskis head and the merchants scored the winning run.

Schoeffler played a great game at short and it was regretted he made two bad throws. It must be taken into consideration that there are no expert throwers on the coppers team and it is mainly due to this reason: Harrigans men have lost the to games they played they have played this season.

Shoeffler made up for his misplays at the bat and if some of the team members did as well their errors may have been overlooked. Tommy Humler at third was an tire form for the coppers. He nt only swatted the ball hard, but he fielded in good shape. Some of his throws to first being in Gilt edged order.

Davis caught a good game behind the bat and McConnell gobbled up everything that came his way in left field. It was a case of too much confidence and hard luck combined which made the loss for the copper.
A Young man named Van Arnam was the great white hope who save the bacon of the merchants. He went in center field in place of Gregar who wanted to retire early in the game.

Manager Harrigan entered a strenuous objection against Van Arnums playing. There was much haggling where “mouthy” players on both sides took part. And it looked at one time the game would end right there.
The merchants would not play unless Van Arnam went out and Manager Harrigan said that he would retire from the contest and let it be finished with 8 men on each side. Finally it was all settled and the chewing went for naught. Van Arnam went out in field position. Circumstances proved Officer Harrigan right in kicking on Van Arnam; for he brought about the downfall of the coppers.

After two men retired in the 7th inning and with the policemen still one run to the good, Boswell hit safe to center. He managed to get to third base after stealing second and when Davis dropped a pitched ball. Van Arnum swatted a single between third and short and brought the tying run in and the only one made by the merchants that inning.

Schwartzman a trifle unsteady in the box for the merchants and he was hit hard. Thirteen safe drives were made of his delivery three more than the merchants garnered off Jeffs. He was abley supported at the bat by “Doc”Hall .

Willie Sheridan did not play his usual brilliant game at second allowing two roller to get away from him. Johnson at short and Bebb at third featured for the merchants, while John Best was a tower of strength at first base. It was the infield that played at the major portion of the game for the merchants. The umpire wore a large size constable badge pinned on the left suspender, was pressed into service at the very last moment. Of course it must be presumed his “umphs’ acted according to his very best judgment but that was very bad.
Some of his decision bordered on extremely humorous, the coppers getting son\me of the worst of the deal. It is all over anyway and it is the second time this season the merchants defeated the copper. Which makes the players on the former team real jubilant.

by Lorraine Decker

The Adirondack Chair and other Woodenware

History Articles written originally for the Sacandaga Express - by Lorraine Decker

Although timber was the main industry in the early history of Sacandaga Valley, the valley was also home to businesses that utilized it’s native lumber to built many things.

Most of the woodenware and other factories started as sawmills and later evolved into the production of household and everyday items. The following were all located in the town of Edinburg.


Batchellerville was a hub for many of these factories and in the settlement and nearby areas items produced were: rocking chairs, brooms ,rakes, bowls clothespins, brushes, washboards and even caskets. The peak of prosperity in Batchellerville was experienced between 1850 and 1880. Population at the time was 350.


Charles M. Sumner in Beechers Hollow across the river from Batchellerville made an excellent quality rake which was sold nationwide an exported to Canada. In 1888 Sumner received a large order of 12,000 rakes from a New York export house to be sent to Germany Austria and Belgium. By 1889 the business had been increased so much it was necessary to run both day and night.

Before 1828 Eli Beecher built a sawmill and dam on Beecher creek where the current Copeland Covered Bridge stands today. In a deed dated 1828 Beecher conveyed to Leonard and Arad Copeland land on which a carriage factory was built.


The brothers possessed several skills including wheel wright, and metal work,. They also made cabinets, furniture, and coffins. Much of their business was done by barter according to old record books. After Arad died in 1884 his son in law inventor John W Latcher took over the carriage factory for his shop. This building still stands today.


Peleg Tennant built a water powered saw mill in the settlement known as Tennantville. His settlement flourished because of it. Tennant would cart his lumber in horse drawn wagons to Fish House where he would be met by teams from Amsterdam who would distribute it throughout the area. Soon he added a shop for the manufacture of grain measures, butter bowls, chopping bowls, and other household items.



Just prior to 1880 the water power mill burned and Tennants son, Sherman, built a steam powered mill and created a clothespin factory where thirty men were employed year around.

Necessity is the mother of invention, so the adage goes, and in lumber and hunting camps the use of branches, twigs, and birch bark was pressed into use to create the rustic furniture of those early days. Side tables would be made with tops of birch bark. Some were painted, or covered in leather or canvas or simply left as they were. Chairs would also be constructed of branches with the bark left unpeeled . These primitive treasures are still very highly sought after.

In Essex County Approx two hours north of the Sacandaga area in 1903 the precursor to today's Adirondack chair was designed by Thomas Lee. Lee was on vacation in Westport, NY in the Adirondack Mountains and needed outdoor chairs for his summer home. He tested the first designs on his family.


The original Adirondack chair was made with eleven pieces of wood, cut from a single board. It had a straight back and seat, which were set at a slant to sit better on the steep mountain inclines of the area. It also featured wide armrests, which became a hallmark of the Adirondack chair.


Today's Adirondack chairs usually feature a rounded back and contoured seat. The style, After arriving at a final design for the "Westport plank chair," Lee offered it to Harry Bunnell, a carpenter friend in Westport, who was in need of a winter income.


Bunnell quickly realized the chair was the perfect item to sell to Westport's summer residents, and apparently without asking Lee's permission, Bunnell filed for and received patent in 1905.Bunnell manufactured his plank chairs for the next twenty years. His "Westport Chairs" were all signed and made of hemlock in green or medium dark brown. The modern name refers to the Adirondack Mountains, which Westport is near.


Adirondack chairs are becoming popular as outdoor seating at cafes because the flat armrests are suitable for setting food and beverages on, making it possible to provide individual seating without tables.
Writers Note : The Adirondack chair has come to Northville to take it’s place among other notable celebrations such as the Moosefest painted moose in Bennington VT and the painted Thoroughbreds on Broadway in Saratoga.


Fourteen chairs painted by the local artists , sponsored by the Northville United Presbyterian Chruch, are up for silent auction until labor day week end and can be seen at the Northville businesses, local area restaurants’ and the visitors center at Vail Mills.


Each one of these hand painted chairs were cut out individually; no kits were used in their construction. The silent auction ended Sept. 6 th 2009 but the photos of the chairs are still able to be seen on the visitsacandaga.com website. This event will happen again next year.

by Lorraine . Decker

The Adirondack Inn expands - History Articles written originally for the Sacandaga Express - by Lorraine Decker

In a clipping found from November 1899 considerable changes were made to the Adirondack Inn. Information follows:

The Management of the FJ &G RR has decided to spend several thousand dollars in making further improvements at Sacandaga Park and contracts have been awarded for alterations and additions to the hotel which when completed will make a modern structure with all the comforts and conveniences of an up-to date summer resort building.

The changes are necessitated by the increasing popularity of the park and the need for more accommodations for people desiring to remain at the resort.

On several occasions last year the resort was crowded to overflowing and the new arrangements will give the hotel numerous additional bed rooms and also a very large dining room.

The changes provide for a large bar,40 x 20, in the southeast corner of the basement, with an outside entrance on the corner.
Large lavatories will also be constructed in the back of the bar; also a barber shop and adjoining billiard room. These will be located in the south west end of the building under the present dining room.

The latter room will be large enough for three billiard tables and a large spacious stairway will lead to the floors above it. An areaway is to be constructed under the present porch which will give a sub- piazza 100 feet long and 10 feet wide.
All the rooms will be finished in North Carolina pine and the whole south side will be practically cut for out for windows to give plenty of light in the basement.

The present dining room, which will accommodate about 100 people, will be enlarged to accommodate over 200 people by taking in the rooms where the barbershop and kitchen are now located and also by building an extension on the northwest comer of about 20 x 30 feet. Those changes would then give the hotel a dining room of about 44 x 66 feet. A Georgia pine floor will be placed in the room which will also be used for a ballroom for the regular weekly hops.

The dining room will be divided in the center by draperies so that the permanent boarders will not be interfered with by the excursionists; and the latter also receive better service.
A large extension will be made ion the west end of the building in the rear of the dining room with dimensions of 34 x 38 feet one story high which will be utilized for kitchen pantry pastry kitchen storeroom and servants dining room. The current bar room will be converted into bedrooms or card rooms.

A large two story piazza 20 x 40 is to be added to the present piazza on the north end, which access is only afforded from the hotel. All other approaches to the hotel are to be removed except the main one in the front.

The large piazza will be added not only for the pleasure of the guests , but enable the bands to give their regular concerts in unpleasant weather. The stairway leading from the office to the bar and billiard rooms will be located at the right hand of the entrance to the present reading room.

Two large French doors will be placed in the present parlor to enable guests to go onto the piazza without passing through the office.

By utilizing all the space on the second third and forth floors about twelve additional bedrooms will be secured. Three modern private bathrooms will also be connected with some of the most desirable rooms in the hotel. The stairway leading from the third to the fourth floor will be changed to a square stairway, similar to that leading from the office to the second and third floors.
There will also be additional windows throughout and much additional closet space.

The floors in the basement will also be deadened so that there is no objectionable noise.
Each room of the hotel will be provided with rope fire escapes and there will be a standpipe with a coil of hose for fire fighting purposes on each floor of the hotel. Water will be obtainable on each floor.

A small building will be constructed at the rear of the hotel for use as laundry, this being done to remove the great danger from fire, and removal of the kitchen from the main building will make several of the rooms much more desirable.

A modern bowing alley will be constructed in the rear of the building for the use of guests, cottagers, and visitors to the park. The contract for the work being done has been awarded to PM Simmons of Johnstown for $5000.00 and the plumbing work and other matters will bring the total mount expended to about $6000.00
The plans for alterations to the hotel and new buildings were prepared by Architect FL Comstock of Gloversville. Columnists note: Removal of the kitchen and laundry would reduce the possibly of fires in regard to wood stoves being used to heat water for washing clothing and heating irons for the pressing of shirts etc.

by Lorraine Decker  

Accidents In the Sacandaga Valley

With the up coming Labor Day weekend almost upon us; and the traffic and accidents that sometime occur. people in the Sacandaga Valley also encountered problems in the transportation.
Most everything was published in the newspaper regarding these accidents and mishaps as they still are today.

Like our cars today the wagons and carriages required maintenance and back then there was the added costs of vet bills, feed, and shoes for horses and oxen. Not to mention the animals having a mind of their own when it came to what might startle them or stop them in their tracks. Along with dealing with drivers that think they are the only people on the road.

The roads in all seasons presented perils of mud, snow and ice. There were some plank roads in the area but for the most part they were dirt.

Below are a few of the noted Edinburg accidents published in the newspaper suffered in those early times:

February 22nd 1885 A man passed through this place about a week ago driving, or rather riding a team of horses drawing a pair of bobbies ‘stacked’. He was riding thereon in a state of whiscoma to his surroundings, when at a point between here and Fish House Mrs. J.W. Allen and her daughter Jesse drove to the right side of the road in an endeavor to pass him, when a long bolster of his bobbies came in collision of the front wheel of their buggy, completely smashing it. They were compelled to get home the best way they could.

August 17th 1886 While I. T. Vaughn was driving his horse to visit the Northville Park to witness the athletic sports of the Kent picnic on the 14th, he was run against by an ox team and a heavy lumber wagon driven by one Bill Crowter, near the residence of John Schribner, and was thrown to the ground fracturing severe injuries besides. His carriage was badly smashed.

October 26th 1886 David A. Torreys team ran down the hill from near J.W. Latchers machine shop at a furious speed and turned in at the large open gate at the residence of Mr. Latcher demolishing six feet of new picket fencing where the team stopped. Mr. Torrey jumped from the wagon to save himself near Kennicutts Hotel and escaped without injury.

April 15th 1890 Sherman and W. R. Edwards team became frightened in the woods near Priest Farm, they ran in the direction of Barkers Mill leaving the wagon in fragments along the highway. The horses then overtook Mr. and Mrs. Henry Simpson who were riding in a buggy where they became entangled and stopped; very seriously injuring the Simpsons.

July 4th 1890 Mrs. Nellie Olmstead was somewhat shaken up by a running of her horse at the Northville Baseball ground and caused a general stampede of the crowd and frightened Wesley Woods horse so that it ran away capsizing and breaking the vehicle and very seriously injured both Mr. and Mrs. Wood.


Although a name could not be found in references the following is a related story:

There was a horse in a two team carriage owned by a man who would arrive at the Northville train station to carry passengers into the village.

As a rule, this man loaded the carriage with the passengers belongings then would climb up into the drivers seat to take the reins to wait for the passenger to enter the carriage.

As the passenger seated themselves inside, they would slam the door of the carriage which sent a signal to the horse; which would then take right off anxious to be on it’s way.
However one day the driver was on the ground when a passenger entered the carriage and slammed the door and the team took off. There were no details as to what the outcome of that was.
Submitted by Rodena Bosch:

Wesley and Polly Wood were my maternal great, great, grandparents. In checking my genealogy to see if they suffered seriously from this 4th of July accident; Wesley was 53 at the time and lived 11 years more and Polly, 52, lived to be 88.



by Lorraine . Decker