Those Places Thursday - Bath, New York

While researching the George Hardenbrook line I took a virtual visit to Bath, New York where Richard Hardenbrook settled and raised his family.  Richard was born 26 May 1809; died 6 April 1882. Richard married Catherine Smith of Queen Anne County, Maryland.  They had five children: Edward (1833); George (1837); Emory (1838); Elizabeth (1839), and Clinton (1847).

Bath is located in Steuben County in New York’s beautiful Southern Tier.  The town sits just south of Keuka Lake’s fertile hillsides that now hosts a number of Finger Lakes wineries.

Bath history states that Colonel Charles Williamson, a land agent for the Pulteney Estate arrived in the area of Steuben County in 1792 then populated by wild animals and a few Seneca Indians.  Controversy surrounds the origin of the town’s name. Some historians say it was because of the similar geography to Bath, England; others say the town was named for Lady Bath, the heiress of Sir William Pulteney of London.  The town was formed on March 18, 1796; the village incorporated on April 12, 1816.

Richard Hardenbrook moved his family from Ovid, NY to Bath where he did some farming and then served as superintendent of the Whiting and McCass Foundry before becoming proprietor of Steuben Furnace Company. 

Wedding Wednesday - Nunn-Maki Nuptials, September 7, 1968

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Maki
September 7, 1968

It is a happy coincidence that our 43^rd wedding anniversary falls on the day of the Wedding Wednesday prompt.  Our wedding took place at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Ithaca, NY.  

The ceremony was followed by a reception at our family restaurant, Taughannock Farms Inn.  The cake was made with love by the restaurant’s baker, Dottie Wright, and the waitresses helped keep wedding guests well fed and happy.

This was just like our car, except ours was a four door

We felt quite special as we drove off to our honeymoon in Old Forge, NY in our new 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass.  Following two days in the Adirondacks we headed to Lyons, Illinois and our apartment in the lower level of a family home so my husband could commute to his job at Libby Foods in Chicago.

Although much has changed in those forty-three years, one thing has not and that is our love and devotion to each other.  

Those Places Thursday - Niagara Falls, NY

My uncle Bus’s first job, after his one-year stint with the Boston Shamrocks, was as a tour guide at the Niagara Power Plant. It was through his employment there that he met his future bride, Barbara Hamann. Bus and Barbara were married on 29 May 1941 at 4:30 p.m. in the Reception Room of the Niagara University Faculty House. Their attendants were Katherine Louise Hamann and Edward F. Nunn. A reception immediately followed at the home of the bride’s parents in Lewiston Heights, NY.

Bus then went to work for DuPont in Niagara Falls, most probably due to his father-in-law’s position as Chief Engineer with DuPont.  And so the story of Bus’s career begins. 

Sports Center Saturday - Harold Nunn and the Boston Shamrocks

As comfortable on the ski slope as the football field
Harold "Bus" Nunn

I was contacted through my blog for information on my father’s brother, Harold “Bus” Nunn.  The person requesting the information manages a website www.oldestlivingprofootball.com that lists 1,000 living pro football players. The site also provides birth and death dates for over 5,700 deceased players.  The request was for the birth and death date of my Uncle Harold “Bus” Nunn.

Bus played football for Cornell University in the early 1930s.  On November 3, 1935, the New York Times headline read: “Cornell in Draw with Columbia, 7-7. Long pass to Nunn in Final Quarter and Stofer’s Kick Gain the Deadlock.”

Upon graduation, in 1936, Bus played pro football for the AFL team the Boston Shamrocks. His son tells me that players were paid $800 per game, but only if they played; those on the injury list or otherwise sidelined received no pay.

This inquiry prompted me to think about Bus. I wanted to know more about his life, and with the help of his son, I have sketched out Bus’s professional career, which includes his involvement with the Manhattan Project through his employment with DuPont. But that is a story for another day. 

Funeral Card Friday - Angie May Starr

Angie May Starr resides in my hubby’s family line; consequently Angie’s funeral card was in his mother’s possession.  Information on Angie’s life is sketchy and my husband would love to have more information.  We do know that Angie was the third child of John and Harriett McDaniels Harker. She had a brother Fred and a sister Ella Maude.  She married William Miller and in 1902 had a daughter Harriett.  In 1900 William Miller taught school in Newfield, New York.  Angie then married Edwin Wallace Starr on 20 October 1914; it was his third marriage.  Edwin was 65 years old when he married Angie; she was twenty-six years younger. 

Wordless Wednesday - 1940 Spencer, New York Co-Op

Spencer Co-Op 1940

Back Row:  Ed Plykas, John Neimi, Elmer Maki, Arne Louko, Bill Koski

Middle Row:  ___, Ensio Koski, Kauppinen, Frank Kippola, Hans Maunula, Arne Aho, ___, Wayne Alve, Reino Hannula, Ray Maata

Front Row: John Maata, Lydia Maata, Ida Walding, Carl Walding

The Spencer Co-Op served its members by bulk purchasing feed, fertilizer, gasoline and fuel oil. On premises was a grain mill. Later the co-op offered limited clothing and grocery options.  

Joseph Charles Nunn

One of my grandfather’s brothers was Joseph Charles Nunn. Joseph was born 23 August 1895 in Manhattan, New York. On June 12, 1900, just short of his 5^th birthday, officials from the Department of Public Charities Outdoor Poor placed him along with his other siblings in St. Joseph’s Home in Peekskill, NY where payment for his care was $2.00 per week. His physical condition was “good,” though he had “something” on the back of his head. His mental condition was “good.”  Joseph was discharged on August 25, 1910 and placed with Mr. C. Finnerty of Peekskill, NY.

 Joseph Charles Nunn’s Draft card (1917) states he is 21 years, living at Gallows Hill, RD #2 Peekskill, NY. He was a farm hand at Gallows Hill in Cortlandt. He reported poor eyesight.  In 1920 Joseph worked for Theodore Shaw, manager of a private estate. Joseph worked as a laborer on this dairy farm in Philipstown, Putnam County, New York.  By 1930, Joseph was a farm laborer on a farm on Logans Hill Road, Harding, Town of Morris, New Jersey.  I have had no luck tracing Joseph any further.  I am not sure if he stayed in New Jersey or returned to work on farms in New York.  I would love to hear from anyone having further information on Joseph Charles Nunn.