The Hitching Post - Ravena Coeymans Historical Society

The Hitching Post
Vol. 11 No. 1
Winter 2013
The Newsletter of the Ravena Coeymans Historical Society
Chanel #5 - A Christmas Memory
By John Fuhrman
I grew up in a small, blue collar town, in upstate
New York in the 1950’s-1960’s named Ravena. Why
am I telling you this? Because it provides the setting
for my Christmas memories. Back then, every small
town had a Main Street, it may not have been named
main street but it was the strip of road running through
town that had all the local businesses.
I’m not sure how old I was (back in those days it
was safe to be walking around town at a very young
age) but I distinctly remember one Christmas when I
was walking along our main street and passing by the
plate glass windows of Davis Pharmacy. In one of
those windows, there on a stand covered
in satin, was a bottle of Chanel #5. I
wanted so badly to buy that bottle of
Chanel #5 for my mom for Christmas
but I knew it was just too expensive. But
getting her a present for Christmas was
important to me and seeing that perfume made me
anxious to buy something that day.
I walked a few blocks back to Poe’s Jewelry and
upon entering, was greeted by Mrs. Poe, a friendly old
lady (she was probably younger than me as I write
this) who found out rather quickly I was in the market
for a gift for mom. Being the only one in the shop at
the time she patiently showed me lots of gift ideas. I
finally decided that the necklace in the glass case that
had the look of diamonds would be the best gift ever.
When Mrs. Poe told me it was $3.00 I was greatly disappointed as I had only $2.00 in my pocket. It was
then that Mrs. Poe remembered that the necklace was
on sale that day for just $2.00. I often wonder whether
it was really on sale.
Davis Pharmacy
Poe’s Jewelry Store
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R A
C O E
H I S T
S O
V E N A
Y M A N S
O R I C A L
C I E T Y
P r e s i d e n t ’ s
L e t t e r
Greetings,
OFFICERS 2012-2013
As we begin this new year I wish to thank all the trustees and committees for
their continued hard work and dedication.
President ~ Ralph Biance
Vice President ~ David Ross
Secretary ~ Linda Peterman
Treasurer ~ William Meyer
A special thank you to Mary Farinelli for all the hard work on our programs. We
have some wonderful upcoming programs and I encourage our members and the
community to take the opportunity to attend these events.
TRUSTEES
Ralph Biance
Dave Ross
William Meyer
Linda Peterman
Nancy Bruno
Suzanne Celella
Paul Lawler
Joseph Boehlke
2014
2012
2013
2014
2013
2013
2014
2015
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Membership
William Meyer
Joseph Boehlke
Collections
Suzanne Celella
David Ross
Publicity
Mary Farinelli
Programs
Mary Farinelli
Fundraising
Nancy Bruno
Conservation
Suzanne Celella
Refreshments
Linda Peterman
Museum
Joseph Boehlke, Curator
Grants
Paul Lawler - Chair
Cemetery
Ralph Biance
Newsletter Committee
William Meyer
Have a fantastic and safe winter and we look forward to seeing everyone at one
of our events.
.
Ralph Biance, President
by Joe Boehlke
Research
Webpage
We are in the planning stages for the second half of 2013 and next year 2014.
Both plan to be important historical landmarks for our community.
Museum News
Historian
Mary Farinelli
Joe Boehlke
Thanks to Joe Boehlke, his museum staff and all who worked hard on another
successful open house. The Coeymans Legacy display is another wonderful addition to our museum providing all with a view of the area’s founding family and descendants..
At our open house in December we presented our new exhibit “The Coeymans Legacy.” We hope to make this a permanent exhibit which will provide area
residents a window into the founding family of the Town of Coeymans. The museum was especially grateful to Paul & Sylvia Lawler who graciously loaned us several very important historical artifacts from the Ariaantje Coeymans stone house dating back to as early as the late 17th
century. Museum staff is now
shifting resources to work on accessioning materials received during the last several months as well
as making plans for future exhibits. Several important local events
will take place over the next two
years. This year 2013 marks the
340th anniversary of the founding
of Coeymans, 2014 marks the
100th anniversary of the Incorporation of the Village of Ravena.
December Open House,: Paul Lawler, Cless & Jean Bush
We are working on plans to mark look
on as Lynn Van derzee Christie, a direct Coeymans
both of these events.
descendant, looks over the display.
Photo by J. Boehlke
MUSEUM HOURS
The Historical Society Museum is open every Thursday (except holidays) from 1pm to 3pm
or you may call for an appointment: 756-9395 or 756-6536
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There were many other shops along Main Street
Another favorite store was Forman’s, a ladies and
that are emblazoned in my memory. Bush’s Newsstand men’s clothing store where we bought all our sneakwhere we got our popsicles and candy, my favorite ers, high top Red Ball Jets. Back in those day’s mom
being a “Sugar Daddy” because it lasted so long.
and dad said to go down to Forman’s and tell Percy
you need sneakers, we will pay the bill later. And we
did.
Bush’s Newsroom
A few doors down was the Landmark Coffee Shop,
a storefront diner that kids used as a meeting place to
buy burgers and shakes. It was owned by Rose and
Wes, two older people that didn’t have much patience
for kids but were willing to put up with our nonsense
to make a living. And then there was Perry’s Barber
Shop where a lot of grown-ups hung out to talk about
football. Pictures of the Green Bay Packers were
proudly displayed on the walls. One of the things I
remember about the barber shop is that the men getting haircuts all had hair growing in their noses and
ears. I remember thinking, “I hope that when I get
older I don't have nose and ear hair,” Oh well, wishful
thinking.
Forman’s Clothing Store
A few more doors down and I found myself in
front of my favorite store, the Ravena Department
Store. It was a classic old store, creaky wood floors
and TV’s being repaired in the back of the store.
When dad would bring the TV in to be fixed they took
the back off and located the “tube” that needed replacing. I remember how cool it was to see all those tubes
lit up, they were fairly large and gave quite a glow.
But what was best about the department store was the
wooden stairs that led to the second floor. All year
long there was a chain strung across the bottom step,
preventing access, but at Christmas time the chain was
removed and you walked up to a real Toyland. The
one gift I remember buying was a Brownie Camera. It
Above: Exterior photo of the Landmark Coffee Shop and
Perry’s Barber shop. Below: Interior of the Landmark with
Rose & Wes behind the counter. Who is sitting at the
counter? If you recognize them let us know.
Ravena Department Store
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was cheap and my pictures prove it. Unlike today’s
And then there was the Laundromat, Bernasconi’s
digitals, if you took a lousy picture, most of them were Pizza, Albano’s Barber Shop and Steve’s Butcher
blurry, you had to pay for it anyway when the roll of Shop. I remember mom and dad ordering lots of diffilm was developed.
ferent roasts from Steve’s and how he carefully, and
artfully tied them each with string and wrapped them
Next door was Lou’s Diner, it was really a bar in in brown paper.
the front that allowed kids to come in for burgers and
soda’s in the back. We spent a lot of time at Lou’s after school because unlike the Landmark, the people
running the place actually liked kids.
Laundromat and Bernasconi’s Pizza
Above: Exterior of Lou’s Restaurant.
Below: Interior counter area of Lou’s Restaurant.
Today Main Street, like so many main streets in
America, is pretty much a vacant line of shops thanks
to big box stores and malls. I often wish I could be
transported back to that main street for just one day,
revisiting the sights and smells that filled me then and
are encased in my memory forever. The creaky floors,
plate glass windows, the sound of clippers, and, most
of all, the characters that ran the shops will forever be
remembered.
But most of all I remember my church, it was a
small church filled with the very nicest of people. It
sat quietly on the corner of Main Street and Mountain
Road, except for Sunday, when the chorus, made up
Congregational Christian Church
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of townspeople, raised their heavenly voices. And at
Christmas, what a sight to behold. The tree near the
altar so beautifully decorated, and decorations scattered throughout to remind all that this was the time of
our dear Saviors birth. On Christmas Eve the Candlelight Service was held at 11:00 p.m. and, despite the
late hour, the church was filled with those faithful that
wanted to share their joy with the rest of the congregations. But thinking back, I really didn’t go to those
services until I was a bit older, in my younger years I
was home wanting to go to bed early knowing Santa
would not come while I was awake. You know, “he
knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re
awake…”.
Home for us was the apartment over John’s Ravena
Inn, the local bar that mom and dad owned. It wasn’t
an apartment because we were not renters, we owned
the place so to us it was our house. Behind the bar
were a number of cabins, available to rent to those
traveling the 9W long before the New York State
especially in the winter when people didn’t want to get
out of their cars. I remember one Christmas when I
was sitting on the radiator near the bar to keep warm
when a car pulled up. After pumping the gas I came
back inside and asked dad if he was going to give me
a tip. His reply, “Sure Johnny, here’s a tip for you,
don’t bet on the horses”. I don’t know why but that
still sticks with me and I use it from time to time myself. Funny how we say the stuff our parents used to
say to us that we swore we would never say when we
got older.
The reason I am bringing this whole family bar discussion into this article is because of the Christmas joy
it brought to some. No, not the joy of downing 10 cent
beers and rum and cokes, the joy of being part of a
family when some had none. On Christmas Eve, when
my brothers, sisters and I were young my dad would
have some of the local bar patrons help him assemble
our toys in the bar after midnight. At about 3 a.m. or 4
a.m. he would invite some of the patrons, that did not
have families, to come upstairs and watch us open
gifts. Every Christmas we were awoken about 4 a.m.
and told that Santa had made his visit. We came out of
our rooms, often seeing familiar, but not-related faces
anxiously awaiting our gift unwrapping.
I hope this story encourages each and every one of
you to close your eyes for a few minutes and take your
walk down memory lane, one store front at a time.
Thruway was built but now, mostly for those who
drank too much and needed a place to crash. Out front
were two gas pumps and me and my two brothers
were often tasked with pumping gas for customers,
John Fuhrman and his wife Jill Jackson Fuhrman are
both 1970 graduates of RCS Central School and have
fond memories of growing up in Ravena. They are retired and currently live in Saint Augustine, Florida.
John is currently working on a book, “Finding God in
St. John’s County”, and Jill continues with her painting, having had several of her works displayed at the
St. Augustine Art Association. The Ravena Coeymans
Historical Society extends our thanks to John for sharing these wonderful memories of a time gone by.
“ May you look back on the past with as much
pleasure as you look forward to the future..”
- Paul Dickson
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New Acquisitions
The Historical Society continually receives new additions to our collections, this new column has been
added to provide our membership with information about recently donated items.
Partial List of Donations in 2012
The Historical Society received from Janet Wilson of Vermont, several containers of genealogy material.
This set of papers, maps, and photographs (some original, some copies) represents a lifetime of births, deaths,
occupations and accomplishments of the Lockwood family and their relatives – the Cole and Lindsey families,
some of whom lived in our area. Of particular interest is the photo of a farm in Coeymans Hollow belonging to
Zebinia Cole.
Lynn Vanderzee Christie donated several gowns and dresses to the Historical Society. They reflect the
styles of the late 1800's and early 1900’s and belonged to several members of her family. Included in the collection is an early Boy Scout uniform belonging to Donald Springstead Van derzee.
Linda Blaisdell Roosa has donated another set of her family’s mementos to the Historical Society. Copies
of the Coeymans Herald contain important articles (the Coeymans Union School on Church Street and the
Teachers’ Institute in Ravena ), both newsworthy around the turn of the century. Also included is a list of
Dutch girls’ names, a list of slave owners, financial records of the old Stone Church at Coeymans Junction
(1793-6) and other interesting items.
We always welcome and encourage donations of historical items, photographs and family records. By donating items you ensure their preservation for future generations. If you are considering donating your family’s
genealogy records or other historical items to the Society, make sure that they have a connection to the Town
of Coeymans or Village of Ravena.
RCHS Membership
General Member
$10/annually
Family
$15/annually
Supporting/individual $25/annually
Supporting/family
$50/annually
Patron
$100 & up/annually
Benefactor
$250 & up/annually
Individual Life
$100/per individual (must be 55 or above)
New memberships and contributions are welcome at any time.
You may mail them to:
Ravena Coeymans Historical Society c/o Bill Meyer
P. O. Box 324
Ravena, NY 12143
Business Sponsorship:
Business Supporter
Business Sustaining
Business Patron
Business Benefactor
Vol. 11 No. 1
$50/annually
$100 & up /annually
$250 & up /annually
$1000 & above annually
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2 0 1 3
M e m b e r
S p o n s o r s
Benefactors
Sylvia & Paul Lawler
Joe & Gail Boehlke
Harry Sturges
Bob & Ann Hallock
Patron
William Bailey & Penny Gould
James & Lucy Margiasso
Ralph & Linda Biance
Clesson & Jean Bush
Supporting Family
Tony & Cathy Ricciardi
Keith & Lynda Geraldsen
David & Starr Ross
Robert & Laraine Misuraca
Gordon & Linda Stanton
John & Anna Marie Bonafide
Harry & Lynn Van derzee Christie
Supporting Individual
Greene Country Historical Society
William R. Meyer
Peggy Matheny
Charles F. Coons
Rev. James J. Kane
Cynthia Julian
Marcia Blakesley
Winthrop M Irwin
Ron Palmer
2013 Business Benefactor
Flach Development & Realty
Village of Ravena
Town of Coeymans
Lafarge
Business Patron
State Telephone Company
Port of Coeymans
Mid-Hudson Cable
Coeymans Landing Marina
News-Herald
Babcock Funeral Home
The Bank of Greene County
Business Sustaining
National Bank of Coxsackie
Collins & Sons Inc.
Bullock Utilities
Robbie’s Cookies LLC
Silver Spoon Café
Crossroad’s Ford/Mercury
Van Etten Excavating
Business Supporter
Boomer’s Garage
John T. Biscone, Esq.
Stanton Farms
Fori’s Variety Store
Persico Oil Co
Napa Auto Parts
Persico True Value
Ravena Shop ‘n Save
Mueller’s Automotive
NOTICE
If you have not sent in your dues for 2013, please do so .This will ensure that you continue to
receive future Ravena Coeymans Historical Society newsletters.
Check out the Ravena Coeymans Historical Society Website:
http://www.coeymanshistory.org
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M a r k
y o u r
C a l e n d a r s
With deep sympathy,
we note the passing of
Coming Events 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013 - 2 PM
Civil War Remembered in Song & Story
Linda Biance
Robert Mulligan
Keith Flood
Loyal friends of the society
Sunday, March 10, 2013 - 2 PM
Coeymans Houses ~ Before & After
John Bonafide
Sunday, April 14, 2013 - 2 PM
The Capitol Fire of 1911
Stuart Lehman
Sunday, May 12, 2013 - 2 PM
Antiques & Collectibles
Robert Halley
June - Annual Picnic - date & location TBA
All Meetings are held at the
Village Hall on Mountain Road in Ravena
This summer we lost another Historic Structure when the
Henry Slingerland House in Coeymans was torn down.
Known as “Captain Hank”, Slingerland was a prominent
businessman in Coeymans in the late 1800-early 1900’s.
His dock business
was one of the largest commercial enterprises in Coeymans Landing. At
one time the home
was one of the most
ornate in the area.
The Hitching Post
Ravena Coeymans Historical Society
P. O. Box 324
Ravena, New York 12143
http://www.coeymanshistory.org
Published semi-annually by the Ravena Coeymans Historical Society
PLEASE
PLACE
STAMP
HERE