A couple weeks ago, Jan Franz van Hedgehog-Orange-Ekaert invited me to visit him at his home, Stoddard Corner bookshop in Hudson. I love books (you can read about my visit to the Hudson Children’s Book Festival here and here), and Jan Franz told me they had lots of interesting historical books and documents, so I decided to check it out. Here I am with my hosts, Jan Franz the hedgehog and Peter Pherson, the shop’s proprietor (owner).

I had a lot of fun exploring the shelves. There were little books, that were my size…

…and big books that I might need some help reading!

There were familiar books (many of the books in this photo were published by the Columbia County Historical Society) about local history.

Stoddard Corner carries many old books and manuscripts (a book or document written by hand, not printed— that means there is usually one one of them! For example, diaries, letters, and even hand-written pieces of music are manuscripts). As you can see by the top book in the photo below, I got to see some autograph books. In the 1800s and early 1900s, people kept autograph books, and would have friends sign the pages (kind of like we do with school yearbooks now). Maybe I should get myself an autograph book and collect signatures from all the great history loving people I meet!

There were diaries in the shop, including several that were kept by farmers. It was not uncommon for farmers to keep a daily log, with notes about the weather and their crops. It would have been neat (and very helpful, if you were a farmer trying to figure out when to plan seeds) to be able to look back at records of what the weather was like on a particular day for the previous ten years!

A big thanks to my friend Jan Franz van Hedgehog-Orange-Ekaert. I had a great time checking out the books and manuscripts at Stoddard Corner!

-Luykas

In honor of women’s history month, I thought I might introduce you to some important women in Columbia County history, and artifacts from women in Columbia County. First up, Samantha Littlefield Huntley.

As you can see from her photographed portrait, Samantha Huntley was an artist. She was born Samantha Littlefield, but her family called her “Mantie.” The family home was in Watervliet, just to our north!

In 1884, she married Frank Huntley, and they had a son, named Grant, in 1887. Samantha Huntley then began her career as an artist. She studied art in both New York City and Paris.

Huntley liked to paint portraits. She painted New York Governor Martin Glynn (who was from Valatie… I’ll write about him someday too!). She also did portraits of children, military officials, and archbishops. You can see a scan of a catalog from an exhibition of her paintings that was held in 1911 (online here).

So what does Samantha Huntley have to do with Columbia County? In 1923, she built a home and studio on William Street in Kinderhook! During her years in Kinderhook, she even painted a portrait of a prominent Kinderhook resident… Postmaster Jul Johnson.

I love all the details she included in the background. Could you guess that Jul Johnson had something to do with the Postal Service if I hadn’t mentioned it first?

-Luykas

P.S. The education team here at CCHS wanted me to mention that both the photograph of Samantha Huntley, and the portrait she painted of Jul Johnson, are included in a lesson plan that is available online! Visit the Columbia County Historical Society’s website, then go to “Education,” “Online Resources,” and click on “Portraits”

Once again, I thought I would celebrate Presidents’ Day by celebrating our 8th president, Martin Van Buren, who was from Kinderhook. Last year, I made a quick visit to his house (I’m still hoping to get a tour of the inside, when they open for the season!).

This year, I thought I would show you a neat object from our collection that features a painted portrait of Martin Van Buren… a sled!

This portrait was made in 1841, the last year Martin Van Buren was in office as president. The back of the sled has an inscription (writing) that tells us a little about the history of the portrait. It says: “Presented to William Cornell By his Friend J. Brooks, Jr. Albany, N.Y., 1841, Painted by Donald Fisher.”

We don’t know why the artist, Donald Fisher, decided to paint the president on a sled (but I think its pretty appropriate today, since Presidents’ Day is in February!). We also don’t know much about William Cornell or Donald Fisher. We have found some records about a “J. Brooks, Jr.” in Albany, who might have been the person who gave the sled— he owned a grocery store in Albany. We don’t know why he choose this kind of present for his friend though!

How did you celebrate Presidents’ Day? Did you spot a portrait of one of our presidents today (hint: did you use any money today?)?

-Luykas

I hope you are all having a wonderful Valentine’s Day, celebrating the people that you love (and maybe enjoying some chocolate too!). Last year, I shared with you some printed Valentine’s from the historical society’s collection that were sent by people in Columbia County to their sweethearts. Printed Valentine cards are not the only way to show your love though! Some people prefer to express their love in poetry!

This card is not colorful, like the printed valentine’s, but it has a sweet poem written on beautiful lacy paper:

“Your form as fair as ever painter drew,

Your matchless eyes, of clear and deepest blue

The magic which lightens up your face,

Your silvery tones, your thoughts expressed with grace,

Your gentle temper, manners, all combing

To make me choose thy for my Valentine

You’ll wonder who has send you this,

But that’s the puzzle for you, Miss,

And yet I have but little doubt,

That if you guess you’ll find me out,

No other motive have been mine,

For sending you this Valentine,

Except my friendship to express,

And wish you health and happiness.”

Unfortunately, we don’t know who wrote it (or who they sent it too), but we know it was written by someone in Hudson.

On this one, the writer glued some colorful printed pictures on the front, and penned a poem inside:

“The clouds that rest on the mountains breast

            It kissed by the viewless air

And the western breeze kisses the trees

            And woes the flowers to fair

And the weeping willows are kissed by the billow

            And the day stare kisses the sea

Then why not dearest, loveliest, fairest

            Give a kiss to me

And the bright moonbeam kisses the stream

            The hill and the peaceful vale

And the shady bower at eves hour

            Is woo’d by the nightingale

And the lily and the rose each flower blows that

            Are kissed by the forest breeze

Then why not dearest, loveliest, fairest

            Give a kiss to me

And the clasp the earth

            And moonbeams kiss the sea

What are all of the kissing worth

            If thou kiss not me

Receive this tribute gentle maid

            From one who loves the dearly

Nor think his language idly said

            Tis written most sincerely

I take this leafe as it is sent

            For ne’er were words more truly meant

Here is a tribute for you to see

            Seek and find the writer if you can”

This one is from some one who must have liked poetry, but maybe wasn’t so good at writing it. Rather than a hand-written poem inside, it has a printed poem… just like buying a card at the card store today that has a poem in it! The lacy cutout paper on the front is certainly pretty:

“Pensive Beauty

Oh! deem not that the heart is sad

Ah no! ‘tis but the trace of love.

Kindness may make the face look glad,

But love alone the heart can move.”

Whether you are a poet, or not, I hope you have a lovely Valentine’s Day!

Love, Luykas OXOX

Since it is my first year not hibernating through the winter, I’m learning about some of the fun things people have done in Columbia County to pass the time in the cold weather. One way that people had fun (and still do!) when it got cold was ice skating. Columbia County has many lakes and ponds that are perfect for ice skating once they froze over.

Skating was such a popular pastime in Hudson that the Hudson Skating Club was formed in the middle of the 1800s. In fact, skating was really popular all over, and many towns and cities created skating clubs. The Hudson Skating Club published rules for proper behavior on the skating pond in the Hudson Weekly Star newspaper on January 11, 1862. The rules stated:

1. No stones, sticks, cigar stumps or other obstructions shall be thrown or left upon the ice.
2. No improper language, swearing, or indecent behavior will be allowed on or near the ice.
3. Persons are forbidden to break or cut holes in any part of the ice.
4. No sleds will be allowed on the ice without permission from a member of the Ice Committee.
5. No persons allowed to remain on the ice while a RED SIGNAL is displayed from the building.
6. No gentleman allowed in the building without a ticket.

I guess most of the rules would still be pretty useful at the skating pond today!

Here is a pair of ice skates that are in CCHS’ collection:

They were made some time between 1875 and 1900. They look a lot different from the skates people use today, don’t they?

This postcard shows people skating on “Lake Underhill” in Hudson (today, it is called “Underhill Pond”):

The postcard is from 1910. If you look closely, you can see that the people are dressed quite differently than we might to go ice skating today- most women wouldn’t wear long dresses to go skating!

Do you like to ice skate? Do you go to Hudson to skate on Oakdale Lake (which is right near Underhill Pond, and still hosts ice skating in the winter), or do you have another favorite spot?

-Luykas

Happy Groundhog’s Day… and Happy Birthday to me! (and also a very Happy Birthday to our library volunteer, Vieve!)

Groundhog’s Day is the day that people look to highly trained meteorologist (a person, or groundhog, who studies the atmosphere and weather patterns) groundhogs for the weather report. They want to know if we’ll have six more weeks of winter, or if spring is on its way.

You can read about today’s reports from esteemed groundhog meteorologists Punxsutawney Phil and Malverne Mel.

As you can imagine, I get asked all the time about my predictions… but I study history, not weather! It got me thinking about how weather in Columbia County is documented in our archives.

Maybe, like Phil predicted, we’re due for an early spring:

Which, of course, would lead us into a beautiful summer:

Or maybe cousin Mel is right, and we’re due for six more weeks of winter,  and Kinderhook will look more like this (plus those great snow sculptures that appear around town now!):

At least if winter stuck around a little longer, we could have more winter fun like this:

As I said, predicting the weather is not my skill… but I hope Phil is right, I’m ready for spring!

-Luykas

Hi everyone! Did you miss me? I missed you!

I suppose you’re probably wondering where I went. You see, groundhogs are not big fans of the cold and snow, so we spend our winters hibernating. We hibernate in a burrow underground. After we spend the fall eating and eating and eating (so that we have enough energy to get through the winter), we get cozy in our burrow, and go into a deep sleep… until Spring!

But this year, I just couldn’t sleep! I dreamed about all the neat historic places I visited last summer, and all of the nice people I got to meet. So, I decided to come back early. The staff at CCHS told me I was welcome to hang out at the museum (which has heat!), and they even gave me a scarf to help keep me comfy.

I guess I should have realized that it would be nicer to spend my winter in the museum, but there was another reason I decided to hibernate this year. You see, groundhogs don’t drive… so I need a ride to get to a lot of the places I like to visit. The staff and volunteers at the museum are so nice about taking me where I want to go. Ashley, the educator, is often the one who takes me, but I knew that she would not be available this winter… because she had a baby! I just had to meet this newest, youngest historian at CCHS. Maybe she’ll join me on some adventures some day!

Here we are… the camera caught us right after she told me a funny joke!

So that’s where I’ve been for the last couple of months. I’m excited to be back, and I’m working on some fun posts for the next couple of weeks. Did you learn about any interesting history stories while I was asleep?

-Luykas

I thought I would share this postcard from our collection, and some historic Halloween games with you today.

In the 1920’s and 1930’s, Halloween parties were a popular way to celebrate the holiday. On Halloween, people thought that the spirit world and the living world were closer than usual, and that it was a good time to try to tell your fortune, or get a glimpse into the future. Fortune telling games were popular at parties. Here are two that you can try today:

1. Learn your future from a bowl of seeds or beans, from the Kiddies’ Halloween Book, 1931

-Fill a bowl with dry pumpkins seeds, dry beans (lima beans, pinto beans, split peas…), m&m’s… something small and dry.

-Dip a spoon into the bowl, and fill it with seeds.

-Recite this poem, reading one line for each bean in your spoon. The line you end on is your fortune:

One seed shows you’ll get a letter,

Two a dish you’re going to break.

Three seeds, you’ll hear some good news,

Four, a ride you soon will take.

Five, you will be disappointed,

Six, you’re going to meet a friend.

Seven brings you a surprise,

Eight some money you will spend.

Nine shows there’s pleasure coming,

Ten, you’ll have something to wear.

Eleven, you will take a trip,

Twelve, some good luck you will share.

Thirteen seeds, you’ll have a fright,

Fourteen, your future days are bright.

#2: Learn your future through some objects you can find around the house!

-Fill saucers or small bowls with the following objects: a key, a stone, a rubber band, dirt, and water.

-Put on a blindfold, or close your eyes (no peeking!).

-Slowly wave your hand over the saucers, while you recite the alphabet. Stop your hand when you get to “z.” The saucer that your hand is over will tell your fortune:

A key: good luck

A stone: you will build a house

A rubber band: you will live a lively or “snappy” life

Dirt: you will make a trip by car

Water: you will have clear sailing and a happy life

I hope everyone gets a good fortune, and has a happy and safe Halloween! I guess I should go figure out a costume to wear… I was hoping for some candy, but the staff at the museum told me that you only get candy if you have a costume! Maybe I can recycle my Mardi Gras mask?

-Luykas