Berne, NY - a Helderberg Hilltown - User contributions [en]

Timeline of Berne History

2021-09-29T13:43:46Z

Halned:

[[File:HistoryLogo.jpg|71px|right|link=History|Go to History]]
Contributors: Chelsie, Ralph and Harold Miller

Corrections and additions are welcome!

*1629 Killean Van Rensselaer granted a patroonship for essentially all of the land in what is now Albany and Rensselaer Counties
*1690 Catholic rules the Palatine area of what is now Germany
*1709 Record cold in Europe. Palatines flee to Holland. Palatine refugees were taken to England
*1710 3300 Palatines refugees sent to New York by the English in 11 small ships
*1711 Governor Hunter sets Palatines to work in camps on the Hudson making tar and pitch for the British navy. The ration is 1/3 loaf of bread and a quart of low alcohol beer per adult.
*1712 Tar project fails and 150 families move to Schoharie
*1740 First Settlers: Deitz, Ball, Shafer, and others squat on Van Rensselaer land near a beaver dam just west of what is now the hamlet of Berne
*1750 Weidman, Warner, Kniskern, Zeh, Shultes are living in "Beaverdam." Jacob Weidman builds a sawmill
*1765 Peter Nicholas Sommer from the Schoharie Lutheran Church preached at Beaverdam in the home of Johannes Zeh
*1765 Zeh and Warner build a sawmill between what are now the hamlets of Berne and East Berne.
1765 Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the Beaverdam was formed. Log church erected near the beaver dam, site of the present [[Beaverdam Cemetery]].
*1776 Revolutionary War splits community and families. A large number of Tories leave for Canada
*1781 September - [[Dietz massacre]]: eight killed and scalped. Additional article.
*[[h:1787 survey map|1787 survey map]] of Berne. Squatters are forced to sign leases or leave.
*1790 [[St. Paul's Lutheran Church| The first Lutheran Church]] was incorporated. Called German Lutheran Congregation of Rensselaerville, since [[Beaverdam]] was in the Town of [[Rensselaerville]]
*1795 March 17 [[Beaverdam]] separated from [[Rensselaerville]] and named [[Berne]]. Town meeting held at the home of [[Johannes Fischer]].
*1796 Lutheran church constructs simple frame building at the site of the Pine Grove Cemetery (now Pine Grove Lutheran Cemetery)
*1797 Influx of settlers from Conn., Mass., RI and downstate.
*1797 Miner Walden Carding and Fulling mill built below Weidman's mills thus creating nucleus for hamlet of Bernville
*1800 Census shows 30 slaves in the Town of Berne owned by 15 families.
*1801 [[John Butterfield]] born in Berne. Founder of the Butterfield Overland Express, later to became the American Express.
*1803 Dr. Almerin Hubbel, son-in-law of Peter Weidman, opens store in his new house adjoining Weidman's mills
*1813 March 14 - Supreme Court Justice [[Joseph P. Bradley]] born in Berne on Cole Hill in the [[The Philo Bradley House]]. In 1886 casts deciding vote to elect Rutherford B Hayes as president rather than James Tilden
*1822 The Town of [[Knox]] is separated from the Town of Berne.
*1825 An [[Ax Factory]], the first in the U.S. to make axes of cast steel, is established by [[Daniel Simmons]]
*1826 [[Second Berne Reformed Church]] organized and built at [[Thompsons Lake]]
*1827 Slavery outlawed in State of New York freeing numerous slaves in Berne
*1830 [[Berne Reformed Church]] constructs two new churches in hamlet of Bernville. ([[hamlet of Berne]]) and Mechanicsville, ([[West Berne]]) without the aid of rum or spiritous liquors of any kind.
*1831 [[Adam H. Bogardus]], who was to become a champion trap shooter, was born in Berne
*1835 [[St. Paul's Lutheran Church]] constructs brick building in [[Bernville]]
*1839 Stephen Van Rensselaer III the "Good Patroon" dies leaving his lands to two sons.. Stephen IV inherits the West Manor ( Albany County) and orders all outstanding rent to be paid at once. Anti-renters meet at [[St. Paul's Lutheran Church]] in Berne. His son William receives the land east of the Hudson river.
*1839 [[h:Anti-rent Wars|Anti-Rent War]] movement begins in Berne.
*1845 Anti-Rent party was formed. Many families leave including Zimmer, Saddlemire, Shultes
*1846 NY constitutional convention - feudal leases can no longer be issued.
*1853 Stephen VR IV sells uncollected leases to Walter Church
*1857 [[John Butterfield]], born in Berne in 1801, organized the Butterfield Overland Express, (the pony express), forerunner of Wells Fargo
*1858 Five story [[Lobdell grist mill]] built in East Berne. Largest mill in Albany County.
*1860 [[Walter S. Church]] has Peter Ball family evicted during a snow storm
*1862 Civil War begins. [[Berne during the Civil War| At least 77 Berne men join]]. Over a quarter were killed and wounded. [[Carpenter Wright]] letter.
*1862 Berne resident [[George H. Warner]] records daily life in his [[Warner, George H. - Diaries| 1862 journal]], enlists in the Army.
*1863 [[George H. Warner]] continues recording his daily life while in the Army [[Warner, George H. - Diaries| in his 1863 diary]]. Returns to Berne sick and dies shortly thereafter.
*[[1866 Beers map]] of Berne shows all residents and churches in Berne.
*1868 [[Berne Masonic Lodge]] organized
*1870 Business directory list 2 hotels in Berne, 2 in East Berne, 1 West Berne, and 1 Reidsville.
*1878 [[John Wood]] built a [[cheese factory]] which became an important outlet for local milk producers.
*1880 [[John Frederick]] shoots Sheriffs Deputy Leonard Chamerlain; last skirmish of the [[Anti-Rent War]]
*1880 [[White Sulphur Springs]] Hotel opens
*1889 Fire in hamlet of Berne destroys five buildings, including blacksmith shop, Hallenbeck Hall
*1896 Plans made for an electric railway from Albany to Schoharie through Berne. There were 7 stores in hamlet of Bern
*1897 [[Woodlawn Cemetery]] Association organize
*1902 Fire again destroys rebuilt Hallenbeck Hall and blacksmith shop in Berne hamlet.
*[[Berne fire 1914| 1914 Berne Fire]] in Berne hamlet destroys hotel and two houses
*1920 Prohibition enacted. Several bars in Berne closed
*1923 Corporal [[Mattice, Harold C.|Harold C. Mattice]], of Berne, becomes first State Trooper killed in line of duty.
*1927 [[Uhia chapter]] of the Order of the Easter Star was organized
*1928 [[Berne Volunteer Fire Company]] organized
*1929 The Great Depression begins
*1932 [[Berne-Knox-Westerlo]] Central School built in hamlet of Berne to replace one-room schools throughout district
*1932 [[Berne Conservation Gun Club]] organized
*1943 [[Foxenkill Grange]] organized
*1963 [[East Berne Volunteer Fire Company]] organized
*1971 [[Berne Historical Society]] organized and museum created
[[Category:Events]]

History

2021-09-29T13:38:19Z

Halned:

[[File:BerneTownSeal.gif|100px|right|link=Berne|Back to Berne]]
Links to [[h:History|Histories]] for other Hilltowns are [[h:History|HERE]].

Scoharie was settled by Palatine Refugees 1712 from what is now Germany. The earliest settlers of what is now Berne were both newer Palatine arrivals who found that the land in the Schoharie Valley was already taken, and early settlers who either could not get clear title too their land, or did not (or could not) pay the price. At that time, the wilderness land to the east in what is now Berne and Know could be had for the taking.

Without a doubt, the Ball and Dietz families were among the earliest settlers in the Helderbergs, and by 1740 were living next to each other on the flats below what is now the hamlet of Berne. This is evidenced by the marriage of three sons of Peter Ball, (whose parents were part of the 1709 – 1710 refugees brought by the British from London), to three Dietz women. Since these marriages were recorded in Schoharie, some historians believe that Peter Ball first settled in Schoharie, however there are no records to support this.

Sometime before 1757 the area surrounding what is now the hamlet of Berne was referred to as “the Beaver Dam” – after a large beaver dam on a small tributary of the [[Foxenkill]] just west of the junction of the [[Switzkill]].

'''Early Settlement'''
The earliest settlers were [http://www.bernehistory.org/area_history/palatines.htm Palatine German refugees]. [http://www.bernehistory.org/local/settling_berne.htm Settlement] began before 1750. At that time it was called Beaver Dam (also spelled Beaverdam). The settlers were actually squatters, since in the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, Berne was part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rensselaerwyck Rensselaerwyck] estate. The head of the Van Rensselaer family was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patroon Patroon] who owned all the land on which the tenants in the Hudson Valley lived, and used feudal leases to maintain control of the region. Before the Revolutionary War, the patroons acted as feudal lords, with the right to make laws.

'''Beaver Dam'''
The Beaver Dam - The first chapter of ''[[Our Heritage]]'' starts: "As nearly as can be determined... it was 1750 when Jacob Weidman led a small band of settlers along an old Indian trail through the Helderbergs. Weidman, Ball, Bassler, Deitz, Hochstrasser, Knieskern, and Zeh - where or how did they meet? Probably we shall never know." The story of Weidman leading a group of first settlers is not true. This article, originally publishled in the [http://www.altamontenterprise.com/ Altamont Enterprise] has more information on the early settlers of Berne.

When the first settlers arrived in the wilderness, probably before 1740, they squatted near a large beaver dam that was probably located on the Switzkill creek just before it joins the [[Foxenkill]] (Fox Creek) west of the current hamlet of Berne. Although determining the exact year is impossible, it is certain that they were squatters since all of the land in the area was then owned by the Van Rensselaer family and had been for more than a century. The settlement was referred to as [[Beaver Dam]] - also spelled Beaverdam and misspelled as Bever Dam.

'''Local History'''
:[[Slavery in Berne]] - It was generally the earliest settlers, who had settled on the best valley land, who were prosperous enough to afford them. In 1827 slavery was outlawed in New York State.
::Fischer / Wood Farm - In 1790 census for the Town of Rensselarville listed Johannes Fischer, the innkeeper who built [[The Johannes Fischer House]], as one of the few local families to own slaves. About 1812 Fischer built a large, one-room brick building to house his three slaves, plus those of travelers staying in his inn. Conveniently located behind it is an outdoor brick beehive oven. There are slaves buried in back of the [http://www.bernehistory.org/cemDetail.asp?ID=49| Wood Family Burying Ground]. The slave quarters and oven still exist. [[Euretha Wolford]] Stapleton, former Town Historian, said this farm was a stop on the Underground Rail Road that helped run-away slaves reach their freedom farther north or in Canada.
:[[h:Anti-rent Wars|Anti-Rent Wars]] in the Hilltowns
:[[Berne during the Anti-Rent War]]
:[[brief histories of Berne]] published in various books and newspapers.
:[[Berne History]] - [[h:Landmarks of Albany County, New York|Landmarks of Albany County, New York]]
:[[Timeline of Berne History]]
:[[NYS Historic Markers in Berne]]
:Berne Census Records for 1790, 1800, 1840, 1850, 1855, 1860, 1865, 1905, 1915, and 1925 are transcribed and posted on [http://www.bernehistory.org/ Berne History Project web site].

Huntersland Christian Church

2021-01-14T13:57:19Z

Halned: /* External Links */

[[Image:Huntersland Church.jpg|400px|thumb|center|<center>Huntersland Christian Church</center>]]
==Location==
Hunterland Christian Church is located in [[Huntersland]] on Huntersland Road (County Route 10) less than 50 yards from the Schoharie County line.

==History==
[[Image:Congregation for Huntersland Church.jpg|200px|thumb|left|<center>Congregation</center>]] The roots of the Huntersland Christian Church go back to 1825 when Elder John Spore gathered nine brethren and sisters as a branch of the Freehold Christian Church. In 1834, they became an independent church under the name Second Christian Church of Berne. (The First Christian Church of Berne was in [[Reidsville]].) The following year the first church building was erected on the present site. It was an “Evangelical” church. Baptisms were by full submersion in a sawmill pond across the road. In the winter of 1840 a hole was cut in the ice and twenty people were immersed. By 1861 membership had increased to 188.

A new church was erected in 1885 on the old site. Two oil chandeliers lighted the church. At some later date they were replaced with the present single chandelier. It must be lowered to light the flame, then raised back up. The church was not used in the winter, but there is a stove on each side of the sanctuary to remove the chill on cold fall and spring mornings. A few years after the present church was constructed there was a change of pastors and the church became Pentecostal in nature. After the turn of the century and another new pastor, the church became more like the Methodist religion. Over the next few decades membership declined, as many farmers moved off the mountain, unable to make a living tilling the poor, rocky soil. In the 1930’s, as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to end the depression, a Resettlement project bought up the abandoned land, as well as farms that were barely providing their owners subsistence. The land was given to the State of New York and is now is part of the [[Partridge Run]] State Wildlife Management Area. By the 1960's the Huntersland Church no longer had sufficient members to continue.

==Current status==
In 1994 the Church Counsel gave up plans to dispose of the church as long as services are held once a year. Steve and Anne LaMont, along with Walt and Claudia Wissert, have been cleaning and doing small repairs since then. Donations at the yearly service pay for the repairs. The LaMonts work diligently to preserve, interpret and share the history of [[Huntersland]].

''It is unfortunate that with the passing of time the records of these congregations and their accomplishments have been lost.'' [[Euretha Wolford]] Stapleton, former Town of Berne Historian

==Photographs==
The below photographs were taken by Russ Tallman at the one service held at the church in 2007.
<gallery>
Image:100 6085-2.jpg|<center>Exterior</center>
Image:100 7099.JPG|<center>Stove</center>
Image:100 7100.JPG|<center>Stove</center>
Image:100 7097.JPG|<center>Chandelier</center>
Image:100 7101.JPG|<center>Photo On Wall</center>
Image:100 7102.JPG|<center>Pulpit</center>
Image:100 7106.JPG|<center>Windows</center>
Image:100 7124.JPG|<center>Alter Area</center>
Image:100 7121.JPG|<center>Pews</center>
{...}
</gallery>

Cyclone

2020-12-15T20:20:32Z

Halned: /* The Cyclone */

[[Image:Cyclone.jpg|400px|thumb|center|<center>A story in the Greenville Local in 1887</center>]]
==The Cyclone==
As we stated last week the cyclone of the 7th [Sept. 1887] was the most destructive that ever visited this part of the country. In order to give our readers a detailed and correct account of the ravages we have spent several days in traveling over its line of march, visiting the wrecks and interviewing the suffers. We never so fully realized the feebleness of our descriptive powers as when we attempted to guide our pencil through this description and to picture the sights we saw and chronicle the tales we listened to.

==The Aftermath==
The first point we visited was the home of Philip Ensminger, six miles west of [[Rensselaerville]]. Here the cyclone seemed to first strike in full force in its rebound from Fultonham. Mr. E’s large barn 90x40 feet, filled with hay and grain, was completely swept from its foundation and blown away, nothing but the sills remaining. Four horses were in the stable and they miraculously escaped injury. A platform wagon, top buggy, an open buggy, feed mill, power and cleaner, sulky plow and drill were completely destroyed. He also had a hay barn 24x30 entirely demolished. The hay, grain and other contents were all scattered. The hog pen was lifted from its foundation and somewhat wrecked. The house escaped with but small injury. One orchard was completely destroyed as well as other trees. The heaviest timbers of the barn were carried across a five-acre field and others a half and some a full mile. A number of hens were killed and a favorite dog carried a distance and injured. A number of people were at work in the hop yard and started for the house. Three of them reached there but the rest were cut off by the line of the storm. Mr. E’s loss is not less than $2,000.

One-quarter of a mile east lies Peter Becker. His barn 40x30 feet was filled with hay and was blown away and scattered by the force of the tempest. Of two large orchards but a few trees remain. One corner of his woods was prostrated. Fifteen rods north Mr. Becker owns another set of barn buildings. Here a large wagon house was completely leveled, part of the roof was taken from the barn, the house considerable damaged and furniture destroyed. A spring wagon and a buggy wagon were smashed. His loss is not less than $1,000.

Calvin Bushnell, a few rods further northeast, had five acres of heavy timber of which but fifteen trees remain. Three chimneys were taken from the house, fences prostrated and other damage done. He estimates his loss at $500.

George Turner’s barn, on the place occupied by John Reinhart, was damaged to the extent of about $50. The house was moved and trees prostrated.

Josiah Utter lost twenty acres of wood, fences and crops. Five hundred cords of timber are prostrated and he estimates his loss at $1,000.

Hiram Tubbs was a severe sufferer. He lives just below a steep hill and the storm seems to have struck his premises with increased force. Barns, two sheds and a hog pen were leveled and nearly all blown away. A huge slippery elm tree, three feet through, standing in the yard, was plucked up by the roots as if it had been a weed, stone walls were blown over and everything smashed terribly. Four orchards, with the exception of scattering trees, were destroyed. Two fields of corn are flat on the ground and much of it blown away. The buckwheat field is as level as if a land-roller had passed over it. Mr. Tubbs, who saw the storm coming, says it looked like a huge sheet of snow rolling over and over like a monster ball. He stepped in the house and told the family to go down in the cellar, as he believed a cyclone was coming. The daughter stepped to the cellar door but he stopped her saying it was no need as it was all over. The barn, trees and all the wreck were made in as it were a second of time. The escape of the house seems almost miraculous. Huge trees had fallen all about it, barely missing the building on four sides. Truly an unseen hand must have saved this family from death.

A vacant house belonging to Mr. Tubbs a few rods further east is almost completely destroyed.

At Fred S. Tubbs, one-quarter mile east, a wagon house was leveled to the ground, also part of the of the shed, barn and the building badly wrecked. Fifteen acres of buckwheat and four acres of barley and oats were destroyed. A platform spring wagon was smashed. With a few exceptions the trees in his orchard were torn up. Mr. Tubbs had two horses in the pasture and one of them he told us Saturday afternoon had not yet been found. It may still be wandering in the woods where it had gone in its fright or possibly lying somewhere dead. The damages here is not less than $500.

At David Wright’s, on the Abram Wood farm, the barn was entirely demolished and contents scattered. Of three orchards only twelve trees remain. A vacant house on the same farm was blown away. A market wagon, lumber sleigh and cutter were wrecked. Damage about $500.

Morgan Wright lost a shed, the shingles stripped from part of the roof of his barn and orchard ruined. Estimates his loss at $300.

Rufus Bolster lost part of his orchard, about 2000 trees in his wood, fences, etc. Loss, $500.

A twenty-acre wood lot belonging to Adam H. Shultes was badly scattered. Loss, $500.

The next point where the rolling tempest struck with its most destructive force was at the residence of [[Albert W. Gifford | Albert Gifford]], on the road between [[Rensselaerville]] and [[Berne]], west of South Berne. Here we found a most pitiable sight. Everything in the monsters line of travel was but a twisted, ruined wreck. House, barn, orchard, everything gone and strawn in the cycle’s line of destruction. A few hens and turkeys, a solitary pigeon trying to drink from a shattered piece bit of crockery, and the childrens cat sitting on a pile of stone was all there was left to tell that it was once a happy home. The youngest child had its hip broken and smashed. At this writing, Saturday afternoon, it was thought it could not possibly recover. A boy of about eight years was badly cut but it is thought that he has received no serious injury. The oldest boy and the baby escaped with a few slight hurts. Most of the contents of the barn were blown away, mowing machine smashed, a large field of buckwheat ruined and much other damage done. The contents of the house were all destroyed. His loss cannot be less than $1,000.

Three-quarters of a mile north, east of [[South Berne]], on the George Filkins Sr. place, occupied by Charles Hemsted, fearful damage was done. A new home was in process of erection, but the family were still in the old house. The upper story was blown off and the house complete destroyed. When the family found the house was being torn into fragments they took refuge in the cellar. Excepting a young man by the name of George Taylor. He was hit by a piece of the door and wandered out in the storm in a dazed condition. However he was only badly bruised head and was not seriously hurt. The sheds were blown down, the barn wrecked, but the new home escaped. Over one hundred cords of timber was blown down. Loss, $1,000.

On the Thomas Vincent farm, occupied by Edgar Barber, the kitchen and wood house were wrecked, house badly shaken up, roof taken off the main barn and a small barn destroyed. Half of their wood lot was destroyed. Loss, $1,000.

The Francis Brate place lost part of the roof of the barn and had a top carriage smashed. Loss $200.

Lewis Filkins had a wood house and kitchen demolished and roofs taken from the main house and barn. Orchard was destroyed and timber lot seriously wrecked, furniture destroyed and top wagon broken. An apple tree had been pulled up, carried through the air and carefully set down in the midst of a meadow with the roots pointing directly up. A monster pine tree, nearly four feet through, standing in the front yard, and all the sheds and the apple tree were torn up and tossed about. Loss, $1,000.

George W, Filkins premises received a severe shock. The cupola and part of the roof was taken from the large new barn, roof off one shed and of the small barn. The two-story blacksmith and carpenter shop was cut in two, the lower part being smashed and the upper part settling on the ground. The end was blown out of his hay barn. The house had a general shaking up. Twelve acres of timber were destroyed on this farm. One orchard prostrated and another badly damaged. Loss not less than $2,000.

The Betsey Miller farm lost six acres of timber, etc. Loss, $600.

W. J. Conger lost six acres of timber, fences, etc. loss $600.

Fred W. Conger had a lot of apple trees destroyed and valuable lot of timber. Loss, $1,000.

In [[Reidsville]] the [[Reidsville Methodist Church | Methodist church]] lost a roof. The blacksmith shop of W. J. Conger was unroofed. The barn of Mrs. Abram Whitbeck lost a roof. Mrs. A. R. Hungerford lost part of the roof of her house and some timber. Elias Young had an orchard partly uprooted. The [[Reidsville Christian Church | Christian church]] lost a chimney and the sheds were leveled. John Townsend lost a few trees and some fences. This village escaped the full force of the tornado as it went just north of the main street. A few rods father south and the village would have been swept away. The loss here will foot up probably about $1,000.

Manly Conger lost the roof of his barn and wood house. Damaged orchard and a lot of forest trees. Loss, $500.

Wm. Stoneburner lost some timber. Loss $100.

[[Wilkins Crawford Jr.| Wilkins Crawford]] lost timber to the value 0f $100.

Hiram Weidman lost the roof of his woodhouse and kitchen also the shed roof, corn house and orchard. Here for the first time the cyclone deviated from easterly course and went south a short distance and then to the southwest as if to look back at the destruction it had left in its track. Mr. Weidman’s loss is $500.
----
''Note: ''
''The article goes on about the damage that was caused below the hill in Onesquethaw and Tarrytown. I have retold the article as it pertained only to the hamlets of the town of Berne.''

Will Osterhout
[[Category:Events]]

[[Category:Family Stories]] [[Category:Biography]] [[Category:Berne Biographies]]

White Sulphur Springs House

2020-12-10T13:55:46Z

Halned: corrected year demolished

[[Image:White Sulphur Springs House.jpg|400px|thumb|center|<center>White Sulphur Springs House</center>]]
==History==
*1880 completed and opened by [[Jacob Hochstrasser, Jr.]] (1832 - 1915). Summer boarders came from Albany and New York, many staying for the entire season, the men going into the city for business during the week and driving out to be with their families on weekends.
*1884 added the T wing on the east side completing the structure as it still stands today.
*1916 the Boarding House was closed.
*1960 the United Pentacostal Church "Word of Life Ministries" bought the property for a camp meeting place and built a revival hall and dining room.
*~2005 Evangel Christian School, in Queens bought the property
*2012 Presently boarded up and slated for removal
*2019 It was demolished.

==Description==
Main building - There is a center staircase and another at each end. A center hallway runs the length of the building on all floors. The rooms are small about 10 by 14ft with no closet, just hooks on the wall. Ventilation is provided by one window in each room.
<gallery>
Image:Sulphur Spring.jpg|<center>Sulphur Spring</center>
Image:Swimming Pool.jpg|<center>Janice LeBuis and Patricia Morey 1951</center>
Image:White Sulphur Springs 2 Views.jpg|<center>2 Views</center>
Image:Sulphur Spring 1.jpg|<center>People by the spring</center>
Image:Inside.jpg|<center>The inside of White Sulphur Springs Hotel as it looked in 2007.</center>
Image:White Sulphur Springs Hotel 2009.jpg|<center>Oct. 2009; Jen Merrill-fuller</center>
Image:Rear View 1.jpg|<center>Rear Of House</center>
Image:Rear View 2.jpg|<center>Close rear view</center>
File:800px-Campus View.jpg|<center>White Sulphur Springs from the back yard. Notice how small the trees are in comparison to the now shot</center>
File:White Sulphur Springs 10 09.jpg|<center>2009</center>
File:Old Hochstrasser house 2009 1433 Helderberg.jpg|<center>Old Hochstrasser House, 2009</center>
Image:POSTER 1.JPG|<center>Church Poster from 1966</center>
Image:BP001PentacostalColor.jpg|<center>Pentecostal Camp Ground, Berne, NY </center>
Image:TA013BerneWhiteSulpherSpringsHouseViewFromCampus.jpg|<center>Berne - White Sulphur Springs House View from Campus - Courtesy Timothy J. Albright</center>
Image:TA019BerneStreamOnGroundsOf WhiteSulphurSpringsHouse.jpg|<center>Berne - Stream on the Grounds of the White Sulphur Springs House - Courtesy Timothy J. Albright </center>
Image:Evelyn.jpg|<center>Evelyn Hochstrasser with a sign from the old hotel</center>
Image:EB31.JPG|<center>History of the hotel</center>
Image:EB32.JPG|<center>History of the hotel</center>
Image:ticket.JPG|<center>Tiicket for White Sulphur Spring's </center>
Image:spring house.jpg|<center>Spring House</center>
Image:business card.jpg|<center>Jacob Hochstrasser's business card</center>
Image:business card 1.jpg|<center>back of card</center>
Image:{filename}|<center>{caption}</center>
Image:{filename}|<center>{caption}</center>
Image:{filename}|<center>{caption}</center>
{...}
</gallery>

[[Category:Businesses]]

White Sulphur Springs House

2020-12-10T00:07:07Z

Halned: /* History */

[[Image:White Sulphur Springs House.jpg|400px|thumb|center|<center>White Sulphur Springs House</center>]]
==History==
*1880 completed and opened by [[Jacob Hochstrasser, Jr.]] (1832 - 1915). Summer boarders came from Albany and New York, many staying for the entire season, the men going into the city for business during the week and driving out to be with their families on weekends.
*1884 added the T wing on the east side completing the structure as it still stands today.
*1916 the Boarding House was closed.
*1960 the United Pentacostal Church "Word of Life Ministries" bought the property for a camp meeting place and built a revival hall and dining room.
*~2005 Evangel Christian School, in Queens bought the property
*2012 Presently boarded up and slated for removal
*2020 It was demolished.

==Description==
Main building - There is a center staircase and another at each end. A center hallway runs the length of the building on all floors. The rooms are small about 10 by 14ft with no closet, just hooks on the wall. Ventilation is provided by one window in each room.
<gallery>
Image:Sulphur Spring.jpg|<center>Sulphur Spring</center>
Image:Swimming Pool.jpg|<center>Janice LeBuis and Patricia Morey 1951</center>
Image:White Sulphur Springs 2 Views.jpg|<center>2 Views</center>
Image:Sulphur Spring 1.jpg|<center>People by the spring</center>
Image:Inside.jpg|<center>The inside of White Sulphur Springs Hotel as it looked in 2007.</center>
Image:White Sulphur Springs Hotel 2009.jpg|<center>Oct. 2009; Jen Merrill-fuller</center>
Image:Rear View 1.jpg|<center>Rear Of House</center>
Image:Rear View 2.jpg|<center>Close rear view</center>
File:800px-Campus View.jpg|<center>White Sulphur Springs from the back yard. Notice how small the trees are in comparison to the now shot</center>
File:White Sulphur Springs 10 09.jpg|<center>2009</center>
File:Old Hochstrasser house 2009 1433 Helderberg.jpg|<center>Old Hochstrasser House, 2009</center>
Image:POSTER 1.JPG|<center>Church Poster from 1966</center>
Image:BP001PentacostalColor.jpg|<center>Pentecostal Camp Ground, Berne, NY </center>
Image:TA013BerneWhiteSulpherSpringsHouseViewFromCampus.jpg|<center>Berne - White Sulphur Springs House View from Campus - Courtesy Timothy J. Albright</center>
Image:TA019BerneStreamOnGroundsOf WhiteSulphurSpringsHouse.jpg|<center>Berne - Stream on the Grounds of the White Sulphur Springs House - Courtesy Timothy J. Albright </center>
Image:Evelyn.jpg|<center>Evelyn Hochstrasser with a sign from the old hotel</center>
Image:EB31.JPG|<center>History of the hotel</center>
Image:EB32.JPG|<center>History of the hotel</center>
Image:ticket.JPG|<center>Tiicket for White Sulphur Spring's </center>
Image:spring house.jpg|<center>Spring House</center>
Image:business card.jpg|<center>Jacob Hochstrasser's business card</center>
Image:business card 1.jpg|<center>back of card</center>
Image:{filename}|<center>{caption}</center>
Image:{filename}|<center>{caption}</center>
Image:{filename}|<center>{caption}</center>
{...}
</gallery>

[[Category:Businesses]]

File:Berne School 1.jpg

2014-03-24T15:25:30Z

Halned: Halned uploaded a new version of "File:Berne School 1.jpg"

now home of Mace Porter

File:Berne School 1.jpg

2014-03-24T15:24:40Z

Halned: Halned uploaded a new version of "File:Berne School 1.jpg"

now home of Mace Porter

File:Berne School 1.jpg

2014-03-24T15:21:20Z

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Schools

2014-03-24T15:17:27Z

Halned:

[[File:BerneTownSeal.gif|100px|right|link=Berne|Back to Berne]]
Visit [[h:Schools|Schools]] for a listing of all schools in the Hilltowns.

Schools in Berne

'''West Mountain School'''
[[File:8c51341r.jpg|250px|thumb|right|<center>Unknown West Mountain School</center>]]
''Can anyone identify this West Mountain School near Rensselaerville? According to the note on the back, at the time it was taken it was abandoned and soon to be torn down for as part of the land project that eventually became [[Partridge Run]] State Wildlife Management Area.''
----

Public education in Berne began when the town was created in 1795, thanks to the new state legislator that appropriated $20,000 for a common school fund, of which Albany Counties share was $3,975. In late 1700s, it had two log schools, per state law.

"Two of Berne's earliest schools are described in Tenney and Howell's ''[[h:History of the County of Albany|History of the County of Albany]]'' Both were log buildings of crude construction. One, located near the site of the area's first Lutheran Church about halfway between Berne and East Berne, was a square flat-roofed building. Another was a bit more elaborate, having a dimension of 20 feet by 20 feet, a slanting roof, three windows, and a door on wooden hinges."<ref>[[Our Heritage]]</ref>

Since most of the people were of German origin, the written and spoken language in the schools was German until about 1800. In 1812, a resolution of progress was adopted as follows: “There shall be $500 raised in the Town of Berne for the school system.” This in itself was a very progressive action for that time in history.

By 1812 there were 21 school districts in the Town, each with its own school. That included [[k:Knox|Knox]], which did not become a separate town until 1822. In 1884 $1,942.10 was spent on 831 pupils. ''[[Our Heritage]]'' points out that there are many reasons the schools were inexpensive to run:

*schools were cheaply constructed
*residents donated the wood to heat the stoves
*teachers were boarded in the homes of local families
*older students acted as janitors
*texts consisted of weekly newspapers, catechism, the New Testament, and loaned books.

By the middle of the 19th Century Berne was included in the 2nd District of Albany. New one-room schools were built throughout the town at locations to minimize the miles the students had to walk. The buildings were an improvement over the earlier ones, being built with clapboard siding and widows on two sides to improve ventilation and light. Usually the boys were seated on one side and the girls on the other. In 1930 the Central School District was created and a new building built in 1932 to house the students from 15 local districts. It was not until 1956 all of the present area was included in the centralized district.
*[[h:Berne-Knox-Westerlo|Berne-Knox-Westerlo]] Central School
<gallery>
Image:Bell School.jpg|<center>Bell School in the spring of 1913</center>
FILE:School 3.jpg|<center>Interior of the Berne schoolhouse 3 along with the teacher "Mrs. Tingue, Johnny, (John Pelepzuck, Jr.) and Josie (Josephene Stephanowitz?)".<br>1937 picture from the collection of Nichole Pelepzuck Cross</center>
Image:Image001largeWeb.jpg|<center>Bradt Hollow School, 2005</center>
Image:Reidsville School.jpg|<center>Bernice Hotaling at Reidsville School in 1934</center>
File:Westmtschex.png|<center>West Mt. School District No.19</center>
File:Westmtschstudents.png|<center>West Mt. School District No.19<br>student standing is Howard Bolster, Teacher is Mrs. Gladys Cornell. </center>
Image:Berne School House.jpg|<center>Berne School House</center>
</gallery>
===One-Room Schools===
All of the schools before 1932 were one-room schools.
*[[Bell School]]
*[[Berne School No. 1]][[File:Berne School 1.jpg]]]
*Berne School No. 2 on the flats below the hamlet of Berne, was taught by s maiden lady Miss Malena DeGrass Doty who wore "corkscrew curls and sidecombs."
*[[Berne School No. 3]] Peasley School, was located on Peasley Road across from the Baptist Church Cemetery. Established in early 1800's this school continued to operate through the 1930's. [[Lot 401]]
*District #13. Messer Lane and Corner of Ravine Road. [[Lot 450]]

*Hungerford School
*[[Huntersland School]] was located across the county line in Schoharie.
*[[Reidsville School]]

*[[Switzkill School]] District No. 14
*[[West Berne School]] District School No. 15
*[[Bradt Hollow School, District No. 17]]
*Willsie School District No. 18
*[[West Mt. School District No.19]]
*South Berne School District No. 21
*District #20. Corner of Bradt Hollow Road and what was the extended Shultes Road. [[Lot 422]]
*District # 29 [[Lot 396]]
<references/>

File:Berne School 1.jpg

2014-03-24T15:14:22Z

Halned: now home of Mace Porter

now home of Mace Porter