Berne - Then and Now

From Berne, NY - a Helderberg Hilltown
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This page is a series of images of buildings and locations in Berne comparing and old photo with a current image of the same scene; ideally taken from the exact same spot - but then how often is life ideal?

Northrup's Garage; from the collection of Willard Osterhout
Google Earth, 2008

There is a separate page for each town. This would be a great idea for a "coffee table" book! Here links to the other town pages:

Everyone is urged to contribute. Click here for "Instructions for posting Then and Now images"

Here are some more "Then" photos from various sources, including the Berne Historical Society, that might be suitable of accompanying "Now" photos. In some cases the buildings are gone, but in which case a "Now" photo of the site makes a strong statement about the loss of our heritage.

If you like this page, you might also enjoy Antique Motor Vehicles.

Thanks

  • Special thanks to Marty Duell for being the first to make available "Then and Now" photos for this new feature.
  • Thanks to Eric Chamberlain of Knox for contributing to this page. He is taking "Now" photos in Berne, Knox, and Rensselaerville.

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE.

Reidsville

Brate's Hotel

Brate's Hotel was located on Cass Hill Rd. at the junction with Duck Hill Road. Portions of the hotel can still be seen in the woods. The builders and operators were Charles Brate and his wife Nancy Smith Brate.

  • say 1900
  • ca. 19??
  • 2009, Eric Chamberlain

West Mountain and Huntersland

Fred Tubbs family

This is the home of the Fred Tubbs family on West Mountain. It is now part of Partridge Run State Wildlife Management Area in the vicinity of Tubbs Pond. Marty's father, Raymond J Duell, the baby in the picture was born May 1915 so picture date is about 1916.

In the second photo, Martin Duell's son Matt is standing right in front of where the house of Fred Tubb's and the well use to be. The well is still there but covered with stone. Martin says, "You won't see the well but that is were Matt is standing. If I didn't know were it was no one would fnd it. Its all trees now and flat. Way back I would sit with my feet over the foundation. The well is there but covered with rock which can be moved to see it wasn't very deep about 8 feet."

  • Fred Tubbs family home on West Mountain, 1916
  • Exact same spot, 1983<br.>Photo courtesy of Martin Duell

West Mountain Methodist-Episcopal Church

West Mountain Methodist-Episcopal Church was started early in the 19th C. The present building was built 1888.

  • say 1920
  • Oct., 2009: Eric Chamberlain


Huntersland School

  • Then
  • Now

Huntersland Christian Church

  • Then
  • 2007, photo by Russ Tallman

East Berne

Northrup's Garage

Northrup's Garage stands abandoned and appears much like the 2008 picture. A new picture will be added soon. (Eric Chamberlain)

  • Northrup's Lunch and Tea Room; from the collection of Willard Osterhout
  • Northrup's Garage; from the collection of Willard Osterhout
  • Google Earth, 2008

Rest Seeker's Inn

Rest Seeker's Inn was torn down in 2008. The wing on the right was perhaps the oldest existing building in East Berne at the time the building was torn down.

  • Turn of the 20th C.; from the collection of Willard Osterhout
  • 1924 post card from the collection of Willard Osterhout
  • Rest Seeker's Inn was to the left of center, Wagner's Hotel was to the right;
    Photo 2009 by Nan Stolzenburg

Wagner's Hotel

Wagner's Hotel, East Berne is now gone.

  • post card from the collection of Willard Osterhout
  • site of former Wagner's Hotel
    2009, photo by Nan Stolzenburg

St. John's Lutheran Church

  • 1973
  • 2001

St. Mary's Catholic Church > Crosier Realty

St. Mary's of the Lake Catholic Church, constructed in 1916, was only used in the summer months when the people from below the hill filled the cottages and resorts at the lake. It was closed in 1960 when the St. Bernadette's Catholic Church was opened in the hamlet of Berne. The building was sold to the East Berne Fire Department in 1966. John and Vicki Crosier purchased it next and it became Crosier's Reality.

  • Post Card from the collection of Willard Osterhout
  • St Mary's Google.jpg
    Crosier Realty
    Google Earth ca. 2008

East Berne Garage

East Berne Garage

  • From the collection of Willard Osterhout
  • Ted Quay's Garage; from the collection of Willard Osterhout
  • Google Earth, 2008

Engel's Fur Trading Post

  • Engle's Fur Trading Post 1920s
  • Pangburns Beach 1950s
  • Will and Jerri Osterhout's home 2011

Berne

Going from east to west on Heldererg Trail

The Christopher Zeh House

1136 Helderberg Trail, current home of Ralph and Jan Miller, Lot 564. The house was probably built by Christopher Zeh, with the one story wing of the house built on the left before 1854, and the main two story house with basement built between 1855 and 1865.

  • Christopher Zeh House when the family of Ernest Wright lived there
  • recent

School > Auto repair > two car garage

Bell School was turned into Snyder's Garage owned by Ethel Mae Adams and James Conington Snyder on Rte 443 Helderberg Trail, Berne

White Sulphur Springs House

Where have all the porches gone? long time passing.

Where have all the porches gone, long time ago

  • Then; Berne Historical Society
  • October 2009

Enos Wright House

The Enos Wright House, 1560 Helderberg Trail; former farm house of Enos J. Wright and Ethan Wright. The house was completed Oct. 1891[1]

  • ca. 1900
  • Google Earth, 2008

The William Winans House

The William Winans House, Helderberg Trail.

  • Owned by Fred Deitz, ca. 1940
    Photo from Allan Deitz
  • Google Earth, ca. 2008

The Thomas Hayes House

1603 Helderberg Trail, The Thomas Hayes House, was built ca. 1842 for him and his wife, Mary Curran, who earlier had lived on Irish Hill. This was the site of the large home of Peter Weidman, son of early settler, Jacob Weidman who original home was also on the same site.

The Almerin Hubbell House

1616 Helderberg Trail (above corner Routes 156 and 443) The Almerin Hubbell House was built ca. 1800 for him and his bride, Maria Weidman, dau. of Peter Weidman who lived across the street to the south.

Floretha Shop

Where this building was, along the Foxenkill on the east side of the falls in the hamlet of Berne, is now a parking lot.

  • from the collection of the Berne Historical Society
  • Google Earth, 2008

The Daniel Simmons House

The Daniel Simmons House, 7 Truax Lane, was built ca. 1825 by Daniel Simmons, founder of the Simmons Axe Factory below the falls in the hamlet of Berne.

Berne Grist Mill

  • Becker Bros. Mill; photo in the collection of the Berne Historical Society
  • Hart's Mill; photo in the collection of the Berne Historical Society
  • Now; Google Earth

Lower Hotel > apartment building

1616 Helderberg Trail. The building to the left in the old photo was covered parking on the lower level and a community hall above for dances and theater productions. Now a parking lot. The building to the right is on across the bridge on the south side of Fox Creek. Like so many buildings in the center of the hamlet, it burned some fifty 60 or so years ago. The old hotel is now broken up into four apartments. At least it still stands.

Main St. looking south

Main Street, Hamlet of Berne, looking south.

  • Building on other side of bridge, left, now gone; Berne Historical Society
  • 2008, Google Earth

Shultes and Adams Store

1628 Helderberg Trail, the Shultes and Adams Store is said to have been built in 1802. The building to the left in the old photo is the Lyons and Tompkins Store shown below.

Lyons and Tompkins Store

To the left is Fox Creek. To the right is the old Shultes and Adams Store

  • Then; photo in the collection of the Berne Historical Society
  • Now; Google Earth

Mill Pond Dam

Berne mill pond dam is to the east on Fox Creek as you cross the bridge in the center of the hamlet of Berne.

  • Then; photo in the collection of the Berne Historical Society
  • Old post card of dam in hamlet of Berne
  • Now; Google Earth view of dam in hamlet of Berne

Settle's Store

It is almost difficult to believe this is the same historic store that was Settle's Store, one of the earliest stores in the hamlet of Berne and the only one in more or less continuous operation as a store. The upstairs was once a meeting hall. The roof has since been raised and it is now an apartment. This shows how modernization by adding picture windows to an historic building can destroy the historic look completely.

  • Then; photo in the collection of the Berne Historical Society
  • Now; Google Earth

Deitz Store

Deitz's Store building, at one time the Berne Post Office. In the background to the right is Settle's Store

Main St. looking west and north

  • 1914; Berne Historical Society
  • 2008, Google Earth
  • Main Street, Hamlet of Berne, looking north. The building with the Socony sign was on this side of the bridge and is now gone.
  • Then; Berne Historical Society
  • 2008, Google Earth

Zeh House

The Zeh House is the third house on the east side of the road south of the bridge in the hamlet of Berne. It is at the intersection of Irish Hill Road with Helderberg Trail.

  • 2008, Google Earth

Hochstrasser's Store > Apartment building

  • Then; Berne Historical Society
  • 2008, Google Earth

World War II Honor Roll

The World War II Honor Roll in the hamlet of Berne was originally at the intersection of Helderberg Trail and Irish Hill Road in front of the building above. It was recently rebuilt at the Berne Town Park. Look at what a sorry sight the old site has become. Hopefully the new site has more landscaping then two bushes.

  • Then; Berne Historical Society
  • WWII Honor Roll site.jpg
    2008, same place as the "Then" photo, GoogleEarth
  • Now WWII Honor Roll site

Hotel > Town Hall

The former Upper Hotel (Mattice Hotel) is now the Berne Town Hall.

  • Hotel
  • Town Hall

Charles E. Deitz House

The Charles E. Deitz House was reportedly built about 1880. It is at 1659 Helderberg Trail.

  • Google Earth, 2008

The House of Dr. Deitz

1662 Helderberg Trail, the beautiful old home of Dr. Wallace E. Deitz. And look! There is Dr. Deitz, now, in his brand new car with his old wife and two dogs. Don't you just love her hat!

Berne School House No. 1 > Private Home

  • This is Berne School No. 1 in the hamlet of Berne
  • It is now the house of Mace Porter. Does anyone have a current view?
  • Berne School House No.1Courtesy of Timothy J. Albright. Does anyone have another copy of this picture with the year it was taken and identity of any of the teachers or kids?
  • Berne School House
  • Berne School House 1.jpg
  • Arbor Day
  • House owned by Mace Porter, formerly schoolhouse 1

Law Office > Select School > Fire House > Post Office > Garage

The small building as served many functions since it was built

  • Law office of Edward Vincent Filkins, Esq.
  • The building next became the Select School in 1882 of his daughter Carrie Fillkins.
  • Berne Post Office in the 1920's. The post master from 1915 - 1928 was Clarence Haverly, husband of Carrie Filkins.
  • When the Berne Volunteer Fire Company was organized in 1929 it became the first fire house
  • It is now a private garage.
  • 1928 Model T Ford truck known as the "Village Queen" in front of the first fire house
    from the collection of the Berne Historical Society
  • Now a private garage
    Photo ca. 1977; from Our Heritage
  • Google Earth, 2008

Berne and Beaverdam Reformed Church

  • 19??
  • ca. 2003<br.>photo by Barbara Husek

Old Fire House > Apartments

1671 Helderberg Trail, the old Berne Fire House built 1939, was sold after the new one was built on the western edge of the hamlet. The building is now an apartment house.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church

  • 1911, carriage shed on side and in back. No church hall. Notice steps to get in carriages
  • Old Postcard before 1915 when old hall was built
  • Bernelutheranchurchf-1-.jpg
    After 1915 when old hall was built
    Photo from the collection of Terry and Barry Schinnerer
  • Church sandblasted to remove red paint, new hall<br.>Photo ca. 2003 by Barbara Husek

Berne-Knox-Westerlo School

  • Berne-Knox Central School.jpg
    under construction, 1932
  • Building front.jpg
    Current

The Jacob Ball House > site of Catholic Church

  • Jacob Ball House
    Berne Historical Society
  • StBern.jpg
    St. Bernadette's Catholic Church

Johannes Shafer > Schoonmaker House

Current home of Jim Hamilton, 2216 Switzkill Road, Lot 594. Then photos are scans of photocopies provided to current owners by Cheryl (Schoonmaker) Furman who is probably the young girl in the 1966 photo.

  • 2216 Switzkill Aug 1966.jpg
    View from the east in August 1966. The large tree in front only lived a few more years
  • 2216 Swtzkill winter 1970.jpg
    View from the south, winter 1970. The tree in front has been replanted with a Norway Maple, which died about 2005
  • Now: This photo will be replaced with one at a "Then" angle (Jim Hamilton 2009)

Cheese Factory

Berne and Knox Cheese Factory

1878 the Berne and Knox Cheese Factory Association built a cheese factory nearby on land given them by Thomas J. Wood on the flats below the Hamlet of Berne. FIRST IN TOWN OF BERNE BUILT IN 1878 AND MADE 495 POUNDS IN A SINGLE DAY. On November 16, 1907 the cheese factory and fixtures were sold at public auction. Then photo courtesy of Will Osterhout. Click on the image two or three times to enlarge it. There is incredible detail. This photo was developed from a glass negative ca. 1908. It shows the building of the State Road from Berne to Knox with the Cheese Factory in the background and temporary housing for the road workers to the side of it.

  • Ca. 1908
  • Cheesefactorylocationnow.JPG
    Location of Cheese factory October 2009-Eric Chamberlain

West Berne

  1. ↑ Altamont Enterprise, 24 Oct. 1891
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