Castleton NY is a small village in the upstate region. It has seen better days. The manufacturing is gone , the main street business district is all but disappeared. It is now a bedroom community. In better times a great house was built on a street called Green Avenue.....somewhat mansion like. Next to it is a seniors development called Castle Hill built on old Hudson farm property. Between them is the remnant of an old bridle path used as recently as the mid 1970's by one of the previously owners the Lindy family. They also had a ski rope tow in the back wooded area. As a young kid I walked that area and set off to confirm an old memory. About 100 or so feet from the street I discovered the remnants of an old pet graveyard. Started in the early 1930's by a couple who lived there untill the early sixties. They would use old pieces of 2 by 4's as grave markers. Much has disappeared over the years and grown over. But with careful searching I found the location. The marker I found and examined was I believe was a dog named Shep that died in 1946 as was stated on the marker. Took time to clean it off and read it. Since been returned. To create this I presume that those dog owners truely loved their pets and visited . A memorial I believe built with love and concern and a ration of grief. People do love their pets. Rediscovered for a moment as it all returns to dust and ashes.RIP.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
A Son's Promise To His Father Post 2016 Election
My Father was a lifelong resident of the Town of Schodack NY 12033. He was in local politics for 40 straight years in elected office. 20 yrs as Supt. of Highways , 20 as Town Supervisor. He was a Republican. His brother was a State Assemblyman and State Senator and his wife was a 3 term Town Clerk.
At the odd age of 54 he had a son from his 43 yr old wife. He began to drive a school bus for the Schodack Central School part time to make ends meet. Local Pols were not paid much back then. So you see I was raised in a very Republican home.
Many years later in Maple Hill High School. I was told a story by an English / History teacher at Maple Hill High School that in 1928 a large KKK rally was held in our town to protest the run for President by our then Govenor Alfred E. Smith. The Klan was a powerful force in America back then. Smith lost , Hoover won. My father reluctantly agreed to discuss it with me......afterall .....that story had gotten buried , rarely if ever brought up. I had never heard about it. None of my friends had. He told me that many people were terrified , the few Jewish families were very fearful. He knew all of them because they were all Freemasons. The few black families in some cases fled for a time. A couple never returned. They held a night bon fire preached their hate. The Catholic families kept their lights off in their houses that night. Terror gripped many people who were not"the right kind of American" My father and a couple of other Town officials walked the streets in order to main order and hopefully hold down the fear. You seehe knew many of the people who participated in the rally. My Father referred to them as ignorant. He spent the next election proclaiming a fact he was proud of.....I am of the party of Lincoln. A phrase one does not hear anymore.
A couple of years later he lay dying at Albany Medical Center. He was then 74. He called me to his by side because he was worried about his son's future. You see I was a child of my times , he thought me quite radical. He asked me to keep a level head and to not stray to far from a sensible middle path in life. We also discussed our difficult relationship with our ages being so radically apart. He said "well you were a hell of surprise but I did the best I could." I paused and said thank you father. I looked at him and I said I promised to stay on the level path.
Now Donald Trump is President elect. He has just selected a man I and millions of others consider a White Separatist and Brightbart bigot. his name Steve Bannon. Donald has also referred to many minorities in what I consider racist ways.
Father I kept my promise to you. Donald Trump does not have my support as you did not support the KKK.
You may wonder why I wrote this. Well an old high school friend on facebook requested to me that I express what I feel. She feels Facebook has gotten way out of control with all the hate. So Kathy Meyer this blog is dedicated to you and thank you for your friendship. Now you know where I stand.
At the odd age of 54 he had a son from his 43 yr old wife. He began to drive a school bus for the Schodack Central School part time to make ends meet. Local Pols were not paid much back then. So you see I was raised in a very Republican home.
Many years later in Maple Hill High School. I was told a story by an English / History teacher at Maple Hill High School that in 1928 a large KKK rally was held in our town to protest the run for President by our then Govenor Alfred E. Smith. The Klan was a powerful force in America back then. Smith lost , Hoover won. My father reluctantly agreed to discuss it with me......afterall .....that story had gotten buried , rarely if ever brought up. I had never heard about it. None of my friends had. He told me that many people were terrified , the few Jewish families were very fearful. He knew all of them because they were all Freemasons. The few black families in some cases fled for a time. A couple never returned. They held a night bon fire preached their hate. The Catholic families kept their lights off in their houses that night. Terror gripped many people who were not"the right kind of American" My father and a couple of other Town officials walked the streets in order to main order and hopefully hold down the fear. You seehe knew many of the people who participated in the rally. My Father referred to them as ignorant. He spent the next election proclaiming a fact he was proud of.....I am of the party of Lincoln. A phrase one does not hear anymore.
A couple of years later he lay dying at Albany Medical Center. He was then 74. He called me to his by side because he was worried about his son's future. You see I was a child of my times , he thought me quite radical. He asked me to keep a level head and to not stray to far from a sensible middle path in life. We also discussed our difficult relationship with our ages being so radically apart. He said "well you were a hell of surprise but I did the best I could." I paused and said thank you father. I looked at him and I said I promised to stay on the level path.
Now Donald Trump is President elect. He has just selected a man I and millions of others consider a White Separatist and Brightbart bigot. his name Steve Bannon. Donald has also referred to many minorities in what I consider racist ways.
Father I kept my promise to you. Donald Trump does not have my support as you did not support the KKK.
You may wonder why I wrote this. Well an old high school friend on facebook requested to me that I express what I feel. She feels Facebook has gotten way out of control with all the hate. So Kathy Meyer this blog is dedicated to you and thank you for your friendship. Now you know where I stand.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Deja vu Opitmism ....1960's ?
I wanted to write this one before this upcoming election. Going back to last July , I was in Belmont N.C. sitting outside on a warm summer night {smoking}. The air conditioners were running , cloudless sky , moon visible. Very quiet. Then for some reason I began to have the odd experience of deja vu. That feeling you have been at this particular moment before. Lasted for less than a minute. That was only the third time in my life that I have had that experience. One explanation is that you have been in a similar circumstance before and you had maintained a latent memory of it. So , where did I experience that before.........
Well I am not totally sure but from my feelings during the experience it comes from sometime in the late 1960's. That feeling was a light optimism , all most a carefree optimism. Wow....interesting. As I explored this moment and talked to people like my 88 and 94 yr old aunts I have come to believe that those yrs for some people atleast were optimistic yrs and we have lost that. One can never be quite sure bur I believe my generation was one that believed we could accomplish anything. From landing on the moon to Woodstock and social readjustment to curing illness etc. Not just young people but the adults around us. We would create a better world though visions could differ. depending on one view.
Somewhere in these intervening 50 or so years the optimism {which I believe we took for granted} has slowly and often quietly slipped into our angry election time of today. People are angry at this present moment. I have come to believe increasingly that lack of optimism is as destructive as depression both personnel and economically. I have also begun to understand why some people remember those years so longingly. They don't just miss their youth , it was that times optimism they long for. I also think that when I have spent time explaining the 60's to younger people perhaps it is that feeling they look for. Maybe.......?
Well I am not totally sure but from my feelings during the experience it comes from sometime in the late 1960's. That feeling was a light optimism , all most a carefree optimism. Wow....interesting. As I explored this moment and talked to people like my 88 and 94 yr old aunts I have come to believe that those yrs for some people atleast were optimistic yrs and we have lost that. One can never be quite sure bur I believe my generation was one that believed we could accomplish anything. From landing on the moon to Woodstock and social readjustment to curing illness etc. Not just young people but the adults around us. We would create a better world though visions could differ. depending on one view.
Somewhere in these intervening 50 or so years the optimism {which I believe we took for granted} has slowly and often quietly slipped into our angry election time of today. People are angry at this present moment. I have come to believe increasingly that lack of optimism is as destructive as depression both personnel and economically. I have also begun to understand why some people remember those years so longingly. They don't just miss their youth , it was that times optimism they long for. I also think that when I have spent time explaining the 60's to younger people perhaps it is that feeling they look for. Maybe.......?
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
The Great Piano Factory Chimney of Casteton NY Comes Down
Recently I explored near the current Castleton Fire Company Bld on Green Avenue in Castleton N.Y. 12033. Taking my trusty linoleum knife I probed in the back of the property. I came up with a small piece of pre= 1950's brick. I knew from childhood that I was in the general location of the old Cheney Piano ActionFactory. There are more than one history on line talking about the piano days of Castleton. So what I am going to quickly discuss is the last remnant of the piano works. The great Chimney. Made of brick and probably 3 stories in height it was a last reminder of when my hometown was the largest makers of piano movements in the world. We had a sign near our old train station so stating. The chimney was the tallest standing structure in Castleton or it's adjoining Township of Schodack N.Y. It had stood for many years in the then vacant lot. As kids we often played near it. Some citizens of the village thought it may very well be unsafe because there was no structural support around it. An citizens committee was formed with the town board's approval to study whether it could be taken town. Donald Harris a well established member of the Masonic community was it's chair.
Multiple meetings held etc , and a proposal was set before the board with cost , wrecking companies etc. The board after some discussion passed the resolution in the circa late 50's to do the project. Within 2 months the wrecking company arrived and work began. What I remember was the fact they had to bring in a large crane and wrecking ball. What was thought to be an afternoons work turned into a two day event. The town Supervisor Lewis Hudson was amazed to witness what it took to demolish that chimney. Of course , there was a cost overrun. Finally , after the brick was all carted away and the dust settled a woman's group from the Methodist Church planted a rose bush there which lasted about 2 yrs.
Many people were somewhat saddened when the chimney came down , a lost piece of their own history was gone , for some a place of play was gone. Such . I guess was and is progress. Oh and by the way in case you might wonder what a piano action is.....it appears to be the mallet type device that strikes the string on the piano.
Multiple meetings held etc , and a proposal was set before the board with cost , wrecking companies etc. The board after some discussion passed the resolution in the circa late 50's to do the project. Within 2 months the wrecking company arrived and work began. What I remember was the fact they had to bring in a large crane and wrecking ball. What was thought to be an afternoons work turned into a two day event. The town Supervisor Lewis Hudson was amazed to witness what it took to demolish that chimney. Of course , there was a cost overrun. Finally , after the brick was all carted away and the dust settled a woman's group from the Methodist Church planted a rose bush there which lasted about 2 yrs.
Many people were somewhat saddened when the chimney came down , a lost piece of their own history was gone , for some a place of play was gone. Such . I guess was and is progress. Oh and by the way in case you might wonder what a piano action is.....it appears to be the mallet type device that strikes the string on the piano.
Sunday, July 10, 2016
My Hometown : Things Do Change : MHHS
Recently , I stopped by my old high school. Maple Hill High School in the town of Schodack NY 12033. The school was setting up for the graduation ceremonies that evening. Outside graduation is a tradition at the school. After I walked the track I was able to strike up a conversation with the principal , Ron Agostinoni. We talked briefly about the weather , class size. I happened to mention my old principal. Ron , said that he had heard of him. I mentioned that those were rougher days at the school as far as discipline was concerned. What he said next thrilled me. He said he did not believe in that sort of stuff. He wanted the students to respect him not fear him. Wow......what a concept. Respect not fear. So I wanted to just say that things can change for the better. Ed Psy research does make a difference , kinder and gentler can sometimes prevail.
Monday, July 4, 2016
Golden Farms Milk Bottle Found Schodack Landing New York
Well , it's not the Cup of Christ but it was an important find for me because it is linked to a part of my family and especially my earlier life as a kid and young teenager. My uncle owned this farm as did my great uncle Burt deeded later to his son and was only recently sold though my cousins and family still own property there. The bottle was discovered at my 87 yr old aunts home {Jeannie Harris} in her basement that we were rearranging and getting rid of some stuff. The bottle was a gift from her.
The bottle is from the 1920's or 1930's and trust me it is rare. Raised glass label , the label reads fully , Kenneth Golden Schodack Landing NY. An area in Southern Rensselaer County in upstate NY. Back 50 or so yrs ago this area was populated with well establishes family farms owned through multiple generations. Corn , Hay , Milk some other veggies in smaller amounts were the main farm staples. Those days are now somewhat of a foggy memory because many of those farms are gone. As are the days where this bottle used to show on peoples doorsteps delivered by people like my great uncle or his son.
By the way I spent time during summers helping during haying time at this farm. I helped stack hay bails. I was much younger then. By the way at that farm is where I learned to like my favorite drug.....strong morning coffee. So a piece of my family history rediscovered , some good memories added.
The bottle is from the 1920's or 1930's and trust me it is rare. Raised glass label , the label reads fully , Kenneth Golden Schodack Landing NY. An area in Southern Rensselaer County in upstate NY. Back 50 or so yrs ago this area was populated with well establishes family farms owned through multiple generations. Corn , Hay , Milk some other veggies in smaller amounts were the main farm staples. Those days are now somewhat of a foggy memory because many of those farms are gone. As are the days where this bottle used to show on peoples doorsteps delivered by people like my great uncle or his son.
By the way I spent time during summers helping during haying time at this farm. I helped stack hay bails. I was much younger then. By the way at that farm is where I learned to like my favorite drug.....strong morning coffee. So a piece of my family history rediscovered , some good memories added.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
RIP : The Cremated Cairstairs
Arrived last night from Belmont North Carolina around midnight. Over a twelve hr drive. Brought my Grandson Hudson back after a week long visit with grand ma & pa. One of the things I did was bury a handful of ashes in a beautiful botanical garden down there. Daniel Cairstairs , pronounced Carstairs. By request of him and his sister I was given 2 packets of cremated remains to bury somewhere in my travels. He wanted to be spread out. The other place he is "resting" is at a small wooded area next to Maple Hill High School in the Town of Schodack New York. Both places you might walk very near him close to rocks.
I knew Cairstairs when I spent one yr in boarding school. We met at a rowing event and we rowed against each other. We did not particularly like each other at first.....I thought him a snob. He thought me a jerk. Somehow in a complicated life we both came across each other in more accepting times. At Lime Rock race track in the late 70's. We kept in touch. We both like cars. He went into finance at first.....me.....education. He later became an adjunct professor in Connecticut. So I thought he might as a symbol of his life to be buried near a school. And so he is. His sister seems pleased with where I selected for both places. I know part of him remains in 06037 in an area known as Webster Ridge. So goodby DC. RIP
I knew Cairstairs when I spent one yr in boarding school. We met at a rowing event and we rowed against each other. We did not particularly like each other at first.....I thought him a snob. He thought me a jerk. Somehow in a complicated life we both came across each other in more accepting times. At Lime Rock race track in the late 70's. We kept in touch. We both like cars. He went into finance at first.....me.....education. He later became an adjunct professor in Connecticut. So I thought he might as a symbol of his life to be buried near a school. And so he is. His sister seems pleased with where I selected for both places. I know part of him remains in 06037 in an area known as Webster Ridge. So goodby DC. RIP
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Angry Elections 1968 , 1016
As I tend to do , I have been paying attention to this years Presidential Primaries and general politics in this year of 2016. Many commentators have remarked that this is as angry an electorate as they have seen. Well that may be so. But the angriest year I can remember was 1968. Let me take you back for a moment. to that time as I remember it.
A. The Vietnam war was raging on , every Thursday the body counts would come out telling us how many we had killed and how many of us were killed. The country was deeply divided over the conduct of that war. Families were often split , anti war protests were taking place on college campuses and the streets.
B. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King were both assassinated that year. My brother was sent into Washington DC along with troops across the country to help quell riots. I can still remember watching smoke rise from Albany NY from my hometown of Schodack. The police in Albany had to surround the Governors Mansion as rioting crowds began to push north towards that area.
C. There were counter culture riots at the Democratic Conventions in Chicago that summer. It was a bloody angry night.
D. Politics were consumed by Vietnam and angry push back from the 60's. It was a 3 way race that year but it is often forgotten that it was George Wallace who ran the 3rd party run . He was very angry over the entire civil rights movement and took out his outrage out on Federal Power. He won a couple of states. It was joked back then that he woke up angry.
E. We were a highly divided nation , over war & peace , social programs , young vs old. etc. People wanted blood . My hometown of Schodack was even angry. A small indication was at Maple Hill High School a janitor discovered in Mr Crosses room a Album of speeches by Adam Clayton Powell , a former Congressman and Black Activist. One evening in late September he took it out to the soccer field and poured some gas on it and burned it. He was quite proud of that act though he never admitted it at work. He did brag about it in the bars.
F. Finally in November Richard Nixon was elected to the Presidency. He ran on saying he had a secret plan to end The Vietnam War. I still am amazed he got away with that.
G. Finally as a Post Script a small story. At Christmas time we first circumnavigated the moon. We all watched as we saw earth rise over the moon for the first time. It seemed to truly move many people as we stumbled towards a new year. After the astronauts returned safely they received hundreds of telegrams of thanks and praise. One in particular caught the astronauts attention. All it said was "thank you ....you saved the year.'
So much for angry voters. , a rocky road ahead. But one advantage of being older is I been by this rodeo before. By the way , I still retain some of my anger from back then in case you care.
A. The Vietnam war was raging on , every Thursday the body counts would come out telling us how many we had killed and how many of us were killed. The country was deeply divided over the conduct of that war. Families were often split , anti war protests were taking place on college campuses and the streets.
B. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King were both assassinated that year. My brother was sent into Washington DC along with troops across the country to help quell riots. I can still remember watching smoke rise from Albany NY from my hometown of Schodack. The police in Albany had to surround the Governors Mansion as rioting crowds began to push north towards that area.
C. There were counter culture riots at the Democratic Conventions in Chicago that summer. It was a bloody angry night.
D. Politics were consumed by Vietnam and angry push back from the 60's. It was a 3 way race that year but it is often forgotten that it was George Wallace who ran the 3rd party run . He was very angry over the entire civil rights movement and took out his outrage out on Federal Power. He won a couple of states. It was joked back then that he woke up angry.
E. We were a highly divided nation , over war & peace , social programs , young vs old. etc. People wanted blood . My hometown of Schodack was even angry. A small indication was at Maple Hill High School a janitor discovered in Mr Crosses room a Album of speeches by Adam Clayton Powell , a former Congressman and Black Activist. One evening in late September he took it out to the soccer field and poured some gas on it and burned it. He was quite proud of that act though he never admitted it at work. He did brag about it in the bars.
F. Finally in November Richard Nixon was elected to the Presidency. He ran on saying he had a secret plan to end The Vietnam War. I still am amazed he got away with that.
G. Finally as a Post Script a small story. At Christmas time we first circumnavigated the moon. We all watched as we saw earth rise over the moon for the first time. It seemed to truly move many people as we stumbled towards a new year. After the astronauts returned safely they received hundreds of telegrams of thanks and praise. One in particular caught the astronauts attention. All it said was "thank you ....you saved the year.'
So much for angry voters. , a rocky road ahead. But one advantage of being older is I been by this rodeo before. By the way , I still retain some of my anger from back then in case you care.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Albany Products Company Inc Anti-Corrosive Castleton NY 12033
Recently discovered in an old storage barn in South Schodack NY a box of nuts and bolts and a post card and a sales brochure from a company called Albany Products Inc. As it said on the brochure , nuts , bolts and non ferrous fasteners. The address on the post card had the corporate address 351 Connecticut Avenue South Norwalk , Connecticut. This was at one time a fairly successful nearly nationwide company. They had offices in Norwalk , Boston , Chicago , Cleveland , Dallas and San Carlos. It was a consortium of manufacturing companies that produced hardware. In my hometown of Castleton NY 12033 a company called The Anti- Corrosive was part of this consortium. It was located on route 9J by the Hudson River. There was a large billboard sign next to the road which announced the company. It was well known in Castleton/Schodack because it had a super large representation of a nut and bolt screwed together on the billboard.
One might ask why if they had a corporate headquarters in New England , why would the company call themselves Albany Products. Well first of all it made them first in the phone book , which was important back in pre-www eras. Secondly , with the incorporation most officials and initial sales force came from the Albany , Tri Cities area. Hence the name , reflecting the origins. Two salesmen that I knew came from Castleton NY. One was a Jack Davis and the other one Henry Peters who started the New England office of The Anti Corrosive. Peters ended up selling many of the specialty items used on a once famous submarine called The Nautilus which was the first atomic powered submarine in the world and the USA fleet.
The oddest part of this company was their corporate logo which was on the post card. It was a picture of a man , dressed in a gray suit perhaps 1950's style with a bow tie with a } type symbol on the tie. He has a rather happy sublime smile. Protruding from his ears is a large nut and bolt. Truly one of the more unusual corporate logos I have ever seen anywhere.
You may wonder what happened to this once successful American Company. Well it was bought out in the mid to late seventies. Also as American manufacturing goes, it went , overseas to such countries as China.
As a post script , I knew Henry Peters , he was a favored uncle. Hence my limited knowledge of this company. He lived in Berlin Ct. 06037 on top of a ridge. Upon finding these materials I was flooded with rather fond memories of the 60's and 70's when I knew him best. By the way he was a top salesman in their workforce for many yrs. This blog is so dedicated to him.
One might ask why if they had a corporate headquarters in New England , why would the company call themselves Albany Products. Well first of all it made them first in the phone book , which was important back in pre-www eras. Secondly , with the incorporation most officials and initial sales force came from the Albany , Tri Cities area. Hence the name , reflecting the origins. Two salesmen that I knew came from Castleton NY. One was a Jack Davis and the other one Henry Peters who started the New England office of The Anti Corrosive. Peters ended up selling many of the specialty items used on a once famous submarine called The Nautilus which was the first atomic powered submarine in the world and the USA fleet.
The oddest part of this company was their corporate logo which was on the post card. It was a picture of a man , dressed in a gray suit perhaps 1950's style with a bow tie with a } type symbol on the tie. He has a rather happy sublime smile. Protruding from his ears is a large nut and bolt. Truly one of the more unusual corporate logos I have ever seen anywhere.
You may wonder what happened to this once successful American Company. Well it was bought out in the mid to late seventies. Also as American manufacturing goes, it went , overseas to such countries as China.
As a post script , I knew Henry Peters , he was a favored uncle. Hence my limited knowledge of this company. He lived in Berlin Ct. 06037 on top of a ridge. Upon finding these materials I was flooded with rather fond memories of the 60's and 70's when I knew him best. By the way he was a top salesman in their workforce for many yrs. This blog is so dedicated to him.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Simon Templar : RIP ?
I have been reluctant to write this blog. Being a fan of old style detective fiction and spy fiction , whether it be Phillip Marlowe or James Bond {he started in 1952} or Simon Templar The Saint.1928. I do think some interesting literature came from these authors , Ian Fleming , Leslie Charteris , Dorothy Sayers etc. But times and tastes change. The hardboiled Private Eye has given way to more technological or a more cultured type of agent. So after waiting for the new Saint pilot to be made and sold for production my actress daughter has informed me that this project is as dead as a door nail to use an old phrase. The expensive pilot did not appeal to those entertainment powers that be. So it appears this era of sleuth sainthood is over. After multiple books , movies , radio and TV shows it may very well be RIP for Templar. That stick figure with the halo is probably retired as a long standing logo. But the updated logo for the 90's movie of a lightening bolt with a halo remains my tattoo.
So I finally decided that this obit of sorts should now be written. Mind you my Aunt who socially knew the creator Leslie Charteris in Ocala FL and tried to convince my Mom to give me the middle name Templar is rolling over in her grave. It appears time to say good by.
So I finally decided that this obit of sorts should now be written. Mind you my Aunt who socially knew the creator Leslie Charteris in Ocala FL and tried to convince my Mom to give me the middle name Templar is rolling over in her grave. It appears time to say good by.
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