Snippets of History from Town Historian, Beverly Summe

In preparation for the upcoming Bicentennial I have been putting together displays. It is indeed very challenging to research the many history files in the towns archives. As your historian, I never tire of reading an old excerpt from an old 1800’s newspaper or looking at the many pictures which always make a story come to life. That is what has been going on at the Historians office and a lot of it.

As you may recall, I was asking for old family photos to add to the “Families of Akron/Newstead board”. And oh my!  So many of you have brought in wonderful pictures to share along with the priceless stories you shared.  This will be displayed at the Cultural Center and called “Snippets of History”.  I can only accept pictures until June 15th.  They may be brought to the historians’ office or sent digitally to historian@townofnewstead.com.  Copies can be made while you wait.  If you, your parents and grandparents have lived in the town for a long time then you should be on that board.  Your ancestors count on you to be remembered and you are also the ancestors of the future.

Here are a few examples of what I have recently read that still bring a smile to my face.  In an 1880 edition of the “City Drift” newspaper.

The editor quoted. “ it is a common thing to see five or six rag peddlers in Akron every day and don’t forget there is always a frog opera every night down by the bridge”  In another article it stated that Barney Higgins and his wife just returned from Michigan and relocated in Akron again. They say it’s all” humbug” to rush out , better to stay at home and reap the unequalled benefits of our own great state.  If you’re hankering after good cheap land take a trip down to the Tonawanda Swamp or over to Pochuck and you will find plenty.  There are opportunities to gain a fortune there in a few short months. Do you know where Pochuck was?  It was a well know hamlet in our town.  This and many more snippets of history, that will bring a smile to your face as well will all be at the Bicentennial display at the Cultural Center.  Next week I will tell you where Pochuck was and share some more bits and pieces of our towns’ history.  Until then…