The Massena, New York Museum - Part 1

I drove into Massena one sunny day and visited the town museum, newly moved to a former bank building and looking elegant:

I'd been there before but didn't remember the two giant murals. I had to ask about the subject of the paintings. They depicted Jacques Cartier's exploration of the St. Lawrence River in the mid 1500s:

 

Cartier was a French explorer and named Canada by misusing the Iroquois word, "kanata," which meant village or settlement. He met a number of local tribes, and apparently they received him with friendship:

Only half the museum was open when I visited, as the other half was being rearranged for a new exhibit. But there was plenty to see in the open half, like this home spinning equipment:

There was no sign on these handmade dolls and I wish I'd asked about them. I will next time:

I headed down the hallway, which was filled to overflowing with local artifacts:

A Victorian dress, butter churn and milk can:

Victorian doll, baby carriage - an old desk and artifacts from an early church and synagogue:

Lots of hand tools, which I assumed were for kitchen use because those few which I recognized were kitchen tools:

Mohawk baskets, wagon wheels and lots of artifacts from Massena's history:

Farm and fireplace tools:

Tools for barn building and use around the farm:

A Civil War Uniform. There was a lot more to see, though, and I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

Franklin County House of History - Part 1

It had been a long time since I was at the museum in Malone, New York and winter was rapidly approaching when they'd be closed. So one afternoon I drove to Malone to take another look:

The entrance leads into an old fashioned kitchen, complete with wood cook stove:

And a real pantry:

Even the curtains in the pantry looked old timey:

From the kitchen, I proceeded into the more formal parts of this old mansion, where a headless manikin in a servant's uniform stood by the door:

Malone was the home of William A. Weaver, 19th Vice-President of the United States, elected in 1876 with Rutherford B. Hayes. This was not Mr. Weaver's home, but this bedroom contains his furniture and personal belongings:

A nightstand in the bedroom:

Back into the more formal rooms, I took notice of several glass display cases which held Civil War memorabilia:

A selection of old teapots caught my fancy. I've always liked teapots even though I don't like tea:

Parrit Blaisdell Jr., a stage coach driver between Windsor and Montpelier, Vt. married Betsy Standish, a descendant of Miles Standish, in 1822. Their portraits now hang in the House of History:

Then I proceeded to the elegant front stairway, where a 1920s style flapper was standing:

Before going upstairs, however, there were several parlors to investigate. I'll post more photos tomorrow from the Franklin County House of History:

Old Fashioned Harvest Days In The Town Of Madrid - Part 2

There was an old fashioned, steam powered sawmill in operation:

More antique cars:

And this tractor driving around the grounds, pulling a wagon loaded with kids, their little brown dog and grandpa:

This 100 horsepower diesel engine once ran a cheese box factory in Heulvelton, New York. It was running and making lots of noise:

Old time power equipment wherever one looked. This fully operational miniature tractor was a big hit with this boy. His mom told him to get out of the way so I could take a picture, but I said I'd love it if he'd get back on it again. He refused, however, saying instead that he had to "make some repairs." He got in front to check the engine. I think he's going to be a mechanic some day:

Folks (and a few dogs) walked around, examining the old tractors:

And other old time farm equipment. There were several big barns filled with more tractors and equipment, but I never even went inside to see them this time:

This unique little dozer/loader was a wonder to me. I thought it might be for moving snow until I saw the teeth on the bottom of the bucket. That made me think it might have been for picking up stones in a field:

A 1932 Worthington golf course tractor. The Worthington Mower Company produced such equipment from the early 1920s until 1959:

There was a small Civil War encampment:

A 1922 steam engine, used by the St. Lawrence County Highway Department for many years:

This amazing vehicle was running up and down the dirt lanes with very few riders. The man in the white shirt flagged down the driver and asked to get on. He did, and I hobbled up behind, catching up to the wagon, and joined him. We had a nice ride and tour of the grounds until we reached the site of the miniature horse pulls. But I'll post about that tomorrow:

The Civil War Encampment - Part 2

I was attending a Civil War reenactment at the State Park in Massena. I left the Confederate encampment (see yesterday's post) and entered the Union side, beginning at the Doctor's camp:

Men in Union uniforms and women in costumes of the period sat and chatted:

One family had brought their baby, also in period costume, and she played happily on a blanket:

The battle was several hours away, so men prepared for that and women sat and read:

I walked down to see the St. Lawrence River and, on the way, passed this wonderful scene. A girl and a woman in dresses of the era walked their two tiny puppies:

And the St. Lawrence River was breathtaking. I noticed this Elm tree, and realized that I keep seeing them around here. This was perhaps the biggest healthy Elm I've seen yet and it raised my hopes that the species was becoming resistant to Dutch Elm Disease:

This man gave me a demonstration of a muzzle loader and was very friendly:

But the call went out to prepare for the upcoming battle reenactments and men began donning their uniforms:

As for me, I wouldn't be able to stay and began making my way back through the encampments toward my parked car:

This woman kindly posed for me with her baby but I could tell the photo wouldn't be very good. So, as she began to walk away, I quickly snapped one more shot, this one not posed. It became my favorite photo of the day:

I left the Union encampment and passed through the Confederate side on my way back to the car. Just about that time, the call went out to move the canons into position. But I couldn't stay and had to put my camera away and conclude my visit to the Civil War reenactment and encampment:

The Civil War Encampment - Part 1

It was billed as a Civil War Reenactment at the State Park in Massena, but I arrived when there was no fighting and only saw the encampment. Nonetheless, it was a bit of a window into a former era. I began by walking through a cluster of tents and campfires:

Folks in period costumes were showing tourists how things used to be done:

And men in Confederate uniforms were discussing battle plans:

I was slow to figure it out, but I soon realized that I had begun in the Confederate encampment. Everyone was friends, though, and there was a lot of coming and going between camps:

This tent would, it seemed, use only a candle lantern for light at night:

The battle reenactment was several hours away and many folks just sat and enjoyed the beautiful weather and scenery:

Men clustered in groups to chat and play cards:

The costumes looked very authentic to my eye:

And lots of the accessories were accurate to the period:

I came to the end of the Confederate encampment and walked through a series of canons:

I would later see the men begin dragging all the canons into battle positions, but just then I was concentrating on passing through to see the Union encampment. But I'll post about that tomorrow: