Town of Hunter Tidbits: A fascinating 1892 directory

Hunter Village was incorporated in 1896 and Tannersville in 1895, just a few years after this book was published.

TOWN OF HUNTER OFFICERS: Supervisor, Charles Voss; Town Clerk, A. Noble Graham; Justices of Peace, Francis A. Barber; Homer H. Payne, Charles D. Wiltse, George W. Dibbell; Assessors, George W. Anderson, Owen Glennon, J. Mortimer Rose; Road Commissioner, Charles Layman; Overseers of Poor, Levi Haines, Hezekiah S. Ingalls; Collector, George E. Sweet; Constables, James Rion, Joseph E. Haines, Emory D. Cline, William Schoonmaker, William C. Ford; Game Constable, George Showers; Commissioners of Excise, Cyrus M. Cartwright, James H. Flanagan, Lewis G. Rider.

A few interesting facts on the town of Hunter’s neighbors back in 1892. Ashland presently has three more people now than it had in 1892, today totaling 783 people. Hunter has picked up 296 people over the 125+ years, with today’s number at 2,732 people. Jewett has just 35 fewer people, with a population of 941. Lexington has the largest difference. It has 424 fewer people than it had in 1892, with 805 today.

Palenville is a hamlet in the town of Catskill. As the numbers were given for the town, it was impossible to establish its 1892 population. Today, Palenville has 1,040. Catskill township today (including the village) is 11,350-ish. The numbers in 1892 were quite surprising. The town of Catskill had 3,340 people and the village, tallied separately, had 4,920. Prattsville has 174 fewer people today than in 1892, with today’s figure of 702 people. Windham has 171 more than it had, with 1,674 people today.

Here are some 1892 news articles from the Windham Journal, starting with a one-liner written in March 1892. Under their County Items, the examiner’s office is preparing to publish a directory of Greene County. Interesting that it’s the book that this information is from! The bill to allow women to vote for school commissioners has passed the Senate with but one dissenting vote. It has a good chance in the Assembly, and will probably be signed by Governor Flower. It is said that the Central-Hudson has made a change in its system of “spotting,” and now employs females in that capacity instead of males.

An effort is being made and a special school meeting has been called to take into consideration the propriety of establishing a Union Free School in Hunter, which is very much needed and to which everyone who feels interesting in the education of the rising generations should lend a helping hand. Let every taxpayer attend and select a site centrally located. Let everyone attend and hear what they have to say and be convinced. Republican Newspaper.

HAINES CORNER – Charles Layman, Road Commissioner, has bought the Palenville and Tannersville turnpike. Lampman, of Catskill, is building a large club house at Santa Cruz Park. Alex Van Wagoner and son are putting up several cottages on Twilight Park.

The Athens News says: “A gentleman who recently drove out to Palenville, gave us the following interesting particulars respecting the Otis Railroad. The line commences or connects with the Palenville road south of the present Mountain House station, close to the residence of William Cole, and goes up to the Mountain House, to North Peak. The deepest rock cuttings are forty-seven and thirty feet. There will be a trestle erection 1,600 feet long. There are three steam drills and five steam derricks at work. The number of men employed is 200, including forty-two, 75 Italians and eighty-three ‘home talent.’

A visit would be interesting; it is but some 13 miles distant.

Until next week, take care, be thankful and kind. You never know how your act of kindness may change someone’s life.

Any comment please contact: hunterhistorian@gmail.com, or call 518-589-4130.