Archive for category: POP Articles

The first annual Little Falls Cheese Festival sponsored by Main Street First is scheduled for July 11, 2015 and planned for a West Main Street location in the city.  Preserve Our Past is happy to support this effort by providing a documented summery of the Herkimer County Cheese market as influenced by Harry Burrell and his son David H. Burrell, 1826-1920.          

HERKIMER COUNTY CHEESE HISTORY

 Herkimer County’s claim to 19^th century fame centered on the cheese business.  Weekly open air markets were held in Little Falls where farm wagons were lined up along the curb at the Ann and Albany Street intersection to haggle over prices with many dealers present.  These seasonal Monday markets set the national and international cheese prices in the third quarter of the 19^th century.

Jonathan Burrell, founder of the Herkimer County cheese business, came from Sheffield Massachusetts to the Town of Salisbury around 1790 with his son Harry.  They were soon in the dairy business making butter and cheese as well as acting as marketing agents for their neighbors.  In 1826, Harry was commissioned by his Salisbury neighbors to sell their cheeses in New York City by carting it to Albany and floating it down the Hudson to a rented warehouse in the city and selling it over the winter months.  Motivated by success, he soon enlarged his business to selling cheese in Philadelphia and adding cheeses from Vermont and Massachusetts to his inventory. Harry also opened the cheese trade with England with an initial shipment of 10,000 pounds.  The business gradually expanded until he was storing 70,000 of cheese in New York over the winter. Profits from commissions were usually invested in real estate in Herkimer County.  Harry’s success as a commission salesman served as a model for his son David who was to become a multimillionaire and Little Falls’ most generous benefactor.

David Burrell was included in the family business at an early age, assisting his father during the summer buying months and in New York City during the winter sales.  The Burrells often started their sales season with 60,000 boxes of cheese.  By age 22, young David personally carried off a sale of 33,000 boxes for $66,000 netting a commission of $1000. At age 27, he was sent to England to rescue a floundering Burrell cheese factory.  During that stay, he visited other factories to observe their methods.  Upon returning home, he sold his interest in the sales effort and bought out George Ashley’s hardware store with his partner Rodney Whitman.

Doing business in ways that supported the cheese business was a shrewd decision.  High quality stock and the latest equipment could be found at Whitman and Burrell, some of which were David Burrell’s own inventions.  The real estate purchased with cheese profits often became tenant farms where the farmer would work for 2/5 of the profit and Burrell as owner would take 3/5.

Impressive amounts of money were earned through auxiliary business which supported the cheese trade.  Ice for dairymen, heaters for curd, cheese vats and presses, seamless cheese bandages, wooden and metal hoops, cheese boxes and tacks, one seam milk cans, gang presses which could press 20 cheeses at once.  There were a number of factories which made cheese boxes exclusively.

The development of the cheese factory system as introduced by Jessie Williams, a farmer in the Rome, New York area, was the key to moving the cheese business from a home industry into a multi-million dollar enterprise. Due to the Williams’ consistently high quality cheeses, neighbors offered him their milk to add to his own.  Milk cans brought to the Williams farm were weighed, dumped into a receiving vat, and the farmer given credit for the shipment.  Many potential factory owners visited the family to observe their methods where Mr. Williams generously shared his expertise. By 1869, there were 500 cheese factories in New York State using Williams’ methods. Avery and Ives of Salisbury was one of the first cheese factories established in Herkimer County.  As factories were born and reputations for high quality developed, favored local producers received their orders directly from England.

Circa 1860, it was the custom to do business with long credits whereby the farmer would receive a small down payment and the bulk of his due when his cheese was finally sold. Due to some unscrupulous dealers, the approaching Civil War, and some dealerships suffering bankruptcies, it became the custom to sell local cheeses on a short credit or for cash at open air Monday markets in Little Falls.  Market mornings were reserved for individual producers and afternoons was designed for the factory trade.  New York City agents would come up from the city on the train, visit the market and take sample borings and closed their deals with competitive bidding.

The Journal and Courier, one of Little Falls’ two newspapers, reported on July 13, 1865 that

”…The largest amount of cheese ever received in this village in one day was on Monday of this week.  As early as six o’clock in the morning, nearly a hundred teams had arrived at the depot and formed themselves in line.  During the morning, there was considerable excitement among the buyers prices averaging a little higher than the week before.  Early in the day it became apparent that it would be impossible to weigh all the cheese and many farmers concluded to store their loads and go home.  That which was stored was delivered Tuesday, the shipments of two days being 4299 boxes, almost all of which was bought and paid for on Monday….Mr.  Henry Priest was the freight agent and every cheese was rolled onto a platform scale set flush with the floor and weighed.  The weight was marked on the box with a brush and lamp black.  Matthew Thume was the marker and would stand all day at the task in a hole in the floor to be convenient to the work…”

By 1886, the activity at the cheese market was exciting editorial comment in the Journal and Courier.  The newspaper pleaded with dairymen to keep their wagons off the pedestrian walks and to keep their brawls and quarrels to a minimum.  It must have been a lively scene

By 1874, a dependable rennet extract had been developed by Christian Hansen of Denmark who was brought to Little Falls to establish a rennet production business on Lock Island.  Realizing the importance of this product to the production of high quality cheese, David Burrell was instrumental in bringing Hansen to Little Falls and organizing himself as sole agent of the rennent in the United States and Canada.

A newer development in the cheese production was the development of a process which removed the majority of the cream from the milk and used to make butter before it was turned over to the cheese makers.  Two profits from one products was tempting to many producers but caused an outcry among the full cream cheese producers who feared that Herkimer County’s reputation for superior quality would be marred.  Unscrupulous makers sold skim milk cheeses under a full cream label.

By 1871, the vigorous and successful cheese market came under a new organization known as the Dairy Board of Trade with David Burrell as treasurer.  Largely a producer’s organization, its offices were in a board room of a building on the northwest corner of Ann and Albany streets.  Current prices for cheeses were posted on public boards for small and large white, small and large yellow (colored with annutto), and skim milk cheeses.  Telegraph connections to New York City made it possible to obtain cheese prices from many markets in order that agents and dealers would have the latest figures. Everybody had the same information.  This pioneer organization served as a model for one established in Utica. Cheeses shipped to New York by rail or boat were received by the Butter and Cheese Exchange where the boxes were weighed again and sampled for quality.

By 1880s, Herkimer County’s unquestioned leadership was beginning to show some signs of decline.  Prices for cheese produced in Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin as well as Canadian cheeses were beginning to be quoted in newspapers and in Boards of Trade with Herkimer County cheese often being undersold. A deflated southern cotton market in the years before the Civil War brought about a decision by Wisconsin cheese makers to ship their cheese east instead of south, resulting in a flood in the New York market.  Among the most devasting blows to the cheese market was the diversion of fluid milk into condensed milk for the troops during World War I and the development of a fluid milk market in New York City

By 1920, the Little Falls Evening Times reported that there was no Little Falls cheese for sale.  The day of the cheese market was over.

Submitted by: Nan Ressue, President

 

 

 

 

 

Elegant pewter ornament for sale

Preserve Our Past is now offering an elegant pewter ornament for sale which features a rendering of our City Hall on its face and a history of the building on the reverse.  This fine memento is a perfect addition to your Christmas tree or as a gift to a Little Falls’ family member or friend who lives away from home and would like to have this remembrance. The history as engraved on the back of the ornament is as follows:

“Completed in 1917 in the nationally popular Beaux Arts style, the building façade features a grand entrance with Ionic pilasters and richly executed sculptural details on a central cupola. The main building is sheathed in granite-like terra cotta and the interior lobby features the sweeping marble staircases typical of the style.  The building was designed by William Neil Smith, New York City architect”. The ornament comes in a black velvet drawstring bag which makes a perfect container for the piece. Buy yours at the city clerk’s office or at the Mustard Seed in Canal Place.  The price is $15.00 plus 3.00 shipping and handling, tax included.  Order your ornaments through the mail by sending your check to Preserve Our Past, Box 105, Little Falls, New York 13365.

 Vincents Receive Preservation Award

Preserve Our Past has the honor of presenting the 2014 fall historic preservation award to Alan and Linda Vincent for their monumental adaptive reuse of a historic structure at 25 West Mill Street, Little Falls.  This will be the newest presentation in the organization’s series of historic preservation awards given to local people for their accomplishments in dealing with historic architecture.

It is immediately apparent to the visitor to Canal Place that the two limestone mills are the centerpieces of the area.  Not many among us would have the vision, courage, and perseverance to assume ownership of one of these immense structures and turn it into a thriving successful business. Alan and Linda Vincent have all these characteristics and more.

The Vincents purchased the building in 1987 and spent much time and thought in planning and organizing before beginning their project.  Work on floor one of the 25 West Mill building began in 1996 with the sand blasting of the ceilings, refinishing the floors, installing new wiring, replacing the boiler, and installing new windows.  The Little Falls Antique Center opened on October 1, 1996.

1997 was an important year for extending the life of the building when a new roof was put on and all four sides of the stone building were repointed.  Years of soot from passing trains was also cleaned from the building’s north face. Moving the elevator shaft closer to the entrance to comply with New York State regulations was yet one more monumental task accomplished by these intrepid preservationists. This also was the year of second and third floor development of retail space and private apartments overlooking the Mohawk River. People shopping and living at 25 West Mill have the use of a large parking lot excavated by the Vincents to serve the business.  Last but not least is a beautiful painting on the west gable end of the building by the late Steven Pitt Nichols designed to fit the shape of the space and features a fisherman standing in the river of time.

Thank you Vincents for  saving one of Little Falls’ magnificent buildings and creating a signature business for our community which not only boosts local economy but provides a destination for a wide radius of highway and waterway visitors to our Mohawk Valley town.

 American Flag Donated to POP

Preserve Our Past, Little Falls’ historic preservation organization, has recently had the honor of receiving an American flag which has flown over the national capitol of our country.  This respected gift was the result of a recommendation from New York Representative Bill Owens of the New York State’s 21^st district who recognized Preserve Our Past as a leader in directing public attention toward the restoration needs of the city’s venerable 1916 City Hall. This project also encourages other members of the local community to invest in their own opportunities, renovations, and expansions.

.Tom Yots Speaks At Annual Meeting 

TOM YOTS, past director Preserve Buffalo/Niagara,  spoke about the benefits of the Certified Local Government program and how Buffalo is using historic preservation to revitalize its downtown and its neighborhoods on July 12 at the POP annual meeting.  Tom Yots is a native of Mohawk and a committed  preservationist with years of experience in the field

 Dr. Adesek to Sponsor Spring 2015 Essay Contest

This spring, Preserve our Past will be hosting the 2nd Annual Writing Contest through a generous donation from Dr. Peter Adasek. The children will be asked to write about the importance of preserving City Hall in Little Falls. City Hall is one of many historically important buildings in the city. The contest will be offered to upper elementary students in Benton Hall Academy and The Baptist Academy. The teachers, Principal Joe Long, and Business Manager, Cletus Mclaughlin, expressed keen interest in this project as the theme fits so well into the New York State curriculum. Prior to writing, Preserve Our Past will arrange a tour of City Hall for students and teachers so they can experience the architecture and the history of this remarkable building. Prize money will be awarded based on an established scoring scale.

Main Street Victorian Storefronts Are A Little Falls’ Treasure

Large windows, welcoming recessed doorways, and original ornamentation are the trademarks of our remaining Main Street 19^th century retail stores and are viewed by many as handsome examples of an appropriate cityscape for our Mohawk Valley canal town.  With the possibility of additional rehabilitation funds for Main Street available through Urban Renewal, it would be well to again acknowledge the importance of our remaining Victorian storefronts which add so much charm to the Main Street district in this beautiful place we call home. Historic district property owners are eligible for a 40% NYS tax credit for approved restoration projects.

Regional Land Bank

Board members of Preserve Our Past on September 16th attended the evening Land Bank meeting at Herkimer County Community College sponsored by Keep Mohawk Valley Beautiful.

The presentation was well attended and showed the obvious interest within our area in learning about Land Banks and how this kind of legislation could help with our areas need to control the deterioration of our community’s property.

The evening’s presentation was followed by an active and lively question and answer period. The pursuit of Land Bank legislation will continue under the auspices of Keep Mohawk Valley Beautiful. They will be seeking support from each county legislature in our six county Regional Economic Development Authority.

Winter In Mohawk River Valley

The Mohawk River was a road through the wooded landscape in every season. Bateaux were poled upstream in summer time and sleds were pulled on the river ice by oxen with ted shoes in winter. Nearly every household inventory listed farm sleds among their machinery which were used in the winter to haul heavy loads on the river ice when a wagon axle would have snapped in the summer mud under the same weight.  Stone from valley quarries was hauled in January to build the 1772 jail in Johnstown for the newly organized Tryon County.

Snowshoes copied from the Indians made it possible for the farmer to work outdoors in the winter when the snow was waist deep.  Trees identified by their bark patterns were felled in cold weather when the sap level was low and bought back to the farm by oxen, sleds, and men on snowshoes.. Cutting trees for the endless uses of wood gradually created a cleared space ready to plant which had greater value than a wooded one of the same size.  .

Colonial economics were centered on the fur trade for centuries when both Indians and whites were involved in this all out wintertime effort when pelts were the most lush .Traps were the tools of the trade since a gunshot would have damaged the pelt .   The Indians were usually paid with objects and rum and the whites with credit at the store.

Fish caught through the ice added to the family larder and were salted and smoked to preserve them for later use.  However, unsalted meat and fish were such a treat that it often was only

referred to as “fresh”. Warren Johnson, brother of Sir William, noted in his 1760 diary that venison brought down in December could still be roasted and eaten in spring if the ice crystals remained in the meat.

The springtime breakup of the river ice jam was a fearsome thing and often discussed in diaries and letters.  The mountain of slow moving river ice was capable of ripping down bridges, crushing shoreline buildings and producing impressive sound effects.

 

       An evening with Bob Albrecht 

Keep the Mohawk Valley  Beautiful

Join us at the Art Center Gallery, Canal Place to hear Bob Albrecht, Chairman of “Keep the Mohawk Valley Beautiful”, a six county, not for profit affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, dedicated to the linkage between economic development and sustainable practices in communities. Free & open to the public.
Light refreshments will be served.
Tuesday, March 18th at 6:30

Preserve Our Past is currently spearheading a cooperative effort with Little Falls Common Council to launch the restoration of our City Hall. Randy Crawford, a historic preservation historic architect from Stearns and Crawford, Syracuse, New York will inspect the building to identify its restoration needs and to establish priorities.  This imposing 1918 building is a great source of civic pride and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. The inspection is scheduled for spring 2014.