Middletown Mileposts
Fall/Winter Newsletter 2013
This is the proposed drawing of
the Middletown Museum done
by Johnson-Schmidt and
Associates Architects on the
façade renovations that is part of
the New York Main Street Grant
for Addison. It has been a slow
process with approval from New
York States Historical
Organization giving final approval
and getting bids for the work to
be done. The bid process is
almost complete and hopefully
work will begin in a few weeks.
The matching grant seed money
for the facade was from The
Community Foundation of
Elmira-Corning and the Finger
Lakes, Inc. and donations from
our members.
A note from the President:
The spring and summer were busy times for the Middletown Historical
Society. Part of our educational programs included visitations of school groups to
both the museum and the Northrup One Room School House. Groups who came
to the museum were; a High School Special Program, Third graders and the Youth
Center. At the Northrup Hill One Room School; The Fourth Graders and the Youth
Center spent the day. The MHS also sold hot dogs and ice crème sundaes at Music
in the Park, a July bake sale and hot dog lunch for the Fourth, annual picnic at the
Northrup Hill School House and a Garden Party at Farnham Gardens in August.
All were well attended and the society appreciated all the members and non
members who helped and came and supported our events. The museum has been
routinely changing displays in the windows with a tribute to our veterans and
WWII and to our Volunteer Firemen and the two fire companies the Welles and
the Phoenix of the past. There are several events that are coming this fall and
winter. If you are in the area, mark your calendars and plan on attending. Our
Museum is open from 1-4 Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Our Town Historian and
Vice President Bonny Moore is usually there Sunday for any questions on our local
history or help with genealogy. You are encouraged to stop in and your support is
appreciated. Mary Bielski
4th grade visitation at the Northrup Hill One Room School House.
The American House Hotel for many years was an imposing landmark on
Main Street in Addison, Steuben Co., New York. Established circa 1831 by James
Van Vleck the American House was the small building with chimney that can be
seen behind the columned edifice in this photo. In the early 1850’s the original
building was moved back on the lot and the three-story Greek Revival hotel was
built.
Before the completion of the Erie Railroad which connected Port Jervis near
the Hudson River and Dunkirk on Lake Erie in 1850 the business center of the
village of Addison was clustered on the North bank of the Canisteo River around
the Tuscarora (now Main) Street Bridge. The old Eagle Hotel and a hotel run by
man named Lockerby served visitors and business men passing through the
village. The American House was one of the few businesses occupying space on
the street on the South side of the Canisteo.
When the Erie came to Addison it ran its railroad tracks right up Water
Street which was the main thoroughfare of the settlement, if you can call a dirt
track a thoroughfare. The train tracks were virtually on the doorsteps of the
existing buildings! The story is that the tracks were laid through the village on a
Sunday morning when the gentleman holding an injunction against the Erie’s
encroachment on his business establishment was at church. Gradually the
business center of Addison shifted to the South side of the Canisteo River simply
because the people needed space in which to expand. The railroad soon began to
deliver more people and business to the village than the old facilities could
handle.
The Erie Depot was necessarily on the North side of the river. The American
House, newly enlarged and much improved, began to offer transportation to and
from the station via horse-drawn carriages. On the far right side of the picture
above the winterized version of this transport is visible. The coach is on runners
to accommodate the snowfall.
This is the American House Winter ‘Bus crossing the tracks bringing people
from the Depot across the Canisteo River Bridge to Main Street and the American
House. The building on the right is the old Addison Hotel which in one incarnation
was the Arbor Hotel.
There was also an American House Summer ‘Bus which ran during those
times when the snow had gone.
This handsome carriage was an omnibus, a forerunner of the modern
taxicab. It was called a “Herdic Coach”. The coach was invented in 1881 by Peter
Herdic of Williamsport, Pa. It was an innovation in public transportation. It was
entered by a door in the back of the coach and had bench seats along either side
of the carriage. It was low slung on springs for ease of entrance and ride. Early
coaches could accommodate eight passengers at a time. Unlike the American
House Bus most of the Herdic Coaches were painted a characteristic yellow color
and soon became popularly known as ‘canaries’.
The Herdic Coach had Addison connections other than its service to the
community. Its inventor Peter Herdic, a pillar of society in Williamsport, had a
brother named Jacob Herdic, or Hurdick , who lived in the Village of Addison for
many years. At one time the building in which the Middletown Historical Society
is now housed, 41 Main Street, was known as the Herdic Block. It was owned for a
few years by Jacob’s son, James P. Herdic, who resided in Williamsport along with
his uncle Peter.
Until its demolition in 1971 by its last owner, Warren Stiker, the American
House was a hub of activity in the Village of Addison. People lived there and died
there. People were married there and spent their wedding nights there to be
whisked off to the Station in the morning to continue their ‘wedding trips.’ People
dined and drank, danced and entertained in its gracious rooms. People came from
afar often to consult the itinerant doctors and dentists who set up temporary
offices there. People worked there and played there.
One of the most popular and beloved denizens of the American House was
a long-time employee of the livery stables maintained by the proprietors. He
drank copiously and ate like a horse, and never missed a day of work in all the
years that he lived there. His name was OLD NIG. Before you get your dander up
remember that I did not give the fellow his name and he never seemed to mind it.
He walked placidly through the streets and never gave any one any trouble over it.
When he died he was treated with the utmost respect. This is his obituary:
The Middletown Historical Society is proud to announce that the
William G. Pomeroy Foundation has approved a grant to sponsor a
sign that will commemorate that Northrup Hill School District 10 has
been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The sign will be
aluminum 2’ by 3’ installed on a pole by Hal Sisson. It is being
produced by Catskill Castings in Bloomville, NY and will be shipped in
early October. The sign will read as follows:
Northrup Hill School District 10
Has Been Placed On The
National Register Of Historic Places In 1999
By the United States
Department OF The Interior
William G. Pomeroy Foundation 2013
Upcoming events: Watch for information in the “Addison Post”.
September 28th is the Fall Festival on Valerio Parkway. The MHS
will sell food, High School Ornaments and our calendars for 2014 maybe
ready.
October 5th is the Ghost Walk at the Old Catholic Cemetery. There
will be a hay ride from the Catholic Church on Maple Street to the
Cemetery and back.
November 5th Election Day Bake Sale and Chili Lunch
November 2nd Veteran’s Dinner at the American Legion
November 16th Winterfest in Woodhull from 5-9pm
December 1st Christmas Brunch Buffet at the American Legion.
The Middletown Historical Society wants to thank the following sponsors
who have generously given donations to help the society with their fund raising
events. Listed in alphabetical order, many thanks to:
Addison Central School
Addison Eagles Club
Addison Post
Armstrong Telephone Company
Carpenter-Flint Funeral Home
Cecilia Palmer’s Massages
Corning Incorporated
Corning Leader
Corning Foundation
of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes
Ethel’s This and That
Fran’s Landing
Masonic Lodge of Addison, NY
Napa’s Auto Parts
Natures Garden (Kraig Hamilton)
Pomeroy Foundation (William G.)
Roman, Ferchaw and Wade Denistry
Wades Building Supply
Wades Farm Supply
Wegmans Foods
William G. Pomeroy Foundation