Buildings Moved in Enfield Center
Travis Quilt
Early Rolfe Family
The Diary
In The News
Taverns in Enfield
In Memory of Daniel
50 and 100 years Ago
Wortman Hall and Enfield Falls Hotel
A Timeline of Enfield New York
A Scrap Book of Enfield
Pan American Exposition
Did You Know and Who are They - Notes regarding Enfield
Visiting Enfield Falls Hotel
Enfield History Newsletter The Baseball Team

 

Buildings Moved in Enfield Center

Traveling north on Enfield Main Road (Rt. 327) as you approach Enfield Center, just past the Presbyterian Cemetery on your right is this rather square, red, two-story building.  This building was the original Presbyterian Church built in the years 1835-36.    It was located on the lot in front of the “Presbyterian Cemetery”.  In the mid 1870’s, after the church folded, it was purchased by John G. Wortman.  This purchased was report in Ithaca Daily Journal, June 10, 1879. The stated that , “J.G. Wortman had purchased one of the corner lots at Enfield Center, will place thereon his store and half building, and with the addition which he proposes”.
            Wortman added a north south wing on the south side of the building, doubling its size. The original church section was turned into a store on the first floor and an auditorium on the second. The added section became living quarters. An undertakers business was started in the basement accessible from the northeast at ground level. The church part of the building has a full pediment in front with a broken pediment in back. It is a full two-story structure, which had three windows in front on the second floor and a centered door with a window on either side on the first. At one time in the late 19th century there was a porch across the front of the first story. There is also a porch along the south side of the newer section on the first floor from which access to that wing is gained This part has the only glassed cupola in the town of Enfield.  

            Located on West Enfield Center Road is the Methodist Church established in 1835.  A small church building was built in that year at the southeast corner of Bostwick Corners. It had some out‑lying buildings associated with it. The parsonage was built just to the south of the Enfield Center corner on the east side of the Road some time before 1866.  The Bostwick Corners Church was moved to the west of the corner on the north side of Enfield Center Road in 1876.  The bell was moved with the old church and the other buildings at Bostwick taken down.  Church members contributed much of the work and materials. 

            The first church organized in Enfield was the Baptist in 1817. The congregation met in houses and the Woodard School until they built their own church in 1842.  It was originally located on the east side of Enfield Main Road, but was moved perhaps to avoid the creek in 1881 to its current location on the west side of the Enfield Main Road. Horse barns were built on the original site, but they were torn down in 1925.

            On the east side of Enfield Main Road north of the Baptist Church are two low rectangular wooden structures, which are now used for storage but used to be the town hall and barn. The smaller building was the "Pig's Ear", a men's social club that was purchased by the town in 1923.  This building was moved from Enfield Center Road West and a 10 foot addition was added to the southern end.  The building was extensively remodeled in 1923, retaining only the framing of the original structure.  The building was heated by a wood burning stove that sat on the concrete slab in the southwest corner of the room.  It still has built-in election booths inside.  The Town Hall was used not only for town business and elections, but for card playing parties and other social events.  Participants of these card parties remember entering the Town Hall and one person would have to light the kerosene lanterns for reading light.

How did they move the building…In the days before running water, indoor plumbing, telephone and electricity, moving a building was no big deal. All that was needed, were winches, heavy timbers, wheels, men and strong horses. In the beginning, house movers utilized ropes and capstans, but this technique required that workers first drill holes into the streets to insert posts. As technology changed, steamrollers came into use, and later, huge hydraulic jacks.  They could also take the building down piece by piece and then put it back together.
George Pullman’s (Pullman Railroad Car) father James Pullman invented a method for moving houses on wheels in Albion NY. (Information from http://www.pacpubserver.com/new/enter/8-6-99/mobilehomes.html Mobile homes Princeton proves that everything is transient By Daniel Shearer)

 

Travis Quilt
      
On October 18, the Enfield Historical Society met and viewed an 1851 quilt the society received in October from Debby Rappleye.  The “quilt top” had been given to her by Martha Frost of Mecklenburg.  The quilt top had been stored in a trunk that had belonged to Martha’s grandmother.  Debby completed the quilt and then donated it to the Society.  The quilt was made for Abigail Travis by her friends in the year 1851, Enfield Tompkins County.  Each of the large quilt blocks (90) contains a signed verse by friends in, Enfield, together with friends from, Newfield and Genoa.  The group is now trying to find out more about Abigail Travis and why Martha Frost’s grandmother had the quilt top which was never finished.    We know from the Census that Abigail was born in 1819.  In 1850 she was living with her Sister Rebecca and her husband Noah Holly on Connecticut Hill Road, below the District #10 Nobles School House.  Her parents were Stephen and Christian Smith Travis. We can not find Abigail after 1850.  If you have any information regarding Abigail let us know.  We have more details on the family we just don’t have room here in the newsletter to share it all.  Here are the names on the quilt.

Hannah Weatherby, Enfield
Matilda Baxter  
Marquis Benter, Enfield
William Bird, Enfield
Peter V. Bogart, Barton, Tioga County
Helen Caldwell, Newfield
Lydia Ann Chase, Hector
Mary Jane Cramer, Enfield
William Cramer, Enfield
Harrison H.  Doolittle, Enfield
John Robinson Doolittle, Enfield
Christeann Doolittle, Enfield
Charity Doolittle, Enfield
Calvin Doolittle, Enfield
Catherine Douglas, Newfield
Maryann Douglas, Newfield
Eleey Douglas, Newfield
Jacob Everhart, Newfield
Samuel Finger Geneva
Lorenzo F. Gibbs, Newfield (Hector)
Clarissa Gibbs, Newfield (Hector)
Dennis Gibbs  
Travis Gibbs  
Mary Ann Holly, Enfield
Noah Holly, Enfield
Sylvenus J.  Holly  
Annette Houser Genoa
Alphonsine Hungerford, Enfield
Benj Hungerford, Enfield
Sarah Hungerford, Enfield
Betsey Hungerford, Enfield
Harriet Kelly
Marice Kern, Newfield
Christeann Kraviz  
Philip Kresgen, Newfield
Elizabeth Loveless, Newfield
Nelson Loveless, Newfield
Edwin Loveless, Newfield
Rebecca Nicholson, Enfield
Frances M. Nobles, Enfield
John A.  Nobles, Enfield
Betsey Prichor  
Cornelia Ann Rumsey, Enfield
Jane Rumsey, Enfield
Nicholas J.  Rumsey, Enfield
Phebe Rumsey, Enfield
Simeon Rumsey, Enfield
Martha Rumsey, Enfield
John B. Rumsey, Enfield
Calvin Rumsey, Enfield
Anna Rumsey, Enfield
Elizabeth Rumsey, Enfield
Isaac J. Rumsey, Enfield
Julia Ann Rumsey, Enfield
Sarah Jane Rumsey, Enfield
James Rumsey, Enfield
Charlotte Rumsey, Enfield
Schuyler Rumsey, Enfield
Martha A. Rumsey, Enfield
Jake Rumsey  
Ruth Jane Rumsey, Enfield
Urania C.  Saxton  
Ruth Sherwood  
Abigail Smith, Enfield
Hannah Smith, Enfield
Marinda Smith, Enfield
Elizabeth Smith, Enfield
Tersesa Smith, Enfield
Louis Smith, Enfield
Lucinda Thomas, Enfield
Jane Travis, Enfield
J. Stephen Travis, Enfield
Abigail Travis, Enfield
John L. Travis, Enfield
Samson Travis   
Edmund Weatherby, Enfield
Betsy Wood, Enfield
A.M. Wood, Enfield
J. Woodworth Fayette

Early Rolfe Family
Jonathan and Susan Elison Rolfe had four children when they moved from Amboy NJ in October 1806 – Reuben, Sarah, Mary and Ephriam. Reuben being the oldest gave a history of the journey as follows:
As I (Reuben) was the oldest of the four I remember many of the difficulties that attended the journey.
The country was new, the public buildings (inns) were log buildings with a few exceptions for the want of convenience, in my cases they were obliged to bring their bedding from the wagon and lie up on the bar-room floor.
After journeying from sixteen to eighteen days they arrived at Jacksonville, Ulysses, Tompkins County then Seneca) N.Y. and remained there till March 1807.
Early in March he located his farm in Enfield three and one half miles south of Jacksonville. He built a log house on his farm. in the current area of Applegate road near Rolfe Cemetery.
On the last day of March he started with his family of five children – Reuben, Sarah, Mary, Ephraim, Samuel (in after years Joseph, Jonathan 4th, Nicholas and Susan). At twelve o’clock the same day we arrived at our new home. On entering the house we found no door to shut or no window to open no upper floor, no chimney, as for the window it needed none as there was a hole left in the roof for a chimney in after days it furnished all the light necessary for the domestic work of the house. At two o-clock the same day there commenced a heavy snow storm, it snowed that afternoon and night, the next day and night and the third morning after our arrival my father measured the snow and found it to be four feet deep.
There in the woods with one pair of oxen, one horse with one hundred pounds of provisions, he obliged to follow the customs of the country (hunt, fish, and grow the rest of the families food).
In doing so he shouldered his axe started for a large basswood tree that stood about 4 rods form the house, he cut it down and his oxen breakfasted on that. That is about the summary of our settlement in the woods.
At that time there was not a public highway laid out in Enfield nor a frame house or building, and but a few in the country. This section of the country was military land, in the early settlements it was bought from three to four dollars an acre.
(Carl Fisher, Descendants of Some Early Settlers of the Trumansburg-Cover (NY) Area – The Rolfe Family. 1968.) recorded to attempted to copy the above story just as it was written, but his original was a copy of Reuben’s original The date of the narration is unknown).

The Diary
Sue Thompson (Enfield Town Historian) and Karen Dickson (Enfield Historical Society Member)
On June 20th Karen Dickson shared her great grandfather’s diaries with the Enfield Historical Society. His name was Asahel Lovell Harvey. He was born in the Town of Enfield in 1819. He was the son of Joseph Harvey who was came to the Enfield area in 1808. Joseph’s wife was Hannah Lovell and they settled permanently in Enfield in 1817. Asahel married Jane Ann Mack and they had one daughter Hannah Alice. At the time of the writing of the diary they lived on the farm that was the Marshall farm for many years and now is "City Lights Antiques" located on Mecklenburg Road just outside of the Ithaca city limits west towards Enfield. The diaries tell of the comings and goings of life on the west hill and Enfield and Ithaca. Of course he travels to Jacksonville, Mecklenburg, Searsburg and Trumansburg. During this time the war between the states (civil war) was raging. Listed in the military records 4 Harvey family members were involved in the civil war.

January 1864
1. Got up before daylight. Warm. Went to Father's. (Joseph on Harvey Hill Road) Nice wheeling (sleighing). Boy's all home. Paid mother (Hannah Lovell) for sugar and honey $2.25. Home at sundown. Getting cold fast. Coldest day yet this winter.
6. Killed 12 turkey. Sold cow and calf to McLune for $28.00. Went to town
with sleigh. Took 11 turkeys. Sold them for $12.60. Saw Fin Burlow's cattle.
7. Cold snowed a little. Mike come across the field after fox. Went after him saw the fox 2 times. Kate Howland (Mrs. S.B.) come in evening to make dress.
14. Went to Brad Alma(y). Got foot measured for boots. Have them in 3 weeks. (Brad Almy Jacksonville shoemaker and farmer).

February
2. Roderick went to War. Paid M.A. Sexton .75c for one gallon molasses.
Warm and muddy. (Roderick Byrum from Enfield fought in the Civil War, there are references of Roderick visiting until the end of April.)
15. Cold. Chas. Hosner come to put up banisters. Father come here.
18. Went to town. Got lumber for bellisters.
19. Cold rough. Went to look at some cows. Took Father home 5 o'clock.
20. To town. Sold clover seed to Halsey's. (Halsey’s Mills – Ithaca) Sold horses to Lampkins. Paid $20.00 on them. Roderick here.

March
19. Cold and raw. Went to town. Got boots tapped at Van Orman's. (John VanOrman’s Ithaca boots and shoes 44 East State Street). Paid 63c. Silas (Uncle brother to Joseph) came home with me.
23. Cold north wind. Went to Tommy Hopkin's vendue. To Mr. Lanning. Miss Bundy got seed. Paid $4.88. Got boots of Alma.
31. Warm snow. 6 inches deep. Sowed some grass seed. Went to town. Got money of Halsey's for seed, $271.89. Got money of Burrett for timothy seed, $16.85. (Greenly, Burritt & co. Buckwheat Seed for Sale – Ithaca) Paid G. B. Harvey, $51.20. Paid John Lewis interest $35.00. John Elston come to paint.

April
7 Warm. Loaded Frank Harvey's piano on the wagon.
8. Warm. Took Frank's piano to Ludlowville. Hard wheeling. Got home 5 o'clock.
17. Cold wind. Froze hard in morning. Went after Doc Morgan at night. Got some medicine for Hannah’s measles. (E.J. Morgan Ithaca, Homeo. Physican and Surgeon 22 East State Street, Ithaca).

June
2. Went to town. Got Hannah and Anna Culver. (Married Reuben Harvey, Jr.) Maria went to (Uncle) Henry Willet's. (Jacksonville). No rain to day. Got 4-bush plaster.
4. Worked on road. No rain to day. Kate Van Order paid $2.25 for corn and work.
6. Took Hannah and Lina to school. (Ithaca Academy listed Hannah Harvey on the Honorary list for Spring semester – I.J. 7/6/1864) Divided line fence with Rhodes. (Wm F.) Rhodes paid borrowed money $1.50. Gipseys (Gypsies) camped down on corner
7. Ordered the Gipseys away. Went west. I went to look for cows. Got none. No rain to day. Very dry. John Van Dorn put two cows in pasture.

August
2. Rained last night. Rained all day. Tore up floor. Cut wall in old house.
3. Rained forenoon all day. Worked in old house. Set 100 tobacco plants.
7. No rain. Went to Uncle David Purdy's funeral.
18. No rain. Went to Enfield to Father's. Got Pears.

September
21. No rain. Cut some corn. Took in drove cattle, 89 head sheep, 350 cattle.
22. No rain. Went to lawsuit. Rhodes and Ruben Chamberlain paid for
drove keep $10.50. (Their farm was used for drovers who passed through on the turnpike to leave their livestock in his pastures overnight, and he charged them rent per head.)

October
17. Rained some. Father died 6 3/4 o’clock in the morning. Went up there
towards night. (sick three weeks, two days. Asahel visited his father almost daily from September 25 until he passed away)
19. Rained some. Went to Father's funeral at 11 o’clock.

November (November 8 - Abraham Lincoln is re-elected president)
10. No rain. Picked apples to Myron's. Took apples to cider mill. Paid $9.00 for sugar and $1.00 for trade.
12. Snowed all day. Went to Enfield.

December
16. Rained and snowed some at night. Killed 14 turkeys. Sold to Greenly,
5 chickens, for $26.20. Paid $3.00. Hannah's vail, $1.00.
17. Rained last night. Went to Enfield with sleigh. Good in the morning,
poor to come home on.

On a recent trip to the Tompkins County Clerk’s Office I had the delight of visiting a book called “The Mortgage Book” I was looking for references to the Woodward family and these are a few of names I came across they started in 1832 to 1836: Woodwards: Elizabeth, Elijah R., Charles, John, Henry F., Thomas Henry, Samuel, William Amos, and Benjamin. Other names were: Seth Leonard, Amos Ogden, Reuben Lyon, Richard Smith, George Wickham, Elizabeth Grant, Simeon Dewitt, Joel Basset, Walker Jacob, Timothy Williams, and Ephraim Mead.

In The News
Strawberry and whipped cream supper at the home of Mr. And Mrs. C.W. Jones Tuesday evening June 30 commencing at 5:30 o’clock. Thomas Brown is having his barn remodeled making it larger. Miss Josphine Carrican and Harold Smith were married Friday May 19. Born on June 17 a daughter, Helena May to Mr. And Mrs. Howard Holley. A car was wrecked near Theodore Schabers House last Saturday night on one was injured. (The Messenger, 6/25/1931).
The Lokken brothers have purchased the Jason Jones Farm. Mr. And Mrs. George Laue and two sons spent last Friday evening with Mr and Mrs. F.O. Rothermich. Enfield Community Men’s Brotherhood at Kennedy’s Church, presented an unusual program: “Wanted, A Wife” was the title of the skit presented by Arthur Teeter, Fred VanNederynen, Ralph Tilton and Dan Mitchell. Charles Baker, D.S. Peterson, Lawrence Stevenson and Fred Caswell presented a varity radio program. (The Messenger, 4/30/1931)
The High School students from Enfield re enjoying their Easter vacation. Miss Esther Lokken is spending some time with Mrs. Alan Rumsey. Ralph Lovelace has moved on the farm he recently purchased. Mr. Matthews is moving from the R.R. Updike farm to Abram Updike’s tenant house. Doris Hasen is recovering from the mumps. Clifford Leonard has purchased the james Parker farm. (The Messenger, 4/2/1931)

Taverns in Enfield
(Book: The Town of Enfield – Christian Hill to Enfield Falls)
Sue Thompson, Enfield Town Historian

Hotels and taverns are another type of building that used to be much more important in Enfield than they are now. In addition to the Enfield Falls Hotel, there have been through time; a tavern at VanDorn's Corners, Applegate’s Corners, and one shown on the 1853 map at the west end of Harvey Hill Road. Hotels existed at Bostwick Corners, in Enfield Center and at the corner of Buck Hill Road South and Mecklenburg Road. The Wallenbeck Inn at the west edge of town marks the end of New Road, now Fish Road; this was the first Road in the township after its founding.
The original taverns were most likely log cabins, built shortly after the Catskill Turnpike opened in 1804. They averaged about 20' by 25'. They would have been replaced by frame structures after local saw mills made slab wood more easily available. The first log tavern at Applegate's Corner was built in 1807. Its frame replacement was probably built before 1825, as part of it was used as a store from that year on. This building lasted well into this century, falling to ruin, burning during World War II and being torn down thereafter. A picture of it in extreme disrepair shows a very simple, two-story frame structure of no particular architectural style. There are chimneys at either end and two front doors with two windows on either side of them. On the second floor are four evenly spaced windows. A porch across the front (south) side facing Mecklenburg Road covers the two doors and the windows next to them but leaves the outer windows clear.
VanDorn's Tavern is also only described in its last years. It was situated on the south side of Mecklenburg Road and had a barn associated with it. The barn had hidden basement rooms where stolen horses were rumored to be kept and before them, escaping slaves. It was torn down in 1916.
Nathaniel Newman opened a tavern in Enfield Center before 1812 it can be assumed it was a log building.
The "Teeter Hotel" in Enfield Center is on the 1853 map as A.W. VanMarter Tavern, but by the 1866 map is called a hotel. Moses L. Harvey ran it for many years and it was later taken over by Frank Teeter. A sketch of the building done in 1879 by Ezra D. Chase, aged 16, depicts a plain frame two story building with two wings and two chimneys. The east west wing on the north end of the building has two front doors, the left one with a window on the top, with a window in between them. The north south wing has a double front door with windows in the top part and a decorative panel in the bottom. There are two windows on the bottom floor and three evenly spaced on the second. A porch covers the three front doors. The south aspect shows another door in a smaller two story wing to the west with a flat roof and then a one story addition off the back of that. It looks much the same today, except that the two north wing doors have been removed and an interior garage put in. Inside it had a 'floating' dance floor.
The Wallenbeck Inn was most likely built shortly after New Road (Fish Road) was put in, in 1826. It, too, is a large architecturally non descript building. The north south section was probably built at a different time than the east west section. The front, facing west, has a central door with two windows on either side and five windows across the second floor. The east west wing has a door flanked by a window on either side and three windows on the second floor. This yields a mostly symmetrical building, except for the displaced door on the north face. The rear of the north south section slopes down to a single story. It has a tin roof.
Samuel Harvey is said to have founded a tavern on the town line (Buckhill and Bostwick Roads) in 1808 and to have been an innkeeper for many years. The 1853 map shows a building there as a tavern run by J.S. Travis and the 1866 map only as a house owned by S. Travis.
I recently received an e-mail from Tina Kolberg, thank you Tina,
(http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~tinako/Travis/Travis.htm) regarding J.S. Travis above. J.S. Travis is John Smith Travis. John was born in the Town of Covert on December 25, 1821 to Stephen and Christianne (Smith) Travis. In 1842 he married Miss Jane Nobles of Enfield, October 1, 1891. Jane was born on November 14, 1822 to Squire J. and Hannah Rumsey Nobles.
Tina reported that according to a deed found in Ithaca dated November 30, 1849, Silas Harvey of Enfield sold to John S. Travis of Enfield $1325 – Military Lot 58, roads which currently surround the Lot - Enfield Center, Buck Hill, Harvey Hill, and Black Oak roads, 50 acres SW corner (one acre know as Tavern Stand)..” The 1850 census listed John as an Innkeeper.
In the early part of the year of 1866 John moved to Ovid Centre and purchased the farm where he lived at the time of his death, October 1, 1891. Jane died November 25, 1873. They had two sons Adelbert A. and Don Smith.
The Enfield Falls Hotel was located in Upper Treman State Park. Charles and Keturah Woodward built and managed the hotel after purchasing the land from Gilbert Budd in 1833. The hotel stood on the elevated, flat, open spot across Five Mile Creek and North of and roughly opposite the present stone and timber pavilion. The hotel had a second-story porch that ran the entire length of the front of the building. The second floor supported a large ballroom where many dances were held on a Saturday night. The Hotel was still standing in 1916, although the roof had fall in. It burned sometime before 1920.

In Memory of Daniel
By Sue Thompson, Enfield Town Historian November 2004

In memory of our friend Daniel Kastenhuber, I would like to share a bit of “history” which Daniel shared with me. Daniel had a knack for coming up with “did you know facts and stories.” In June of 2000 the Enfield Elementary School 5th grade went on their trip to New York City. The whole trip was very rewarding. During part of the trip we walked from Cargnie Hall to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. During this walk Daniel was constantly sharing the little “history tidbits” of the city with whoever was walking next to him. When my time came to hear his stories Daniel said, “You know I think George Washington walked where we are walking now, isn’t that neat!”
George Washington took the oath of first president of the United States in 1789 in New York City, the Capital of the United States. The building was the original Federal Hall built in 1700 located on Wall Street. Since the president probably did walk or ride around the city, we can image as Daniel did, that we were walking where George Washington did.
Daniel’s memory will always be with us and I thought he would be amused if I shared in his memory these little “known/unknown” facts about our Town of Enfield:
Did you know that…
…Enfield School District #6 Enfield Center received 50 cents for cutting hay in its yard in 1889. How come the schools don’t do this now to keep taxes down?
…William Bros.’ ‘full orchestra’ played in Wortman’s Hall (Newhart’s Store) in Enfield Center on New Year’s Eve.
…Noble’s ‘full orchestra’ played in Wortman’s Hall on July 4th of 1881. William Barber, William Wright, Samuel Curry and Lewis Van Marter were on the committee for invitations. A.F. Curry, Leroy VanKirk, E. Havens, Neal Haves, Ed. W. Prager, Burr Rumsey, D.M. Dean and Ezra Rumsey were on the Honorary Committee.
…In 1965 you could drive through Enfield Center and see a huge pile of wood stacked up. Enfield Town Barns fuel supply was wood.
… In 1914 roads were never plowed and that buses only ran when the road was clear? You could also go to Ithaca with horse and sleigh and ride the train from Ithaca to Rochester.
…Dr. David Robb who started general medical practice in Enfield in 1911 retired after 56 years. He was also the first vice president elected when the New York State Left-Handed Golfers Assn. organized in 1936.
…Enfield’s Mill in R.H. Treman State Park was originally red but in 1926 it was painted green and is now gray. Millstones in the mill are all French stones.
…Peter Head who was a physician in Enfield worked with the wagon trails from Iowa to Colorado as a pioneer doctor from 1869 until????
…A large part of the 1871 Pennsylvania and Sodus Bay graded Railroad bed is still traceable through the town “The Train That Never Was”.
…Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was in existence in the town (est. 1915 – mid 1930’s).
…Enfield Community Council was created in 1975.
…The Enfield Volunteer Fire Company was officially incorporated in 1948.
…Most years each one-two room school house in Enfield would be visited by a photographer to take class pictures. The photographer’s dog was always in the pictures.
…When our towns first permanent settler, Judah Baker lost one of his cows in 1806 he met his only neighbor Asahel Lovell. I have never heard if Judah found the cow. Maybe it was the first meal between the Baker and Lovell families? Or maybe it was part of the wedding feast between the two families when Judah’s daughter Susanna, born in 1791 in Enfield, would marry Asahel’s son Moses, born in 1787 in NJ. Susanna and Asahel’s first daughter was born July 23, 1809.
…I’m sure you have heard of Ezra Chase (1783 – 1873). Ezra was a well known minister in the Town of Enfield. He was first resident minister in Enfield in 1813. Before any church buildings were in Enfield, Ezra preached in Judah Baker’s log barn built in 1806. But did you know that Ezra was Lydia Chase’s brother. Who is Lydia Chase, she’s Judah Baker’s wife.
…While reading an article called “AN EARLY HISTORY OF ENFIELD” they listed “familiar” family names in the town in 1821. One of the names was Longthatcher. I’ve never heard of that name before who was it? In a later article it looked like someone corrected the name to Thatcher. None of these names were listed in the 1825 Enfield Census only Longhhor, Longhton, Longkhor, Longstreet, and Thacker.

50 Years Ago
Enfield Falls - About 60 attended the annual Home Bureau-Community holiday party at the Community House on Wednesday evening. A picnic supper was served and gifts were exchanged. Fifty-five attended the annual school Christmas exercises and tree at the Woodward School House in District 7 on Friday evening, Dec. 23. Mr. and Mrs. Donald Bryce and daughters, Marlene and Sharon spent last week with Mr. and Mrs. R.G. Fowler. Mr. and Mr. Robert Bock entertained Mr. and Mrs. John Hill and his mother from Ithaca and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bock of this place for Christmas. Mr. and Mrs. Francis McFall spent Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. William Rockwell in Ithaca. Mrs. Nellie Meyer is in Memorial Hospital where she underwent a major operation on Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. John Ruliffson entertained his sister from Rochester for Christmas. Jan. 5, 1950 - Ithaca Journal - Ithaca, NY.

100 Years Ago
Enfield Center - Mrs. Wm. Rockwell has been seriously ill. Geo Wilson, of Athens, PA is visiting at this place. Geo. Wilson has sold his house and lot to Wm. Bullard. J.H. Tehall is still improving and his friends are pleased. Photographer William Hall will remain one more week. O.J. Harvey and wife, and H.B. Lohr and wife, visited at Chas. Miller's last Sunday. F.S. Stevenson has purchased the old Rumsey farm. Much valuable timber is located there. Remember the Christian Endeavor will celebrate its annual anniversary at the Baptist church, Sunday, Feb. 4. A fine program has been prepared. Fremont Wilson had a painful accident last week. While going from the house to the barn, he fell and broke his wrist. He is improving under the care of Dr. Knight. - Jan. 18, 1900 - Ithaca Daily Journal - Ithaca, NY

Wortman Hall and Enfield Falls Hotel
We notice by the attractive sign on the "Brees Building" Enfield Center, that Messrs. Knight and Stringer have opened a cabinet shop. A new firm, Pritchard & Munson, blacksmiths, Mr. Munson formerly resided at Hayt's Corners, Seneca Co. Dr. E.M. Strader our popular physician is gaining an extensive practice. Rev. Searles of New Jersey has been settled as the pastor of the Christian Church for the year. J.G. Wortman having purchased one of the corner lots at Enfield Center, will place thereon his store and half building, and with the addition which he proposes to make we hope to see as fine a hall as other of our country towns posses. The Longstreet family held their annual picnic (the first of the season) at the old homestead now the residence of S.H. Longstreet. About sixty were present. Geo. H. Fowler of Ulysses was in town last week showing to farmers and taking orders for his "Hay and Grain Elevator and Carrier" recently patented. Several of the farmers who have given orders have taken the old fashioned "slide" out of their barns to make room for this machine. Mr. Fowler has great reason to be proud of his invention, for from what we have seen of the workings of this car, it certainly is a great labor saving device. S.V. Graham is still supplying farmers with plows, "The Syracuse Chilled," of which he is agent. The Enfield Falls Hotel and grounds probably never presented a neater and more picturesque appearance than at present under the management of Mr. Van Nortwick the proprietor. New and safe walks have been built to the falls, the ground refitted, and from what we gather, will be liberally patronized and made on e of the first of summer resorts to picnickers and excursionists. Mr. Chas. Budd still retains the agency of the Buckeye Reapers and Mowers for this section. A large number of our citizens gathered at the Baptist Church on Sunday evening last to witness the marriage of Emma A Pollay, granddaughter of Reuben Rolfe, and Fred L. Aiken which was performed by the Pastor Rev. A.D. Abbott. This is the first time a marriage ceremony was ever performed in this church which was literally crowded, and we do not think a bride more lovely or a groom more manly could have been found to dedicate the church to this service. We predict that those walls will witness frequent occurrences of these gatherings from the close attention and interest manifested by those who are yet lingering in the state of "single blessedness". Z. Enfield, June 10, 1879. Ithaca Daily Journal.


A TIME LINE FOR THE TOWN OF ENFIELD created by the attending citizens of the Town of Enfield at the March 16, 1996 Birthday Celeberation - Enfield Elementary School

1804 - Judah Baker comes to Enfield
1806 - Asahel Lovell & family come same time Samuel Harvey family come.
1821 - The Town of Enfield officially a Town - March 16th
1837 - Jared T. Nivison settler on Iradell Road. Farm in same family until the Death of Sarah Nivison in 1994.
1862 - 109TH NY Vol. Inf. Found in Jacksonville, NY many field recruits.
1896 - Harry Willis
1906 - Emmett and Blanch Tucker were married.
1907 - Grace Tucker born
1912 - Helena Schaber - June 4
1916 - Harold Laue born - May 2
1921 - Robert H. Treman presents mill and property to state for park - Alma Smith March 13
1924 - Howard G. Stamp born.
1927 - Calvin H. Rothermich born March 8; Roger Hubbell born March 18; James Stevenson born September 13; Richard Hubbell born March 18.
1928 - Dick Stevenson Jan. 2 Harvey Hill Road.


1931 - Pay of town officials reduced due to high taxes and economic depression; Doris Lehmann Rothermich came to Enfield.
1934 - Nov. 11 Shirley (Tucker) Boyd born at home Leon & Bernice youngest.
1938 - Town purchases gravel pit south of Enfield Center; Blanch SanSoucie born at Bostwick Corners.
1939 - Town signs a cooperative fire fighting agreement with C.C.C. Camp S.P.6 Enfield Falls - Roy and Nina Linton family moved to Enfield.


1942 - Helen Willis Jackson; Larry Lanning.
1945 - World War II ends ; Jean SanSourcie graduated from High School; Wilma Johnson became Mrs. Richard fisher moved to Enfield.
1947 Baptist church parsonage sold ; Harold & Florence Laue married April 6.


1951 - Fire siren can now be operated from Newhart's Store ; Harold and Elda Clark with children Linda and Lanny moved to Enfield September
1954 - Blanch and Emmett Tucker House Fire Jan 21; Roger Laue born November 25; Alice Teeter Linton born in Enfield.
1952 - School districts #2,#4,#6,#7,#8,#10,#11,#14 consolidated with the Ithaca city school district ; Alan Fisher born in Montour Falls lived at Black Oaks Corners til 1979; Wayne Snder born in Enfield January 7.
1954 - - Army Reserve Center in Ithaca , named in memory of Reynold J. King - Robert ^ Myrtle Linton married; Art Masterman planted 2000 christmas trees at "Enfield Evergreens".
1955 - Mark Laue born in Enfield; Linda Linto VanNederynen born.
1956 - Ralph Lovelace Jr and Blanch San Soucie were married; Rolfe cemetery taken over by town; Etta C. Gray (came to Enfield)
1957 - Robert Linton Jr. born; Jo Ann Lovelace born, 8/4/1957
1958 -
1959 - Clarke W. Marshall born May 2; Cindy Linton born.


1960 - Rev. Robert N. Lovelace born September 22,1960
1961 - fire company purchased first self contained breathing apparatus - Rodger Linton born; Anne Shipo/Marshall born May 20; Linda clark married Larry Stilwell May 22.
1962 - James stevenson contracted to build new town hall and highway building - Terry W. Cole came to Enfield; Lori Stillwell born July 29.
1963 -
1964 - The Gunning House on Harvey Hill Road burns Juanary 18th; Sandra and George Trutt moved here
1965 - A direct telephone line connected to the Ithaca Fire Control; Amy Stilwell born June 27.
1966 - Town dump ws closed by the county on July 1st.; Lanny Clark married Darleen (Dolly) Scofield June 14
1967
1968 - Arleen & Larry Saulsgiver move into Reed Home; Greg Stilwell born May 21; Blanch Tucker killed (89 years old) at Iradell & Jacksonville Road.
1969 - Ron Updike & family moved to Updike/Bullivant Farm on Iradell road; Mary Cole moved & came to Enfield; Arleen & Larry Saulsigver adopt Lisa and Denise.


1970 - The old mill at Enfield Falls renewed as a ite for Historic Registration. Wendy Cole born in Enfield. Ed & Sue Thompson married August 23 and moved to Enfield.
1971 -
1972 - United State celebrates its Bicentennial Birthday - Rhonda Connors came to Enfield; James Clarke born March 19; Thomas Trutt born July 27.
1973 - Mabel Purdy leaving after 25 years as Town Clerk. Brandee Connors was born; Hill Manor Farm Kennel established by Arleen and Larry Saulsgiver.
1974 - The Enfield Rescue Squad initiated. Erica Lovelace born November 3rd.
1975 - Three Enfield Road Name Changes ; Kelly Cole born; Aaron Barrier born March 7; Carol Barrier & Marnie Kirchgessner join the Enfield Community Council; Sarah Amberge born Oct. 8; Sharon Marie Tuttle born, 3/26/1975
1976 - Population 2,375 Persons - Michelle Hubbell born January 6; Heather Neno born July 30.
1977 - Town Board approved ordinance regulating games of chance in the town; Kenny Covert - October 19; Hannah M. Snyder - August 10; Barbara connors born Dec. 9; Jill barrier born Oct. 31; Mike Boynton born Jan. 28; Vendamae Lee Trutt born Sept. 30; Debra Jo Tuttle born, 6/2/1977
1978 - Land Donated To Agape Church To Build On By John & Helen Smith - Renee Michelle Hoover Born June 23; June Foreign Motor Report Opens At 282 Enfield Main Road; Mary Cole Joins Enfield Community Council.
1979 - Kennedy's Corners United Methodist Church Declared Officially Abandoned - Wayne A. Snyder September 9; Harold
Clark died Feb 4; July 2 Nicole Pellegrino born; Aug. 24 - Heather Linton born.


1980 - T.V. Franchise Awarded Haefele T.V. Inc. - Tyler Barrier Born Jan. 29; Le-Lani E. Trutt Born Nov. 3.
1981 - Two Election Districts Designated Town.
1982 - Etta Gray, First Woman Supervisor - August 12 - James Pellegrino Born; October 25 - Rebecca Anne Macmillan Born; Hannah Amberge Borne Jan. 14.
1987 - Three Town Clerks In A Two Month Period - July 7 The Whites Moved To New York And Enfield (Collie White Jr., Valerie, Collie Iii, Corliss, Candis, Caleb).
1988 - Ground Broken For New Fire Station - Wayne C. Snyder And Tanya Berry Were Married; Ian Montgomery (Linton) Born May 28; Amanda Lynch Born May 24; Godingreen's Moved To Enfield From Ithaca (Bought 2247 Mecklenburg Road Property From Geraldine Verheyen).
1989 - An Open House Held At The New Fire Station Oct. 15th - Justin Marshall Born October 31; (Grandson Of Grace Sansoucie) Tom & Carla Trenchard Married 10/89; Cayuga Boat And Cottage Est. 1989; Megan Alicia Smith Born December 15.

1990 - Population Of Enfield - David Samuel Macmillan Born May 30; Betts, Shawn - Karen - Amanda Moved To Enfield; Pat Dougherty - Town Councilman 1991- 1995.
1991 - Enfield Elementary School Dedicated Oct. 3rd - Amercia Mary Weber Born October 9; Andrea Turcisk Born May 9.
1992 - First Baptist Church Of Enfield Celebrates 175th Birthday - Jolinda Clark Married Christopher Lynch May 10.
1993 - First Rural School Reunion Held; Blizzard Of 93 March 14th & 15th - Ashley M. Betts Born March 16; Emma E. Marshall Born June 17; Marci & Allan Arrived In Enfield; Lori Stillwell Married Erik Frye June 19; William O. Weber Born August 11.
1994 - A Bad Snow Storm On January 4th - Jennifer Hubbell And Laurel Davenport Graduate From Cornell; Brian Marion & Jo Lovelace Married 9-3.
1995 - Aaron White & Debra Tuttle engaged.; Robbins' 50th Anniversary Party - 923 Bostwick road, Daughter & son'in-law's have May 13; Greg Stilwell married Julia short 8/12


A Scrap Book of Enfield

People like to collect newspaper articles of local events. The town Historian's Collection has a scrapbook full of interesting events all evolving around its town citizens. It is amazing what one can learn by reading these simple articles especially when conducting genealogy research. These articles almost always list not only the immediate people involved but also the close family members and even sometimes the distant family members.


Weddings - Miss Thelma Grinnell Dodd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Grinnell Dodd of Enfield Center and Richard Reynolds Strait of Corning were married Feb. 14, 1941. "Surprise Their Friends", Not even letting their intimate friends know of their intentions, Linn Ferguson of Ithaca and Miss Anna Curry, daughter of ex-Sheriff Grant Curry, of Enfield were married in this Ithaca last evening. November 10, 1910.


Deaths - Miss Martha Russell, 72 died today, Feb. 13, 1946 at the home of her niece Mrs. Raymond Carpenter in the town of Enfield. She also leaves behind two sisters, Mrs. Sarah Fish and Mrs. Jennie Jackson of Trumansburg.
Wedding anniversary's - Mrs. And Mrs. Clifford Leonard of Enfield will quietly celebrate their golden anniversary, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 1949. Mrs. Leonard, the former Miss Cora E. McConnell, daughter of the late William and Mary McConnell and Clifford Leonard, son of the late Eugene B. and Ella Leonard of Mecklenburg, were married Nov. 22, 1899 at the home of the bride's parents in Elmira.
Births - To Ralph and Blanch Sansoucie Lovelace of Trumansburg RD 1, a daughter, Aug. 4, 1957. To Charles and Joan Purdy Sheffield, Ithaca, RD 5, a daughter, Oct. 31, 1958.


We can learn about the World Wars - Edmund Georgia enlisted in the U.S. Navy November 22, 1917. Captain David Robb is located at Camp Hospital No. 28 Nevers, France, entered the service in August 1917.
Private First Class Joseph Brabic, son of Mr. And Mrs. Anthony Brabic of Enfield Center, has been missing in action in Germany since Feb. 26, 1945, Technician Fourth Grade Reynold J. King has been posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, son of Olen A. King , Enfield, was cited for "extraordinary heroism in action on the morning of August. 15, 1944.


Community/Family Events - Fourth of July Party - Monday Even'g, July 4th, 1881, Wortman Hall, Enfield Centre, Music by Nobel's Full Orchestra. Committee of Invitation - William Barber, William Wright, Samuel curry, Lewis VanMarter. Social Hop at Wortman's Hall Enfield Center, Friday Evening November 13, 1885. Music by Williams Bros' full orchestra. Bill for Dancing 50 cents. Russell Family holds reunion Sept. 2, 1915. The Russell reunion was held Thursday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Russell in Enfield. There were thirty-two present.
The last page of the scrapbook goes on to tell us that within the town of Enfield there was a Rolison District and Nobles District - Miss Leona Lanning married Dec. 21, 1933 to Walter Knapp. That town residents always enjoy a good party -- Mr. And Mrs. Frank Rothermich were surprised Sunday Sept. 23, 1936 by their friends and relatives with dinner, games, and music, and that Thanksgiving was truly a thankful day when Miss Elizabeth C. Bock and Lloyd D. Rumsey both Enfield were married at 6'oclock Thanksgiving night at the Baptist parsonage in Enfield Center by Rev. Edgar Peterson.

Pan American Exposition
In Buffalo New York on May 20, 1901 the Pan American Exposition opened. It was a Dedication Day of the Great Six Months' Festival. It may be said of the whole Exposition that in every department it is compact yet complete presentation of Twentieth Century civilization of the Western World. In 1899, construction began on 350 acres of land owned by the Rumsey family (is this part of the Enfield Rumsey Family?) When completed , the exposition grounds, with their irregular lakes, flowering shrubs and rare trees, became the most picturesque of Buffalo's famous park system. In September, while visiting the Exposition, president William McKinley fell to the bullet of an assassin. The Ithaca Democrat Newspaper reported in an Enfield country news article on November 7 that at the end of October 1901 Mr. Frank Noble of Enfield visited the Pan American Exposition. What a trip that must have been. Do you suppose he wrote about his trip in a diary or made a scrapbook of the memorabilia he brought back home with him?
Also in the same Ithaca Democrat article it was reported that Mr. And Mrs. Porter were spending five days at Burdett. Mr. Nate Hines purchased the Owen home. Mr. Charlie Vorhis was visiting his parents at this Place? And Miss Minnie Shaw was visiting her aunt Mrs. Porter.
While reading all these 1901 newspapers I also found some 1901 humor? to share with you: Human Happiness the gentle art of making yourself agreeable - In a street car one is courteous - if you carry a bag be careful to put it on the floor so that all going in or out may step on it. People - that is really nice people are fond of tripping in streetcars. If you have a wet umbrella be sure to lean it against the person next to you….


Did You Know and Who are They - Notes regarding Enfield.

Hulda Gould Smith was one of the early doctors of Enfield, sharing with the town of Ulysses. She was born in 1833 in Enfield. Hulda graduated from Eclectic Medical College, New York in February 3, 1880. She then registered as a physician on August 30, 1880 in Ithaca. Do you know anything about her or her family?
Enfield Falls Hotel received a lot of business from travelers on the main road to Watkins Glen. France Teeter LaBombard's grandfather (Henry Teeter) ran the hotel. Jessie Baker (Mrs Dan?) was born at the Hotel in 1882, her family moved to the old house on VanDorn (across from George Head Residence). Jessie went to school at Purdy School on Bostwick Road). Anna and William Jones were married at the Enfield Falls Hotel (William H. Jones Jr., Funeral Director Enfield).
Mr. Schaber went to Ithaca to get coal mix in a Democrat Wagon, guess the year? Enfield Center? - The Newman house was between Kirby Store and house. Ormar (Otho) was a blacksmith. Mrs. Newman was a midwife. Purdy Store was on the Corner. Michner - Blacksmith Shop - Barker. Between Dom. Seamon and Hotel was store - Charlie Wright. Election time - voting took place at McFall Store (Newharts/Wortman) voting up and downstairs. Transported voters in horse and wagon. Slaughter House - Baileys. Schabers were wired for electricity in 1938, LaBombards in 1946. Early 1900's telephone switchboard was located at the Bullard House.
Doctors made house calls Dr. Robb; Dr. Minor McDaniels - office located at the Ruth Boyer House. Father Teeter went to Ithaca purchased a cooper boiler and carried home on his back ½ day. Fourth of July - Picnics and parades, firecrackers - floats bill Barber - anvil - powder.
Fraternity organizations - Macabees - K.O.T.M. Delivering mail in the snow was done with horse and cutter across fields, etc., go around drifts.
Cletrack- first snowplow. A cow would walk in the snow to break up the snow on the road.

Let me know if you can fill in the gaps on the above littles stories. Thanks.


Visiting Enfield Falls Hotel
What could this piece of glass in partial shape of a boat mean? Was it a beautiful cream pitcher, which was used at the Enfield Falls Hotel? Could that old "square" nail they found be the nail that held up the main support beam to the hotel? Could the hotel really have hosted 70 couples in its ballroom? What was the exact size of the hotel? Who were the visitors on the hotel? What about the hotels fate? Did it really burn down? These questions and many more have come to the surface as geophysical surveys are being conducted at the site of the Enfield Falls Hotel in Upper Treman State Park. This past spring and summer Dr. Sherene Baugher and her students from Archaeology, Preservation and Landscape class at Cornell University, have been conducting research on the buildings which were located in Enfield Falls.
Deeds to the hotel and land were traced for ownership of the hotel and maps used to locate the exact position of the hotel. Hotelkeepers were documented from 1853 to 1895. The Hotel was "roughly opposite" the present stone and timber pavilion on the east side of Five Mile Creek. In 1916 Robert H. Treman stated that the hotel had not been open for a number of years, and the building was partially demolished. The Ithaca Journal reported in the 1920's that the hotel had burned. The students and Dr. Baugher are still currently working at the park to locate the exact position of the hotel and it's surrounding buildings. If you want to read more on the Enfield Falls community the Treman Park has a wonderful brochure called "Robert H. Treman State Park - The Hamlet of Enfield Falls." By Neil A. Poppensiek. Which you will find in the "Old Mill", or you may request a copy of me.


Enfield History Newsletter

We dedicate this newsletter and our Enfield Community Picnic -- July 20, 1996 to the memory of T. Roger Brown -- January 24, 1993 and Beverly J. Brown -- December 11, 1993


BASEBALL by Roger Brown
THE BEGINNING

In the early 1930's, Enfield had a town baseball team. It was a very good team. One of the best in Tompkins county because of three reasons.

First they had the best pitcher around. One Ward Spencer. Second they had a shrewd, crafty manager, one Lester Johnson. And third, three quarters of the team were imports, ringers from Ithaca.

Players like Art Mollala, Eddie Golden, Petey Daghita, Mert Ingersol, Obie Obrien, Petsy McKeegan, Morrie and Babe Shulman to name a few. Also the competition was quite weak. This excluded the teams from Ithaca. Some of the opponents like Perry City, Jacksonville and Trumbulls Corners, the scores were downright embarrassing.

The home field was at Miller's Corners where the store and school now stand. They held practice on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:00 p.m. until dark. I would ride my bicycle down from Applegate Corners, one mile to the ball diamond. The first couple of nights I just sat and watched. The third night I took my glove along and asked coach Johnson if I could shag flies in the outfield. He said sure kid, glad to have you. I didn't want to bat. I was to scared. Right off I could see I was catching balls that the other outfielders weren't getting 10 feet near to catch. It wasn't long before I started to draw attention. We began to call each other on a first name basis. At the time I was 14 years old. Some of the players on the team were in their thirties.

My routine on Sundays was as follows: Help with the milking, eat breakfast, do a few barn chores, read the funnies, go to church with the folks, have a snack and down to the ball field. This went on for a couple of months.

One Sunday, when I returned from church, our new manager, Paul Whitaker was waiting for me. He dropped a bomb shell. He told me our right fielder, Kyrle Burlew had hurt his leg and couldn't play. He said I was going to take his place. He brought along a brand new uniform for me, and we drove to Trumbulls Corners.

This certain year they had a good ball team. They were made up with a lot of brothers. Helsiva, Blada, Brewer, Beach brothers and also Dan Shoemaker. They had a pretty good ball field up southwest of the four corners. We won the game. I drew a couple of walks and scored a run. But the highlight of the game was when I made a game saving catch in right field after a long run in the ninth inning. From that day on I never lost my job in the outfield for the Enfield Town Team until I went into the military service in 1942.

After a few games I was transferred to center field. My favorite field was our home field in Enfield. In 1940. I went through the whole season without an error. As time went on I improved both in the outfield and at bat.

THE END
Almost 30 years to the day on a early September Sunday in 1965, in Horseheads my baseball playing career came to an end. We played a double header against Watkins Glen on a neutral field to determine the seedings for the playoffs. At this time I was 44 years old. The day was very hot., in the nineties. My plans were to play the first game and sit out the second game. We won the first game by a couple of runs and I had a good game. A couple of hits and a couple of runs scored. I was quite tired at the end of the first game.

Our first regular right fielder Keith Northrup had to leave after the first game and I was forced to play the second game. A combination of my age, the heat and 16 innings were my downfall. I told my wife Beverly, I just played my last game. I was so exhausted that Bev had to drive home. I called in sick at Cornell the next day to rest up. So after 30 years my playing days were over. I had no regrets, it was all worthwhile.

From the very start I realized I wasn't big and strong enough to hit the long ball consistently. I made up for this with speed and savvy. I always had a good baseball mind and still have. As a rookie I wanted the pitcher to throw fast balls and no curves. In the twilight of my career when my reflexes had slowed down , I hoped for curve balls and no fast balls. Also the older I got, the more walks I drew.

WARD SPENCER: Ward Spencer was by far the best player I ever played with or against. Ward was 6' 1" tall, about 220 pounds and on the plump side. He had a perfect disposition to play ball. He possessed all the pitches that make a pitcher great. A blazing fast ball an unbelievable curve and a monster drop (now days called a slider). But what made him the best of all was his pinpoint control. He very seldom issued a walk. I played center field and would line up so I could see his pitches. Many is the time when he would retire the opposing team on 9 pitches. There is no doubt in my mind that with today's standards, Ward would have made the minor leagues and possibly the majors. He was in great demand by teams in Ithaca to pitch against teams from other cities for money. Some weeks he would pitch four or five times. He got a bad arm from over work. It is said that his arm was ruined by his most popular catcher, Bill Vasteno who called for to many curve balls. There was another pitcher at that time who was considered as good as Ward. His name was Wishy Sarsfield and he did make it to the minors. But booze cut his career short. So when I saw Ward he was only half as good as he was before I knew him. Ward was also a good hitter. He threw right and batted left. Never struck out but had to hit the ball over the outfielders head to get a double. He was a very slow runner. If he had a weakness it was in fielding bunts. This gave him some trouble. Ward is alive and well and lives in Enfield. He is 90 years old.

MY TOUGHEST LOSS The year was 1934. I was thirteen years old. This was before my playing days. Enfield was the champion of Tompkins County and Dundee was the champ of Yates County. Enfield was invited to play Dundee at Dundee. It was a beautiful fall day, and the loyal Enfield fans came out in full force. I would say that this was Enfield's best team ever. Right from the beginning it was obvious that Enfield had its hands full. Dundee had a brother battery, the Barber brothers. My Dad who was a dairy farmer bet $50 on the game. The game was nib and tuck the whole way. It went 13 innings. Ward was in top form and recorded 19 strike outs. By the same token, Mr. Barber had 15 strike outs. It came down to the bottom of the 13th inning with the score tied at 2 and 2. Dundee had a man on third base with two out. The next batter hit a routine ground ball to Obie Obrien our shortstop. Obie made an off balance throw to first base that sailed over the first baseman's head. Dundee won the game 3 to 2. Enfield said it was the best team they had ever played and Dundee said the same about Enfield. To say it was the toughest loss is an understatement. I had to wipe tears from my eyes as we left the ballpark.

MY BEST SEASON: In 1953 I won the City League batting title with a 545 batting average. This was against good competition. The league was loaded with Cornell and Ithaca College players. Roy Teeter had a .535 average.

TEAMS I PLAYED FOR: 1. Enfield 2. Taughannock Vets 3. Trumansburg 4. Interlaken 5. Brooktondale 6. Richford 7. Odessa American Legion 8. Gun Shop (Gunners) 9. Allen Wales (National Cash) 10. Many teams in the Service

MY FAVORITE MANAGERS: 1. Carlton Tarbell 2. Nick Torre 3. Tom McGory

MY FAVORITE UMPIRE: Augie Macali

MY FAVORITE FIELD: Percy Field

MY FAVORITE PLAYERS: Pitcher 1. Ward Spencer 2. Ed Winnock 3. Lawrence (Rep) Woodin Catchers 1. Petey Dagita 2. Mike David 3. Cecil Taggart First Base 1. Vince Campbell 2. Jack Ozmun 3. Tom McGory Second Base 1. Fred Christopher 2. Fred Woodin 3. Howard Washington Shortstop 1. Mike Christopher 2. Jack McGraw 3. Harold Wright Third Base 1. Frank Bartolo 2. Bob Cooper 3. Stan Wheeler Outfield 1. Duke Erickson 2. Fred Seither 3. Glen McAvoy

THE GAME I REMEMBER BEST: Allen Wales - Morse Chain at Percy Field Final Score - Allen Wales - 1 Morse Chain - 0 I hit a line drive home run over the left field fence in the sixth inning, off from Barney Spano.



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