Category: History Topics
- Written by: Ron Nagy
- Category: History Topics
- Published: January 26, 2010
The Sunflower – January 1, 1901
A long expected baptism of fire finally arrived. Friday morning December 28, at about 4:30 the people were awakened by hearing gunshots and a woman screaming and rushed to find the air lurid with the light of a fire.
When the residents arrived on the scene, the fire had so much of a start that it was useless to think of saving either of the cottages which were then afire and what goods were in the lower part were hastily removed and efforts made to prevent the further spread of the flames. C. B. Turner immediately placed two horses at the disposal of the people and one mounted by Clayton McCarthy went in one direction while another ridden by J. F. Witherall went over by Cassadaga and around Burnham giving the alarm that “Lily Dale was burning.
News spreads fast
The news spread like wildfire and teams were hastily hitched and in an incredibly short space of time, they poured into the gates loaded with men. By this time three cottages were burning fiercely and the prospects of saving any of the center of camp looked exceedingly dubious. With the arrival of assistance four squads of workers were arranged. One party went to work on the Scheu cottage on the corner of First Avenue and Cleveland, one on the cottage at the rear of the burning ones, one on the cottages across the street from the fire and the fourth decided to tear down a cottage and thus stop the flames spreading towards the East.
All worked with a will. A bucket brigade was organized, the women pumping water and carrying it equally as well as the men. Carpets, comforters and everything that would hold water was placed over the exposed portions of the buildings and while some carried water, others stood on the roofs and verandahs and kept the cloths wet, thus stopping the spread of the flames. Two teams were procured and holes were cut into the Wadsworth cottage (#12 1st), log chains attached and soon the building was drawn to one side partly torn down and snow shoveled upon the side toward the fire. Even after this, it caught fire and had to be extinguished with snow and water.
From one home to another
- Written by: tlink211
- Category: History Topics
- Published: December 18, 2009
the New-York Herald, June 16, 1869:
We published yesterday, from our special correspondent, a full account of the twenty-first anniversary of the “Friends of Human Progress,” at Waterloo, Seneca county, New York. The platform of these people is expressed in the title they give themselves—the friends of human progress—and no one can complain that it is not comprehensive or broad enough. In fact, it is too broad to be specific and comprehensive enough to embrace all the isms of the day.
The “Friends of Human Progress” do not appear to have any particular organization for social, communist, or co-operative purposes as regards labor or property, but seem to be idealists only, composed of men and women of various opinions and isms, who meet together periodically to ventilate their theories.
On this occasion there were about one hundred and fifty, white, black and gray, and of both sexes. Some of the names are familiar as connected with abolitionism in times past, with the women’s rights movements, with Spiritualism, and with other vagaries, and conspicuously among them was that of Fred Douglass. There was a great deal of flowery talk about progress, humanity, a new age, and a new philosophy and religion, but no ideas or definite object.
- Written by: tlink211
- Category: History Topics
- Published: December 9, 2009
The Lily Dale Historical Museum is a treasure of Spiritualist memorabilia, vintage newspapers and photographs, Precipitated Spirit Paintings, Spirit Slates and Séance Trumpets.
This is a one of a kind collection; researchers and writers from around the country frequent the archives to view the Fox Family Bible, the Peddlers Trunk and the entry sign that hung above the original fox cottage before it burned in 1955, a scale model of the Fox Cottage, various photo’s of the cottage along with Flo Cottrel the “Rapping Medium” who tended the Fox Cottage when it was in Lily Dale.
Spirit Painting’s by the Campbell Brothers and Bangs Sisters, Inspired Paintings, artwork and spirit drawings from the 1930’s. Spirit Slates by the Campbell Brothers, PLOA Keeler, Fred Evans and various other mediums, Woman Suffrage memorabilia including Susan B. Anthony, [who appeared at Lily Dale 5 times]. An 1893? Photo of The National Organization of Suffrage official’s, ribbons, pins, pamphlets and record books of the suffrage movement. The Asa Root Civil War diary: Asa Root and his brother Albert were in the Civil War, from Bolivar NY. Asa kept a diary thru the 3 years he was in the war, died at Andersonville Prison Camp and his brother Albert brought the last diary book home for Elosia too transcribe. [the previous 2 years were mailed by Asa from where ever he was at War] Their sister Elosia came to live in Lily Dale with her twin daughters, Alice and Agnes and lived here on North Street.
Camp programs from 1880 to the present year, Spiritualist newspapers: Banner of Light 1887-91, Cassadagan, Psychic Observer 1937-60’s & Dale News, Andrew Jackson Davis books, magazines with Lily Dale news articles, various notebooks of Spiritualist information and phenomena for research purposes, a pictorial view of photo’s beginning with Kiantone, Leona and the DAV&P Railroad. Photos of Spiritualist mediums and Healers that have passed on and much, more memorabilia! Open daily 11-4 from the last weekend in June through the end of August… other months by appointment.