"Joy to the World the Lord has Come"This creche was given to us in 1972 by my sister, BJ.
It was made by Larry's aunt, Marguerite Cramer.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Christmas at the Cramer's
These are railroad lanterns that
I have collected over the years.
The side porch looks inviting with
an old dogsled filled with pine
boughs and small white lights
I have collected over the years.
The side porch looks inviting with
an old dogsled filled with pine
boughs and small white lights
A small but near perfect Christmas tree.
Many memories of past Christmases adorn the tree as well
as some new/old ones found in an old barn a few months ago.
CHRISTMAS 2007
Cramer's Christmas is usually celebrated either the weekend
before or after Christmas so family members can celebrate
at their own homes and inlaws on Christmas Day.
This year Sue, Chris, Kenzie, and Kate arrived here at the
cabin on Friday night, December 21, as did Maggie and
Ginger, their dogs. Sue was very helpful in the preparations,
since I was still limping around with a bum knee.
Scott, Kathy, Megan and Jessie arrived in time for supper
on Saturday night, as did Mocha their chocolate lab. Shari
and Steve arrived early evening.
Saturday, we had an enjoyable evening, stuffing the stockings, last
minute gift wrapping and catching up on the latest family
events. Misti, Brian, Jeremy, Jenny, and Sharah had been
next door to their Dad's for Christmas with his family, so
they came over for awhile.
Sunday morning we had breakfast, our traditional stockings,
and then opening of the gifts to each other. Each generation,
(except Larry and I) trade names. I hung 21 stockings this
year.
Our Steve wasn't able to be here with the rest of the gang,
so he flew in from Atlanta Christmas Eve, the 24th. Abby
and Stephanie joined their Dad and us early Christmas
afternoon. Cramer joined us mid afternoon. Later in the
day we rode up to Great Grandma's (Larry's Mom's).
The girls left around 9 p.m. Steve left for Atlanta Wednesday morning.
Many memories of past Christmases adorn the tree as well
as some new/old ones found in an old barn a few months ago.
CHRISTMAS 2007
Cramer's Christmas is usually celebrated either the weekend
before or after Christmas so family members can celebrate
at their own homes and inlaws on Christmas Day.
This year Sue, Chris, Kenzie, and Kate arrived here at the
cabin on Friday night, December 21, as did Maggie and
Ginger, their dogs. Sue was very helpful in the preparations,
since I was still limping around with a bum knee.
Scott, Kathy, Megan and Jessie arrived in time for supper
on Saturday night, as did Mocha their chocolate lab. Shari
and Steve arrived early evening.
Saturday, we had an enjoyable evening, stuffing the stockings, last
minute gift wrapping and catching up on the latest family
events. Misti, Brian, Jeremy, Jenny, and Sharah had been
next door to their Dad's for Christmas with his family, so
they came over for awhile.
Sunday morning we had breakfast, our traditional stockings,
and then opening of the gifts to each other. Each generation,
(except Larry and I) trade names. I hung 21 stockings this
year.
Our Steve wasn't able to be here with the rest of the gang,
so he flew in from Atlanta Christmas Eve, the 24th. Abby
and Stephanie joined their Dad and us early Christmas
afternoon. Cramer joined us mid afternoon. Later in the
day we rode up to Great Grandma's (Larry's Mom's).
The girls left around 9 p.m. Steve left for Atlanta Wednesday morning.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Christmas Season has begun in the Adirondacks
Last night we went "overstreet" to the Christmas Tree Lighting in the Village Park. When we arrived the fire was already burning and local folks were standing around chatting and greeting one another. The fire kept us warm in the 18 degree weather. Cookies and cocoa were free, donated by the towns folks (I donated 2 dozen of my christmas tree sugar cookies).
A beautiful Wagon was pulled by two huge horse, giving rides around town.
The choirs from the Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian churches each sang traditional Christmas Songs and some students/bands from the NCS band also performed.
Up on the stage, children gathered as the the Christmas story was told by one of the local men. Christmas trees had been decorated by different groups and judged.
It was a nice feeling of old time Christmas.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
THANKSGIVING DAY 2007 at "Cabinhaus"
Thanksgiving this year found most of our immediate family spending the day with either their in-laws or friends. We missed them all, but know that as our family enlarges, it's hard to get us all together at the same time. Shari and Steve were in N. Carolina at Steve's family, Scott and family were having dinner with the Boedicker's (Kathy's family), and Abby and Steve flew to Germany to celebrate Thanksgiving with Stephanie. The Yaddaw grandchildren: Jeremy and wife Jenny spent the day with friends in Utica, NY, Sharah and her husband Bruce celebrated with Bruce's family in Galway and Darcy and Misti spent Thanksgiving with their boyfriends families. We are hoping for everyone to be here for Christmas this year, which we'll be celebrating on December 23.
Sue, Chris, Kenzie and Kate were here from Erieville, arriving Wednesday night and staying until late Friday afternoon. We had a great time, especially watching little Kate's antics and listening to her repeating anything you say to her. Sue told her to "sit down" (at the table) and wagged her finger at her, Kate in turn wagged her finger and told her mother to "sit down". Kate is only 16 months old. She'll repeat any word you say to her.
We invited my brother Bill, and his wife Donna for dinner, as well as their daughter Lori, two of her children; Heather and Dustin. Becky was in California. Most of Bill and Donna's family spent Thanksgiving in Pa. at Jennifer Taggert's home.
Monday, November 12, 2007
About the Interview and corrections
A reporter called me and asked me if he could interview me because he'd like to write an article about me as the Northampton and Village of Northville Historian. He came to our house where we talked for quite awhile and I showed him some of my work and some pictures. I also took him over to the museum. Of course while he was here my knee went out again, so had to use my crutch to get around.
The reporter did a pretty good job, but made a few mistakes. He has my grandfather's father as Jonas and that Jonas was a harness maker. That isn't what I told him, so to keep my Kested relatives from getting confused, Frank was my gfather's father and Jonas was his grandfather. Got that straight?
He also said that they widened the bridge so that we could haul the schoolhouse across the bridge. Not so, we had to wait until the new bridge was finished before the school house could be moved into the village.
The other mistake is that I didn't say that I was considering having a historical meeting out at Osborn Bridge.
Hope you enjoyed the article and will look up the pictures on website.
The reporter did a pretty good job, but made a few mistakes. He has my grandfather's father as Jonas and that Jonas was a harness maker. That isn't what I told him, so to keep my Kested relatives from getting confused, Frank was my gfather's father and Jonas was his grandfather. Got that straight?
He also said that they widened the bridge so that we could haul the schoolhouse across the bridge. Not so, we had to wait until the new bridge was finished before the school house could be moved into the village.
The other mistake is that I didn't say that I was considering having a historical meeting out at Osborn Bridge.
Hope you enjoyed the article and will look up the pictures on website.
Newspaper Interview with Me/Gail
Talking History
Local historian has roots back to 18th century
By RICHARD NILSEN, The Leader-Herald
Published on Sunday, November 11, 2007
The Leader-Herald/Richard NilsenNorthville and Northampton Historian Gail Cramer opens the museum made from a former one-room schoolhouse and moved to the site behind the Bradt Municipal Building in Northville Tuesday.
Local historian has roots back to 18th century
By RICHARD NILSEN, The Leader-Herald
Published on Sunday, November 11, 2007
The Leader-Herald/Richard NilsenNorthville and Northampton Historian Gail Cramer opens the museum made from a former one-room schoolhouse and moved to the site behind the Bradt Municipal Building in Northville Tuesday.
NORTHVILLE — With family dating back to the late 1700s in this area, tracing history and genealogy is a natural activity for Gail Cramer.The Northampton resident has been historian for the area for the past 13 years.
“We had been spending summers here and winters in Binghamton,” Cramer said. “I was coming to the historical society meetings and the former historian, Terry Warner, was going to resign in 1993, but said he’d stay on one more year if I would take it over when I moved here year-round in 1994.”
Cramer sees her job as both cataloger and preserver of history. “So much material is scattered and needs to be organized so people can find the material they need,” she said. Cramer has put together a data base on her computer so that when someone calls with a genealogical question, she knows if there is an obituary, cemetery or picture available to e-mail to the inquirer.“ I scan obits if they are available and e-mail them at no charge,” Cramer said. Other items she catalogs include character sketches from old Northville, historic houses and one-room school houses.
“There were 13 working one-room schoolhouses in Northville at one time,” Cramer said.
“Gifford’s Valley Schoolhouse #9 was moved to become our museum.” Cramer said the schoolhouse couldn’t be moved to it’s location behind the Bradt Municipal Building until the new Northville bridge was built in 1991 to accommodate the building’s width. “We have photos of the truck carrying it over the bridge,” she said “It was quite a spectacle.”
One of Cramer’s interesting items on display at the museum is a mortar and pestle thought to be of Native American origin and possibly between 400 and 1,000 years old.
“We had an archeologist here [Joel Ross] who said the stones were authentic and about that age,” Cramer said. “He said if he could have seen the area it came from, he could tell more accurately what its age was.”
Cramer said being a historian or genealogist grew on her. “Once you get into it and make connections, it just steamrolls,” she said. “I learn so much from those who ask me questions — as much as they learn from me.”
Cramer said she thinks highly of Fulton County Historian Peter Betz. “All the local historians are friends,” she said. “We trade off information. [Fulton County Historian] Peter Betz is fabulous. He knows how much time we put into what we do.”Betz said Cramer exemplifies the best of what historians do.
“She is steeped in a wealth of the history of the town because her family goes back so far in this area,” Betz said. “She is a fine example of what a historian does in the way of preserving, protecting and educating people about local history.”Betz said Cramer is also very good at sharing the information she uncovers.
At the Bradt Municipal Building Tuesday, Cramer jokingly asked Northville Clerk Elaine Mihalik for a larger office and a raise.Mihalik said she’d been clerk there for ten years. They spoke about the small space where Cramer stores records at the building. “I keep much of my work at my home office because it’s easier and more comfortable to work there,” she said.
“Historians are rarely appreciated for what they do.”
Cramer has put together studies of different themes in the Northville area. She said she interviewed many families for her character sketches and that local drama was popular in the area in the 1800s. “Local businessmen would put on plays,” she said. “There is a wealth of history in scrapbooks that are donated to the museum. It’s like putting pieces of a puzzle together to organize the material.”
Cramer said sometimes people call her and say they were cleaning out “grandma’s attic” and came across some historical material.“When they ask if I want it, I always say ‘yes,’” she said.
“Just last week a man in a nursing home asked if I would like a collection of Morning Herald newspapers from the 1920s,” she said. “I immediately cut out all the articles about Northville from them before the papers disintegrated.”
Cramer said her grandfather was a pharmacist in Northville for 54 years an his father was a harness maker named Frank Kested. Some of her family on her father's side, settled in Osborne’s Bridge, an area covered by the Great Sacandaga Reservoir now, but where foundations of buildings can still be seen at low water level as the lake is now.
“I’ve thought of having our next historical society meeting there next time,” Cramer said. “Of course you’d have to be in four-wheel drive vehicles to make sure you got out again.”
There are also 11 pictures on the leaderherald website http://cu.leaderherald.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=298769
Monday, November 5, 2007
Checking out the Snowblower
Hopefully the snow doesn't come before Thanksgiving, but you never can tell.
Preparing for Winter
The frost got the flowers in my window box
Putting the toys away
We've had a most beautiful Fall here in the Adirondack Mountains. The weather has been comfortably cool and crisp, almost too warm for soccer and football weather. Speaking of soccer our girls high school soccer team had a very successful season. They beat Fort Ann in the semi finals and only lost by 1 goal in the last 2 seconds of the championship game. Our grand neice Heather Nelson was one of the outstanding players on the team. Congratulations Heather, we are now looking forward to cheering you as you play on the varsity basketball team.
Getting ready for the winter months here in North Country of New York State is quite a process. Summer furniture must be moved to the barn, picnic tables stood up against a tree, the camper must be winterized and covered, wood cut, split, and piled in the woodshed, some plants are brought in for the winter, the flower garden attended to, leaves raked, antifreeze in the car radiators, the kayaks, paddle boat, and sailboat have to be dragged from the edge of the pond and put in the shed and barn, the bikes put away and then the snow blower has to be checked out to see if it's ready for that first snow storm. Despite all this, we still love it up here in the great north country and look forward to the snow, warm fires in our woodstove, lots of friends stopping by or coming for a visit, playing games or just chatting. Winter is a good time to read those good books and of course that's when I really get into my local history and genealogy research.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Side Trip to the Kested Farm
On our trip home from Rochester, Mn., we decided to take a side trip to Dixon, Illinois, where James Bont Kested settled after he left Broadalbin, NY.
We went to Dixon, Ill. but I didn't take any info with me because Larry thought it was just too far out of our way to visit that area...then on Friday while in Mn he said, "well, maybe we can swing around there" All I knew was the name of the town/city.....and recollection of what the Kested farm looked like from a picture. It wasn't a very good picture at that.
When we arrived in Dixon, we stopped at a MacDonald's, for a potty break . When I was about to leave McD, I saw an older couple sitting at a table. I went up to them and asked them if they'd ever heard of a Kested Farm. The husband, Mr. Ritter, told me that he knew about a Kested farm, but knew personally a Everett Kested , that he had worked with him for many years, a very nice man, and that he was still living at age 93. Mr Ritter told us that Everett lived in the small town of Mt. Morris, about 6 miles north of Dixon. He gave us direction right to the house. We found the house, but Mr. Kested wasn’t there. We saw a neighbor raking leaves, so asked her if she knew the Kested’s and if she had seen them lately. The neighbor told us that Mrs. Kested (Margaret) was in a Lutheran Nursing home in Mt. Morris. We found the nursing home and visited Margaret. She wasn’t able to help us with any information due to her advanced stage of Alzheimer's. We decided to go back to Everett’s house with hopes that maybe he had returned. He was home, as was his daughter, Judy. They invited us in, where we saw pictures, handwritten information from his father AND a letter from a Kested in Holland that he'd never answered. Both Everett and Judy were very friendly and were excited to learn of the genealogy of James Bont Kested, Everett’s grandfather. They knew nothing of the family before they arrived in the Dixon area. They had often wondered if they were Pennsylvania Dutch. Everett is going to copy the information that his father wrote down and also the letter from the lady in Holland and send it to me
Larry took some pictures of some pictures that were on the living room wall. Everett is a very young 93, walks like he's in his 60's, and sharp as a tack. His sister died two weeks ago at 101. His daughter Judy (his only child) is a nurse. She lives in another town and that day she was visiting him for a few days. She was telling us that because there weren’t any boys in his family the Kested name was not being carried on, so she had named her only daughter with the middle name of Kested. Apparently this daughter is very interested in researching the Kested genealogy but didn’t quite know where to begin. I asked Mr. Kested if he knew where the old Kested farm was. He said it’d been a long time since he was there, but he knew it was between two towns, off on a dirt road and that it was the only farm on that road. He couldn’t remember the name of the road.
the story doesn't end here...............
We started out to find it....nearly gave up, but stopped at a little gas station/grocery store. There was an elderly gentleman buying some bread. I asked him, "Sir, have you ever heard of a Kested Farm?" He said....well I guess so, I've lived around here all my life. I knew the Kested boys real well...they died you know. " This man was 95 yrs old...he told us right where the farm was...we found it and took pictures. We met the people that have bought the farm, exchanged email addresses so that if they find any Kested information, pictures or whatever in the attic, barns etc they said they’d let us know. Now how's that for a new Kested story?I thought is was something that the two people we talked to were able to give us just the right information. In another couple of minutes both of those people would not have been in those two places.
Mr. Kested and his daughter didn't know any Kested history/genealogy beyond his grandfather. They didn't know where they'd come from other than from the East They thought maybe they were Pennsylvania Dutch.
We went to Dixon, Ill. but I didn't take any info with me because Larry thought it was just too far out of our way to visit that area...then on Friday while in Mn he said, "well, maybe we can swing around there" All I knew was the name of the town/city.....and recollection of what the Kested farm looked like from a picture. It wasn't a very good picture at that.
When we arrived in Dixon, we stopped at a MacDonald's, for a potty break . When I was about to leave McD, I saw an older couple sitting at a table. I went up to them and asked them if they'd ever heard of a Kested Farm. The husband, Mr. Ritter, told me that he knew about a Kested farm, but knew personally a Everett Kested , that he had worked with him for many years, a very nice man, and that he was still living at age 93. Mr Ritter told us that Everett lived in the small town of Mt. Morris, about 6 miles north of Dixon. He gave us direction right to the house. We found the house, but Mr. Kested wasn’t there. We saw a neighbor raking leaves, so asked her if she knew the Kested’s and if she had seen them lately. The neighbor told us that Mrs. Kested (Margaret) was in a Lutheran Nursing home in Mt. Morris. We found the nursing home and visited Margaret. She wasn’t able to help us with any information due to her advanced stage of Alzheimer's. We decided to go back to Everett’s house with hopes that maybe he had returned. He was home, as was his daughter, Judy. They invited us in, where we saw pictures, handwritten information from his father AND a letter from a Kested in Holland that he'd never answered. Both Everett and Judy were very friendly and were excited to learn of the genealogy of James Bont Kested, Everett’s grandfather. They knew nothing of the family before they arrived in the Dixon area. They had often wondered if they were Pennsylvania Dutch. Everett is going to copy the information that his father wrote down and also the letter from the lady in Holland and send it to me
Larry took some pictures of some pictures that were on the living room wall. Everett is a very young 93, walks like he's in his 60's, and sharp as a tack. His sister died two weeks ago at 101. His daughter Judy (his only child) is a nurse. She lives in another town and that day she was visiting him for a few days. She was telling us that because there weren’t any boys in his family the Kested name was not being carried on, so she had named her only daughter with the middle name of Kested. Apparently this daughter is very interested in researching the Kested genealogy but didn’t quite know where to begin. I asked Mr. Kested if he knew where the old Kested farm was. He said it’d been a long time since he was there, but he knew it was between two towns, off on a dirt road and that it was the only farm on that road. He couldn’t remember the name of the road.
the story doesn't end here...............
We started out to find it....nearly gave up, but stopped at a little gas station/grocery store. There was an elderly gentleman buying some bread. I asked him, "Sir, have you ever heard of a Kested Farm?" He said....well I guess so, I've lived around here all my life. I knew the Kested boys real well...they died you know. " This man was 95 yrs old...he told us right where the farm was...we found it and took pictures. We met the people that have bought the farm, exchanged email addresses so that if they find any Kested information, pictures or whatever in the attic, barns etc they said they’d let us know. Now how's that for a new Kested story?I thought is was something that the two people we talked to were able to give us just the right information. In another couple of minutes both of those people would not have been in those two places.
Mr. Kested and his daughter didn't know any Kested history/genealogy beyond his grandfather. They didn't know where they'd come from other than from the East They thought maybe they were Pennsylvania Dutch.
Minnesota Friends
Kirk and Larry watching the
World Series
Cheri and I blogging
Our visit at Cheri and Kirk Dietzman's in Rochester, Mn., was all and more than we anticipated. They have been our friends now for over 20 years. We were there as they were expecting each one of their 3 children. Cara was born on our anniversary. Our friendship began through meeting each week in a Growth Group which was sponsored by our church, Valleyview Alliance Church, in Vestal, NY. Spending 2 hrs a week in a Bible Study, discussion group and prayer, is a great way to really get to know someone. Cheri and I started out calling me "mom" but as our friendship grew it soon was more of a friend relationship, so I became Gail to her. Cheri and I both love to decorate our homes and did so with our many purchases at garage sales. I think she's better at decorating than I am. You should go to her blog and see what I mean. http://www.housewarmings.blogspot.com/ Our visit to their home added another dimension to our many common interests. Cheri has had a couple of blogs for quite some time and she has tried to interest me into creating one. She succeeded while we were there and this blog is the result. Thanks Cheri and Kirk for your friendship over these years, the fun times together and this latest visit/hospitality in your home.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Minnesota Trip - Friday
Molly - Maddie - Gabby
Nate and Grandpa Cramer after dinner on Friday night
Cheri's Chickens -- The one in the foreground is a rooster
that is learning to crow
Cara, the only Dietzman we didn't get to see.
She's in Cincinnati, OH in her last year of nursing school.
........Cheri and me relaxing and blogging in the sunroom
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Minnesota Trip - Thursday
The first time I eyed this tree my thought was, "what a great tree to climb" ! In my day, I would have been up it in a minute.
As you can see, Danae had the same idea, but she didn't have to think twice about it. She got a little boost from her Dad though.
It was good to see Danae again. We figure the last time we saw her she was 11 years old. Now she's a Freshman in college. She's a beautiful girl in more ways than one. So many memories popped into my head of her when she was just born, a toddler, and elementary age playing with my grandkids at the cabin.
Minnesota Trip - Thurs Lunch
Today we drove to Winona, Mn to visit Danae at the college that she attends. She showd us her dorm room and around the campus. It's a beautiful campus, about 8,000 students. Here is Dad/Gpa at the Acoustic Cafe a typical college hang out. We saw several studious looking students eating lunch while keyboarding on their laptops. The sandwiches and soup were delicious.Winona is a very historical town, with many interesting homes and archetectural buildings. Kirk drove us around as Danae gave a verbal tour. She directed Kirk to go up a steep hill to a lookout, which over looked the Mississippi River and the Town of Winona. A breath taking site.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
California Family
I know this is out of order as far as events go, but wanted to show you my cousins that visited us last week from California. Ginger, Tom, Kim, and Robin. This picture was taken up at the Blue Mt. Lake Museum in northern NY State.
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