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Scrapbook No. 1803I\i\Federal ComersOneOf Oldest Area HousesBv H. PALLDRAHKIMwHerkimer County Historian“Federal Corners is considered one of the oldest houses in the Richfield Springs area.The Colonial white frame landmark is located on ten acres about 1.5 miles southeast of Richfield Springs, on Butternut Road which once was the original Indian trail linking German Flatts with Andrustown in Town of Warren and meeting a turnpike leading WestButternut Road was the same trail along which John Adam Helmer made his historic 60-mile run from Edmeston to warn the garrison at Fort Herkimer of the upcoming Indian raids.The house was built on land located in Schuyler Patent, a grant from King George II of England made on June 3. 1775. and in a hamlet later called Federal CornersIt is one of the few original homes now standing. The exact date that the house was built is not known, but the ourchase of the land bv Amos and Lvdia Jones from a Peter Yates was recorded in1796The first families to arrive were the Derthicks and the Chamberlains, who came from Colchester, Conn., in 1793 and 1795.Federal Corners soon had a store, a tavern lt;the Averill Inn. one of the 32 in the region around Richfield Springs), an auger factory, a 12-forge blacksmith shop, a tannery and a cheese factoryThe store keeper, Edward Cheeseman. made a patent medicine called “Arabian Balsam' which was to make him famous and prosperous.With the coming of the Third Western Turnpike from Cherry Valley to Brighton in 1808, Federal Corners lost much of its population to East Richfield, later known as “Can-dadarago Springs and changed on June 29, 1842 to Richfield Springs.Lemuel Vibber who had built the 12-forge blacksmith shop in 1798, later acquired Federal Corners from the Jones family. Through the interests of Ganowauges Chapter, DAR. the State Education Department placed a bronze marker with the story of Lemuel Vibber on the property. Another marker may be found at the nearby crossroads.A later owner, John W. Tunnicliff, is generally accredited with planting the fine corridor of 90 ample trees on the slope in front ofFederal Corners.Other owners included Mrs. Mary Chamberlain, mother-in-law of Mrs. Olcott Chamberlain, who inherited the place.Mrs. Elizabeth Crouse and her daughter Margaret, were German settlers from theMohawk Valley. Mrs. Crouse’s husband was a physician in Warren.For a brief period after the Crouse ownership, a West Winfield man had title to the property, which was later taken up by the Schuyler Lake Bank and sold at a foreclosure sale to Richard Owen of Richfield Springs. The price paid was $700It was during the residence 3f Owen’s family that the louse was named “Federal Corners” after the firstsettlement. The property also has a very old stone smoke house with the date 1832 over the door.Owen said the New York State Historical Association had at one time showed great interest in securing the house for a Farmers’ Museum.The Farmers’ Museum since has been established aspart of the historic complex on Route 80. just north of Cooperstown.After several years DeWitt Taber, son-in-law of Mr. Owen . purchased the property, modernized and reconditioned it.Later it was owned by Mr and Mrs Edward Sherman, this in 1946. They resided there with their son Frank Sherman who was a member of the 1954 graduating class from Richfield Springs Central High School.Still later the property became that of Dr. Wendell Bryce, formerly of Troy, The Bryce family arrived in November 1953 It comprised Mrs. Bryce, and two daughters, Wendy and JenniferDr Bryce, however, did not follow the tradition of one of his predessors. Dr. James B. Palmer, pioneer physician in this area, and who lived in the Federal Corners Settlement.Dr Palmer, records reveal, spend more time in the saddle than in his office He was a noted instructor and preceptor, sometimes teaching medicine and surgery to more than a dozen young men at the same time.The classes were conducted in his combined home and office.There’s the town clock that once occupied the center of the village’s always busy Four Corners. It was the scene of numerous accidents, despite the fact that the clock with a king-sized illuminous face, was perched on a high pedestal. The clock later was removed to the side of the roadGone from the local scene are some of the Eastern States top health resort hotels, this including the Bloomfield, the scene of many leading social events. Its long porch front bordered the main street and folks once “rocked away’ their leisure house.Richfield Springs is known as the midway point between Syracuse and Albany, halfway between Bufflo and Boston, and halfway between New York City and Buffalo.One of the many features besides its mineral springs and baths, was nearby picturesque Canadarago (Schuyler) Lake.During its heyday vacationers flocked to this Central New York village — by the thousands — seeking benefits from the healthful spring waters.Richfield Springs incidentally, is a community that knpws where it is going.It’s a place where the villagers torgot all about reviving a lost Summer Resort attractions and looked ahead to the future.Howevere, there’s still a strong reminder of the days long past. The strong stench coming from the Sulphur Springs is bound to be noticed as folks travel through the village on the historic Cherry Valley Turnpike (U.S. 20).The first spring was opened to the public in 1820, and gradually great hotels were built to accommodate the vast number of visitors. Thus the village enjoyed a long period of unprecedented prosperity.The advent of the motor car, however, made Richfield Springs nothing more than a stopping off place, and initiated a long period of deterioaration.Special trains, via the Delaware, Lackawana and Western, brought folks to the area during the early days. The discontinuation of passenger service from Richfield JunctionEmergencyN umbersnts. Tbe Evening Telegramtelephone numbers We ur\your telephoneIMBVLAMCECedar ville.......Dolgeville.......Frankfort.......Ilion............Kuyahoora......Little Falls......MOVAC.........Richfield Springs West Winfield . •822-5321429-3355895-7700895-7424826-3300823-2233 866-5200 #58-1111 822-3811FIREMUTUAL AIDCedar ville.....Dolgeville East Herkimer867-1253822-5321823-2233 866-3411 895-7700Frankfort .............................................Frankfort Center.......................................735-7330Frankfort Hill..........................................733-1913Herkimer.......Ilion............Little Falls......Middleville......Mohawk ........Newport........Poland..........Richfield Springs866-2241896-7424823-22331891 -7333 866-3600845-8444826-3123858-1111823-2233Salisbury.............................................Schuyler...............................................733-3633Van Hornesville...................................... 858-0657West Winfield •822-3311POLICESTATE POLICE (East Herkimer) 366-7111Dolgeville 429 8231Frankfort 895-7311Herkimer............................................ 866-4330Ilion 891-9911little Falls 823-1122Mohawk 866-3460HOSPITALHerkimer Memorial....................................866-3330Mohawk Valley General............................... 895-7474Little Falls............................................ 823-1000(Cassville) to the Springs, hastened the demise.Thus followed the period of empty hotels, some of which were eyesores and constituted a public menace. The once prosperous Summer Trade became history.Today the village is the home of a number of small industries. It also has become an agricultural center, and an attractive shopping area.Rea cStatenuEditor,The Evening Telegram,This letter is a response to Robert E. Sherry, the banker, who wrote a letter to your paper which you published on February 18, 1984 He complained that he had not received copies of the not-for-profit corporation projected balance sheets. I admit each and every statement in the letter with one exception, which I shall address later onYes anyone can and should be able to obtain any village documents, provided same are public information, by making an oral request and paying the proper fee.The present administration, composed of two Republicans and three Democrats, saw fit once again to open the doors of village government, which had been closed for four years by the former administration.We do not require a written request and five days’ notice, as Mavor Patterson did. Ifwwe have it on file, it is yours on the spot. We have nothing to hide that I am aware of.However, as I read your article, you are asking for Valley Health Services, Inc. records. My question to you is, why did you not make a formal request for these items from Valley Health Services, Inc.?In addition, the Village Clerk advised me she had, in fact, heard of your request. She is charged by law with keeping all Village records, not the Mayor’s personal mail. If the Mayor neglected or misplaced your request, he owes you an apology,not I, nor the Village Clerk. The Village Clerk could not give you something she did not have.Incidentally, please do not accuse me of not having seen the Valley Health Services, Inc. projected balance sheets, because you would be wrong again. I have seen them at the Hospital, and I have copies of the same. Also, I have seen them at the Hospital, and I have copies of the same. Also, I have reviewed them very carefully.But, above and beyond this, and most important is the fact that your main assumption is wrong. The Village is not loaning Valley Health Services, Inc. $189,000.In addition to the above, why do you persist in telling people all over town the Village stands to lose a 32.2 million offer for the Hospital? You as a banker affiliated with Glessing, know we cannot invest the $600,000.00 Glessing’s company offered for the Hospital. We would be required by law to pay off the Hospital bonded debt of $620,000.00 leaving us immediately $20,000.00 short.The true facts are, if we sold to Glessing we would be selling the hospital facility at a loss because we would still owe $20,000 on the hospital
Newspaper Details
Herkimer Evening Telegram
Herkimer, New York, US
Sat, Mar 10, 1984
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Joann D.
USA 06 May 2019
Other Publications Near Herkimer, New York
Herkimer Democrat and Little Falls Gazette
Herkimer Democrat
Herkimer County Democrat
Herkimer County American
Herkimer Evening Telegram
