Vibes

Voices In Beekman events

History is not just the Civil war, WW1 or the Great Depression it is also the stories of every day events a individual goes through. Everyone has a story to tell. When people tell stories about their own lives and those stories are preserved and passed down for future generations, its’ called oral history. Oral history is history in the first person, the way we remember it, the way our parents and grandparents remember it - the way they lived it. Stories are the world's memory banks. A good story tells you about the people, the time, the culture and its way of life. It also entertains, informs, motivates or moves you. Even the seemingly silliest story has inherent value. "I would like to invite you to a E-mail side Chat to be held at any time you are in the mood. Share with us your remembrances of the "good old days"--stories about the area, family life, school friends or Beekman--memories you have of a treasured time and place. We look forward to your deposit into the memory bank of Beekman History.

E-mail Letters

Hello, Thanks for the reply and will watch how
History goes. The Cemeterys are the true records of
times past and preserving them would truley be a
positive move for our Town. Most of the Cemeterys here
are known by the people who lived here, and were not
disturbed, moved, or plowed under. The one off Dorn
was preserved by the old owners the Schmidts. Most of
the kids from around the area read the stones and
stayed clear for bad things happened to those who went
in there. Gives me the chills to this day when just
walking by. Elizabeth Crow, or Cou-- was hard to read
back in the 70`s but died in 1759 I do believe.
Bejamin had a huge stone and died about the same time.
The children died young of consumtion, or cough. The
Moreys stones were a little higher on the hill and had
a 4month old die, listed on a stone. Like I said 15 or
so but could very well have been more for bordered the
swamp and never been touched until just recently.
Thats why the consern for all the kids that grew up
here respected that area and let be. Thanks for the
reply and will keep reading the new site. Thanks for
your time Thom. Robert.

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There are many old time Cemeteries that do not get the recognition they are due. Maybe they did not have iron fences around them, not every FAMILY could afford to do that. Do they deserve less recognition because of their financial status? They were people just as you and I. It sickens me to see what is happening in my home area. How many people currently, have legal documentation of their true surveyed properties on Dorn Road? Research some of our current history and the past will be revealed. Old landowners do have final resting areas.Some people are raping the wetland areas, Federally known wetland areas for their FINANCIAL gain. Some people are hauling contaminated dirt from a used to be, well known junk yard in the area and dumping it in an area that with rain water flows into our wetlands and other neighboring property. How many STAR program recipients are being sought out and being encouraged or even threatened that because they are older that they should sell their home and property for a minimal amount for their GOLDEN years so that someone else can reap the benefits of their fear? Talk about taking advantage of our most valuable and vulnerable resource, our elderly. IT SICKENS ME! I loved the Dorn Road -Clove Valley area of my youth. I used to be able to see the tall Furnace on Furnace Road from my parents home. I fished in the Mill Pond Stream with my Family. There's a piece of history for you. The original plaque that was on the Mill Pond Bridge of my youth now lays out back of the town garage. History is real not made up. Real tangible evidence of our past is here though it may not be as COSMOPOLITAN as our world may like it to be.

Connie

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Hello, I thought the object is to preserve the
History of Beekman not change it? Whats up with
changing a seal thats been the Towns symbol since
1788? Whats up with this, and desicration of old
cemeterys? Interesting way to preserve the Town Of
Beekmans History, by changing it? Whats next Thom? Robert

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Although I have been gone from the town of Beekman for more than 30 years, I remember well and have recently seen the cemetery Connie and Robert are referring to. It shocks & saddens me to see its present state. I recall a few of the headstones also became part of Hunsteins walkway, not just the barbeque pit. It is a sad state of affairs when an individual or individuals show such little respect for the dead or an historic area, but when the town itself shows such little regard it is truly appalling. The Morey family had a few members buried there (does anyone else remember when Dorn Rd. addresses were once Morey Rd. addresses?). Where did the Morey headstones go? If anyone knows, I would appreciate the information.

Carol

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Hello, Thom I found this History lesson very well
written and explains why History shouldn`t be tampered
with. People who were there know the real storys.
Thanks for your time , Robert.

SHALL WE HIRE A MONUMENT ENGRAVER TO GO TO ARLINGTON
NATIONAL CEMETERY AND ADD THE MISSING WORDS ?
A MESSAGE FROM AN APPALLED OBSERVER:

Today I went to visit the new World War
II Memorial in Washington, DC I got an unexpected
history lesson. Because I'm a baby boomer, I was
one of the youngest in the crowd. Most were the age
of my parents, Veterans of "the greatest war," with
their families. It was a beautiful day, and people
were smiling and happy to be there. Hundreds of us
milled around the memorial, reading the inspiring
words of Eisenhower and Truman that are engraved
there.

On the Pacific side of the memorial, a group of us
gathered to read the words President Roosevelt used
to announce the attack on Pearl Harbor:

Yesterday, December 7,
1941-- a date which will live in infamy--the United
States of America was suddenly and deliberately
attacked.

One elderly woman read the words aloud:

"With confidence in our armed forces, with the
abounding determination of our people, we will gain
the inevitable triumph."

But as she read, she was suddenly turned angry.
"Wait a minute," she said, "they left out the end of
the quote.. They left out the most important part.
Roosevelt ended the message with "so help us God."

Her husband said, "You are probably right. We're
not supposed to say things like that now."

"I know I'm right," she insisted. "I remember the
speech." The two looked dismayed, shook their heads
sadly and walked away.

Listening to their conversation, I thought to
myself,Well, it has been over 50 years she's
probably forgotten"

But she had not forgotten. She was right.

I went home and pulled out the book my book club is
reading --- "Flags of Our Fathers" by James Bradley.
It's all about the battle at Iwo Jima .
I haven't gotten too far in the book. It's tough
to read because it's a graphic description of the
WWII battles in the Pacific.

But right there it was on page 58. Roosevelt's
speech to the nation ends in " so help us God ."

The people who edited out that part of the speech
when they engraved it on the memorial could have
fooled me. I was born after the war.! But they
couldn't fool the people who were there.
Roosevelt's words are engraved on
their hearts.

Now I ask: "WHO GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE
WORDS OF HISTORY?????????"

Send this around to your friends. People need to
know before everyone forgets. People today are
trying to change the history of America by leaving
God out of it, but the truth is, God has been a part
of this nation, since the beginning. He still wants
to be...and He always will be!

If you agree with me, then pass this on. If not,

May God Bless YOU! ....

Michele Gunnison

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Hello, This is the Cemetery that was 15-or so stones in the early 70`s and is now only 4-5 off Dorn. They have moved up the hill 35ft or so from the bottom of the hill by the swamp. The actual spot was were the trees are stacked by the driveable area. One stone was Eizabeth Crow 1750`s and right next to that one was Jonathan Benjamin (spellings might be off) but both from 1750`s - 80`s. Entire family and children little stones were there. Thank you for your time Thom.

Robert.

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Dear Thom: I don't really understand this letter at all. What is she talking about? The only Burying ground I know on Dorn Rd. is the one halfway up on the right with no gravestones. It's in somebody's backyard. This lady seems unhappy about what is going on there. Do you know what is going on? At least she thinks Ray Eaton "was" a man of moral character and high ethics! Of course she makes it sound like he is no longer with us.

Lee

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I grew up on Dorn Road. I know right where the Cemetery was located across from the Gaba and Tracey property. At the bottom of Elizabeth Crowe' s Tombstone it reads "As I am now, so shall you be, prepare for death and follow me." If she could have only known that her final resting ground was going to be turned into someone elses road or residence. Only in New York can the dead be evicted for financial gain.The Morey family was also located there. Edmond Morey was a four month old infant. His stone was moved to the Hunsteins property when I was young for their barbecue pit. That is where I read it. But he was not unearthed or traveled upon. What is happening on Dorn Road for someone’s financial gain or legacy is sacreligious. But there isn't any financial gain in protecting the dead. Only a moral value which now a days in New York "Beekman" in particular means little to nothing. There are still too many of us who know the truth. I knew Ray Eaton personally and he was a good man of moral character and ethics. Who are you people? I knew the Deubners and the Robins and the Gillespies. The Davis Family and the Harris's. It breaks my heart to see what has happened to the place that I knew as home. Won't someone fight for the rights of the dead or have you been bought off too to keep quiet about Beekman's true past.

Connie

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Thank you so much for sending this to me. I am looking forward to coming up to the area to complete my Flynn, Kelley and Miller family history work. I will of course, have information to share with you too.

Thank you for your time.

Penny
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Hello Thom,

Thanks for writing back. I lived in Poughquag back in the middle to late 1940's and have so many fond memories of Poughquag.
I'd love to know if the general store is still there - I think it was owned by the Knapp family. As I recall, it even had a pot bellied stove. The Slocum's ran the post office which was across the street. I remember Tonya and her little brother, Jay.

There was a one room schoolhouse with Mrs. Byrd as our teacher. I was in the 3rd grade, along with 2 other girls (Ethel Knapp and Mary Emma Place) - we took up half a row. The Place family had a farm probably 1/2 mile to a mile past the school. I am still in contact with Mary Emma.
There were two girls who lived across the street from my family, I can't remember their names, but we called them Goog and Rags. A boy- I think it was Dougie O'Dell ,once put a frog down my back, and to this day I can't stand frogs.

I'd love to get some photographs of any parts of Poughquag if there are any. The school? church up the street? the fire hall/town hall? I'll bet there are lot's of changes!!

Oh - I had my first and last puff of a cigarette out behind a barn with a bunch of us kids. That one puff did me for life!

Dawn
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Hello,

How delightful to find this note from Dawn. I'll write her back. Yes, we keep in touch at Christmas time. She lived in Poughquag for only one year. But we became fast friends and have kept in contact over the years, as I have with the Ethel she mentions and Janet, whose family owned Knapp store. Mrs. Burr was the teacher we had at the time. She lived in "Woodinville", on the east outskirts of Pawling.

I'll write Dawn and answer some of her questions. I think I have her updated e-mail.

Mary Emma Allen
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Thanks for this update. How many memories it evoked to see Aunt Mary's (Mary Hoag) picture there and her notes. I have so many fond memories of her. The Hoag Farm was adjacent to ours.

My dad used to tell us about paying toll at West Pawling to go over the road to Pawling.

Mary Emma Allen
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Hello
Many moons ago ( back in the 1940's) I lived in Poughquag. There was a general store on one side of the main street, and the Slocum's ran the post office on the other side of the street. I remember Tonya Slocum and her little brother, Jay. I went to school in the one room school house there - there were 3 of us in the 3rd grade and we took up half a row.
My parents rented part of the house owned by Myron Hall up the street from the general store, and near the church and town hall. My mom taught with the 4H club and we put on a few shows at the town hall.
I often wonder about Poughquag and if those old buildings are still there. Are there any photos of the area -either as it was then, or is now?
I would love to hear from anyone living there now.
Thanks so much
Dawn
now in southern Ca, US

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Hello Thom,

What a wonderful site on Beekman History. As I read it over, many memories came flowing back. Coincidentally, I've recently began writing my memories of growing up in Poughquag/Beekman. Thought I needed it for my family. However, some of these might be of interest to Beekman residents...or the web site. I also have more info among Father's papers that I'll have to get to you. It was nice to see his photo on the site!

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Thom, Congratulations on the new web site. I thought that you might like the attachment for whenever you get around to publishing involvement of Harold Augustus Fortington in the area. Cheers

Gary Fortington

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I was wondering if you have any info on Sugar Maple Farm off Rt. 216. Since this is a very big parcel of land in this town, it is very well kept, and beautiful I'm sure there would be some interest. Rumors that I have heard over the years are that Tom Sellick of (MAGNUM PI Fame) was once a partner in ownership.

There is approximately 33 linear miles of white fence surrounding this land.

There was once a promising thoroughbred that was raised on this farm who's name was Champagne for Ashley who if not hurt during a championship race, might have gone on to win the triple crown.

Thanks,

Kevin Truett