Local History by Dede Terns-Thorpe - Leah Showers Wiltse

I was honored to take part in the Mountain Top Historical Society’s Justine Hommel Day at Twilight Park. The MTHS paid tribute to three accomplished historians: Leah Wiltse, Shirley Wiltse Dunn, and Doris West Brooks. I was honored to share a little of the life of a special lady and a true historian, Leah Showers Wiltse.

Here is a part of Leah’s story.

Leah was born 120 years ago in Tannersville. Her grandmother, Abigail Parker, grew up with her grandparents, Daniel and Eliza Parker. The Parker name is significantly connected to Onteora Park.

Since we all know that everyone on the Mt. Top is related, 2 of Leah’s grandsons are my sister Barbara’s (Bobby's) boys, Jim and Kevin Wiltse.

Leah Showers Wiltse, like her relatives, was a talker but also a private person. She was a savior of much of our local history, and she did it the hard way; back before googling, texting, email or such.

Leah’s grandfather, George Showers died at nearly 100 years, making history in his own way. He was the last Civil War Veteran to die in Greene County.

Leah, like many women, was a busy mom and an amazing grandmother, frequently babysitting for her two grandsons.  Leah didn’t drive, walking daily to the local A & P, and the post office. She always grew her own vegetables and was a gifted cook. Because she was a voracious reader she spent hours researching local history.

Leah lived the history she wrote about. Her father and other relatives worked on many of the historical places talked about today. Her relatives walked the walk and shared that information with Leah. Leah’s father, Oscar Showers, was an excellent carpenter and electrician who worked on construction on many of the Mountaintop’s old hotels. He knew firsthand.

In the 1970s Leah wrote 27 articles for the Hunter Windham Scene, an amazing small-town publication owned by a local woman, Pamela Meigs. (I wish we still had those stories!)

Thankfully, Leah jotted down what she lived and heard. Her daughter compiled those memories in her 1999 book, Pioneer Days in the Catskill High Peaks. These stories are the real life of Leah Showers Wiltse.

Leah asked her daughter to include certain stories; here is one of them.

REMEDIES – Summarized.

Shirley said Leah’s father, Oscar Showers, taught her many of these folk remedies which Leah continued to use.   

He said, even the best of housewives kept a few spider webs, dust included, in a handy corner, to use when kids had a nosebleed.

In spring after the wild rose bush worms left, the kids were sent to gather the nests, and their moms made a tea for use in case of dysentery (infection of the intestines).

Heated onions was another remedy used for extreme cases of dysentery as was the application of fresh dung!

The last remedy, and ladies, please remember this one: every self-respecting woman should have both a rhubarb and a horseradish bed, to dig up, washed and ground for use on the dinner table.

Thank you for reading.

Stay safe and be well.

Dede Terns-Thorpe/Hunterhistorian@gmail.com