Local History with Dede Terns-Thorpe - Elka Parks Poggenburgh, and Edsons Store

A few tidbits about Elka Park and one of the East Jewett area. Unknown newspapers, but with a variety of dates. 

In an 1897 torn newspaper it says that H. F. Poggenburg and his wife, of New York City were in town last week inspecting their new house being built near Elka Park. 

An 1899  paper said George W. Dibbell had the contract to do the grading and road building for H. F. Poggenburgh.

A 1903 paper said that Mr. Henry Kirkuk and his son of Kingston had commenced work on the lake owned by H. F. Poggenburgh.  (Mr. Kirkuk must have used the Platt Clove Mt. Road to travel back and forth, still a long hard way to travel with horse or horse and buggy.) 

A cute article from 1903 tells that George Dibbell, proprietor of the Dibbell sawmill property, and Mrs. Lizzie Griffin, on returning from Tannersville last week met with an unfortunate accident. When near the corner at Gaffey’s hotel (corner of county route 16 and Elka Park Rd), the sleight was upset and Mr. Dibbell and Mrs. Griffin were thrown out in the snow drifts. Mr. Dibbell found himself in a very embarrassing situation, with Mrs. Griffin under him! 

1903-Mr. Henry Poggenbugh is putting in a plant for water works, using about 25 tons of pipes.  Amos Mc Creery has the job. Mc Creery also did the plumbing and heating at the school building (Elka Park School). Conflicting articles; one from June of 1919 said that work on the new schoolhouse in Elka Park will begin as soon as weather permits. It said Raymond Wagoner was doing the carpentry and Bert F. Baker the plumbing. It also said that the plans were drawn by Architect W. W. Bosworth, a summer resident of the park district. There were two small schools in Elka, one on the west side of Route 16 and Elka Park Rd., and one across from the St. Francis de Salles Church. If I find an update, I’ll post it in the papers.

Jump ahead to the 1928 Stamford Mirror for an interesting legal punishment. “For throwing a stone through a window in the Rose Villa at South Cairo, managed by Max Pritzker, Catherine Foley drew a ten-day jail sentence at Catskill. She was committed by Justice Wilkens.”

The same paper tells that 3,000 pounds of wool were pooled at the railroad station at Catskill by the Wool Growers Association of Greene County. It was all sent to Boston, MA. The article said there were 2000 sheep in Greene County. The amount of wool sent was considered small due to the prolonged wet weather which retarded the shearing of the sheep. 

And a 1955 article read, “Edson’s Building, New East Jewett Store.” 

A rustic-type building with attached service to the house, Edson’s general store, and post office are now being built at East Jewett by Mr. and Mrs. Hillis Edson, owners of the store. The new building is directly across the street from the store's present quarters in the building owned by Mr. Edson’s sister, Miss Pauline Edson, of Albany. The old store will be converted into apartments. 

The rustic exterior and a large native stone terrace are outstanding features of the new store building. Mr. and Mrs. Edson have operated their business for the past 18 years. 

These are the little stories that make Small Town History fun to read and share.

Thanks for reading. Take care, enjoy your September, and stay safe.

Dede Terns-Thorpe-Historian