HERKIMER COUNTY, NY

ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET

The early days of Herkimer County,New York, and its various towns and townships, are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this NEW 21 Page Booklet, reprinted primarily from two hard-to-find books: the 1841 edition of Historical Collections of the State of New York by John Warner Barber and Henry Howe, and New York, a Guide to the Empire State, a WPA project.
The spiral-bound booklet, sold exclusively on eBay, is one-sided on 60# paper, with the print enlarged for easier reading. A clear vinyl sheet has been added to protect the front cover.
The communities mentioned include: Columbia, Danube, Dolgeville, Fairfield, Frankfort, German Flats (Mohawk), Herkimer, Ilion, Litchfield, Little Falls, Manheim, Newport, Norway, Ohio, Old Forge, Russia, Salisbury, Schuyler, Stark, Thendara, Warren, Winfield, Wilmert.
Among the many and diverse topics in the booklet are: Erie Canal and other canals; "Fort Herkimer"; Death of Gen. Nicholas Herkimer at the Battle of Oriskany in 1777; Educational Institutions; Account of the Distruction of Herkimer by Tories; Invasion of Little Falls; Beauties of Little Falls; In Little Falls, say "cheese"; Lou Ambers, the "Herkimer Hurricane"; two famous murder trials in Herkimer; Transportation developments; Indian Castle Church; the Herkimer Estate; the Fort Herkimer Reformed Dutch Church; the Heroism (and swift feet) of Adam Helmer; Rifles and Typewriters in Ilion, and the "Mohawk Valley Formula" for strikebreaking; beginning of the American match industry; the Balloon farm near Frankfort; and Sir William Johnson’s last home.
The booklet has no index, but names mentioned include: Judge Jacob Weaver, Sir William Johnson, Daniel Connor, Alexander Ellis, Daniel Muller, Henry Banister, Col. John Roff, Daniel Petrie, Cox, Skinner, Christian Edick, Frederick Getman, Warner Miller, Molly Brant (sister of Joseph Brant, the famous Indian chief), Gen. Francis E. Spinner, Jane Douglass (first female federal employee) William Butler, Eliphalet Remington, Willam Gates (matches, not computers), Carl and Carlotta Myers, Major Warner Folts, Alfred Dolge, Nat Foster and Otis Arnold.
ILLUSTRATIONS depict the General Herkimer House, Danube; Medical College & Academy, Fairfield; View of Herkimer from the Erie Canal; Village of Little Falls.
The Howe/Barber history covers the development of this area until about 1841, while excerpts from the WPA book, give a nostalgic glympse from a 1940 vantage point, including interesting historical notes, especially as they relate to sightseeing possibilities. There's also a small map of the area from a 1948 booklet printed by the New York Telephone Company.