A tribute to the history of

the Town of Nelson and published

by the Erieville-Nelson Heritage Society

Vol. 2, No.3, Sept. 2018

Our Journey to Erieville and the Georgetown

Firetower Cabin
By Miriam Barrows
 
After living, working and raising our two girls in Delphi
Falls, George wanted to move “further out”. We answered
an ad in the local paper and arranged to meet saleslady
Esther Smith from DeRuyter at the corner of Dugway and
Lewis Roads on May 17th, 1974. We drove up the Lewis
Road with our tow truck, as there were snow drifts across
the road and a car could not make it.  When we made it to
the top of the hill, approximately ½ mile, we saw the
property consisting of bare land covered with scrub trees. 
George took one look around and said, “This is it”.  We
signed a purchase offer for $9,500 for 95 acres. When
our lawyer looked into the title, he advised us not to buy
the property as the title was vague, but that did not deter
George and we ended up signing the deed in October of
that year. The taxes were listed in the Town of Otselic, as Photo taken in 1950 showing Carl and Eloise Anderson on
the farm property originally was owned by Lewis and the porch of the firetower cabin.  Eloise was the last per-
Jenne Williams on the Firetower Road.  Because of that son to man the tower.  She would walk cross lots from her
and the fact that there was no electricity available, and home on  Erieville Road to man the station in the summer
to check for wildfires.The cabin was sold when helicopt-
our daughter would have had to go to South
ers took over the job.                                                 
Otselic school, we did not move there until 1981 after our
youngest daughter graduated from school.

There was no road going through the property so in 1975

we hired Kenneth Vaas to pull trees, dig a ditch and put a
road approximately ½ mile to where we were going to
live.  Everything we did was complicated by slippery, clay
soil. If it started to rain we had to leave right away or we
might not get out. We purchased the Georgetown
Firetower cabin on May 21st 1975. In order to move it onto
our property, George had to make a road through the
woods about 1,000 feet long.  He cut trees on the west
side of the road and moved them to the east side to fill in
a ravine to widen the road. Then he scraped as much soil
as he could onto the road. 

The cabin was 16’ x 27’ including the porch, standing on

seven pillars made out of flat stones cemented together, The cabin about 1982, Miriam Barrows, daughter Melonie,
three on each side and one under the chimney.  He had and Duke the dog.

1
 George and Miriam Barrows, present day home.

to crawl under the building and chip every one apart. 

Then he took the porch floor off and backed our trailer
under the building, loading it on with a tractor and forklift,
using our tow truck as a tow bar and towing it with a farm
tractor. Down we went and did fine until all four wheels of
the tow truck came up on the Firetower Road. The cabin
slid off the trailer.  The cabin was then loaded back onto Ellen Anderson and her Erieville quilt.
the trailer and a cable from the tow truck was wrapped
around it. We proceeded to cross the Lewis Williams farm Christmas tree farm, one of a very few in the area at that
to our back line.  That took one day. It took two days to time. Just about a half century ago, family life was quite a
move it over the very slippery road, fighting to keep it bit different than it is now. Kids helped out and played at
from sliding into the ravine to where we wanted it.  The home, went to school in the four room schoolhouse (now
cabin was set on pillars and we moved in the Fall of 1981. apartments), worshipped and celebrated spiritual events
at the local Methodist church (now closed and
The cabin inside was 20’. One room 10’ by 16’ and two deconsecrated), and in the summer, swam off the dam on
rooms 5’ by 8’.  The porch, where we slept, was 7’ by 16’.  Erieville Reservoir, now Tuscarora Lake.
George dug a spring, ran a hose near the cabin and
attached a faucet. We kept it running all of the time in the As one of her theme projects, Ellen decided to make a
winter and chipped ice off to get water. The wood we had memory quilt depicting her life growing up on her family
was covered with snow and ice as we had no storage for homestead, Brookside Farm, then located on the main
it. The year we moved to Erieville we were sued over our road south of the hamlet of
boundary and spent many hours working to settle the Erieville.
problem.
The “tree of life” image ties
We moved to Erieville from a large house, and our together the ten picture
brother-in law built a storage building for our belongings. panels. The background
We have continued to improve the property to this day. It color is in keeping with the
would be too long of an article for this newsletter to tell of reds and greens of
the trials and tribulations we suffered in the early years, Christmas. The ten picture
but are happy to say it was worth it. panels that depict individual
places and activities of
Ellen and her friends and
The Erieville Quilt family, are original sketches
by Denise Earl transferred to circles of
muslin and entirely hand
Ellen Anderson is a quilt maker. With just a needle and embroidered. The quilt was
thread and bits of carefully chosen cotton fabric, she has completed in 2005 and was
put together many artfully - done, fabric pictures that are three years in the making.
a treat to the eye and also serve to keep one warm in the
many cold nights that we have here in Central NewYork. All together, the quilt is a
The Erieville Schoohouse charming and inspiring
One of six children of Carl and Eloise Anderson, Ellen project that is a delight to
and Methodist Church.
grew up in Erieville on land that functioned as a
2
see for anyone having an appreciation of the art and craft
of quilting, especially those who can recollect life in
Erieville.
For additional pictures of the quilt as well as Ellen’s
comments about each piece, you can view it at
erievillenelson.us/~enca.
January of 1919. He was discharged in February of 1919.
Upon his return, he took a position teaching in East
Rockaway, Long Island for two years. He served as the
acting principal, physical instructor and teacher during the
spring of 1920. Burdick started attending Syracuse
University around 1922.

To Commemorate the 100th Anniversary Somewhere around the mid 1920’s Burdick moved to
of World War I: New Jersey, eventually settling down as a teacher in the
Profile of a World War I Soldier From Trenton Central School District. He married Ethel Winifred
Erieville Gibb around 1928. He served as a teacher for a number
by Matthew Urtz, Madison County Historian of years. He died in February of 1965. He is buried in
Ewing, New Jersey at Ewing Church Cemetery.
Emerson Harris Burdick was born in Erieville on July 25th,
1896, son of James and Florence Burdick. He grew up in Honoring World War I Veterans from Nelson
Erieville and graduated from Erieville School in 1914. Auringer, Harold Franklin Lloyd, Edward J.
Burdick then enrolled in the Cortland Normal School and Bardin, Almon D. Lloyd, Thomas
graduated with second honors in June of 1918. Blair, Isaac Matthews, Lester
Brown, Wallace Maynard, Charles H.
Before graduation ceremonies, Burdick left Cortland and Burdick, Emerson Harris Miles, Wesley L.
joined the Marine Corps. He took his basic training at Childs, Albert Jerome Myers, Earl C.
Paris Island, South Carolina and additional training in Clark, Walter F. Nabor, Norman J.
Cole, C.E. Nabor, Othmar L.
Quantico, Virginia. Burdick left for France in early
Elliot, George Nellis, Grant
September of 1918 and on October 16th , was assigned to Elliot, Howard Omans, Pardon S.
the well-known 6th Machine Gun Battalion. The 6th Fairbanks, Frank T. Pangborn, Glenn E.
Machine Gun Battalion garnered their first recognition in Francis, Clifford B. Perry, Harold W.
t h e C h a t e a u - T h i e r r y S e c t o r. T h e b a t t a l i o n ’ s Francis, Harold Perry, John
aggressiveness led to the “Devil Dog” nickname Gardner, Warren Allen Pugh, Gerry
Gibbs, Leslie E. Pynn, Merl
commonly associated with Marines. The battalion (along
Gifford, Leslie E. Robbins, Floyd A.
with the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments) was awarded the Haines, William G. Robinson, William H.
French Croix de Guerre Hazard, Ruth Gardner Spaulding, Edwin S.
three times. The Croix Hughes, Harry E. Tainter, Leland B.
de Guerre is a French Hughes, William E. Van Wyk, William Henry
military decoration that Hyde, Walter A. Van Wyk, John C.
recognized French and Jones, Louis E. Wallace, Lynn K.
Jones, Lyndon J. Walters, Lester E.
allied soldiers for
Kileen, Frank R. Westcott, Norman O.
valorous service during Lee, Theron J. Westcott, Roy L.
World War I. Legler, Oscar Wilson, Raymond E.

Burdick took part in the

Cazenovia Republican, Mar. 18, 1915
last action of the Meuse
Argonne Offensive
along the Meuse River.
O n N o v e m b e r 11 t h ,
1918 Burdick was
struck in the wrist by
shrapnel, causing a
severe injury. He was
treated at a base
hospital before he
returned home in late Emerson Harris Burdick

3
 Nelson resident, John James, 1811-1896. Almira Truesdell James, 1813-1890

“… The old post office was home to Bryan James, a third

The Mystery of Two Local Paintings
generation of James’ to live in Nelson, who died at the
by Laine Gilmore, Nelson Co-historian
age of 83, in June, 1972.
Recently, an Erieville resident donated two paintings to
With all the conveniences of the 20th century, James
the Erieville - Nelson Heritage Society. The exact
doggedly lived in the style - and all the hardships — of his
provenance of the two paintings is unknown, but she
father and grandfather’s day. Ironically, James was a very
knows that they were bought many years ago at an
wealthy man, having invested his money wisely in stocks
auction.

and bonds.
The first painting is that of a woman. By studying her
A widower, in his later years he lived exclusively on the
clothing, it appears that the painting was probably
first floor in a room off of the side porch. He had no
painted about 1845. No markings on the back tell us who
children or close relatives. Most of his family is buried in
the woman is. The artistic quality of this painting is more
the Nelson Rural Cemetery or the Welsh Church
refined than that of the second painting of a handsome
Cemetery….
young man. The “young man” painting depicts the
gentleman being somewhat disproportionate in figure.
…..It was out back that area residents had seen James
They are definately painted by two different artists. On
late at night with a light and a shovel. It was rumored that
the back of the “young man” painting, written in pencil, is
James stashed money in the walls of his building and
“John James, 1832”. Also, a notation, “Died Nov. 4,
buried it in his backyard.
1896.” There was also a newspaper article attached to
the back of the painting. The article was in one of the
Humphries [his lawyer] and an associate went through
Syracuse papers and was written sometime in 1973. (The
the structure last summer, finding about $22,000 of
original article was searched for, but not found in any of
mouldy [sic], dirty cash rolled in tin foil to the size of
the newspaper archives). The article mentions how
cigarettes. $14,000 of the money was found under a stair
Nelson Town Supervisor William Magee is restoring the
tread, $5,000 in the mattress, and about $2,200 in an old
old post office in Nelson, and is hoping to sell antiques
sewing machine - all within ten feet of James’ bed.
and have living quarters upstairs. The article also
explains that the old post office was previously home to
The lawyers hired Gerald and Ralph Stowell of Cazenovia
Bryan James;

to dig up the backyard with a back hoe, but no money

4
was found. James’ estate of close to $200,000 was left to
a charitable organization and a Syracuse antique
dealer….”
Bryan James was born 1 January 1884, the son of
William and Sarah James. He married Anna Evans of
Nelson, 28 June 1924. Anna was born in Eaton, 5 May
1885, the youngest daughter of Thomas and Mary Evans.
Anna was about 38 and Bryan about 41 when they
married. They never had any children. Anna, a beloved
member of the Nelson community, died 29 January 1945.
Bryan James continued to live in the antique shop at the
corner of Route 20 and Nelson Road until his death in
June of 1972.
Lydia married second, Jeremiah Whipple, Sr., an early
Many residents, to this day recall that many of Bryan
James’ possessions were auctioned after his death.
While the Erieville resident who donated the paintings,
recalled that they bought the paintings together, at an
auction, she does not recall where they were bought. It is
however, very possible that they were bought at the
James auction, as the donor recalls that they were
probably bought sometime in the 1970s. If this is the
case, Bryan James was the likely owner of these two
paintings, and the name of John James and the date of
1832 on the back of the “young man” painting indicates
that this was Bryan James’ grandfather. It is possible that
both of these paintings were painted here in Nelson, and
resided in the house on the corner for three generations
of James family. Then they were sold at auction to the
Erieville residents, probably having never left the town of
Nelson since 1832, the date of the “young man” painting,
and mid 1840s, the date of the “woman” painting.
Although the provenance of the paintings is pure
speculation, it certainly is a possibility.
may have commissioned a painting of his wife to match
William James and his wife, Sarah Jayne James, parents
of Bryan James, also lived in the antique store.
According to census records, Bryan and wife Anna,
Jessie (sister of Bryan), and William and Sarah James all
lived together until each of them died. William James
was a tinsmith according to all census records. William
James was born in 1838, died in 1916 and is buried in
Nelson Rural Cemetery. Sarah James died 21 January,
1934 at the age of 96. She is buried with her husband
William, however, her death date was never inscribed on
her gravestone.
William James’ parents were John James and Almira
Truesdell James. John James was born in Manlius, New
York in 1811 and died in Nelson in 1896. HIs wife, Almira
was born in 1813 and died in 1890. They are both buried
in Nelson Rural Cemetery. When just a boy, John James
was apprenticed to the store of Wellington Richards,
which is currently the Nelson Country Store and formerly
the Nelson Inn. Eventually John became a merchant and
owned stores in Cincinnatus, Manlius and Cazenovia in
5
various years.. He returned to Nelson, where he spent his
later years peddling tinware around the area. He is also
credited, along with John Donaldson, who at that time
ran the general store at the location of the current Nelson
Country Store, with digging up an elm tree out of the
swamp and planting it in front of the store, where it
flourished for at least 140 years as Nelson’s “Grand Old
Elm Tree”.
John James’ parents were John James and Lydia (_?_)
James. He served in the War of 1812, and was an early
settler of Manlius. He died at the age of 28 in 1813, and
is buried in Christ Church Cemetery in Manlius. His wife,
settler of Cazenovia and Nelson. After Whipple died in
1840, Lydia lived with John and Charlotte Burge, a son-
in-law and daughter. She is likely the Lydia Whipple
buried in Hamilton, NY, where the Burge family lived. She
was born about 1788, and died in the late 1850s or early
1860s.
It was first thought that the “woman painting” was that of
John James, Jr’s mother, Lydia. The woman in the
painting is dressed in clothing that was fashionable
about 1845. By estimating the year that the painting was
done, it would make Lydia James Whipple about 57
years old. Taking into account how people aged in the
mid-1800s, the woman in the painting looks far younger
than 57. It is more likely the painting is that of John
James Jr.’s wife, Almira Truesdell. She would have been
about 33-38 years old (if we take into account her
fashionable clothes may have been a few years old). The
woman in the painting is more likely to be a woman in her
mid to late 30s. It also makes sense that John James
the painting of himself done when he was 21 years old.
Lydia, by mid 1840s, was widowed from her second
husband, and living probably in Hamilton with her
daughter. It is far less likely that a widow of 57, with little
income, would commission a painting of herself.
Although no photos of Almira James have been found, it
is very likely that the portrait is of her.
Erieville - Nelson Heritage Society members will continue
to study thses portraits and unravel the mystery
surrounding them.
Progress Continues at Temple Cemetery
On three separate occasions, members of the Erieville-
Nelson Heritage Society have gathered at the cemetery
site to cut trees, clear brush and beautify the area known
as Temple Cemetery (more recently called the Reservoir
Cemetery). Workers have used their own tools and have
spent 2-3 hours each time. Great progress has been
made; more work is necessary.
Locating a chipper and an operator for the removal of the
brush and wood, may be problematic.
Bernardo Jaquez, a local resident and owner of a sign
company, is donating the creation and presentation of a
permanent sign 96" X 96". It will be dark red and will
include the names of all known original burials.
Accessibility to the site needs consideration. The current
approach to the cemetery is somewhat precarious. ENHS
welcomes your ideas and suggestions. Your physical
presence and energy at the next work session would be
great. (TBA).
Norman Odell Citizenship Award
In 1996, the Town of Nelson and the Erieville -
Nelson Heritage Society jointly established a program
to annually recognize a citizen of the town for
outstanding contributions to the residents of the town.
The person has to be a resident of the town, and
recognized for volunteer work; local, social, fraternal,
educational and for helping people as a good neighbor.
To receive this award a person nominates someone on an
application, which can be found at the Nelson Town Office
or the Erieville Post Office. Submit it to the citizenship
committee. Then, a committee consisting of a town board
member, Erieville-Nelson Heritage member, and a citizen
of the town makes the selection of someone for the
award. Applications are open until September 21, 2018.
The award ceremony is the first Sunday in November.
ENHS Welcomes New Members since May
2018
Peter Hudelson, Seattle, WA
Mike and Rebecca Werbela and familiy, Cazenovia, NY
Denise Melton, Macclenny, FL
Karen Storne, Erieville, NY
David Vredenburgh/Betsy Kennedy, Cazenovia, NY

The Nelson Baseball Team, August 1949. Front Row: Dick Davis, Everett Murray, Bernie Richards, Jack Jeffries, Fred
Holmes, Robert Sweetland, Heman Allen, Maurice Pugh (umpire). Back Row: Don Taylor, Don Pugh, Roger Pugh, Jeff
Jeffries, Dick Allen, Harry Squires. According to the Cazenovia Republican, 20 May 1948: The first game of the newly
organized Nelson Town Baseball Team took place on a field at the Lee Murray farm on 15 May 1948. Roger Pugh was
catcher; Eugene Hart, pitcher; Everett Murray, first base; Robert Sweetland, second base; Kenneth Walters, third base;
Jeffreys, shortstop; Eugene Morin, left field; Harry Squires, center field; Bernie Richards, right field. Earlville took the
game by the score of 13-7. Photo courtesy of ENHS.
6
 Great appreciation from the Erieville - Nelson Heritage
Society to the following “Hills and Hollows” donors since
Erieville - Nelson Heritage
May: Society
Gil Francis, Livonia, MI
Mary and Doug Obrist, Canastota, NY
Membership Application
Ed and Dorene Setliff, Cazenovia, NY
Robert and Dawn Goering, Clinton, NY Date of Application ________________
David Rezak, Syracuse, NY _______New Member ________Renewal
Denise Melton, Macclenny, FL
_______Individual ($10.00) ______family ($15.00)
Paul and Carol Buell, Reistertown, MD
Ray Schumaker, Milfer, OH _______ Donation to ENHS
Janis Shatto, Beaverton. OR
Name:
From the Desk of ENHS First_____________________________________
Meetings are the 2nd Wed of each month, April - Oct,
committees meet most Wednesdays 1-3, year round, Last_____________________________________
at the Nelson Town Office.If interested in committee
work, email erievillenelsonhs@gmail.com. All are Address:
welcome and help is always needed wih projects!! Street__________________________________

Wed. Sept 12, Erieville Firehouse, 7 p.m City___________________________State______

Judy Lyrek of Hamilton, will present on the historic homes
of Hamilton. Her presentation will be accentuated by Zip code_________________________________________
beautiful indoor and outdoor architectural photographs.
Phone___________________________________
Sat. Sept. 29, Cemetery Tour
Erieville Evergreen Cemetery, 10:00 a.m. rain or shine. Summer Address__________________________
Meet at the cemetery at the corner of Tuscarora Road ________________________________________

and Erieville Road. Information: email
Soniadavies@windstream.net
Email____________________________________
Wed. Oct 11, Nelson Town Office, 7p.m.
Matt Urtz, County Historian, will talk about the history and Volunteer Opportunities (Check any that you
future of our county office buildings. may be interested in):
Sunday, Nov. 4, 2:00 p.m., location TBA _____Committee work
Norm Odell Citizenship Award
_____Archives and research
Breaking News As We Go To Press - Temple _____ Indexing, transcribing or scanning
Cemetery Gravestones Found!!
_____ Programs
The sleuthing of Erieville resident and ENHS member,
Jim Georges, led to his discovery of ten of the _____ website
gravestones from Temple Cemetery that had very
recently been dug up due to a homeowner installing a _____ newsletter
new septic system. As lore suggested the stones had
been used to line a well, the discovery that they were _____ Cemeteries
actually used to cover the septic system was pretty
amazing! The owner and his tenant are happy to have the $ 10.00 annual membership fee for individuals.
gravestones removed and returned to their rightful place.
As the story unfolds and the gravestones assessed, stay $15.00 membership fee for family membership.
tuned for new developments. Please make checks payable to:
Erieville - Nelson Heritage Society
Please Join ENHS to support future copies of our newsletter! Nelson Town Office Building
Hills and Hollows is available electronically at
https://www.facebook.com/ErievilleNelsonHeritageSociety and
4085 Nelson Road
h t t p : / / w w w. t o w n o f n e l s o n - n y. c o m . C o n t a c t E N H S a t Cazenovia, New York 13035
Erievillenelsonhs@gmail.com. Like us on facebook!! https://
www.facebook.com/ErievilleNelsonHeritageSociety.Visit http://
www.townofnelson-ny.com for ENHS and Town Historian. Visit
https://nyheritage.org , search Erieville Nelson, to visit over 200 Hills and Hollows © 2018, Erieville - Nelson Heritage Society
photos of Erieville and Nelson.

7
 A special The Nelson Odeon brings world-class
thanks to our performers from all around...well...
the world...to central new york.
sponsors - open your ears to something new.
Shop local!!! thank you for choosing live music.

Visit our website to see show listings and purchase tickets

nelsonodeon.com | 315.655.9193
4035 Nelson Road, Nelson, New York 13035
(3 miles east of Cazenovia on Route 20)