Mr. George Russell


 

Tape 1

Track 1

 

Mr. Russell describes growing up in Westville, NY in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.  List of Farmers in Westville, ca 1900.

 Description of Westville Center, NY  and businesses at the end of the 19th century, including a gristmill, starch factory, sawmill, barrel maker, blacksmith shops.

 Childhood games and growing up on various farms his father worked on as a day worker in Westville. Life as a boy in Westville NY,; home life, description of houses and day to day life.

 Description of early jobs around the state after marriage in 1906.   In 1922 going to work for the New York central Railroad in Malone, NY until retirement in 1951.

 Early life and living conditions in Westville NY, for workers ca. 1900

 Detailed description of grist mill in Westville, NY and water power.  Working in a butter factory in Westville, NY.

Farming in Westville, NY during World War I.  Detailed description of home and living conditions; discussion of home remedies used by their parents ca. 1900

 

Click on Audio link to listen to interview:

 Audio 

Audio

[audio:http://www.reynoldstonnewyork.org/wp-content/FCRTR-119-1-A.mp3]

 Track 2

 Orel Mulaniff Russell talks about growing up in Fort Covington, NY ca. 1900.  More on family life ca. 1900. Indians from St. Regis, NY collecting black ash for baskets.

 Going to grade school in Westville, NY  and description of one room school houses, childhood games, holidays and holiday celebrations and food.

 Attendance at the Methodist church in Westville, NY.  Parents were Roman Catholic and their beliefs.

 Work in a butcher shop and gristmill in Westville, NY ca. 1900

Description of an apple press business

Click on Audio link to listen to interview:

 Audio

 Audio

[audio:http://www.reynoldstonnewyork.org/wp-content/FCRTR-119-1-B.mp3]

Tape 2

 Side 1

Working for the New York Central Railway out of Malone, NY 1922- 1951, to maintain and repair train cars.   Details of railroad operations in Malone and the number of people employed in it; both freight and passenger trains.  Repairing train wrecks.

Gradual decline of the railroad business in Malone, NY and loss of business. Hard work of working for railroad; eagerness to retire and leave the hard work and responsibilities to someone else.        

Audio

 Click on Audio link to listen to interview:

Audio

[audio:http://www.reynoldstonnewyork.org/wp-content/FCRTR-121-1-B.mp3]

Click on Link for Transcript:

  

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