Mr. James Smith

b. 1870

 

Skerry, NY & Norwood, NY

Early days in Franklin County, & St. Lawrence County 1870 – 1930; Discussion of life styles and everyday lift in Norwood, N.Y. and area. Hops and hop kiln, crops, store, trees etc

Tape 1

Side 1

Mr. James Smith was born in 1870; Background to his ancestors coming from Vermont; description of home he grew up in and his family on Austin Ridge in Norwood, NY; description of people who lived on Austin ridge and religious beliefs; Description of home furnishing;  Description of sugar bushes on Austin Ridge and making maple syrup; more on description of household furniture; description of his father’s farm; description of his parents “half way house” near Yaleville, St. Lawrence County; father raising sheep; meals and diet as a child; garden and crops.

 Audio

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Audio

[audio:http://www.reynoldstonnewyork.org/wp-content/FCRTR-112-1-A.mp3]

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Side 2

More on crops and farming; sowing crops;  field clearing bees and making potash when he was young in the late 1800’s; description of saw mill in Norwood, NY

 Audio

Click on Audio link to listen to interview:

Audio

[audio:http://www.reynoldstonnewyork.org/wp-content/FCRTR-112-1-B.mp3]

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Tape 2

Side 1

Working in a milk factory; early jobs on various peoples farms and businesses in the Norwood area; caring for horses; description of an ice house and working at a roller skating arena in Norwood various jobs in Norwood area;  Working in St. Regis Falls and the woods;

Audio

Click on Audio link to listen to interview:

Audio

[audio:http://www.reynoldstonnewyork.org/wp-content/FCRTR-112-2-A.mp3]

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 Side 2

Growing hops near Potsdam in St. Lawrence County in the late 1800’s; working the logging camps in Franklin County; Brooklyn Cooperage Company; Description of logging camps in the late 19th century and the relative hard and primitive conditions; Life in logging camps and logging; Marriage and moving to Brandon and owning farms and working in the Skerry area of Brandon, NY; raising potatoes and chickens and strawberries.

 Audio

Click on Audio link to listen to interview:

Audio

[audio:http://www.reynoldstonnewyork.org/wp-content/FCRTR-112-2-B.mp3]

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 Click on link for Transcript

Transcript