Talcottville, New York, in postcards
by Larry Myers
The Village of Talcottville is located
north of Boonville and south of Potters Corners and Turin on Route
12D. Constableville is a few miles to the northwest, and Port Leyden is a
neighbor
to the north on Route 12.
Perhaps Talcottville’s main claim to fame
is its old stone house,
made
from local limestone by its builder, Hezekiah Talcott, more than 200
years
ago. Some old postcards identify it as the Thomas Baker home or
the Shoemaker home.
Perhaps the most famous owner was Edmund Wilson, who wrote the book
“Upstate”
in 1971, detailing his relationships with and observations of people
from
the Talcottville area.
But right next door to the old stone house was the Talcottville Post Office
and
General Store. It was also a gas station where
local
motorists could “fill ‘er up.” Local motorist, Fred Buckley,
obviously
didn’t quite make the turn at the Suger River Bridge
just
east of Talcottville on July 4, 1913.
Talking about bridges, here’s a picture of the bridge
construction
on the northern edge of the village, looking north. Another view
catches
the completed bridge,
looking south, toward the village. And still another view
taken
from the bridge itself. Photographer Beach took the picture
of
this small wooden
bridge
up in the village.
The
waterfall at the edge of the village was always interesting. In
this view, a photographer, either Beach himself, or his assistant,
poses with a camera. Here’s another view,
catching
a house on the street above. Still another view shows the old mill.
This
view of the gorge in
Sugar
River was sent to a postcard collector in 1909. Incidentally, most
of
the postcard views here are by Photographer Beach.
Let’s look at a street view or two in Talcottville.
Probably taken from the lawn of the stone house, this view shows thepillars
of the Talcottville Hotel. And here’s a closeup of the hotel.
Looking a little farther down the street we see the next building.
I’m not exactly sure where the Baptist Church in
Talcottville
was, but think it might have been between the General Store and the School House, on
School
Street. Only slightly changed over the years, here’s the Methodist Church as
it
looked in 1906.
I’ve taken this photo up to
Talcottville
in an attempt to locate the spot precisely. Judging from the
background
hills, I’m guessing that it was near Barrett’s Corners (just south of
Talcottville).
I borrowed this picture postcard of the students and teacher
at the Talcottville School. Larry Kraeger was kind enough to
identify some of the students for me. There was a Niece family in
Talcottville years ago. One of their decendants was kind enough
to share this information. I hope you've
enjoyed the
"Talcottville Tour."
E-mail Larry
Myers
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