Path Through History Conference

This past Tuesday, I was honored to attend the Path Through History Conference held by Governor Andrew Cuomo in Albany. It was a great experience to meet some of the 200 people representing Museums and History Tourism.

At the conference, I participated in the North Country work group to discuss ways to market our area as a destination for history tourism. Many themes were brought to our attention, but one that stuck with me was freedom. People in the North Country fought for freedom- from the American Revolution and the War of 1812, to the Underground Railroad, freedom is a driving notion in the North Country. However, during the conversation, I felt there was something missing. I mentioned how people in the North Country have such a strong sense of community. You help your neighbor when they are in trouble, no questions asked. This is the same sense of community that the Delords had! Henry Delord helped out the soldiers by offering them credit at his store during the War of 1812. Fanny helped out her fellow neighbors by offering medical services to those who could not afford a doctor. So I told the group a great way to market our area is to focus on how neighborly we are. People downstate may not understand this sense of hospitality, and it is something they can experience by traveling to the North Country. We are the North Country Neighbor for Canada, Vermont, and Downstate! Many in the group expressed their support for marketing as the North Country Neighbor, including Senator Betty Little!

While there is no guarantee that is the path the North Country will take, I was still heard. Sometimes it is just gratifying to know that people are listening.

At the conference, Governor Cuomo announced the new Path Through History Initiative. Governor Cuomo is pushing to promote historical and heritage tourism in New York State. To do so, the state is launching a new Path Through History website which will feature easily accessible information for historical sites throughout the state. The state is also launching a new smart phone app to be used to find these historical sites. Along major highways, there will be signs marked with a Path Through History logo to mark important events and historical sites. All of this will be launched in the future. Each of the ten regions in New York, including the North Country, will receive $100,000 to help with this new initiative.

I was proud to represent the Kent-Delord House Museum at this conference, and I am even more thrilled to have a governor who is so passionate about history!

Click here to read a Times Union article about this event!

National Women’s Equality Day

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Betsey Delord, Fanny Hall, Frances Henrietta, History, Women

National Women’s Equality Day is this Sunday August 26^th in celebration of the 19^th amendment’s certification. In 1920, the 19^th amendment granted women the right to vote on this day.

It is a shame that many do not realize there is a holiday that celebrates such a monumental time in American History. The holiday started in 1971- so it is not something relatively new. I discovered the holiday in a calendar that marked pretty much all national holidays. Otherwise, it would be a day just like any other. But, now that I am in the know, I like to take some time to remember how much women struggled to gain the right to vote.

I am not a stranger to the suffrage movement. In fact, I have spent a fair amount of my time studying the movement. My Honors Thesis was about the suffrage movement in the Finger Lakes region because of two extremely important individuals (this might be an opinionated statement). Elizabeth Smith Miller partnered with her daughter Anne Fitzhugh Miller to start a Political Equality Club in Geneva, New York. Elizabeth was the second cousin of Elizabeth Cady Stanton so she knew a few people in the movement. Elizabeth was also the woman who started wearing bloomers in the public sphere. I digress, but the Miller women were key to the New York State suffrage movement. Besides lobbying in Albany and sometimes in Washington, D.C., they were one of the largest political equality clubs in the state, and also had the most male involvement in all clubs of the state. However, the most important part of the Miller story I believe are the suffrage scrapbooks they left behind. There are numerous volumes of scrapbooks located at the Library of Congress, but are conveniently available online.

So, what does this all have to do with the Kent-Delord House Museum? Well, for one, the Museum is also not a stranger to the suffrage movement. Fanny Hall was actively involved in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Fanny attended many state and national conventions, and we have her ribbons from the conventions in our collection. Fanny first served as secretary of the Plattsburgh chapter starting in 1875, and later served as President of the County Union.

One important aspect of the women’s suffrage movement was how women became empowered and involved in activism. The most famous names in suffrage history like Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton started their activism in the abolitionist movement. Susan B. Anthony started her activism work in the temperance movement. Through temperance, Fanny became familiar with Susan B. Anthony and the issue of women’s suffrage.

While the Kent-Delord House Museum is not directly tied to women’s suffrage, that is not what National Women’s Equality Day is all about. It is about women’s equality. Many of the Delord women and Plattsburgh women worked for women’s equality in their own ways, leaving behind their legacies of strong, independent women.

Betsey Delord was known for being business savvy. While Henry was away, she had to maintain the store. In a letter that she wrote to Henry while he was away on business, she says,

“I have sent you, Mr. Delord, two as good loads as ever pack’d together. You cant conceive what a woman of Business I am when no one interferes to perplex me. I was u this morning soon after daylight and have every thing ready for a start in Good season….one of the best wives in the world, B.D.”

Betsey was not the first woman in her family to show such independence in the business world. Her mother was able to support her three daughters after her husband died by opening a bakery shop in Plattsburgh. It is no surprise that Betsey was able to flourish in the business world.

Betsey’s daughter Frances Henrietta unfortunately led a short life. But, what is important about Frances’ story is her education. Frances attended boarding school in Champlain, New York. This was during a time where women were not expected to get an education. By getting an education, Frances was asserting herself as equal to men. During a trip to the Albany area, Frances even met Emma Willard, who was a pioneer in women’s education. Emma Willard opened the Troy Female Seminary which was later named the Emma Willard School in her honor. You might recognize a graduate from there- Elizabeth Cady Stanton! Through her education and through the people she met, Frances Henrietta was still working toward female equality, even if she was not aware of it!

Fanny also worked for female equality in her own way. Besides the Women’s Christian Temperance Movement, Fanny was also an inventor. Fanny created Fanoline which was an ointment that could be used to cure basic human ailments from chapped lips to hemorrhoids. After patenting Fanoline, Fanny even started her own company with stock shares called Cumberland Bay Works. It was not a huge moneymaker, but not many women had the opportunity or power to start their own companies or to patent their own inventions. Fanny was also a philanthropist- she was active at the Home for Friendless Children, an orphanage in Plattsburgh, and also studied nursing on her own to treat patients that could not afford to see a doctor. Fanny established through her actions that women are just as capable as men, and what is not worth celebrating about that?

There were other Plattsburgh women who established themselves outside the home. The neighbors of the Delords Lucretia and Margaret Davidson were famous poets lauded by Washington Irving. This was during a time when some women were afraid to publish books under their own name and used male pennames instead.

I wanted to also take this time to add a humorous anecdote. While I was browsing through the Miller suffrage scrapbooks, I found a little bit of information about Plattsburgh. It turns out that Plattsburgh was one of the cities in New York, before women’s suffrage was added to the state constitution, which allowed for female taxpayers to vote on tax issues. When suffragists were lobbying in Albany to extend these rights throughout the state, anti-suffrage women from Plattsburgh were there to protest the issue without realizing Plattsburgh already granted women these rights.

While celebrating National Women’s Equality Day, it is important to remember all women who left the domestic sphere and took a chance in the public sphere- from receiving an education to opening and operating a business- these are all important when it comes to equality. Women who opposed suffrage are also important to remember because they remind us how far women have come.

Attack on Fort Cassin: Important Lake Champlain Events during the War of 1812

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Battle of Plattsburgh, Fort Cassin, History, Lake Champlain Maritime Musem, Lake Champlain Mart

The Battle of Plattsburgh is a big event in the North Country, and a big event for the Kent-Delord House Museum. During the battle, the British utilized the Kent-Delord House as their headquarters. If you take the time to visit the Museum, you will find evidence of British occupancy, including a soldier’s tea chest.  However, the Battle of Plattsburgh was not the only important War of 1812 event that occurred on Lake Champlain. Lake Champlain was an important water highway for trade and commerce during this time period because it led to Canada, and consequently it was a haven for smuggling in those years. So it is no surprise that there were other skirmishes between the Americans and the British during the War of 1812.

One significant skirmish was the attack on Fort Cassin in Vermont. It was the May of 1814 when the British started an expedition from their forts in Quebec on the Richelieu River. Captain Thomas Macdonough was located at Fort Cassin, not a fort at the time of the battle but the location where Macdonough was building a navy to protect Lake Champlain in 1813 at the mouth of Otter Creek into Lake Champlain. When Captain Macdonough heard about the British traveling down Lake Champlain, he set up a fortification on the spot to defend his ships. This fortification is later called Fort Cassin after Lieut. Stephen Cassin who helped drive the British away. Captain Macdonough, with Lieut. Cassin, some sailors, and Captain Thornton’s company of artillery who were sent from Burlington, Vermont, were able to protect Fort Cassin and the naval fleet that would later defeat the British at Plattsburgh in September 1814. This skirmish was important in the overall War of 1812 because it prevented the British from completing their expedition, and preserved the naval fleet used in the Battle of Plattsburgh, which was named the most important naval battle of the War of 1812 and gave the Americans a negotiating position when it came to the Treaty of Ghent.

This weekend (August 18^th and 19^th) at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vergennes, Vermont is hosting a Rabble in Arms event. The event is a reenactment of the attack on Fort Cassin and there are numerous activities planned throughout the weekend including a talk titled “The Search for Macdonough’s Shipyard,” a look into the archaeological search for his fleet, and ongoing demonstrations of 19^th century military camp and cooking. For more information, check out their Facebook event, or their website.

The Kent-Delord House Museum believes it is important to celebrate all parts of local history. Stop by the Rabble in Arms Weekend and learn more about the War of 1812 in the Champlain Valley and the events leading up to the Battle of Plattsburgh. I know you will not be disappointed.

After checking out Fort Cassin, don’t forget about the Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration Weekend from September 7^th-9^th and learn more about the most important naval battle of the War of 1812! For a schedule of events, click here.

Henry Delord Finds His Family

Tags

Betsey Delord, France, Frances Henrietta, Henry Delord, History

When I ended the first part of the Delord family history, I stopped after the War of 1812 and the Battle of Plattsburgh. At this time, the Delords were happily living in Plattsburgh, still trying to receive money back from the government without success, and it was a quiet time in the North Country. Industry was increasing because of the openings of the Erie Canal in 1825 and the Champlain Canal that connected Lake Champlain to the Hudson River in 1819, along with an increase in the use of steamships. Traveling was starting to get a little bit easier, and with that came more trade and commerce. The North Country was still a small community, but growing.

During this moment of peace in Plattsburgh, Henry decided to contact people in France to inquire about the whereabouts of his family. Henry had not heard from his family in 31 years because of the French Revolution of 1789. On December 20, 1819 Henry wrote a letter to the Mayor of his birthplace at Nismes, France for help in finding his family. In May of 1820, Henry heard back from his sister Julia Delord. Sadly, in Julia’s letter, Henry learned that Julia and he were the only living members left of the family.

After the 1820 letter, Henry shipped portraits of himself, Betsey and Frances to his sister. Henry was painted at the age of 54, Betsey at 34, and Frances at 6. The portraits hang in the Gold Parlor at the Kent-Delord House Museum and were painted by Abraham G.D. Tuthill when he worked in Plattsburgh in 1818. My favorite part of the story of these portraits is the kind words Henry said of Betsey that he wrote to his sister when he shipped the paintings. Henry said,

The portraits of Betsey and Henry

“These portraits have been panted two years ago- people say they are not perfect as possible- the ones of my wife and of Franciose [Frances], which I can vouch, are of exact likeness and strikingly natural. My wife since that time gained weight- she is a very beautiful and elegant woman well bred and educated and I may say quite truthfully and without flattery that her virtues even surpass her beauty.”

These words give you context of the time period. For one, Henry is trying to prove to his sister that he married a woman of higher class and worthy of the Delord name. Saying that she is well bred and educated means that she is of the privileged few, especially as a woman, to receive an education and well bred means she comes from more genteel families. Also, these portraits served as a way for Henry’s sister to see what he and his family looked like. At that time there were not any cameras or computers and the only way to capture and image of something was to paint it. But my favorite part of what Henry said about the portraits is the compliments to Betsey’s virtues and her beauty. Even though Betsey married at 15, she did find a great partner who adored her and cherished her for her mind, beauty and attributes. For me, his love comes alive.

By 1824, Henry desperately wished to be reunited with his sister in France. At this time, Henry decided to appeal to leaders in Washington, D.C. including Senator Martin Van Buren and the Secretary of War John C. Calhoun about receiving a consulship in southern France. Henry’s efforts failed, only hearing back from Secretary Calhoun promising him he would bring the matter up with the President. Lieutenant G.F. Lindsey promised Henry passage on the ship sent to bring Lafayette to the United States, but that failed too. What Henry probably did not realize was how he was not the most opportune candidate for a consulship. In 1824, Henry was 60 years old, meaning it was unlikely that he had that much time left on the planet. The government would wish to have someone younger to serve this position because it is more likely he would live longer.

In 1825, the Delords were preparing to move to France regardless of the failed attempt to get a consulship. Unfortunately, Henry’s health began to decline in the beginning of March, and he died a few weeks later at the age of 61 on March 29^th.

In the letter Betsey sent to Julia regretfully informing her of her brother’s death she writes,

“You cannot form any idea how tenderly he loved you. He seldom spoke of you but with tears in his eyes.”

That is true family love- a love many of the North Country can relate to.

Traveling, Delord Style

Tags

History, Steamboats, Transportation

Today, from Rouses Point, New York to the Kent-Delord House Museum, it took me about 25 minutes to get to work. That’s traveling about 27 miles.  As I was giving a tour today, I was reminded that it took three hours for Henry Delord to travel from the Peru Quaker Union to Plattsburgh. Peru is half the distance from Plattsburgh as Rouses Point. So, it took three hours to travel about 12 miles back in the early 19^th century. This got me to thinking about transportation back in the day and how thankful I am to have my car (even if it is 20 years old, decorated with duct tape and the radio doesn’t like to work).

Back when the Delords were making the trek from Peru to Plattsburgh, they were using horses and wagons to travel around. That means you could only travel as fast as the horse could take you. Just imagine trying to travel by horse nowadays. There were not smooth, paved roads, half the road we use today were nonexistent including interstates and the roads available were not always reliable and were often very bumpy rides. Today people complain if roads are too bumpy and if there is construction that causes delays. Thinking about traveling by horse is so unfathomable in today’s world that you have to sit back and wonder what it would be like. You would not have the luxury of air conditioning (not that I have that right now anyway) or heating to keep you comfortable, or really any rain or wind protection, and most of all you would have to ride and own a horse. I get a sore bum from trail rides with horses; imagine traveling for three hours on a horse for business? The Delords were used to this type of lifestyle and it did not bother them of course. However, I just like to think back and wonder what it would be like if I lived back then.

You would have ridden in something like this bad boy

So, if it took three hours to travel WITHIN your own county, how long did it take to travel long distances? Well, the Delords provide us with great details about traveling within the state. Betsey wrote letters from her trip to New York City and Washington, D.C. Also, Fanny Hall often had to travel back and forth from Albany and Hartford to Plattsburgh after visiting her father and his family. Just yesterday I was reading about Betsey traveling to Washington, D.C. She writes about horrendous stage coaches traveling at rapid speeds, steamboats that take her down Lake Champlain to make the trip much easier, and traveling over recently frozen rivers. To answer my question as to how long it took to travel across the state, the answer would be DAYS. Here is an excerpt from a letter Betsey wrote to Henry while she was traveling from New York State to Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday morning at six oclock [sic]we went on board the steam boat and were detained about two hours breaking the ice which obliged us to travel until late at night. When we arrived at Philadelphia it was eleven o’clock. We left there yesterday about eight in the mail coach. Had not travell’d far before we broke down and were obliged to sit in the carriage an hour and a half before the driver could get a larger waggon [sic] to take on to Chester about five miles.

Betsey continues to tell her the story of traveling where she was detained another three hours, and then had to cross risky ice on the Susquehanna. This is also after the woman who traveled with her, since women were not allowed to travel alone, lost her trunk on the stagecoach on the way to New York City from Yonkers. Betsey mentions in her letters she prefers to travel by steamboat, and wishes to wait for Lake Champlain to thaw to travel home. After reading about all the difficulties with wagon travel, I do not blame her.

 Image of the Vermont, the first steamboat on Lake Champlain

So the next time you decide to travel long distances and think driving the 9 hours to visit family is a burden, or when you are peeved that the airline lost your luggage, remember that there was a time where you had to travel by horse, ship, or wagon and it was indeed a rocky ride.

In Case You Missed It: Music at Dusk Presents Towne Meeting

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Events, In Case You Missed It, Music at Dusk, Towne Meeting

Last Friday July 27th, the Kent-Delord House Museum hosted Towne Meeting as part of their summer concert series for 2012. It was the last performance of this year, and we are thankful for all those who came to support us for these past four concerts.

Here are some photos from the performance.

We would like to thank Towne Meeting for participating. It was a rough night for a couple of bandmembers due to a bad cold.

In the News: The Grave of Loyal Servant of the Kent-Delord House is Located

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Catherine Dowling, History, In the News

Catherine Dowling lived in the Kent-Delord House from 1864 to 1923, and was one of the longest residents of the house behind Betsey Delord. Dowling was Fannie Hall’s personal servant, and she even lived in the house for ten years after Fannie’s death in 1913 to serve as the caretaker. It was thanks to Dowling and Maggie Shanks that the house was maintained after Fannie’s death, who was the last of the Delord line, and all of Fannie’s possessions were saved. Many of Fannie’s possessions were inherited from her and her husband Frank’s family, and she wished for them to be preserved in a museum. In 1924, William T. Miner, a local Railroad inventor who became rich off his inventions, bought the house to make it into a Museum. Thanks to Catherine Dowling, everything in the house that Fannie wanted to be preserved is still here today.

However, where Dowling was buried remained a mystery until Marlene Waite, a docent at the Museum, decided to investigate the matter. Marlene, along with her husband Irv Waite, knew that other servants of the Kent-Delord House had been buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Plattsburgh, New York. With the help of Riverside Cemetery Superintendent Ed Bourgois Waite was able to locate Dowling’s grave in one of the oldest sections of the cemetery. There, Waite discovered that Dowling was also buried with another servant named Alice Farryer.

Marlene Waite at the Dowling Gravestone. Photo is from the Press Republican

Finding Dowling’s grave is not the only time Waite has been involved in finding graves at the Riverside Cemetery. Starting in 1999, Waite became interested in the cemetery after attending a lecture at the Plattsburgh Public Library about Rev. Francis Bloodgood Hall. Waite was able to find Hall’s marker in the cemetery by using the background of a slide from the lecture. At this time, Waite discovered that Hall’s gravestone had been vandalized. With a donation from Plattsburgh Memorials, Hall’s stone was able to be repaired, along with the stones of Frances Delord Webb Hall and Henry Delord.

What is amazing about this story is the efforts and passion of Marlene Waite. Waite has been a volunteer at the Kent-Delord House Museum since 1995, and she says it is very easy to get wrapped up in the people and their lives. Waite is also quick to point out that servants are often overlooked in family histories. Waite is thankful that the Museum has folders on all of the servants, and enjoyed reading about them.

Marlene Waite has a strong point. Many servants are overlooked in larger histories. When you learn about history growing up, you never focus on the people who were the loyal servants. You do not read about all the servants in the white house, and the servants who served small families right here in Plattsburgh. Now, with the discovery of Catherine Dowling’s gravestone, Waite has helped to tell a different story in the Kent-Delord House’s history, a story of devotion that led to this Museum.

Next mystery that needs to be solved- where in the world is Betsey Delord’s gravestone?

For the Press Republican article, click here.