In Dresden in 1885 farmer Barrett owned a cocker spaniel. For over five years the dog had shown a great love for geese, especially the goslings. She swam in the water
among them. They in turn accepted her presence. People enjoyed watching them. One day the dog disappeared. She was mourned for a week when she appeared
starved and haggard. She was promptly fed but after gorging herself she seized a bone and disappeared again in the thick underbrush.
A few days later the dog reappeared in worse condition than before. But this time a string was tied around her neck and when she whined to be let loose her master followed her at the end of the string. She seemed delighted that he came along. Mr. Barrett worked his way through the bushes and stopped only when the dog stopped before the nest of a large white goose. He loosened the string. The goose rose up from the nest, showing nine large blue tinted eggs. The dog wagged her tail and then carefully arranged her body so that it covered all the eggs. She mutely begged understanding from her master.
Mr. Barrett visited the nest frequently. A week later nine lively goslings appeared with the delighted dog. The goose led her family down to the lake and all plunged in,
where they were greeted with “three cheers and a tiger” as the editor of the Whitehall Times explained it.
Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Times – August 1, 1985
Merchant Chauncey Bates evidently was a cat lover as was Charles Quigley who used to brag about his cat’s exploits. Chauncey related this story of his cat. Three times a day she would go to the cash register and count out enough change to buy herself a meal of meat. Then she tripped across the street to Alfred Carver’s meat market and laid down the money. George Bartholomew cut off the desired amount which the cat took into her mouth and returned to Mr. Bates’ store to enjoy her feast. Mr. Bates promised certified copies of this cat story.
Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Independent – February 19, 1986
What about an exhibit of horseflesh in our streets today consisting of the Beechman stallions’ offspring? Five of them. Gilbert Hunt owned two stallions; a chestnut, eleven months 27 days weighing 910 pounds and a bay, ten months 20 days of 700 pounds. Fred H. Smith owned two mares; one a chestnut eleven months old, 660 pounds and a black, 16 months, 640 pounds. Sereno Hollister was the owner of a five year ten month old bay, 680 pounds. The animals were deemed splendid specimens of equine flesh.
Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Independent – March 19, 1986
In August Mose Blanchard and his son Edward bagged 23 woodcocks, their catch for one day. They shipped the birds south and received $1.25 for each pair. This was a record.
A creepy snake story from Hulett’s Landing. A summer visitor sat on a rock at waterslide reading a newspaper. On hearing the newspaper rustle she looked down to see a rattler across her lap with its head on the paper enjoying the sun. With a terrific scream and lunge she jumped into the lake from which her brother rescued her. The reptile had seven rattles and a button. Remember this was one hundred years ago and not likely to happen in these vacation times.
Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Times – July 24, 1986
This was the year, 1886, that General John Hammond of Civil War fame erected a monument to his horse that carried him through 88 skirmishes and 34 battles in the South. The horse, named Pink, lived to be 31 years old. His monument, inscribed, is a twelve foot high gray column that stands facing the soldiers’ monument which is in the small park in the center of Crown Point. Look for it at the left side of the road going north.
Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Times – September 18, 1986