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Residents Pack Butterfield Library for Glimpse of Cold Spring Village's Past
Recently discovered film of Centennial celebration brings out new and old residents
by Maria Theodore Leiter
 | | Philipstown residents who were at the Centennial Celebration, Ed Engelbride, Betty Budney, Alice Schatzle, Francis (Terry) Lahey, Donald McGrath, Patricia Lahey Shea, Donald Hustis, Art Sutton, Lois Sutton, Norman Champlin, provided a concrete link to the past. |
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More than a little public interest in Cold Spring's history was evident at the March 3, 2007 screening at the Julia Butterfield Memorial Library of recently discovered footage of the Village's Centennial Celebration, taken in 1946. Over a hundred residents packed the library for a glimpse of the past. For many, it was a connection to a personal past, for others, a history lesson.
Incorporated in 1846, the Village's hundred year anniversary, a weeklong event that took place in April 1946, came on the heels of the end of World War II and the return of America's War heroes. Its' celebration, as evidenced in the footage serendipitously captured by an as yet unknown photographer, was made all the more memorable by the sea of green and navy blue uniforms that marched in formation down Main Street and the countless red-white-and-blue swags that draped every car and store front.
"It was fun sitting between my uncle and my mom," said Philipstown Councilman and lifetime resident Richard Shea. The pair pointed out the people that they recognized as the film progressed. "I saw my grandmother and my aunt and uncle, Gertrude and Bertram Bell." Shea's grandfather, Joe Lahey, a war hero and Purple Heart recipient, who was in D-Day, was also spotted on the grandstand.
The footage was recently discovered by a resident who was looking through her video collection for something else. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, brought it to the attention of her friend, Cold Spring resident Ray Fitzgerald. Ray approached his friend Phil Heffernan with the idea that it should be made available to the public. Heffernan had the VCR tape converted to DVD and approached Gillian Thorpe of the Butterfield Library with the idea to present it to the public.
"I thought this was an incredible event," said Thorpe. "Being a resident of Cold Spring all my life, it immediately piqued my interest. It goes to show what a great community center the library is."
Town Historian Donald MacDonald prefaced the showing, pointing out landmarks and famous residents to watch for, such as New York State Supreme Court Justice Sam Bailey, whom MacDonald recently discovered was probably directly descended from James Bailey of Fishkill, who served in the Continental Army and made a sword for George Washington. He also advised viewers to look out for other famous residents like barber Sam Sunday, who apparently never put down his cigar.
"Sam Sunday used to cut my hair," said Shea. "We always wanted to get the other guy because he didn't get cigar ashes on you."
MacDonald also pointed out the very large white gash in the side of one of the mountains that represented the Trap Rock Stone Quarry, from which the blue granite used to build West Point was mined, the Parrott Gun being pulled down the parade route, and the very lengthy Philipstown Honor Roll, which stood in front of Saint Mary's Church.
"I saw my father and my mother and my aunt and uncle," said Patricia Shea, who was a freshman at Haldane High School during the centennial. "The Main Street is pretty much as it was, except for the diagonal parking. [The Centennial] was a very big thing in Cold Spring. My brother Joe was marching." Shea had five brothers, three of which served in WWII. "I was happy when my brother, Joe, came home. He was gone for so long. They did back then. They were gone for years."
Main Street merchant Teri Barr, who moved to Cold Spring in 1994, said of the footage of the Village, "It's still the same. It was more formal, but it still felt the same." And indeed, most of the same buildings could be seen, although the occupants have changed.
Asked whether the Village has changed much since 1946, Edward Engelbride, who was 12 at the time, said, "Physically, no, socially, yes, diversity, definitely."
Another striking difference comes in the styles of the time. Not a man was shown without a three-piece suit and a hat, and the ladies wore petticoats and very elaborate feathered hats. And, of course the large horseless carriages that were diagonally parked down the length of Main Street.
Engelbride was one of ten residents at the viewing who were present at the Centennial. He also brought his own black and white photos to show after the movie.
Philipstown Councilwoman Betty Budney was a teen at the time. Her husband, Mackey Budney, marched in the parade. She said that she had been unaware that the footage existed.
In addition to parade footage, the camera captured the western shore of Philipstown, the old band stand, and the length of Main Street. There was also footage of a fireworks display, and a Centennial Ladies card party thrown by Mrs. Bailey. Other aspects of the celebration we were told were not included in the footage were a Rodeo that took place at the former Kemble's Field, and a memorial service for those Cold Spring residents who perished in the war.
Shea's uncle, Terry Lahey, pointed out some other dignitaries present at the parade, such as United States Secretary of War Robert Patterson, whose son, Southern District of New York Judge Robert Patterson, still resides in Cold Spring, as well as the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal.
"I think it's neat that there's a reason for everyone to get together like this," said Barr. "It's the old and the new, the people that were there and those that are curious."
Following the movie, residents had refreshments, provided by Shea, and reminisced some more, exchanging their own photos.
Some copies of the DVD were available for a $15 donation, which will be used to recover the production costs, with anything remaining being donated to the library, according to Heffernan. Additional DVD's can be made by contacting Heffernan. Copies were also given to the Putnam County Historical Society and the Library. Thorpe said that the library will make its copy available for viewing at the library.
Fitzgerald said that he and Heffernan hope to include the DVD in a time capsule to be opened at the next Centennial celebration in 2046.
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