Hotels and Taxes

Hotels and Taxes.  A strange combination, but that's what I have been thinking about this week in Bethlehem history. 

First, my school tax bill came in the mail.  Then, while looking for info about the Home Lawn Hotel in Slingerlands (it will be featured in the October Our Towne Bethlehem) I came across this item in the Altamont Enterprise.

One hundred years ago, I would have had to saddle up and head to a local hotel in order to pay my property tax, and hand over my payment to Mr. Beeten.  If I showed up at Zelie's on the 14th, I could bend the ear of supervisor Charles D. Niver.

 

(Note: I am not sure about the school tax bill.  In our town, where the school districts are separate from the town, we pay two different tax bills.  I'll have to do a little more digging on where the school taxes were paid.) 

 

Where are these old hotels and gathering spots?.

 

Snyder Hill Hotel still stands, sort of, on today's Martin Drive off of Rt 32.  Here's a pair of then and now photos of Snyder's (now being 2009 - the building probably is in worse shape in 2013.) 

 

 

 

 

The Hurstville Hotel  was probably on New Scotland Road near Whitehall Road, a section of town that was annexed by Albany in 1967.

 

Dunn's in Delmar is a mystery.

 

Cedar Hill Hotel was on River Road just  north of Beaverdam Road. I believe it burned down in the 1960s.

 

Zelie's is the Home Lawn Hotel in Slingerlands which was run by Rufus Zelie from 1897 to 1917.  It is on the corner of New Scotland Road and Mullens Road.

 

Klemp's is another mystery.

 

Store in South Bethlehem was probably located near the intersection of Bridge and South Streets.

 

Hinckel's in Normansville was on Mill Street (now in the City of Albany) opposite the lower bridge over the Normans Kill.

 

Store at Selkirk is another mystery, probably in the hamlet on Maple Avenue near where it crosses the railroad tracks.

 

The Abbey Hotel was located on River Road in Glenmont just north of the intersection with Glenmont Road.

 

NOTE: Blogger is being a pain about uploading photos - will try again later.

 

 

Reflections on the River

 “Who looks upon a river in a meditative hour, and is not reminded of the flux of all things?”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

While preparing for tomorrow's history hike at Henry Hudson Park I came across the quote above. For some reason, the quote reminded me of this photo I took at the park in 2007. The Vlomankill merging with the Hudson in winter. Even though it is early fall, even though the leaves are still green, I am reminded of the coming winter. The seasons of the earth, the seasons of our lives, marching on, always in flux.

 

Here's another quote that comes to mind...

 

"Enjoy every sandwich."

 

Waren Zevon did an interview on the Late Show with David Letterman following Zevon's having been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Letterman asked Zevon if there was anything he understood now, facing his own mortality, that he didn't before. Zevon replied, "Just how much you're supposed to enjoy every sandwich." (Thank you Wikipedia)

 

 





Gov Glynn Mansion on Willett Street, Albany

This sign caught my eye Sunday while walking on Willett Street in Albany.

It is on this house which is the Gov. Glynn Mansion.

And here I thought this was the Gov. Glynn Mansion

It turns out both are Glynn Mansions. 

The one in Bethlehem was his summer home.  The estate on River Road in Cedar Hill was purchased by Glynn in 1907 from J.B. Lyon. Glynn engaged noted architect Marcus Reynolds to design the house.  Glynn later sold the place to Daniel Pryor who made it a year round home. Pryor was a prominent lawyer.  One of his clients was Jack "Legs" Diamond, the notorious prohibition era gangster.  Some might remember the days when the house was the Elk's Club.  It is now known as the Mansion at Cedar Hill and hosts private functions.  

Follow this link for more info on Glynn.

http://www.hallofgovernors.ny.gov/MartinGlynn

Here's what the plaque says: 

GLYNN MANSION

HOME OF GOVERNOR MARTIN H. GLYNN

1871-1924

UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN, STATE COMPRTOLLER,
LIEUTENTANT GOVERNOR, FIRST ROMAN CATHOLOIC GOVERNOR,
FAMED JOURNALIST, ORATOR AND STATESMAN
WHO HELPED ESTABLISH THE IRIST FREE STATE
AND THE ONLY RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF ALBANY
TO SERVE AS GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK STATE

PRESENTED SEPTEMBER 17, 1998
BY THE AMERICAN IRISH LEGISLATORS SOCIETY OF NEW YORK STATE

AND THE HONORABLE GERALD D JENNINGS
MAYOR, CITY OF ALBANY

Bethlehem moments on Willett St in Albany

Last Sunday I attended the First Presbyterian Church of Albany and had a couple of Bethlehem history moments.  First off, check out this web page with beautiful pictures of First Pres' Tiffany stained glass windows.

http://www.firstpresalbany.org/closer-look/closer-look.html

Did you notice the one of Joseph Henry?



Courtesy of First
 Presbyterian Church of Albany 

Joesph Henry taught for two years at the Selkirk School (District # 2), probably around 1820.  Henry had family there.  His aunt Elizabeth Henry married James Selkirk in 1786. Elizabeth and James farmed and raised a family of 10 in the hamlet which would soon bear the name Selkirk.

Joseph Henry (December 17, 1797 – May 13, 1878), as noted in the stained glass above, was a Master Scientist and highly regarded during his life time. He served as the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.  While studying and building electromagnets, Henry discovered the electromagnetic phenomenon of self-inductance and developed the electromagnet into a practical device. (Thank you Wikipedia).

The other Bethlehem history moment came while walking to our car on Willett Street.  There at #30 is a plaque marking the location of the Governor Glynn Mansion.  Well, Bethlehem's Governor Glynn mansion in on River Road in Cedar Hill. 

More later about Glynn when I can get photos...