December 2020
By the early 1900s, the town board was appointing
constables, one of whom, in 1924, was David R. Main. Main served until his
death in 1949 becoming well known for patrolling the Four Corners on foot with
his white bulldog at his side. His cases were frequently mentioned in the
newspapers, from rounding up lost heifers in South Bethlehem to dealing with an
aggressive “cat burglar” who was breaking into homes in Delmar, Elsmere and
beyond. He described that criminal as the meanest burglar he had ever had to
contend with. Missing persons, peeping toms, and fire investigations are all
mentioned.
In 1941, the town transitioned from a constabulary to
a formal Police Department, with Main appointed the first chief. Also transitioning
over were constables, now patrolmen, C. Arthur Blodgett and John A. Hotaling. A
police department of three was deemed sufficient by the town board for the
growing suburbs of Delmar, Elsmere and Slingerlands, and the more rural
Glenmont, South Bethlehem and Selkirk. Officers worked closely with the New
York State Police on keeping the proverbial peace. The Bethlehem Police
Department has gone on to grow and professionalize. It became one of the first
to be accredited by the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Program in
1990, a recognition that is still in place today.
Bethlehem residents’ concern for law and order was
also realized in two different mutual aid organizations: the Bethlehem
Conscript Society and the Bethlehem Mutual Protective Association.
The Bethlehem Conscript Society was organized in 1874
to pursue and recover horses and wagons stolen from members. Founders included
former town supervisor Albertus Becker and former town clerk William Kimmey. The
Society met for at least 20 years as evidenced by their August 31, 1895 annual
meeting announced in the Coeyman’s Herald. At that time William Kimmey
was still the treasurer of the group. Such banding together for the mutual aid
was not that unusual in rural, upstate New York. The Kinderhook Conscript
Society was formed in 1808 for the pursuit of horse thieves. It continued until
at least 1934 when one newspaper writer wondered “why the Kinderhook Society
did not adapt itself to the changing conditions and start chasing automobile
thieves…but there are traditions which gave the society the right or privilege
to round up snatchers of horses, while to the police is left the job of
recovering motor vehicles.”
The Bethlehem Mutual Protective Association was incorporated
in 1909 with the express purpose of guarding against theft, trespass and
malicious mischief. At the beginning there were several hundred members, most
of whom were farmers, from Coeymans, Bethlehem and New Scotland. A snippet in
the October 28, 1910 Altamont Enterprise sums up why someone would join
the group. “Mr. Van Wie was unfortunate in having his horse stolen last
Wednesday night, but had the good fortune to recover the horse and outfit after
considerable trouble and expense. He contemplates joining the Bethlehem Mutual
Protective Association”
The group pursued offenders both big and small,
sometimes offering rewards, like the $50 award offered in 1911 for information
leading to the arrest and conviction of the parties who stole the chickens from
John Patterson, Glenmont, or the $50 offered in 1914 for the person who stole
the horse from the pasture of Elisha Stoff. They were active in the
apprehension of Chicken Charlie, Charles Rathke, an unrepentant chick stealer. 1917
brought a rash of “automobile parties with motor cars, cycles and hunters
making raids upon orchards and gardens and helping themselves to fruits and
vegetables.” Drugstore robberies and blanket thefts are also mentioned in the
papers.
Besides pursuing criminals, the group promoted
community efforts like “contributing food stuffs to the Empty Stocking Fund”
and an effort in 1933 to remove unsightly billboards. The Association met
annually to conduct business, elect officers and enjoy a clambake or turkey
dinner. They were active at least until the late 1930s.
A word of note, the various newspaper clippings
sometimes refer to members of the Bethlehem Mutual Protective Association as
officers, even using the word police officer on occasion. This group was a
private organization, representing their members, not the Town of Bethlehem. Indeed,
at one annual meeting of the Guilderland Mutual Protection Association, after
being addressed by Surrogate Glenn who told of the work of the Bethlehem group
and “how thievery had compelled the farmers to organize for mutual protection
and the excellent results therefrom,” Attorney Barkhuff then spoke at length,
and “emphasized the fact that the Protective association stood for Americanism,
law and order. He made a plea for the proper administration of justice, rather
than take the law in our own hands.” (Altamont Enterprise, October 21,
1921)
The Bethlehem Conscript Society and the Bethlehem
Mutual Protective Association are part of a long line of community groups that
organized around a perceived need. As Floyd Brewer wrote in concluding the Community
Organizations chapter of Bethlehem Revisited, “Looking back over the
mass of data on community organizations assembled for this chapter, one is
struck by the enduring quality of a large number of Bethlehem groups… many were
founded by forceful leaders who left a legacy of group structure to fill
varying needs, to resolve problems and to enhance the cultural life of a
dynamic, growing community... In short, citizens will find ways of addressing
their problems and needs through organizations in every age.”
Sgt. John Van Nosdall is seen here in April 1965 with
Calico, Bethlehem’s very own police cat. Calico took up residence in town hall,
bedding down in Police Headquarters, patrolling the various offices and
attending town board meetings. She was known for her diet of cat food and fish.
The occasional mouse was consumed, according to Capt. Robert Foster, “Only if
they violated the law.”
Police Chief David Main, left, is seen here at a 1942 Lincoln
Day dinner at the Ten Eyck Hotel along with Bethlehem Judge William Comstock
and his wife. Next to her is Arthur Blodgett, a Bethlehem police officer, who
served as chief after Main, and retired from the force in 1959.
Members of the Bethlehem Mutual Protective Association
posted signs as a warning to would be thieves and trespassers.
