submitted by Kevin O’Malley
For over 70 years, a cigar store Indian stood guard in the Village of Hoosick Falls. He was affectionately called Chief Poke in the Nose due to a missing nose after an unfortunate fall. The Chief was a nod to the area’s Native American past (Hoosick means “place of stones” in Algonquian) and a celebrated mascot. Over the years, people traveling through town would stop and take pictures of the Chief, and he became a celebrated Village attraction. He was also recognized and featured in several high profile magazines and newspapers like Sunset and The Boston Globe.
Chief Poke in the Nose traveled up the Hudson River from New York City and arrived in Hoosick Falls in 1894, where he took up residence in front of the Moses Schweizer Cigar Store at 55 Church Street. The Chief left his post of duty on more than one occasion but never by his own volition. One unfortunate move resulted in the loss of his nose and right arm, which were grafted back on but never permanently restored. As a result, it became a daily ritual for residents to stick their fingers through his broken nose – and a nickname was born! In 1932, he was the victim of a kidnapping and later found in a fraternity house on the Williams College campus. He would also leave his post on several other occasions, like Halloween, but he always returned to his post.
In the 1960s, the cigar store closed, and The Chief left the Village, leaving many of the Village’s older residents to wonder what happened to this famous figure. It was later discovered that in April 2011 Chief Poke in the Nose was auctioned and sold for $62,150 in Long Island.
Efforts are now underway to restore The Chief – or a close replica – to his rightful place on the sidewalks of Hoosick Falls. Donations can be mailed to The Hoosick Township Historical Society at P.O. Box 536, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090.
For a photo of the Chief or more information contact, Kevin O’Malley at 518-894-5035 or hoosickkid@gmail.com.