Rebecca Sweet On SUNY Fredonia Dean’s List
Brother Sylvester Is Dead
Wednesday January 22, 1851: This morning about nine o’clock the son-in-law of Mr. Orrin Fuller of New Lebanon south part, came to my house and brought the news of the death of brother Sylvester Holcomb. He died a few minutes past midnight last night. He died very suddenly. He had complained from the time he came to Mr. Fuller which was last Saturday, of being weak and a pain in one foot and leg. They called Doctor Quite in the morning after he died to examine what caused immediate death and the Doctor pronounced the complaint irrecipalous (this is the disease erysipelas, caused by streptocccus bacteria in the bloodstream) and by putting his feet in warm water it terminated fatal or immediate death. I started about eleven o’clock and went to Mr. Fuller where brother Sylvester died, and in a short time the wife of Sylvester and son Kendall got there. It was the choice of the widow and Rufus Kendall to carry the corpse home to Richmond and have the funeral there to his house and bury him there, funeral to be on Friday at ten o’clock.
Thursday: I took my cutter and carried my daughter to Hancock to Lapum’s store and she purchased a few articles to prepare for the funeral and paid the cash. We called to several places on the way to borrow mourning clothes.
Friday: Today I took my cutter and carried my wife and daughter Charlotte to Richmond to the funeral of brother Sylvester Holcomb at the house of Rufus Kendal. The Rev. Doctor Todd preached. My daughter Sarah rode with Hiram Newton to funeral together with his wife and mother. My two sons did not attend the funeral for they were from home.
Arthur E. Gifford
Pittstown – Arthur E. Gifford, 61, died peacefully Sunday, January 18, 2009, at his longtime Groveside residence in the town of Pittstown, NY, with his family by his side, following a long illness.
Born May 29, 1947, in Hoosick Falls, NY, Mr. Gifford was the son of the late Ira E. and Edna V. (Dutcher) Gifford and the husband for over 35 years of Barbara (Ellis) Gifford of Groveside, who survives. Arthur and Barbara were married on August 3, 1973.
Mr. Gifford was a graduate of Hoosick Falls High School. He was inducted into the United States Army in July 1968 and served a tour of duty in Vietnam with his unit, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Mechanized Division, out of Fort Hood, TX. During his service he earned the rank of Sergeant in August 1969, became an expert marksman with both M-14 and M-16 rifles and was awarded the Silver Star, two Bronze Service Stars, a Bronze Service Medal and a Purple Heart. He was honorably discharged to the U.S. Army Reserve in July 1970.
For almost 40 years, Mr. Gifford was employed by the Rensselaer County Highway Department. He worked his way through the ranks and was promoted to the position of Road Supervisor. He retired in July 2008. He was a member of the Boyntonville United Methodist Church, the V.F.W. Post #1332 in Bennington, VT, and the American Legion Post in Hoosick Falls. In his quiet time he enjoyed people-watching, enjoyed nature by “patrolling the perimeter,” walking through the neighboring woods and fields. He was an avid outdoorsman who liked to hike, hunt and fish.
In addition to his beloved wife, his survivors include a son, Terry R. and his wife Amy Gifford of Johnsonville, NY, a daughter, Kelly Jean Gifford and Timothy Hayes of Hoosick Falls, a brother, Tony and his wife Phyllis DiMaggio of Boyntonville, NY, a sister, Marie and husband Jerry McAuliffe of Hoosick Falls, his mother-in-law, Charlotte A. Ellis of Groveside, a sister-in-law, Mary Jane and husband Ronald Eddy of Hoosick Falls, two grandchildren, Riley Clare Hayes and Sophie Grace Hayes, both of Hoosick Falls, several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and his buddy, “Poppa’s Cat.” He was pre-deceased by two sisters, Lillian Zareski and Angela O’Brien, a brother, Terry DiMaggio, a brother-in-law, Robert P. Ellis, and a special nephew, Jeffrey A. DiMaggio.
A funeral service was held at 11 am on Thursday, January 22, at the Howard B. Tate & Son Funeral Home Inc, 2237 NY Route 7, located in Raymertown, NY, with Rev. Gaylord Campbell officiating. Burial with military honors will be held at Warren Cemetery in Boyntonville later this spring. Relatives and friends called at the funeral home on Wednesday, January 21, from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 pm.
At the request of the family, flowers sent to cheer a neighbor or a contribution to Community Hospice, 295 Valley View Blvd. Rensselaer, NY, 12144, or the Karen McGovern Fund, P.O. Box 132, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090, in memory of Arthur E. Gifford would be greatly appreciated.
Sara Luella Winney
Hoosick – Sara Luella Winney died on Monday, January 26, 2009, at the Bennington Health and Rehabilitation Center in Bennington, VT. She had formerly resided on Rt. 7 in Hoosick, NY.
Martha Jane Hanselman
Hoosick Falls – Martha Jane Hanselman, 84, died January 18, 2009, in Pompano Beach, FL, where she had resided for several years. She formerly resided in Hoosick Falls, NY, and was the wife of the late Fred Hanselman.
Mardi Gras Celebration February 20
Bob Melesky and Joan James give a thumbs up at a planning meeting for the Annual Hoosick Falls Immaculate Conception Church Mardi Gras celebration. [Read more…] about Mardi Gras Celebration February 20
Immaculate Conception Kids Go Snow Tubing
Village Greenway Purchase Complete
by Bea Peterson
“This is a monumental day!” said Hoosick Falls Mayor Laura Reynolds as she signed the purchase agreement for the Village Greenway. Twenty-six acres of land, old railroad beds running along the Hoosic River roughly from the Village Wastewater Plant to the Village Water Plant, were purchased from the Boston & Maine Corporation on Thursday, January 15. The purchase has been a long time coming.
Gardner: To Hire Or Not To Hire?
by David Flint
The Stephentown Town Board met for their regular monthly meeting on Monday, January 19, Martin Luther King Day. In honor of Dr. King, Town Supervisor Tom Sherman called for a moment of silence. Noting that the following day was Inauguration Day, he wished the new President well in leading the nation through perilous times.
Rehire Neil Gardner?
Bringing up a subject that has confounded and divided townspeople in recent months, Councilman Larry Eckhardt reported that he had been asked by a number of persons whether Neil Gardner, who was relieved of his position as Highway Superintendent in October, could be re-employed by the Town since he had been sentenced to serve only a period of probation. [Read more…] about Gardner: To Hire Or Not To Hire?