The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

William H. Rifenburgh Sr.

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Potter Hill – William H. Rifenburgh, Sr., 67, a long time resident of Potter Hill, NY, died peacefully, in the arms of his loving wife Gayle on Wednesday, December 4, 2013, at the Samuel Stratton, VA Medical Center in Albany, NY, following a long illness.

Born on the family farm in Tomhannock, December 30, 1945, Bill was the son of the late Gordon and Elizabeth (Peters) Rifenburgh and the husband for over 47 years of Gayle M. (Church) Rifenburgh of Potter Hill, who survives. Bill and Gayle were married on April 10, 1966. Bill attended Hoosic Valley High School. On January 23, 1963, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in Vietnam earning awards as a marksman and expert with several types of rifles. He was honorably discharged on January 21, 1966. Upon returning home Bill was employed for over ten years as a production worker at the Norton Company in Watervliet, NY, and later for over 20 years as a truck driver by the Grand Union Warehouse in Waterford, NY. Most recently he had been employed as a driver by Penske Transportation Services in Albany.

Bill was a member of the American Legion Post in Albany. In his quiet time he enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing and spending quiet time with his wife piecing together jigsaw puzzles.

In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by his children, Wanda and James Greeley of Grafton, NY, and William and Tracey Rifenburgh Jr. of Potter Hill, two grandchildren, Charles Griffis and Cassidy Rifenburgh, both of Potter Hill, four brothers, two sisters and many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents he is pre-deceased by three brothers.

At Bill’s request, a private interment service with military honors was held at the Gerald B. H. Solomon National Veteran’s Cemetery in Schuylerville, NY. A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 16, at 8 pm. at the Pittstown Volunteer Emergency Corps, 60 Parker School Road in Pittstown, NY, with long time friend Gaylord Campbell officiating. Relatives and friends may call at the Rescue Squad house from 6 to 8 pm prior to the service.

At the request of the family, memorial contributions, rather than flowers, may be made to either the Hoosick Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 167, Hoosick, NY, 12089, or to the American Heart Association, Albany Chapter, 440 New Karner Road, Albany, NY, 12205, in memory of William H. Rifenburgh Sr.

Funeral service details are under the direction of the Howard B. Tate & Son Funeral Home Inc., 2237 NY Route 7, Raymertown, NY.

Patricia Lynn Conway

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Hoosick Falls – Patricia Lynn Conway, 55, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 7, 2013, in Memphis, TN. Born on March 12, 1958, in Osceola, Arkansas, she was the daughter of the late Raymond J. and Clydelle (Simmons) Arnold.

Patricia was an avid Atlanta Braves fan and loved time she spent with her “Grand-dogs,” Nicholas, John Boy and Max.

Patricia was always willing to take care of others, and everyone she met loved her. She worked as a nursing assistant for many years in a variety of nursing homes, always willing to help anyone. She will be greatly missed by her daughter. She worked at the Danforth Home in Hoosick Falls, NY, for many years before moving south. She loved cruising on cruise ships, the beach and horses.

Patricia is survived by her daughter, Heather (Conway) Stickney and husband Theodore of Johnsonville, NY, her sister, Dorothy Baskin and husband Jim of Marietta, GA, her brothers, Alton Arnold of Monroe, NC, and Terry Abbott of Roseburg, OR, and her mother-in- law, Louise Conway of Hoosick Falls. Patricia is pre-deceased by her daughter, Kayla Ann Conway, a sister, Delena Echols, a brother, Eddie Arnold, and her father-in-law, Butch Conway.

Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Christine Judge Harris

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Petersburgh – Christine Judge Harris, age 107, died Thursday, December 5, 2013, at the Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation at Hoosick Falls. Born in Cologne, Germany, on November 17, 1906, she was the daughter of the late Josef and Catharina Schmitz Rymus. She attended Ursula Sister Convent and later the Cologne Conservatory, where she studied music.

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The Life Of George Holcomb – Winter – George Buys Books

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Monday, Dec 28, 1829: This morning I took the wagon and carried my children to School.

Saturday, January 2, 1830: I went to Pittsfield with a load of apples of 18 bushels and sold them at 33 cts per bushel. I bought to Phineas Allen’s book store The Life of Gen. George Washington 75 cts, and the Life of Doc. Franklin 63 cts. On this morning Albert Cole died, only three days sick with the canker rash and the spotted fever. He lived in Hancock Village.

Monday I drew wood off the hill and this evening I picked over apples that Asa Sheldon gathered to the halves. He put 12 bushels in to the cellar where he lives. They rotted and rats destroyed them, only got three bushels for my half.

Tuesday: Today brother Sylvester and I picked over the apples that he gathered to the halves and put into Ephraim Pierce’s cellar. They was badly rotted. I got for my part three bushels out of 20 bushels.

Friday: I went to look of Robert Stanton’s calfs he offers for sale, but I did not like them, they were too small. On this evening I went to George W. Glass’s and bought and put into bag at 14½ cts per bushel 16 bushels of apples.

Saturday: On this day I went to Pittsfield with the 16 bushels of apples that I bought of George W. Glass. I sold a few of them to the inhabitants and the rest I sold to Mr. Dewey the Instructor of the High School. I sold them all for 33 cts per bushel. I called into Phineas Allen’s book store and paid one dollar and 25cts for a book that is called Jackson’s Wreath.

Monday: on this morning I paid Geo Glass for the apples I got of him on Saturday, which was two dol and 33 cts. I carried my children to school in cutter.

50 Years On The Bench In Stephentown

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by David Flint

Nineteen sixty-four was the year the Beatles invaded America, the New York World’s Fair opened, the Ford Mustang made its debut, Nikita Khrushchev was deposed and Barry Goldwater was nominated. “Mary Poppins,” “Dr. Strangelove” and “Goldfinger” were the must-see movies. The Warren Report was issued, and the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution brought Vietnam front and center. John Garvin was Town Supervisor in Stephentown and Wes Edwards took office as Town Justice. It’s been a long time, with a lot of water over the dam, and Wes is still presiding at Town Court, this month completing his 50th year.

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The DOT’s Response To Route 7 And Route 22 Problems

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by Kieron Kramer

In late October County Legislators Stan Brownell and Lester Goodermote, who represent the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Petersburgh, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls, received letters from the New York State Department of Transportation in response to their concerns forwarded to the DOT in the form of resolutions by the County Legislature. The two concerns the Legislators put forward were the number of truck accidents that have occurred on the portion of NY Route 7 between the Bennington Battlefield Motel and the intersection of Route 7 and Route 22 in the Town of Hoosick and the hazardous condition of the road surface of Route 22 in south Berlin running through Stephentown to the Columbia County border.

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