RESEARCH
In the interest of collecting and preserving memories of Darrtown,
With the arrival of autumn, we say goodby to the extreme heat and dry conditions of summer.
REMEMBER THESE NEWS ITEMS?
September 1, 2023
WHO AM I?
For some hints to my identity, hover your cursor over the following icons.
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Here is the answer...
My name is Lewis A. Miller (1862-1943). To learn more about me, visit the Directory page of this website and click Miller, Lewis A.
If you would like to nominate someone for a future "Who Am I?" game, contact the webmaster.
Even if you are unfamiliar with the person who is the object of the question, you may learn some Darrtown history, by playing the game.
This is one in a series of questions designed to recognize people associated with Darrtown.
A 1922 newspaper article about ONE WEEK of Darrtown events reported a devastating rain storm that washed out a local bridge; flood waters that chased people from a Four Mile Creek campsite; an infant daughter dying at birth; some Lutheran Church members meeting at a College Corner spa; the Methodist Church being assigned a new pastor and church plans to reschedule afternoon Sunday services to Sunday morning; a family traveling from Darrtown to Maryland by automobile - rather than railroad; and the sale of a farm north of town.
Click the following link to see: 1922 article offers an array of Darrtown-related events
Alston, Montgomery Pike (1855-1924): See: People/Individuals/A-C and Alston Family
SEPTEMBER 04, 1942: Rev. H. C. Ter Vehn installed as pastor of Darrtown's St. Matthew Lutheran church, per newspaper item.
SEPTEMBER 09, 1926: Over 300 people attended the Frank McVicker auction.
SEPTEMBER 10, 1933: Methodist Church homecoming conducted - per news item in September 14, 1933 Journal News.
September
...the August newsletter announced a new section about "notable sites" in Darrtown.
"Hover here for a tip."
The Neal home at the intersection of Main and Shollenbarger, with its partially exposed log exterior, is an obvious example of a Darrtown house with a log frame.
Thanks to a story shared by Darrtown native, Dale Bufler, we know a second log structure exists on south Main Street. Click the following link to learn how the log structure of the Bufler home was exposed by a car accident.
...because, sometimes seeing the bigger picture helps put things in perspective.
It turns out that... the above words are... NOT ABOUT the summer of 2023.
Those descriptive phrases are quotations from Mr. L. A. Miller's diaries of 1930 and 1931.
Click the following link to see more about the torrid temperatures of the thirties ... nearly 100 years ago.
1930: FOR MOST OF JULY 1930, MR. MILLER DESCRIBED UNBEARABLE HEAT (temperatures frequently in triple digits) AND EXTREMELY DRY CONDITIONS. CROPS WITHERED AND FARMERS WERE FORCED TO SACRIFICE LIVESTOCK, SINCE ANIMAL FEED WAS IN SHORT SUPPLY. August 1: Never in the history of The US has there been such a continuous summer heat and lack of rainfall. April, May, June, and July were all short: average of 2 inches each in most sections of the corn belt. August 4: Heat wave in full force. Crops in the great corn and cotton belt being ruined by drought and excessive heat… smothering heat up to 12 midnight. August 7: The drought throughout the US has become a national calamity. Corn will not be a half crop. ======= 1931: FOR MUCH OF THE 1931 SUMMER, MR. MILLER WROTE ABOUT THE EXTREME HEAT. FROM JUNE 21 THROUGH AUGUST 9, (a period of 50 consecutive days) MR. MILLER REPORTED DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 88 AND 100 DEGREES. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE 50 DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE ABOVE 90 DEGREES; SEVERAL ABOVE 95 DEGREES; AND A FEW AT 99-100 DEGREES. July 1: Heat of an excessive amount over the Mississippi Valley and central West. Crops have been burned to nothing in parts of Montana and North Dakota. … sensible men are working by moonlight an a.m. and p.m. daylight – and laying off during the middle of the day. July 2: … [News] papers report over 1500 deaths of human beings in the overheated areas and the end is not yet - of the super heat. … Horses and mules by the thousands have succumbed, by dumb Masters. Sensible men are working at night. July 21: Another scorcher. Biz not getting any better. In fact, a large percent of farmers are due to lose their farms. July 22: Still holding a high-heat record, day and night. Sleep without any covers and still uncomfortable. Harvesting and threshing going on. Must be done, regardless of heat.
More about ... PLACES in Darrtown...
Here is a...
...there is NEWS ABOUT the EARLIEST LOT OWNERS in Darrtown!
Research (conducted since last month's newsletter was published) has produced THREE DATABASES that display the NAMES of people who bought lots from Conrad Darr, the DATES of the purchases, and the LOT NUMBERS. Click the following link to access the NEW SECTION about the earliest property owners in Darrtown.
Lot 77, located on the east side of Darrtown's main street, just south of the fire department building, has a rich history of ownership. Click the following link for information about people who owned the parcel of land that has roots back to the Milford House and McVicker's Garage.
See: Lot 77 Ownership
... if you have not already submitted a Darrtown memory to the "Sharing Memories" page, please use the link at the right to do so ... before you go.
START A RIPPLE! Your contribution may trigger a memory for others ... who may then submit more Darrtown recollections.
Click the link at the right; complete and submit the form that appears.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2011: Approximately two-dozen people gathered at the Hitching Post to discuss the idea of conducting a Darrtown Bicentennial in 2014.
SEPTEMBER 22, 1877: Hannah Zimmerman assumed ownership of the Hitching Post.
SEPTEMBER 26, 1923: Shuck's General Store property and merchandise sold at 1923 auction.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2012: The Methodist Church celebrated its 200th anniversary.
HOW MANY OTHER HOUSES
in Darrtown are FRAMED WITH LOGS from the 1800s?
The images shown at the following link are NOT from Darrtown. These Internet photos illustrate how log homes have been found behind modern-day siding.
a NEW PAGE now makes it easier than ever for you to share some of yours.
Please read the item at the following link and inform the webmaster, if you can share info about this place located "two miles south of Darrtown."
