Time to remember

Goshen launches bicentennial celebration on Incorporation Day, March 28, By Geri Corey Goshen — Ulysses S. Grant watched trotting horses race from the back window of the Wallace home on Main Street. Actor Jimmy Cagney went to the races. Eleanor Roosevelt attended a political rally in Goshen, and actress Hermione Gingold was filmed acting in “Winter of the Witch” in a house on Green Street. Babe Ruth was even known to make appearances in Goshen. Yes, Goshen has a colorful history, and now’s the time to celebrate it. The Village of Goshen was incorporated on March 28, 1809. A lot of Goshen folks are working hard to make sure residents remember the village’s 200th birthday and celebrate in a big way. The bicentennial celebration begins this month and continues through the summer, culminating in a rousing West Point Band concert in August. In between friends and neighbors will find numerous opportunities to get together with friends and neighbors. The festivities begin with Incorporation Day from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, in one of Goshen’s historic buildings, the Trotter’s Bistro (formerly LeBaron Restaurant), at 40 Park Place. This 1912 former mansion was built by harness-racing enthusiast Roland Harriman, and is an exact replica of an Elizabethan inn in Melbourne, England. Tom Fleming playing the bagpipes will set the tone for this affair. “Goshen has such a strong military history that a salute to the flag to honor local veterans with the Veterans of Foreign War Color Guard to represent them is a must,” said Maureen Quattrini, one of the organizers of the event. According to Incorporation Day Chair Candace Behensky, Incorporation Day is a great time to bone up on Goshen history. After the proclamation establishing the village is read, village historian Michelle Figliomeni will reminisce about the years of yore. ‘Damsels and dandies’ Goshen memorabilia displays arranged by Ann Roche, genealogist with the Goshen Public Library, will bring residents back in time. A few of the items on loan from the library archives include a Civil War sword with scabbard that belonged to Henry Spencer Murray, a major in the New York State 124 Regiment; a VanDuzer family cradle from 1820 that was used by the Gott family for four generations; and lots of pictures. Of special interest is a walking stick that belonged to Ulysses S. Grant, given to him while he was president of the United States. “Look closely and you’ll see a small door for snuff ... or possibly whiskey,” said Roche. Several old dolls from Germany will be on display, also. “One, with a bisque head, has everything from bloomers to leather shoes,” Roche noted. “The focus is to have people familiarize themselves with what old Goshen was like, to get a feeling of Goshen history, especially if you’re new to Goshen,” said Quattrini. To bring home some of Goshen’s charm, bicentennial journals will be available for sale at the Incorporation Day event. The journal will include anecdotes, stories handed down from one generation to another. “It’s not another history, but a reader’s digest kind of compilation of memories of Goshen,” said Doris Obremski, who assembled the 48-page journal. The Bicentennial Gala on May 16, to be held at the famous Harness Racing Museum, will treat residents to an elegant evening of dining, dancing and soft, classical music reminiscent of 19th-century balls. The Goshen High School String Quartet will provide background music at the start of the affair, with D.J. Sal Zeffiro taking over later in the evening. A fully catered dinner supplied by Catherine’s Restaurant will include period foods, like Angus beef with horseradish sauce, roasted turkey and cranberry sauce, ham, scalloped potatoes, and corn pudding, as well as shrimp, scallops and skewer chicken as hors d’oeuvres. “Old-fashioned homemade desserts will be provided by the ‘damsels and dandies’ of Goshen,” said committee co-chair Mary Gray Griffith. They will include puddings, custards, little cakes, fruit pies, and trifle. “A highlight of the evening will be the silent auction,” said committee co-chair Yvonne Mirro. She and committee member Terry Makuen have been collecting period memorabilia that will go to the highest bidder. Items like a cast-iron corn bread pan and a one-pint bottle from the J.B. Upright Dairy in Goshen will be available for bid along with books on Goshen history, including “Goshen: The Spirit of ’64” and “New York Illustrated” by D. Appleton and Co. “This is quite an old one with a lovely map inside,” said Makuen. There is a cost for this event. There will be a cash bar, but wine, beer, and soda will be included in the price of the dinner. Children will be happy with the county fair coming to Goshen on Aug. 8 and 9, but adults will enjoy it too — especially the Saturday night barn dance under the tent. “We’ve designed the activities under the interactive tent to try to get children to see what it was like to live 200 years ago,” said co-chair Kathie Cayton. “We want this to be the way a county fair is meant to be.” For instance, they’ll learn that mornings in the life of early settler Sara Wells included feeding the pigs, milking the cows, and carrying pails of water. Old-time craft demonstrations will show spinning and weaving, wet-plate photography, woodcarvers, sheep sheering, and butter churning. What fun the youngsters will have playing quoits — the forerunner to horseshoes — trying their skill on stilts, at hopscotch, and tossing ribbon-covered hoops. Games will include ninepins, potato-sack and three-legged races, and other games “typical of a county fair,” said Cayton. On the menu will be hot dogs and hamburgers, which were invented in the 19th century, said Doris Obremski, who is also co-chair of the bicentennial committee with her husband, Ken. There is a small entrance fee for the county fair, to be located in the infield of the Historic Track. Goshen (as always) loves a parade What’s a bicentennial celebration without a parade? It just couldn’t happen, says chair Ed Connor. On Sept. 5 at 5 p.m., the bicentennial float parade will join forces with the annual fire parade for a march through Goshen. Connor is hoping for a parade featuring antique cars and honoring Goshen’s oldest senior citizens. He’s looking for float entries that feature any aspect of Goshen history, like harness racing, the Coates Car that originated in Goshen, or farming. Individuals or groups may enter the float parade. Anyone interested in interested in entering a float should contact Connor. This is a free event. For history buffs or for those who just enjoy a good story, keep watch for the dates of the lecture series, chaired by Malcolm Stewart III. “I’m getting speakers who have a knowledge of history, especially local history,” he said. On the schedule is Ed Connor, who will give a talk based on his book of old houses in Goshen; Dr. Robert Jaffe, a physician who will explain the history and development of photography; Doug Barberio, who will talk about local railroads; and members of the First Presbyterian Church, who will conduct informative tours of the church. At this time the plans are to hold one lecture a month from April through August. Although the locations aren’t confirmed, the lectures are free. Stewart is encouraging everyone to come to learn more about Goshen’s fascinating past. What better way to bring the nearly yearlong celebration to an end than with an inspiring concert put on by the West Point Band? There couldn’t be a better way, says Chair Buzz Zingaro. “This 52-piece band is well-known, and they’re very good,” he said. “They’ll put on a good concert for nearly 90 minutes.” He added that what makes them so special is that “they play a lot of patriotic music.” The free West Point Band concert will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9, at the Historic Track grandstand. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the Goshen High School Auditorium. By the way, for adventurous Goshenites who would like to get an aerial view of Goshen, Ken Obremski announced that Blaser Swisslube’s hot air balloon will be tethered nearby. For more information about the bicentennial, or to get involved, call Ken or Doris Obremski at 294-9241 or e-mail them at kdobremski@hvc.rr.com.