Chapter 1 - Geology, Prehistory and Historical Background
Ancient seas and glacial lakes. A hilltop stone workshop and
other ancient relics. From Henry Hudson to the French and Indian
wars. Arrival of the Palatine Germans. Sir William Johnson, Joseph
Brant, and the Adaquitingues. Parceling out the Indians’ land.
Fur trade and pursuit of other riches.
Chapter 3 - Organization of the Town of Davenport
Post-Revolution population growth.
Organizing a new town. Officials
and functionaries. First schools.
Evolution of the town government. The
choosing of town officers. A
chronicle of long-serving town officials.
Chapter 4- Trails, Rivers, Roads and Rails
Indian trails and rivers. Paths,
turnpikes and roads. The coming of
the Charlotte Turnpike. Stages and
inns. The coming of railroads.
The C. & C. V. reaches
Chapter 5 – Trade and "Manufactories"
Timber and ashes. Whiskey,
leather, wool, and ice. Fergusonville
and Simpsonville in the 1800s.
Chapter 6- The Changing Face of Agriculture
Cereal production: wheat, oats, buckwheat, rye, , corn.
Potatoes. Butter and
cheese. Flax and wool.
Apples and apple cider. The
rise and fall of hops. Poultry.
Where did all the maple sugar go? Farming
at the millennium’s end.
Appendix:
Chapter 7 - Hotel Keepers, Blacksmiths, Carpenters and Shoemakers
Jobs in the mid-19th century. Job
changes over time, 1850 to 1905. Jobs,
trades and services in
Chapter 8 - Schools, Doctors, Firefighters, and a Water Company
Chapter 9 - Religion, Social Life and Play
Methodist circuit riders. That
old time religion. Presbyterians,
Methodists, Baptists, and Catholics. After
the Congregationalist lesson. The
IOOF and Rebekahs. The Freemasons.
The many roles of the church. The
Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU).
Family organization. Christmas
celebrations—or not. All sorts
of bees. No longer so sinful
dancing. Sugaring-off and coon
hunting. Courting and weddings.
Funerals.
Chapter 10 - Old Wars and the Great Depression
The
Chapter 11 - Davenport's Four Granges and a New Town Hall
The Davenport Grange. The
Granger movement and earlier Davenport Granges.
Local grange rivalries and an unexpected schism.
The rebirth of
Chapter 12 - How Landscape and Wildlife Have Changed
Where did all the deer go? Floods
and flooding.
Chapter 13 - Tent Shows, Plays, and Visitors
Fairs and tent shows. Old
Home Days. Plays and shows in
Chapter 14 - Davenport’s World War II and Its Aftermath
World War II comes to
Chapter 15 — The Times They Are A-changing—Once Again Davenport in the Modern Era
Some things change but little.
Epilogue - Where Do We Go From Here?
What of
Appendix:
Maps
Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley RR meets Ulter & Delaware RR, Davenport
East Meredith, NY - Late 1800s & Early 1900s
Town of Davenport, NY, roads and place names (Fold-out map inside rear cover)
Detail of Town of Davenport, NY, including 2002 property lines)
CD-ROM Insert:
(this CD) Complete text of each chapter in “WebPage” format, with
“search” capability. Includes
a detailed, multi-color map of Davenport and surrounding areas, listing of
Davenport town officers by name and year, listing of Davenport postmasters,
listing of WWI and WWII participants from Davenport, and genealogical material
on John Davenport (from contributor Jeffrey Griswold
). Also included are technical
papers on estimating
[1]
Although part of the Town of
[2]
Not a part of