There was something vaguely "historic" when John Hanchette wrote a sort of review of a book he co-authored, and, being a chronicler of history, I propose to tread that hallowed ground.
My one-word review of my new history book, "Nuggets of Niagara County History," is simply "scintillating." While many superlatives come to mind, they fail to trip from my lips.
Hanchette referred to his small commercial as "pimping," but I prefer "hallowed ground." His historical opus of West Point is entitled "West Point, Legend on the Hudson" and was mentioned in his Reporter column of June 17.
I will hold a book-signing, along with other authors, at the Niagara Street Area Business and Professional Association International Festival on Sunday, Aug. 24, on Niagara Street between 19th and 24th streets, from 2 to 4 p.m.
I call this event historic because, while festivals go back to the earliest settlers of our county, in the form of barn-raisings and various types of "bees," the very first outdoor festival book-signing began with the Niagara Street festival a short three years ago.
Other history writers scheduled to be at the festival book-signing include H. William Feder, who wrote a history of the city's "Tunnel Town," and Paul Gromosiak, a prolific writer of Niagara Falls lore whose latest opus concerns Goat Island.
"Nuggets" includes expansion of many of the Local History pieces appearing in the Niagara Falls Reporter, with several new topics, although the history of festive gatherings is not among them. So let's explore.
One of the earliest "festivals" is described in the journal of pioneer Hannah Baker of Ransomville. It was held when neighbors in the wilderness area gathered to clear logs for cabins.
After the work, she wrote, "It was time for a logging bee." Everyone partied with doughnuts, gingerbread and the ever-present liquid refreshment.
She added, "There was no variety in the beverage -- it was grog always. These were good and temperate men, but at that time grog was considered a necessity."
As it seems to be in modern-day festivals and gatherings.
The barn-raisings, logging and quilting bees evolved into the ever-popular political rallies, complete with food and assorted grog, and into such entertainments as the county fair and circuses.
An early mention of the fair came in reference to Lockport businessman Lyman A. Spalding, when his silk-producing business made the county fair records. In 1841 Spalding won numerous prizes for cocoons, raw silk and sewing silk.
Another 1841 incident involved a circus in Lockport. Apparently someone with a little too much grog gave an elephant a chaw of tobacco. The beast ran amok and killed a team of horses owned by William Crosier of Pekin.
The grog in "Nuggets of Niagara County History" is presented in a chapter on "Early Niagara Falls Taverns."
There will be a type of grog at the Niagara Street festival, along with much fun and entertainment for all those not culturally inclined to invest in a book or two.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | August 19 2003 |