[ebooks] Middletown (Images of America) by Marvin H. Cohen in Arts-Photography

Description

This unforgettable journey through the Sauquoit Valley includes some history; some nostalgia; and some relevant facts and tales of local people and places. Situated south of Utica in central New York State; this unique rural valley is dotted with villages; beginning at the southern end with Cassville and ending with New Hartford. Of historical interest are the names of the villages: how Washington Mills came to be nicknamed "Checkerville"; how the naming of Clayville after Henry Clay resulted in his visit in 1849; and the way Toad Hollow; Paris Furnace; Eagle Mills; and Bethelville evolved into the names used today. The valley became the site of numerous early factories and mills--gristmills; sawmills; cotton mills; and silk mills. Often the same businessmen ran factories in several of the villages. Mill owners had a paternalistic approach to their employees; providing not only jobs but also homes; recreational facilities; and even schools--a sharp contrast to the downsizing and forced retirement of today. The Sauquoit Valley looks at village life in the early 1900s through the lens of traveling photographers; such as A.J. Manning of Utica. These photographers recorded men and women and children in the clothing and fashions of the day; at their homes and shops and workplaces. Many of the photographs became real photo postcards.