Discovering the history of Allegany County, NY

Below is the weekly column of Ron Taylor, published originally in

"Patriot and Free Press" - Allegany County's community newspaper since 1862. 

Columns are re-printed here by agreement with the Patriot.  (Tap the Dates)

Below, Column for Jul 4-10, 2007

Below, Column for Jul 11-17, 2007

column for week of July 18-24, 2007

 Last Week’s Picture: Thanks to Sharon Ross Loysen for this postcard from Scio,NY. Sharon was checking out genealogical connections to the Surname "Chapin" when she discovered this photo of the C.E.Chapin & Co. store.  It sold Drugs, Books & Stationary, according to its sign.  The message written on the card is dated Nov 1908 and the postmark is from SCIO in 1908. Sharon stated, "Further research led me to the Allegany County NY Local History & Genealogy Site and newsletters published by the Thelma Rogers Genealogical and Historical Society.  Their Dec 2003 Newsletter lists an item that says:   "Scio - Charles Dean sold his drug store stock of goods and business to Miss C.E.Chapin who has conducted a drug store at Whites Corners near Whitesville." Mary Rhodes has discovered the following about Ms. Chapin: "I found C. E. Chapin on the 1910 census. Clementine Chapin is 27, a Phamacist living with her mother Mary (who was 60 years old, born in England and her sister Emily, 34 years old, born in NY, a druggist. In 1920, Clementine has married Frank Fuller of Scio, and is still operating the drug store, though she calls herself a saleswoman. Mary and Emily are still there, Emily also calls herself a saleswoman, Frank is an oil well driller." Mary also found her obituary which stated: "The deceased was born March 7, 1873, in Spring Mills, NY. She was the eldest daughter of Hiram O. and Mary Kane Chapin, and was a graduate of the Mansfield State Normal school and the University of Buffalo. She was united in marriage with Frank Fuller, of Scio, Dec 17, 1919. Mrs. Chapin had been a resident of Scio for 17 years, and for 16 years in business there. She was a member of the Methodist church and the Mary Johnson Bible Class. Mrs. Chapin is survived by her husband, her mother and one sister, Emma Chapin of Scio."

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As a follow-up story to the May 31^st article about Philip Wylie I have received permission from Richard Kellogg to publish his analysis of Philip Wylie’s last book, "The End of the Dream". Philip Wylie lived many summers at Rushford, NY, hometown of his wife. He passed away in 1971 and his last book was originally published after his death in 1972. (This article was previously released to another newspaper, but, is published here for your reading pleasure, with author's permission. The cover of his last novel is shown here. rt)

 

Philip Wylie’s Final Dream

Richard L. Kellogg

Philip Gordon Wylie (1902-1971) was one of America’s most popular and prolific writers as well as a seasonal resident of Rushford, New York, for more than three decades. He wrote hundreds of novels, short stories, and essays while contributing numerous articles to the leading magazines of his day. Wylie is best remembered today for the controversial book Generation of Vipers (1942) and for the Crunch and Des fishing stories which appeared regularly in The Saturday Evening Post. His books frequently reflect his knowledge of the southwestern region of New York State.

Wylie’s last book, appropriately titled The End of the Dream, was published by Doubleday in 1972, nine months after his death. The theme of his final work is that attempts to manipulate nature through modern technology will ultimately result in a series of disasters and the destruction of our natural environment. The book contains terrifying accounts of mutated microbes, of killer bees, of nuclear plants which get out of control, and of populations dying due to sudden inversions of poisoned air. Strangely prophetic of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, Wylie describes the inferno when a huge passenger aircraft, due to a glitch in the electrical grid, crashes into a skyscraper in New York City. Wylie concludes a series of horror stores by reminding us that cleaning up the environment is far more than an esthetic issue. It is a matter relevant to our very survival.

The End of the Dream is not a typical novel but a collection of journalistic reports from the main character, Willard Page Gulliver. It is not a coincidence that the initials of Gulliver’s name (WPG) are similar to those of the author (PGW). It is also not by chance that Olean and surrounding communities play a large role in Wylie’s forecast of impending disasters.

Several of the calamities being reported by Gulliver come directly from the pages of the Olean Times-Harbinger. The paper is described as "an excellent small-city (or, nearly big-town) newspaper." It is noted that the newspaper supports progress in the western New York region and often crusades boldly for civic improvements.

One report from the Olean Times-Harbinger describes how the Genesee River Valley is affected by three days of severe atmospheric pollution during the month of July. Because of improper waste disposal by industrial plants in the Buffalo area, the entire potato crop of the region is ruined. The newspaper reports of the devastating potato blight refer to events in the communities of Gainesville, Lackawanna, Clarence, Depew, and Holland.

A second reported episode deals with the inherent dangers of processing waste materials from nuclear power plants. The large corporation responsible for handling radioactive substances accidentally discharges hot material into a neighboring creek. The sudden release results in the death of more than 750 horses and cows which drink from and wade in the water of the creek. The community of Great Valley and the Allegheny River are significant locales in the disturbing story of a nuclear mishap.

Some readers of The End of the Dream probably wondered why so many references are made to the Olean Times-Harbinger and to the cities, towns, and villages of western New York. The answer to that question is fairly simple. Philip Wylie married Frederica Ballard, the daughter of Rushford’s village physician, in 1938. From that time until his death in 1971, the Wylies spent almost every summer residing on Lower Street in Rushford. Philip Wylie enjoyed golfing with friends at the Allegheny Hills golf course, teaching neighborhood children how to swim, dining in area restaurants, and serving as a judge for the annual Labor Day parade. He also delighted in fishing for trout in area streams with his pals. Gil Stinger, a respected columnist for the Olean Times-Herald, sometimes accompanied him on these fishing jaunts.

It is intriguing to find that Philip Wylie was writing about global warming, contamination of our air and water, and the grave risks of nuclear power long before these issues reached public consciousness. The End of the Dream also reveals a deep concern for the ecological future of western New York. His warnings about an environmental catastrophe are still relevant many years after his death. In sum, Philip Wylie deserves much credit for helping to lead the environmental movement in this country.

(Author: Richard Kellogg teaches psychology at the SUNY College of Technology in Alfred and is currently researching the literary legacy of Philip Wylie. Richard is a native of Rushford, NY.)

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: It is my understanding from conversations with several people that Clifford Goldsmith, the famous playwright and creator of the popular Henry Aldrich radio show, grew up in Allegany County, likely in the Centerville area. Should you have any information available on Goldsmith, I would certainly appreciate your sharing it with me.

Comments and discussion of this article can be forwarded to me at: rgtaylor02@roadrunner.com or mail to the address shown below. Do you have pictures you think will stump Patriot readers about Allegany County Local History? Are you willing to share them? Please dig in the attic and send pictures since I need all the help I can receive in order to keep this column "fresh". Mail to: Ron Taylor, 200 Rauber Street, Wellsville, NY 14895 or email address above. Please include a stamped self-addressed envelope if you want the picture returned. Also, write an explanation of the picture including date and statement that you are owner of the picture and give permission for it to be published in paper and on website. My website address: www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/allegany