Bill Pullman Quotes Phelan’s
“Allegany’s Uncommon Folk”
An award-winning actor, returning to his hometown area last fall, used stories from one of Helene Phelan’s books to describe some of his feelings when he spoke at a reception honoring him at
Alfred University.
Bill Pullman, who was raised in Hornell, has gone on to stardom via such movies as “Sleepless in Seattle” and “Independence Day”, and recently on Broadway. However, the performer, explaining his
enjoyment in being back in the area, likened his situation to that of a “local boy who was captured by Indians during the Revolutionary War,” described in Helene’s book, “Allegany’s Uncommon Folk.”
He was referring to the chapter entitled, “The Cabin In The Valley””, which tells the fascinating story of one of Almond’s earliest settlers, Margaret Karr, whose son,
Walter, was held captive by the British in Montreal. After the war, he was freed and eventually returned to his family. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve been with the Indians. . . . It’s good to be back in the settlement walls,” Pullman was quoted by Jeanne Massey in the October 7, 2001 Hornell
Evening Tribune.
Helene and her late husband, Linn, played very prominent roles in the formation of the Almond Historical Society back in the 1960’s, as evidenced by the vast “treasures” found throughout the
Hagadorn House. In addition to the myriad historical notes and data, evidence of countless hours the couple spent there, Helene authored seven books, copies of which are in the archives room at the Hagadorn House and on the shelves at the Twentieth Century Club Library in Almond. ““Allegany’s
Uncommon Folk”, written in 1978, is an enjoyable account of some of the earlier happenings and people in Allegany County’s colorful history.
In addition to the Margaret Karr story, other parts are of particular interest to Almond residents, including the opening chapter, “The Warriors.” Major Moses Van Campen, described by Helene as
“surveyor, Indian fighter, Revolutionary War veteran and citizen of Angelica, New York,” came with a “group of settlers from Luzerne County to Almond, New York,” in 1796. Van Campen’s experiences are recounted in several chapters, and are fascinating reading.
A chapter entitled “Healers, Herb Gatherers and Medecine Men” begins with this enticing paragraph: “In January of 1883 a lecturer, a certain Dr. Emons, came to Almond to give a series of talks
on Physiology and Disease, illustrated by skeletons and charts, etc., at the Methodist Episcopal Church. The incident could have happened anywhere in that day and age – by chance it happened there.” What follows is a surprising account of a short-lived clash between townsfolk and includes
this newspaper headline: “The Methodist Church Taken Possession of With a Shotgun.” Details of the skirmish, taken from newspaper accounts and a writings by an unknown diarist, ends with this amusing note: “Who needed television?”
In the narration contained in the chapters, “The Water Cures” and “Hiram P. Burdick”, she begins by stating: “The use of mineral springs as a promoter of cures for various ailments was exploited
early on in a number of places. In Almond, old timers talk of the ‘sulphur spring up near the depot’ and the mineral springs that were promoted by George Young on the flats by the McHenry Valley creek near the present town garage.”” Burdick, who built a fifty-foot square building on Hartsville Hill
that was known as the Water Cure Establishment, had a degree in medicine from the Western College of Homeopathy and was apparently a self-educated dentist. The late Ruby Henry, his granddaughter, described him thus: “Doctor, Dentist, Inventor, Minister, and Temperance Leader.” He was the
great-grandfather of the late Dr. Richard Langworthy Burdick, who lived in Almond and served for a time as town historian.
The late Clint Hamlin and his unique entrepreneurial endeavor is the subject of the chapter entitled, “It Seems Like Gold.” The tale, unknown to many, tells of how the longtime resident of
Almond and well-liked AACS bus driver/custodian spent Saturdays and Sundays searching the woods and hills for wild ginseng, which he sold to a company in New York. “They shipped it to China, I think . . .” according to Clint. This is interesting reading -- another story for another time –
Other sections include tales of some of Almond’s eccentric people, including Liz Major, Alexander Charles, Mrs. B. the lady barber, and a man identified only as “Toot”. Another chapter recounts
the ministry of Matthew Coleman, dubbed “Gentle Failure” by the author.
The final chapter, “Slaves and Freedom Road”, tells stories of the underground railroad activities in Allegany County and features sketches of two of Almond’s presumed “stops”: The Crandall
House on N Main Street (owned by Lindemans, and now the Meehans) and the McIntosh House on Chapel Street (later owned by Bayless and now the Schreibers).
The intriguing details of the life of “one of the most unusual of early figures in the Anti-Slavery movement”, Calvin Fairbank, concludes this exceptional book. Helene’s closing comments are:
“We stop with Calvin Fairbank. There have been men and women since in Allegany County, and there will be men and women in the future about whom legends, both good and bad, will grow. And someone will tell their story.”
Picture of Bill Pullman courtesy of http://www.billpullman.org
