Hidden Hero - Vernie Yates (1886-1976)

March is Women's History Month, a time to commemorate study, observe and celebrate the vital role women have played in American history. In recognition, our March Hidden Heroes will focus on the accomplishments of notable women from our area.

"A skillful pilot of steam vessels and a competent and reliable engineer" is how Vernie Yates McGulpin was described on a canal boat pilots' license issued to her in 1904 by the State of New York. This license was granted to her at age 18, the earliest age at which she could receive it making her the only woman in upstate New York to be so qualified. Up until that time, Vernie had piloted vessels under a permit. In 1898, at age 12, Vernie and her parents moved from Auburn to 19 Center St. in Union Springs. Vernie's father, William Henry Yates, was a boat captain and noted artist. Together the duo traveled the Finger Lakes and Erie Canal in his 38 foot steam yacht, Vernada, while her mother ran a successful dressmaking business in Auburn employing seven seamstresses. Her mother's successful business provided the family income enabling her father to pursue a career as an artist. The Vernada was a wonderful traveling art studio for William and a great adventure for Vernie, as its pilot from an early age. Vernie recounted how they felt very safe among the canalers, known to be a rough and tumble crowd to those outside the business, but whom Vernie described as loyal and honest to their own.

Yates described his daughter as growing up on the "heelpath of the canal, like a colt." Numerous newspaper articles have shared Vernie's recollection of canal days. In one, she shares a memory of being tied up at a little town along the canal and needing milk. The lock tender directed them to the local Post Office where they found a cow in the back room. The cow generously provided a quart of very fresh milk. Vernie was surprised that the milk had not been stirred up with a buggy whip handle as she had often seen done by a Union Springs farmer and peddler.

Vernie once took up painting in her father's studio but gave it up at age six. Music had a greater appeal for Vernie who studied it at Wells later teaching in her home and directing the Union Springs and Sherwood High School orchestras. Vernie's own orchestra played at Emily Howland's 100th birthday celebration and Vernie recalled how disgusted Miss Howland was that no one noted her 101st!

Vernie left not only a legacy of musical memories but gave a great gift to future generations when, in 1973 at age 87, she penned her recollections of 74 years in Union Springs. From her reminiscences we learned of Saturday evening band concerts held on the lawn of the Backus mansion (where the present day Post Office is located) and of huge bonfires made from wooden boxes in the middle of what is now Route 90 held at midnight on July 3 to start the July 4 celebration. Vernie stated that "in those days, people knew their neighbors, and ours was a close knit community. In time of trouble or sorrow, the neighbors would rally round and do all they could to help in any way possible. And some of that beautiful spirit still survives." Wouldn't she be thrilled to know that spirit continues today!

Stay tuned for more! Linda Albrecht, member of our Curating and Exhibition Team, is currently preparing an exhibit honoring present day local women who have contributed much to our area, not unlike Vernie. Their backgrounds and experiences will surprise you and you will never view them the same. Their stories will soon be featured in the store front windows of 151 Cayuga St. We encourage you to visit this display (possibly with a child or grandchild?) to learn and share their accomplishments. We are indebted to Eric and Frances Rosenkrans, longtime museum members and volunteers, for providing this exhibition space.

Hidden Hero - William Wallace Adams

Seed and garden catalogues are arriving in mailboxes every day. Many, such as Burpee and Stark's, are sources for the Adams Elderberry, a plant known for its large clusters of fragrant, white flowers that appear in spring, followed by clusters of dark purple to black berries in late summer to fall. The fruit of the elderberry can be harvested for making wine and jam or left on the plant to provide food for wildlife. William Wallace Adams (1841-1922), who resided at the corner of Homer and Ridgeway Streets in Union Springs, was the champion grower and cultivator of this plant, improving the common elderberry into a fruit as large as currents and with a delectable flavor. While his home is now gone, his legacy and reputation as a plantsman continues today in the sale of every Adams elderberry bush.

During his life, Adams was regarded by archeologists as the greatest collector of Eastern Indian relics. In a 1914 interview with the Citizen, Adams stated that he personally unearthed 55,000 specimens many of which reside in the foremost of museums where they are properly preserved and valued more highly as time goes by. One of his greatest finds was that of a wampum belt dating from the 1400's which was unearthed from a chief's burying ground north of Union Springs. Adams told in the interview that a friend took the belt with him to England and, with little knowledge of its value, sold it to the British Museum for $40. A check of the British Museum's online catalogue does indeed confirm its ownership of this belt by sadly, no credit is given to Adams for the find. Adams claimed to have been guided to his finds by premonitions which came to him during sleep. Upon awakening, he would go straight to the localities seen in his dream and find those items. A hat, embellished with intricate beadwork and which he wore on many of these finds, can be seen below and is prominently displayed in the Lake Room of our museum. For years, archeologists claimed that area Native Americans had never used flint fish hooks yet Adams found one which resides today in the Smithsonian Museum. Closer to home, many of the artifacts found by Adams are housed in the William Pryor Letchworth Museum located at beautiful Letchworth State Park. Letchworth was a valued customer of Adams.

Not a man of letters, Adams earned the name of "Professor" from locals and colleagues who sought out his vast knowledge of Native Americans, all of which was readily shared, yet never printed. A man of many talents, Adams also took pride in his having moved over 1,000 buildings in his lifetime.

Today the roots of Adams work continue to grow in Union Springs as several of his ancestors return each summer to enjoy the beauty of our lake and village.

Hidden Hero - Brigadier General George Fleming

How many times have you passed this historical marker located at the intersection of Routes 34B and the Fleming Scipio Townline Road and wondered why George Fleming was being remembered with this sign? From this sign, we know that the Town of Fleming was named for him in 1823 but what made him significant?

At the onset of the Revolutionary War, Fleming received a commission in the Continental Army as a First Lieutenant in Henry Knox's Regiment of the Continental Artillery. During his first few years of enlistment, he was posted along the Hudson River at West Point, Chester and the Highlands where he observed the capture, trial and execution of Major Andre, as recorded in his diary. In 1781, Fleming was assigned to the staff of French Lt. Col. Louis de Portail, Commander of the Allied French and American Artillery, who were responsible for the creation of the bastion at West Point. In 1785, Fleming became the Commander of West Point which, at that time, housed the military stores of the Continental Army. General George Washington considered West Point to be the most important strategic position in America. Fleming, with the support of Henry Knox and Alexander Hamilton, desiring to eliminate America's wartime reliance on foreign engineers and artillerists, urged the creation of an institution at West Point devoted to the arts and sciences of warfare. These efforts continued following the conclusion of the war with Thomas Jefferson signing legislation establishing the United States Military Academy in 1802.

As a reward for his military service, Fleming received extensive land in this area resulting in the building of the home we see today. In 1806, Fleming and his family moved into this home which contrasted significantly from the surrounding log cabins of the area and reflected the wealth and interests of Fleming. His ninety-eight volume library was notable not only for the number of volumes, but for the numerous volumes of military related books. When the War of 1812 broke out, Fleming was placed in command of Fort Oswego as Lieutenant Colonel in charge of the defense and protection of the frontier against British invasion. As such, Fleming commanded 400-500 soldiers. Fleming next was appointed Quartermaster of Indian Troops in Buffalo serving in this capacity during several frontier wars and numerous internal conflicts. In 1816, Governor Tompkins appointed Fleming as Brigadier General of Porter's Volunteers in recognition of his military success.

Following his retirement from military service, Fleming enjoyed the life of gentleman farmer. His life of devoted military service was honored upon his death in 1822. Two companies of grenadier and dragoon soldiers led the procession from his home which included the General's horse with his boots reversed in their stirrups. The procession was met three miles south of Auburn by officers of three local military regiments, in full uniform. The church bells of Auburn tolled from 2:00 pm until sundown with cannons firing at regular intervals. Citizens joined the procession as it marched to muffled drums to St. Peter's Episcopal Church. The procession continued to the North Street Cemetery in Auburn where the general was buried. During the evening, the Auburn guards fired volleys over his grave. This indeed was a fitting tribute to a military great whose persistence led to the establishment of the United States Military Academy at West Point - the oldest continuously occupied military post in America.

Credit to Sheila Saft Tucker, Fleming Historian, who wrote an extensive account of Fleming in her book written in 1973 "The Township of Fleming, Cayuga County, New York" providing most of the information for this article.