by Kieron Kramer
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Rensselaer County Legislature thirteen members of the family of Fred A. Humphrey of Petersburgh gathered to receive copies of the resolution passed last month memorializing him. Humphrey died on April 14, 2011. Vice Chairman of the Legislature, Stan Brownell, who represents the towns of Petersburgh, Berlin, Stephentown, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls, made the presentation accompanied by the other District Five Legislator Lester Goodermote.
Brownell began his remarks by noting that Humphrey’s son and daughter in law, Dr. Mark Humphrey and Susan, were unable to attend this ceremony. He then read the resolution that was passed last month. The resolution referred to Humphrey’s many accomplishments and contributions to his community in an active life of 76 years. According to the resolution Humphrey was a graduate of Berlin Central High School and Hudson Valley Community College. He was employed by Winchester Rifle in Connecticut, Haynes Ford in Hoosick and the Watervliet Arsenal. He was also the Highway Superintendent for the Town of Petersburgh and a Traffic Control Supervisor for the Rensselaer County Highway Department, retiring in 1999 after 25 years of service. He was active in his community – a founding member and 30 year active member of the Petersburgh Rescue Squad, a 40 year member of the Petersburgh Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the NYS Association of Highway Superintendents and a member of the Petersburgh United Methodist Church. He also belonged to Sacred Heart Church in Berlin. He played in the Petersburgh Town Band, loved riding his motorcycle, working in the garden, landscaping, hunting, fishing and animals. Whereupon Brownell said, “You heard the large list of his accomplishments, the large family. The work ethic is definitely instilled in the Humphrey family. We will always miss his smiling face. He was a great man.”
Lenore Humphrey spoke a few words on behalf of the family. She told the story about when Fred was in hospital and was visited by the pastor who asked him, “What did you do with your life?” “Not much,” Fred answered. Lenore and Fred’s daughter Lucinda looked at each other and then answered, “We couldn’t begin to tell you all this man has done with his life.” Lenore mentioned Fred’s first wife Roberta and the children they had together before Fred and Lenore had their children. “He was a wonderful dad,” she said. “We can’t say enough about Fred Humphrey.” She added that she had never met anyone who was more well-liked than Fred and never met a person to whom he said no when he or she needed help. Then the multi-generational family, full of the spirit of life, left the well of the Legislature together.
St. Mark’s Request For Grant Funding Supported
A resolution passed unanimously supporting the grant application of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Hoosick Falls. The resolution said, “This Legislative Body has a record of advocating for protection of historic and cultural resources important to the heritage of Rensselaer County.”
According to the resolution St. Mark’s was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 with support from the Legislature. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church was founded in 1833 and at the direction of Walter Wood, a leading industrialist in the Hoosick area, noted architect Henry Dudley was commissioned to design a new church that would be a centerpiece of the growing rural community. The groundbreaking starting in 1858. The distinctive church, located on Main Street, was completed in 1860 and utilized brick instead of the stone usually used by Dudley in other constructions, including churches in Troy. It had distinctive features that quickly made the Church a noted structure in the region. A dedicated group of residents have volunteered time and resources to help safeguard this important historic and cultural resource for future generations of Rensselaer County residents, and two grants are being applied for to secure funding for preservation of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. The two grants include an historic preservation grant through the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and a Sacred Sites grant through the New York Landmarks Conservancy.
The resolution concluded, “This Legislative Body recognizes the importance of protecting St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Hoosick Falls and is supportive of these grant requests.”
Delinquent Taxes Paid
On March 28 of this year the County acquired several parcels of land for tax arrearage. When asked after the meeting, County Auditor, and Grafton Town Supervisor, Tyler Sawyer indicated that most of the property tax owed had accumulated for four or five years. Presumably this is because the legal process of acquiring the properties is complicated and takes time.
The former owners paid the tax owed before the County scheduled the auction to sell the land. The amount of tax finally remitted was not mentioned in the several resolutions authorizing the County to sell the properties back to their former owners. However, each former owner paid a $1,000 reconveyance fee to the County along with the back taxes.
Two parcels in eastern Rensselaer County were reconveyed to their former owners. Alexis Ivory reacquired a parcel in Grafton, and a parcel in Berlin was reclaimed by Jean M. Crandall, Joseph B. Crandall, Allen C. Bentley, Sr. and Allen C. Bentley, Jr.
Culvert Extension On West Road In Stephentown
A resolution authorized the purchase of a structural multi-plate steel arch culvert for $6,283.60 under the State bid. This culvert will extend the culvert which carries County Road No. 31 – West Road – over an unnamed stream in Stephentown. The culvert is 10 gauge steel, 14’ wide, 7’3” high and 20 feet long.
Help For The Poultry Building
A resolution authorized matching funding by the County for the repair of the Poultry Building at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds. According to the resolution the building caved in from a heavy snow load on February 3.
The resolution says that the Poultry Building was built in the early 1930s and is one of only three signature buildings left on the grounds. These buildings give the Fair that old time character that our visitors enjoy. With its two level roof and second story row of windows, it draws on people’s curiosity to see what is housed in this unique building. The Fair attendance runs between 90,000-100,000 people every Labor Day weekend. This is Rensselaer County’s yearly chance to proudly show its residents the value of agriculture and where their food comes from. The Poultry Building, with its noisy chickens and roosters plus the baby duck display and large variety of rabbits, draws literally thousands of visitors from various cities, towns and villages within Rensselaer County, most especially children.
The resolution says that to rebuild the top half of the building will cost at least $20,000 and insurance did not cover the disaster. It is important for the overall presentation of the Fair to bring the Poultry Building back to its original condition. There is currently a fund-raising campaign by numerous people associated with the Schaghticoke Fair and various groups throughout Rensselaer County to address the financial needs to rebuild. To date, over $4,300 has been raised by private donations, various fund-raisers and numerous events. The funds have been turned over to the Rensselaer County Agricultural and Horticultural Society for the repairs. In addition to funds currently raised by private donations and events, ACR Metal Roofing and Curtis Lumber have agreed to sell building materials at cost for the repairs. Valente’s Lumber has agreed to sell all repair related materials for the building at a 20% discount.
The resolution says, “The Rensselaer County Legislature feels that the Poultry Building located on the Schaghticoke Fair grounds is an important structure and is woven into the culture and history of all residents in the cities, towns and villages within Rensselaer County…and it is the desire of the Rensselaer County Legislature to help in the restoration of this important structure. The Rensselaer County Legislature hereby pledges a dollar for dollar fund raising match up to ten thousand dollars to the Rensselaer County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, 69 Stillwater Bridge Road, Schaghticoke, NY 12154 for the repairs to the Poultry Building.”
There is a fund-raiser chicken barbecue on Friday, June 17, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm at Capital Agway in Center Brunswick.