An Anniversary Poem

Written for:

Mr. and Mrs. George Hasner

Married: November 28, 1877 at the Hubbard House,

James Street, Clayton, N. Y.

Most likely written by Mrs. Minnie A. Conklin. This poem was found in March, 2003, by Lisa Morrow among the Conklin Family papers. The poem was written in Minnie Conklin’s handwriting. The guests of honor were this web hostess's grandparents and Lisa Morrow's paternal great-grandparents.

Dear friends, come take a trip with me,
We’ll stop along the way;
The aeroplane of memory
Is waiting us to-day.

We’ll choose an old familiar place,
The first to which we come,
You surely guess that it will be
Our Grandpa Putnam’s home.

For here the gay autumnal flowers
Have donned their brightest hues,
The birds are singing merrily,
As if to tell the news.

For Cora Putnam wakes to greet
Her happy bridal morn,
And finds a dainty wedding gown,
Her beauty to adorn.

While farther on at old La Farge,
With the first sunlit rays,
George Hasner gets about his work
And hitches up the bays.

Let’s go along, (our plane is strong,)
And watch the happy pair
Alighting at the Hubbard House --
And someone else is there.

‘Tis Frank and Prudy, My. and Lib.
All dressed with youthful pride,
To help the preacher tie the knot,
And make a happy bride.

They surely tied it strong and true,
To last for fifty years,
And stronger grew when tested by
The stress of toil and cares.

Congratulations came in turn,
To bride and happy groom,
And then the wedding dinner
In the spacious dining room.

We wish that we might have a taste.
‘Twas extra good, they say,
But we can judge a little bit
From one we had to-day.

Neighbors and friends unitedly
Combined, to make them glad;
By coming for a horning bee,
With all, the tricks they had.

But bride and groom elusive proved
And brought their plans to naught --
A doughnut and a cider mug,
Instead of what they sought.

There’s one poor lad, was very sad,
For fear some other swain,
Would get his girl -- some plug hat chap
Who owned a watch and cane.

The months and years came on space
And, love made labor light;
With now and then a little one
To keep the home fires bright.

Each girl and boy have brought them joy
For more than lands or gold.
And memories come trooping home
Of happy days of old.

Their Sadie girl had dainty ways
And methods all her own;
She liked to make a sugar cake
With sour milk and a spoon.

Her little feet sought flowers sweet.
And soon had learned to stray.
Where cruel quick sands drew her down
And claimed her shoes one day.

Alvin had an inventive turn,
To know how things were done.
And when he came with watch apart,
Only two wheels were gone.

Nina was too sweet a flower
To stay with us for long,
And soon she joined the angel choir
To sing the glory song.

Then Beryl was an attractive belle
When two beaus came, her Mother
Consoled one in the sitting room
While she entertained the other.

Martin had a trusty sheep,
But once he ran away;
His Master cried, for Father said,
It spoiled a team to play.

He found a home for bumble bees
And punched them in the place,
But they returned the compliment--
And stung him in the face.

Baby Doris liked a song.
It went -- ah, ah, ah, ah,
And no one knew that little song
Quite as well as Pa.

The years went by, the little ones
To men and women grown,
Went forth to meet life’s duties
And make homes of their own.

And Sadie liked a Martin,
Alvin Demarsed away
And Beryl chose a Buckminster
Who is our host today.

Then Martin went a Warning
And brought Edith to the hill;
Cousin Ethel took a Peck
And Doris has a Bill.

The little ones soon came again
The years sped on apace,
And now the High School claims its share
Each has an honored place.

And Donald, too, has joined the ranks

Full many happy gatherings
Like this have taken place
And we cannot forget to-day
One jolly absent face.

Fond memory reverts again
To other happy days,
When roast pig graced the table,
And the fruits and nuts he raised.

And now this Golden Wedding Day
We come from far and near,
To celebrate the glad event
And wish you joy and cheer.

We wish you Godspeed on your trip
To the sunny land of flowers,
We wish you health and peace of mind
And, only happy hours.

And when the springtime flowers bloom,
Come back to “Old York State,”
And, we will help you celebrate
In 1928.

Notes by transcriber:

This anniversary gathering probably occurred in November of 1927, during a time when our country was all agog over the Charles Limberg solo flight across the Atlantic. Notice the author’s metaphors.

What is a “horning bee?” We found the following on the Internet:

“Troy, June 28—the dictionary says that a “shivaree” is a “word derived from the Latin meaning a noisy gathering with grotesque costumes and discordant instruments of music, restricted to the reception of a bride and groom on their home coming” but down here in the hills we call it a “horning bee” and the one given to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Parsons, newlyweds, Monday night was the largest ever seen in this community. “

Grandpa Putnam’s home was undoubtedly the bride’s grandfather, Parley Putnam, who most likely lived on Three Mile Creek Road. Remember, Cora’s father, Alvin Putnam, died when she was 2 years of age in 1862. Parley Putnam was still alive in 1877 -- he died in 1882 -- his wife, Prudence Allen Putnam, died in 1890.

LaFarge means LaFargeville in the Town of Orleans (Jefferson County, N. Y.). At one time George Hasner’s parents, Archibald and Minerva Sweet Hasner, lived in the LaFarge Mansion in that village, but I haven’t yet determined when and for how long the family lived there. (info from an Ernest Cook article about George’s sister, Mary Hasner Eddy).

The Hubbard House was a hotel on James Street in the village of Clayton, N. Y.

The people waiting at the Hubbard House were probably attendants. Frank -- not known -- maybe a Heyl or Jerome -- will work on this. Prudy was Cora’s sister - not yet married to George Bent. I believe Prudy was older than Cora. My., was probably Myron Daniels, who was married to Lib. (Elizabeth) Lingenfelter. They were the bride’s uncle and aunt, who at some later time, moved to Chaumont, N. Y. Elizabeth was the youngest daughter of Conrad and Elizabeth Padgett Lingenfelter -- she was born in 1861 -- and quite close in age to the bride, her niece (Cora).

I need help in interpreting the “doughnut and cider mug” lines. I also need help with “the poor lad.......some plug hat chap........watch and cane.”

Sadie was the first-born daughter -- I imagine the cake which is mentioned is the “sour cream” cake recipe that my mother used -- and which I’ve lost.....anybody have it? Delicious -- like a pound cake!

Nina died at age 14 -- family lore yields that her death was caused by “St. Vitus Dance” -- but it was fact that she had recently received an inoculation for one of the sometimes fatal diseases of the time. Need to call the Village Clerk in Glen Park for the reason stated on the death certificate -- assuming that Nina died at the home on Woodlawn.

Any enlightenment on my Uncle Alvin would be appreciated -- he liked to tinker, I do know that.

Yes, Beryl was very pretty -- I’ll soon include a photo of the three girls.

Any help with Uncle Martin’s sheep?

Any help with Doris’s songs?

Sadie married Martin Schenck -- once a paper mill superintendent, who came to town -- he was, as far as I can tell, born in the Columbus, Ohio area. Alvin married Amelia DeMarse. Beryl married Lewis Buckminster, from an old Perch River-Limerick-Brownville family. Martin married Edith Warn - from the Paddy Hill-Brownville area. For some reason the author chose to insert information about Ethel. She was Cora’s niece and the daughter of George & Prudence Bent. She was older than Doris by several years, but probably she had much input to the anniversary party in 1927. And, of course, Doris, married William Conklin (these were my parents).

Donald and Elaine were the grandchildren -- Donald, being Martin’s first-born, and Elaine, being Doris’s first-born. I don’t understand why Alvin’s children, Norris, Alice, and George were not mentioned. They were all born well before 1927!!!!!!! Same with Beryl’s two living children -- sons.

Please, please -- someone help me with the “jolly face” person -- I believe this was probably Martin Schenck, Sadie’s husband. Sadie’s obit indicates he died ten years before she died in 1932. Also, the roast pig story -- what’s that all about ?-- and is that reference connected to the “jolly faced” person, who it appears had died? The “fruit and nuts” reference certainly leads me to believe that it was Martin Schenck -- because Martin and Sadie, I am told, lived in California on the site which is now Disneyland.

Apparently, a trip to California was imminent when the anniversary party took place -- to the home of the Hasners’ oldest daughter, Sadie. How long did they stay? I was told that Cora suffered a stroke either on the way out or on the way home. Any help on this? I found an obit which indicated that George died in August of 1928. So....there was no celebration like this in 1928!!!!

I look forward to help, corrections, and elaborations regarding this wonderful poem. Thank you, Lisa, for sending this to me -- I had never seen it before.

Shirley Farone - granddaughter of the honored couple
Ashland, OH - March 30, 2003
twiggs1@verizon.net