ILION SOCIAL LIFE
VILLAGE OF ILION
HERKIMER COUNTY, N.Y.
The following is taken from "Ilion 1852-1952." We thank the Mayor and
other officials of Ilion for granting us permission to provide this
information to our visitors.
SOCIAL LIFE
Social "affairs" have always been an integral part of the lives of the
townspeople. They have found release from toil in many ways through
the years, from neighborhood parties to the most elaborately planned
recreation. Strawberry, peach and ice cream festivals were popular, as
were lawn parties, candy pulls whist parties, straw rides, and clambakes,
County Fairs were exciting in the 1850's. The ground, located just
north of the canal, was the scene of the Agricultural Society's Hops, for
which Col. William Smith's Quadrille Band of sixteen pieces assured
spirited dancing. The usual exhibitions of farm stock, handwork, etc.
provided diversion for the more sedate element.
What was probably the most brilliant social occasion in the history of
the Valley occurred in 1874. The famed Spanish Ball was the climax to
several months of lavish entertaining of the Spanish officials who
visited Ilion in connection with their large order of rifles. No expense
nor effort was spared, as is illustrated by the fact that Pat Gilmore's
world famous band was secured from New York City, as well as the
renowned cornetist, Arbuckle. The interior of Maben's Opera House, decorated
with massed Spanish and American flags, hardly compared, in splendor,
with the colorful regalia of the band and the guests. The concert,
dancing, and supper were recalled with superlatives for years.
TheHherkimer Democrat deemed the affair "a magnificent combination of beauty,
pleasure, music, mirth, fashion and rare social enjoyment." But perhaps
theNew York Graphic paid it the gretest homage by stating that "It is a
question whether the famed Brussell's Ball, given on the eve of the
Battle of Waterloo, excelled the Spanish Ball".
Maben's Opera House was a commodious public hall, seating 1,000, built
in 1870 by Dr. H. B. Maben at a cost of $20,000. It occupied the
second and third stories, including galleries, of the brick building now
occupied by the Ilion Sentinel, an ornament to the village and a
convenience to the public. There were seven scenes and the drop curtains which
represented the Prodigal Son, away from his father's house, in search
of pleasure. It was lighted by gas with reflector suspended from the
ceiling. Plays, bazaars, fairs, concerts and many sport events made this
the social center of Ilion before the turn of the century. The Loyal
Citizen proclaimed editorially, 1871, that "the annual rash of
demoralizing theatres, minstrels and low claptrap amusements generally, had
arrived with their impecunious debouches". Despite such a dim view of
those who trod the boards, such dignified artists as Julia WardHhowe, Henry
Ward Beecher, Eva Tanquay, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and many others
gave real pleasure to Ilion audiences. In the 80's much of the
entertainment and many of the lectures were sponsored by the Literary Club.
There were many besides newspapermen who raised their voices in
criticism of vice. The Ilion Temperance Union with Philo Remington as
president, organized in 1865, strongly advocated reforms for the moral uplift
of the citizens. There was a Loyal Temperance Legion 1891, also a
Prohibition Club, with a reading room in the Osgood, and "The Knights of
Sobriety, Fidelity and Integrity". Also the W. C. T. U. active since
1875. Temperance was the temper of times with many a long rally designed
to alleviate the prevalent evils. A chess club was promoted by young
men "who refuse to compromise themselves at low-lived billiard
saloons". On the other hand, Ilion had the reputation of paying out more money
for literary and dramatic entertainment than any other town between
Albany and Utica.
Eliphalet Remingon, Sr. had built, in the early 40's a commodious
residence, the brick structure which later functioned as the Remington Arms
Co. office. This historically important home was offered to the
village as a museum in 1936 when many of the arms buildings were demolished.
Due to the exigencies of the depression days, the offer was not
accepted. Two of Mr. Remington's sons, Eliphalet Jr. and Philo, built homes
on Otsego Street opposite the first Armory building, where the Capitol
Theatre now stands. When, in 1867, large orders for the Remington
Breech Loader were placed by the U. S. Navy and several foreign countries,
Philo urged to build a larger house to entertain diplomats and
representatives. Despite initial objections, Philo, a man of simple tastes,
agreed to build the mansion on land now owned by the Arms Company on
Armory Hill. Built of pink and grey sandstone, it was turreted after the
manner of European castles. Gravelled walks and drives interlaced the
landscaped lawns which were further decorated by gardens, greenhouse and
terraced fountain. The interior was a decorator's paradise, with its
carved black walnut woodwork, mantels of Italian marble, and imported
tiles, carpeting, and furnishings. The beautiful $65,000 building,
completed in 1870, had three stories, with a ballroom on the top floor. The
grand staircase was marked at the bend of its sweeping curve by a wall
niche in which stood a suit of midieval armor. In a day when "modern"
conveniences were uncommon, the mansion boasted two bathrooms, a
kitchen and laundry, all supplied with running water pumped from artesian
wells driven in the factory yard beneath the hill. Heating was provided
indirectly by radiators beneath the floors and twin boilers in the
cellar. Speaking tubes afforded communication between the rooms, and an
elevator provided transportation for trunks to the attic. The great house
opened its doors with charming hospitability to great and simple folk
alike. It was with great reluctance that the descendants of the
Remington family decided to raze it, rather than to have it become a neglected
eyesore to the community. It was therefore demolished in 1928 and so
passed another famous landmark. The large barn on the estate, now know
as "The Stables" was purchased by the Little Theater Club. Today Arms
buildings stand on the Remington cow pasture and encroach on the
garden, once fragrant with Mrs. Remington's favorite flowers.
In 1886, a Bal Masque, arranged by the Standard Club of the
Typewriter, the "toniest" event in many years was as successful as the regulated
Standard Typewriter.
In the 1880's and 90's the women of Ilion, like others throughout the
country, became champions of their rights in intellectual, political,
and social life. In this period were organized a literary society which
featured Temperance programs: The Travelers Club in 1890, The
Historical Club in 1893; both essentially literary and study groups. The
latter two have functioned continually since their inception. The
Shakespeare Club's membership includes men as well as women. With an initial
membership of nine in 1904, it has developed through the years into a
group of 55 which today reads modern plays as well as Shakespeare.
The Little Theater Club, organized two decades later, 1924, has
provided entertainment in theatrics for themselves and many others through
their presentation of modern productions. The late Mrs. Rome Worden gave
impetus to a desire of a small group to form such a unit, utilizing her
attic as stage and auditorium.
There were many theatres, from 1900 on, devoted to motion pictures,
the forerunners of which were phonograph concerts at the YMCA Hall and
animated pictures as shown by animotiscope at the Opera House. The Opera
House showed the first real "movies". Some almost forgotten theaters
include the "Grand" at Main and Morgan, and the "Casino" in the Wilcox
Dancing Academy. A typical nickelodean of the times open from 12 to 1
p. m. for the working men, was later called "Big Ben" when renovated in
1916 during World War I. This was on First Street just west of "The
Sentinel". The Temple Theatre in the Odd Fellows Temple was popular for
years but fell into disuse when the Capitol Theatre opened in 1925 with
Frank Whitney and Ben Young as co-owners and operators. This has a
capacity of 1200. Beginning in 1928, an orchestra under the direction of
Clarence Flint added an especial attraction for a few years. Since
1928 Sunday performnces have been allowed by virtue of a special election.
In 1916 Ilion had its first community Christmas tree. It was placed
on the Armory bank opposite Monumnet Square--sponsored by the Board of
Trade. The Remington Typewriter and Military Bands furnished music and
community singing was enjoyed.
Ilion's first radio convention and fair was held in 1922, for a whole
week in Harter's Hall on First Street. This village had the most
powerful receiving station in this part of the State at that time.
The Ilion Community concerts, organized in 1947, by Miss Eleanor
Brennan and other local music lovers, have brought well known musicians to
the village for the past five years. Subscription tickets to the series
of three or four concerts a season have been purchased by residents of
neighboring towns as well as by many Ilionites. These were held in the
High School Auditorium.
Ilion may well be proud of her bands and their splendid record of
providing music through the years. J. D. Ingersoll's "Brass Band" played
at the celebration of the ending of the Civil War. The Ilion Armory
Band gave concerts at Maben's from 1875 and continued to provide
entertainment through periods of reorganization and changes of name. The Ilion
Military Band functioned until well after the turn of the century
directed at various times by P. A. Stubblebine, R. Thompson and P. Gantt.
Concerts were given at the "Lift Bridge Park" and near the new West Hill
School.
The first Remington Typewriter Field Day, 1905, was the inspiration
for the existence of the Type Band. The band was organized that fall
with thirty-five members. F. G. Clark as president and P. H. Putnam
manager and director. The company officials purchased $1,000 worth of music
and trim blue uniforms. In the early years concerts were held at
Bridge Square, at the head of the steps leading from Main to the brow of
Weisbecker Hill, or "most anywhere we could draw up our chairs". Torches
were used for evening concerts and later small lights attached to the
bandsmen's caps were tried but proved a nuisance. In desperation the
members memorized the marches, so, regardless of flickering light, the
band could "play on". They gave performances in many villages besides
their own, always winning acclaim. In 1916 they marched down broadway in
the Preparedness Day Parade. Under the direction of Lietenant Edwin
Daniels, a former member of Sousa's Band, a symphonic quality was
developed. Five hundred dollars was appropriated for a "permanent" bandstand
in 1920 during the period when the band played opposite Monument
Square. Again, in 1926, the Typewriter Band participayed in the 300th
Anniversary of Broadway parade. Their radio broadcasts were enthusiastically
received. After the depression of the thirties Sammy Nile, a former
featured soloist, reorganized the Rem-Rand band with 14 members in 1936.
The First Armistice Day Program with the band was presented in 1937,
which has been continued every year. A platform was erected opposite the
Soldier's Monument during World War II in order to bring the concerts
within easy reach of the public, for the "shell", removed from Memorial
to Russell Park in 1933, could attract only a limited number of music
lovers due to gas rationing. New uniforms, costing $2,000, were
provided in 1948 upon the occasion of the band's performance at the Comunity
Sing at Cooperstown where 7,000 people gathered. More than 3,000 "fans"
gather each summer in Russell Park to hear programs presented by the
Remington Rand Band and the recently organized Fireman's Band.
|