Hudson Valley

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Stories from Cannonsville, NY

Delaware County

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My name is Lisa, known better by the name of Kaye back in the Cannonsville days.

I was born and grew up in Walton. My grandparents lived in Cannonsville for over 50 years. My fondest memories of my childhood were of Cannonsville. If it weren't for my grandma and grandpa and Cannonsville I would not be the person I am today.

I came across you website by total accident. My significant other and I bought our first computer for Christmas. I was "surfing the web" for printers and infor---meant to key in "canon" and I guess I keyed in "Cannon", I really don't know. Let me tell you, it made me weep, to say the least!! I saw those pics of Cannonsville, it was like I was there just the other day--not 40 plus years ago.

My grandparents name were Dayton and Gertrude McLaughlin--they bore 3 children, Orpha, Eloise, and Dayton Charles.

My Grandma and Grandpa living over 50 years in Cannonsville.. being forced to leave and evacuate their home and their life that they and our family so much cherished. I was only a child but the feelings and anguished was prevalent to me. It was so sad and heart breaking to see the house and life-style, that Grandma and Grandpa Mac made so real and so secure being taken away from them---our family's life was being robbed by New York City. Tears fill my eyes as I am writing this. I cherish and thank God that I was so fortunate to at least had been chosen to be born in the Mac Laughlin family.

He owned and ran the hardware store there for a time and he was the local gunsmith. They both were in there 70's when I was a young child, but Grandma Mac still churned her own butter, made cottage cheese, baked bread, crocheted doilies, sewed, and always had a smile.

My Grandpa was pretty much retired. I remember his gunshop and lathe and watched him , can't really remember what he was making but was always happy to be there by his side. He use to have a smoke house and slaughter and cure those pigs. I think he even ran the mill there.

My older brothers would know much more since I was just a "tadpole" back then. I remember picking wild violets and strawberries in the field next to his gunshop ...I even remember stepping in cowpies and leaving my shoe behind!!! But then that time came when the end of Cannonsville came. My grandparents were one of the last to be forced to leave. It was ugly and cruel for them to be forced to leave that wonderful warm, cozy home. They moved to Walton, just 2 house down from my house on Townsend St.

My grandma died within a few years and grandpa died soon after. The memories are so real and thanks to you they have been revitalized in a sad but beautiful way. If only Cannonsville was still there. I could go on and on.. I would love to have more pics and stories from others. Believe me, I know I could write a book about my memories --there is so many--if I could only write!!!!! I will definitely be visiting your website often.

I am planning a trip back to Delaware Co. and Walton. this summer--the first time since my Mom's internment in1988. I know things are so different there but one thing I know that will still be there is the hillside that is above the waterline of the dam where my Grandma looked out her kitchen window I stood beside her--her eyesight was bad but she could always spot the deer grazing on that hillside meadow--she said, "Kaye, do you she the Mother deer and her fawn??? They have been grazing since I started washing the dishes".

Lisa from Seaside, CA
aka Kaye Turner formerly of Walton , N.Y.

By Don Macron

Just a note about a brief period in my life when the Cannonsville Dam was being built. Back in 1963, having recently graduated from college with a degree in chemistry, I had difficulty finding a job due to my 1A draft status.

Eventually, I found that New York City was seeking a chemist to work at the construction site of a new dam. I applied for the job at The Board of Water Supply located at 120 Wall Street in NYC and was accepted.

I believe that was August or September of 1963. Since my family had a place near Fishes Eddy, NY, I lived there and commuted to the construction site.

My job was to collect water from several streams that would feed the reservoir and analyze them for purity. I remember there was a cheese factory in the area that dumped their waste into a stream which heavily effected the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).

I guess they were shut down eventually. I enjoyed driving to each pickup location, particularly when the leaves were autumn gold. It was both beautiful and serene. As I look back, those were halcyon days.

I remember an older colleague saying that the project involved the elimination of 5 towns. Homes were demolished and cemeteries were relocated.

It was such a large project that the Board of Water Supply had their own police force and it was expected to take several years to complete the dam.

Another colleague was responsible for analyzing the quality of the dirt called to determine if it would be impervious to the water. He had a constant fear that some long lost bacteria or virus would be in the dirt that he had to touch constantly. As a result he was always washing his hands.

Then it happened, I received my draft notice and on November 13, 1963, I reported to Whitehall Street in NYC to begin my 2 years in the US Army. After that, I lost track of the project.

Regards, Don Macron

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