[Mike M, Rauf M, Gary M, Chris L, Rollie S, Kurt L, Salin L, Larry H, Sue M, Kathleen P, Deb S, Luke V,
Arnie G, Dale B, Tom V, Kershwin S, Don B, Gary H, Larry S, Yvonne G, Alicia C, Jolly L.]
Visiting Rotarians:None
Guests: 1: Kathy Taylor (speaker)
Happy Dollars Moments: More valuable when they are shared
Raffle Winner:No Raffle. No Winners. No Losers.
Fines
None today.
Birthdays
Chris LaMadrid turned 70 years young last Wednesday. Said Chris: "Being part of this Rotary in particular has had a profound impact on my life, not only the great work we do, but also the joy of meeting with all of you on Friday mornings. I say with pride there is nothing quite like this group of people: spirited, lively dedicated, committed, rambunctious at times, but always joyful. Thank you for being a part of my life." Happy birthday Chris! Salin led us in song.
Lisa Barrell-Matz, was absent and missed.
Happy Dollars Moments
Editor's Note: If you missed our Zoom meeting, the full meeting is posted to our Group Facebook Page
Gary Miller: Our entire family celebrated our youngest daughter's 40th birthday which was the first time the entire family has been together in a long time!
Arnie: was happy to have his power back. "The trick is to labor extensively hauling gasoline and water to power your generator and run your bathrooms and then the fates will laugh and make all that work unnecessary!" Arnie also reported that his general aviation airplane was wrecked by another pilot and while no one was injured, he is not happy about the wrecked part.
Rollie: Was happy for the receipt of an email from our District Governor indicating that the incoming Rotary International District Governor will be a woman. In light of our club's informal record of having 'the next 16 0fficers being all women', this gave me a special moment." Rollie also noted that "Its nice to see Rauf's muscles." [Ed Note: Rollie, you may be confusing some folks.].
Gary Miller: Reportedthat Linda Pendergast called him, went through her surgery well, no more bikinis, waiting on path for pancreas, no bad news ran into Anne Clark at Larson's and was seeking more infor. she seemed to be in good spirits despite staples sternum to navel.
Sue Mitchell: Reported getting a new dog which is a lab mix. She had lost a dog to illness last fall and was very bonded with that dog. The new pooch will be obtained from from "Labs for Life Rescue" from a source in Oklahoma. He/she will be added to her existing pack of 3 other dogs, and "they and all the horses are healthy." Rollie asked if Steve gets any affection from her, with all the animals she has. Said Sue: "Not really!" Much laughter ensued.
Announcements
Golf Tournament Update: Gary Miller reported yesterday's group email brought everyone up to date, but prompted some positive follow-up. Sponsors and advertisers have picked up. We are doing far better than I ever thought we would, considering all that is going on. We are at 70+ golfers registered, but it is of course unknown if all will show up. We can easily accommodate up to 100. Thanks to all who have worked on the tournament. Chris L. added that this is the home stretch and asked everyone to assist and to perhaps get one more advertisement or donation. Salin noted Rollie had obtained a restaurant gift card as a donation and doing that with other restaurants may help those that are hurting. Gary noting Heather's absence, reminded the group that the auction sign-up list is online. The auction will run to the end of September, even after the golf tournament is concluded. DonB. has agreed to donate a painting or prints of his paintings for the auction. To be discussed further with Heather.
Induction of New Members
None this week.
Awards
None this week.
Community and International Service Grants
None this week.
PRESENTATION
Kathy Taylor, Canton Historian
Kathleen Parr introduced our speaker, Ms. Kathy Taylor, who is Canton Town Historian among other skills and duties. Kathy is also the property manager for the old Collins Company buildings, and is a Notary and a local Justice of the Peace. She hopes to inform us of a few things we do not know about those old buildings and Canton's history.
The Collins Company was started in 1826 by Sam and David Collins, both still in their 20s. Their mother was a Watkinson, whose family was involved in the grocery and hardware businesses. The brother's came to Collinsville and bought a grist mill and a sawmill, both on the river. The oldest building still in existence on the site however, is from 1846 as the brothers kept rebuilding as needed to meet the needs of their business.
During the 1860s and the American Civil war they produced over 200,000 bayonets as well as swords and other items. Their doors eventually closed in 1966 due to a number of factors including the advent of the chain saw and foreign competition among other challenges. Independent companies modeled on theirs still produce edged tools in Mexico.
The Collins Company had as many as 50 to over 100 buildings at various times.
Further, in the 1830s, 45 duplex residential homes were built for Company employees.
Image at bottom right is the "Swedish Boarding House." There were also many French Canadian
transplants working at the Company. The Company also land donated for several churches.
The constant need for hydraulic power led to the creation of several dam structures to store water for steady availability and later use.
The Otis reservoir was built by the Company. Canton resident Roy Olson said he worked there in the 1940s and 1950s, Horses were used to assist in the labor.
These laborers, all immigrants, are seen in from of what is today the Pomaski Tool Company.
Interesting tie ins to the history of Hartford and significant episodes in the history of the United States including the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
The Collins Company also figured in world events, literally worlds away!
A wide variety of edged tools were produced during the life of the Company, which enjoyed an excellent worldwide reputation. Many civilian and military items were created and sold.
These Collins Company advertisements, produced in several languages, are today valuable collectors items.
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Following her presentation, Ms. Taylor took questions from participating Rotarians. A synopsis is reproduced below.
Questions:
Larry S: What's going on with the sale of the Collins Company property? Kathy T: What I know is they have a purchase and sale agreement, but Covid has slowed the process. Currently the proposed buyers are in the due diligence process.
Rollie S: In the early 1970s I lived on Country Lane in Canton. My grandfather-in-law had been a mining engineer in the Andes for his entire working life. When he visited us, he wept to see the Collins Company factory for the first time. They called the machetes they used "The Collins" and he indicated his had saved his life more times than he could count. He had spent 50 years in the Andes where his 3 daughters were born, one of which was Rollie's mother in law. The girls were "shipped" to Denver for their education where they lives with 2 "spinster" aunts. Spanish was their primary language. For his grandfather-in-law, seeing the Collins Company in person was like seeing the Vatican in Rome, or Mecca in person. Kathy T shared that a local nurse visiting South America was asked if she knew of Collinsville.
Gary Miller wife's best friend and her husband lived in top of the "Scale House" in the early 1970s. The Millers visited them at night and Gary recalls it was very dark and pitch black at night.
Kathleen Parr asked about Sam Collins house. Kathy T: It is now the Calvary cemetery. A couple lived there and the husband shot his wife and then burned down the house. The site became the cemetery afterwards.
Rollie: In the 1950s and 1960s how was the property owned? Kathy: I don't know exactly, but Clare Elston was its president. Barbara Lowell was Clare Elston's daughter and they owned the former golf course. She had never been in the factory buildings and had no ownership. Her brother, Mark Lowell had toured the property, but similarly had no ownership. Rollie: We once had a Rotary social event there and toured the buildings.
Rotarian: What about the hydro project? Kathy T: The hydro project is moving along, though many of the principles are stuck in Austria during the pandemic. It will pay over $70,000.00 in taxes annually to the Town, once complete.
Special Announcements
None this week.
Mail Bag
None this week.
Photo Credits
Arnie Goldman, editor
Technology Credits
Zoom platform management expertise by Mike Mezheritskiy.
Editor's Notes
Submission Deadline: Members are kindly encouraged to submit all materials for each week's Early Riser as early as possible. Please note that some editions may be published and distributed as early as the Saturday following our meetings, and during those weeks further contributions to the Early Riser will be included in the subsequent week's edition.
“The FOUR-WAY TEST of the things we think, say or do”:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all Concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
