Humerous Tales
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HISTORIAN'S NOTE
By Susan L. Conklin, County Historian
JUST HAD TO SHARE THESE WITH YOU
Occasionally the History Department staff and volunteers discover unique articles that give us a chuckle. I thought you might enjoy reading a few of my favorites.
Tucked in the middle of a "Current Events in LeRoy" column was found - "Charles Wilter, the Erie operator, has taken a six-month leave of absence from his office for the recuperation of his death. Mr. Johnson of Batavia is in his place." [Note: Must be Mr. Wilter used up his sick days and had to call in dead. By the way the Erie operator was a railroad position.] Printed June 4, 1885
| Sediment in Wine Bottle Not Poison But Blood |
| Man Says Wooden Leg Taken Away by Beavers |
| Atomic Bomb in Batavia |
SedimentIn Wine Bottle Not Poison But Blood
Cultoro's Wife Endeavored To Work A Charm
"Joseph Cultoro of Watson Street (Batavia) took a large bottle partly filled with wine to police headquarters yesterday afternoon and wanted his wife arrested on charges of attempting to poison him. The wine was discolored and showed a peculiar sediment at the bottom of the bottle.
When the young wife was taken to headquarters she said that she had not been able to get along well with her husband for four years and that someone told her that if she would put some of her own blood into something that her husband drank, it would act as a charm to win back his affections. She had cut a vein in her arm and transferred a half glass of blood to the wine.
Efforts were made by the police to settle the troubles of the young couple and it was finally agreed that the wife should go to visit relatives in LeRoy for a time." [ Wouldn't this story make a classic country-western song? "The old gypsy woman told me the only way to get my true love back was to add my blood to his wine...."] Printed in the Daily News September 26, 1916
Back to TopAlthough this story is from Wyoming County, it's too strange not to add to our collection.
Man Says Wooden Leg Taken Away By Beavers
"One of the strangest stories to come out of the hills of Wethersfield in the western part of Wyoming County was related this week by Herman Strutter, who lives near the beaver colony in Hermitage.
Limping on a crutch Strutter unfolded an account of how his wooden leg was cut off, presumably by beavers, while he slept in a first-floor sleeping porch. He awoke feeling a draft and noting the door was open, jumped from his bed to close it. He sprawled to the floor. His wooden leg was missing.
Examination of the stump revealed teeth marks and in the bed were clips of wood. Later Mr. Strutter traced beaver tracks to the nearby pond, where a hole in the ice was mute evidence the beavers had dragged the severed stump."
[Questions and thoughts on this story: 1. Why was Mr. Strutter sleeping on the sleeping porch in February? 2. How did the beavers open the door? and 3. Mr. Strutter must have been one sound sleeper to have shared a bed with beavers while they chewed on his wooden leg.] Printed in the Daily News February 14, 1935
Back to TopAtomic Bomb In Batavia
From the Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors on April 8, 1959, M.O. Clement, Director of Civil Defense, appeared before the Board and said that on May 2nd the Veterans Facility would be celebrating their Twenty-fifth Anniversary in this City. Mr. Clement requested authorization of the Board to set off a simulated atomic bomb made of fireworks. The Board voted and granted unanimous approval. The explosion of the simulated atomic bomb took place on the grounds of the Veterans Hospital and was used as a Civil Defense exercise. A total of 92, many of whom were Boy Scouts, volunteered as "injured personnel" as part of the drill. Within one hour an Army helicopter, ambulances, one flattop tractor trailer, fire rescue vehicles and two station wagons on loan from Funke & Hawley's Dodge dealership transported the "injured" to Genesee Memorial and St. Jerome Hospitals. The exercise kicked off a day of festivities which included a parade.
Imagine seeing an atomic bomb right here in our own County. If only I had discovered this historic event at the beginning of the year, why I would have recreated it as part of the Bicentennial celebration. The 1950's Supervisors sure knew how to have a good time!
