tags: events, fire department

One of the most interesting characters who drifted into Richburg was “Happy Jack” Stoops, a veteran of the Civil War, a soldier of fortune and a former police chief in wild and wicked oil towns in the Pennsylvania Oil Fields. He stood 6′ 2″ in his stockings, wore a 22-inch collar, number 12 shoe, a 7 and a half hat, his waist measured 60 inches and was 360 lbs. He had been a journeyman blacksmith in his youth and was one of the most powerful men in the oil country. His name was John Stoops, but owing to his good nature and ready smile, he gained the nickname “Happy Jack”. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA. At 18 he was a champion sledge thrower. When the Civil War began, he was a blacksmith at Mt. Ayr, Iowa, where he enlisted for three months in Company G of the 29^th Iowa Volunteers. He liked soldering and re-enlisted for the duration of the war. He was discharged from service August 10, 1865.

After the war, he drifted to Kansas and for two years was a policeman in Topeka. Then the oil excitement lured him to Pennsylvania where he served as policeman in Pithole, Summit City, Bullion, Cole Creek and Duke City when these oil towns were hot spots. In Summit City, there was no jail in which to lodge bad men, so he in vented a new kind of lockup. He would walk his prisoner to a telegraph pole, place his arms around the pole, and snap a pair of handcuffs on the luckless drunk. The prisoner could either sit down or stand up, but he had to remain there until Happy Jack came along and marched him to a Justice of the Peace.

Happy Jack came to Richburg late in 1881, when Richburg was a roaring boom town. After the Oil Boom, Happy Jack relocated to the Town of Bolivar where he was appointed Chief of Police. During his long stay in Bolivar he joined a tent show and made a tour of the United States. He was advertised as the “Heaviest Civil War Veteran in the Country”. Posters stated that he weighed 600 lbs, but that was circus talk, for then he weighed just 360.

When Happy Jack tired of being a policeman for Bolivar, he traveled over the near by townships as an auctioneer. He had a voice like a steam calliope- one of those voices that can be heard a quarter mile on a clear day. He would lead a horse up and down before a crowd, saying, “A nice, eight-year-old mare, sound as a dollar, or no sale. How much do I hear for her?” Eight years, it seems was the age limit of horses he auctioned off. During his frequent vacations from police duty and auctioneering, he look after a truck garden he owned, a mile east of Bolivar. As a youthful editor of Bolivar, the writer found in Happy Jack a faithful ally. He new nearly everyone by name, kept both eyes and ears open, remembered names and faces, and each week supplied many local news items. And his judgement as to what to print and what to leave out was excellent. The reciprocated by frequently printing interest paragraphs about the exploits of the husky police chief.

Happy Jack passed away on January 23, 1901 at the Soldiers’ Home in Bath, New York.

tags: History

Mr. Howard opened up the meeting at 7:08 p.m. with the pledge to the flag. Board members present were: Jeff Harmon, Mike Scott, Shawn Dunmire and Richard Kozlowski. Also present was: Curtis (Highway Superintendent) & Sue Rung, Jane Cardwell (Town Clerk), Alice Dunbar (Assessor), Michelle Dunbar (Bookkeeper), Paul Sadler (Dog Control Officer), Theresa Baldwin, Bob Dunbar, Jean Howard Gary and Lea Dorrett.

Mr. Howard started out the meeting requesting that Jane give him proof of all deposits. Mr. Howard was concerned about his name on these accounts and him not having proof that the money was where it was suppose to be.

There was much discussion on the National Fuel bill and how high it was for the town hall for the month of March. (This was after it was discussed about how the bill also was paid twice). Jane stated she thought it was from the election ladies. When they had Election Day the ladies had turned up the heat and never turned it back down. Mike Scott suggested they have a locked thermostat put on.

George Johnson from Richardson & Stout in Wellsville spoke to the board concerning the town’s insurance policies. The towns’ insurance is through NYMIR and their rates went down by $1,478 for this year. However, this is the figure without the new grader. Gary Dorrett questioned Mr. Johnson if towing insurance was available for the town? Mr. Johnson replied that towing is only available on private passenger vehicles. It is not available for municipals. Gary was concerned because the town had to have two trucks towed this past year and just the one bill was over $6,000. Mr. Howard replied that the town has enough equipment they shouldn’t have to call a tow truck. They could also call the County and request help if it was too bad. Paul Sadler questioned where the Steam Jenny is that is listed on the equipment list. No one seems to have seen it in years. The board was in agreement to increase the replacement coverage on the grader. The replacement cost was at $25,000 and they increased it to $50,000. This is an increase of $264 to the insurance however the town is still saving $1,214 over last year.

The minutes of March 10, 2008 were approved by Richard Kozlowski and seconded by Mike Scott with no changes.

Public Concerns:

Bob Dunbar stated that on March 24^th he requested a copy of the recording of the February 11^th minutes, (Mr. Dunbar along with his request sent a self addressed stamped envelope) however; he never received any of his requests. Mr. Dunbar then came into the office today (April 14) to request a copy of the minutes and was told that the minutes were not available to him, that the board had voted to not have them available until they were approved. Mr. Howard replied that the law states that within two weeks of a meeting the minutes are to be made available to the public and in the case of executive sessions the minutes are to be available within one week in accordance to the provisions of the “Freedom of Information Act”. Mr. Howard went on to state that this town as not followed the law on many cases in the past and that this was going to stop. Jane then stated that at one time the board had made a motion to not hand out the minutes until they were approved. Mr. Howard replied to that by saying then the board had better plan on coming in here tomorrow to approve the minutes so that they are available to the public. Mr. Dunbar stated he was concerned when he read his name in the minutes from the February 11^th meeting that the board is having a problem with him but he’s doesn’t know what that was. Mr. Dunmire stated that the board did make the motion to hold the minutes until they were approved and also explained that the board misunderstood the law or was misinformed of it. Mr. Dunbar went on to comment that he has spoken with Jane before concerning the minutes and that her comment to him was that this was Richburg, NY not Delaware. Mr. Dunbar continued to say that this has nothing to do with Richburg, New York or Delaware. This was the fact that things need to be done on the up and up. Mr. Harmon stated to Mr. Dunbar that he had a problem with him coming into the meeting and requesting this information when he didn’t own property in the town.

After much more discussion (about 5 minutes of it was spent on what Jane should put at the top of the minutes “Draft?” “Not Approved”), the board finally agreed to have the minutes posted in accordance with the law.

Clerks Monthly Report: Mr. Dunmire pointed out that Jane’s report and that Paul’s report for his dog control did not match. Clerks Report showed $268.80 – Dog Control/Building Permits showed $266.80. Mr. Dunmire requested Jane check the figures before he would approve her report. After the amount of $266.80 was confirmed the clerks report was approved with the corrections.

Fiscal Report: After a few changes that are noted on the attached town budget, the fiscal report was approved.

A resolution was passed as a formality for the retirement system stating that a work day for a part time employee is 6 hours.

A motion was made by Mike Scott and seconded by Jeff Harmon to approve to pay for half of the cost ($30/month) for high speed internet at Michelle’s house. This is needed for banking. She has had trouble in the past with transfers that she thought had gone through.

Curtis Rung handed in a written report. (Attached) Mr. Rung also stated that they would take the pickup into get the 4-wheel drive fixed while it is still under warranty. A motion was made by Shawn Dunmire and seconded by Jeff Harmon to accept the highway superintendent’s report.

Mike Scott made a motion to pay the bills for the General and the Highway Fund. It was then discussed that the town is being billed for an Argon tank from Abbott welding even though they do not have a mug welder and Curt has not been able to locate the tank. It was suggested to call Bob Sherwood and see if he has it.

Richard Kozlowski made a motion and seconded by Mike Scott to accept the Assessors Report. This report was written.

A motion was made by Mike Scott and seconded by Shawn Dunmire to accept the Dog Control Officer’s report.

Old Business:

Top Notch Tree Service- the board was in agreement not to pay this bill for the grader that was rented.

Cemetery Bids:

The bid was awarded to Theresa Baldwin. Mr. Howard thanked Ms. Baldwin for doing such a nice job. Motion made by Shawn Dunmire seconded by Dick Kozlowski. (Note: Bids were never read out loud and I’m sure there won’t be a bid tab available)

A motion was made by Mike Scott and seconded by Shawn Dunmire to apply for the grant through Cuba Development Corp for a grant for necessary repairs to homes in the town.

Some of the requirements for this grant are:

• Property and School Taxes must be current
• Mortgage (if applicable) must be current
• Deed must be in applicants name and filed with the Allegany County Clerk’s Office in Belmont
• Land contract must be applicants name and filed with the Allegany County Clerk’s Office in Belmont
• Applicant cannot serve as an elected official or be an employee of the town
• Applicant cannot be an immediate family member of an elected official or an employee of the town
• Applications will not be taken until after we know if the funds are awarded to the town
• If and when funds are awarded a waiting list will be compiled

For the complete list please check with Jane Cardwell at the town hall.

Richard Kozlowski stated that he has been working with George Fillgrove of Senator Young’s office. Mr. Fillgrove stated he would help the town write the grants.

Mr. Kozowski also spoke about working on shared grants with other towns or the County to help get more services for the town.

Assembly Republican Leader JamesTedisco is sponsoring a bill to cap school taxes at the rate of 4% or the rate of inflation and is looking for sponsors from the town.

Motion was made to put on next month’s abstract the following payments: $500.00 to the Summer Youth Soccer and $300 to the Colonial Library and $200 for Kevin Hamilton for mowing Utopia Cemetery.

At the close of the meeting, Mr. Howard informed Jane that all money was to be deposited with 24 hours that no money should be kept in the office.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:18 p.m.

Town Budget as of 4/14/08

Superintendent\’s Report 4/14/08

tags: Budget Report, Minutes

• First child born was Benjamin Crabtree in 1813
• First marriage was that of Hyra Axtell and Lucy Crabtree in 1814
• First school was taught in the northern part of town by Sophia Hitchcock in 1820
• First inn was kept by Alvan Richardson in 1824
• First sawmill was also kept by Alvan Richardson in 1824
• First gristmill was built in 1825  by Alvan Richardson by the Little Genesee Creek near the Village of Richburg

tags: Firsts, History