WOODHULL
Steuben County
New
York
NEWSPAPER TIDBITS
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WOODHULL |
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NEWSPAPER TIDBITS | ||
A WILD MAN. A Hideous Monster Roaming About in the Neighborhood of Woodhull and Troupsburg, A correspondent of a Hornellsville paper tells the following veracious story: For the very strange story I am about to relate I scarcely expect, nor do I solicit, belief. Indeed, were it not that hundreds of reliable men and women in the “During the four weeks last past a wild man has been prowling around the woods in the towns of Woodhull and Troupsburg, in the southern part of this county, coming frequently into the highways and cleared fields, to the intense terror of women and children, and even strong men. So great is the excitement in some parts of the towns mentioned, that schools have been broken up – parents not daring to send their little ones along the public highways to the schoolhouses. At first the whole thing was considered by most people as a hoax, intended merely to frighten old women and children; but as many of the most prominent citizens vouched for the actual existence of the wild man, and the disturbance of the schools was making it a matter of public importance, the people of Woodhull and Troupsburg determined to do all in their power to ferret the matter out. “Accordingly, on the 12th inst., about two hundred men assembled at the residence of Mr. S. G. Brown, and proceeded to search the woods in that immediate locality. Under the leadership of Captain J. J. Buchanan and the writer of this article, crowds searched the woods for hours, but with no success further than the finding of a campfire and the track of a barefooted man imprinted in the soil of a marshy part of the forest; and the whole party, at about three o’clock P. M., returned to Mr. Brown’s house, and, getting ready their teams, started back for Woodhull village. The party had proceeded scarcely fifty rods from Mr. Brown’s, when, on the outskirts of the woods, and within twenty rods of the band of searchers, appeared the veritable wild man of the woods! “Myself, Capt. Buchanan, and the others, immediately started in full pursuit. We approached within six or eight rods of this strange being without attracting his notice, when suddenly, with a wild, unearthly shriek, he notified us that we were perceived. I drew my rifle, intending to halt him or send a bullet crashing through his skull. I ordered him to halt, when he sprang, with the agility of a deer, toward the woods. I did not fire, because on second thought I doubted my right to take the life of any human being, however wild, until he had at least violated some law. “So far I have related facts, which will be vouched for by at lease one hundred persons. I will now give you a perfect description of this wild man – or animal – or ‘What is It’ – as he, she, or it appeared to me. He was barefooted, bareheaded, and wore no clothing except an old pair of soldiers’ pants; his hair, which was black, sprinkled with grey, was from two to three feet long, frizzly, and natted, hanging over his neck, face, shoulders and back, reaching half way to the ground; his beard reached to the waistband of his pants, and was jet black; this, together with a springing, jerking huch in his gait, gave him more the appearance of a wild animal than a human being. And, though I am not of a nervous temperament, may all the saints in heaven shield and defend me from ever meeting such a fiendish looking being face to face again! The long, matted hair; the thick, black and uncombed beard; the wild, glaring, bloodshot eyeballs, which seemed bursting from their sockets; the savage, haggard, unearthly countenance; the wild, beastly appearance of this thing, whether man or animal, has haunted me continually by day and night; and I do not wonder that when this strange being rapped on the school-house windows, children were frightened half out of their senses and refused to be pacified; for, although I have seen the faces of fifty different tribes of Rocky Mountain Indians, painted for the war-path, and have looked with wonder on the stuffed gorilla, Barnum’s ‘What is it,’ the man monkey &c., I have never beheld any thing in the human one half as hideous as the wild man of Woodhull woods. “I will close by saying that 25 years ago, a man named Wm. Little suddenly disappeared from Woodhull, and has never been heard of since; and as the farm on which the wild man spends most of his time was formerly owned by the absentee, it is supposed, by some that the wild man is none other than Wm. Little himself, returned in this disguise to the home of his youth. But I hardly think this theory the true one. I do believe, however, that a woman and baby are somewhat mixed up in the matter.” Cinncinnati Daily Enquirer ( |
1923
| 21 YEARS AGO IN
CANISTEO (Reprinted from The Canisteo Times of Wed., Feb. 14, 1923.) WOODHULL: A. DeMun has sold his house and lot in Jasper street to John Covert. Elmer Symonds of Troupsburg have bought the house vacated by the Coverts, from George Hotaling. Mrs. Terry, 90, died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Holt Smith where she resided. She came here from Prattsburg about 2 years ago. Frank Champlain, 50, died Friday night. He spent most of his life in Westfield, Penna. A wife and 2 sisters survive. Chas. F. Smith, 67, a lifelong resident of this place died at the home of his daughter Mrs. Charles Groves, Jr., from gangrene of the foot. He leaves a son Melvin Smith of this place; 2 daughters: Mrs. Groves and Mrs. Julia Haughey of Corning. Canisteo Times (Canisteo, NY) 1944. |
1925
| WOODHULL Myers Family Reunion The Myers family held a gathering at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Gardiner last week. Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Fred Myers and Eva O'Neil of Boston, Mass., Mr. and Mrs. Harry Myers and two children, Mrs. Rose Myers, Mrs. Dora Hepworth and Miss Dorothy Hepworth and Mrs. Lillian Strait of Hornell; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Myers, Mrs. Kenneth Symonds, Mr. and Mrs. John Gardner and daughter Doris of this place. Canisteo Times (Canisteo, NY) July 15, 1925. |
1955
| SENIOR
PLAY WOODHULL, N.Y., Nov. 22 - The senior play, The Antics of Andrew, was presented Friday and Saturday nights at the high school. The play was hilarious and enjoyed by the people who crowded the gym both nights. The play was most ably directed by Mrs. Betty Henry. Included in the cast were Lois Symonds, Bob McDonald, Gary Warner, Frank Symonds, Pat Calkins, Kay Symonds, Jackie Duke, Jean Colvin, Henry Taft, Roy Colvin, Carolyn Hotaling, Darland Peters, Duane Watkins, Bill Card and Dan Brewer. BASKETEERS HELPFUL With some size and experience, Coach Bauman's basketball squad, competing against senior play rehearsals, is hopeful of pulling a few upsets during the season. Last year's holdovers of Peters, Oakley, MacDonald, Symonds and Card will get plenty of help from players who lacked experience last year. In an effort to cut down midweek games, the schedule calls for 12 games, opening with Campbell Central at Campbell on Dec. 9. HOME DEMONSTRATORS MET The evening group of the Home Demonstration Dept of the Steuben County Extension Service met at the town hall Wednesday night. Mrs. Catherine Peters of the day group gave a lesson on Easy Entertaining. The next meeting will be held in the evening of Dec. 7, when Katheryn Andrews will present the lesson on Table Decorations. A Christmas party will be held. CO. EXTENSION MEETING Fay Hargrave and Mr. and Mrs. LaRue Symonds were in Bath Thursday night for the Steuben County Extension Service Association Agriculture Dept. meeting. Mr. Hargrave was elected a member of the executive committee. COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES Donald Brotzman has been elected Student Council representative to the Agriculture Society of Cornell University and Domonecon. He is a sophmore in the Vocational Agriculture course active in 4-H work and the Cornell Ag Teachers Association. LEGION MEETING County Comm. Bernard Brown, Fay Hargrave, Fred Marts, Lawrence Miller and Donald VanOrsdale attended the Steuben County Legion meeting in Prattsburg. HONORED ON BIRTHDAY Mrs. S. B. Lewis was honored on her birthday Sunday when guests were Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Hotaling, Mrs. Cassie Pierson of Bath, Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Loper of Jasper, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Loper and Mary Esther of this place. LODGE TO SPONSOR SHOW The Rebekah Lodge will sponsor the Doc William Show Thursday, Dec. 1, at the high school. ATTENDED TEA Mrs. Mildred Brotzman was in Hornell Friday to attend a tea held in Irving School for the newly elected president, Esther Wygant, and secretary, Helen Hogan, of the Central Western Zone NYS Teachers Association. The affair was sponsored by the PTA and faculty. LIFE MEMBERSHIPS Woodhull Chapter, OES, met Saturday evening with the worthy matron, Pauline Cilley, presiding. Life memberships were given to Minnie Husted who has been a member for 41 years; to Mabel Brown, a member for 40 years; and to Winifred Moore, a member for 39 years. Announcement was made that Mrs. Bessie Symonds and Mrs. Pearl Allen will entertain the Past Matrons Club at the Allen home on Dec. 10. Members were reminded of a card party at the Hassoldt home on South St., in Addison, on Wednesday evening, Nov. 30. Those desiring transportation are to meet at the Ferris Drug Store at 7:45. At the next meeting those who have birthdays in October, November and December will be honored. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hubbard of Savona Chapter were present and special guests were members of the Masonic Lodge of Woodhull. A program was presented. Before the meeting supper was served by the losing side of the attendance contest, captained by Thyrza Ferris. TO RETURN TO STATES Pvt. Philip Morton, who has been stationed in Germany for the past several months, embarks Tuesday, Nov. 23, for the US. He is scheduled to arrive Dec. 5 and will be...... Canisteo Times (Canisteo, NY) November 24, 1955, page 5, col.5. |