How the widow of a Civil War general helped build B-29 bombers in WWII

In Events, Events - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

August 27, 2024

The B-29 bomber planes used in World War II. Contributed photo

RAVENA—On Sunday, Sept. 15, at 2 p.m., the Ravena Coeymans Historical Society will present its first program of the fall season.

Ron Gabriele will present a fascinating account of an 80-year-old widow of a Confederate Civil War general who helped build B-29 bombers during World War II.

A 1959 graduate of Coxsackie-Athens High School, Gabriele holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education from SUNY Brockport and a Master of Science in Guidance and Student Personnel Services from SUNY Albany.

For 10 years, he taught physical education and coached varsity sports in the Kingston City School District and then for many years served as director of athletics at Columbia-Greene Community College.

After enjoying a 38-year career in teaching and coaching at a high school and serving on the community college level, Gabriele is now sharing his love of history with audiences in the mid-Hudson Valley. He speaks on diverse topics, including Pearl Harbor, the history of dogs in warfare, western movies and the history of Old-Time Radio.

Ron Gabriele will discuss how the widow of a Civil War general helped build B-29 bombers in World War II. Contributed photo

Join in for this program about an unusual woman whose life was linked with two major historical events. The meeting is open to the public and held in the museum at 15 Mountain Road in Ravena.

Fright fest takes over Joralemon Park

In News, News - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

October 17, 2022

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

COEYMANS HOLLOW — Zombies, ghosts and ghouls took over Joralemon Park this weekend — and the community turned out by the hundreds.

Horror in the Hollow, hosted by the Coeymans Hollow Volunteer Fire Corporation, returned Saturday for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The annual fundraiser event, held around Halloween, was in its eighth year following the two-year hiatus. Visitors looking for a frightfully fun evening boarded a hayride for an eerie trip through the “haunted” woods.

Elisha Van Kampen, originally of Coeymans Hollow but now living in Berne, came to Horror in the Hollow for the first time, and brought some eager young guests with her.

“This is my first year. I am babysitting for a local family, so I brought them out for this,” Van Kampen said. “We are waiting anxiously to get on the hayride. The kids were very excited all day.”

In previous years, the hayride brought out more than a thousand visitors. There were also refreshments, themed music, a bounce house and plenty of fun to be had.

“The community loves this, they absolutely love it,” said event organizer Michelle Kapusta from the Coeymans Hollow Volunteer Fire Corporation. “Everyone is excited about it — there’s been nonstop talk ever since we announced we were doing it again. But we couldn’t do it without all the people who help — there are so many companies that donated.”

Eager hayriders await the start of their journey. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

This was the first year the fire company pre-sold tickets online, as well as on site, and Kapusta said it was a hit.

“It was a huge success so that is a definite moving forward,” Kapusta said.

Mark Patterson, of Selkirk, brought his two kids to the event, and they couldn’t wait to get on the hayride when it was their turn.

“This is their first time here,” Patterson said. “We are looking forward to the hayride. We were surprised it was so close to us. We didn’t know about it before this year. They are very excited.”

Billy Patterson, 7, and Lucy Patterson, 5, both said they were excited — and they weren’t scared a bit.

Kapusta said in a recent year Horror in the Hollow drew 1,100 visitors. This year organizers had already pre-sold 600 tickets online, and on the day of the event there was a long line of visitors waiting to buy tickets onsite as soon as things got underway.

None of it would be possible without assistance from other fire companies, businesses and volunteers, she added.

“[I feel] an enormous amount of gratitude to everyone that is helping,” Kapusta said. “It is truly a community event and I can’t thank everybody enough.”

All aboard the Horror in the Hollow Hayride. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

Judy Burton, chairwoman of the fire district’s board of commissioners, volunteered to help out at the event.

“It’s great to do things for our community — giving back and raising money at the same time,” Burton said. “It helps the firehouse and keeps taxpayer money down.”

Auxiliary president Mary Ann Dennis said the event is a favorite for many community members. While she helped sell raffle tickets, her husband, Jack Dennis, was busy spooking hayriders in the woods.

“My husband loves to haunt so he is in the woods haunting right now,” Dennis said. “It’s a great fundraiser for the company and everybody loves it.”

There were many donors and contributions, from services like the DJ to raffle baskets to refreshments. A complete list of donors was not available at press time and will be included in next week’s column penned by the Coeymans Hollow Volunteer Fire Corporation, but some donors and participants included several fire departments — among them New Baltimore, Coeymans, Ravena and Slingerlands — who helped with the haunting; Trinity United Methodist Church held a bake sale; music was provided by K2 Entertainment; and the Coeymans Comeback Team donated the donuts and cider.

The Albany County Sheriff’s Office had its K-9 unit onsite. Raffles were donated by Thiele Carting, Sandy Beck, Breezy Hill Stables, Eck’s Farm and Radley Enterprises.

Assistance and donations were also provided by Coeymans Police, the Albany County Fire Coordinator’s Office, Ravena Shop ‘N’ Save, Collins & Sons, Track 32, Trackside Pizza, Mueller’s Automotive, Brady’s K-9 Saviors, Thomas Marra Photography, Rob VanEtten, Lukens Horse Transportation, Coeymans Highway Department, Jumping Bean Party Rental, Modern Press and Farmer Jon’s Farm Market.

Any raffle tickets that did not sell Saturday will be sold at the firehouse, Kapusta said.

Here are more photos of this weekend’s Horror in the Hollow Hayride.

News from the Past in Memory of Harry A. Sturges

In Columns, Columns - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

June 16, 2023

News Herald – June 8, 1923 – F.E. Bleezarde, Publisher

Coeymans:

The Boy Scouts enjoyed an overnight hike to Matthews’ grove south of New Baltimore last Friday.
David Perry has bought the D.S. Morehouse house on South Main Street, recently occupied by Christopher Tracey.
The Ladies Aid Society of the M.E. church will hold one of their popular strawberry cake festivals in the chapel of the church next Friday evening, June 15. Plan to attend.
The Master Mason degree was conferred on one candidate at the regular communication of Onesquethau Lodge of Masons on Monday evening. The lodge closed for the summer vacation.
Mrs. S.H. Sherman, Mrs. Perry R. Shear and Mrs. Bertha VanValkenburgh are the committee in charge of the banquet to be given by the high school on Tuesday evening, June 26. The committee met on Monday and made preliminary arrangements.

Ravena:

Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Bailey are rejoicing over the arrival of a son born on Thursday last.
Charles Florant has had the exterior of his residence on Pulver Avenue improved by the application of a coat of paint.
The drought in this section was broken on Sunday on St. Swithin’s day and for about five days in succession. After a few more rainy days, there were 13 days without rain.
F.J. Webber has purchased the Ravena Meat Market of LeRoy Pemberton on Main Street. Mr. Webber has been on his farm this side of Medway for the last few years, having moved there from New York City, where he was for a number of years in the employ of one of the largest chain meat markets.
The Paul Bargain Store opened a branch in this village the latter part of last week. The store is in charge of James Paster and Julius Paul, both of Albany.
Annetta Montelone, the six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Montelone, passed away at her home on Sunday morning after a prolonged illness of heart disease. The members of the Garibaldi Society acted as escort to the remains from her home to St. Patrick’s Church.

Coeymans Herald – June 6, 1888 – S.H. & E.J. Sherman, Proprietors

Children’s Day, next Sabbath, will be observed morning and evening at the M.E. church with appropriate exercises.
Mr. Behler has purchased two building lots west of the toll gate of A.J. Wolfe and will build on them this summer.
A handsome American ensign, 22 x 14 feet, has been purchased for Grove Cemetery, to be used for Decoration Day occasions.
Coeymans will celebrate in grand style on July 4th. aBrass band, races, street parades, ball match, orations and many other things like that.
A baseball nine is being organized by the young men of our village and suitable grounds fitted up. An exciting season may be anticipated as the boys mean business.