May Slagle – One of Our Past Treasures

October 16, 2008 at 4:33 pm (May Memorial Marvelous History Column)

I just love it when an article sort of writes itself. On September 12 Janet and I were election inspectors for the primary. Where I was assigned, one of my fellow inspectors was an 81 year old man by the name of Walt Slagle. I thought nothing of the name, but during our nine hours together I mentioned my involvement with May Memorial. He then proceeded to tell me that he used to attend May Memorial at the former James Street church. He taught Sunday School as soon as he was old enough and he fondly remembers riding in 1941 with a carload of May Memorial boys driven by Reginald Manwell (Hank’s dad) to a Rowe, Vermont, Unitarian church for a youth conference. He remembers most fondly Rev. Robert Romig (our minister from 1941 to 1946) who he said was a wonderful man.

But here is where the fun began. I knew I should know that name. Then he told me that his Mom was May Slagle and it all “clicked.” I remember her name from pouring over old documents, but some who read this newsletter will remember May as a long time and indispensable office manager of May Memorial. As noted in May No One Be A Stranger (p. 45) “in the minds of many church school children who heard their parents mention May Slagle, she, not the minister from 100 years ago, was the source of the church name.”

May was one of the most active of all our volunteers in the school lunch program the church sponsored and ran during WWII. She edited the church newsletter for many years, too. She retired in 1974 and died in May (what other month could it be) of 1978 at the age of 85. Walt remembers that Nick Cardell did a beautiful memorial service for his Mom.

Incidentally, his brother Eugene went to our church and his Dad ran a woodworking center for youth in the James Street basement. His aunt, May’s sister, Helen McKnight, was an active church member and served as church historian for several years (thanks, Helen). So this article is dedicated not only to May Slagle, but to all the wonderful people who have served as office manager, treasurer, sextant, custodian, and many other important staff positions during our 168 year history down to people such as Karen and Leslie today. This church could not have happened without you. We send a big thanks and salute back through the ages.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist (written September 17, 2006)

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Samuel Joseph May – In Memoriam

October 15, 2008 at 2:19 pm (May Memorial Marvelous History Column, Samuel Joseph May)

On September 12 we celebrate the 209th anniversary of Sam May’s birth. Not necessarily a special occasion, but nearing his birth date prompted me to read through an inspirational little book, In Memoriam. Samuel Joseph May. This book was published in 1871 a few months after Rev. May’s death, July 1, 1871. A committee consisting of Rev. Samuel Caltrop and several church members and friends (Mr. C. D. B. Mills, Mr. D. P. Phelps, Mr. H. N. White, Mrs. Mary E. Bagg, and Mrs. Rebecca J. Burt) prepared and published this testimony to the life of Sam May.

Just reading about the July 6 funeral service brings both tears to the eyes as well as renewed awe regarding the many lives that Sam touched. Several people participated in the service, some traveling long distances to do so. This from the address of Mr. William Lloyd Garrison, publisher of the very respected anti-slavery newspaper, the Liberator, sums up well the sentiment expressed in many ways that day: “I have lost a most affectionate and unswerving friend, an early and untiring co-worker in the broad field of freedom and humanity, a brother beloved incomparably beyond all blood relationship. Syracuse has lost one of its most useful and esteemed citizens; the nation one of the worthiest of its sons; the world one of the purest, most philanthropic, most divinely actuated of all its multitudinous population.”

Happy birthday, Sam, and thanks for gracing our church and our community with your devoted service.

One of Rev. May’s least touted contributions, but, perhaps, one of his most important, was his untiring championing of better education for the youth of our community and our country. Historian Catherine Covert wrote a well researched and delightful Master’s thesis on her way to a PhD in History and distinguished teaching career at SU: Saint Before His Time: Samuel J. May and American Educational Reform. Thanks to the able assistance of Irene Blakeslee in converting a photocopy of this 1964 document to a digital format and the permission of Catherine’s daughter, this wonderful document is now on the Sam May web page along with two other of Dr. Covert’s pieces related to Sam May (http://www.mmuus.org/ who-we-are/history/sjmay.html). They are highly recommended reading for anyone interested in education.

Finally, put the afternoon of October 1, 2006, on your calendar as we rededicate the Sam May Memorial Marble Tablet that hung on the wall of our former James Street church. More details will follow later.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist (written August 29, 2006)

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An Evening with Dickens

October 13, 2008 at 1:55 pm (May Memorial Marvelous History Column)

History Committee members have been involved in various preservation activities this summer. For example, George Adams is inventorying our many files, folders, and boxes; Harsey Leonard is retrieving images from slides and other media. Mary Louise Edwards and I are removing acid from old papers and preparing material to be stored at Syracuse University. It is hard work at times, but most enjoyable, and we keep learning more about our wonderful history.

I can’t resist sharing one of the items Harsey retrieved from an old microfilm. Someone photographed old scrapbooks years ago and many delightful items have come alive. Let me take you back to yesteryear, near the birth of our beloved church. The year is 1862 and this delightful piece showed up in the local newspaper:

The Ladies of the UNITARIAN SOCIETY, will repeat their entertainment “An Evening with Dickens,” In Wieting Hall On Monday Evening, Feb. 3, 1862

PROGRAMME:

  1. Tableau – The Soldiers Dream.
  2. Pantomime Ballad – Mistletoe Bough.
  3. From Dombey & Son – [and it goes on from there for 13 acts]

Admission 25 cents – Children 15 cents

Can’t you just picture people from throughout Syracuse coming out to watch the Unitarian ladies and their entertainment activities? What a city where Unitarians could entertain people of varying faiths with material from Dickens. It must have been something!

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist (written August 9, 2006)

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Harm and Sena Hiemstra

October 13, 2008 at 1:41 pm (Hiemstra Genealogy Information)

Sena (Gezina) Oosterheert was born on November 2, 1889, in Garsthuizen. She emigrated to Grand Rapids in 1904. She married Harm Hiemstra in Grand Rapids on the 28th of July in 1910. Some remembered her as having been born in Stedum, but it was probably in Garsthuizen. Some remembered that she preferred the name Gezien, but most settle on the Gezina version, which became Sena as she grew into an adult. She is remembered as a warm, bubbly person who loved to cook, who worked very hard, and who contended with spittoons, many children, and many, many grandchildren. She baked delicious pies, had a secret desire all her adult life to drive a car, and loved to listen to music. Sena died on January 18, 1964, in Plainwell, Michigan.

Harm Hiemstra was born on January 29, 1884, in Opende. He was the son of Willem Kornelis Hiemstra and Tjitske (Jessie) deJong. He was a dairy farmer most of his adult life. He is remembered as a short, wirery man who loved to wrestle his children and grandchildren (usually winning), and who could play the accordian beautifully by ear. He was a tobacco chewer, with the proverbial spittoon always behind his favorite chair. He was also known for that short, narrow fork with which he always ate each meal, even bringing it with him when he visited family members. He loved to laugh and play with his grandchildren whenever possible, often having one or more stay for a few nights with them on the farm. Harm died on December 19, 1957, in Wayland, Michigan.

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Sam May – Anti-slavery Leader

October 12, 2008 at 8:30 pm (May Memorial Marvelous History Column, Samuel Joseph May)

As most who read this newsletter know by now, the marble tablet honoring Sam May that was in the James Street church, once thought lost, was found. It will be repaired, hung on the southwest outside wall of the church, and dedicated on October 1. An exciting and meaningful time for us, so I’m ruminating just a bit more on our beloved Rev. May.

In many ways, Sam was always ahead of his time. He helped found the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833. Hear the power, poignancy, and even irony in his words when he spoke on May 8, 1834, at the 1st anniversary meeting of that Society in NYC: “By the laws which sustain slavery, millions of human beings are held as chattels. Yes . . . they are driven along the streets of Washington, with less liberty than cattle, in the sight of that proud capital, where the national flag is flying, and where so many fine things are said in the favor of liberty.” He spoke with such fervor for years throughout the Northeast and was mobbed five times for the voice he refused to quiet. No wonder he brought that fire here and eventually was front and center in the “Jerry Rescue” saga. As our own Rev. John Fuller said in a 1966 sermon about Dr. May and the Jerry rescue, “He was a man on fire for the freedom of all men, on fire for righteousness, on fire especially for his poor brothers in slavery.”

He was ahead of his times in so many other ways, too. He took a firm and vocal stance against the death penalty, but did you know that in 1826 at age 29 he founded one of the earliest Peace Societies in the U.S., the Windham County (Connecticut) Peace Society. When he was President of the Syracuse Board of Education he abolished corporal punishment. Peace, forgiveness, and do no harm obviously were part of his lifelong motto. One can go on and on about our Sam May, so once that marble tablet is in place, walk by occasionally and thank him for being who he was.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist (written June 26, 2006)

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Harmen Reinders Geertz (Zwolle) Swole -Into the Water We Go!

October 12, 2008 at 8:20 pm (Hiemstra Genealogy Information)

Harmen Reinders Geerts (Zwol) (Zwolle) Swolle, the great great grandfather of Willem Kornelius Hiemstra through his mother’s side, was born around 1740 in Suidveen, a small village near the town of Steenwijk in Overrijssel. He was married to Harmtje Willems. In the years between 1764 and 1769 he moved to Rotsterhaule. In 1769 he was listed as an owner of a peat bog and also as shop owner. Although Harmen had moved from Steenwijk, he remained friendly with people there, so it is known in 1769 that he borrowed 1100 carolus guilders from Harmen Deddes, who lived in Steenwijkerwold, a village near Steenwijk.

Zwolle, Swol, Swolle, and then Zwolstra, are the names used by Harmen descendants. It is likely that Harmen and his ancestors came from the town Zwolle, the capital of the province, Overijssel. He or his ancestors moved to Suidveen and Harmen moved as a peat owner from Suidveen to Rotsterhaule, because in the area of Rotsterhaule and the Tijnje there was many peat bog areas. If they dug away the peat bog, there remained no dry land, such as in the peat moor areas of Witveen, Surhuisterveen, and Zevenhuizen, because the water table was above the bottom of the peat bog. Thus, when people worked in the peat bog they were always standing in water.

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