Dear Group, Three years ago today I posted a message to the old Pennsylvania-Dutch list about Labor Day here in Youngstown, NY, and I thought it would be appropriate to post the same message to our list this evening. It follows below. But there is one thing that I have to tell you. I received a negative response today regarding last night's message about my sister and me. The person was very polite, not threatening and he/she sent it to me personally and not to the entire list. For that I give him/her credit for such restraint. However, the bottom line was that what I read in the message was "With all due respect, I can't believe this is any of our business on the list. Please send your private email PRIVATELY. While you may wish to share your private life with a number of others, I'd sincerely appreciate being left out of this." Because my physical and mental health is still rather frail right now due to my recent ordeal, I have decided not to respond to the message but instead just to unsubscribe to the list. Yes, I know that it was only one person who sent me such a message but then I don't know how many people have unsubscribed to the list because of my occasional "ramblings." I'm certain that most of you know that I have a wealth of information at hand regarding the genenealogy and history of Niagara County and I want to let you know that I'm still here at housman@adelphia.net. Please feel free to continue to send me queries on any subject regarding Niagara County, especially the Town of Porter. I know that I am probably reacting a bit irrationally right now but that's the way it is with me right now. It still remains that I'm taking each day, one day at a time. But after I send this message I will send an Unsubscribe message to the list. Therefore, I won't be monitoring any queries or questions to the list nor will I be sharing any of my memories of Niagara County with you. But just remember, I luvya all, vee OLD FASHIONED LABOR DAY August 27, 1997 I did a dumb thing last week. I subscribed to another mail list! It's the NY State History mail list. And for the past week I have been enjoying the many challenges of delving into the history of New York State and coming up with bits and pieces from my records and memories to share with the group. As a result, this evening I posted to the group a message having to do with our local celebration of Labor Day. All the while I was composing it, I was remembering a similar celebration I attended in Bainbridge, Conoy Township, Lancaster Co., in September of 1972. It was their Heritage Days grand celebration and there Audrey and I were with other members of her family lining the main street of tiny Bainbridge enjoying the same sort of parade that I described below. And as I asked the NY group, "What does it have to do with NY history?" I'll ask that of the PD group. And the answer remains the same. I guess you might call it a continuing "living history." Enjoy a good old fashioned Labor Day wherever you are! Labor Day weekend is fast approaching and I wanted to let you know that it still remains the most glorious weekend of the year in our small village of Youngstown, Niagara Co. Am I talking about the history of New York? You betcha! For about the past 75 years the Volunteer Fire Company of our village has had their Field Day on Labor Day. And, frankly, I don't know if it has changed all that much over the years. Hey, Jim Corsaro! When you lived in Niagara Falls, did you ever go to Field Day in Youngstown on Labor Day? Well, I grew up in Niagara Falls also, and I don't remember our family ever missing a one. What does it have to do with history? Well, I guess you might call it a continuing "Living history"--what was done over 75 years ago hasn't changed all that much. By this coming Sunday, all of the carnival-type rides and games of chance will have been put into place and then at noon on Monday, Labor Day, is when it all begins. That's when the parade starts. Oh, the magnificent Labor Day Parade down Main Street in Youngstown!! It seems that there is mile after mile of fire trucks from every small town, village and city in the entire Niagara County. It often makes me wonder what would happen if a fire broke out at noon on Labor Day--who's left tending the store? :-) Of course, the fire trucks don't just drive slowly by in the parade, the ears are deafened by their sirens and honking of horns. And if you like sounds, how about the many "kilty" bands--the Highlander bands in kilts from Buffalo, Canada and heaven knows where else. If you like bagpipes, you'd LOVE Labor Day! And there's always a high school band or two that will bring a tear to your eye (if you're as emotional as I) with their rendition of a Souza march. And a small town parade wouldn't be complete without the local politicians going through the crowd lined up along Main Street, shaking hands with anyone and everyone, hoping someone will remember them on election day! And what would a parade be without the little baton twirlers! Or the 40 & 8, or the homemade floats! And we always thrill at the reenactment group from local Fort Niagara in their 18th century uniforms and muskets. And we always laugh at the occasional clown on a tricycle! What do we do after the parade ends? Well, what do you think? We all gather at the park where the amusement rides are set up and line up for our annual bowl of chicken chowder. And (ahem!), there is also a never-ending line at the beer tent! As I say, things haven't really change in all these many, many years. And so, as our many posters remind everyone around here, "Save Labor Day for Youngstown!" And for those of you who are interested in history, step back in time to an event that has always been put on for the local population, without one thought for the tourists! :-)

> I received a negative response today regarding last night's message > about my sister and me. [snip] Let me state this very clearly (I'll be editing the list's welcome message so that it's understood up front): NYNIAGAR is about the family history and local history of Niagara County, New York. Personal reminiscences from folks who grew up in Niagara County -- especially from our older subscribers! -- _very much_ fall under "family and local history", and are _welcome_ here. (In fact, I'd been thinking about asking various contributors, Vee included, for permission to reprint reminiscences on the Niagara County NYGenWeb site, because I think they're so valuable. Excepting possibly the maiden name of that elusive ancestor's mom :), what could be more valuable to genealogists than others' memories of our area of interest?) > Because my physical and mental health is still rather frail right > now due to my recent ordeal, I have decided not to respond to the > message but instead just to unsubscribe to the list. Yes, I know that > it was only one person who sent me such a message but then I don't > know how many people have unsubscribed to the list because of my > occasional "ramblings." Very few, I hope, but if others have considered unsubbing because of reminiscence postings -- may I suggest you use your "delete" keys for messages not of interest? (Or, if you'd rather read only queries, you might prefer the GenConnect query boards for Niagara County.) I'm heartsick that we've lost a treasured contributor to this list. I've reiterated to Vee that her health is the most important thing for her to concentrate on right now, but that I'd gladly welcome her rejoining us whenever she feels better. I know I speak for many others when I say that the list will miss her terribly. :( Ellen Seebacher (NYNIAGAR list manager)