Wow, this Jayville place has quite an interesting past. Thanks to the New York Times for having the smarts to open up their archive to the Internet world for free instead of charging for it (which I would have never paid for), I was able to browse some old stories about Jayville, New York.
- July 7, 1888 - “It may interest many hundreds of people who seek rest and recreation in the great forest preserve of New-York State to know that here, on the western slope of the Adirondacks, a new and favorite route to the desired haven is about to be opened…” Read more about Jayville “opening up”
- July 19, 1888 - “The unusually dry weather that has prevailed throughout Northern New-York for the past six weeks besides ruining the hay crop has resulted in a large loss to farmers and others by fire…” Read more about a devastating fire in the area around Jayville
- July 31, 1895 - “Jayville, a village on the fringe of the Adirondack forest, above Carthage, has been the scene of the punishment of a woman, in a manner which has outraged decency…” Read more about a Jayville woman who was tarred and feathered for eloping
So why were some 200 people in Jayville in the first place? Apparently they were there for vonsenite.
I find it fascinating that just 12 days after the New York Times published its piece on Jayville opening up to the public, a devastating fire crippled Jayville. The only time it would talk about Jayville again was to discuss a woman who was tarred and feathered just for eloping. Sounds like the New York Times cursed Jayville…
