Take a deep dive with us into some of
the lost history of this fascinating area
in Upstate New York, “The Cave
Country.”
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- JOHN GEBHARD JR.’s FUNERAL DRAWS LARGE, DISTINGUISED CROWD TO SCHOHARIE
The funeral of John Gebhard, Jr., at Schoharie Feb. 6, 1887, was one of the largest ever held in the county. The remains lay in state at the courthouse on Saturday and were viewed by hundreds. - RETURN TO VEENFLIET’S CAVE, SCHOHARIE
We return here to Schoharie’s Cave of the Tapir’s Tooth (see Nov. 1, 2023, post). This account offers numerous new details on the cave’s 1831 discovery, its rich history, and challenging exploration. We meet then-owner and namesake, Richard VeenFliet, and learn he once considered opening his cave along the banks of the Schoharie Creek to the public - FACT OR FICTION: LESTER HOWE’S ‘GARDEN OF EDEN’
The best and most often told tale-yarn-legend in northeastern caving circles is that of Lester Howe’s long-sought “Garden of Eden Cave” and the “Finger of Geology” that points to its location. - AN UNSUNG HERO OF THE HOWE CAVERNS TRAGEDY
Thursday, April 24, 1930, was a dark day in the long history of Howe Caverns, Inc. The cave’s chief electrician Owen Wallis and caverns’ corporation secretary John Sagendorf died in the cave under baffling circumstances. They collapsed in the early morning hours near the postcard-worthy formation, “The Bell of Moscow.” This is the story of one of the day’s unsung heroes. - FIVE DAYS & A CAVE TOUR – UNDER $17!
This website’s blog post, “Howe’s Cave & The Railroad,” (Sept. 2023 archive) offers readers a brief history of the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad, its… Read more: FIVE DAYS & A CAVE TOUR – UNDER $17! - IN 1898: THE HELDERBERG CEMENT CO. CHANGED HOWES CAVE FOREVER
When the two companies producing natural cement were combined to manufacture builders’ preferred Portland cement in 1898, it changed Howes Cave forever. - CAVE COUNTRY SHORTS
Huldah Gets Married; Roger Saves the Day, and The Orchestra Starts at 9 - THE FORGOTTEN QUARRY IN COBLESKILL’S BACKYARD
New research is proving the Rogers Quarry in Cobleskill to have been one of the largest among many during the 1890-1905 “stone boom.” It was also one of the shortest lived. - THE MYSTERIOUS END TO PROF. McFAIL
The 1854 death of Thomas A. McFail, a professor at the old Carlisle Seminary School remains a mystery. - 1928 WEDDING CHRISTENS NEW OWNERS’ NEW BRIDAL ALTAR
In early 1928, Howe Caverns’ contractor Roger Mallery and Margaret Provost, who’s family ran the Cave House boarding house, were the first to be married in the new ‘Bridal Altar’ in Howe Caverns. The cave was still being developed for the public at the time. - A CENTURY LATER, PROF. COOK’S ‘MYSTERY CAVER’ IS REVEALED
His 1905 photo taken in the wild of Howe’s Cave, has appeared in books, research papers, and postcards but only recently has his identity been uncovered. - FDR’s 1930 CAVE VISIT SPARKS LIFETIME MEMORY FOR YOUNG BOYTown of Esperance Historian Ken Jones shares a story from his files from the Dale Family, whose father, retired USMC Major Frederick H. Dale,… Read more: FDR’s 1930 CAVE VISIT SPARKS LIFETIME MEMORY FOR YOUNG BOY
- MORE MONEY, MORE PROBLEMS
Big contracts and a huge workforce meant plenty of challenges for the area’s largest stone quarry. - HOWE FAMILY COLLECTION GIVEN TO MUSEUM
Artifacts from the Howe Family collection are donated to Schoharie’s Old Stone Fort Museum for display.
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IF YOU ENJOY this site and would like to support our continuing efforts, please pick up a copy of The Cave Electrician’s Widow: The Tragedy at Howe Caverns & Dramatic Courtroom Fight for Justice; Underground Empires: Two Centuries of Exploration, Adventure and Enterprise in NY’s Cave County and/or Farming With Dynamite: The Forgotten Stone Boom in Schoharie County.
Thanks for the great response so far! We’ve posted stories from Jim Muller, a former HC tour guide, on his memories growing up in the Cave Country. and from Northeastern Caver Chuck Porter of Troy on “The Cave with the Tapir Tooth” in Schoharie. On deck for a future post is from Esperance Historian Ken Jones on the 1930 visit to HC by then-Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt to speak to the Farm Bureau, and from old friend Bob Addis on the legendary Garden of Eden Cave. Thanks to all.