Clyde Lawrence Ball

Generation No. 1

1.  Clyde Lawrence⁹ Ball  (Charles Eugene⁸, Robert⁷, John Peter⁶, John Hendrick⁵, Johan Peter⁴, Johannes³ Bahl, Johan Valentin², Hans¹) was born May 14, 1888 in Altamont, New York, and died March 10, 1991 in Berne, New York.  He married Alta Mae Sholtes June 1, 1911 in Knox, New York, daughter of Stanton Sholtes and Ida Gibbs.  She was born May 12, 1891 in Knox, New York, and died September 25, 1996 in Berne (Albany County), New York.

Notes for Clyde Lawrence Ball:

TAKEN FROM:

THE CAPITAL REGION OF NEW YORK STATE

CROSSROADS OF EMPIRE

by:  Francis P. Kimball

Volume III

Publishers:  Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc.

New York

CLYDE L. BALL  -  Dividing his activities between his responsibilities as a teacher in the Berne public schools and the operation of the old family farm in this town, Clyde L. Ball has been successful in both phases of his career.  He had been a leading figure in the life of Berne, with a long record of civic service.

Mr. Ball was born at Knox, Albany County, on May 14, 1888, son of Charles Eugene and Minnie B. (Onderdonk) Ball.  His father, a farmer, was born at Berne on January 11, 1856.  His mother was born near Saratoga on February 16, 1862.  Educated in the public schools of Knox and at Altamont HIgh School, Clyde L. Ball later took special courses at Middleburgh High School, the New York State Teachers' College and Syracuse University.  Meanwhile, after completing his high school course in 1907, he was appointed teacher in the district school of the town of Berne and while serving in this capacity, assisted his father, Charles E. Ball, on the old homestead in the town of Berne.  This farm, consisting of ninety-nine acres, has been in the family for over 125 years.  Mr. Ball lived on the farm from 1907 to 1911.  From 1911 to 1920, he made his home in the village of Berne, but in the latter year, he took over the full management of the family farm and has resided there ever since.  He has continued as a teacher in the town of Berne since his first appointment to the district school in 1907, and in point of service, is one of the senior teachers of this district.

Mr. Ball is a member of the National Education Association and the State Teachers' Association.  In addition to his professional connections and farming interests, he has been active in civic affairs and influential in Republican politics.  For four years, from 10916 to 1920, he was town clerk of the town of Berne, and for twelve years, from 1925 to 1937, he was a justice of the peace in this district.  He is affiliated fraternally with Berne Lodge, No. 684, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is Past Master and for fifteen years has been trustee.  He is also affiliated with the Knights of Maccabees, in which he has been Record Keeper for twenty-one years and has the rank of Past Commander.  Mr. Ball has made a hobby of his farming and collecting coins.  He is a Lutheran in religious faith and for more than twenty years has served as secretary and treasurer of St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Berne.  He is also a past deacon of his church.

On June 1, 1911 at Knox, he married Alta M. Sholtes, who was born at Knox on May 12, 1891, daughter of Stanton Sholtes, also born at Knox, and Ida (Gibbs) Sholtes, born in the town of Wright.  Mr. and Mrs. Ball are the parents of two daughters:  1.  Alberta, born at Berne on January 6, 1913, who married Raymond Wright of Berne and has three children:  twin daughters, Jean and Janet, born on February 7, 1939, and Ruth Elaine, born May 1, 1937.  2.  Gertrude M., born at Berne on October 13, 1916, wife of Rev. Franklin Dietz, at present residing in Prattsville.

TAKEN FROM:

THE ALTAMONT ENTERPRISE

Number 28

Friday, February 1, 1980

Written by:  Carol DuBrin

BERNE'S CLYDE L. BALL:  "I CAN SEE 90 YEARS"

With a little sketched map of where I was going, I drove up the hill from Altamont, around the sharp turns in Berne, out of that hamlet to Switzkill Road and left out along that to three residences clustered on a little knoll around a bend in the road.

There live the Clyde Balls on land that has been in his family since the turn of the century.  On each side live their daughters with their families.  What a wonderful way to live the "golden years", with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren near at hand!

I went out there to visit a man much respected and admired -- "a lovely man," as my husband said, who has served his community and his church well over the long years -- a family man, a good friend, a helpful businessman, an excellent teacher.

Sitting in his favorite rocker, his charming wife knitting nearby, we reminisced over the experiences of a lifetime.  "I can see 90 years," he mused as we chatted, joined briefly by both daughters.  With their help we wove a life-pattern of love and service, filling it out with the little incidents that somehow stick in our minds and color the whole.

To begin with, the Balls were rural Altamont folks living on a farm on the hill above the village where the Altamont Reservoirs collect village water.  That was back in 1888.  Doc Barton drove his rig up the hill on May 14 to deliver the first of the two Ball children.  Two years earlier, the young couple had rented this farm on shares from the owner, a certain Mr. Schoonmaker.  They worked hard and the farm prospered as little Clyde grew.

A stream came down the hill past the farm.  As a five year old, Clyde remembers going out in the field to pick golden dandelions for his mother.  They looked bigger and yellower on the other side of the creek.  And so the lad carefully picked his way on stepping stones, leaping to one large rock and then to the further shore.

He gathered a great bunch of the bright flowers and headed for home, jumping to the big rock, then down to the step-stones -- but he missed and fell into the deep, rushing water.  He could not swim or gain a foothold against the current.

A passerby saw him struggling and reached out, hauling him safely to shore as his flowers floated on down the creek!  Which was worse -- the loss of his pretty dandelions or the cold wet clothes sticking to him and weighing him down as he hurried back to the house?

It was long about that time that Altamont decided it needed a village water supply.  After much study it was decided that part of the Schoonmaker - Ball farm was the ideal spot.  And so the first reservoir was laid out and dug, to be fed by that same stream little Clyde had fallen into.

The field had been pasture land for the Ball horses.  They had not yet been removed the day the retention dam was closed.  It started to rain.  It not only rained, it poured -- and the family had to rush out into the storm to drive the horses to safety beyond the waters reach.  The reservoir filled in that one day.

Living near all that water, the hired man figured young Clyde should surely know how to swim.  So he decided on a no-nonsense approach.  He went with the lad to the reservoir, picked him up and threw him in!  Two years older than when he had fallen in the creek, Clyde faced with the choice of sink or swim, swam.  And he soon learned to enjoy it.

The reservoir became his summer recreation spot!  It also offered great bullhead fishing.  Clyde remembers that first fish he caught -- it got him with one of its' spines and the sore burned mightily, giving the youngster a healthy respect for the fishes defense mechanism.

Apparently, the reservoir provided just the right growing conditions for the bullheads as Clyde recalls the day the dam was opened and the water drained for cleaning.  All the area farmers came with grain sacks and left with them full of the wriggling, flapping fish they had scooped up.

It was when Clyde was seven that his sister Hazel was born.  That completed the small family circle.  Hazel was a baby but Clyde attended school -- District School No. 4 (still standing but altered with additions).  It is the yellow house above the George Walk farm on Route 158.

He can remember part of one year when he was the only student (and the school was scheduled to include grades 1 through 8).  Clyde used a shortcut through the fields to school.  His father insisted anyone could follow his train as it was paved with the lead pencils the lad lost as he skipped along!

Much of the farm is now under water.  With great frugality the family had saved a bit of money and they decided to buy a farm of their own out beyond Berne where some of the family already lived.  The new farm had 100 acres and a house on the road -- the cost, $1,450.  The year was 1899.

Still, crops had to be harvested at the Altamont farm and much work done to arrange for the moving, so it was set for the following spring.  On the other hand, when the move was made, they would want to be able to get the seed crops planted right away.

To manage this, the father and the hired man went early one morning over the hills to the new farm to plow and prepare the land.

One day, young Clyde was sent by his mother to take the men their mid-day meal.  Along with the packed dinner was a bucket of good thirst-quenching milk from their own cows.  To make the trip, Clyde harnessed up the family's small two-wheel cart and set out letting the horse go at a good pace.  The little cart bumped and swayed, jiggled and bounced along behind the frisky horse.

They made the trip in good time for the men's lunch.  The food arrived in fine shape but the trip had been too much for the milk -- it had turned to a fat lump of butter!  All the liquid had slopped out as the cream churned itself on the bumpy road!

The spring of 1900 saw the young family move to their new home.  Clyde and a friend, Frank Witter, were given the job of driving the livestock, six or seven cows and about 30 sheep, from one farm to the other.

They started right after an early breakfast, following the roads, the two lads herding their flock along.  At mid-day, they wer still some distance from Berne.  By mid afternoon, they reached the little community.

At that time, there were sidewalks through the village.  And the sheep chose to follow (better than the gardens) as the boys pushed on, past the houses, the stores, around the bend, out of the community and on to the farm where they arrived about 4 p.m.

Clyde's aunt lived in the house on the knoll where he now resides and she had the boys in for dinner -- ham and eggs.  "Boy did that taste good!"

New home, new school, and this one was just down the road apiece.  His new teacher was Myron Shaver, and a good one he was.  Clyde liked him immensely but the teacher that followed was not so dedicated, so Clyde elected to walk the several miles back into Berne to go to school.  There he met Alta Sholtes, his future wife.  Her home was where "His" Farm Fellowship is now located and it was just down the road from the school.  Still if it was a cold or stormy day, she would get her horse and ride quickly across the field, dismount at the school door and send the horse running back to his barn again, Mrs. Ball recalls.  (She has been busily knitting on a sweater for a great granddaughter all the time we were conversing).

Way back there in the country , sister Hazel became very ill and developed deadly pleurisy.  A specialist, a Dr. Etting from Albany, was informed of her serious condition.  The doctor packed his black bag (all doctors had them then), caught a train to Altamont, hired a horse and carriage at the village livery stable, and drove up the mountain to Berne, out the Switzkill Road to the farm, and there, operated to drain the fluids which were flooding Hazel's lungs.  She recovered beautifully.

In our recollections we now reached the high school years.  There was no high school up on the mountain.  The nearest was the Altamont High School on Grand St. in that village.  In order to attend, Clyde had to board in the community.  He lived with the Gene Sturgess family during the week and only made the long trip home on the weekends.

The two years he attended high school, he made a bit of money working for Dr. Barton, the same doctor who delivered him and his sister in the Altamont hill farmhouse.  He remembers caring for the doctor's horse -- a big white that he washed down daily.  Summers, Clyde worked on the farm.

In 1907, the one-room school above his family's farm needed a school teacher and 19 year old Clyde got the job.  He has saved that first teaching contract (and all subsequent ones) and it shows that he received$280 for that year of teaching.  He was paid in three installments -- a third in the fall when money came in from the school taxes, a third in January when "public money" became available, and the last third in June as they finished the school year.

He had grades one through eight, taught all the subjects and did his own janitor work!  That was the beginning of 23 years of teaching in one-room schools.

Summers, Clyde went to Middleburgh to school himself, to upgrade his own education.  He also clerked in a store (at 15 cents an hour).  Later, he sold insurance and, because he was so good with figures, assisted people with their income taxes.  Mathematics were his joy.

"We were going together when he started teaching school in Berne," Mrs. Ball recalls.  "One winter day we were in a crowd of young people all going to a party up on West Mountain at the top of Sickle Hill.  A storm developed and it snowed so hard there was no way we could get home that night.  The whole party stayed at an aunts house.  She had 21 of us for a pancake breakfast the next morning!"

"Of course there were no telephones to let our families know," Clyde added.  "Later we had three phone companies here in Berne alone: the West Berne Telephone Co., the Jerome Burst Telephone Co., and New York Tel.  And we could use them for 10 cents a call."

"We came back home after breakfast. We couldn't see the roads and the horse got off in drifts so high he was up to his neck and he had to fight his way out."

In 1911, Clyde and his Alta were married.  They rented a big two room apartment (one up, one down, privy attached in the rear) in Berne for $5 a month.  There was no electricity or running water.  They carried that by the pailful from the well outside.

Here, their first daughter was born.  They moved to bigger quarters, a home owned by the Wood family.  There, their second daughter was born.  They would tease her by saying, "Oh, you were just born in the woodhouse!"

While Clyde taught that one room school, his sister Hazel attended there -- also her future husband.  then his own children grew and he had daughters Gertrude and Alberta in his classes!

When they came to school they never addressed their father as such -- always "Mr. Ball" or "Teacher".  It must have been hard to remember!

"Dad was a good teacher," they recall.  And, in fact, he inspired Alberta to go on and become a teacher herself -- as his mother had been and her father before her.

A family treasure is grandfather Onderdonk's old school bell.  First used in 1860, the bell has been engraved with the names of the family teachers:  Charles L. Onderdonk, Minnie Onderdonk (Clyde's mother), Clyde L. Ball, Alberta Ball Wright, Ruth Wright DeWitt, and Jean M. Wright.  The last two are Clyde and Alta's granddaughters.

Usually the bell sits in a place of honor at the Berne Historical Society.  Right now, it has been borrowed back so that a great granddaughter with a broken leg in a cast can use it to ring for help!

A desk from the old Berne one-room school sits on the Balls' back porch, lacy ironwork supporting a double seat.  The outhouse from the school is up in the field behind their house.

I've seen a number of these little buildings converted to the modern day use of shelters for kids waiting for their school bus at the end of long rural driveways.  I wanted to put one we had to such use but my city-bred husband was appalled at the thought.  So on windy below-zero days, I would drive the girls down our long lane to the road and wait for the school bus with them.  No way could we see the road and watch for a coming bus from the house.

Clyde remembers that school discipline in those days went on the assumption that to "spare the rod would spoil the child."  He says that wouldn't work now.

Then, it was expected and it ususally did the trick -- and without the child ending up hating the teacher, either.  Clyde was so popular with one of his little students that when he changed schools she went to live with her grandmother  just so she could still "go to school" to him!

From 1916 to 1920, Clyde served as Berne town clerk.  Later he was justice of the peace.  In that role, he had one exciting incident when a lawbreaker threatened to kill the police, the judge, and others he was angry with.

During the first World War, Clyde had a third responsibility, as a member of the local draft board.  In the second World War, he served on the ration board.

Clyde taught almost continuously from 1907 to 1947.  In 1930, he had been asked to teach in the Berne-Knox High School.  Of all the former one-room teachers, he was the only one certified for both elementary and high school teaching.

"He was a good and kind teacher.  I wasn't too good at business math and he would stay after school to help me," a friend told me of her former teacher.

"Good with figures."  Clyde was the treasurer of St. Paul's Lutheran Church for 50 years and was honored when he retired from that position nine years ago.  Sixty years a Mason -- a director of the Maccabees -- a member of the Cemetery board.

At home, Clyde and Alta's lifetime of devotion continued.  They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a big party at the Grange Hall.  Their 65th wedding anniversary at St. Pauls, coming up on June 1 is number 69.  And their family grew and the generations were added so now there are fourteen great grandchildren for Alta to knit for!

And of a winters evening, Clyde and Alta sit in their comfortable living room and play a game of dominos, looking back together over a good life in the Helderburg hill country.

But they have seen much more -- many trips to Michigan taking grandchildren to and from college -- even a fast summer tour of the U.S. with their friends (and relatives), the Harry Gibbs, back in 1955 when they went west by the northern route and came back through the South.  Memorable was the drive along the California cliffs above the Pacific Ocean.

Great memories -- family, friends, service to church and community -- such are the 90 years Clyde Ball can look back and see.

We had a great visit!

More About Clyde Lawrence Ball:

Comment 2: of Berne (Albany County), New York

Ethnicity/Relig.: Lutheran

Occupation: Teacher

Personality/Intrst: Coin Collecting, Mathematics

Residence: Berne (Albany County), New York

Notes for Alta Mae Sholtes:

TAKEN FROM:

THE ALTAMONT ENTERPRISE:

June, 1911

On Thursday, June 1, 1911, at the home of Mr. Stanton Sholtes, occurred the marriage of the younger daughter, Alta Mae, and Mr. Clyde L. Ball, only son of Mr. Charles E. Ball of Switzkill.  The large room where the guests assembled was beautifully decorated with ferns and daisies, and an arch was arranged where the birdal party stood while the ceremony was performed by Rev. A.R. Seso, pastor of the bride.  The wedding march was rendered by Miss Millie Ball, a cousin of the groom.  Miss Vertie Clow of Knox was bridesmaid, and Harry Gibbs was best man, both being cousins of the bride and groom.  Clara Sholtes, a tiny niece of the bride, was the ring bearer.  The bride's gown was white embroidered net over white silk, her bouquet the white native Fiburnune.  The bridesmaid wore blue chiffon.   The groom's gift to the bride was a brooch of gold,and the bride gave fans to her bridesmaid and to Miss Ball.  Thirty guests were present, and enjoyed the generous provision of good things for which the hospitable home of the Sholtes family is noted.  The bride's traveling gown was of dark blue serge, and the honey-moon is being spent in New York.  The young couple are well known and have many friends who heartily wish for them a happy and prosperous life journey.  The useful and beautiful gifts bestowed upon them were the evidence of substantial good wishes.

TAKEN FROM:

THE ALTAMONT ENTERPRISE

123 Maple Avenue

Altamont, New York  12209

Number 46  Friday, June 6, 1980

Page 16

BERNE

69th Anniversary

Clyde L. Ball and Alta M. Sholtes were wed at her family hone (the present "His Farm" house on Rock Road) on June 1, 1911.  Sunday, they were honored at a dinner at Gibby's Restaurant.  With them were their maid-of-honor Vertie Clow Gibbs, ring bearer Clara Sholtes Brade and Frank Brate of Guilderland Center, daughters and husbands Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Wright and Rev. and Mrs. Franklin S. Deitz, granddaughter Jean Wright, and great-grandchildren David and Stacey and Timothy Salzer of Westerlo, David Clark of West Berne, and Susan DeWitt of Oxford, Ohio and her classmate Holly Rosenberg, and Mrs. Paula Gray.

More family members will join them for a second dinner Thursday.

FAMILY DINNER

Mr. & Mrs. Clyde L. Ball celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary with a family dinner at the Tom Sawyer Restaurant in McKownville.  Attending were Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Wright, Rev. & Mrs. Franklin S. Deitz, Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence DeWitt and Susan, David and Jonathan of Oxford, Ohio, Jean Wright and David Clark of West Berne, Mr. & Mrs. Allan Deitz and daughters Jennifer and Karen of Guilderland, Gerald Deitz of Albany, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Salzer Jr., Michael, Sherry, Daniel, David, Joseph, Stacey, Alan, and Timothy of Westerlo, Robin Shuey of Rensselaer, Randy Davis of Albany,and Holly Rosenberg of Ohio.

NICE TO BE REMEMBERED

Clyde and Alta Ball did so enjoy their birthdays (92 & 89) in May and the celebrations for their 69th anniversary in June.

Thanks so much to their family and many friends near and far for the cards, letters, visits, greetings, flowers, dinners, and other gifts and telephone calls and prayers.

'FRIENDSHIPS MEAN A LOT"

A hearty handclasp; a sunny smile

Has often helped make life worthwhile;

and you dear friends, in just those ways

Have filled our lives with happy days.

God Bless You All!

TAKEN FROM:

THE ALTAMONT ENTERPRISE

Number 44  -  Thursday, May 16, 1996

Pages 20

Written by:  Alberta Wright

It's your day, Alta S. Ball, May 12, 1996.  Happy 105th birthday!  So read the sign at the Berne Firehouse Sunday.  Supervisor Alan Zuk and family were early callers of the day, to present her with a Proclamation of the town of Berne declaring May 12 "Alta S. Ball Day" in recognition of her long life of service to church, O.E.S., family and community.

Mrs. Clyde L. Ball continues her knitting and crocheting; and she moves about her home with the aid of a walker.  She enjoys calls from many friends and wishes to thank all for the many calls, flowers and other gifts, and the many beautiful greeting cards.

TAKEN FROM:

THE ALTAMONT ENTERPRISE

Number 10  - Thursday, September 26, 1996

Page 20

DIED

BALL  -  Sept. 25, Alta Sholtes Ball of Berne, wife of the late Clyde L. Ball, mother of Alberta B. Wright and Gertrude B. Deitz, both of Berne; grandmother of Jean M. Wright of West Berne, Janet W. Salzer of Westerlo, Allan F. Deitz of Guilderland, Arlene D. Clark of Essex Junction, Vt., Gerald R. Deitz of Clifton Park, and the late Ruth Elaine Wright DeWitt;  great-grandmother of Susan Pyne of Rochester Hills, Mich., David S. DeWitt of Oxford, Ohio, Jonathan C. DeWitt of Middleton, Ohio, Jenifer D. Battaglioli of New York City, Karen B. Deitz of Guilderland, Stacey L. Wright of Berne, David L. Clark of Berne, and the late Timothy S. Salzer;  great-great grandmother of Ben, Katie and John Pyne, Alyssa and Laura DeWitt, Rachel and Nicholas DeWitt; also survived by six step-great grandchildren and eight step-great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be  2 p.m. Sunday from the First Reformed Church of Berne. Relatives and friends may call at the Fredendall Funeral Home, 199 Main St. Altamont, between 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday.  Uhai Chapter 803, OES will hold an Eastern Star service at the funeral home at 7 p.m., following the calling hours.  Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Berne.  Memorial contributions may be made to the First Reformed Church of Berne.

TAKEN FROM:

THE ALTAMONT ENTERPRISE

Number 11  Thursday, October 3, 1996

Page 22

ALTA BALL, 105, WAS OLDEST HILLTOWN RESIDENT

BERNE  -  The Rev. Robert Hoffman led a celebration of praise and thanksgiving to the glory of God Sunday for Alta Sholtes Ball, who died Sept. 25 at her home on Switzkill Road, at the age of 105 years, four months, and 13 days.

Alta Mae Sholtes was born May 12,1891 in Knox, daughter of the late Stanton and Ida Gibbs Sholtes.

She attended the local one-room school, except for one year, when she lived with her aunt Fla Zeh in New York City.  "What tales she could tell of a little country girl in a big New York City school," said her daughter Alberta B. Wright, who writes the ENTERPRISE column from Berne.

One of these concerned the day the principal came in, and told her Mrs. So-and-So didn't want her there anymore.  "She was frightened," Mrs. Wright said  --  "how wouldyou feel if you were from the countryand the teacher in a big city school said she didn't want you in her classroom?  And then the teacher told her she knew too much for this room, and moved her up to the next grade."

On June 1, 1911, she married Clyde L. Ball.  The couple's honeymoon in New York City, where they visited with relatives, lasted a full month.  Their marriage lasted almost 80 years, ending a few weeks short of that anniversary with the death in 1991 of Mr. Ball, a retired teacher and former ENTERPRISE columnist.

The Balls lived all their married life in Berne.  "She was a devoted homemaker, a gracious hostess and ever a good friend," said her daughter, Alberta Wright.  Mrs. Ball took food baskets and handiwork to her many friends, and cared for them, as well.  "The summer her sister-in-law had terminal cancer," Mrs. Wright said, "she gave up her summer vacation to stay and help care for her."

She enjoyed giving her handiwork gifts, and continued making them a little past her 105th birthday last May.

Mrs. Ball was a member of the First Reformed Church of Berne and was active as a Sunday school teacher and choir member; and was a member of the Church's Christian Endeavor society and Missionary Society, later the Ladies Guild, for over 90 years.

She was the last living charter member of Uhai Chapter 803, Order of the Eastern Star, which conducted a service at the Fredendall Funeral Home Saturday evening.  She was a charter member of the Berne Historical Society.  She was a member of the Hilltown Senior Citizens.  She wasn't a charter member, her daughter said, "for she refused to be 'old' until more recently."

Mrs. Ball is survived by two daughters, Alberta B. Wright and Gertrude B. Deitz, both of Berne; five grandchildren -- Jean M. Wright of West Berne, Janet W. Salzer of Westerlo, Allan F. Deitz of Guilderland, Arlene D. Clark of Essex Junction, Vt. and Gerald R. Deitz of Clifton Park; seven great-grandchildren -- Susan Pyne of Rochester Hills, Mich., David S. DeWitt of Middletown, Ohio, Stacey L. Wright of Berne, Jennifer D. Battaglioli of New York City, Karen B. Deitz of Guilderland, and David L. Clark of Berne;  eight great-great-grandchildren -- Ben, Katie, and Jon Pyne,Alyssa and Laura DeWitt, Rachel and Nicholas Dewitt and Gregory Salzer;  six step-great-grandchildren -- Michael Salzer, Sherry Davis, Dan Salzer, David Salzer, Joseph Salzer III and Alan Salzer; and seven step-great-great-grandchildren -- Michael Salzer Jr., Jenelle and Ashley Davis, Jennifer and Melissa Salzer, and Valerie and Nicholas Salzer.  A granddaughter, Ruth Elaine Wright DeWitt, and one great-grandson, Timothy S. Salzer are deceased.

Her service was held at the First Reformed Church of Berne.

Arrangements were by the Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont.  She was buried in the family plot at Woodlawn Cemetery in Berne.

Memorial contributions should go to the First Reformed Church of Berne, Berne, NY 12023.

More About Alta Mae Sholtes:

Comment 2: Berne, New York  12023

Occupation: Housekeeper

Residence: Berne (Albany County), New York

Children of Clyde Ball and Alta Sholtes are:

2.                i.       ALBERTA¹⁰ BALL, b. January 6, 1913, Berne (Albany County), New York.

3.               ii.       GERTRUDE M. BALL, b. October 13, 1916, Berne (Albany County), New York.

Generation No. 2

2.  Alberta¹⁰ Ball (Clyde Lawrence⁹, Charles Eugene⁸, Robert⁷, John Peter⁶, John Hendrick⁵, Johan Peter⁴, Johannes³ Bahl, Johan Valentin², Hans¹) was born January 6, 1913 in Berne (Albany County), New York.  She married Raymond Wright. 

Notes for Alberta Ball:

TAKEN FROM:

OUR HERITAGE

Town of Berne Bicentennial Commission

Hope Farm Press

Cornwallville, New York    1977

Shelia C. Stempel & Alberta Wright

Pages 112-113

BERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

A book of history of the Town of Berne cannot be written without giving recognition to an organization formed for the express purpose of recording the history.  Such is the Berne Historical Society's Center located on Route #443 in the Town of Berne.

The forming of this organization ws the dream of Mrs. Raymond (Alberta Ball) Wright, whose idea it was to create a center for displaying the memorabilia of Berne, and fostering the love and pride in Berne's past and future.

A provisional charter was issued by the Society of the Regents of the University of the State of New York September 24, 1971, through the efforts of Emil DiMotta, followed bythe granting of an absolute charter on Feb. 22, 1974 with 103 charter members.

The purposes of the Society as stated in the Charter are:

a.  To promote an interest in the historical heritage of the area

b.  To acquire, preserve and display articles associated with the history of Berne

c.   To locate and catalogue any recorded material pertaining to local history and

d.  To provide an educational resource.

Agnes Pangburn, Margaret Lewis, Dorothy Polhemus, Joseph Matuck, Jean Wright, and Emil DiMotta as incorporators of the Society served as its first Board of Trustees.

First President of the Society ws Alberta Wright, followed by Bertha Matuck, who served two terms in 1974 and 1975.

The year 1976 saw Alberta Wright elected to serve as President again for another term.

Since receiving its absolute charter, members, officers, and trustees have managed to collect, catalogue, and preserve items of the Town's history and recreate 10 rooms of history, located on the upper floor of the Berne Town Hall. The Center rooms have been arranged by Mrs. Earl Williamson and her committee.

One bedroom boasts of a bed of Jacob Weidman, circa 1790, which has been loaned to the Society by his descendant, Harold Lendrum.

A second bedroom has been recreated with19th centruy furnishings.  Both rooms were worked on by Joseph and Bertha Matuck.

The Agricultural room worked on by Mary Shultes, Oliver Wright, and Ed Pitcher, is a room that resembles the interior of a barn, in which they used original beams, held together by handmade pegs.  Old farm implements are on display in this room.

The Parlor at the Center, which is assembled by Agnes Pangburn and Ginny Mann, is known as "The Agnes Pangburn Parlor" as a tribute to one of the original trustees of the Society, who passed on in 1973.

Nettie Filkins, chief cataloguer, and Hazel Willsie, arranged the Center's kitchen.  One of the other roons arranged at the Center is where wedding dresses and clothes of an era gone by are on display, don by Elvena Williamson.

Mr. & Mrs. John Kocsis have recreated a school classroom of yesteryear, where children of today, may observe how children long ago studied.

In the Church, done by Raymond and Alberta Wright, one is able to view a collection of pews - one from the churches in each of the Bernes.

Jean Wright and Jan Wright Salzer have put together a children's room which includes toys, furniture and some clothes of days gone by.  A corner of the room has been reserved for displays from the Boys and Girls Scouts of the town.

The tenth room of the Society's Center is the room done by the Yorker Club, and is known as The Yorker Room.

The Society's photographer, Tony Yarmchuk has taken pictures of old buildings and sites that will be made into slides to eventually be placed in a room at the Center for all visitors to view.

In 1973, the Center had over 400 visitors.  The fact that the Center is listed in New York State Vacationlands, helps visitors to find their way to Berne.

An "Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social" was started by the Society and is held on the Fourth of July each year, for which it was granted an award of excellence in 1974, by the N.Y.S. American Revolutionary Bicentennial Commission.

In December of 1972, through the efforts of Mrs. Emil (Noreen) DiMotta and her committee, a newsletter was started, and has continued to be printed and sent out periodically to its membership.

Steve Eabry served as the Society's treasurer through the year 1975, maintaining a watchful eye over the Society's monies.

In 1975, through the kindness of author Henry Christman, the Society sponsored the republication of his book "Tin Horns and Calico", selling over 1000 autographed copies of same.

With the help of the Yorkers and the Historical Society, we shall foster the ideas in the minds of those around us to the importance of "history."

It would be impossible to thank everyone who helped in this endeavor.  As the Rev. Bruce Goodwin said at the opening of the Center, "We look back upon the ideals of earlier settlers to chart the course of ideals of our future; the gain of their labors is the heritage we preserve."

TAKEN FROM:

THE ALTAMONT ENTERPRISE

Number 12  -  Thursday, October 8, 1998

James E. Gardner  -  Publisher

123maple Avenue

Altamont, New York  12209

Page 4

ALBERTA IS A ROLE MODEL

To the Editor:

Last week's Enterprise carried Alberta Wright's final Berne column.  Many of us who have valued Alberta as a neighbor, friend, teacher, and source of news will miss her writing.  The column was unfailingly informative and she never missed a birthday, anniversary, or other major event, including for those of us who still have property in Berne but don't live there any longer.

For many years, Alberta and her father, Clyde Ball, faithfully reported the news.  All of us who grew up in Berne knew the generosity, dedication, and community service of the Wright and Ball families over several generations.

Alberta Wright wa also an inspired  -  and inspiring  -  teacher of mathematics for many years at Berne-Knox-Westerlo and, later, at Schoharie.  Many of us who eventually became educators ourselves recall her influence, always encouraging academic excellence and exhorting us to do our best work.

We will miss her column  -  but her influence as a role model and exemplar of dedicated service will certainly continue.  We wish her the very best in the years ahead!

Bruce W. Dearstyne

Guilderland

TAKEN FROM:

The Altamont Enterprise

Number 52  -  Thursday  -  July 15, 1999

123 Maple Avenue

Altamont, New York  12009

Berne  -  by Deb Sniffen

Page 18

Here, there and everywhere

The Wright clan started celebrating the Fourth early.  Alan and Betty Deitz of Guilderland, Janet Salzer, and Alberta and Stacey Wright all enjoyed a holiday chicken barbecue picnic with Gertrude Deitz early Saturday evening.

Another note:  Alberta notes that they are recovering from a thunderstorm on Saturday morning, and the electricity going out.

Children of Alberta Ball and Raymond Wright are:

4.                i.       RUTH ELAINE¹¹ WRIGHT, b. May 1, 1937; d. Bef. 1995.

                  ii.       JEAN WRIGHT, b. February 7, 1939.

Notes for JEAN WRIGHT:

TAKEN FROM:

The Altamont Enterprise

Number 52  -  Thursday  -  July 15, 1999

123 Maple Avenue

Altamont, New York  12009

Berne  -  by Deb Sniffen

Page 18

Here, there and everywhere

The Wright clan started celebrating the Fourth early.  Alan and Betty Deitz of Guilderland, Janet Salzer, and Alberta and Stacey Wright all enjoyed a holiday chicken barbecue picnic with Gertrude Deitz early Saturday evening.

Another note:  Alberta notes that they are recovering from a thunderstorm on Saturday morning, and the electricity going out.

                 iii.       JANET WRIGHT, b. February 7, 1939; m. SALZER.

Notes for JANET WRIGHT:

TAKEN FROM: