Publication: The Evening Telegram
Article Title: Historical Society seeks to identify photograph of crowd meeting train
Author: David Robinson
Date: March 31, 2008
There is a mystery in the village of Herkimer, and the resolution could involve clues that span the entire last century.
A picture of a train being greeted by a crowd on Albany Street has the staff at the Herkimer County Historical Society inundated with possible descriptions; some more feasible than others.
A 96 year-old man stopped by the society and proposed to Susan Perkins, executive director, that the train in question carried soldiers from Company M, out of the Armory in Mohawk, returning from World War I to a heroes welcome.
Other hypotheses claimed it transported Teddy Roosevelt on the campaign trail, or that World War II troops occupied the cars when the print came to exist.
Although these notions were delivered with conviction and supported by historical facts, both Perkins and Caryl Hopson, administrative assistant, agree there are several details in the crowd and buildings that lead the experienced Herkimer researcher down another avenue.
"It's all about clues you put together." said Hopson.
Using archives from several online resources from the New York Times and the Library of Congress to fultonhistory.com, which digitized millions of editions of local CNY newspapers, Perkins began collecting the puzzle pieces. "That's what's fun about it (history)."
Anything became helpful; clothing styles, business names, and especially buildings that have long since burned or been rebuilt.
The two history detectives' research came up with a single name, Lou Ambers.
Ambers, originally Luigi D'Ambrosio, was a boxer who got his beginnings in the basement of St. Anthony Church, now Sts. Anthony and Joseph Church, and eventually became the lightweight champion.
Now in the Boxing Hall of Fame; Ambers is regarded as a legend, with a park and street in the village named after him. "He put Herkimer on the map" said Hopson.
Perkins and Hopson believe the purpose of the crowd was to welcome Ambers home in 1938, with the year having been meticulously chosen.
"We know it was the only time he (Ambers) didn't use the Utica station." said Hopson.
With the search for answers becoming more specific, the pair turned their attention to getting assistance from people that might have the evidence to make the theory into fact.
The call for assistance has already provided a promising lead.
"The other day a man came in and said he has the same picture at home." said Perkins. "We're waiting for him to return...I hope he comes through."
The train mystery is a perfect example of local people taking pride in their past, and an upcoming project provides residents another opportunity to get involved.
The photo that time forgot didn't just fall off a cobwebbed shelf. It was unearthed as part of a campaign to gather photos of the village of Herkimer for a book the historical society is producing for Arcadia Publishing.
Part of the Image of America series, the book will be in the style of a previous local Arcadia product "Herkimer County: Valley Towns" by Jane Dieffenbacher, a 10-year volunteer at the society.
Since a lot of the photos in Dieffenbacher's edition of the Image series came out of their Herkimer archives, Perkins says there is a need for about 150 photos to add to the 50 already being processed.
"We're really relying on the community to help us with pictures." said Hopson.
Categories include: Historic homes, churches, schools, industry and business, transportation, main street and notable people and events.
Pictures can be brought to the Historical Society, 406 N. Main St., Herkimer, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They will be scanned and returned immediately. For information call 866-6413.
