The North Mountain Historical Society

Meeting: July 2000

July 17, 2000

The history Buffs met at the Brass Pelican on the third Monday July 17, 2000. There were 43 people present. We were pleased to have visitors who were in the area to attend the Homecoming at St. Gabriels church.
Jim Vance chaired the meeting in the absence of Tom Stackhouse. He offered thanks before breakfast was served. Everyone introduced themselves and Jim mentioned how pleased we were to have so many people present.
After breakfast, Jim introduced Mr. Conrad Hislop, known to many of us as "Murph". He gave a most interesting and informative talk about the Indians who had lived in this area. His ancestors were from New England. He said the Iroquois were the predominant tribe in Northern Columbia County.
He told of the Nanticoke tribe who traveled through here to a large burial ground near Wyalusing. The field opposite the North Mountain Fire Hall was a stopping place. They used a large spring in the area, which can be seen today. He mentioned that a traveling tribe suffered a cholera epidemic while camped at the present site of Camp Lavigne. The remains of some of those buried there have been found including one body that was buried by itself apart from the others. It was later learned that this was an Indian princess and she was buried by herself as a sign of respect.
Mr. Hislop then opened the meeting for questions and this resulted in an interesting discussion. Several had either ancestors or knew of people who had been captured and raised in the Indian culture. There were no stories of cruelty or massacre by Indians. Someone asked if the local Indians were farmers and Mr. Hislop answered yes, definitely. Squash, corn and beans were crops mentioned. He told how they dried acorns, pounded them into flour and made delicious bread.
Our thanks to Mr. Hislop for a most interesting and informative presentation.
The next meeting will be Monday, August 21 at the Brass Pelican. It will be a talk by Mr. Wilson Ferguson, president of the Sullivan County Historical Society, on the former C.C.C. camp at Elk Grove. There will be a short walking tour of the camp at the conclusion for those who are interested.