POTTER HOLLOW — Long-time residents and visitors from near and far came together to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the hamlet of Potter Hollow on Sunday at the Cotter Equestrian Center.

Kids skateboarded in the street and couples enjoyed walks through the cemetery. The Ghost Riders, a duet consisting of Lloyd Potter and Deb Becker, both members of the New York State Country Music Hall of Fame in Cortland, entertained the crowd with country flavor.
"A lot of good people made this happen," said Sue Lynch, who chaired the event.
"Everyone donated themselves," she added.

The hamlet, which was founded in 1806 by Quakers Samuel and Tim Potter, is located in the town of Rensselaerville, and is three miles from Oak Hill and 10 miles from Greenville.

Janet Haseley, a member of the Rensselaerville Historical Society, introduced Potter Palmer IV, the great-grandson of the hamlet’s most famous native son, Potter Palmer.
"He came here all the way from Chicago," Haseley said.

Throughout the day, the public enjoyed a number of festivities — a potluck meal, horseshoe pitching, volleyball, wheelbarrow races, and horseback rides — and postal cancellations were available to commemorate the event.

At the celebration, Marty Milner, a local blacksmith, entertained spectators with his metal-working skills. Beatrice Mattice displayed her 21-foot family tree. Kathy Hickey, of Potter Hollow, took donations for the restoration of the Potter Hollow schoolhouse.

Haskins Family Reunion
"Everyone in Potter Hollow is a relation. They didn’t know it, but they know it now," a spectator said, and laughter erupted from those who heard his joke. He was observing the 21-foot Haskins family tree, constructed by Beatrice Mattice.

Mattice, who is the town historian for the town of Conesville (Schoharie County), became interested in family history at an early age.
"I started asking my grandfather questions when I was a teenager," she said.

The information she had to obtain in order to compile an accurate account, she said, came from the state census. The Internet, she said, did not provide correct information about the family’s ancestry.
Mattice, who was a Haskin before she married, explained the tree, and said, "Some of us have an "s," some of us don’t"It’s a family argument."

The Haskins family, which usually holds its annual reunion on Columbus Day, made some changes this year.
"We knew the bicentennial was coming up, so we decided to have it this weekend," she said.
"A lot still live here," Mattice said of the Haskins, "but some went out west."

As well as displaying the family tree, Mattice had books on hand she published — Haskins in the Hills, and They Walked these Hills Before me; an Early History of the Town of Conesville.

Many books and pictures were lying atop the tables; the books contained the family’s history — its origin, its passage from Europe to the States, as well as ancestors’ occupations, aspirations, and accomplishments.

The Haskins, which originated in Nuremberg, Germany, celebrated their first reunion on Oct. 26, 1952, at the Grange hall in Potter Hollow. Fifty-two family members were present. The largest gathering, of 100 members, took place in 1982.

Native son

Before he became a civic leader, a business leader, and erected the famous Palmer House Hotel in Chicago, Potter Palmer I attended the Potter Hollow schoolhouse.

His story was told by Haseley in an historical society newsletter.

Palmer, the hamlet’s most famous native son, was born to Quakers Benjamin and Rebecca Palmer. Potter, who was expected to work when not in school, acquired a good education by the time he was 17, and set out to be a merchant.

While employed at a store in Durham (Greene County), he excelled at his position, and was promoted to manage the establishment, which also housed a bank and a post office.

After gaining two years of experience at the nearby store, Palmer worked two and a half years in a dry goods store in Oneida. From Oneida he moved to Lockport and opened a larger store.

When he was 26, Palmer visited Chicago and New York City, decided to move to Chicago, and created the dry goods store there, which eventually became Marshall Field.

Palmer, who initiated the policy of allowing customers to return and exchange goods, advised R.H. Macy about merchandising and advertising before Macy opened his store in New York City.

While in Chicago, Palmer acquired a vast amount of real estate, and built the world-famous Palmer House Hotel.

In 1871, the disastrous Chicago fire destroyed much of the city’s business district, and 32 buildings he’d recently built, were engulfed in its flames. Following the fire, Palmer was instrumental in the effort to rebuild the city, and financed much of the project.

Though he was a pacifist, Palmer loaned a large amount of money to the government.

Palmer’s descendant, Potter Palmer IV, who was born and raised in Illinois, was at Sunday’s celebration.
Of the hamlet and surrounding area, Palmer IV said, "It’s beautiful here"I wonder why my great-grandfather left."

The town of Rensselaerville Historical Society, which places historical markers throughout the town, will be placing a marker honoring Palmer.