Beaver River Property Owners Association, Beaver River, NY

Community News

Television news feature on Beaver River

On Sunday, July 19, News 10 Now (Time Warner Cable's 24-hour news channel) ran a feature segment on Beaver River Station as part of their hometown series. You can watch the segment on News 10 Now's website; while there, be sure to click on and watch the "Online Extra" segments of additional interviews and footage.

Pat Thompson has passed away

It is with regret that we report the sad news of Pat Thompson's death. She passed away April 23, 2009 after her battle with cancer. Pat, well known in Beaver River as a year round resident and owner/operator of the Norridgewock, will be sadly missed by the community. Pat was often the friendly person greeting the many vistitors to Beaver River at her family owned business. Her contribution to Beaver River was significant. Many will remember her at the Fish and Game Club Labor Day celebrations, sharing conversation at the bar, and enjoying her family. BRPOA send their condolances to her children: Shelley, Scott, Mark, Rusty and Lisa, and their families. Arrangements are unknown at this time.

Condolences may be sent to: Norridgewock III, 150 Norridgwock Lake Rd., Eagle Bay, NY 13331

Snowmobile death in Beaver River

(2/21/09) "Michael James, 42, of Lyons was traveling north on the Stillwater Reservoir around 5:30 p.m. at an excessive rate of speed when he struck a deep drainage ditch, causing the snowmobile to overturn, the Town of Webb Police Department said. James was pronounced dead at the scene by Herkimer County Coroner Danforth Rivet. An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday, police said." (Excerpt from Utica Observer-Dispatch, Posted Feb 22, 2009)

The accident occurred on the Flow, in the area near the railroad tracks just south of the Big Culvert, just north of Al Larmann's place (the old Kunkle camp). I'm not sure exactly sure what is meant by a "deep drainage ditch", other than possibly a dredged area leading to the entrance to the culvert. Michael James' family has a camp in Stillwater. You can read more at:

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200902230736/NEWS01/90223002

Jim Lundberg has passed away

After a very long difficult illness Jim Lundberg passed away on October 15th. Before Jim's illness he frequently came to Beaver River to enjoy his camp with his family. The family has a longtime involvement in Beaver River. Their camp was previously owned by Jim's in laws, Dick and Jenny Sanlucie. Jim's family actively uses the camp today. The family has been members of the Beaver River Property Owner's Association for many years including Jenny Lundberg's service as secretary of the BRPOA 2 years ago. Jim is a loss to the Beaver River community. Our sympathy to his wife, Joan, and children Dana, Sean and Jenny.

-Carol Schoch President BRPOA

Death notice follows:

Lundberg, James A.
Henrietta: October 15, 2008 at age 65 following a lengthy illness. Survived by wife, Joan; children, Dana (Steven) Boldt, Sean Lundberg, Jenny Lundberg; grandchildren, Sarah, Kathryn and Matthew.
No prior calling. Services and interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to the Lupus Foundation of America, Genesee Valley Chapter, 500 Helendale Rd., Suite 153, Rochester, NY 14609.

To email a message of condolence please visit James' guestbook at: http://www.millerfuneralhomes.com/Default.aspx?RD=3835

Harry Caldwell has passed away

It is with sadness BRPOA acknowledges the death of Harry Caldwell on July 8. Those of us in the Beaver River community that had the opportunity to know Harry would agree he was an outstanding individual and lived a remarkable life. Being the son-in-law of Bill Hilliker, and wife of Deannie, Harry was afforded many wonderful years enjoying Beaver River with his family. The Caldwell's have been long time members of the Beaver River Property Owner's Association. Many will miss Harry with his charm and sincere smile in Beaver River. Condolences are extended to his wife Deannie, his three children and their families.

- Carol Schoch President BRPOA

Obituary follows:

Captain Harry H. Caldwell, USN (Ret.) of Sagamore, MA died on July 8^th 2008 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Brighton, MA, of complications following recent heart surgery. He was 86 years of age.

Born in Hempstead, NY, on April 11^th 1922, Harry grew up in New York City. His early years were passed in the company of his parents, writers of plays and films, as he traveled with them to projects in Hollywood, CA and New York City. After high school, he moved to Groton, CT where he worked for the Electric Boat Company for a year prior to entering the U.S. Naval Academy in 1940. He was graduated in 1943 with the accelerated class of 1944. In 1948, Harry was married to Mary Deane Hilliker, a fellow New Yorker.

Harry spent most of his first twenty years of commissioned service in submarine billets. Sea duty included war-time service in DACE (SS 247), followed by tours in several other diesel-electric submarines. In 1956 he took command of SPIKEFISH (SS 404) and in 1961 he became COMMANDER, SUBMARINE DIVISION 22. Harry in 1964 was assigned to command MARIAS (A0 57), a fleet oiler. Later came a pleasant and educational tour in London as C.O. Fleet Operations Control Center, US Naval Forces, Europe; followed by a twilight tour as C.O. Fleet Training Center, Newport, RI.

In 1968 Harry was awarded a master's degree in Administration by The George Washington University. After retirement from the Navy in 1973, Harry and his family settled in eastern Connecticut. He was employed by General Dynamics Corp. in Groton, CT until his second retirement in 1978. During this time, Harry served the town of East Lyme as a Selectman and Water and Sewer Commissioner. In 2002, Harry and Deannie moved to Cape Cod to be near family.

Influenced by the naval career of his father Cdr. H.H. Caldwell and his own experiences, Harry researched and published articles in the Submarine Review as well as The US Naval Institute's Proceedings. He donated documents and photographs to the U.S. Submarine Force Museum and Archives as it prepared to open a new addition in 1999. From 2000 to 2002 he worked as an editor and contributing author of the coffee-table book, United States Submarines.

Harry enjoyed playing tennis, hiking and traveling. He and Deannie joined the Appalachian Mountain Club, for which he led major excursions in Europe, Canada and Hawaii, as well as local hikes in eastern Connecticut, during the 1980s and 1990s. During the same period he and Deannie made numerous trips to the English midlands to explore the British waterways by narrow-boat.

Harry is survived by his wife of 60 years, two daughters Barbara Caldwell Siegel of Wawarsing, NY and Katharine C. Parsons of Bourne, MA, a son, Douglas R. Caldwell of West Roxbury, MA, and seven grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the U.S. Navy Submarine Force Museum, 1 Crystal Lake Rd., Groton, CT on Saturday, September 13^th at 11 a.m. Burial is at sea. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Submarine Force Library and Museum Association.

Ed Jordan has passed away

Sadly I share the news of Ed Jordan's unexpected death on November 26th. Since Ed's retirement he became a full-time seasonal Beaver River resident spending summer and fall at his camp. He will always be remembered for his sharp wit and smile by the many friends he had in Beaver River. Our condolences are sent to his wife, children and family, many of whom are also property owners in Beaver River.

Cards may be sent to:
His wife, Sarah Jordan at 7085 Mavis Drive, North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Children: George and Diane Jordan at 7098 North Manlius Rd., Kirkville, NY 13082
Eddie and Kathy Jordan at 104 Stenzil St., North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Jeff and Lauren Jordan at 3007 W. Saratoga Ave., Englewood, CO 80150

-Carol Schoch President BRPOA

Obituary follows:

Edward T. Jordan, age 78, of the Town of Wheatfield, November 26, 2007 unexpectedly at his home. Edward was born in Passaic, NJ, he was the son of the late George and Helen Jordan. He had retired from Roadway Express after 30 years of service; his CB handle was “Double R.” He was a member of Teamsters Local 449 and the Teamsters retirees, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 1411, and American Legion, Sikora Post #1451.

Beloved husband of Sarah (nee Irwin) Jordan. Father of George (Diane) Jordan of Syracuse, Edward Jordan of North Tonawanda, Jeffrey (Lauren) Jordan of Englewood, CO, Susan (Kevin) O’Conner of North Tonawanda and Katherine Jordan of Wheatfield. Grandfather of 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Twin brother of Thomas Jordan of Port Orange, FL and brother of Gerald Jordan of Lake Orion, MI and the late George Jordan, uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Fretthold Funeral Home Inc. 1241 Oliver St. at Ward Rd. in North Tonawanda on Friday from 2-4 & 7-9 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday at 10 A.M. from St. Francis R. C. Church, 73 Adam St., Tonawanda. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Fraternal Order of Eagles or the American Legion.

Fritz Dullin has passed away

The Beaver River community has sadly lost another long time property owner. Fritz Dullin passed away unexpectedly on November 19th at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Utica. He was a member of the Beaver River Property Owner's Association and the Beaver River Fish and Game Club.

Cards may be sent to his wife Jean at 6859 W. South St., Westmoreland, NY 13490. Our thoughts and prayers are sent to his wife and family.

-Carol Schoch President BRPOA

Obituary follows:

Frederick C. Dullin, Jr. of Westmoreland – Clinton

Frederick (Fritz) Dullin, 75, of W. South St., Westmoreland, NY, formerly of Clinton, passed away unexpectedly November 19, 2007, at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center.

Fritz was born January 27, 1932, in New Hartford, NY, the son of Frederick C. and Mildred Brodt Dullin. He was raised and educated in New Hartford and later attended MVCC. Fritz was an Army Veteran, having served during the Korean Conflict from 1952 to 1954. On October 23, 1954, at St. John the Evangelist Church, New Hartford, Fritz was married to Jean Mehaffy. With 48 years of dedicated service, he worked as a shipping clerk at the Mohawk Valley Knitting Machine Co., retiring in 2002.

He was of the Catholic faith and a member of the Schilling, Burns, Young VFW Post #9591, the Helmuth-Ingalls American Legion Post #232, the Beaver River Fish & Game Club and the Beaver River Property Owners Association.

Fritz is survived by his wife, Jean; two daughters and sons-in-law, Debra and Scott Holt, of ID, and Diane and Rod Crandall, of Waterville; three sons and a daughter-in-law, Fred J. and LeAnn Dullin, of CO, David Dullin, of GA, and Chris Dullin, of Westmoreland; 14 grandchildren, Clinton, Amber, Scott, Nick, Greg, Carrie, Sarah, Joey, Jennifer, Jason, Justin, Garrett, Parker and Brittney; four cherished great-grandchildren, Taylor, Hayden, Emma and Hailey; and two brothers-in-law and three sisters-in-law, Jack and Kathy Mehaffy, Dick and Maria Mehaffy, and Pat Mehaffy.

Mr. Dullin's funeral will be held Saturday, November 24, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Clinton, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Burial will take place in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Whitestown. Calling hours at the Heintz Funeral Home, 10 E. Park Row, Clinton, will be held Friday from 3-6 p.m. A joint Veteran's service between American Legion Post #232 and VFW Post #9591 will be held at 5:30 p.m.

Donations in Fritz's memory would be appreciated to the American Heart Association.

Bill Partridge has passed away

It is with great sadness I report the passing of Bill Partridge, Beaver River Property Owner's Association's founding member and Past-President. Bill served as President, Chairman of the dock committee and participated on numerous projects for the Association. Bill is one of the few born and raised in Beaver River Station and still a property owner today. The BRPOA extends our sympathy to his wife, children, siblings and family. He will be missed by many.

-Carol Schoch President BRPOA

Bill Partridge passed away in the early morning hours of Nov. 5, 2007 at the Presbyterian Nursing Home in New Hartford, NY. He was 85. Calling hours are Friday, Nov. 9 from 4-7 p.m at the Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Home, 40 Main Street, Whitesboro. Funeral services will be Saturday, 11:00 a.m. and interment will be in Grand View Cemetery. Please omit floral offerings. Those desiring may consider memorial contributions to a charity of their choice.

Cards and messages of condolence may be sent to his wife, Beulah Partridge, 14 Cresthill Drive, Whitesboro, NY 13492 and his brother, Bob and Edith Partridge, 3 Mapledale Rd., New Hartford, NY 13413.

Obituary follows:

Partridge, William Wetmore

William Wetmore Partridge, 85, passed away, November 5, 2007, at the Presbyterian Home for CNY.

The son of the late William & Ethel Wetmore Partridge, he was born in Beaver River, NY, on January 1, 1922. He attended grade school in Beaver River and graduated from High School in Old Forge as Salutatorian of the class of 1939. William attended Clarkson College from the fall of 1939 until 1941, when he left to join the US Navy. He served in the Mediterranean Sea in the Sicilian invasion, aboard the U.S.S. Shawmut. He sailed through the Panama Canal, and served in the Okinawa invasion as a radio and radar repairman. He was honorably discharged in December 1945.

He married the late Elizabeth Bailey Wheeler on March 31, 1949, and had a son Robert William and a daughter Roberta Elizabeth, born on February 13, 1950. Mr. Partridge began working at IBM in Endicott, NY, in January 1950, and retired in 1983. Following his retirement he took up flying and started aerial photography, as a co-founder of Landcare Aviation Co., in 1989.

He was a life member of the VFW in Stittville, NY, and a 40 year member of the American Legion Post #1113 in Whitesboro. He was also a member of the Quiet Birdmen, and the Mohawk Valley Astronomical Society.

He is survived by his son Robert of Bantam, CT, and daughter Roberta of Vista, CA; and his wife Beulah Noad Partridge, who he married on October 5, 2001, in Tucson, AZ. Also surviving are his brothers, Robert of New Hartford, and James of Saugerties, NY; and sisters, June Partridge of Watervliet, NY, Shirley Otty of East Greenbush, NY, Joyce Vohnoutka of Troy, NY, and Peg Reinert of Bradenton, FL. He was predeceased by sisters, Ruth McElvey, and Dorothy Somers.

Funeral services will be Saturday, 11:00 a.m., at the Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Home, Forty Main Street, Whitesboro. Interment will be in Grand View Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday, from 4-7 p.m. Please omit floral offerings. Those desiring may consider memorial contributions to a charity of their choice.

Dead baby bear found at Twitchell Lake:

Back on October 20th, Twitchell Lake camp owner Jim Huss found a dead baby bear floating at the shoreline. It was about 24" long and 10 to 12 lbs. It was a female, in perfect condition (no obvious trauma). It would have been visible at the shoreline from the Twitchell Lake weather cam.

Mr. Huss called ranger Evans in Stillwater to ask what to do with it; the ranger instructed him to bury it in the woods. Mr. Huss writes, "They have no interest I guess because there are so many bears. It was a strange thing to find, even with being a hunter I did feel sad."

You can view a photo of the bear by clicking here. (If you click on the little thumbnail, the photo will enlarge.)

Webmaster's note: Black bear cubs are born while their mothers are still hibernating in their dens. I did some further research and learned that mating season for black bears is May-July but the resulting fertilized egg does not implant in the uterus until late November. Embryo development then resumes and eight weeks later (late January - early February) the cubs, weighing approximately 1/2 lb. are born. (This is known as delayed implantation; weasels, otters, mink, badgers, and wolverines also do this.) The mothers often don't emerge from their dens until April or May - by then, the cubs will weigh around 10 lbs. At summer's end, they will weigh about 75 lbs. Following this time-line, the bear found at Twitchell Lake on October 20 was at what would normally be a 4 - 5 month old's weight, meaning she was born in...May or June(?) Or was she a "runt", born in January with her sibling(s), but she "failed to thrive" due to some unseen internal problem? Because I have a fascination with all things nature, I'd love to hear any theories about what went wrong for this baby.