A Look Back at Gilboa in November During the Early 1900s

By Wildert Marte

GILBOA — In November of the early 1900s, the town of Gilboa moved at a steady, familiar pace. The hills were bare, the air was cold, and families were finishing their fall work before the snow set in. The local newspapers reflected the rhythm of that season full of community news, election talk, and small advertisements that revealed how life was changing across Schoharie County. Even in its quietness, Gilboa showed signs of progress, balancing old rural traditions with a growing sense of modernity. As election time arrived, editorials reminded residents of their duty to vote. Newspapers urged people to “vote intelligently and effectively for good men and good government.” Candidates such as Merton E. Lewis, who ran for attorney general, appeared in campaign ads that called for unity and leadership. The state’s government was praised for keeping agriculture productive during wartime as farmers across New York were credited with helping feed both soldiers and civilians in the area.

Alongside political pieces, everyday life filled the pages. Local businesses advertised farm tools, clothing, and groceries. I.C. Wyckoff of Gilboa promoted the Chevrolet Four Ninety, calling it “a car with all the features of higher-priced models,” while Wyckoff & Lewis advertised the Sharples Milking Machine, which promised to save time and labor on the farm. For the people of Gilboa, these new machines and automobiles represented the slow but steady arrival of modern technology into rural life. The sound of horses still filled the roads, but the hum of engines was beginning to follow.

The papers also carried larger social conversations, especially the growing support for women’s suffrage. Columns encouraged men to vote in favor of granting women the right to vote, arguing that democracy was incomplete without it. “Your vote,” one article read, “is as vital to your wife or sister as it is to you.” These discussions reached every corner of New York, and even in small towns like Gilboa, people were beginning to talk about equality in a new way. Legal announcements and family notices gave the paper a local touch. Familiar names such as Van Valkenburg, Mayham, and Mallery appeared in estate settlements and community updates, reminding readers how close-knit the area remained. Advertisements for Lucky Strike Cigarettes and Castoria for children sat beside these notices, showing how national brands were beginning to share space with small-town news. Life in Gilboa may have been simple, but it was quietly connected to the wider world.

By the end of November, as families prepared for winter, Gilboa’s people gathered around stoves and spoke of the year ahead. The town had weathered wars, elections, and new inventions, but its foundation of hard work and neighborly trust remained strong. The newspapers of that time captured more than news they preserved the steady spirit of a community learning to adapt while holding on to what mattered most.