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“H. Bishoff” was Henry Bischoff, founder of the Chappaqua Shoe Manufacturing Company in 1868 and its proprietor ever since. Shoemaking had long been a popular home industry for farm families during the less busy winter months, and Bischoff took advantage of this pool of experienced workers to staff his year-round factory, which eventually employed about 40 men and boys and 35 women and girls. Located on North Greeley Avenue near the railroad station, it was the next-largest business in New Castle, second only to the Spencer Optical Company in what is now Mount Kisco.
Bischoff was apparently an enlightened employer, and the shoe factory was considered a desirable place to work. One attraction for the young men who made up a large share of the work force was the free two-week summer camp that Bischoff provided on the shore of Rye Lake (now, much enlarged, the Kensico Reservoir). It was reserved for men only – women and girls could only pay afternoon visits – but of course a camp for both sexes would been considered scandalous.
The campers boated, fished, swam, and played games, but for much of the time they just hung out at the campground. Making music was a popular pastime, in an age before records or radio, when many people could perform at least competently on some instrument. Several such are proudly displayed in the photographs that Clarence took that afternoon, including the violin and guitar mentioned in his diary. The horse nosing into the scene at the left may have been the one that drew Clarence’s cart to the site. On the right, female visitors perch somewhat uncomfortably on the crates that serve as makeshift benches.
The poses are a bit stiff, and the expressions fixed and solemn. At this time, the emulsions on the glass negatives still required subjects to remain immobile for a few seconds of exposure. Nonetheless, it does look like all present were having a good time.
The historical society also has a reason to be grateful to the shoe factory workers themselves. But that is another story for another issue.
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