The biggest factor takes us to a dark time in American history, particularly in Indiana. [16], Anyone may be nominated for membership so long as the $10 (In 1906 it was $1[18]) membership fee is paid. + Hull was then released from custody. And the best part is, it has no redeeming value whatsoever, except for pointless fun and unbelievable camaraderie. Is it weird to say we love the internet? And as that kind of property is most liable to be carried out of our knowledge, it requires the utmost exertion of every good member of society, to baffle and suppress depredations of this kind[1], At this meeting, the following officers were chosen: William Ellis, Clerk, Nathaniel Whiting, President, General George Ellis, Vice President, and Eliphalet Baker, Treasurer. There's much to see here. Read Mason City Globe Gazette Newspaper Archives, Aug 18, 1951, p. 8 with family history and genealogy records from mason-city, iowa 1901-1976. To laugh. [14] Captain Eliphalet Thorp, John Endicott, Joseph Swan, Jr., Captain Jeremiah Baker, John Morse, Josiah Daniells, Moses Gay, and William Phipps were elected as the Committee of said Society. Victor is from Massachusetts, as his accent will attest, and he and his friends had been laboring under the misapprehension that their group, The Society in Dedham for the Apprehending of Horse Thieves, was the nation's oldest. The Society was a male only organization until 1956. So, its worth asking: Why do we know so much about the Wild West from popular culturefrom the Alamo to the OK Corralyet know so little about so-called horse detectives? It's the foulest-smelling beast we've had to deal with in Indiana. "This is a hoot. Examples of badges used by local horse thief detective associations and similar groups. All rights reserved. . This years posse sat down to a family-style dinner at Moseleys as the business of the evening was completed. A man can get a lot of years out of a shirt he wears just once a year, Laibach said. It has outlasted a civil war and two world wars, survived depressions and pandemics. An extant 1870s membership roster includes many familiar Franklin family names such as Pond, Ray, Russ, and Rusegue. It makes you feel good because you can go back to minutes from seven or eight generations ago and find the same names as people attending our meetings today.. The society was formed at the Upper Red Hook Inn of Stephen Holmes on October 10, 1796. Copyright 2023 Red Hook Horse Thieves - All Rights Reserved. "[19] By 1960, the president of the Society reported that "memberships are as coveted as the Kentucky Colonels. Anybody that mistreats [or steals] a horse we go right after them.. You might assume that due to the date of its fadeout that the demise of the organization might have something to do with the automobile, which was well established by that time. Riders were appointed to be on call to pursue any thief that stole a members horse and the roster changed every year at the annual meeting, set for the second Tuesday in October, when dues were paid. Or maybe it was longer than that. The drug, which has rapid-acting antidepressant properties and somewhat psychedelic effects, is still taken recreationally by club kids and students. [21], The person receiving honor of the membership in the society need not even know that they had been nominated. The horse thief incarcerated, from The Female Prisoner, 1839. DEDHAM, Mass. "We wanted to create here really warm, welcoming atmosphere. To learn more about Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue:luckyorphans.org. . The Bentonville Anti-Horse Thief Society was founded in Bentonville, Ohio in March 1853. Its all very secretive.. It was here before any of us, and when were all dead itll still be here, man. And during Colonial America and just after, the biggest investment that many people had was their horse. Nothing is unusual here, quipped her friend Fred Woffordof Dedham. The Society in Dedham for Apprehending Horse Thieves is 'the oldest continually existing horse thief apprehending organization in the United States, and one of Dedham 's most venerable social organizations.' Since its founding there have been more than 10,000 members including heads of state, Supreme Court justices, governors, popes, professors, generals, and other notables. Series in Four Parts. Mancuso stunned the assembled posse by announcing that she had three horses stolen in the first seven years she was in operation. In covering losses, Franklin valued Alfred Ely's missing horse at $80 ($1,200) and paid him $60 ($900). [12][15], On May 4, 1832,[16] the Society opened a bank account at the Dedham Institution for Savings and the account remains open today, and the bank claims that the account "may be the oldest continuously active account in the United States. Such judgment shall be deemed to be a final judgment when the remittitur from the appellate court of this state . When Lew Victor first heard about the Red Hook societya few years back, his heart sank a bit. He thought he found it on fake Rent-A-Hitman site, feds say, Search continues after 3 sailors on Mexico-to-San Diego trip go missing amid rough seas, The actor, the hairstylist and the eye surgeon: Drugs and death in a Malibu beach house, Have guests in town? Facing a highly organized and difficult-to-prosecute situation with horse thieves, the association was born in the late 1840s as a response to a challenging problem. The meeting followed by dinner will begin, Please plan to join us for what is always a hoot, a step back in time, with horse stories, gre. [21] Hampe initially thought the call was a joke, but eventually informed the caller that the Society's jurisdiction is limited to within 20 miles of the Norfolk County Courthouse. As Dedham became more suburban, membership dwindled, and by the end of the 19th century, attendance at the annual meeting was so sparse it looked like the group might disband. Today, if your grandfather was a member of the Ku Klux Klan, you're not going to tell anybody, researcher Paul Craig said of the organization in 2012 comments to the The Huntington County Tab. The object and purpose of said corporation is the recovery of stoien horses, and the detection and apprehension of horse thieves; to procure a place for holding meetings, and to accumulate and maintain a fund for that purpose which shall not exceed five thousand dollars. On a Friday night in May of 1908, two horses were stolen from Judge James McCabe's stable and a buggy and harness from Lawrence Wilson in the five points area northwest of Williamsport. July 13th, 1865, Eugene Russell, a member of the Association, gave notice that he had a horse stolen from his pasture on the night of the 12th or morning of the 13th, whereupon: The Association offered a reward of $25 for the horse, and $50 for the apprehension of the thief, to be paid upon conviction. At the time of Wilson's incarceration, the jail housed 375 prisoners, including 61 women. Lets hope that this mention of the organization helps expose itand its messy, but important, storyto more people. Owner Laurence Wintersteen and his team set out to make a meeting spot where anyone and everyone would feel comfortable. They got a bonus if they trailed a horse thief out of Dutchess County and brought the bandit back home, Klose said. The Society in Dedham for Apprehending Horse Thieves is the oldest continually existing horse thief apprehending organization in the United States.. Then a letter arrived from Red Hook. On todays thoroughbred farms there are few worries about stolen horse flesh. George Kerr of Washington Township was inducted into the Washington Township Horse Thief Detective Association in 1891. The husband and wife team of Harold and Debi Metcalfe became passionate about the issue because they were victims of horse thievery themselves. John F. Kennedy was a member. Upper Red Hook Society for the Apprehension and Detention of Horse Thieves, Independent Society for the Detection of Horse Thieves in the Lower Village of Red Hook. Its tough to launder a stud horse because its value depends on careful documentation of its parentage. On October 28, 1796, the first notices were posted in the area of Red Hook, New York, warning would-be horse thieves that the society had been formed to stop them . Given the typical modus operandi of this crime, therefore, apprehension required pursuit, if the animal was to be recovered. (In 1928, the now-defunct Indianapolis Times won a Pulitzer Prize for its unraveling of what might have been the biggest scandal in the states history.). It's no big commitment," Laibach said. The reason for their meeting and establishing the organization was "the great number of horses stolen from amongst us and in our vicinity." The Society continues to this day. "[40] Riders were required to weigh at least 200 pounds. (To keep dues down for our seniors and those on a budget.). So they put up posters with the names of the member farms listed, telling potential bad guys to look elsewhere for horses to steal, "basically saying 'We've got money, we're well funded, we've got our stuff together,'" Baright said. The Red Hook Society for the Apprehension and Detention of Horse Thieves is thought to be one of the oldest formal organizations in the state and still holds an annual meeting. [14] William Ellis, Jr., Calvin Guild, Major Abner Ellis, Paul Ellis, John Guild, Obed Baker, Reuben Morse, John Fisher, Jr., and Jason Messenger were elected as Riders for the Society. The Society has spawned imitators, with "The Society in Hampton Beach for the Apprehension of Those Falsely Accusing Eunice (Goody) Cole of . The Red Hook Society for the Apprehension and Detention of Horse Thieves gathered to mark 225 years of successful posse work. But please: No backlink requests. (WBZ NewsRadio) A local organization heads a warning to anyone who messes with horses throughout the state. When I got an e-mail saying, You in for Horse Thieves this year? I was, like, Are you kidding?. So, take your time, look around, and learn all there is to know about us. One Man's Crusade. The Red Hook Society for the Apprehension and Detention of Horse Thieves gathered to mark 225 years of successful posse work. * Anonymous donor 2017 for the 2nd $500 Scholarship. Not until the 1970s-80s, really. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. | Privacy Policy | Advertise With Us | RSS feed | Ernie on Mastodon. It is a place where locals and travelers mix in a warm and inviting atmosphere that serves hearty and healthy regional food and drinks. Cease and desistwere words the Massachusetts lawyer understood. After the couples horse, Idaho, went missing, they spent nearly a year looking using a variety of means, including digital. Our Society is very focused on the community and would love for you to visit our website at www.redhookhorsethieves.org. Later in the war, still a Confederate, Grenfell forgot his grudge and rejoined Morgan's command. One from the Independent Society for the Detection of Horse Thieves in the Lower Village of Red Hook and two from the Upper Red Hook Society for the Detection and Apprehension of Horse Thieves. [11]:417 The Society in Hampton Beach for the Apprehension of Those Falsely Accusing Eunice (Goody) Cole of Having Familiarity with the Devil was formed in 1936 in direct response to learning about the Society in Dedham. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Its become a fun society, Schneider said. Time (Thursday) 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm Location Yardley Historical Association And with the state of modern law enforcement, Klose said, we dont take things into our own hands any more.. (Wabash College). Established in 2019. But before the night was over an evening full of laughter and stories, dinner and stories, speechesand more storiesa gasp rippled through the barn when it was reported that the specter of horse thievery had once again reared its ugly head in Dutchess County, over near the Connecticut line. Themeeting had an invited interloper: A Massachusetts lawyer from the birthplace of presidents was there, for the free meal, he joked, but also to eat a little crow. (AP) _ Ronald Reagan is a member. So was just about every other president of his era. (Originated in what is now Upper Red Hook, The Town of Red Hook was formed some 17 years later in 1813.). The Bentonville Anti-Horse Thief Society was founded in Bentonville, Ohio in March 1853. Home of Traffic and Weather Together on the 3s. Disclosure: From time to time, we may use affiliate links in our contentbut only when it makes sense. The Society has been called upon four times[11]:436 and there is only one instance of a horse thief being caught by the Society. Here are 22 essential L.A. spots for every tourist, Column: We cant afford another writers strike. Bullets, Badges, and Bridles, a 2013 book on the topic of anti-horse-thief organizations by John Burchill, explained that the spread-out nature of the early colonies made these societies desirable: Most of the colonists lived in small communities, which meant that the detection of a crime, and often the person responsible, was not easy to evade. Our formation occurred in 1796 and official annual meetings have carried on with intention. * Ask Questions Horse theft, as a crime in general, often included removing the animal from the area to be used or sold without fear of being discovered. "[22] Former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis is a member, though when a reporter asked him he said he had never heard of the Society.[23]. There's still a lot of confusion and anxiety about it.. Blackwoods elaborate thefts drew attention thanks to the power of social media. Ernie Smith is the editor of Tedium, and an active internet snarker. At a second meeting, held at Millport, Mo., about a month later, a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and as horses seemed to be the principal objects of theft, the society took the name of the "Anti Horse Thief Association." [33], By 1899, horse thefts were becoming so rare that newspapers as far away as The Evening Times of Washington, D.C. were noting that "it might seem to the ordinary observer that the members ought to devote themselves to something worth doing, now that their particular object in life has disappeared. He was among several members who spoke of failed plans to bring an actual horse to a meeting. If you lost your horse, you lost your heart.. A handful of members are appointed to the position of rider, serving for one year, and are charged with the responsibility of answering the call when a members horse is reported stolen. [26], In 1906 an animal was stolen from Scarrys Livery Stable on Eastern Avenue. [1][6][11]:431 While by this time the Town of Dedham had a professional police force who was primarily responsible for tracking down the thief,[11]:431 at one point the chief of police was reporting to the Society. On October 28, 1796, the first notices were posted in the area of Red Hook, New York, warning would-be horse thieves . The society was created to stop horse thievery, since horses were essential to transportation and farming in the 19th century. Professional wrestler Ronald Snyder, 57, of Stoughton, also known as The Fabulous One,has been coming to the annual meeting in Dedham every year since 1982. This includes the areas of West Roxbury, Westwood, Needham and anywhere else in Massachusetts Schneider said. His in-a-nutshell explanation goes like this: "Your horse was everything. Ive always had the feeling they didnt hang them around here like they did in the Wild West, Duck said. Its with that spirit in mind that Id like to talk about a specific type of thievery that was a big deal in the days before carshorse theftand the people that worked to solve these crimes. On the other hand, though, it gave local communities the ability to take on the scourge of horse thievery. To keep that tradition, even if its with a wink and a nod, these days. It has outlasted a civil war and two world wars, survived depressions and pandemics, endured presidents who were Democrats, Republicans and Whigs. And it created a deep, deep fear in Hoosiers. They belong to The Society in Dedham for Apprehending Horse Thieves, even if they don't know it. The Red Hook group doesn't advertise its meetings in advance, but it maintains an archive of photos and meeting minutes on its website, www.redhookhorsethieves.org. This year, it was Deanna Mancuso, who grew up riding horses along Pelham Parkway in the Bronx. And so he arrived at Klose's barn, for the 225th meeting of a group that is 14 years older than his own. Robert Hanson, who has followed in the steps of his father and grandfather as clerk-treasurer of the Society, has said "I've always wondered what the reaction in the Vatican mail room is when they open the envelope and see the certificate. Please plan to join us for what is always a hoot, a step back in time, with horse stories, great people and good food. The order decrees that the laws of the land must be obeyed, though it costs many times the value of the property to capture the thief. Used by local horse thief detective Association in 1891 of Stephen Holmes on 10... Angeles Times * Anonymous donor 2017 for the 225th meeting of a group that 14... Thoroughbred farms there are few worries about stolen horse flesh official annual meetings have on... Horse Thieves, even if its with a wink and a nod, these days inviting... 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