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February 2026 Old Delhi Yarn     

Marianne Greenfield 

Petticoat Junction? Do you remember the television show, “Petticoat Junction”? I’m sure you never thought it had anything to do with Delhi. It’s not what you think. Delhi has been the home of many industrious, intelligent, and artistic women. This yarn will feature just a few of them. 

Jennie (Curtis) Cannon ( 1855-1929) 

Jennie (Curtis) Cannon married Henry White Cannon in 1879. Henry was related to the Cannon family who founded Cannonsville, NY. They lived in New York City and had a summer home in Delhi, on Main Street, where the Delhi Historical Association is now. The Cannon’s used the little park across the street from their home as a carriage and buggy park. The park was given to the Village of Delhi, to be used only as a public park. It’s now known as Cannon Memorial Park. It was renovated and redesigned by students from SUNY Delhi several years ago and is a lovely place of flowers, benches, Narnia-style street lamps, and the Little Free Library, thanks to the Delhi Rotary Club in 2024. Mrs. Cannon was very active in Women’s Suffrage and hosted meetings at the Cannon House. She was also a generous donor to the Cannon Memorial Library.  

Candace (Thurber) Wheeler ( 1827-1924) 

Candace (Thurber) Wheeler grew up on a farm where Delaware Academy is now, formerly the Sheldon estate. Her father, Abner Thurber, was a deacon of the Second Presbyterian Church, and a supporter of abolition. Candace married Tom Wheeler, from New York City. She took oil painting lessons from famous artists, including Frederic E. Church and George Henry Hall. Candace worked with Louis Comfort Tiffany in NYC. The beautiful stained glass window in the United Ministry was dedicated to Abner Thurber and given by the Thurber family in 1878.  

Wanita (Whittaker) Lewis ( 1914-2017) 

Wanita was born in the Town of Tompkins. In 1925 she moved with her family to Delhi when her father was elected Delaware County Clerk. Wanita married Don Lewis in 1933. She taught Sunday School, served as a Girl Scout leader and knit socks for the Red Cross during WW2. In 1962 she began working at the Delaware County Treasurer’s office and became an accountant in that office. Wanita was very active in many organizations. Her accomplishments were noted by people who encouraged her to run for Town of Delhi Supervisor, to which she was elected in 1973. While Wanita was Town Supervisor Eleanor Volante was Delhi Village Mayor. Here’s the tag line - Delhi became locally known as Petticoat Junction. Some people may think it’s insulting to women but I knew Wanita and she told me this story. Wanita thought it was wonderful and so do I. 

🚨 Office Closure Notice 🚨

Out of an abundance of caution and in light of the State of Emergency, the Town of Delhi Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s Office and the Town Justice Court will be closed tomorrow, Monday, January 26, 2026.

We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

Please stay safe, everyone! 

📌 Friendly Reminder – Town of Delhi 2026 Town & County Taxes
The last day to pay your 2026 Town & County Tax without penalty is February 2, 2026.
🕗 Office Hours:
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
💳 Can’t stop by during business hours?
A secure drop box is available at the main entrance of Town Hall, 5 Elm Street. The box is checked daily at 8:00 a.m. Payments placed in the drop box before 8:00 a.m. on February 3, 2026, will be accepted as on time.
📬 Mailed payments must be postmarked by February 2, 2026.
⚠️ Payments received or postmarked after February 2, 2026, will be subject to a 1% penalty per month, applied monthly.  The last day to pay your town taxes is April 30, 2026.  
Thank you for your prompt payment! 😊
 

An Old Delhi Yarn by Marianne Greenfield I took a short leave of absence from Delhi history due to a tick bite infection. I encourage everyone who spends time in cemeteries, or anywhere outdoors, to take precautions. Use insect and tick repellent and wear appropriate clothes and shoes. It was not fun.

 I’ve been thinking about the Old Delhi Burying Ground and the Delhi residents buried there. I’m already looking forward to working in Old Delhi again this spring. I haven’t found, and don’t know if one exists, a list of names of the people who were buried there. I have a list of the names on the gravestones I’ve discovered, so far. I’m researching all the names by combining the names on the dcnyhistory.org website and the 1981 CETA project with the names on gravestones I’ve found that aren’t on either list. I don’t expect to find info on the children buried there. The statistics on infant and childhood mortality in the 1800’s are staggering. Nearly every family lost at least one child and some lost all. Diphtheria was the leading cause of death, especially among children, also measles, scarlet fever and tuberculosis. Thankfully, we have protections in place now. 

While researching Old Delhi I’ve encountered a misunderstanding among several people that all the people buried in Old Delhi were disinterred and reinterred in Woodland Cemetery. There were several important people removed to Woodland Cemetery, the operative word being ‘important’. One of Delhi’s founders was William Youmans, Esq., 1820-1896, whose home, the former Penfield estate, is adjacent to Old Delhi, and who gave a strip of land to be used for entrance and exit to the burying ground. There were at least 3 large monuments for Delhi elite at the juncture of the northwest and southwest sections. Those were the burials and monuments for Erastus Root, Osman Steele, Brig Gen Henry Leavenworth, his wife, Electa Knapp Leavenworth, and their infant. At least 3 Revolutionary War Veteran’s - Jonathan Finney, Nathaniel Steele and George Fisher, also a founder of Delhi - were removed to Woodland Cemetery. George Fisher originally had a Coffin Man gravestone but when his remains were reinterred in Woodland Cemetery his grave marker was replaced, as I discussed in a previous article. I also plan to upload my photos to Find A Grave. 

Mr. Youmans decided he wasn’t happy with the volume of traffic to and from the burying ground so he mounted a 20+ year campaign of litigation with the Village of Delhi for the removal of all burials to Woodland Cemetery. The expense would have to be assumed by the Village and the Village fathers wisely chose not to approve it. Several other families decided to remove their loved one’s remains but I don’t have much info on them at this time. I’ll include the list of names on the gravestones I’ve found in future Old Delhi Yarns. 

I will be writing about other aspects of Delhi history in other old yarns, so don’t worry, not every yarn will be gravestones and cemeteries. I want to search for info on who Delhi streets and roads are named for and I’ll try to find info on old houses in Delhi but that’s all for now. Please email any suggestions you have for future stories and feel free to let me know if I got something wrong. My email address is historian@villageofdelhi.com.

 I’d like to leave you with one of my favorite winter poems, by Robert Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”. I don’t know why but it reminds me of Delhi.

 Whose woods these are I think I know,

 His house is in the village though; 

He will not see me stopping here 

To watch his woods fill up with snow. 

My little horse must think it queer 

To stop without a farmhouse near

 Between the woods and frozen lake 

The darkest evening of the year. 

He gives his harness bells a shake 

To ask if there is some mistake.

 The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.

 The woods are lovely, dark and deep 

But I have promises to keep 

And miles to go before I sleep, 

And miles to go before I sleep.

📢 Holiday Office Closure Notice
The Town of Delhi Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s Office will close at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, December 24 and will reopen on Monday, December 29 at 8:00 AM.    🎄 The Town of Delhi wishes everyone a happy, safe holiday filled with peace and joy!

Legal Notice
Notice of Tax Collection for the Town of Delhi

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that I, the undersigned, collector of taxes for the Town of Delhi, Delaware County, State of New York, upon duly receiving the tax roll and warrant for the collection of taxes for the fiscal year 2026, will be in attendance at the Town Hall located at 5 Elm Street on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from the hours of 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. for the purpose of receiving taxes listed on said roll. 

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, taxes may be paid on or before February 2, 2026 without charge of interest. On all such remaining unpaid taxes after February 2, 2026, there shall be added interest of one(1) percent for the first month  and an additional one (1) percent for each additional month or fraction thereafter until such taxes are paid to the Delaware County Treasurer, pursuant to law. 

BE IT FUTHER NOTED there will be an additional charge of $20.00 for all checks returned unpaid.

Dated:   December 17, 2025

Elsa Schmitz
Town Clerk/Tax Collector
Town of Delhi
 

🚧 Town of Delhi Highway Department – Delay Notice 🚧

The Town of Delhi Highway Department will be performing tree removals on Scotch Mountain Road between Arbuckle Hollow Road and Thompson Cross Road Thursday, November 20, 2025.  Between the hours of 8:00am – 1:30pm. 

⚠️ Please expect long delays during this time, it is advised that you seek an alternative route.  Thank you.

— Town of Delhi Highway Department

2026 Town Budget was approved November 10, 2025.https://townofdelhiny.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2026_town_budget.pdf

NOTICE OF HEARING UPON PRELIMINARY BUDGET

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Delhi Town Board will hold a public hearing on the Preliminary 2026 Budget at the Town Hall, 5 Elm Street at 6:00pm, on the 10th day of November 2025 and that at such hearing any person may be heard in favor or against the preliminary budget as compiled for or against any item or items therein contained.  Pursuant to Section 108 of the Town Law, the proposed salaries of the town officers are hereby specified as follows:
Supervisor $12,300.00
Councilmember 4 each at 3,050.00
HWY Superintendent 42,436.00
Town Clerk/Tax Collector 45,386.00
Justice 30,219.00
The regular monthly Town Board Meeting will be held directly following the Public Hearing.
Dated: October 9, 2025
By order of the Delhi Town Board
Elsa Schmitz
Delhi Town Clerk

Notice of Office Closures:

The Town of Delhi Clerk's Office, Highway Department, Assessor’s Office, and Justice Court will be closed on Monday, October 13, 2025.   Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.  Thank you.

TOWN OF DELHI
Office of the Town Clerk
5 Elm Street
Delhi, NY  13753
(607)746-8696x1

The Town of Delhi is seeking a Municipal Code Enforcement Officer. This position is part-time
and the salary will be based on experience and qualifications.  Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to:
Town of Delhi
Attn: Town Clerk’s Office 
5 Elm Street
Delhi, NY  13753

All resumes must be received by October 6, 2025, by 3:00pm.  For a job description, please contact the Delhi Town Clerk’s Office, Monday-Friday 8:00am-3:00pm at 607-746-8696x1 or by email at townclerk@townofdelhi.org.
 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: There will be a joint meeting/workshop of the Town of Delhi and Village of Delhi for discussions of a joint municipal facility and any other business to come before the council.  Said meeting/workshop will be held on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 5:30pm at the Village of Delhi, 9 Court Street, Delhi New York.

By Order of the Delhi Town Council

Elsa Schmitz

Town of Delhi, Town Clerk

Historian’s Report September 2025:

 I’m working in Old Delhi now and will continue until the weather gets too cold. 

I borrowed the Town copy of the CETA project to compare my findings with what they learned in 1981. CETA was a project done by students to document all the cemeteries in Delaware County. I don’t know if other counties also had cemeteries documented. The book is large - about 15” x21”. It contains information on all the cemeteries in the Town of Delhi, including Old Delhi, that the students were able to find, including some that are inaccessible now. Each cemetery is mapped for burials, names, dates, type of stone and comments, like “wife of”, or “son of”. I took the CETA book to the Delaware County Planning Board and they copied the whole book for me, plus a flash drive. I hope someone can copy the flash drive so both the Town and the Village have a copy. It’s a large, floppy book and difficult to use in the field so I’d like to keep it in the cage on the rolling cart. 

The CETA project for the Court St cemetery (Old Delhi) found 26 names on the gravestones, plus about 10 unknowns. Some names are spelled incorrectly and only a fraction of the gravestones were included. There was a typo on the one of the pages that became immediately apparent when I did a test of the coordinates for a gravestone I know well, Allen Knapp. His marker is a small marble obelisk on the south east corner (Court St) near the sign. When the original document was made the first few columns are spaced 2 lines down from the top. The next few columns have single line spacing from the top for the remaining columns. A straight edge must be used to match the info on the left side of the page with the correct info on the right, slanting it by 1 row for each name. Once I figured it out, I was able to compensate for the error.

 The other document I work with is from the dcnyhistory.org website. Unfortunately, the mistakes made by the CETA project have been transferred to dcnyhistory site. The dcnyhistory project was able to find and identify more gravestones than CETA, a total of 46. I don’t have a working copy of this document but I can access it on my phone. In addition, I’ve found gravestones that weren’t discovered by either CETA or dcnyhistory. I haven’t found a document yet stating how many burials there were originally. Tuesday, Sept 2 Dale and Tina Utter and I reset 3 gravestones, Mary Leet, Asahel A. Phelps and Alfred Byron Curtis, who died at 7 weeks old. The baby’s gravestone was the one we had to move to get the equipment in to remove the trees. I was confident I would remember exactly where the grave was. We started digging out a small trench to reset the gravestone and found a perfectly intact, very old, very small glass bottle. We surmised Alfred’s family had brought flowers to his grave and left the small bottle. The bottle ensured we were digging in the correct spot of the grave. We returned all the glass fragments we unearthed to the holes we dug when resetting all the gravestones. I don’t keep any artifacts I find while working as historian so I gave the glass bottle to Mayor Gearhart. I also found a photo online of a cotton and wool coverlet made by Asahel Amora Phelps, 1841, in the Colonial Williamsburg Collection, Accession number 2006.609.11. 

My plan is to place garden stakes at each gravestone I want to work on to positively identify or reset. I combined the CETA list with the dcnyhistory list. Last week I was able to positively ID 4 more known gravestones and discovered 2 gravestones that aren’t on either list. I had a purchase order to buy a rake, a pail for stones and a trowel to start resetting small gravestones. I will ask (or I have already asked) Daren Evans for several partial pails of crusher run gravel for filling in around the gravestone as it’s being reset. My friend, Cindy Tennant, from Walton, has volunteered to work with me once a week, when possible. I can’t yet estimate how long the restoration will take but I think several years. 

My winter project will be to research the streets and roads in the Village and Town of Delhi. I hope to learn how they were named. 

Marianne Greenfield, Historian

🚧 Town of Delhi Highway Department – Delay Notice 🚧

The Town of Delhi Highway Department will be performing oil and stone (chip sealing) work on the following roads today, Monday, September 8, 2025: 

Arbor Hill Road 

Elk Creek Road

Webster Brook Road

⚠️ Please expect delays during this time.

— Town of Delhi Highway Department