Most of the items in this room are musical; even the rare radios and recording players can be considered musical devices. One of the more unique is the Edison home phonograph.
The first curator of the museum was Harold Storie. Harold's father and uncle, Arthur and Theodore Storie owned a radio shop on John Street in Gouverneur and Harold was an early adopter and radio specialist. Many radios from his personal collection are now at the museum.
In the "Roaring Twenties" Gouverneur was home to a popular band called Hyde's Orchestra. Their music kept everyone dancing.
The band was a family affair, managed by violin player Alger Hyde, with Helen Hyde on drums, and brother Claude Hyde on the piano. Helen learned percussion from Carl Clapp, who was the drummer at the Gouverneur movie theater. The group also included Edmund Harlan, who played the horn and Vernon Gardner on the saxophone. Claude played the piano and on November 24, 1934, he purchased this very beautiful La Tosca Piano Accordion.
The unusual looking radio was manufactured by FaDa Radio company. It was sold to Burr Hurlbut, from Richville by Harold Storie when he had a radio shop on John Street. He donated it to the museum in 1974. This radio was made in 1925.
The cabinet is wood and face is tilted back. The dial has three large knobs and three below. The speaker horn is a Music Master, about 13 inches in diameter. Complete with batteries and antenna, it cost $200.00. The stand for the radio was donated by Harold Storie, expressly for this radio.
Among the Music Room's phones, phonographs, radios, sheet music and player piano, is a model boat - what is a boat doing in the Music Room? Once you learn more about it, you realize this steamboat model is also very much belongs in this room. This boat is well connected to Mr. Storie and his family.
The steamer, Oswegatchie, was the last to operate on Black Lake. She was built by Arthur K. Storie in 1905 near Rossie. It ran the waters from Rossie to Heuvelton, with stops along the way for both business and pleasure.
The Oswegatchie Steamer sunk in a 1908 storm. A letter describing the details of the event can be found on our website. Harold Storie was on this boat when it sunk. No lives were lost.
Music Room Docent: Sue Cartwright