"USE IT UP, WEAR IT OUT, MAKE IT DO, OR DO WITHOUT.
Western New Yorkers who witnessed the Bullis Family's frugality assumed that it came from their Vermont roots. Whatever the primary source may have been, Nettie and Charlie learned this lifestyle at their father's knee because Abraham Bullis spent his money only on the very necessities of living.
Abraham's children received new clothing only when their old clothes were worn out. Toys were a rarity in the Bullis home, and Abraham never allowed his children to play games unless the games taught them something. He wanted them to think for themselves and be creative. Obviously, he accomplished his child-rearing goals because Nettie and Charlie were known for their independent, creative thinking. And they both followed their father's conservative lifestyle.
Nettie and Charlie both maintained simple diets during their lives. Charlie's favorite food was dry cereal and peanut butter/brown-sugar sandwiches while Nettie, it is recorded, routinely stopped by a grocery store on her evening trip home from work to buy two slices of bologna, sometimes bread, and a pint bottle of milk for her supper. Charlie also made the rounds of Rochester bakeries for stale breads, which he soaked in warm water to make edible.
Both dressed quite simply, making-do with the same clothing year after year. Nettie's style of dress was businesslike and always neat, but with few changes over the years.
Charlie was into recycling long before anyone else knew the word. He used dry cereal boxes to make filing cases for his business papers and made-do with only one light for his illumination in the nighttime hours. To conserve heat, he sat directly over the heat register in a chair fashioned out of a large cardboard box, with a light bulb for additional heat.
We may smile and roll our eyes at the idea of some of these frugal behaviors. However, today as we raise concerns about our carbon footprints and worsening global economy, perhaps we would be wise to take another look at some of Charlie's and Nettie's frugal ways.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
CHARLES ROGERS BULLIS
In March we honored Nettie Bullis on her birthday. Now, as crocuses show their colorful faces and daffodil shoots poke through April's warming soil, our attention appropriately turns to her only sibling, Charlie, and his horticultural achievements.
He was Abraham and Josephine's eldest child, born October 13, 1891. After finishing high school at Macedon Union School, Charlie briefly taught at District #2 school in Walworth, New York. In 1913 he applied and passed the entrance exam to Cornell University but never attended the school. Following service in World War I, he devoted himself to projects conducted in and on the family's Canandaigua Road property.
His horticulture interest evidently stemmed from both genetic and environmental factors, according to Elizabeth Ferrari's 1984 account in THE BULLIS FAMILY OF MACEDON, NEW YORK:
Abraham's wife, Josephine, was a very fine lady. Her home was always
spotless and her yards filled with beautifully kept flower gardens of
tulips, daffodils, irises, and lilacs. These gardens were begun by
her husband.
Ferrari also notes that Charlie was a highly intelligent man who thought differently than others. He had a variety of interests and would start projects that he soon lost interest in, such as his flying glider invention that he abandoned "before he could put the feathers on it!" However, he never lost interest in breeding his flowers and plants.
Through years of experimenting, Charlie bred many of his own hybrid plants. He developed a hybrid corn that interested American Can Company, collected sweet corn from Indian tribes all over the world, and bred a corn kernel one inch in diameter. As a result, Cornell University asked him to help them with the breeding of corn. He pursued these horticultural projects over many years, but did not follow through on either American Can or Cornell's proposals.
Although Charlie did not earn a higher-level educational degree, he became a renowned botanist by extensive self-study (reading the vast choice of books and materials in the family library) and through experimentation. His expertise was greatly respected and other botanists throughout North America sought his advice. His urge to share knowledge with others is evident in his contributions to horticulture bulletins and journals. One of these papers was respectfully referred to by a Canadian forest-tree geneticist.
A favorite story of Charlie-admirers centers around a horticultural manuscript that he needed typed in order to submit it for publication. He found a neighbor who was willing to do the work and paid for that clerical work with some of his prized tulip bulbs. (He was a staunch believer in bartering.) Other examples of his New England thriftiness, as well as the high value others put on his horticulture achievements, regularly occurred in Charlie's lifetime.
Charlie's only apparent extravagance was in producing the beautiful, showy flowers that brought pleasure to everyone who saw them. Local residents today still speak of driving by the Bullis house when he was alive and admiring the sea of red poppies and yellow daffodils.
Charlie Bullis died in the springtime on May 13, 1974, when all his flowers were blooming.
He was Abraham and Josephine's eldest child, born October 13, 1891. After finishing high school at Macedon Union School, Charlie briefly taught at District #2 school in Walworth, New York. In 1913 he applied and passed the entrance exam to Cornell University but never attended the school. Following service in World War I, he devoted himself to projects conducted in and on the family's Canandaigua Road property.
His horticulture interest evidently stemmed from both genetic and environmental factors, according to Elizabeth Ferrari's 1984 account in THE BULLIS FAMILY OF MACEDON, NEW YORK:
Abraham's wife, Josephine, was a very fine lady. Her home was always
spotless and her yards filled with beautifully kept flower gardens of
tulips, daffodils, irises, and lilacs. These gardens were begun by
her husband.
Ferrari also notes that Charlie was a highly intelligent man who thought differently than others. He had a variety of interests and would start projects that he soon lost interest in, such as his flying glider invention that he abandoned "before he could put the feathers on it!" However, he never lost interest in breeding his flowers and plants.
Through years of experimenting, Charlie bred many of his own hybrid plants. He developed a hybrid corn that interested American Can Company, collected sweet corn from Indian tribes all over the world, and bred a corn kernel one inch in diameter. As a result, Cornell University asked him to help them with the breeding of corn. He pursued these horticultural projects over many years, but did not follow through on either American Can or Cornell's proposals.
Although Charlie did not earn a higher-level educational degree, he became a renowned botanist by extensive self-study (reading the vast choice of books and materials in the family library) and through experimentation. His expertise was greatly respected and other botanists throughout North America sought his advice. His urge to share knowledge with others is evident in his contributions to horticulture bulletins and journals. One of these papers was respectfully referred to by a Canadian forest-tree geneticist.
A favorite story of Charlie-admirers centers around a horticultural manuscript that he needed typed in order to submit it for publication. He found a neighbor who was willing to do the work and paid for that clerical work with some of his prized tulip bulbs. (He was a staunch believer in bartering.) Other examples of his New England thriftiness, as well as the high value others put on his horticulture achievements, regularly occurred in Charlie's lifetime.
Charlie's only apparent extravagance was in producing the beautiful, showy flowers that brought pleasure to everyone who saw them. Local residents today still speak of driving by the Bullis house when he was alive and admiring the sea of red poppies and yellow daffodils.
Charlie Bullis died in the springtime on May 13, 1974, when all his flowers were blooming.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
When we Bullis volunteers think of the words "women" and "history," our first thoughts are of our own Nettie Bullis. In the coming weeks, you will see more of her outstanding history related on this blog.
However, we cannot let the month of March go out (whether like a lion or lamb) without calling attention to Women's History Month and some of the books in the collection about women who changed the course of history in both small and large ways. Here is a partial list. We invite you to stop by and take a look at some or all of them.
WOMEN OF THE WAR, THEIR HEROISM AND SELF-SACRIFICE, by Frank Moore
(illustrated with steel engravings, Hartford, Conn., 1866
MOSLEM WOMEN, by A. E. and S. M. Zwemer, (illustrated)
Brattleboro, Vermont, 1926
FAMOUS AUTHORS (WOMEN), by E. F. Harkins, Boston, 1906
THE WOMEN OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, VOL. 2, by Elizabeth Ellet,
New York, 1849
WESTERN WOMEN AND EASTERN LANDS, by Helen Montgomery, (illustrated)
Norwood, Massachusetts, 1910
PORTRAITS OF CELEBRATED WOMEN, by C. A. Sainte-Beuve, Boston, 1868
However, we cannot let the month of March go out (whether like a lion or lamb) without calling attention to Women's History Month and some of the books in the collection about women who changed the course of history in both small and large ways. Here is a partial list. We invite you to stop by and take a look at some or all of them.
WOMEN OF THE WAR, THEIR HEROISM AND SELF-SACRIFICE, by Frank Moore
(illustrated with steel engravings, Hartford, Conn., 1866
MOSLEM WOMEN, by A. E. and S. M. Zwemer, (illustrated)
Brattleboro, Vermont, 1926
FAMOUS AUTHORS (WOMEN), by E. F. Harkins, Boston, 1906
THE WOMEN OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, VOL. 2, by Elizabeth Ellet,
New York, 1849
WESTERN WOMEN AND EASTERN LANDS, by Helen Montgomery, (illustrated)
Norwood, Massachusetts, 1910
PORTRAITS OF CELEBRATED WOMEN, by C. A. Sainte-Beuve, Boston, 1868
Thursday, March 19, 2009
NETTIE BULLIS
IN MEMORY OF JEANETTE AURELIA (NETTIE) BULLIS
March 23, 1893 - October 1, 1979
She titled her 1911 Macedon High School valedictory address, "Life Like Every Other Blessing Derives Its Value From Its Use." Nettie Bullis lived by the message she delivered that day.
After briefly attending Cornell University and teaching school in Marion, New York, Nettie found work as a bookkeeper at Gleason Works in Rochester. She held that position for about ten years and was seriously contemplating a change to work for the Buffalo, Rochester, and Pittsburgh Railroad Company, headquartered in Rochester. However, an opportunity for advancement within Gleason Works developed and she decided to remain there. She continued her diligent climb up the corporate ladder and at the time of her retirement was Assistant Secretary of Gleason Works.
She became a wealthy woman through careful planning, saving, and wise investments, and spent little of what she accumulated. Nettie generously shared this wealth during her lifetime with a long list of recipients. This sharing goes on after her death, with the number of individuals and organizations benefiting from her generosity growing annually.
Nettie practiced what she "preached" in her 1911 valedictory address. She added great value to her life by using it.
How do we express our appreciation for that life? By saying simply and sincerely, "Thank you, Nettie."
That is exactly what Palmyra-Macedon Central School District did on June 26, 2008 when they named Nettie a "Graduate of Distinction." The certificate is currently displayed here in the Bullis Room.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
BULLIS FAMILY HISTORY--EARLY MACEDON YEARS
(As recorded in: THE BULLIS FAMILY OF MACEDON, NEW YORK, by Elizabeth Ferrari, April, 1984)
In the mid-1600s, when political and religious turmoil were driving many Englishmen from their homeland, Phillip Bullis left England to settle in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1663 Phillip married Judith Hart, thus beginning the many generations of Bullises to become part of America. The Bullis families settled throughout New England and New York. In 1837, the Charles H. Bullis family came to Macedon, Wayne County, New York to settle.
Charles H. Bullis was born in Manchester, Vermont on January 23, 1786. On January 1. 1812, Charles married Eleanor Carbone of Greenwich, New York. He had relatives living in Greenwich and it is likely that he met Eleanor while he was visiting there. He and his wife took up residence in Manchester, Vermont until 1837.
They left Vermont on November 13, 1837. Charles Bullis, great-grandson of Charles H. Bullis, said that his great-grandfather may have received a land grant in Ohio which prompted him to make this move. It is said that when they got to New York, they took a canal boat from the town of Troy, New York. During their trip they stopped in Macedon to visit some friends. Macedon was and still is a beautiful town with a rolling landscape of drumlins and acres and acres of productible land. This land would be encouraging to any man. After visiting for some time in Macedon, Charles decided to remain there.
Charles and Eleanor had two children: Abraham R. Bullis and Amy R. Bullis. Little is known about Amy. She was born on December 21, 1824, in Manchester, Vermont and died on January 2, 1905 in Palmyra, New York. Abraham was born July 8, 1815 in Manchester, Vermont. After arriving in Macedon he attended Geneva Medical College, Geneva, New York. Upon becoming a doctor, he began practices in Farmington, Ontario County, and in Macedon. He was one of Macedon's first physicians. Abraham married Lydia Porter Lapham and had seven children: John Lapham, Mary Jane, Charles Henry, Abraham Rogers Junior, Abraham Rogers III, Lydia Porter and Jeanette Eleanor. He also had a second wife, Olive Aldrich Bullis. No children were born of this marriage.
Abraham R. Bullis was the only one of Doctor Bullis' children to remain in Macedon. He was born on September 4, 1854 in Farmington, New York. At the age of eight, his mother died and he went to live with his grandfather at the old family homestead in Macedon. In later years, after attending Macedon Academy from 1868-1869, he taught for a few years in various district schools, including Macedon Union School. He left teaching to enter Cornell University. In 1881 he graduated with a degree in Mathematics and the following year received a degree in Civil Engineering. He was a very smart man and was offered many positions from various governments and colleges. Abe would not take the jobs, because it would take him away from Macedon. He worked as a surveyor in much of Wayne County and held many other important positions in the Macedon area.
In 1884 he married Josephine Breese, daughter of J. D. Breese, of Macedon. Abraham's only son, Charlie, was born October 13, 1891, in Macedon, and his only daughter, Jeanette (Nettie) Aurelia Bullis, was born on March 23, 1893.
(Nettie Bullis will be featured next week in our Bullis Family History entry.)
In the mid-1600s, when political and religious turmoil were driving many Englishmen from their homeland, Phillip Bullis left England to settle in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1663 Phillip married Judith Hart, thus beginning the many generations of Bullises to become part of America. The Bullis families settled throughout New England and New York. In 1837, the Charles H. Bullis family came to Macedon, Wayne County, New York to settle.
Charles H. Bullis was born in Manchester, Vermont on January 23, 1786. On January 1. 1812, Charles married Eleanor Carbone of Greenwich, New York. He had relatives living in Greenwich and it is likely that he met Eleanor while he was visiting there. He and his wife took up residence in Manchester, Vermont until 1837.
They left Vermont on November 13, 1837. Charles Bullis, great-grandson of Charles H. Bullis, said that his great-grandfather may have received a land grant in Ohio which prompted him to make this move. It is said that when they got to New York, they took a canal boat from the town of Troy, New York. During their trip they stopped in Macedon to visit some friends. Macedon was and still is a beautiful town with a rolling landscape of drumlins and acres and acres of productible land. This land would be encouraging to any man. After visiting for some time in Macedon, Charles decided to remain there.
Charles and Eleanor had two children: Abraham R. Bullis and Amy R. Bullis. Little is known about Amy. She was born on December 21, 1824, in Manchester, Vermont and died on January 2, 1905 in Palmyra, New York. Abraham was born July 8, 1815 in Manchester, Vermont. After arriving in Macedon he attended Geneva Medical College, Geneva, New York. Upon becoming a doctor, he began practices in Farmington, Ontario County, and in Macedon. He was one of Macedon's first physicians. Abraham married Lydia Porter Lapham and had seven children: John Lapham, Mary Jane, Charles Henry, Abraham Rogers Junior, Abraham Rogers III, Lydia Porter and Jeanette Eleanor. He also had a second wife, Olive Aldrich Bullis. No children were born of this marriage.
Abraham R. Bullis was the only one of Doctor Bullis' children to remain in Macedon. He was born on September 4, 1854 in Farmington, New York. At the age of eight, his mother died and he went to live with his grandfather at the old family homestead in Macedon. In later years, after attending Macedon Academy from 1868-1869, he taught for a few years in various district schools, including Macedon Union School. He left teaching to enter Cornell University. In 1881 he graduated with a degree in Mathematics and the following year received a degree in Civil Engineering. He was a very smart man and was offered many positions from various governments and colleges. Abe would not take the jobs, because it would take him away from Macedon. He worked as a surveyor in much of Wayne County and held many other important positions in the Macedon area.
In 1884 he married Josephine Breese, daughter of J. D. Breese, of Macedon. Abraham's only son, Charlie, was born October 13, 1891, in Macedon, and his only daughter, Jeanette (Nettie) Aurelia Bullis, was born on March 23, 1893.
(Nettie Bullis will be featured next week in our Bullis Family History entry.)
Thursday, February 26, 2009
MIDWINTER WISH BOOKS
As the snow drifts grew higher in January and mid-February, visions of summer's blossoms danced in our heads. The colorful flower illustrations found in those wish books that arrived after the first of the year reassured us that warm days would come again, melt away the snow, and awaken dormant plants from their long winter's nap.
Nettie and her brother Charles, who saved some of their gardening catalogs, must have carefully poured over each page, looking at the new cultivars offered each year and then sending orders off to Burpee, Lovett or Vaughan. Dates on these catalogs in the collection indicate that this horticulture fascination went back to earlier members of the Bullis family as well, even before Nettie and Charlie were old enough to wield a hoe and shovel.
For example, from 1896 there are copies of DREER'S AUTUMN CATALOGUE and LOVETT'S GUIDE TO HORTICULTURE. Vaughan's colorful 1933 GARDENING ILLUSTRATED is preserved in our file along with copies of Peter Henderson & Company's 1896, 1916, and 1933 publications, which offered "seeds, bulbs, plants, roots, implements, sundries," all illustrated in black and white as well as color. Burpee's 1917 publication offered similar stock to the public and even enclosed in their catalog an "Application for Domestic Money Order" for the customer's convenience in remitting the amount due.
Those of you who enjoyed Charlie's garden on Canandaigua Road for many, many years were privileged to see the results of his catalog purchases as well as his expertise in producing his own cultivars. Today, it's our responsibility to carry on the local tradition, started by the Bullis family and other Macedon pioneering families, of leafing through garden catalogs (or scanning online versions) and placing orders (using credit cards instead of money orders). Then, like Charlie and Nettie, we sit back and wait for Memorial Day weekend to begin the process of turning our wishes into reality.
BOOK REPAIR
This week several Bullis Room volunteers met to repair books with missing or loose boards(aka "covers"). To accomplish this, here's what we did:
1. We arranged for an expert in book repair to instruct and guide us. This is essential, unless you are knowledgeable and experienced in this area.
2. Next, we assembled the supplies and materials needed: white glue, scissors, cork-backed rulers, pencils, sharp knife, wax paper, paper towels, binder's board, crash (a stiff cheesecloth material), craft paper, head bands, cloth or leather for covering the new boards, and paper for end sheets. These items can be purchased at art and discount stores or book binding supply houses.
3. Prior to our session, we measured the books to be repaired and cut the replacement parts out of the new materials.
4. With books and supplies organized on a large work table, we then carefully listened to and followed the expert's instructions, as she patiently guided us through the process. (Please take note of the word "patiently.")
The results were books with new endsheets and boards, securely bound together with the text block. Hurray! We hope to give this same TLC to other books in the collection that are showing signs of aging.
Note: if you're interested in repairing your own books, we suggest you contact your local book-repair expert or use your favorite search engine to locate illustrated instructions on the web. Good Luck.
1. We arranged for an expert in book repair to instruct and guide us. This is essential, unless you are knowledgeable and experienced in this area.
2. Next, we assembled the supplies and materials needed: white glue, scissors, cork-backed rulers, pencils, sharp knife, wax paper, paper towels, binder's board, crash (a stiff cheesecloth material), craft paper, head bands, cloth or leather for covering the new boards, and paper for end sheets. These items can be purchased at art and discount stores or book binding supply houses.
3. Prior to our session, we measured the books to be repaired and cut the replacement parts out of the new materials.
4. With books and supplies organized on a large work table, we then carefully listened to and followed the expert's instructions, as she patiently guided us through the process. (Please take note of the word "patiently.")
The results were books with new endsheets and boards, securely bound together with the text block. Hurray! We hope to give this same TLC to other books in the collection that are showing signs of aging.
Note: if you're interested in repairing your own books, we suggest you contact your local book-repair expert or use your favorite search engine to locate illustrated instructions on the web. Good Luck.
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