Aventuras de Tom Tyler: Port Henry, New York: Where Tom Tyler was born

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Port Henry, New York: Where Tom Tyler was born

This post regards the quaint upper New York state hamlets of Port Henry-Moriah nestled in the Adirondacks where Tom was born. He came into the world as Vincent Markowski (or in his parents' native language, Wincenty) on August 9, 1903 in Port Henry, most likely in the house where his parents lived.

Wincenty

Located by Lake Champlain, Port Henry-Moriah has a rich historical past that includes nearby mines, beautiful architecture, and parks suitable for outdoor recreation, including boating and swimming. One unique annual event that takes place in Port Henry-Moriah is Annual Champ Day held on the first Saturday of August. Champ is a reputed sea monster similar to Nessie, with sightings dating back to 1819 right in Bulwaga Bay, although the Abenaki and Iroquois tribes knew of some unusual water creature living in the lake for centuries. I wonder if young Vincent ever saw Champ?

But back to Vincent and his Hollywood dreams. Port Henry-Moriah was home to a filmmaking studio called Arctic City in the early 1910's and 1920's which is best known for having shot parts of the silent film serial “The Perils of Pauline” on location there. Chances are he knew about this serial, even though when it was filmed in 1914 he was 11 years old, having regularly patronized the cinema with his family and friends. Being such a small hamlet (the population was 1,751 in 1900), Port Henry offered limited amounts of “city life activities” to its citizens who more likely than not spent their time on outdoor activities, regardless of the season. It is not too difficult to imagine young Vincent playing outside, being as athletic as he was, climbing trees, running down to the bay with his friends, laughing and having lots of fun.

To really enjoy a piece of Vincent's early years in Port Henry, it is worth looking at the hamlet itself, as built by its early settlers. This includes notable historical buildings in Port Henry-Moriah like The Iron Center and Town Hall which are in the National Register, as well as many other architectural structures worth admiring, such as the Mount Moriah Presbyterian Church. Just walking upon the land Vincent placed his first steps on is a wonderful way to be in touch with a part of his happy past.