July 12th

1812

Colonel Morgan, proprietor of the “Stags Head Tavern” (formerly Cranes Tavern) entertained General Stephen Van Rensselaer and his officers on their way to the Canadian frontier. A sumptuous banquet was served followed by the usual toasts.

1831

Edward Ellice sold his father’s property at Little Falls, consisting of lots from the Burnetsfield and Fall Hill Patents and other parcels, to Albany and New York City interests. A new Little Falls lawyer, Arphaxed Loomis, had aroused the local citizens against Ellice because of his unfair leasing practices. Commercial development at Little Falls had been hindered by lawsuits around Ellice’s sale of properties involving water rights.

1855

A ball was held by The African M. E. Zion Church at the Temperance Hall in Little Falls to commemorate the 27th anniversary of their freedom in the North. Large crowds watched the festivities from the balconies of the hall.

1901

He’s located; he’s not. Hadley Jones has been “located” by the newspapers but not yet by the officials and detectives looking for him. A gentleman who knew both Mr. and Mrs. Jones claim they were fellow passengers on a vessel sailing from New York City to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. From there, they took a steamer to a port further south. Most doubt these reports.

1969

The Aldermen were unanimous in their approval of the plans for the East-West Arterial through Little Falls. The project will run from Glen Avenue to east of Ward Street, and will entail tearing down the homes on the south side of Hancock Street and many on John Street. Affected residents are asking that the route be changed.

July 13th

1855

James Conover, having business on the Roll Way, took his nine-year old son along with him to the foot of the hill. Although he was told to “stay put,” the boy ascended the steep hill to a considerable height following his father, became dizzy, lost his balance and fell to the bottom of the hill. He was seriously injured and is under the care of Dr. Ingham.

1932

Chief of Police James Long had a caller this morning – Mike Masco whom the chief had arrested in November 1916 for Little Falls’ celebrated trunk murder. Recently released from prison, Masco came to this city and wanted the chief to secure a job for him so he and his wife could start life anew.

July 14th

1864

The prolongation of the Civil War necessitated replenishing the Union ranks, and volunteers weren’t numerous or enthusiastic. Major Zenas Priest, county supervisor from Little Falls village, proposed that the county offer a “bounty” of $300 to each man joining the colors.

1896

The Bicycle Club, Rifle Corps, and the Union Guards joined together and incorporated as the Athletic Association of Little Falls. Dues will be used to equip the gymnasium and drill hall.

1905

The Sheard’s Park bandstand on Furnace Street is now open.

1911

A boulder weighing two tons has been drawn to the site of the old Octagon church, on Church Street, and will be fitted up as a marker. The D. A. R. will dedicate the marker during centennial week in September.

1914

The aldermen have started the proceedings to condemn the property at the corner of Main and William streets, owned by Dr. D.H. Rowe, as a site for its $100,000 city hall. Dr. Rowe uses the property for a barn and a hospital for the care of animals.

1915

New York State Comptroller Travis, after a review of the 1914 fiscal year for Little Falls, has deemed the city government to be confused and in a “chaotic condition.” Three incidents that have occurred are permitting friendship to intervene in the matter of enforcing the law, significant friction between city departments, and motives of personal revenge.

1931

Birger Lundstrom is branching out in the business world. What started out as a joke, selling hotdogs and ice cream from a floating dispensary on Ingham Lake (Keyser Lake), has turned into a profitable business. His enterprise has been well received by the flocks of bathers and campers who congregate there.

1952

Employees of industrial plants in Little Falls were being asked to volunteer to be observers for the local aircraft warning post atop Hotel Snyder. Forty observers were needed.

July 15th

1918

Hugh Fitzgibbons, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Fitzgibbons of 68 West Monroe Street, the local aviator flying with the English Royal Flying Corps, previously reported missing after combat with a German flyer, is safe and will shortly return home.

July 16th

1857

Dr. George S. Elvelerth, who practiced medicine here for 60 years succumbed to infirmaries at his house in Newport, NH.

1880

The Little Falls  Fire Department’s annual convention of the Firemen’s Association State of New York will be held in Auburn and continue in session for three days.  All of the fire companies have received an invitation to a picnic and dance at St. Johnsville, Thursday of next week.

July 17th

1777

Finding that Barry St, Ledger had massed troops and loyalists at Oswego in preparation to invade the Mohawk Valley, General Nichols Herkimer issued a proclamation calling for all men from sixteen to sixty  to arm themselves and prepare to march to Fort Stanwix in defense of the valley. Men over sixty were to defend the homes.

1874

Judge Loomis is having the swamp lot, on the corner north of the Catholic church, filled in with gravel from the hills above. This will make a good building site, and be an improvement over the duck pond that has existed there for years.

1883

A contract was made by the village with McDermott & Ashenhurst to build a sewerage system for a city of 10,200 people.

1945

WW II Era – Another accident at the Gorge View highway entrance to Little Falls as four tons of fish spilled when a  freighter upsets on East Main Street. It wasn’t Friday, but  dozens, if not hundreds, of local families had fish as their main course for dinner.

July 18th

1908

20,000 people came from all over to visit the camp of U. S. Army cavalrymen located on the outskirts of Little Falls. The group from Fort Ethan Allen in Vermont, on their way to Pine Camp near Watertown, consisted of 450 men, with more than that number of horses and many mules to draw supply wagons.

1964

The former Arkay Hall is being torn down as a part of the Urban Renewal program. The building, at the rear of the McCauley block on Main Street, was built after the big fire in 1893. Used for a variety of purposes, it was the meeting place for the “Independent Order of Red Men,” home of basketball games, boxing and wrestling matches, a rifle range, and a bowling alley.

This Week in History” is brought to you by the Little Falls Historical Society. Please Visit the Little Falls Historical Society Website and please consider supporting the Museum by becoming a Member. Download the membership form here!