Oct. 1st

1875

The Merchants’ and Farmers Bank is doing business at the Banking House on Main Street in Little Falls. Banking hours included Saturday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M.

1883

Large crowds lined up to purchase tickets for the first passenger train to leave Little Falls on the West Shore Railroad. The West Shore depot was later called “South Little Falls.”

1895

D. H. Burrell & Company have recently imported the ”Thistle Mechanical Milking Machine” from Scotland for their operation on their Hilltop farm. The machine at the Burrell farm milks ten cows at once, averaging one cow per minute, with favorable results.

1958

The Salada-Shirriff-Horsey Company of Boston, Mass., Plant City, Fla., and Toronto, Canada, will acquire the “Junket” Brand Foods Division of Chr. Hansen’s Laboratory, Inc. of Little Falls, as of this date.

1974

The newly built quarters for the New York State Employment Service opened today at 690 East Main Street, the site of the former  Knights of Columbus Home which had been razed.

Oct. 2nd

1942

WW II Era – A wartime speed limit of 35 miles an hour went into effect for privately-owned autos nationwide. New York state police indicated tickets would be issued to drivers exceeding the speed limit by one mile per hour or more.

Oct. 3rd

1911

The Polish Catholic Society has purchased property at 45 Furnace and has begun erection of their new church which should be completed next year. The society has occupied the A.M.E. Zion church on West Main Street for a year or more.

1914

All of the memorial stained glass windows that are to be placed in St. Mary’s church have now reached New York City from John Hardman & Sons of Birmingham, England.

1929

At a meeting of the Exchange Club, a letter from S.D. Bradway was read announcing that the Barnet Leather Company was ceasing operations in Little Falls. The company has a long history in the city in their plant on East Mill Street.

1951

Alec MacCallum, a pioneer basketball player, passed away today at age 73. Born in Hardenberry Castle, Worcester, England in 1878, he moved to Little Falls in 1888. When Dr. James Naismith invented basketball in 1891, MacCallum took up the sport and became exceedingly proficient. He played for the Little Falls Athletics in the first game between Little Falls and Herkimer.

Oct. 4th

1835

The new Emmanuel Episcopal church on Albany Street was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Benjamin Treadwell Onderdonk, Bishop of New York. The congregation had previously worshipped at the old Octagon church, and purchased this property in 1833. The historic Trinity Church Parish in New York City had donated $1,500 towards the building fund.

1921

The non-reinforced concrete road was opened from Little Falls to Paine’s Hollow, amidst great fanfare, to connect with the macadam road to Richfield Springs.

Oct. 6th

1848

Welch’s National Circus was in Little Falls for performances – 2 pm and 7 pm. Admission was 25 cents.

1887

A huge boulder, called “Spook Rock “, stands close to the road on the shore of the river just east of the village. The rock is so called because superstition avowed that someone had been murdered nearby, and a ghost or spook haunted the place and often appeared to passersby.

1912

The Presbyterian congregation in Little Falls begins a four day celebration of its centennial. They first worshipped in the Old Octagon Church, and the present body was organized in 1812.

1924

The Richmond Hotel will be the site for the annual convention of the New York State Automobile Association which is being sponsored by the Little Falls Automobile Club. Business meetings will be held at the Gateway Theatre. Little Falls is being touted as being on the main line trunk highway half-way between New York City and Buffalo, and Albany and Syracuse.

2001

Little Falls High School senior, Joclyn Van Gorder, the lone member of the high school ski team, has been chosen as one of 7,500 to carry the Olympic torch on its cross country trip to Salt Lake City, the site of the 2002 winter Olympic Games.

Oct. 7th

1887

By actual count there are seventy-eight establishments in Little Falls where liquor is sold. No wonder dealers complain of a duliness in trade.

1916

The city hall cornerstone was laid this afternoon witnessed by a big crowd. Designed by architect W. Neil Smith of New York, the building was made possible through David H. Burrell’s gift of $60,000. The estimated cost, with furnishings is $150,000.

1947

Work was begun on installing parking meters in Little Falls.

1948

A month prior to the presidential election, hundreds waited in the rain as President Harry S Truman made a “whistle stop” here. He attacked the “do-nothing” 80th Congress, and extolled the virtue of Herkimer County cheese. Truman defeated Dewey.

1983

Little Falls and area communities were jolted by an early morning moderate earthquake. The earthquake was recorded at 5.2 on the Richter scale, and was centered  at Blue Mountain Lake in the Adirondack Mountains  about 60 miles north northeast of Little Falls. No local damage was reported.

Oct. 8th

1823

The first boat toll on the canal was collected at Little Falls.

1915

The new front steps of St. Mary’s church will be carved out of a solid rock. The big boulder is being hauled out of Moreland Park.

1922

The number of auto accidents on the River Road continues to alarm. John Doxstader’s car , ran into the river, after an accident, below the Gulf Bridge.

1952

Evening Times Headline: “City Launches Drive For Record Voter Registration”

“A gigantic campaign to produce a record – smashing number of registrations was launched here today as a result of a meeting of the city’s leading citizens last night at City Hall.

An extensive drive highlighted by radio, speeches, house to house canvassing and a giant float with pretty girls and music, has been organized and will begin work tomorrow.

Attorney Ed Marion Jr. was appointed by Mayor Topper as the chairman of this all-out campaign.”

Oct. 9th

1912

Trouble has been brewing at the Phoenix mill after 200 operators, mostly foreigners, left their jobs because of the new 54 hour work week and consequent reduction in wages. The International Workers of the World socialist union is now involved, and Chief of Police Long has been called to the scene.

1997

Scraping gum and tar off city sidewalks is one of the sentences handed down in city court for minor offenses under the city’s community service program. Other public service tasks include picking up trash and litter and washing city vehicles.

Oct. 10th

1802

In a letter to Alexander Ellice, William Alexander reported that the saw mill and fulling mill were of little use, the dams, runway etc. are decaying and the bridge over the Mohawk River was impassable.

1941

About 125 magicians were registered at the Hotel Snyder for their annual state convention. One highlight was a daring “suspension act” by Elmer Eckam at Eastern Park.

1960

The saw mill at Andrew Little & Sons, Inc. on West Mill Street became the last industry in Little Falls to convert from water power to electricity. Andrew Little came to Little Falls in 1874 to build the woodwork at the Methodist church. When the project was completed started his company.

Oct. 11th

1860

A ”monster” parade was held in Little Falls, with several bands and two thousand men in uniform all carrying torches. The parade was organized by Republicans to further the efforts to elect Lincoln president.

1874

Little Falls progresses. There were five drunken fights in the village last night.

1890

A young bride, married two weeks ago without her farmer father’s consent, was torn from the arms of her husband in front of the Cowen shop. As she attempted to rejoin her husband, she was “picked up like a sack of flour” by her irate father, thrown into a buggy and driven out of the village at a rapid pace.

1962

It was announced that the Little Falls Felt Shoe Company will cease operations at the local plant, and by the end of this year will consolidate all its factory work at the St. Johnsville plant.

2012

William Moynihan, Little Falls native and St. Mary’s Academy graduate, has passed away. Earning degrees from SUNY Binghamton, Colgate, and Syracuse (Ph.D.), Bill had leadership positions at Colgate, was director of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and lastly as CEO of the Milwaukee Public Museum. He was buried in Hamilton, N.Y.

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!