This Week in History – Week of April 25th
Apr. 25th
1887
A human skeleton was found in a box which had floated down the Mohawk River and grounded on Moss Island. It was joined together by wires and was evidently the property of some doctor. Queer driftwood!
1895
The Cronkhite Opera House had a program “Tent Life in Palestine”, a tale of travel in the world’s most interesting land.
Apr. 26th
1901
Former Little Falls mayor, Hadley Jones and his wife have left the city suddenly under regrettable circumstances, never to be seen again. He was a fugitive from justice, accused of forgeries involving stock certificates of the Herkimer County Bank. Rumors are that he has fled “somewhere south of the border.”
1927
The Burrell family contributed a major portion of the cost of purchasing the property, and equipping and conditioning the new recreation park and playground on West Monroe Street. Mr. D. H. Burrell, Jr. ($6,500), E. J. Burrell ($2,000), Loomis Burrell ($1,000), and M. Elizabeth Burrell ($500.) A total of $16,729 was collected.
2014
Visitors to Moss Island will now have access to an environmentally friendly restroom. Main Street First worked as a conduit between the donor and the city to use the $50,000 donated for the project. The funds will also cover maintenance costs for the next 12 to 14 years for the facility which uses no chemicals, no water, and is completely solar powered.
Apr. 27th
1866
By a 49 to 0 vote, approval was given to build the South Side Hose House on Mohawk Street,, opposite the river bridge, at a cost of $3,000 to be raised by a special tax.
1881
A new church, made of native stone, was dedicated by the Little Falls Presbyterian community. The cost for the new building was $39,706 and the lot on Jackson and East Lansing streets was $5,562.
1883
The aqueduct crossing the river has been declared unsafe, and sign- boards were erected at each end forbidding persons from crossing it.
1889
A seventy-two hour “go-as-you please” walking match was held at Quackenbush Hall. Rules indicate each contestant must make 110 miles to secure his entrance money. The track is 28 laps to the mile and walkers were inspired by Eldridge’s orchestra. Prizes ranged from $10 to $100. Gardner Austin won with 197 miles.
1901
A search of former mayor Hadley Jones’ safe revealed a book containing blank stock certificates of the local National Herkimer County Bank. Seventeen of the certificated, worth at least $25,000, had been used with the names of William A. Milligan , president, and Albert Story, cashier, forged thereon.
1917
Rev. Father O’Connor, of St. Mary’s, said that all lands surrounding the church property would be dug up and used for garden purposes. He also suggested that parish members do the same around their homes.
1981
Herkimer County Trust Company is offering six month money market certificates at an annual interest rate of 13.871% and saving certificates (2 ½ years) at 11.75%.
Apr. 28th
1831
In an election for the highest village office, Arphaxed Loomis received 62 votes and Col. David Petree received 24 votes. Loomis had led the fight to break up the Ellice Estate.
1881
Thirty–two carloads of immigrants, drawn by two locomotives, passed through Little Falls bound west. That was only from one line of railroad for one day. Immigration is practically unrestricted, but most immigrants come from northern European countries.
1939
Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Ingrid of Denmark travelled to Little Falls, by a special railroad car, to visit the Hansen plant. A crowd of one thousand people welcomed them along with 200 employees atop the roof of the factory waving American and Danish flags.
1962
The last passenger train to stop in Little Falls left the city today. Mr. and Mrs. Austin Chase boarded the train to travel east to Schenectady to visit family. They returned by train, but had to depart in Utica and take a bus home to Little Falls.
Apr. 29th
1861
From the diary of Arnold Petrie of Little Falls (1830-1869): “Scott came and told me that the man whome Father had hired as a substitute for me, in the volunteers, his name is Fye, had run away. It proved, however, that he had only gone home to take leave of his family.” Petrie thought that Fye might lose his life that he might live. Note: Records show that George Fye mustered out on June 30, 1862 in Albany.
1903
A gala celebration in Little Falls greeted the first of the electric inter-urbans (trolleys) to reach the city from Utica and Rome. A large crowd awaited the arrival of the car and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. The Adams cannon fired salutes, and the school children waved greetings. There is half hour service between Little Falls and Herkimer.
1920
The Exchange Club was formed in Little Falls – a national organization that that was more concerned with country-wide problems than local causes and endeavors. In 1933, it became the Little Falls Civic Club.
1933
The last passengers were carried on the Little Falls & Dolgeville Railroad, and a dream of the Gay Nineties passed into history.
1979
An article in the Evening Times indicated that a more liberal interpretation of the George L. Smith will and estate would make $500,000 available of the $1,500,000 total for the Little Falls Public Library expansion.
2015
Ninety-five years to the day it was formed, the Little Falls Civic Club (Exchange Club: 1920 – 1933) disbanded. Long active in a wide variety of humanitarian and community affairs, the club was a victim of the times, changing interests, and dwindling membership. During its tenure, the club gave out $72,750 in scholarships to 220 graduating local high school seniors.
Apr. 30th
1725
The Burnetsfield Patent, confirming the “Indian Deed,” was instituted, granting lands to 94 persons representing 38 families. The land covered 9,400 acres purchased from the Mohawks in 1722. Each patentee received 100 acres, each with some frontage on the Mohawk River from the little falls westward.
The land grants on the north side of the Mohawk River near the little falls were: Lot #10 – Augustus Hess, Lot #11 – Mary Beerman (Bierman), Lot # 12 – Johan Jost Temouth (Demuth), Lot #13 – Mary Eva Staring (Stahring.) Many deeds refer back to these lot numbers. The first lot, #13, ran from the falls at the Burrows paper mill to a line just west of the Allegro mill, then north to about Monroe Street.
1889
At 9 o’clock this morning all the church bells in Little Falls, and those throughout the nation, shall ring to celebrate the event 100 years ago when all the bells in the original thirteen states rang out to call the people together to pray for the success and prosperity of the country during the inauguration of George Washington as the first president of the United States.
1917
After eighty four years of service to the community, the National Herkimer County Bank was liquidated and then reopened today, in the new Burrell Building as the Herkimer County Trust Company. The new status gives the bank all the services which would be beneficial to all.
1921
A fire practically destroyed the old Evans Hotel at the northwest corner of John and Ann Streets. Built over 100 years ago, it was at this point that the overland mail stages changed their horses before the building of the railroad. Recently, it was a furniture store.
1943
WW II Era – Air raid wardens from sector 2W voted to build a picket fence around the obelisk in Eastern Park that was the city’s honor roll. Names of 250 more servicemen and women were to be added, bringing the total to about 1,500.
May 1st
1846
S. F. Bennet begs leave to inform the citizens of Little Falls and vicinity, that he is now receiving a very extensive stock of Books and Stationary, cheap Literature, Toys and Fancy Goods, Looking Glasses, Hard Ware, Woolen Ware, and every description of Groceries, Fruit, etc. which he offers for sale at greatly reduced prices for ready pay.
1877
Rollin Smith requested permission to build a bandstand in Eastern Park and collected the funds necessary for the construction. It was completed in time for the Memorial Day dedication of the Soldiers’ Monument in the park by the G.A.R.
1886
The control of the Police and Fire Departments passed from the Trustees to a commission named Board of Fire and Police consisting of the Mayor and four Commissioners, but the Mayor has no vote.
1893
A large crowd of people gathered at the Central railroad station to see the facsimile of the original “Dewitt Clinton” locomotive and the first coaches drawn by it over the Albany & Schenectady Railroad.
1900
H. P. Snyder Manufacturing completed a shipment of 500 bicycles to a firm in Wolverhamton, England. Since December 1899, the company has produced 11,953 bicycles, the largest number ever turned out in a similar length of time.
Edward Cooney was appointed Little Falls’ first paid fire chief, a position he held for 47 years. During his tenure, he oversaw the transition from horse-drawn to motor-driven apparatus.
1916
The Stacey Company Cheese ceased operations when the executives foresaw the decline of Herkimer County as the center of the cheese trade, and the building space was taken over by the Little Falls Felt Shoe Company which had been founded in 1905. Irving E. Stacey is president of both companies.
1946
City Historian, Edward J. Cooney Jr. completed reviewing records and interviewing Little Falls participants in World War II. He totaled 1688 men and 69 women, and could not find records for another 11. 363 were married before entering the service, another 256 after joining up.
1967
The A&P grocery stores are discontinuing the distribution, begun in 1961, of Plaid Trading Stamps.
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!
Additional Links
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