Week of February 28

February 27, 1875 – 150 YEARS AGO

Rockland County Journal

AROUND HOME

 ☞  An Oyster Supper and Social, for the benefit of Rev. Wm. Stout, pastor of the M. E. Church, Piermont, will be held at the residence of Messrs. Ebersole and Conklin, on Wednesday evening, March 3d, 1875. All are cordially invited. Tickets 50 cents.

  ☞  On the 18th inst., a man named Charles Conklin, who stole $300 from the till of J. P. Vreeland, of Paterson, was arrested at Clarksville Hotel. In conveying him to Paterson he jumped from the window of a car, but the detective jumped almost as soon and after a race of a few hundred yards had his prisoner. He is said to be an old offender.

  ☞  Last Monday night a sleighing party went from Nyack to Saddle River, where they stopped at a hotel. Well, nothing strange about that. The joke of the matter is, however, that after the party had left the hotel and had gone about three miles, it was discovered that one of the young ladies had forgotten her hat, she having ridden the whole three miles without even missing it.

  ☞  An amiable young friend of ours, whose name we do not wish to mention, attempted to skate to Tarrytown, on Monday last, but was compelled to stop suddenly on the way. He made a hole in the ice about fifteen feet across and had it not been for the presence of mind of Fred Livermore, and the assistance rendered by George, an investigating committee of fishes would now be attending to his case

February 27, 1925 – 100 YEARS AGO

Nyack Evening Journal

WILLIAM SHEA SELLS HAVERSTRAW STORE TO MILLER, COMPETITOR — Brother of Nyack Druggist Plans to Retire from Business if He Can Sell Spring Valley Establishment

         Haverstraw, Feb. 27 — William J. Shea has sold his modern drug store here to Alfred Miller, who has maintained a similar establishment here for the past twelve years. Mr. Miller will continue the two businesses separately.

         Mr. Shea, a brother of Daniel Shea of Nyack, is concentrating his efforts now on his Spring Valley establishment which, it is understood is business circles here, is also for sale.

         It is stated that if Mr. Shea succeeds in selling his remaining store, he will retire from active business in the county and take an extensive trip.

February 26, 1975 – 50 YEARS AGO

Our Town

[Image: “Make It ‘To Go’” —Anne O’Hara and Helen D’Agostino prepare to deliver first of the hot lunches to go to Orangetown’s elderly or housebound residents. Part of the Meals on Wheels program, the lunches are prepared at Dominican College. Two recipients are signed up thus far, but sponsors of the program expect to qualify as many as 50 persons in the weeks to come.]

PUBLIC REACTION FORCES SUPERVISOR, COUNCIL TO CANCEL SALARY INCREASES

         The Town Board voted unanimously Monday evening to reject the salary increases they gave themselves last year, after adverse public reaction.

         At the November budget meeting, Supervisor Americo (Bo) DiFrancesca and his Democratic partners had to vigorously defend their increases ranging as high as 20 percent. Stanley Huested, Republican, had refused the raise.

         Since that time, both Democrats and Republicans have been highly critical of the hikes, many saying it was not the proper action for a new board in its first year in office. Others said it did not take into account the depressed economic conditions.

         DiFrancesca defended his increase many times by claiming he “put in a full day’s work” and referring to his predecessor, John Komar, as “part time Supervisor.”

         Komar also served on the County legislature. In his statement Monday evening, however, DiFrancesca said that the increase was merely to bring his salary into line with that of the other Supervisors in the county. He said he and the town board are “aware of the economy” and the “rising rate of unemployment and they are “personally aware of the number of persons who have inquired about employment.” They have, therefore, rejected their salary increases for 1975.

This Week in Rockland (#FBF Flashback Friday) is prepared by Clare Sheridan for the Historical Society of Rockland County. © 2025 by The Historical Society of Rockland County. #FBF Flashback Friday may be reprinted only with written permission from the HSRC. To learn about the HSRC’s mission, upcoming events or programs, visit www.RocklandHistory.org or call (845) 634-9629.