Week of March 14

March 13, 1875 – 150 YEARS AGO

Rockland County Journal

AROUND HOME

  ☞  We are under obligations to Robert Carpenter, esq., for a bound copy of the Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors. The printing is every way creditable and equal to that done in the city.

  ☞  Hon. James C. Brown, our Assemblyman, has introduced a bill to permit the New Jersey and New York Railway Co. to continue their road from Haverstraw to Orange and Ulster counties.

  ☞  On Thursday, a powerful steam tug, of the Knickerbocker Ice Company, after much hard work, forced her way through the ice to Rockland Lake landing and now the channel is open to that point.

  ☞  We learn that the residence—and all it contained—of David O. Storms, at Valley Cottage, Clarkstown, was destroyed by fire at two o’clock on Friday morning. The family barely escaped in their night-clothes.

  ☞  If anybody is desirous of becoming the fortunate possessor of a good, vigorous cold, we know where there is one in full bloom with all necessary and unnecessary accompaniments, full forty-horse power, high pressure, perpetual motion, volcanic tendency, and with a tone that surpasses the finest notes of a well-trained Spring bull-frog. The present owner has no further use for it.

March 12, 1925 – 100 YEARS AGO

Pearl River News

WILL FINDER PLEASE RETURN AXE NO. 116 THAT WAS LOST

[Image: Pearl River Firefighters, ca. 1920. Courtesy of the Pearl River Public Library via NYHeritage.org.]

       The Pearl River Hook and Ladder Company have lost one of their axes bearing the above number and will appreciate it very much if the finder will return it to the company or one of the members. This axe was lost at the Bartels fire on Friday morning.

FIFTY YEAR RESIDENT OF PEARL RIVER DIES

       Jacob Ehrhardt, retired dairyman, died on Tuesday March 10th at the age of 83 years at his late residence on Ehrhardt Road. Complications due to old age is given as cause of death. Mass will be held at St. Anthony’s Church, Nanuet, Saturday March 14th at 10 A.M. Internment to be at family plot in Calvary Cemetery on Saturday. Funeral arrangements are in charge of Fisher & Dahl.

       Mr. Ehrhardt leaves two daughters, Mrs. Chris Weber of Pearl River and Mrs. John Barun, two sons Fred and Joseph of Pearl River, twenty grandchildren and one great grandchild. Mr. Ehrhardt was well known and liked by all throughout this section having been a resident of Pearl River for over fifty years.

NAMES OF PROPOSED BUSINESS MEN’S ASSOCIATION OF TOWN RECEIVED

       The proposed business men’s association of Pearl River has made considerable progress since the last publication of this paper. Practically all merchants of town have been interviewed and many have signed their names, assuring their willingness to partake in the proposition. A meeting will be called in the very near future. It is estimated that about seventy-five names have been secured. Mr. Charles Marcussen took the petition around for signers and as a committee of one states that a further committee will call and handle the meeting.

       Any other interested merchant or business man doing business in Pearl River desiring to become affiliated with the work of organizing may do so by calling at Mr. Marcussen’s place of business on Main street for the signing of petition. Several speakers have been interviewed and replies are being waited for, for definite date of meeting.

March 13, 1975 – 50 YEARS AGO

The Journal News

HAVERSTRAW — A SCHOOL ON WHEELS

       The Rockland County Board of Cooperative Extension Services (BOCES) has established a new educational program center in the Village of Haverstraw.

       Located in a mobile home parked at the old Grand Union parking lot off West Broad Street, the center will sponsor a number of educationally oriented programs for the community.

       Ribbon cutting ceremonies were held at noon Tuesday when Community Resources Agent Luis Del Pilar unveiled the classroom-in-a-trailer to members of the village board and about 15 spectators. Almost 70 people inspected the new facility between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.

       Del Pilar said the program is designed to bring more useful and cultural programs to Haverstraw.

        “Most of our programs are centered at the Cooperative Extension Office in New City, and that creates transportation difficulties for many people in other areas of the county,” he said. “We want to spread out and make classes available for everyone.”

       Del Pilar said that classes will be offered in a number of different areas geared toward working people. “This is not to exclude others but rather to accommodate those who work,” he said.

       The trailer’s capacity is 20 people. Classes taught inside the school-on-wheels will include Chinese cooking, home vegetable gardening, sewing, breadbaking, home economics, home management, environmental studies and others.

       The village has donated the space for the trailer and will provide routine maintenance and police observation. Volunteers and paid teachers in the program all work under the auspices of Cooperative Extension Services

       There is a nominal fee for each course which goes toward the purchase of materials. Registration information can be obtained by contacting the Cooperative Extension Office or by visiting the center. —Bob McEwen

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.