Week of September 13

September 12, 1874 – 150 Years Ago
Rockland County Journal

A RUNAWAY ACCIDENT

     On Thursday afternoon a team of horses hitched to an express wagon loaded with grain, owned by Long & McMahon, and in charge of Michael Green, became frightened when near the corner of Franklin and Burd Streets, and dashed down the last-named street at a fearful speed. Mr. Green was on the seat, and with the reins in hand managed to guide them admirably down the long hill towards the steamboat landing. Seeing how utterly impossible it was to stop them, he directed their heads against the steamboat freight-house, which they struck with a crash, the pole penetrating through the weather-boarding. One of the horses was killed almost instantly, and Mr. Green was somewhat bruised by the force of the concussion.

PURE WATER VERSUS BAD WHISKEY

     There flows through the historic little village of Tappan an immense quantity of water, pure as purity itself and clear as a crystal, which is more than sufficient for the internal and external use of the quiet, unpretending citizens of the place. This pure water, however, is considered too weak for some individuals, and a supply of genuine tangle-leg "Jersey lightning” is provided to "sizzle" down the iron-clad throats of a few who can stand it. Well, one day this week a frisky youth, probably actuated by a desire to rid the ancient village of a portion of this "tangle-leg,” poured a considerable quantity of it down his throat. It had its effect. He was "tight as a brick.”—- Feeling a strong desire to be enwrapped in the arms of Morpheus, he sought some place where he could woo the drowsy god in solitude and peace. The best place suggested to his bewildered mind was an old mill, and proceeding at once to the place he gained an entrance, and then began to search for a spot to take a nap. Alas! for the uncertain influence of "tangle-leg," the youth lost his course, and in a moment he was precipitated into a flume, and had it not been that aid was close at hand he certainly would have drowned. He was taken out in a bad condition, and close and attentive care was required to bring him through all right. He has, we believe, quite recovered now, and it's to be hoped that in the future he and "tangle-leg" will not be on very friendly terms with each other.

September 11, 1924 – 100 YEARS AGO
Pearl River News

CONGERS BOY IN THRILLING HILL CLIMB WINS LOVING CUP IN NOVICE EVENT OF SILK CITY CLUB

[Image: 1924 Harley Davidson JDCA. Courtesy of the Audrain Auto Museum, Rhode Island]

     Scaling a rugged mountain on the outskirts of Paterson, N. J., last Sunday, Albert Merian of Congers won the eighty cubic inch novice event in the Silk City motorcycle hill climb. His prize was a silver loving cup on which is inscribed "Harley Davidson Trophy." Merian made the 350-foot climb in 17 seconds. The hill was so steep that during his first ride the front wheel of his machine on encountering a rock raised perpendicularly in the air and turned over backward with him. He was no worse for the spill for it was during his second try that he made the record climb. His nearest rival was "Johnnie" Long of Newark who made the grade in 31 seconds.

     Merian is a member of the Orantamin Motorcycle Club of Nyack and there were 20 members of the local organization among the 5,000 that witnessed the five amateur and professional events.

The Nyack club plans to hold another hill climb in Rockland county in the near future. 

SPINE BROKEN, YOUTH WOULD SEE BALL GAME

     Harvey Conklin of Spring Valley was disappointed Sunday when doctors forbade him being wheeled to the baseball game across the road from the Nyack Hospital, where the youth has been since August 7 last.

     Conklin’s recovery is the wonder of physicians. He was bathing with several companions in the river at Grassy Point beach when one lifted him up and tossed him over his shoulder into four feet of water. The fifth vertebra of Conklin’s spine was broken and he was for many weeks paralyzed. Now he is able to walk about

September 10, 1974 – 50 YEARS AGO
The Journal News

SHOPPERS WATCH WALLET – SUGAR ON THE RISE

     Maybe America does travel on the food it eats, but here in Rockland at least, those busy customers rushing down the food aisles are keeping one eye glued to their wallets.

     Food prices are soaring, and no one is more aware of it than Mr. and Mrs. Average Consumer. In a random sampling of Rockland food buyers Monday, almost all said that inflated costs had made them comparison shoppers. They also said they're taking advantage of weekly sales and price-cutting coupons.

     Only a few said they could afford to shop with relative indifference to rising prices. And one shopper said that he would like to comparison shop, but he couldn't because he lacked transportation to make the rounds.

     Mary E. VanDunk of Hillburn said, "I watch prices, especially where the same brand product is marked with two different prices on the shelves. I use store coupons and have been buying less meat lately. Even beans are out of sight, price-wise, these days.”

     Mrs. Pat Hoffman of Monsey, a young housewife and mother, said she does some comparison shopping. "I go to different food stores occasionally and watch for bargain sales advertised in the newspapers. I find I've been buying less meat and more eggs and making more casseroles at home.”

     Mrs. Solveig Hansen of Suffern said the inflation squeeze has made her more of a comparison shopper who keeps an eve out for sales on brand-name merchandise. "I use store coupons, but only for the products I always use, and our menus at home have remained pretty much the same."

     Jean Minuto of Monsey, another housewife, said, "I watch for sales so I can stock up on some products. I've tried to use less meat and add more salads and vegetables to our menus. And when I do buy meats, I try to cut back on the more expensive cuts. The higher prices have made me a comparison shopper who uses some store coupons."

       A retired physician from Monsey, who declined to have his name used, had the most eloquent opinion.

     "Inflation has made me a shrewd buyer. My wife lets me do the shopping because she knows I like to see what's a good buy. But it's the poor who are afflicted by the disease of immobility those who don't have cars to travel around to look for better buys. They have to shop at the supermarket that's closest."

     The doctor also complained about some of the drastic differences he's found in food prices. For example, he found cuts of London broil ranging from $1.09 to $2.09 per pound in four different supermarkets within a two-week period, and a brand-name tomato juice went up 12 cents in the same period.

     "Meats are pretty much the same in nutritional value, except for hamburger because no consumer knows just what goes into it," he said. "The average individual lives a dangerous life these days. Besides dodging traffic, he's got to ward off the chemical additives that are processed with today's foods.”

This Week in Rockland (#FBF Flashback Friday) is prepared by Clare Sheridan on behalf of the Historical Society of Rockland County. © 2024 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.