By Clayton Smith
100 Years Ago (August 1917)
Putnam County released its draft list of 946 men for the war, with the first 240 names ordered to report to Carmel in groups of 60 for examination. The county’s quota for the first army of 687,000 was 97, although the county Board of Supervisors argued the calculations were incorrect and the number should actually be 67. (Before the end of the month, it was raised to 102.)
On July 30, Elizabeth Parker, an 11-year-old student, drowned in the Hudson opposite the coal dock at Garrison. “By those in the know, it is stated that the river-bed slopes out for a distance of about 20 feet, then breaks off abruptly to a depth of almost 50 feet.”
The Cold Spring Board of Trustees noted it had been instructed to “obtain the numbers of automobiles exceeding the speed limit in the village” to report to the state so it could revoke licenses. The board also gave notice that all dogs found without a muzzle “will be shot by the police officer.”
Dr. Clark informed the Board of Trustees that there were six cases of measles and two cases of whooping cough in the village.
Because of the heat during the first week of August, village businesses closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Jesse Starr and William Conklin were brought before Justice Logan, accused of attacking John Carey while he was milking and leaving him with six long cuts on his head. Officer Reilley placed the accused in Town Hall.
Four men were gathering hay at the Nellie Hustis place when a bolt of lightning struck a locust tree. One man had his shoes knocked off and two were severely burned.
A young woman stopped in town on her way to San Francisco by bicycle. Helen Louise Murphey, 20, is hoping to win $5,000.
A party of picnickers at the foot of Indian Brook Falls were startled when a boulder crashed among them. It had been pushed off the parapet of a private road overlooking the falls.
75 Years Ago (August 1942)
Leland Ryder, chairman of the Putnam County War Savings staff, announced that the U.S. Treasury reported bond sales of $58,670 in Putnam.
The Putnam County War Council requested that radio operators help with the creation of two-way mobile, portable, fixed short-wave radio communication for civilian protection.
50 Years Ago (August 1967)
Pvt. Keith W. Livermore, 19, of Garrison, was killed in Vietnam on Thursday, Aug. 17, according to a telegram received by his parents from the Defense Department.
25 Years Ago (August 1992)
Mayor Roger Chirico and the Board of Trustees approved the design for the restoration of the Cold Spring dock. The mayor also accepted a $24,000 check from Metro-North as part of its first payment toward the project.
Butterfield Hospital opened its new emergency room. The facility is twice the size of the old E.R., with four bays, an isolation room, and a waiting and registration area, each with what staff members describe as “modern, uplifting décor.”
10 Years Ago (August 2007)
A fugitive from California was apprehended in the woods near Putnam Valley on Aug. 10. He was wanted in connection with a brutal home invasion.
Gov. Elliot Spitzer signed the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act into law on Aug. 15, allowing villages in Putnam County to ask voters to approve the creation of accounts to fund land protection efforts.
On Aug. 18, county sheriff’s deputies discovered a corpse in a wooded area of Garrison. The body is believed to be that of a Manhattan man who was reported missing about two weeks earlier.
This column is a fascinating addition to an already top-notch publication! I hope you keep it as a regular feature.
I agree with Roger that this should be a regular column. Dogs having to be muzzled or they would be shot? I was amazed at the photo of the World War I soldiers in New York City and the number of draftees from the county. And I thought the response to the August heat very civilized.
To this day, I still remember when Pvt. Keith W. Livermore was killed in Vietnam. I also remember going to pay my respects to his family. He was a wonderful person and may he rest in peace. Thank you, Keith, for your service to our country. You gave the ultimate sacrifice.
This is a great forum to inform locals and newcomers to the area of some historical facts of Philipstown. Cudos to Clayton Smith! Looking forward to more. Thank you for sharing.
Impellittiere was the mayor of Cold Spring from 1973 to 1977.
I love this bit in particular. Makes a person hopeful about America, 100 years ago (the year of women’s suffrage in New York) and now: “A young woman stopped in town on her way to San Francisco by bicycle. Helen Louise Murphey, 20, is hoping to win $5,000.”
Adding my applause for a great column. I agree it would make a wonderful regular feature.