Week of April 17
April 15, 1876 – 150 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Journal
SMALL-POX AT SLOATSBURGH
Our Suffern correspondent writes us as follows, concerning the reports which have been circulated about the small-pox excitement at Sloatsburgh: “As editors publish things as reported to them, and cannot always be responsible for their correctness, I may be allowed to contradict the statement that ‘small-pox is raging at Sloatsburgh,’ as it is not correct. Several weeks ago, a girl employed in the shoddy-mill, at S., took the small-pox as was supposed from the rags or material used there, and several members of the family took it. Through great carelessness it was conveyed to another family, living however, quite out of the village and in the mountains. Proper precaution has prevented its spread further, and I am happy to say that it has ended there.”
CENTENNIAL TREE PLANTING
Today (Saturday) the Centennial tree-planting and celebration will take place at Monsey. If the weather is pleasant, a salute of thirteen guns will be fired at 7 o’clock in the morning. At 1 o’clock P. M. the inhabitants will assemble at Haring’s Grove, and at 1.30 P.M. the procession will move in the following order: Band of music, Grand Marshal and Aids, town officers, orator, oldest inhabitants, clergy, young ladies representing the States, committees, team with casket, citizens generally. The programme of exercises is as follows: 1, Prayer; 2, Singing; 3, planting of tree; 4, music; 5, oration; 6, singing; 7, planting the casket, containing the county papers, names of inhabitants, etc.; 8, music; 9, three cheers; 10, singing: 11, benediction. The celebration will undoubtedly be highly interesting to all who witness or participate in it.
April 16, 1926 – 100 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Times
BRICKYARDS START EARLY
Haverstraw brick manufacturers are preparing for a busy season and planning for the opening of yards three weeks earlier than is customary.
Every indication seems to point to a prosperous season. All yards are practically cleared of the bricks manufactured last fall, the demand in the New York markets forcing the shipping of the commodity all winter. The demand is still so great that manufacturers are trying to begin molding as soon as possible in order to satisfy the extraordinary demand. The colored laborers have already begun to make their appearance, and a greater influx is expected soon. Some of the yards have already started work by burning the kilns from last fall’s activities.
TWO CARS DAMAGED
About three o’clock on Friday afternoon last, a truck belonging to Potter’s Express of Hillsdale, N.J., was parked in front of Dayton Johnson’s hardware store and behind it stood a Reo touring car owned by Adelia Hoyt of Stony Point; while just behind that was a Maxwell sedan owned by Charles Smith of Garnerville.
The driver of the express company, no doubt having finished his errand, came to his truck and cranked it, unmindful of the fact that it was in reverse gear. When the motor started, the truck backed into the Reo which in turn was pushed into the Maxwell.
The front of the Reo was pushed in rather badly while the tender and bumper of the Maxwell were damaged.
The case was settled in the Police Court when the express company guaranteed the payment of damages
April 15, 1976 – 50 YEARS AGO
The Journal News
WAGON TRAIN TO ROLL THROUGH ROCKLAND
[Image: Clipped from the brochure announcing the Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage, 1976. Courtesy of the Ford Library, FordLibraryMuseum.gov.]
The Rockland County Horsemen’s Association, the Nyack and Orangetown Bicentennial Committees and the Tappantown Historical Society are coordinating local activities for the National Bicentennial Wagon Train that will cross Rockland June 14 on its way to Valley Forge, Pa., by July 4.
Local riders who would like to participate in Rockland’s five-mile escort ride and ceremonies in Nyack, Piermont and Tappan may obtain entry forms from Frederick’s Feed Store, Station Square, Congers; the Hi-Tor Animal Care Center, off Pomona Road. Pomona; or the Rockland County Cooperative Extension office, Maple Avenue, New City.
For further information. contact Mrs. Phillip Beigel of New City, Mrs. Carlton Snow of Valley Cottage, or John Cumming at Frederick’s in Congers.
This Week in Rockland (#FBF Flashback Friday) is prepared by Clare Sheridan for the Historical Society of Rockland County. © 2026 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.
