Week of April 25
April 24, 1875 – 150 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Journal
REMOVAL — The millinery business of Mrs. Wilson, Nyack, has been removed to Commercial Building, where it will be opened on Wednesday, April 28th, with a fine stock of millinery goods suited to the trade, at low prices. The goods have been selected with care by Mrs. Wilson, who anticipates giving the business her personal supervision. She will be pleased to see her friends and patrons.
A NEW STABLE — Edward Blauvelt is a young man comparatively, but he is a veteran in the livery stable business, and as it is an occupation which he delights in. He has had the Smithsonian stables handsomely fitted up and stocked them with horses and vehicles equal to any in our village. Parties desiring conveyances for pleasure or business will find them at the above place on Burd Street.
April 24, 1925 – 100 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Times
BLUMENFELD SELLS OUT — Long Time Successful Milk Dealer Quits after 25 Years — Has Been Very Successful — Says No Immediate Object
Mr. H. D. Blumenfeld, the Centenary milk man, on his rounds supplying his customers, Monday morning, was accompanied by Mr. George Kramer, who Mr. Blumenfeld introduced to his extensive list of patrons as his successor, announcing that he had disposed of his business after 25 years’ industrious and intensive effort to Mr. Kramer.
In many instances there were pathetic expressions of regret at the discontinuance of his daily rounds by Mr. Blumenfeld between whom and his extensive patrons, he had accomplished in many instances a warmer association than is usually employed between merchant and patrons.
In the 25 years that Mr. Blumenfeld has been operating the milk route he missed but two days’ service, and in both instances, his failure to serve his customers was due to the elements and not to any act or inclination of his own.
He admitted he had cause to be grateful for enjoying such wonderful, good health, never having been sick a day and the two occasions when he did miss the route was because of the snow blockade that prevented his getting around among his patrons.
In a brief discussion with the Times reporter in which he confirmed the information the Times had of the sale of his business, Mr. Blumenfeld said he had nothing specific in view for immediate activity. He did not know what particular line of effort he might possibly employ, he said he had no immediate commercial prospect, but he had many little incidents in detail of a more or less personal nature that required time and attention.
He thought it was possible, however, that later on he would take up some line of commercial effort to occupy his time and attention.
Mr. Kramer says by giving the same undivided, careful attention to the trade he hoped to be as successful as was Mr. Blumenfeld.
April 23, 1975 – 50 YEARS AGO
The Journal News
BLIND, HE LEADS HANDICAPPED TO HEALING SERVICE
[Image: Anthony Venerose outside New City home. Journal News Staff photograph by Art Sarna.]
A New City man who cannot see is planning to lead a group of people today on what he might call a bus ride to religious vision.
Anthony Venerose, blinded 3 years ago by sugar diabetes, has rented a $1,200 bus to take up to 50 people to a miracle healing service in Pittsburgh.
About three weeks ago, said Venerose, he was told in a “religious experience” that he was to rent a bus to take Rockland area people seeking physical, mental, and spiritual healing to a service by Kathryn Kuhlman, a religious leader who gives what are called miracle services throughout the country.
Venerose, who said he has periodically regained his sight at the meetings, put down the cash for the bus rental out of his own pocket, he said. He hopes to be repaid by selling seats at $23 apiece for those who can afford it.
The bus will leave the Nanuet Mall at 8 p.m. for the seven-hour trip, he said. It will have reclining seats for those who are sick and going to be healed.
According to Venerose, more than 30 people have made commitments to come so far—one of them a Massachusetts woman who underwent an operation for spinal cancer. “She’s making this trip that God would heal her completely,” he said.
There is a very very large need for spiritual healing—which I have experienced myself,” he went on.
Venerose, 56, lives in a large spotlessly neat house set in manicured landscaping at 20 Ungava Drive.
“The Lord led me into designing this house and building it for some unknown reason,” he said.
Venerose, whose daughters are married and reside elsewhere, lives in the house as a virtual shut-in with his wife, Theresa.
The place is too large for him, he admits, but he sees it as a possible evangelist’s retreat. He already holds 6 a.m. payer meetings there—attended mostly by local businessmen—every Tuesday and Thursday.
Fastidiously dressed in a pinstriped suit, the New City man, a parking lot owner and operator in White Plains until his blindness set in, spoke in an unquavering [sic] voice as he told of his experience with miracle healing.
“The night of the 28th of October 1971 I stepped into complete darkness,” he began. The following March 17 two pastors, including the Rev. Thomas Hatcher of the New City Gospel Fellowship, brought him to a Kuhlman healing service.
In the middle of the service, as Venerose tells it, Miss Kuhlman said, “There is a man in the right side of the auditorium sho is receiving healing of his eyesight.”
“I started to see,” he went on. He could discern lights, and stained-glass windows and Miss Kuhlman herself. “She asked me to come up and put my finger on her nose to show I could see. I followed her all around the stage that way.”
His visions lasted only seven days, he said. But the healing experience was repeated Dec. 10, 1972, at a prayer meeting at Hatcher’s home in Normandy Village. Again, Venerose said his sight lasted only about a week.
Venerose’s interest in faith healing begin in 1947, long before his blindness, he said. He was dressed for church when he by chance tuned in to Oral Roberts, a Southern Evangelist.
It moved him, he continued, “but as a businessman I had to check everything out.” So when Roberts came to White Plains in 1949, Venerose when to the meeting.
He said he say people in wheelchairs get up and walk. “I was then made aware that Jesus Christ is alive.”
Then on a Florida vacation in 1951, he said, he went to a revival meeting. His voice quaked as he spoke.
“A wind just blew right through me. I was completely stretched out on the floor, slain by the Holy Spirit.
“I was in no need at the time. I was a successful businessman, and I had no need physically. The spiritual healing was in my heart.”
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.
