Week of April 3
April 1, 1876 – 150 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Journal
AROUND HOME
☞ The mother and daughter of Rev. G. M. S. Blauvelt, of Tappan, died last Sunday, in Newburgh. Two weeks previous to their death, the two ladies were a thousand miles apart.
☞ The croquet players at Sparkill had better plant their wickets, opposite the station, for the “peepers” in the marsh beyond have been “peeping” their Spring “peeps” this week.
☞ The rumor is current around town that Judge Barnard has rendered an affirmative decision in the mandamus case, which involves the calling of an election by the trustees of our village.
☞ Haverstraw weeps because she hasn’t a decent lock-up or that long-talked-of Town Hall. May she soon be able to dry up her briny tears and rejoice in the existence of those two necessary institutions.
☞ A large hole, over fifty feet in length, about fifteen feet in width, and five or six feet in depth, was washed in the bank above the railroad track, just north of Piermont-on-the-hill, by the heavy rains.
April 3, 1926 – 100 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Times
COLLISION SCRAMBLES EGGS
The State Road near the Treason House [sic] received an unusual shower on Friday afternoon. The shower was unusual in that it came from fresh eggs. William B. Blauvelt of New City was driving a suburban carload of eggs from Stony Point toward Haverstraw when his car was crashed into by a New York City Cadillac which it is alleged was going at a rapid rate of speed. The eggs were scattered in every direction as a result of the impact and the Blauvelt car was badly damaged. The Cadillac received only a broken bumper and fender. Mr. Blauvelt unfortunately suffered two broken ribs and other bruises
KILLED BY TRAIN AT PIERMONT
[Image: 1880s-era photograph of Piermont station in winter. Photograph by Isaac Van Wagner. Courtesy of the Nyack Library via NYHeritage.org.]
August Knarich was instantly killed shortly after going to work Monday morning at the plant of the Robert Gair Company in Piermont. Mr. Knarich operated the dunky engine used in switching freight cars in and about the big paper plant and in pursuit of his duties in throwing a switch, his foot caught in a frog in the railroad track, the body being crushed by the unrushing locomotive, the engineer of which failed to see the help less man.
BRICK FAMINE AVERTED
New York City came near to an actual common brick famine within the last few weeks, owing to the ice blockades in the Hudson. Railroad car shipments alone saved the situation and permitted building construction to proceed, although not as fast as it otherwise would have gone. Box car shipments of common brick from Pennsylvania points relieved the pressure. The ice barrier has been broken and the upriver supply is available to New York City builders
April 1, 1976 – 50 YEARS AGO
The Journal News
50,000TH BUS RIDER HONORED
Janice Arkin went to the Nanuet Mall Wednesday afternoon to shop for a present. She was a little surprised when she was showered with several gifts herself, after becoming the 50,000th rider to queue up for a Transport of Rockland (TOR) bus.
“This must be a joke and you must all be crazy,” she said to the mall representatives, public officials, reporters, and photographers who converged on THE Spring Valley teenager as she took her place on the line.
She watched County Legislator Sam Colman (D-Ramapo) with more than a little suspicion as he wrote her name and address on the green certificate he presented to her. Although her home at 4 Dwight Ave., Spring Valley, makes her one of his constituents, Janice did not recognize the lawmaker.
However, she began to take the hoopla more seriously when he gave her a letter that will permit her to ride TOR free until its first anniversary on Oct. 30. By the time she collected a $25 gift certificate from the Nanuet Mall management, a set of wine glasses from Bamberger’s and Руrex glassware from Sears, Janice was convinced.
A student at Ramapo Senior High School, she said she will be 16 in May and uses the county subsidized buses about four times a month.
“I usually take the bus to the Mall or home from school if I stay there late,” Janice said.
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.
