Week of August 14

August 14, 1876 – 150 YEARS AGO

Rockland County Journal

BALLOON ASCENSION

      Prof. Shannannie, from Italy, stopping at the Currie Mansion, Nyack, has favored the guests of that house and our citizens with many fine balloon ascensions during the season. On Wednesday evening we saw one of the balloons going up, taking with it the figure of a large rhinoceros, which after floating an hour or two high up in the air, fell and "found its way back to the owner before midnight.” This Saturday afternoon, between the hours of five and six, the Professor, we learn, will send up the largest balloon of the season, carrying with it one of his famous elephants, "Josephine." The Prof. deserves much credit for affording our people such rare pleasure.

SHAMEFUL DISTURBANCE OF THE PEACE

      On Thursday night a party drove up to a gin-mill on upper Main Street and alighted. After a short time a noise began which threatened to prevent anyone in the vicinity from sleeping until the “mill” closed up, and this noise was kept up until after midnight, disturbing the whole neighborhood. Dogs were started barking vociferously, yet their noise was no worse than that of the two-legged canines in the rum-hole. It was nearly one o'clock in the morning before the disgraceful proceedings were concluded, and many persons living near by lost two or three hours' necessary sleep thereby. If such things continue, the matter will be looked into and the proprietor of the disorderly gin-mill made to pay the penalty of the disturbance he allows.

August 14, 1926 – 100 YEARS AGO

Rockland County Times

SERIOUS ACCIDENT SIX PEOPLE NARROWLY ESCAPE DEATH WHEN CAR PLUNGES INTO DITCH NEAR CONGERS SUNDAY EVENING

     An Oldsmobile touring car driven by Erric Ketzel of 801 Tenth Street, West New York, N. J., is now a mass of tangled metal as the result of an accident on the new State Road in Congers about eight o'clock Sunday evening.

     Ketzel, in whose car were five other people, was driving south along the road, on his way home when Dr. Fred Batzle of 999 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City. N. J., in his Buick sedan, attempted to pass him and in cutting back into the line of cars, caught tho left front wheel of the Oldsmobile.

     The car was thrown off the road down a slight embankment and according to report, made several revolutions. The occupants of the car were all injured. It is the opinion of witnesses that in consideration of the way they were thrown, it is miraculous that there were no fatalities.

     Mrs. Ketzel lanced in such a way that her neck was between a boulder

and the tonneau of the car. It was only because her husband realizing her predicament, since he couldn't extricate himself, held the car away from her neck with his knee and thus saved her from being choked to death before aid came.

     The injured people were all sent to theNyack hospital where their bruises and lacerations were dressed. Since none of them suffered broken bones, they were later sent to their homes.

     Inspector Hartmyer of the Motor Vehicle Department arrested Dr. Battle on a charge of reckless driving and took him before Judge George W. Link, Jr., in New City, who held him in $250.00 bail and set his hearing for Saturday. August 14th, in order to give both parties a chance to have witnesses present.

August 15, 1976 – 50 YEARS AGO

Journal News

METRIC MYSTERY EXPLAINED

[Image: Metric Board, 1982.  Courtesy of the National Metric Board Newsletter]

     If you don't know how many liters of gas you need to travel 200 kilometers, have no fear: David Howell can help.

     Howell, mathematics coordinator for the Pearl River School District and a member of the U.S. Metric Association, was recently selected to serve as a member of the National Bureau of Standards speakers bureau on metric information.

     As the nation slowly adjusts from inches and gallons to centimeters and heetoliters, Howell feels a little education can go a long way. Through simplification, he says, the transition can be made considerably easier.

     Howell points out that most consumers have already come in contact with the metric system. Film, drugs and cigarets are just some of the items currently measured in this fashion, and other changes are on the drawing boards.

     “The transition will not be difficult," Howell maintains. “As long as everything is calibrated in the same unit, consumers can just match the numbers. They will not have to use mental arithmetic to convert from one system to the other."

     Last December, President Gerald Ford signed into law a bill to provide coordination for the nation's voluntary conversion to the metric system. At that time, the U.S. was one of only five countries in the world still avoiding a switch to the metric system.

     “The implications for any American conducted company that trade abroad were obvious," Howell says. “Because of the interdependence of countries on trade and economics, a large segment of the nation has al ready converted to the metric system.”

     The legislation, however, sets no specific timetable for the completion of the transition, and Howell feels that omission may lead to problems.

     He says 1985 would be a good target date.

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.