Week of August 28

August 26, 1876 – 150 YEARS AGO

Rockland County Journal


AROUND HOME

 ☞    One of Commodore Voorhis's horses was bitten on the lip by a copperhead snake this week. The animal was promptly attended to and no serious effects have resulted.

☞ Yet can get a correct idea of the Centennial exhibition for 50 cents, if you will avail yourself of the opportunity. Single admission, 35 cents: both nights, 50 cents.

☞     If you wish to have a good time, attend the Farmers Centennial Picnic, in Sylvan Grove, Rockland Lake, next Wednesday, 30th inst. Take your own refreshments. 

☞ The people of Haverstraw are anxiously waiting for the next race in which "Adelaide" will be entered. They would not be surprised to see her make a record of 2.17.

☞     Quarry Glen, at Monsey, is illuminated every Saturday night. It is a beautiful sight.

☞ The S. P. C., of Spring Valley, have a select picnic to Quarry Glen on Saturday.



August 28, 1926 – 100 YEARS AGO

Rockland County Times


POPULARITY CONTEST

         [Image clipped from the Rockland County Times]

A few of Rockland’s most popular young ladies that have entered in the popularity contest that is now being staged in conjunction with the Rockland County Democratic Club celebration that is to be held in Haverstraw, NY the week of September 6th. Two of these young ladies are Ann Skerry of Stony Point and Betty Prudente of Haverstraw.

 

STOLEN GOODS FOUND BY PIERMONT POLICE

           Lieut. Stearns of the Piermont police department went to Hackensack, N. J., Thursday, when he visited the prosecutor in connection with the arrest of eight Englewood young men charged with burglary.

 The Standard Oil Company service stations were visited in Rockland County last Wednesday morning, one in Sparkill and the other in Piermont, and gas, oil, cigarettes, candy and accessories stolen.

         George DeLeo operates the Sparkill station and J. Mulligan the one at Piermont.

         What was stolen by the youths was identified and recovered and formal charges against the men are to be made.

         Manager, Fromer of the Nyack Oil Company plant accompanied Lieut. Stearns to Hackensack and the stolen merchandise was identified and the complaints, be said, would be forth-coming.

 

 KILLED BY LIVE WIRE

         Charles Mitchell, 32 years old, of Lawrence, Mass., an employee of the Rockland Light and Power Company, was so badly burned Monday afternoon at West Nyack by a live wire that he died three hours later in the Nyack Hospital.

         Mitchell was at work on a transformer at the West Nyack sub-station of the company, where a number of workmen are busy increasing installation.

         In some unexplained manner his foot came in contact with a live wire and he was hurled to the ground.

         Fellow-workmen hurried to his assistance, and it was discovered that his left foot and leg and hand and arm were burned. He was unconscious and plans were quickly made to take him to the hospital.

         Mitchell did not gain consciousness and there was no hope for his recovery.

         Coroner Giles held an inquest Tuesday so that the man's body could be sent home. He leaves a wife and four-year-old son.


August 28, 1976 – 50 YEARS AGO

The Journal News


WETLAND LAWS DRAFTED

         The Clarkstown and the Ramapo town boards drafted local ordinances Wednesday night designed to protect and preserve state-designated wetlands, but the laws may not take effect for two years.

         Adoption of the freshwater wetlands acts was prompted this month by an opinion issued from the state attorney general's office which held that any  city, town or village in New York wishing to maintain control of wetlands areas must fortunate a law by Sept. 1 or forfeit its jurisdiction.

         The opinion, by Attorney General Louis  Lefkowitz, sent municipal officials throughout the state scurrying to the drawing boards in an effort to assure future control of the wetlands. Ramapo and Clarkstown joined hundreds of other municipalities Wednesday night by holding required public hearings and adopting laws which may be amended during the ensuing months.

         However, the laws have no effect until the state Department of Environmental Conservation completes and sends out to the municipalities detailed maps of all freshwater wetlands to be protected.

         Any towns or villages in Rockland which do not adopt local ordinances will forfeit their authority to maintain such wetlands. The county will then have three months to adopt a law protecting remaining wetlands before the conservation department takes permanent control

         The adoption of the laws provoked little debate at either town board meeting Wednesday night. Murray Jacobson, Clarkstown town attorney, said it may be two years before the laws take effect.

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.