Week of December 26

December 25, 1875 – 150 YEARS AGO

Rockland County Journal

HADDOCK’S NEW BUILDING

[Image: Haddock’s Hall (a.k.a. the Silk Mill), Piermont. Image courtesy of the Piermont Chamber of Commerce.]

        We had the pleasure one day this week of paying a visit to and inspecting the large and handsome new building of Mr. Haddock, Piermont, which has recently been erected by that public-spirited, enterprising gentleman. The building is one of the finest and most substantial in the county, and is the handsomest addition that has ever been given to Piermont.

        The building is of brick, and stands on a heavy stone foundation varying from 3 to 5 feet in thickness. Its height from the foundation walls to the top is 41 feet; its length 88 feet, and its width 45 feet. The brick walls on either side are 24 inches thick. It has a magnificent front, the fine Croton brick being laid in a most skillful and tasty manner.

        The upper story will form, when completed, the handsomest public Hall in Rockland county, and will supply a want long felt by the people of Piermont. The Hall has two domes in the ceiling, the top of each being 20 feet from the floor. In the east end will be a gallery the full width of the building, on each side of which will be large and well-proportioned ante-rooms. In the west end will be a large stage running all the way across, which can be used for any kind of entertainment.—

        From the center of each dome will hang a handsome chandelier. The Hall has 24 large windows, which will furnish a splendid light in daytime; it has also seven heaters in the sides, by means of which the room can be kept well warmed in cold weather. The floors are well deafened, so that not the slightest sound from the Hall can be heard in the room below.

        The lower story will be used by Mr. Haddock as his store, which he will have well supplied with all the articles in his line-which includes nearly everything used by man and beast—groceries, dry goods, hardware, fancy articles, flour and feed, etc. The store is spacious and well proportioned, is well lighted, and has three doors each 7 feet wide in the front. The store is one of the finest we have ever seen in every respect, and we know the citizens of Piermont will think the same as we do and appreciate the fact.

        Underneath the store is one of the largest and best arranged cellars we have ever been into, which forms a most useful portion of the building. The place of ingress in the west side is sufficiently large to drive into with a team, and the egress is in the north side. The cellar is so well lighted with windows that lamps in most instances will be unnecessary, and the ventilation is almost perfect. There is also a well of pure water in the cellar, the value of which to the property cannot be told.

        If Piermont had a number of other men like Mr. Haddock, we are certain that a large part of the dullness which pervades the little town would be driven away, and setivity and improvement be plainly seen on all sides. Besides giving to the village the handsomest ornament it has ever had, Mr. H. has put up the most useful building in that portion of our county.

December 26, 1925 – 100 YEARS AGO

Rockland County Times

BOYS FIND SKELETON

        Fred Rose and Russell Babcock went hunting on Saturday afternoon in the woods near Gate Hill probably with the expectation of getting almost anything rather than the gruesome object they discovered. In kicking the brush, they came upon the skull of a man. Searching further, they discovered that that there was not only the skull, but the whole skeletal frame. The flesh was practically gone. After the boys notified officials of their discovery, Coroner Dutcher took charge of the bones. There is no means of identifying the body since it is in such a state of decomposition that whatever means there may have been have now disappeared. Hence the identity is unknown. There is the possibility that it was a hunter or that it was an inmate of Letchworth who escaped. Since it seems impossible to find out how long the body has lain there, it will probably prove impossible to find out where the man came from.

December 26, 1975 – 50 YEARS AGO

The Journal News

CHILDREN PUT ON PUPPET SHOW

        Eleven-year-old Paul DeMarco of Suffern and his nine-year-old sister, Cathy Ann, recently presented their own puppet version of “The Night Before Christmas” at the Suffern Free Library.

        The puppet show was created, produced and directed by Paul, with the help of his sister, and all the puppet-characters were played by the sister-brother team. The puppet theater used by the children was a Christmas present for them from last year, made by their father, Dr. Peter Demarco.

        “Last year, we put on ‘Hansel and Gretel’ at the library,” said Paul. “My sister and I always do the shows together,” he added, “and we use puppets that we already have. If we want to put on a show and we don’t have the right characters, we just make new costumes for our puppets.” The two performed “Hansel and Gretel” for the children at Good Samaritan Hospital, and also did a puppet show for a talent show at the Montebello Elementary School where both are students.

        The puppet show at the library was arranged by Kate Ryan, coordinator of children’s activities.

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.