Week of July 25

July 24, 1875 – 150 YEARS AGO

Rockland County Journal

AROUND HOME

  ☞  Get out that old sun-bonnet now and go huckleberrying. Our devil says— “I’m the huckleberry that can pick more huckleberries than any other huckleberry that ever went huckleberrying.”

  ☞  Just think of it— Forty miles sail, three or four hours pleasure in one of the finest groves on the river, and a whole day’s enjoyment generally, for only fifty cents, by going on the Union S.S. Excursion to Iona Island next Wednesday.

  ☞  Dogs which are caught unmuzzled still continue to take a dive into the waters of the majestic Hudson, and their remains are buried on its green banks where they are free from the persecutions of small boys and out of sight of the eyes of the sausage-maker.

  ☞  We often wonder when we see a man sitting home with his family smoking a pipe, why that man will forbid his sons smoking. Of course we don’t object to the man smoking, but the force of his example—-well, it is impossible to stop the boys under such circumstances.

  ☞  Wednesday evening a tramp was arrested by Hubbell and taken to the lock-up, where he enjoyed all the luxuries of that place until the next morning, when he was brought before Justice Stephens who discharged him on the condition that he would leave town immediately.

  ☞  We have heard of no mad dogs in our village this week, but we have heard of a lady living only a short distance off who is “boiling mad” because she can’t wear a pull-back dress without being told by her husband that “she would look pretty if her knees should burst through.”

July 24, 1925 – 100 YEARS AGO

Pearl River News

PLANE CIRCLES OVER NYACK TO ADVERTISE KLAN — Drops Slips Reminding Public of Parade and Carnival at Suffern Tonight and Tomorrow; Buttons and Ribbons Being Sold on Streets; Many from Here Plan to Attend First K.K.K. Public Function in Rockland County[

[Image: Headline, Nyack Evening Journal, June 24, 1925]

       Nyack, July 24 — The arrival of an aeroplane distributing in cloud-like lots slips bearing in red ink “K. K. K. Suffern, N. Y. Saturday, July 25, 1925,” and the distribution of small buttons bearing an imprint of the American flag and, suspended, a small ribbon on which is printed “100% American,” aganst [sic] the Klan cross as a background, all combined to greatly stimulate the keen interest being shown today in the Ku Klux Klan Karnival which opens tonight at Tallmans, and continues tomorrow with a parade of 3,000 members in Suffern.

       Shortly after eight o’clock last night the plane made its first appearance, winging towards Nyack over Bradley’s Hill. When the plane, which was about 1,000 feet up, got over the center of the town a flood of small slips of paper, resembling in the distance a cloud of smoke, were let loose.

       The papers scattered as they fell, and many were carried out over the river. Enough fell in Nyack, however, to inform the whole town just what the mysterious aviator’s mission was. There was a scramble for the slips as they fell in the streets.

       Later in the evening a group of men and women, who arrived in automobiles, began selling the small buttons and ribbons, as described above. It is not believed that these people had anything to do with the Klan organization according to statements made this morning by authorized representatives of the Knights of the Invisible Empire.

       The carnival, for which extensive arrangements have been made, opens tonight in a large field a short distance from the center of Tallmans. Booths, similar to those maintained at firemens’ carnivals, have been erected. The Klansmen and members of the womens’ organization, the Kamelias, are expected to wear their regalia, but no masks.

       Tomorrow evening as [sic] six o’clock, the parade will take place in Suffern. Following the march through the streets of that village, they will parade to the carnival grounds, where addresses are to be given by speakers of national importance. Dancing, and other entertaining features will be on the program. The general public will be welcome. No passes will be required. Three hundred members of the Klan from Nyack are expected to be in the line.

July 25, 1975 – 50 YEARS AGO

The Journal News

$50,000 NICE CONSOLATION FOR VALLEY COTTAGE FAMILY

       How does it feel to win $50,000?

       “I really haven’t started feeling it yet,” said William T. Ebner of Valley Cottage, one of seven winners in the New York State million-dollar bicentennial lottery. “I’ll say this: It’s great considering I was out of work for the past several months because of lack of construction work.

       I have to admit I had no premonition or idea this might happen,” said Ebner, who purchased the lucky ticket—309-682—early last month.

       The Ebners, who were assured of winning at least $50,000, lost out on the top prize of $1million won by 34-year-old Jacqueline Rosenzweig, a Queens, N.Y., department store buyer.

       Other winners in the televised lottery—the first ever held in the state—were Leslie Hewitt, 39, also of Queens, who won the second prize of $500,000; Thomas Plau, a 39-year-old bachelor mailman from North Tonawanda, N.Y., who won third place with $250,000; and Helen Mooney of Queens, Artagracia Ella, also of Queens, and Margaret Barnett of White Plains, who along with the Ebners were $50,000 winners.

       The names of the four $50,000 winners were drawn from a bin containing the seven finalists’ names on a WABC (Channel 7) broadcast at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

       Then a brightly decorated wheel of fortune was turned to establish the winners.

       Ebner, an electrician, said his family had no special plans. “We’ll maintain the same lifestyle we’ve had for twenty years. Maybe we’ll take some of those vacation trips we’ve always thought about, but never gone on. But we would not go way out even if we won the million.”

       Ebner found out he was $50,000 richer July 5, when a phone call from his wife carried the news.

       “I was upstate helping a friend do his roof,” said Ebner. “His wife calls me to the phone, and the next thing I know, my wife is telling me she saw the winning number at the store and we had it.

       “She was a lot more excited than I was at the time. In fact, she and my daughter, Patricia, both examined the ticket with magnifying glasses to make sure it was real. Me, I guess I’ll get excited some time tonight or tomorrow when I get that check.”

       Ebner complimented the lottery people. “They held off on any publicity until yesterday.” he said. “They know what happens with salesmen calling at all hours once the word gets out. One thing that’s certain: We’ll have a new, unlisted phone number tomorrow.”

       Wednesday, they were brought to Manhattan and put up in a hotel for the night. Mrs. Ebner said she wasn’t sure why they had been brought to the city in advance. “I guess,” her husband piped up, “they wanted to make sure we were here for the show.

       Thursday, a rehearsal of the program was held to familiarize the finalists with the format. The program host, Monty Hall, who is well known for giving away money and merchandise on the “Let’s Make a Deal” television show, flew in from California.

       Ebner, who had signed his lottery ticket in his wife Alice’s name along with his own, said they would give a portion of the winnings to “a priest we know who is in need.” Beyond that, he said he didn’t know what they would do with the cash.

       The Ebner’s ticket was purchased at Hogan’s Diner in West Nyack. Mrs. Barnett bought her ticket at the County Stationary and Coffee Shop in White Plains.

       The ticket vendors attended the show.

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.