Week of May 2
May 1, 1875 – 150 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Journal
AROUND HOME
☞ Nyack Division’s spelling-match, on Wednesday evening, was quite an amusing affair. Such little words as “heterogeneous,” “indefatigability,” “idiosyncrasy,” etc., caused a panic in the ranks.
☞ The Erie Railway officials are entitled to the thanks of every resident of Rockland county for the unequaled facilities which they offer to the traveling public in their new time-table published in another column.
☞ Tramping has become a fine art. Members of the profession are now furnished with a regular guide, giving distances, probabilities, general directions, etc., which is a great assistance to them in their travels.
☞ The farmers of our county who desire to raise first class stock are referred to the advertisements of J. B. Haring’s “Dencalion” and D. B. Amos’ “Eclipse Clay.” Both horses have a fine reputation, and one cannot go amiss with either of them.
☞ Com. William Voorhis has challenged Com. Dickerson owner of the Madeleine to race the Tidal Wave against that yacht a distance of twenty miles to windward and back from Sandy Hook, twenty days after the arrival of the latter at New York.
May 2, 1925 – 100 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Times
INTERESTING BOOKLET ISSUED
[Image: Kings Highway, Valley Cottage, ca. 1918. A real estate business occupied this building circa 1918. In 1920, the house on the left was occupied by Noel Press, a printer, and Mrs. Gannon's Candy Store. It burned in 1928. Courtesy of the Valley Cottage Free Library via NYHeritage.org.]
The Noel Press of Valley Cottage, has just published a handsomely illustrated 40 page booklet on Nyack. It is an advance print of the Nyack section of the Rockland County Red Book now in preparation. In addition to the usual descriptive matter this booklet has complete professional and business directories and much other useful data.
The banks, industries, real estate firm and other business men in Nyack have purchased and are now distributing some five thousand copies to advertise Nyack’s attractions. This is excellent community advertising as such a publication is just what a homeseeker requires before making a choice.
The publishers, who have already received considerable support in Haverstraw, are preparing to print a similar booklet for this village, including West Haverstraw. In it they will stress particularly on Haverstraw as a desirable industrial center. Our business men and property holders will derive a benefit from such advertising because it will mean more business and increased property value. Haverstraw’s famous brick industry will also be fully covered in this booklet.
May 1, 1975 – 50 YEARS AGO
The Journal News
HAVERSTRAW NAMES POLICE CHIEF
The Haverstraw Village Board has appointed Michael C. Holland as permanent chief of village police, giving Haverstraw its first permanent chief in almost 20 years.
Holland, who was appointed Tuesday, had been serving as provisional chief since March 26, replacing John Bubenko, the last in a long line of acting chiefs dating back to John Spissinger, who died in office in 1957.
Reluctance on the part of some past acting chiefs to take the required Civil Service test, and the failure of others to pass it, resulted in the 18-year stretch without a permanent chief.
Bubenko failed to qualify on a Civil Service exam.
Holland, 34, is a lifelong resident of Haverstraw and has spent 12 years on the village force. His annual salary as chief is $20,000
Although he was fifth in line for the appointment, according to the Rockland County Personnel Department which provides the village board with a list of eligible candidates, he was chosen over his competitors because each of the other four eliminated themselves or specified conditions which the board rejected.
He received a B.S. degree in social science from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill with a minor in psychology, and is presently attending C.W. Post College on Long Island for a Masters degree in criminal justice.
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.
