Week of May 22
May 20, 1876 – 150 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Journal
AROUND HOME
☞ If your fast trotter loses a shoe in the neighborhood of Nanuet, just step in and see Baker, the blacksmith, who will console you in his usual sympathizing manner.
☞ It is said that there are more good-natured men to the acre in Nanuet than in any other part of the county-and more good-looking ones, too, we might add (the barber included).
☞ Isaac S. Lydecker, Jr., the milkman, has purchased a handsome new milk wagon which moves along at a lively rate behind a fine black horse.
☞ Two more trains are to be put on the New City Railroad, which will give the residents of that place as good accommodations as they can wish for.
☞ The closing lecture of the course in the Presbyterian Church will be given by Rev. Dr. John Hall, this (Friday) evening. Don’t fail to attend it.
☞ Al. Vanderbilt has been removed from the telegraph office at Spring Valley. Cause—He was a fireman and helped extinguish the fire at Mrs. Davidson’s.
☞ “Dave” Cole, of Spring Valley, has returned from his winter sojourn in Florida. He has brought with him the skin of an alligator which he killed while there.
☞ The new cars on the Nyack and Northern Railroad have Bibles in them, placed there most especially for the perusal of delinquent newspaper subscribers.
☞ Tramps who wish to cross over to Tarrytown on the ferryboat, can earn a passage ticket by splitting wood vigorously for half an hour at the dock. A good idea.
May 22, 1926 – 100 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Times
COPS FORM UNION — ROCKLAND COUNTY PEACE OFFICERS IN NYACK ORGANIZATION CREATE ALLEGED BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION
At a meeting of representatives of the several police departments from practically all the villages in Rockland County, Suffern, Nyack, Piermont, and Haverstraw predominating, an organization was formed in the Nyack Village Hall Tuesday afternoon.
A temporary organization was perfected by the selection of William J. Ruppert of Nyack as temporary president to serve until July 1st as were B. J. Fox, Haverstraw, Vice President; B. J. Duree, Spring Valley, Treasurer; E. V. Jarvis, South Nyack, Secretary; and William Sterns of Piermont as Sergeant-at-Arms with the Messrs. Leo Lunney, Henry Stebbins, B. J. Duree, B. J. Fox and William J. Ruppert as Board of Directors.
The Haverstraw Police force all attended the session including Chief Ford, Captain Fox, and Officers Sheridan, Coyne, Mannion and Spissinger.
The Membership Committee consisting of John Coyne of Haverstraw, Chief Lunney of Suffern, Captain Jarvis of South Nyack, Chief Duree of Spring Valley and Lieutenant Boese, was appointed.
Miss N. E. Couch of Nyack is the organization attorney.
The initiation fee is $2.00 and the monthly dues are 50 cents per month.
The following resolution was drawn up and signed by the different men present:
“We, the subscribers hereto agree to form an association to be known as The Police Benevolent Association of Rockland County, Inc., State of New York. The purpose of the association will be the promotion of friendly and social intercourse among the members, also to provide for and establish mutual benefit and protection to the members in case of sickness, or it in need of the necessities of life and also to furnish financial aid to families of deceased members from monies derived from initiation fees, dues, voluntary contributions and from entertainments.”
May 19, 1976 – 50 YEARS AGO
Our Town
LIFE RETURNS TO SPARKILL CREEK
[Image: Gary Shauer unloads live trout from hatchery truck, 1976. Our Town News Photo.]
New life wriggled its way into the Sparkill Creek, which had been left as an ecological disaster area after a chemical spill killed all fish and marine animals last year.
On Tuesday, a large tanker from an upstate fish hatchery unloaded 2,000 trout, about 7” long. The trout were carefully ladelled [sic] into buckets, then dropped into the stream at locations selected by state conservation officers. Town supervisor Joseph Colello was on hand to observe the restocking.
The town arranged for the restocking in cooperation with state officials. The fish were paid for from an insurance settlement made after the All-County Septic Co. had accidentally spilled a powerful solvent into the waterway.
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.
