Week of May 29
May 27, 1876 – 150 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Journal
AROUND HOME
A large number of Nyack children are being measled. They say they don’t care so long as they get over it by the time the cherries get ripe.
A CARD — To the Public
A German piano-tuner, Frank Excorb by name is using my name to procure tuning and repairing. He is not in my employ, and has no right to swindle the public by obtaining work from them through the use of my name.
S. Sturtevant. Nyack May 20th 1876
“TEACHERS’ REST”
[Image: Teachers’ Rest, Tomkins Cove, undated. Image courtesy of Tomkins Cove Library via NYHeritage.org.]
This is the name of a pleasant home for infirm and invalid instructors about to be established at Tompkins’ Cove, in this county. A number of ladies, who are imbued with a feeling of kindly sympathy for this worn-out and unprovided-for class of their own sex, are determined to arrange a place where, at a nominal expense, they may find rest and comfort and a cheerful home. The “Rest” will be a corporation under the control of the following trustees: Rev. E. Gay Jr., Tomkins’ Cove; Col. C. C. Jones, New York; Dr. Samuel B. Ward, New York, and Mr. H. H. Houston, Germantown. A committee of internal management will consist of ladies, among whom are Mrs. Gay, Miss Berard and Mrs. Ernst, of West Point, Miss Clement, of Germantown, Penn. Those anxious to help along this enterprise, and wishing to know how best to do it, may address Miss Clement for information.
PRINT-WORKERS’ STRIKE
The operatives in the print works at Haverstraw and Wappinger’s Falls, both of which belong to Messrs, Garner & Co., have struck on account of a reduction of $3 per week on their wages. The proprietors will not come to any terms with their operatives, preferring to shut down their works. Severn hundred hands are thrown out of employment by this movement.
May 29, 1926 – 100 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Times
WILSONS GOING TO PHILADELPHIA — “MOTHER” WILL ENJOY VISIT WITH DAUGHTER WHILE THE “DOC” MOUNTS SHRINERS CAMEL
Dr. Harry A. Wilson of New City with Mother is to leave Monday for Philadelphia where they are to visit their daughter, Mrs. M. P. Lovelle and incidentally participate in the big demonstration pertinent to the opening of the Sesqui Centennial exhibition which opens in Philadelphia on June 1st.
While in the Quaker City, the Doctor is to be the special guest of Mayor Franklin Kendrick who is Imperial Potentate of the Great Order of Shriners. The Doctor is a member of the original, Mecca Temple, and said in Haverstraw while on a shopping expedition Tuesday to watch for him in the big parade as he expected to ride the Bull Camel in the demonstration, and decorate “Mother” with a “Fess.” When the Times representative asked him what he had in keeping with a camel, the Doctor remarked “Don’t get so dry.”
BRICK IN BRISK DEMAND
Building material manufacturers are concerned about trying their best to get building materials into New York City fast enough to take care of present demand. They are shipping common brick to this market by rail as far west as Ohio and Pennsylvania. One of the largest manufacturers in New Jersey refused to make any quotations at all for New York City delivery, saying they could not take another order.
William Barnes of Barnes, McNamara & Morrissey, probably the largest New York City distributers of Hudson common brick at wholesale, said at the weekend that they could not get enough brick here to keep building construction going fast as it could go if there was enough brick on hand, although he said the manufacturers were loading and shipping up the river as fast they possibly could.
May 29, 1976 – 50 YEARS AGO
The Journal News
TZ FIRE: MODEL SOUGHT
Nyack police are seeking a New York City model in an effort to learn more about Thursday’s “suspicious” fire that crippled the Tappan Zee Playhouse.
Police are checking reports that the woman, a model scheduled to appear at a Thursday night fashion show, entered the theater supposedly closed at South Broadway almost five hours before the blaze began.
The Journal-News learned about the police probe through Aaron Windheim, a Nyack lawyer representing theater owner Arthur Cantor. Windheim said he learned about the woman from friends.
Nyack police Lt. Thomas Coffey said the police investigation has concluded that the model entered the theater through an open side door on Thursday at 6:40 p.m. She wandered about inside for a time and then, realizing the fashion show was not to be held there, left, police said.
The theater’s side door was hit in a Wednesday accident, in which Jean Bien Aime of 8 South Broadway, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident. Windheim said, however, that he soon had the doors repaired. It is not known how the theater’s door opened so that the model could enter.
The theater’s backstage area was extensively damaged by the fire that started shortly after 11pm. More than volunteer firemen from Nyack and Central Nyack had the blaze under control after about 30 minutes.
Police have officially listed the blaze as “suspicious,” Coffey said.
Cantor, who owns the theater through his ownership of Entertainment Investors Inc., had no insurance on the building at the time of the fire, according to Windheim, who gave no estimate of damages.
The playhouse closed after the 1975 season with its books showing a $25,000 loss. An asking price quoted in September for the theater was $150,000.
A Nyack group, following the fire, was still interested in buying the theater, Windheim said.
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.
