Week of May 30
May 29, 1875 – 150 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Journal
AROUND HOME
☞ When we observe people sleeping quietly during church service, we can't but think how delighted the pastor must be to know that members of his congregation have such confidence in him as to quietly go to sleep and let him preach as he likes.
☞ The property of the heirs of Michael Tallman, on Broadway between First and Second avenues, is being finely improved, and when the improvements are completed it will be worth more than ever.
☞ Hubbell intends using a lawn-mower on the grounds around “Hotel-de-highfalutin,” and the people of Pig Tail Lane will rejoice in the consequent improvement of their native heath. H. has added boot-leg tea and shadow soup to his Summer bill of fare.
☞ Some of our ambitious lads, between the ages of five and fifteen, are now seriously considering whether to go to the Black Hills or not. Dime novels are being closely studied to ascertain how the land lies and what is the disposition of the Indians. "Hungry Bill, the Indian Swallower, " is the best authority.
☞ One of the worst curses that has ever infested a community is the large number of yelping, barking and howling dogs which keep up their noise in our village from bedtime until daybreak, breaking the sleep of scores of our citizens who need mental rest but cannot get it. Main Street, from Franklin Street up, suffers particularly from this curse, and complaints will be made to the authorities to see whether a yelping dog is of more importance than a man's sleep.
May 28, 1925 – 100 YEARS AGO
Pearl River News
STORY OF MARY’S LAMB BROUGHT UP TO DATE
Mary was the proprietress of a diminutive incipient sheep,
Whose outer covering was as devoid of coloring as congealed atmospheric vapor,
And to all localities to which Mary perambulated,
The young Southdown was sure to follow.
It tagged to the dispensary of learning,
One diurnal section of time—
Which was contrary to all precedent—
And excited the cacchination [sic] of the seminary attendants,
When they perceived the juvenile mutton at the establishment of learning.
Consequently, the [sic] expelled him from the interior,
Which precipitated Mary into a lachrymose condition,
But he continued to remain in the immediate vicinity without fretfulness,
Until Mary once more became visible. —Judge.
GREAT DAMAGE REPORTED DUE TO HAIL STORM
[Image: Indoor pool and solarium at the Clarkstown Country Club, postcard, ca. 1920–1940. HSRC Collection.]
Hail stones almost as big as baseballs played Havoc with greenhouses and roofs in the vicinity of Nyack. The loss is estimated at over $50,000. Haverstraw escaped the storm without any loss or damages.
One of the worst storms in the history of this section of the state arrived in Nyack on Saturday afternoon and did damage estimated at over $50,000. Hail stones fell there that were the largest ever seen, even by the oldest inhabitants. The Clarkstown Country Club, where the storm did the most damage, reported one stone [that] measured four-and-one-quarter inches. The largest hail stone reported down in the village of Nyack was three inches across
May 29, 1975 – 50 YEARS AGO
The Journal News
STARTER PISTOL INJURES YOUNGSTER IN PEARL RIVER
A 16-year-old boy was injured Wednesday night when a starter pistol, converted to fire live ammunition, accidentally discharged and the youngster was struck in the head by a piece of ricocheting metal, according to Orangetown police.
The youngster, identified only as Edward Bodensiek, 16, was sitting in a car in Pearl River shortly after midnight when the incident occurred, police said.
He was taken to Nyack Hospital for treatment of a minor injury, but walked out of the emergency room with his three companions following treatment, they said.
A bulletin was issued for the car driven by the four boys and they were stopped by Palisades Parkway Police at about 2 a.m. and returned to Orangetown Police Headquarters, police said.
The other youths were identified as Ian Hamilton, 18, of 493 Gilbert Ave., Pearl River, [and] Michael Purdom and Steven Daniels, no addresses given.
The Italian-made, Derringer style handgun was in Hamilton's possession when the car was stopped by parkway police, they said.
No charges have been filed against any of the four occupants of the car, they said.
Apparently, the youth was holding the 22 caliber hand-gun when it fired, struck the roof of the car and sent a fragment of the bullet back at Bodensiek, they said.
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.
