Week of November 13

November 11, 1876 – 150 YEARS AGO

Rockland County Journal

AROUND HOME

  ☞  The City and Country this week prints the cut of a despondent Thanksgiving turkey which it tries to palm off for a Republican rooster. Evidently the editor of that paper doesn't know much about poultry.

  ☞  On Monday night officer Hubbell arrested James Casey (a Democrat), of Jersey City, for insulting ladies. Prisoner was brought before Justice Stephens, on Tuesday morning, who sent him to jail for ten days.

  ☞  The Nyack Cornet Band has improved wonderfully with the excellent practice it has had during the campaign, and plays now even better than before. We hope it will be properly appreciated in this community especially.

  ☞  If new Broadway was improved its entire length as it has been in front of the residence of John I. Collins, Esq., it would be the handsomest thoroughfare in the State, Mr. Collins is entitled to the thanks of every traveler.

CLEAR YOUR PREMISES

         Now that the Crops are all gathered and vegetation is ended for the year, we would advise our farmers, and all others owning oven small places upon which they have gardens, to clear their premises of whatever garbage may have accumulated during the season. If they do this, they will be saved a great deal of trouble in the Spring, and the healthfulness of their localities will be enhanced. Allow no decayed vegetables on your premises, because they engender disease and may be the means of taking life. Remove all rubbish that may be lying around. The best way to dispose of it is to burn all that is combustible, and that which will not burn you can bury. You can thus make your premises look cleaner and better, besides in a measure preserving in safety from disease the members of your household.

November 12, 1926 – 100 YEARS AGO

Pearl River News

PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR PEARL RIVER — Active Campaign to Secure Funds to Start Up-to-Date Free Library Is Started by Committee

         A campaign to establish a Free Public Library in Pearl River has been inaugurated by a strong committee of local men and women, with the support of the prominent business and social interests of the community.

         This committee consists of Rev. H. C. Egner, pastor of the First Lutheran Church, who is chairman, Dr. B.M. Lyons, of the Lederle Antitoxin Laboratories, Arthur F. Robbins, Editor of the Pearl River News, Mrs. Leon Woodworth and Mrs. Carl Holman. The members of this committee all have definite contacts with sources of information relative to the proper inauguration of such a movement, and there is every assurance that the plan will become a successful reality.

         The Library plan has the sympathetic support of the Wednesday Luncheon Club, which talked it over at its noonday gathering this week. Financial support on the part of the citizens of the community will undoubtedly be asked, but it is not likely that this will be an onerous burden at the outset of the campaign.

         The committee assures the public that all books in the Library will be well chosen, readable and current. The library will not fill its shelves with castoffs of doubtful value and questionable interest. It will start, certainly, in a small way, but will be completely up-to-date as far as it goes.

FIVE FINED FOR WILD MOTORING — Harrison Baisley Pleads Guilty and Jury Trial Is Not Held — Reckless Driving Receives Penalties

         In order to avoid setting a troublesome precedent, Judge Leon Woodworth decided in court this week, after finding he was acting legally, not to allow a jury trial to Harrison Baisley, of Highland Falls, who was charged with reckless driving. Thereupon Baisley decided to plead guilty, and the court fined him ten dollars. Officer Fred Kennedy was in court with witnesses and a diagram of the route traveled by Baisley, and was all ready for the jury trial, but Baisley's decision to plead guilty made the preparation unnecessary.

         Robert Stockman, of Newark, N.J., was fined ten dollars for speeding and passing cars on the wrong side of the road.

         Jos. D. Badley, of Jersey City, was fined ten dollars for passing a dozen cars out of line on Election Day.

         Jacob Pingst, of Pearl River, was fined five dollars for driving without a license.

         William R. Horowitz, of Yonkers, was fined five dollars for reckless driving.

November 10, 1976 – 50 YEARS AGO

Our Town

BALLADEER BRINGS BACK IRISH FOLK SONGS

[Image: Down by the Glenside by Tommy Dunn, album cover, 1976.]

         Two years ago, Blauvelt resident Tommy Dunn strolled into the Irish Pavilion, midtown Manhattan, and calmly told the manager that he could sing Irish ballads. The Pavilion is the proving grounds for would-be Irish artists. The owner gave young Tom his chance to sing—liked what he heard and hired him on the spot. In fact, he even became Tom's manager. Success story? Could very well be—in time—for Tommy has already gained a faithful following along the Irish Circuit, and he is now looking forward to appearing on a late, late television talk show in Ireland next year, hosted by Gay Burns.

         Although Tommy got his big break by “being in the right place at the right time,” he has followed through with hard work and long hours, going from booking to booking throughout the Irish Catskills, and playing the Irish niteclubs and local restaurants such as Sullivans in Tappan.

         And it is certainly not all fun and games, for sometimes it means working six nights a week, sleeping very little, rehearsing daily and with very little time off for rest and relaxation - or romance. "I don't have time" he says.

         Why does he do it? Anyone who remembers Tommy as a youngster growing up in Blauvelt knows that he loves to sing. They will remember him as part of a rock group that played at church and neighborhood functions. Then he outgrew the rock and turned to the softer sentimental Irish ballads. Now seventy percent of the songs he sings are Irish folk tunes or ballads. “I’ve always liked poetry" he told Our Town. "The songs are just poetry put to music."

         Aiding his popularity is a recent trend in Irish Music away from the Clancy Brothers rebel type songs and back to the folk tunes of yesteryear. For example, the most asked-for song in Tommy's repertoire is The Town I Loved So Well, which is featured in his album Down by the Glenside.

         The song is typical of the return to traditional music in Ireland in recent years. In fact, it is so new that it had to be translated from the Gaelic for Tommy so that he could sing it to an American audience. It is also unusually long for a ballad, but audiences listen attentively to every word, for it is a poignant tale of Derry and the devastating effects of the fighting on the Irish countryside. The ballad ends with the lines, 'Those were happy days in so many, many ways / In the town I loved so well.”

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.