Week of September 19

September 18, 1875 – 150 YEARS AGO

Rockland County Journal

ABSOLUTE SECURITY

[Image: Brown brick National Bank of Haverstraw dominates this wide intersection in downtown Haverstraw, circa 1900. John Scott Collection of the Nyack Library via NYHeritage.org.]

        While visiting Haverstraw a few days ago we stepped into the Haverstraw National Bank and while there the cashier, Geo. H. Smith, and the president, Ira A. Hedges, invited us to inspect a new lock which had recently been put on their immense Marvin safe.

        The lock is known as “Pillard’s Time Lock” and while it is exquisitely finished and a beautiful piece of workmanship, its mechanical operation surpasses, we think, any of the so-called chronometer locks extant. The Yale and other patents differ from Pillard’s in this respect, that when you have closed your safe door for the night there is no possibility of opening it again until say nine o’clock next morning. At the close of business the Pillard Time Lock can be set to open at any hour, and in case anything is forgotten or a necessity exists for getting into the safe, it can be accomplished at the moment indicated by the chronometer inside.

        The working of the machinery is as true as that of an Elgin watch, and the lock performs its duty so completely and thoroughly that were the combination given to an expert, his efforts to open the safe would be entirely futile until the hour set for opening it had arrived. Although the lock is rather small and easily applied to any safe, yet a burglar would have to work very expeditiously if he reached it in twenty-four hours.

        In addition to this most excellent device, every door and window in the bank is connected by wires with a large gong in the upper part of the building, which can be heard at the distance of over a quarter of a mile. These wires are operated by an electric battery and are extremely sensitive as to connections &c.

        The officers of the above bank have taken every precaution for safety, and if they had all the money that they could keep absolutely secure against burglars they would need a safe as big as a church.

SWIMMING MATCH

        The swimming match for the championship of Rockland County took place last Saturday. The match was announced for Friday, 10th inst., but, owing to unfavorable weather, it was postponed. At 2.30 P. M. Saturday, Frank E. Smith, of Nyack, and Thos. Finn, Jr., of Piermont, entered the water from the end of the Piermont pier and started for Nyack. The water was quite cold, which made it rather unpleasant for the contestants. When about three-quarters of a mile from the starting point, Finn complained of having cramps and was taken in a boat. Smith continued on in his course, and in 1 hour and 50 minutes he reached the Nyack dock, having swam over four miles in that time. He was heartily cheered as he arrived, and his friends feel justly proud of the feat he accomplished.

September 19, 1925 – 100 YEARS AGO

Rockland County Times

TO TABLET CHURCH SITE — Location of First Rockland County Christian Church To Be Marked by Historical Society

        The Rockland County Society is arranging to dedicate a tablet on the site of the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of New Hempstead, which was located at West Nyack. The ceremonies are to take place Saturday afternoon, October 24th, and will be followed by a dinner and dancing. The arrangements are being made by Mrs. Lulu E. Serven, president and chairman of the Entertainment Committee, George H. Budke, Chairman of the Historic Sites Committee, and Harry Ryerson.

        The Church in question was organized on January 12, 1750, and the first consistory was chosen on April 22, 1750. The first stone was laid on June 11th, 1751, and the Church was dedicated on September 8th, 1751. This was rebuilt in 1826 and the name was then changed to the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in Clarkstown on May 6th, 1840. The building was destroyed by fire on April 4th, 1904.

        The stone forming the base and foundation for the tablet was contributed by Mr. Leon De Montreville of Bardonia, and the slab on which the tablet is to be installed was contributed by Reverend H. K. Hotaling, and the consistory of the Church.

        The ceremonies will take place at 4 P. M. and will be public, and all residents of the county are invited to attend.

September 19, 1975 – 50 YEARS AGO

The Journal News

ELECTION ’75 — Weiner a Favorite for Court Bid

        Retired   County Family Court Judge Alfred Weiner is expected to be one of the leading contenders for the Democratic nomination for the Supreme Court in the 9th Judicial District when party delegates convene next Friday evening.

        Weiner’s name is expected to be placed in nomination for one of the two contested seats in the district which includes Westchester, Orange, Dutchess, Putnam, and Rockland.

        The two seats, which are filled for 14-year terms, are currently held by Republicans Joseph F. Gagliardi of Larchmont, and W. Vincent Grady of Dutchess. Grady, who will turn 70 this year, will not be seeking re-election, but Gagliardi is expected to receive support for another term when Republicans from the five counties convene Wednesday afternoon.

        Weiner, 40, was elected to a newly created Family Court judgeship in Rockland in 1971, after serving as Ramapo town justice for six years.

        Weiner said he has had “a great deal of experience within the family court for four years, and I am now looking forward to the different type of work that is done on the Supreme Court level.”

        Weiner said he did not know who will oppose him at the party convention, but Rye City Judge James Garrity is expected to seek one nomination as well. Delegates are appointed on the basis of their party enrollment in the various assembly districts giving Westchester the largest vote.

        Party leaders suggest that Democrats may also decide to give a cross endorsement of Gagliardi, in hopes of increasing their future chances of getting Democrats elected to the bench. Of the 20 judges now holding ninth judicial district seats, 19 are Republicans.

        Without commenting about Gagliardi specifically, Weiner said he believed the Democrats should consider supporting a candidate from another party if he is qualified, despite his own intentions.

        At the Republican convention Dutchess County Judge Joseph Judice is expected to gain the second nomination along with Gagliardi.

Should Weiner prove successful in gaining the nomination and winning the election, his successor in the county Family Court would be named by Democratic Governor Hugh I. Carey.

The post then would be contested in the November 1976 election.

While any Democrat seeking the judicial post is an admitted under-dog, party officials’ hopes are raised somewhat this year as they take over Row A on the voting booths following the election of a Democratic governor last year.

A lifelong county resident, Weiner was the losing Democratic nominee for the ninth district judicial post in 1970, before he won a narrow victory electing him to the Family Court.

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.