Week of September 4
September 2, 1876 – 150 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Journal
AROUND HOME
☞ Nearly every lively stable horse and buggy in Nyack was at Rockland Lake, at the Farmers Picnic on Wednesday night.
☞ Why don't some of our enterprising citizens build a park in Nyack? It would be the means of keeping our street corners clear.
☞ John G. Haeselbarth, our enterprising news-dealer, has received about nine hundred papers daily during the summer months.
☞ The steamer William Cook did not take a very large crowd of passengers from Nyack, on her trip to Rockaway Beach, last Tuesday.
☞ A large number of persons attended the Farmers' Picnic, in Sylvan Grove, Rockland Lake, on Wednesday last. All had a good time.
☞ Rev. J. J. Weeks, of Cicero, N.Y., will preach in the Orangeville Universalist Church on Sunday, 10th inst., morning, and evening.
☞ A private Social and Picnic Party will be held in Buchenan's Grove, Nanuet, on Wednesday evening next, 6th inst., if the weather permits.
☞ John Curran is breaking ground for a new building on the corner of Burd and Franklin Streets. The building is intended for a store.
☞ The stage scenery in the Nyack Opera House was seized by Constable Demarest, on Wednesday, to satisfy a claim of Messrs, White & Gurnee.
September 4, 1926 – 100 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Times
ARRESTED FOR BIGAMY
[Image: Nyack Hospital, ca. 1920. Image courtesy of the Nyack Library via NYHeritage.org.]
Mrs. Anna May Rota Stevens found to her dismay before Judge Ecroyd on Tuesday night that it is not wise to be too much married.
She was married on August 1, 1925. by the Rev. S. Leslie Ried to Genro Roto. They made their home in the White Row in West Haverstraw and a little more than two weeks ago, Roto, apparently departed for parts unknown. About that time, Mrs. Roto with her two children was evicted from her home by the purchaser of the house.
On Saturday last, Mrs. Roto was married to Chester Stevens. The ceremony was performed in Stony Point by the Rev. William Aten. She was arrested on a charge of bigamy and was held by Judge Ecroyd for the action of the Grand Jury. Mrs. Roto's. infant son is seriously ill of pneumonia in the Nyack Hospital.
September 1, 1976 – 50 YEARS AGO
Our Town
BLAUVELT DESCENDANTS COME TO TAPPAN
The 50th annual meeting of Blauvelt descendants will be held this year in the home of the Reformed Church of Tappan. It is here that the Association of Blauvelt Descendants first met on September 18, 1926, to form the family group which has grown from 163 charter members to over 700 members.
On Saturday, September 18, there will be a coffee period at 9:30 am followed at 10 am with the annual meeting. Luncheon will be served by the ladies of the church in the Manse Barn at 12:30 p.m. Cost $4.00 Adults, $2.00 children to 12 years.
At 6:30 pm, the group will meet for dinner at the Holiday Inn, Orangeburg.
On Sunday, at 1l am, a special church service will be held at the Reformed Church. Reservations must be made by Sept. 11 with Mrs. George Kotuby, 1325 Jefferson Ave., Rahway, NJ.
The Association is an organization of the lineal descends of Gerret Hendricksen du Blaew Boer, who came to this country from Deventer, Holland in 1637.
It is one of the largest genealogical organizations in the country with members in about 40 states, Canada and England, Rockland County, Orangetown, and almost every county in NJ.
Persons claiming Blauvelt ancestry and interested in information may contact Mrs. George N. Fraser, 65 So. 19th St. Kenilworth, NJ.
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.
