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This Week in Rockland: Newspaper Excerpts: Flashback Friday: Week of December 23

December 21, 1872 – 150 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Journal

AROUND HOME
       A large mine of nickel, copper and cobalt has been discovered near Stony Point, and is now being opened by the Rockland Nickel Mining Company.

THE GERMAN CASINO OF HAVERSTRAW
       Our German readers, in this village, will be gratified to learn that their fellow-countrymen, of Haverstraw, having reorganized the German Casino, of that place, and taken possession of the new hall built for their use, by Mr. Fred Glassing, will give, on the evening of the evening of the 26th inst., an entertainment and ball to celebrate the opening of their new hall.
       The society numbers, at present, thirty-four members in good standing, with good prospects for the future.
The entertainments are generally conducted in the German language. The officers of society now are. Mr. Richman, President; H. Hiepe, Vice President; F. Glassing, Treasurer; R. H. Kremer, Secretary.

PUBLIC PARK
       We learn that Commodore William Voorhis is thinking strongly of converting that portion of his property lying along the river and on a part of which his office stands, into an elegant public park, with fine graveled walks, rustic seats, bridges, fountains, flowers, &e. It could certainly be made one of the finest spots anywhere on the river.

December 22, 1932 – 90 YEARS AGO
Pearl River News

C. SCHULTZ, CHAMP SKATER TO RACE ON XMAS
       Carl Schultz, Jr., of Spring Valley. N. Y., champion skater of Rockland County will skate one mile match race on Christmas Day against Martin Nicholas, of Englewood, N. J., at the Nyack Skating Pond, Nyack, N.Y.
       Schultz is a speed antagonist for any skater. Last Winter in the Olympic trials to select a team to represent America he made a very good showing, and was right up with the best skaters in the United States. He is famous for his strong and fast pacemaking. There were no outdoor races of the Peerless Skating Club last season.
       The year before Martin Nicholas showed his endurance by winning a2 mile handicap from scratch against the best skaters of that organization, and was placed in a number of other races. The same season he also won a cup presented by Joseph Kopsky, the famous six-day bicycle rider, for races at various l distances. These two skaters should furnish a keen contest.

DISMISS CASE AGAINST THREE VALLEY BOYS
       The complaint made by John Klepar of Central Avenue, against three local boys charging them with disturbing the peace were dismissed this morning before Judge Bohr when Klepar failed to appear in the case.
       John Small, Stanley Walsh and Russel Allison came to court this morning in answer to the complaint served on them by officer Weir after an alleged fight on the Klepar porch on Monday night.
       It was alleged in the complaint that the three boys went to the house about midnight and wanted to see Ellen Klepar, 14 years old.
       The boys were not allowed in the house by Jack Hart, a boarder, and were told to go home.
       When they refused to leave the place, a fight started resulting in the smashing of several windows.
       John Klepar, who is employed at the Rockland State Hospital, at night made complaint against the boys On Tuesday morning when he learned about the trouble. The case was to be heard this morning. On account of Klepar’s failure to appear today, the charge was dismissed against the boys.

December 22, 1972 – 50 YEARS AGO
The Journal News

UPPER NYACK BANS SHOPPING CENTERS
[Image:  Ben Franklin Book Shop, Upper Nyack, 1985. Photo by Sally Savage. Courtesy of the Nyack Library, via NYHeritage.]
       Shopping centers have been banned from Upper Nyack under an amendment to the zoning ordinance adopted by the village board.
       Jerome Johnson, attorney for the owners of one of the larger pieces of commercially zoned land left in the village, called the amendment “almost confiscatory” during the public hearing Thursday that preceded its adoption.
       Johnson said he knew of no other village or town in the county with a zoning ordinance as restrictive as Upper Nyack’s. Johnson represented the owners of a 22-acre tract between route 9W and Midland Avenue. Part of the land is zoned for commerce, the rest for residences. Homeowners living near Route 9W said they welcomed the restrictions.
       The amendment not only precludes shopping centers, theaters, auto retailing establishments, but also any more gasoline filling stations or garages by listing uses allowed by special permit only.
       The uses listed include restaurants, lunch rooms, tearooms, banks, professional buildings, medical clinics, real estate and insurance offices, boatyards, marinas and docks, and research and development laboratories.
       Actually, Upper Nyack’s business zones are already limited in area and scope. Only some of the properties along Route 9W, the area around Petersen’s shipyard and the corner stores at Broadway and Castle Heights Avenue are zoned for business.
       Johnson said that when his clients purchased their tract 15 years ago. the Upper Nyack ordinance would have allowed a shopping center by special permit.
       Fred Bliss, who owns commercially zoned property on the west of Route 9W, most of it mountainous, said he didn’t see why he should be limited “to almost nothing” in the use of his land.
       “Anybody in his right mind wouldn’t come up and put in half the things you list,” Bliss told the board. He said he felt the board was being unfair to property-owners.
       Homeowners said that they had made investments in their properties, too.
       The village’s zoning map and ordinance, since amended, were adopted in 1961. At that time it had been thought that the Nyack portion of Route 9W might develop into an important commercial area and that it might be advantageous for Upper Nyack to let growth extend northward on a highly restricted basis. Auto retailing establishments were one of the uses then proposed.
       Mayor Richard Jewett noted that the development of Route 9W had not followed the predictions.
       Other matters before the village board included a discussion of road requirements for the first residential development in Upper Nyack for several years. The property involved is the site of the Old Upper Nyack school, which was destroyed by fire some years ago. Gustav Builders has approval to use the site for a 6-home development.

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This Week in Rockland (#FBF Flashback Friday) is prepared by Clare Sheridan on behalf of the Historical Society of Rockland County. To learn about the HSRC’s mission, upcoming events or programs, visit www.RocklandHistory.org or call (845) 634-9629.

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