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Flashback Friday Archive 2019-20: Flashback Friday: Week of September 11

September 10, 1870 – 150 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Journal

HANDSOME DEPOT
[Image: Thruway construction site, South Nyack, ca. 1954. The tiny railroad depot is all that is left of South Nyack's business district. Photograph by Fred J. Geist, courtesy of the Nyack Library History Room]
       A few days ago, we had occasion to visit the Mansfield Avenue depot on business. And while there, we could not help but admire the beautiful little structure, which graces that portion of the railroad. The design of the building is one of the neatest we have seen anywhere, it being plain, compact, and entirely devoid of all unnecessary or useless ornament. The outside is painted in a neutral color, and the inside is grained in the best style of the art. Even the floor of the building is painted and so cleanly it is kept, and we believe the finest garment would receive no injury by coming in contact with it. Elegant settees and armchairs are there for the use of the passengers and the little room devoted to the “ladies’ toilet” is a model of neatness and beauty.  The ticket office is arranged with a view to economy of space, and is kept in the most perfect order, so much so in fact that not even a single piece of paper is out of place, and not a ticket, but has its appropriate position ready for the call of the purchaser.
       Mr. W.W. Taulman is the presiding genius of the establishment and under whose supervision the office is so admirably conducted. Like ourselves, we think our readers will be surprised to learn that the receipts from the sale of tickets for the month of August were over $945 from this depot alone. Such railroad depots and agents are scarce, and we believe the managers for our railroad would consult their best interests by endeavoring to induce Mr. Taulman to keep the situation.

‘STREET NIGHT SCHOOLS’  — written for the Journal
       In almost all villages, and in all with which I am acquainted, there is a class that receive instruction nowhere save in the street at night. The place of instruction is sometimes in one part of the village, sometimes in another, but the course of instruction is always the same. Commencing with slang, swearing and smoking, and ending often in drunkenness and murder. And the teacher is always the same:  The Prince of Darkness, aided by some very apt under-teachers.
       To the above mentioned class, many boys and young men, of the better kind, often resort, thinking that they show in a commendable boldness in staying out evenings to learn of the “Bold, Bad Boys”, some of their vileness unless restrained by authority they soon learn all their ways and become apt in teaching others in the same ways of sin. How grieved have I often been to see sons of respectable Christian parents, taking lessons in these things. —Parents do not give thought enough, concerning the dangerous tendencies to vice that these street schools breed. There is nothing in a village I would not accept, even the saloon, that does more to undermine the character of upright boys and young men. No language is too strong to express the great influence or evil that they exert, and it is because of them that great cities are sores on the body politic.
       Let parents beware of allowing their sons to go have an evening where vileness “most does congregate.” Under cover of darkness vile words are spoken, obscene language is indulged in and laughed at, and the young mind, bent to the wrong, naturally drinks in this iniquity, like water and perchance takes the first downward step to disgrace and ruin.
       Oh, that with trumpet tongue, it could be sounded throughout all the towns and villages of this republic: “Break up those ‘street night schools.’”

September 10, 1920 – 100 YEARS AGO
Rockland News

VOTING BY MAIL IS NOW IN EFFECT — Persons Away from Home May Send in Ballots – Ballots are Secured from Board of Elections and Mailed Back to Them Before Election Day
       The largest vote ever cast in New York State at a general election will be registered this year. In addition to the fact that a president, and a governor are to be elected, new laws will be in effect that will permit men and women who are qualified voters of this state to vote under the absentee voters statute. This is a constitutional amendment. It was enacted by the legislature of the present year after having been approved by two previous legislatures and voted upon by the people at the elections last November.
       Heretofore, commercial travelers, actors, railroad men and others who because of business have been called away from their residences at election time have, because of their absence, been deprived of their voting privileges. Under the new law such persons will be able to vote from any point where they may be within the boundaries of the United States.

September 10, 1970 – 50 YEARS AGO
The Journal News

OH, THE SHARK BITES WITH HIS TEETH, DEAR …
       The first shark to be spotted in the Hudson River in recent memory washed up dead yesterday in Piermont at Cornetta's Boat Yard. Eyeing it warily were John Cornetta and Fred Piesco, who will probably reconsider any plans to go wading or swimming in the river for a while.

SULLIVAN:  PUT A MONORAIL ALONG PALISADES PARKWAY
       David A. Sullivan of Stony Point, Democratic candidate for assemblyman from the 96th District, last night proposed a monorail system from Rockland into New York City. He called “the Palisades Interstate Parkway route … a perfect site” and said the monorail line could be suspended over the wide median strip from the Bear Mountain Bridge traffic circle to the George Washington Bridge.
       He said the monorail could cross George Washington Bridge to the bus terminal on the New York City side by using outriggers.
       He said the monorail lines would be elevated to clear Parkway overpasses. He said further widening of the Parkway would not be hindered because most of the expansion levels are at the road's shoulders.
       Martin Bernstein, chairman of the county's Transportation Advisory Committee, said last night that while he agreed that the monorail, in principle, would provide the best service for the most people, “I'd hate to see one running up the middle of a beautiful Parkway.”
        Bernstein noted there have been proposals for a monorail down the Thruway and along the right-of-way of the West Shore Division of the Penn Central.
       Sullivan, who spoke at a press conference at the Holiday Inn, was critical of a plan unveiled last week by Assemblyman Eugene Levy to have the state subsidize hydrofoil commuter service between Nyack and Manhattan.

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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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