The ‘‘Our town’’ column is compiled each month for the New Paltz Times by Carol Johnson, coordinator of the Haviland-Heidgerd Historical Collection. The entries have been copied from the August 1912 issues of the Kingston Freeman. If you would like to get a closer look at these newspapers of the past, visit Carol Johnson and the staff of the Haviland-Heidgerd Historical Collection at the Elting Memorial Library, located at 93 Main Street, or call 255-5030. Meanwhile, enjoy these words from a century ago.
Tickets are for sale at the public library for the progressive euchre and whist party to be given for the benefit of the library, Aug. 22 on Mrs. A.D. Brodhead’s lawn.
The Ladies Aid Society of the Reformed Church will give a Progressive Supper on the adjoining lawns on Friday, Aug. 16. First table at 5:30 o’clock. Tickets may be obtained from any one of the flower girls who may call at your door, or at Miss Gage’s lawn the day of the entertainment. First course will be on Miss Gage’s lawn, substantials at Luther Hasbrouck’s and dessert at Miss Cora DuBois’. The supper will be followed at 8 o’clock by an operetta in Miss DuBois’s barn, given by the Barn Swallows.
John H. Relyea of Springtown had from 20 to 30 boarders in July and a large number came on Saturday. He can accommodate about 50. The Springtown boarding houses are now about filled, but there are said to be hardly as many as last year.
The Mohonk Lake house is filled to overflowing and on Saturday tourists were turned away.
The Lloyd baseball team defeated the New Paltz team on Saturday last week, by the score of 8 to 4.
The owners of the New Paltz Opera House [now Barnaby’s Restaurant] are to be congratulated on the number of excellent plays which have lately been presented. A large audience was present to witness “The Girl of the Mountains.” Moving pictures are shown every Saturday evening.
About 30 couples attended a private dance at the Casino [now P&G’s Restaurant] Friday evening. Excellent music was furnished by Smith’s orchestra of Poughkeepsie.
Joseph H. Vanderlyn has a hen that has laid six eggs in three days. She had not yet been let out of the coop, after caring for a brood of chicks, when she began to lay and kept on at the rate of two eggs a day until she had laid six eggs. James O. LeFevre has a very smart white leghorn pullet, about four-and-a-half months old. She began laying on Monday last week and laid an egg each day until Sunday, when she rested. On Monday, she started in again at the same rate.
A.A. Shafer is meeting with big success in manufacture of his elderberry wine. He recommends it especially for a tonic. It is considered a choice brand.
Mrs. Fanny Denham Rouse, who died at Ohioville on July 25 and was buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Tarrytown, last Saturday, probably was the oldest actress in America at the time of her death. Born in London in 1831, she came to this country with her parents when a child. She sang in English opera with Mme. Thillon at the Chestnut Street Theater, Philadelphia. She went from there to the Walnut Street Theater to play in stock with Edwin Forrest and other eminent stars. Coming to New York she sang with Buckley’s New Orleans Minstrels at 385 Broadway, and from there she went to John Brougham’s Bowery Theater, where she played Pocahontas for 70 nights, a record run in those days. Later she played at Burton’s Theater in Chambers Street with E.L. Davenport. In 1878, Mrs. Rouse made a tour of Europe with Jarret and Palmer, playing Aunt Ophelia in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” She also played with J.K. Polk and Joseph Jefferson for many seasons. With her husband and others she helped found the Actors’ Fund.
Lake Chodikee, with its large hotel, has been deserted this summer, but last Friday it woke from sleep and the lake and house and grounds resounded with gayety and pleasure, the occasion being the entertainment of 175 guests at the invitation of Mr. & Mrs. L.E. Covert of Clintondale, who had hired the place for the event. Boating, exploring grounds and house and meeting old friends entertained the guests who came from Troy, Glens Falls, Brooklyn, New York, Fishkill, Monroe, New Paltz, Gardiner, Milton, Highland and the larger part from Clintondale, but the climax came when those present were seated in the spacious dining room and a shore dinner was served in faultless style. Miss Roosa of New Paltz was caterer, and all pronounced it as one of the finest bakes they had partaken of. John J. Hull of Clintondale acted as toastmaster and many speeches were made. The color scheme of the decorations were yellow. Mrs. Covert being a prominent worker in the votes for women movement, yellow being the suffrage colors. This occasion was one of the largest and most successful social affairs held in southern Ulster for a long time.
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