The ‘‘Our towns’’ column is compiled each month by Carol Johnson of the Haviland-Heidgerd Historical Collection. The entries have been copied from the October issues of the New Paltz Independent. To get a closer look at these newspapers of the past, visit the staff of the Haviland-Heidgerd Historical Collection at the Elting Memorial Library at 93 Main Street in New Paltz, or call 255-5030.
Most of the city boarders have returned to their homes although there were still 25 at Orchard Terrace last week. The Elixir Spring House at Clintondale has been filled all summer and still has a number of boarders.
Apple growers are very busy, this week. Pickers are paid $4 and $5 a day. The price of apples is much lower than last year. Much of the fruit is being placed in cold storage. The cost of barrels, spraying and picking amounts to a large sum.
The grape juice factory at Highland commences receiving fruit this week. Grapes are being sold in our village in small quantities at six cents a pound.
The open season for squirrels, which commenced October 1, continues five weeks. The limit is five a day. The hunters who went in quest of squirrels, last week, report the game scarce, though some were shot.
Everywhere in this part of the country the chestnut trees are dying limb by limb, from year to year and the trees that are still alive have only a few nuts this year.
An automobile party from Newburgh was caught stealing hickory nuts on the farm of Luther Hasbrouck at Bontecoe on Tuesday. Mr. Hasbrouck was notified by telephone and the offenders were detained in conversation until he arrived. Since it was apparent that the thieves had not understood the serious nature of their wrongdoing, they were dismissed with a reprimand. It is as much a crime to steal the farmer’s hickory nuts as to cut down trees in his wood lot or steal his poultry or corn or potatoes, and offenders are subject to the penalty of the law.
The fine old fireplace in the Stone Ridge Public Library has been beautified by a border of Delft tiles, the gift of Mrs. Chadbourne of Sally Tock’s.
The formal opening and dedication of the Elting Memorial Library will take place on Saturday of this week, October 16th at 6:30 o’clock. Dr. John H. Finley, President of the University of the State of New York, and others will speak. An especial invitation is given to all the residents of New Paltz to inspect the new Library building. No books will be exchanged at the Library on Saturday because of the dedication exercises, and will not be due until the Monday following.
In our account of Mohonk and Minnewaska before the day of the Smileys we spoke of having witnessed two or three fights at the grand opening of his hotel which John F. Stokes had in 1858. Eli Stokes informs us that further fights on that day were prevented by taking the chief aggressor and chaining him fast to a tree which was a very simple but effective way of preventing further disturbance.
The United States Board of Indian Commissioners held its annual four-day session at the Mohonk House last week. The meetings each day were given over to the discussions of problems relating to the welfare of the American Indian. The results of the deliberations will not be made public until they have been submitted to President Wilson for his approval. The annual meetings of the Board have been held at Mohonk every year since 1883. Geo. Valks, Jr. of Philadelphia is chairman of the Board. Daniel Smiley is one of its members.
Mrs. Lydia LeBaron of Highland who was the oldest woman in the county and died recently at the age of 104 years left an estate of $1000. She leaves $600 of this to the Methodist Church of Highland.
It was announced in the Sunday School of the Reformed Church last Sunday morning that the boys had won in the attendance contest which has been going on for some weeks past. The girls will give the boys a supper on the evening of November 12.
At the election on Tuesday next the voting place in district No. 1 is at the opera house and in District No. 2 in the old Times office.
This is the last issue of the Independent before the election. There has been comparatively little interest shown in politics in New Paltz until within the past week or two. The women seem to have felt more interest in the political issue than the men. The Study Club, in an endeavor to present both sides fairly, at its meeting two weeks ago had speakers to present the Democratic side, and at its meeting this week advocating the Republican views. The women interested in the candidacy of Ella Boole representing the Prohibition and Suffragist interests, also have had a meeting at New Paltz. It is hard to get accustomed to new ideas. The editor of the Independent finds it hard to realize that most of the women will probably vote at the coming election, and they are controlled by different views and motives from men.
At the general election November 2, three separate paper ballots will be used in the rural districts: first, the presidential ballot, which is voted by making a single X mark in the circle. The second ballot is the general ballot for State and other candidates. To vote this ticket fifteen (15) X marks must be made by the voters in the City of Kingston, and sixteen (16) X marks by those outside the City of Kingston by reason of the fact that the County Superintendent of the Poor, is not voted for by the People of Kingston. The X marks should be made on the squares to the right. The third ballot is in relation to two Constitutional amendments, the X mark being placed in the square after the words “yes” or “no” as the voter may determine. The voter will also be presented with an enrollment ballot. In cities and towns where voting machines are used, the candidates for president and vice-president are named and not the presidential electors as there are too many.
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