The ‘‘Our towns’’ column is compiled each month by Carol Johnson of the Haviland-Heidgerd Historical Collection. The entries have been copied from the May 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.
Daylight saving time is still the main topic of discussion in our village. The debate and vote on the subject at the Dutch Arms has greatly increased the interest felt. Miss Sarah Deyo has had a fine sun dial put up on the lawn at her home on Main Street. People who want their watches to be accurately right should conform them to the time as shown by the dial. Of course, the time denoted is standard time and not daylight saving time. The time for the moving picture shows at the opera house has been changed from daylight saving time to the old standard time. The Ellenville post office will open and close on daylight saving time, but mails will be received and dispatched on Standard Time. The Ontario and Western railroad has decided to retain Standard Time until the summer train schedule is put into effect.
A car lot of tractors for Eckert’s Garage has lately come to hand. Capt. W. H. D. Blake has a farm tractor and says it works well on level land.
Strawberries are in blossom — about two weeks earlier than usual. They promise a good crop.
John C. Kaiser is 87 years old this week. He is, we believe, the oldest man in the village.
George Polhemus recently caught a 49-pound striped bass in a shad net near the Highland ferry. This is said to be the largest bass ever caught.
So far in the international egg-laying contest at the State Agricultural College at Storrs, Connecticut, eight pens — ten birds each — have laid over 1,000 eggs per pens since the opening of the contest on November 1. These eight include Barred Rocks from Cazenovia, NY, White Leghorns from New Paltz, NY and the same breed from Cooperstown. Only seven pens had reached this total at this date last year.
The census report shows that there is less corn and less hay produced in Ulster County than ten years ago. But there has been an increase in the number of grape vines and in the production of grapes. The number of farms has decreased in ten years from 5000 to 4300. There is a striking decrease in the number of tenant farmers. There were 727 in 1910 and only 387 in 1920. The value of the farms has increased from $24,000 to $29,000,000.
The Mohonk House opened on the 15th with about 75 guests, the number has increased considerably.
P. F. Donahue, who recently bought and has moved into the Riverside Cottage, has mechanics at work and will build an addition for a dining hall. The house will be conducted as a summer resort. There will be a casino for dancing.
Iver Evers, the artist, has a large and handsome flower garden at his home on Huguenot Street. It is a pleasure to observe the great varieties of flowers. Mrs. Cyrus Freer, also on Huguenot Street, has a large number of flowers.
Trees should be sprayed just as the blossom is dropping off and never when the trees are in bloom. Many beekeepers have found their hives littered with dead bees, killed by arsenate of lead, applied when the trees are in bloom.
The Ulster County Farm Bureau and the Home Bureau each have a larger membership than is found in any other county in the state.
The New Paltz Grange is in a very flourishing condition. There were about 150 attending at the last meeting. Among those from out of town were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hardenbergh of Stone Ridge. A number of new members joined.
The John Burroughs Memorial Association has been incorporated with 21 directors from all parts of the country. The objectives of the association are the acquisition and preservation of Slabsides, Woodchuck Lodge, Memorial Field and Riverby, and to foster and promote the spirit and teachings of John Burroughs.
The American Legion has adopted the poppy as its Memorial Day flower.
The Highland High School baseball team came to New Paltz on Friday to play baseball with the high school here. On Wednesday, the New Paltz boys returned the visit.
Dan R. Gerow has bought the Lewis H. Woolsey place which has been occupied by his family as a residence during the past year. The house was built by Mrs. Gerow’s father about 50 years ago and was the finest house in the place. The sale was made through the D. A. Hasbrouck Agency.
One six-shooter has arrived and more are expected, to be used by our post office employees, in case of a hold up by bandits. The orders are to shoot to kill in case of a hold up. The six-shooter is a big one and it carries a very large ball.
Johnston’s Garage is installing a Guarantee Visible Pump which automatically measures and shows the customer exactly how much gas he gets. He sees the required amount of gasoline pumped by electric motor into a glass measure and delivered from there directly into his car. The customer gets his gas in less than half the time required to pump it by the old system.
There is quite surely no class that has a greater increase in their pay of late than the teachers in the country schools. They now get about $5 a day. For a time, they did not receive any more pay than factory workers, but that is not the case now. With the present rate of wages, which have been made permanent by legislation the past winter, we may look for much increase in the attendance at all the Normal Schools of those who wish to become teachers. Another result that may be expected is that school teachers will be so hard to obtain in the smaller country districts, or if obtained, the school tax will be so great that the small districts will be forced to combine. This is and has been the plan of the Department of Education at Albany.
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