The ‘‘Our towns’’ column is compiled each month by Carol Johnson of the Haviland-Heidgerd Historical Collection. The entries have been copied from the February 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.
The ground hog saw his shadow on Saturday, February 2, and went back again to bed for a six-week nap.
On Wednesday about 50 people connected with the New York Board of Water Supply came from New York to Shandaken for the formal opening of the gates through the tunnel letting in the water from the Schoharie to the Esopus.
A few years ago practically all of the ice used in New York City was harvested from the water of the upper Hudson River. Statistics show that during 1923 only about one-eighth of the ice consumed in New York City was produced by nature and seven-eighths was produced artificially.
Springtown farmers have been filling their ice houses from the Wallkill. The ice is about eight inches thick.
Four Vassar girls spent the weekend at Orchard Terrace. On Saturday afternoon they set out for Mohonk, traveling partly by means of hand sleds on which they expected to coast down the mountain in returning.
Eighteen pupils from the eighth grade have been graduated into the High School.
Jack Doulin’s novelty dance in Columbus Hall last night was a fine success. More than 200 persons attended. During the evening singing and exhibition dancing was interspersed with the regular dancing. First on the program was a number of songs by Mr. Doulin himself. Then came a ballet dance by Miss Helen Putz of New Paltz. Miss Putz’s reputation as a dancer in and about Po’keepsie prompted Mr. Doulin to secure her services and he has no reason to regret the action for the graceful manner in which she executed her difficult steps won her the admiration and applause of the crowd.
Former President Woodrow Wilson is dead. The end came on Sunday. Four years ago he broke down in his campaign in advocacy of the League of Nations and he was never again in good health. He was sixty-eight years old and was a native of Virginia. At Mrs. Wilson’s request the funeral services held on Wednesday were very simple in accordance with the wishes of the former President. Under direction of the Sullivan-Shaffer Post of the American Legion a memorial service for Woodrow Wilson will be held in the Auditorium of the Normal School at three o’clock on Friday afternoon. C. C. Ward will be the speaker. The whole community is urged to attend.
J. M. Chase of the Ulster Poultry Farms at Wallkill says that it is proposed to hatch 100,000 baby chicks in the mammoth incubator recently installed there. They expect to hatch 3,000 chicks a week for thirteen weeks.
The evening of St. Valentine’s day was the scene of a very pretty dinner party given by Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Hasbrouck to eighteen guests who were attired in fancy costumes appropriate to St. Valentine’s day. After enjoying a bountiful and well served dinner, cards were enjoyed until after midnight, when the guests made their departure all agreeing that Mr. and Mrs. Hasbrouck are an ideal host and hostess.
Forty of the best domino players in New Paltz were invited to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bruyn Hasbrouck on Monday evening to play Progressive dominos. Ten tables were provided and the men certainly had a good time. The playing was lively and skunks ran freely. This domino party was given for the benefit of the Library. After the playing supper was served and a social time had until midnight. Henry Poucher had the high score of 896 and received a box of cigars. The writer had some hope of landing the booby prize, but Bert Schoonmaker beat him to it with 392. Mr. Schoonmaker received a set of dominos so he can practice up for the next gathering.
Mrs. Ella Butz and Miss Margaret Newton were hostesses to a few friends on Monday evening at a Mah Jong party. Dainty refreshments were served and Mrs. Butz in her Mah Jong blue Oriental costume added much zest to the occasion.
The American Red Cross will manage a new school to be opened at Camp Wallkill from June 16 to 26. The school will be known as the “Life Saving Institute” and 150 students are expected. The faculty will include Captain Charles B. Sculley, assistant director Life Saving and First Aid, of the Washington division of the Red Cross, who has saved 377 persons from drowning near New York and on the Jersey Coast; Carroll Bryant, former U.S. Navy coach at Newport and Manilla; Miss Olive McCormick; director of physical education at the Carroll Club in New York; and Joseph Nill, expert diving coach; and teacher of many champions. Camp Wallkill is well equipped for the school.
Memorial services in memory of Dr. Bliss were held Wednesday morning in the Normal school during the chapel period. In losing Dr. Bliss the whole state lost a valuable member of society, but especially has New Paltz, where he was principal of the Normal School for fifteen years. Some of the students had never had the pleasure of seeing or meeting Dr. Bliss, and those of us who were fortunate enough to have done so, did not really appreciate him because of his illness, which often kept him confined at home.
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