The ‘‘Our towns’’ column is compiled each month by Carol Johnson of the Haviland-Heidgerd Historical Collection. The entries have been copied from the April 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 Catskill Mountain roads were blocked with snow last week. On the highway between Stamford and Grand Gorge drifts formed between four and twenty feet in depth. It is 30 years ago since there was such a snow storm in April. The storm was much worse in the western part of Greene County than in Ulster.
Tuesday afternoon in the kindergarten room at the Normal School was held a regular session of the Parents Teachers’ Association. In spite of the fact that one of the worst blizzards of the year was raging, the meeting was attended by a large number of parents. About 50 members were present, which argues well for the continued success of the organization. In view of the fact that some of the mothers came from considerable distances and beyond the confines of the village, the attendance was remarkably good.
The rain following the melting snow caused floods throughout the county and elsewhere. The New Paltz flats were under water and roads on the west side of the Wallkill were impassable for a short time. In Rosendale part of Main Street was underwater to the depth of four or five feet. Considerable drift wood came down the Wallkill. The shower Saturday night was the first thunder shower of the season.
Spring is here. We know it because on Wednesday a man with a hurdy-gurdy made music on our village streets, and instead of an old fashioned monkey a beautiful rose colored parrot promenaded on the top of his instrument.
Last Wednesday, in the parlors of St. Andrew’s [Episcopal Church], Boy Scout Troop No. 1 of New Paltz was formed. The Reverend Frank Wilson was appointed the scoutmaster of this troop. Next week the second troop of Boy Scouts will be organized at the Methodist Church parlors. All boys wanting to join this troop send names to Mr. Bennett or to Mr. Halmshaw.
On Friday morning, last week, Mrs. Dubois Jenkins, secretary of the Normal School, was run over and severely injured by an auto driven by John Fraschler of Kingston. Mrs. Jenkins was on her way to school and was walking on the right side of the road in front of Perry Deyo’s residence [across from the old firehouse on Plattekill Avenue] when the accident occurred. Fraschler, approaching from behind, did not blow his horn and instead of putting his foot on the brake, put it on the accelerator. The car struck Mrs. Jenkins in the back, knocked her down and passed over her body. Ward Bunting and Lanson Decker picked her up and she was taken home in Freschler’s car. Examination by Dr. Traynor showed a severe cut on the head but no bones broken. Fraschler was arrested by Constable Decker, arraigned by Justice I. C. Barnes and fined $25. It is reported that he had a jug in his car. Mrs. Jenkins is convalescing at her home on Church Street.
Another accident, little less than a miracle, occurred on the state road one mile east of the village of New Paltz on Tuesday night between ten and eleven o’clock. A Chevrolet, containing six young people from Kingston, turned turtle landing across the trolley track. All were able to crawl from the wrecked car except the driver who was helped to freedom, the seat holding him down. Only a good scare and slight bumps were received. A telephone call summoned a relative who took them back to Kingston. We sincerely hope, when curfew rings in the City of Kingston, these same young people will hurry to their homes, wiser from the experience received from the joy ride, and truly grateful that their lives had been spared. The one and only reason that can be given for the accident is reckless driving. No names were given out but we may safely add that those six are not the only ones driving at a fast rate and it should be an example.
Through the influence of D. A. Hasbrouck, J. Hinsburger of West Hoboken will open a factory for the manufacture of cut glass on the property which he has purchased on Brodhead Avenue. The work is clean and has none of the objectionable features connected with the operation of many manufacturing plants. It is expected that the plant will be in operation about the middle of May. Twenty people will be employed. This enterprise will make itself felt in the stimulation of business in New Paltz.
Burgomaster Max of Brussels is expected to arrive in New York late this month to represent Belgium at the celebration of the Huguenot-Walloon Tercentenary, which will commemorate the part played by the Protestant refugees from the French Low countries in founding and settling New York City and State. A number of representatives of old Dutch families will take part in the celebration, although the Holland Society is now engaged in preparing a treatise to show that the Walloons played a very minor role in settling New York. The claims of the Walloons to have established a fixed settlement in Manhattan in 1624 is generally denied by modern Hollanders and by the old Dutch families, who will hold a great celebration in 1926 to commemorate the organization of the first permanent government on this island. In the meantime, historians, antiquarians and conversationalists are digging up material for a battle of books and pamphlets between the Dutch sympathizers and the Walloon sympathizers next month.Â
The National Commission for the Tercentenary Celebration of the settling of New Netherlands by the Walloons may meet with opposition and criticism, but when it comes to the question as to who settled New Paltz there is no opposition, no criticism, no voice raised in protest. The villagers know who did it and when they did it. New Paltz proposes to honor the twelve sturdy patentees who settled this portion of the Wallkill valley. New Paltz is planning a pageant. The village is underwriting its financial liabilities and has secured the co-operation of the faculty and student body of the Normal School for the purpose of portraying in the pageantry the early significant days in this historic cradle of the surrounding country.
Whether Rube Forsythe, who put the village of New Paltz on the baseball map, will be a Colonial or a Red Sox this season, is a question that has not yet been decided. Rube was to have informed Manager Brown of his decision Friday or Saturday, but to date has not called on the local manager. The underhand flinger announced his intention some time ago of joining the Colonials and gave the local club assurance that he would be here, but has been listening to offers from Guy Joy and has not made up his mind which offer to accept. The Poughkeepsie papers announce that Rube has been in communication with Joy, but like Brown of the Colonials, Gus is wondering what Rube intends to do.
Join the family! 
