Rockland County Historical Society
January 27, 1876 – 150 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Messenger
ROCKLAND LAKE ITEMS
[Image: Colored postcard featuring view of Rockland Lake from the top of the ice railway, ca. 1907. Image courtesy of the Nyack Library via NYHeritage.org.]
Diphtheria is again in this place.
Both Temperance Societies at this place are doing well.
There are more ice boats here than there are men.
Not long since, a young gent of this place, anxious to ascertain as to the thickness of the ice, attempted to—yes, he was very wet !
Protracted Meetings are being held in the M.E. Church of this place, every night during the week.
A large fleet of ice barges is lying at this place, awaiting a fresh supply of ice from the lake.
Rockland Lake Division S[ons] of T[emperance] are awaiting sleighing, so as to visit Warren Division S. of T. at Haverstraw.
If some of those boys who attend Church to make fun, don’t look out, they’ll get themselves into some trouble.
The Knickerbocker vs. Mayflower Ice Boats had a desperate race here on Friday last. The former won.
On Wednesday of last week we were led to suppose that Spring was come. One of our farmers, with his coat off, was seen plowing.
On Saturday evening, not long since, some of our gents, in company with a large bottle of Rum, went on a lark, they think ‘tis fun. . . .
A few days since we saw a horse, or frame, trying to hold up a tree, had it broken, i.e. the tree, what would have become of poor “Jack?”
We paid our respects to Mr. Bechtel at his new hotel, on Friday last. He informed me that he intended to keep a first class Boarding House. After smoking some few cigars, which we must say were extra, we took our leave.
On Wednesday of last week, two of our young gents—we don’t wish to use names, but simply say “Miles” and “Murdy”—were seen at the South end of the Lake, trying to measure the fog (or to hide themselves).
“Twas a nasty day, when two people, a Doctor and a Druggist, might have been seen plowing on the Boulevard (through mud and rain.) But they were plowing their way towards Nyack, Oh! what a nice ride !
A “Public Temperance Meeting” under the auspices of Quashpeck Lodge, I. O. of G. I., was held on Monday evening of last week. Mr. Oliver Cotter, accompanied by Mrs. Hartt, both of Brooklyn, officiated. Their discourse was very interesting.
January 30, 1926 – 100 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Times
BURNS FATAL TO FOUR YEAR OLD BOY
Donald Bulson, four years old, died in the Nyack Hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning.
His strength was insufficient to withstand the burns he received at his home Saturday evening.
Mrs. William Bulson went to neighbor’s for a few minutes leaving the little lad at home with his sister, Mary who is a few years older. When she was returning, she heard the screaming and upon running into the house found her son a mass of flames.
During the few minutes she was away, the child had found some matches and in striking them had started his clothing to burn. His mother tried her best to smother the flames, but her efforts were too late to keep the boy from being severely burned.
Because of the distance of the Bulson home, which is located in that section of the county behind Stony Point, from a doctor, the child had suffered cruelly before help was secured.
The boy was taken immediately to the Nyack Hospital, but died without regaining consciousness.
The body was brought to the Bulson home from which the funeral was held on Tuesday. The interment was in the Rose Cemetery, Stony Point, by Undertaker Dutcher.
January 29, 1976 – 50 YEARS AGO
The Journal News
MA BELL DIALS EFFICIENCY
The New York Telephone Co. will complete its modernization of telephone operation. The transfer will eliminate service for Stony Point’s 2.200 customers Saturday, and the change should allow dialers’ fingers to do a little less walking for non-local calls.
According to a company spokesman, the new system will eliminate the need to dial the digit “I” on calls outside the local calling area. However, local calls will now need all seven digits instead of the last four numbers.
In addition to the dialing changes, Stony Point residents may now obtain
“Touch-Tone,” or pushbutton service.
According to Robert Puglisi, a spokesman for the phone company, the Stony Point phone system will now be incorporated in the existing West Haverstraw operation. The transfer will eliminate Stony Point’s “step-by-step” office and will use a “cross-bar-five” system in West Haverstraw.
The step-by-step process is entirely mechanical, while the cross-bar-five includes electronic equipment with the mechanical operation.
The changeover in Stony Point leaves only Congers, Tuxedo and Sloatsburg exchanges with the older equipment. Puglisi said that these systems will also be modernized but he could say how long it would take.
The company is making the changes he said, because they allow the customer to place calls much faster and also make maximum use of the existing equipment.
ANNIVERSARY PARTY
William Ecroy, Jr., . . . first president of the Haverstraw Little League, and current president Robert Strack study 25-year-old newspaper clipping detailing championship team then. The league will celebrate its silver anniversary with a dinner-dance Feb. 21 at the Platzl Brau Haus in Pomona.
This Week in Rockland (#FBF Flashback Friday) is prepared by Clare Sheridan for the Historical Society of Rockland County. © 2026 by The Historical Society of Rockland County. #FBF Flashback Friday may be reprinted only with written permission from the HSRC. To learn about the HSRC’s mission, upcoming events or programs, visit www.RocklandHistory.org or call (845) 634-9629.
