ROCKLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
July 29, 1876 – 150 YEARS AGO
Rockland County Journal
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
During the thunder shower on Sunday morning, 23d inst., the house of Geo. Westervelt, at Nanuet, was struck by lightning about half-past four o’clock, and very badly damaged.
The house, which is one story, with mansard roof, was struck at the northwest corner of the roof, where the greatest damage was done. The shingles were scattered over the ground for a distance of fifty feet. Sheathing, lath and plastering showered upon the bedstead standing under this corner of the roof, and occupied at the time by Mr. Peter Mitchell, together with his wife and child, all of whom very miraculously escaped unhurt, only suffering the inconvenience of being partly buried and greatly frightened. After thus tearing to pieces a portion of the roof, it reached the cornice which was in like manner demolished. It then seems to have dispersed itself through all parts of the house, breaking through walls, knocking off the siding, leaving only one room in the house with walls uninjured. Over a window in the southeast corner of the house is a small hole such as might be made by a large rifle ball, through which the lightning seemed to have passed, throwing the window shade and piece of moulding torn from the casing upon Mr. Westervelt, who was sleeping in the centre of the room. The building was insured for sixteen hundred dollars which will readily make good the damage.
AROUND HOME
[Image: Iona Island and Hudson River looking toward Peekskill from Bear Mountain. Courtesy of Scenic Hudson.]
☞ Mrs. V. Codington, wife of Andrew Codington, formerly of Nyack, came to a sad death at her residence, in New York, on Monday last caused by choking while eating a piece of meat.
☞ The captain of the barges which took the excursionists to Iona Island on Wednesday, said that Nyack turned out the most orderly and respectable crowd he had taken on his boats this season. We always do that, captain.
☞ The Union Excursion and Picnic this week just paid its expenses nicely, leaving no large debt outstanding to be paid by the teachers of either school. This result is highly satisfactory and rather unexpected.
☞ David J. Blauvelt, Esq., president of the Rockland County National Bank, has moved into his handsome residence situated in Clarkstown. Mr. B. has chosen a beautiful and remarkably pleasant home for himself and his estimable lady.
☞ It is reported that a child belonging to a Yonkers picnic party at Iona Island, on Wednesday, was brought to Nyack with our party by mistake. We don’t know what became of it.
July 30, 1926 – 100 YEARS AGO
Pearl River News
CORONER FINDS BUS DISASTER WAS ACCIDENT — Testimony on Bus Accident at Sparkill Taken at Inquest at Hospital on Tuesday — VERDICT: PURELY ACCIDENT — Criminal Side of Case Does Not Figure in Hearing — Funerals of All Victims Held
Following an inquest concerning the Sparkill bus accident last Thursday night, held at Nyack Hospital Tuesday afternoon, Coroner William J. Giles ruled that the victims died “as the result of a bus accident.” No effort was made at the inquest to fix the cause of the accident, although some testimony concerning that angle of the case was given.
Daniel J. Lastro, driver of the bus, who is held without bail in New City jail on a charge of first degree manslaughter, was at the inquest in the custody of Sheriff Newman Schriever. Lastro, at the advice of his counsel, Arthur K. Wing, of Wing and Wing, New York, did not testify.
Two women, recuperating from injuries at the hospital, were wheeled in to the hearing and their testimony was taken. Lieutenant William Stearns of the Piermont Police department, who was one of the first to reach the scene of the wreck, testified that he investigated the bus following the accident and found the brakes set and the transmission in low speed, which would indicate Lastro was endeavoring to control the car.
Mr. Wing, in a statement made following the inquest, declared he was positive the accident was not caused by Lastro’s negligence and indicated that the real cause would be brought out at the hearing, which is scheduled to be held before Police Judge Bertram Leitner of Piermont.
All the patients at Nyack hospital were reported resting as comfortably as could be expected Friday, and most of them are on the rapid road to recovery. All are loud in their praises of the work done for them at the hospital, both by doctors and nurses, and are unanimous in declaring that had it not been for the expert medical attention promptly rendered, the results of the accident would have been far more horrible.
July 28, 1976 – 50 YEARS AGO
Our Town
“FRIENDLY TOWN” BUMPER STICKERS WORTH $10
Pearl River is a friendly town, so residents and visitors say. And you can win $10 for helping spread the word.
Starting this week, the Pearl River Board of Trade will sponsor a “Friendly Town” bumper sticker contest. For the next ten weeks, bumper stickers will be available at businesses throughout Pearl River. And during that time, Our Town
photographers will be prowling throughout Rockland County, looking for cars displaying the “Friendly Town” stickers. Each week we’ll print a photo of a car with a sticker, and that car’s license number. If you’re a winner, bring your auto registration and a copy of the photo in Our Town to Paul Brooks, at the Auction Outlet, and receive a $10 gift certificate.
Bumper stickers are available from any Board of Trade member. No purchase is necessary. A complete list of members appears on Page 17 of this week’s Our Town. Winners have until December 31 to redeem their prizes.
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.