The Way We Were

Culled by Judy Garrison

From October 1911 issues of The Andes Recorder

100 Years Ago

 WEEK IN AND ABOUT ANDES

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Events of a Week as Chronicled by

the Man on the Street

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 With commentary

by Jim Andrews

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The falling of a “Rochester” lamp in the kitchen of the Central Hotel on Monday evening started a fire that would probably have resulted in a destructive conflagration, but for the presence of mind of Landlord F. C. Chamberlain and the use of fire extinguishers, and even in the few minutes the fire existed considerable damage was done. [Jim Andrews: For those who don’t know, a Rochester lamp is the brand name of a later period kerosene lamp using a round wick. They were usually brass or nickel-plated and were more utilitarian than attractive. Many hanging lamps were Rochesters. I am assuming that the lamp that fell in the Central Hotel (now the Andes Hotel) was a hanging one.]

 

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A wildcat was recently seen on Gray mountain, and a dog belonging to Mrs. Angell drove it out of her barn.[JA: I believe this to be the hill behind the Hotel side of Main Street. Mrs. Angell (Marion Angell) lived in a ramshackle house on the top of the mountain that was accessible from a dirt road at the head of Coulter Road on the former Irving Campbell farm. Mrs. Angell used to drive a buckboard into town and according to some older residents, would be armed! The house is gone now however the well and, I believe, foundation is still there.]

 

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Ransom Palmateer had three cows die last week from eating apples.

 

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Friday, Harvey Winnie, section foreman on the Andes branch, found a black raspberry bush with both green and ripe berries. [Ed.: That a natural observation such as this would qualify as news is rather touching.]

 

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The Delaware & Eastern railroad is now officially the Delaware & Northern. Three new engines of 55 tons each, two gasoline motor cars and various other stock has been purchased. The gasoline cars will be used to carry the workmen from place to place. The coaches have been repainted and fitted up more comfortably. A large gang of workmen are busily engaged in repairing the road bed in putting in new ties, building retaining walls. [JA: The Delaware and Eastern railroad and its owner, F.F. Searing, went bankrupt and was sold and reorganized under the Delaware and Northern name.]

 

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To obtain a degree from Princeton University hereafter undergraduates must be able to swim at least 220 yards and pass a physical examination.

 

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Andes Socialists failed to file their nominations for town officers before the time for filing expired and they will not be printed on the ballot. [Ed.: Do I detect both a critical judgment and a secret glee on the part of the editor?]

 

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The Delaware County October Grand Jury adjourned Thursday afternoon, after having considered 39 cases:

 

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Able Jones, compulsory prostitution of wife, plead guilty, sentenced to not more than five or less than two years at Albany State prison.

 

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Julius Hoyt, adultry [sic], plead guilty, sentenced to six months in Albany penitentiary.

 

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W. T. Hyzer is suffering with a sprained wrist, sustained as he was cranking his automobile. [JA: This was a common affliction since the crank on these early engines had quite a “kickback.” Ask any of the local firemen who have cranked our 1924 Day Elder fire engine to get it started.]

 

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An apple brought to this office by William VanKeuren, who lives on Perch Lake hill, has attracted much attention. The apple grew on a Twenty Ounce tree and is perfectly formed, but the curious part is that while one half of the apple is a Twenty Ounce, the other half is a King apple. The division of color is exactly around the center and is a true line. The query is what caused the “freak” apple. [Ed.: I see in a recent Press & Sun Bulletin article that there are an estimated 15,000 or more apple varieties that have been named and grown in North America, with the top 10 varieties making up 80 percent of the production. When I googled “Twenty Ounce” and “King” I discovered that these heritage varieties are still being grown and marketed in the northeast.~]