New Milford News Items of Days Gone By

This posting is similar to the previous one. All of these items appeared in the Warwick Valley Dispatch. All items are direct quotes unless enclosed in parentheses.

8.07.1907
The dance at High Breeze on Saturday evening, was grand success, New Milford and vicinity being represented by Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Buchanan, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Henderson, Mr. and Mrs. John Henderson, Mr. and Mrs. Hartman Utter, Mr. Roy Leeper, Mr. S. Weymer; also Mr. and Mrs. Fred Decker of Warwick.

9.11.1907
(The Dispatch did a survey on the peach yield in Warwick and Vernon Township. The crop that year varied from one-third to one-half of the normal yield. Prices ranged from $1.25 to 2.50 for baskets, and from $2.75 to $4.00 for fancy carries. In the New Milford-Edenville district were the following growers: John C. Drew, 2000; E.G. Steibling, 6000; J.B. Rhodes, 3000; J.H. Wood, 1750; G.W. Hyatt, 4000; R. Jennings, 500; James Jeffers, 500; Wm. VanDervort, 400; J.H. Ryerson, 800; Harry Vail, 2500; Rhodes & Mott, 1500.)

5.18.1910
(Harry Vail went to Sloatsburg with Nate Carr and John C. Drew to pick up Mr. Carr's stolen horse. Nate Carr and John Drew returned to Mr. Drew's touring car, and Harry Vail drove the horse home. In Monroe, he stopped to buy a new horse blanket. He picked a bright red one to match his ruddy cheeks and his red tie. The combination proved to be too much for a local Sherlock Holmes, who darted out in front of the rig and demanded Mr. Vail to stop. Mr. Vail had to establish his identity with the locals and explain his relationship to the horse. Before moving on, his fat pocketbook was lightened a bit to treat the members of the Monroe Horse Thief Detective Association.)

6.15.1910
John C. Drew has sold a torpedo-type Marion car to R.D. Wallace of Vernon, for $2,000, taking in exchange Mr. Wallace's Winton.

8.24.1910
Will VanDervort tied a couple of dogs in his peach orchard recently to watch and protect his crop, but some kind-hearted neighbors, who knew the dogs did not like the job, released them from the leash, and next morning the doggies were wagging their tails complacently on Mr. V's doorstep.

11.30.1910
(All New Milford was in town attending the law suit between Al Phillips, the buthcher, and William VanDervort, farmer, over a cow. It seems that Phillips' cow strayed on VanDervort's farm. VanDervort sent her up to a mountain pasture and she went dry. After Phillips had claimed his cow and settled up for her keep, he sued for depreciation. Clifford S. Beattie represented Phillips and Lewis J. Stage appeared for VanDervort. The case was tried before Justice Benedict and a jury in Village Hall. All afternoon was spent on the case and the jury returned with a verdict of $10 damage for the plaintiff.)

12.21,1910
Mr. and Mrs. Drew spent several days in the city withnessing the fine play "Rebecca," while in town.

12.28.1910
Mr. Gilbert D. Ryerson had the misfortune to lose a $300 horse last week - on of a well matched farm team that had a leg broken from the kick of its mate. The animal was shot by Mr. J. C. Drew.

Jan 1911
(Albert Phillips, Jr., age 17, died from injuries from a farm accident.)

2.01.1911
Mr. and Mrs. Jame Ryerson entertained the New Milford Card Culb Saturday evening. The favor winners were Mr. and Mrs. Russ Ferguson, and consolations went to Mrs. John C. Drew and Mr. Clinton Edsall.

4.19.1911
Mr. John C. Drew is in the west looking for another carload of horses, expecting to arrive with them on Saturday, the 22nd.

8.23.1911
Ryerson's moving pictures will be shown at the New Milford M.E. Church, Tuesday evening, Sept. 5. Proceeds for the benefit of the Church.

10.04.1911
The clam bake given Saturday, Sept. 30, 1911, for the benefit of the New Milford M.E. Church was a great success. A vote of thanks is extended to Mr. Walter Minkler of New Milford, who baked it. About 135 people were served.

10.18.1911
Mr. C. H. Sweezy, piano turner of Middletown, was through this vicinity Saturday.

New Milford News Items of Days Gone By

For the last few years I have been going page by page through the microfilm records of Warwick's two local newspapers. When I find an article which I consider to be an important piece of local history, I make a photocopy and from there a transcription of the article. In an earlier post I listed the names of the articles and where they can be found. Not everthing I have found has been transcribed. Some is somewhat trivial. Other items are only a sentence or two found under the New Milford reportage. Here is what I have started to do with some of that material.

All of these items come from the Warwick Valley Dispatch. All items are direct quotes unless enclosed in parentheses.

1.06.1885
A pleasant evening was spent at the residence of Postmaster DeKay on New Years Eve. Supper was served and dancing indulged in till the dawning of the New Year.

9.03.1885
The public school has reopened for the Fall and Winter session, with Mr. T.L. Gillison as principal.

9.24.1885
"Our Ticket Agent" sold 25 tickets for the Coney Island excursion and a large number for the County Fair.

10.22.1885
Rev. C.C. Miller, who comes from Edenville each Sunday to preach to the erring sinners of Jockey Holler, generally finds a large and appreciative audience.

12.09.1885
The attendence at the singing school was not very large on Thursday evening, consequently Prof. Miller only obtained eight subscribers. There will be another meeting to-morrow night, and we hope all those interested will attend.

3.24.1886
The old cherry tree that has stood in the sidewalk of Main Street for many years has been hewn down. It has been a faithful guide for those coming or going on a dark night, especially those that came in contact with it.

4.28.1886
The gypsies have been encamped on Church-street, left on Monday for Newburg.

1.27.1892
(Irvington Giveans and a team of horses was killed by a train at the New Milford crossing on Covered Bridge Road.)

4.20.1892
Mr. S.R. Drew has gone to New York with a number of horses recently sold there.

8.03.1892
The sporting fraternity of New Milford was well represented at the trot and ball game last Saturday afternoon at Warwick.

9.14.1892
When you are in need of anything usually kept in a country store, give our obliging merchant, B. Scott, a call. Ed. This store was where the Stanabach store stands. It burned down in 1900.

10.05.1892
Mr. Chas. Thompson is making cider. Price two cents per gallon. Ed. Probably the Thompson cider mill on Iron Mountain Road.

11.16.1892
There will be a box social held at Benj. Scott's Friday evening, Nov. 18. The proceeds will be used in purchasing books for the Sabbath school library.

3.28.1900
(A fire in Jockey Hollow destroyed the hotel/store. The store was owned by Benjamin Scott and the hotel was run by James McCann. Also lost in the fire was the hotel barn, hotel sheds, Mr. Scott's residence, Mrs. Sloan's residence, and a buildig across from the store, half of which was used for storage and the other half was the residence of John L. Springer.)

4.29.1903
A gay gallant who rode his brave charger from Warwick town to call on one of our fair young maidens, hitched his horse to the wrong tie-post, full half a mile away from the home of the young lady. The young man discreetly declined to say whether his modesty was at fault or if he was unacquainted with the neighborhood and people.

8.12.1903
Mr. Phillips gives a great deal of pleasure with his Edison phonograph.

10.14.1903
(The flood of 1903 did great damage in New Milford.)

1.09.1907
Russ Ferguson and Will Talcott expect to go west to the Dokotas in the spring, and with pocketfulls of Orange County sheckels will make a try for fortune in the lumber and milk business.

1.30.1907
The people of New Milford have organized a singing school under the direction of Mr. Robert A. Wheat.

5.01.1907
Capt. O.W. Ferguson , who has been enjoying a two week's visit with his family and neighbors at New Milford, after an absence of three years in the Phillipines, went to Washington Sunday evening to consult with the department chiefs of the Geodetic Survey, and receive another assignment.

Detective Work

The above is a close view of the 1863 map of Orange County. The following short article comes from the Warwick Advertiser, dated June 9, 1866:

NEW MILFORD HOUSE - We took a look upon "mine host" of this House the other day, and were exceedingly gratified with the changed and improved conditions of affairs. A new bar-room has been fitted up in good style in the basement, a large dining hall contructed and furnished, and other improvements carried out. The proprietor, Mr. Campbell, is always found obliging, and his house noted for its good cheer. We doubt not he will merit the favor of the public.

It is on the map and in the artiicle, but I don't have a clue what this place was.