by Highlands Historian, Stella Bailey
World War I ended November 1918 and the world looked forward to a happy, peaceful and prosperous 1919.
Not surprisingly, the community carried on in a regular fashion all through 1919 with the churches holding suppers, organizations doing minstrel shows and fairs. The local Chinese laundry caught fire and a young lad, Eddie Murphy, fell out of a window at Ladycliff. Bear Mountain formally opened in May; the single men defeated the married men at the K of C baseball game; the senior class held a play; and Clark’s Circus came to town. Hogan & Bevens purchased McGowan’s undertaking business, and the name lives to this day.
December of 1919 carried news of the Army Navy game, which was played in the rain at the New York City Polo Grounds. After several years of losses, Navy won. However, the cannon brought to the game by the Army was taken by Navy, but under rules by West Point authorities it had to be returned to the banks of the Hudson.
Even more exhilarating news was the birth of twins to Mr. and Mrs. Trespasso. Why so, you may question? Well, this was the fourth set of twins born to this couple!
Not all events were peaceful. The local news reported that a minstrel show held in the auditorium was the cause of bad conduct and disgraceful actions by village roustabouts. The performers, who only recently came from abroad, deserved pity and their experience with the hoodlums of Highland Falls will long be remembered. The paper quotes: “It is deplorable that our people cannot attend a performance without being annoyed by a class that have no respect for the larger portion of the audience. These actions occur repeatedly and some measures ought to be taken to remedy conditions. Many persons stay way from the amusements on account of these continual annoyances.” Roustabouts? Lower classes? Hey — name names, we want to know who these characters were!
Mickel’s Greenhouse not only advertised cut flowers and potted plants, but also a choice lot of ducks for the holidays. The feather factory (yes, I said “feather”) started four months ago suspended business as they could no procure sufficient help. To do what, I wonder? Pavek Farms stated that of any milk sold in the Town of Highlands, his had the lowest bacteria count. The numerous bakeries, such as Beekman’s, furnished sanitary wrapped bread and Arthur Westberg, pharmacist, had prescriptions carefully compounded. C.D. Parry sold feed, coal, hay, straw, graham flour, rye flour, corn meal, buckwheat flour and even more. Parry, as you know, is still in local business after all these years.
In the Dec. 20, 1919 News, the editorial stated that December 17 had come and gone and we all seem to be here, even though some predicted that everything earthly would come to an end on December 16! The universe was scheduled for its last rotation on December 16 but the sun shone as scheduled, even with the pending snowstorm and temperatures eight points below zero. Do you remember the same idea surfaced in the year 2000 with dire predictions of electronic chaos with the changing of the new year?
Well, another year 2019 will bring in 2020 with all its predictions and political chaos, but somehow this world of ours just keeps going like the Energizer Bunny. The eye doctor will tell you that 2020 is perfect vision. So let us have a perfect vision in our lives for what we can do to make our little world better.
Happy holidays and a healthy new year.
