Maury Thompson

Maury Thompson is a freelance writer and documentary film producer from Ticonderoga who specializes in the history of politics, labor organizing and media in New York's North Country.

He previously was a reporter for The Post-Star of Glens Falls for 21 years.

His latest book is The Animated Feather Duster: Slow News Day Tales of the Legendary Facial Hair of Charles Evans Hughes.

Talkin’ Turkey: 19th Century Thanksgiving Newspaper Reports

November 23, 2022 by Maury Thompson 2 Comments

“Let us talk about turkey,” proclaimed a New York Tribune humor column republished Nov.23, 1888 in The Granville Sentinel. Not Turkey in Europe, nor yet Turkey in Asia. But turkey in America – the esteemed bird that goes so well with cranberry sauce.”

The bald eagle, national bird of the United States, gets prominent attention for months at a time once every four years, when there is a presidential election, but the turkey is heralded every year, the columnist quipped. [Read more…] about Talkin’ Turkey: 19th Century Thanksgiving Newspaper Reports

Trivia & Editorial Wit From Historic Northern NY Newspapers

October 27, 2022 by Maury Thompson Leave a Comment

Trivia clue: He was a New York Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner who acted as “spokesman,” so to speak, for the state’s $1.15 billion environmental bond act in 1972. [Read more…] about Trivia & Editorial Wit From Historic Northern NY Newspapers

Pig Tales From Historic New York Newspapers

October 1, 2022 by Maury Thompson 1 Comment

This little piggy was not impressed with being invited to the reception.

H.W. Kathan gave a “unique” wedding gift to Anna, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ottis Ellithorp of Conklingville, in Saratoga County: a Sandy Suffolk pig. [Read more…] about Pig Tales From Historic New York Newspapers

Political Anecdotes From Historical NNY Newspapers

August 11, 2022 by Maury Thompson Leave a Comment

Trivia clue: It was a 19th century technology for announcing real-time election results in Glens Falls, NY.

Correct response: What is the stereopticon?

“The Rochester Clothing Company has made arrangements to exhibit the election returns tomorrow night on a canvas in front of their store,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on November 5th, 1888. “As the dispatches are received. W.W. Kennedy will transfer them in brief to his plates and reproduce them upon the canvass by means of his stereopticon.” [Read more…] about Political Anecdotes From Historical NNY Newspapers

1875: The Ticonderoga Sentinel Returns

June 30, 2022 by Maury Thompson 1 Comment

The Ticonderoga Sentinel resumed publication on June 4th, 1875 after several weeks of dormancy — a “New Sentinel” printed on a new Fairhaven brand press, sporting a new masthead and laid out in a new format with additional front-page advertising.

Ticonderoga is in Essex County, NY, between the outlet of Lake George and Lake Champlain. [Read more…] about 1875: The Ticonderoga Sentinel Returns

Political Anecdotes From Historical Newspapers

June 9, 2022 by Maury Thompson Leave a Comment

Trivia clue: Known as the Hoosier State, it was a battleground state that turned from blue to red in the 1888 presidential election.

Correct response: What is Indiana? [Read more…] about Political Anecdotes From Historical Newspapers

Political Anecdotes from the Past

April 7, 2022 by Maury Thompson Leave a Comment

Trivia clue: He was the vice-presidential running mate of Grover Cleveland in 1888.

Correct response: Who was former U.S. Sen. Allen G. Thurman of California?

“The patriot of Columbus cannot be allowed to wither in retirement,” M.F. Tarpey said, when placing Thurman’s name in nomination, according to June 8th, 1888 report in The Morning Star of Glens Falls. “His fame is not his alone; it is the proud heritage of the American public.” [Read more…] about Political Anecdotes from the Past

The Little Newspaper That Hoped It Could

March 29, 2022 by Maury Thompson Leave a Comment

Call it the little newspaper that hoped it could.

“What! another paper in Washington County!” publisher George A. Nash wrote in the first issue of The Commercial Advertiser of Sandy Hill, now Hudson Falls, on November 26th, 1879. [Read more…] about The Little Newspaper That Hoped It Could

Political Anecdotes From Historic North Country Newspapers

March 23, 2022 by Maury Thompson Leave a Comment

Trivia clue: This presidential candidate added new meaning to the term political spokesman.

Correct response: Who is New York City Mayor John Lindsay? [Read more…] about Political Anecdotes From Historic North Country Newspapers

Flowery & Imprecise: 19th Century Weather Reports

February 8, 2022 by Maury Thompson Leave a Comment

The Whitehall correspondent submitted a long-winded, pun intended, weather report for the Dec. 28, 1889 issue of The Granville Sentinel: “The atmosphere was in great commotion here Sunday night – evidently having urgent business elsewhere – and things movable presented a decidedly twisted appearance in town Monday morning.”

A contemporary editor likely would ask the reporter to consult the National Weather Service about the speed of the wind, and would have boiled down the verbiage to something like, “Severe winds in Whitehall uprooted trees and blew off roofs at Whitehall on Sunday. But dramatics frequently trumped details in 19th century newspapers. [Read more…] about Flowery & Imprecise: 19th Century Weather Reports