New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

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.

1925’s Lighter Side of Political History

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A New York Times pressman checking a newspaper for defects in 1942This stunt, certainly, would have been harder to pull off in the era before Photoshop and artificial intelligence:

“Amherst College students perpetuated a practical joke this afternoon when they sent out news stories and photographs showing United States Senator Frederick H. Gillett (1851-1935) minus his celebrated beard,” The Glens Falls Times reported on June 17, 1925. “Senator Gillett, found by newspaper correspondents, was still wearing the beard.” [Read more…] about 1925’s Lighter Side of Political History

Some 1896 Lighter Side of Political History Anecdotes

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A New York Times pressman checking a newspaper for defects in 1942In an era long ago, Republicans had a majority in the New York State Assembly. But Democrats were better at baseball. [Read more…] about Some 1896 Lighter Side of Political History Anecdotes

1925 Radio News from Northern New York

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A man tuning a Grebe Synchrophase vacuum tube tuned radio frequency (TRF) receiver in 1925, made by the AH Grebe CompanyIt was said to be the closest thing to actually being in the grand stand at Forbes Field for the Pittsburgh Pirates attempt to unseat the reigning champion Washington Senators.

“Today is probably one of the most exciting World Series ever played. Throughout the series, the Simpkins hardware store has entertained a goodly portion of the baseball fans in Ticonderoga with a running account of the games by that most marvelous invention, the radio,” The Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on Oct. 15, 1925. “Seats have been installed for the convenience of listeners.” [Read more…] about 1925 Radio News from Northern New York

Will He Or Won’t He? Charles Evans Hughes in 1906

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Governor_Charles_Evans_HughesOn January 4, 1906 The Argus of Albany offered its readers a nugget of political wit. “The insurance office boy who receives your card is likely to reply, nowadays, ‘The boss can’t see nobody. He is busy writing his resignation.’”

New York City lawyer Charles Evans Hughes had just completed his work during the investigation of the life insurance industry on behalf of the state’s legislature (part of the Armstrong Investigation). Hughes, born in Glens Falls, was eager to get as far from the Albany quagmire as possible. [Read more…] about Will He Or Won’t He? Charles Evans Hughes in 1906

Whimsical Winter Notions For A Snowy Day

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It’s a whimsical winter notion.

“Some imaginative and wonderfully learned German scholars tell us that every snow flake is inhabited by happy little beings, who begin their existence, hold their revels, live long lives of happiness, and delight, die and are buried, all during the descent of the snowflake from the world of clouds to the solid land,” The Granville Sentinel reported on May 12th, 1886. [Read more…] about Whimsical Winter Notions For A Snowy Day

Buffalo’s Boxing Champion Jimmy Slattery in the Adirondacks

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Buffalo Boxer Jimmy SlatteryFans might have easily forgiven Indian Lake, NY pitcher Jimmy Slattery for being on the losing end of a 9-0 shutout against rival Warrensburg. Slattery had rushed back to the Adirondacks after winning a professional light heavy-weight boxing match by unanimous decision at Coney Island Stadium the previous evening.

“Jimmy Slattery of Buffalo, who pitched the first five innings for the Indian Lake team, returned yesterday morning from New York, where on Saturday night he defeated Maxey Rosenbloom in an important bout,” The Glens Falls Times reported on August 29, 1925. [Read more…] about Buffalo’s Boxing Champion Jimmy Slattery in the Adirondacks

Closing the Champlain Canal Season in 1895

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Champlain Canal, 1895 by Howard PyleThe 1895 Champlain Canal navigation season was nearing its end. “The Morgan Lumber Company is hurrying large quantities of lumber to tidewater,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on November 19th.

“Its boats are discharged of their up cargoes of coal as rapidly as possible, and immediately load lumber for the return trip.” There was evidence a few days later that, indeed, the remaining days of the navigation season were numbered. [Read more…] about Closing the Champlain Canal Season in 1895

1925: Floyd Bennett & The MacMillian Arctic Expedition

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Chief Aviation Pilot Floyd Bennett, co-pilot for Lt. Cmdr. Richard E. Byrd on the MacMillian Arctic Expedition in the Summer of 1925 and the Byrd Arctic Expedition of May 1926. For the later mission, he was awarded the Medal of Honor and commissioned to the warrant rank of Machinist. (U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command)It was a carnival-like atmosphere as the two ships in Donald Baxter MacMillan’s latest Arctic expedition were about to sail from Wiscasset, Maine.

School children released multi-colored balloons, the 5th Infantry Band played “Aud Lang Syne,” and thousands of well-wishers gathered to see him off shouted, “See you in September, Mac,” the Associated Press reported on June 20, 1925. [Read more…] about 1925: Floyd Bennett & The MacMillian Arctic Expedition

1925 Northern New York Radio History

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Family listening to the radio in Washington, DC, circa 1925Orrie Gould had a radio and would travel. “Gordon Russell and George Wilson were at J. Hebert Bly’s Sunday evening and enjoyed a radio entertainment furnished by Orrie Gould of Ticonderoga. The main feature was a church service from Albany, after which several stations were tuned in for musical selections,” the Crown Point Merchant’s Row correspondent reported in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on April 11, 1925.

“A few of our members were privileged to listen to a radio entertainment at the home of John Andre Saturday yesterday evening,” the Crown Point correspondent reported April 23rd. Orrie Gould of Ticonderoga brought the radio. [Read more…] about 1925 Northern New York Radio History

Truman Kingsley: ‘Boss Drummer’ of the Civil War

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Truman Kingsley courtesy of The Folklife Center at Crandall Public LibraryTruman Kingsley of Glens Falls, Warren County, NY was a drummer in the Civil War. When he returned home from battle, he never stopped drumming.

Kingsley, who was 44 when he enlisted in the Union Army, was older than many of his fellow veterans, who averaged 25.8 years old when they served, according to the American Battlefield Trust. [Read more…] about Truman Kingsley: ‘Boss Drummer’ of the Civil War

Lighter Side of Politics: News From Historic New York Newspapers

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A New York Times pressman checking a newspaper for defects in 1942“Silent Cal,” as President Calvin Coolidge was commonly known, was a pioneer in development of the talkie.

“An address by President Coolidge in which he sounded a message of peace and prosperity tonight was broadcast tonight (April 21) from a specially prepared photo-film made a week ago at the White House, making what was said to be the first attempt ever made to broadcast a voice from the motion picture screen,” The Post-Star of Glens Falls reported on April 22, 1925. [Read more…] about Lighter Side of Politics: News From Historic New York Newspapers

1920s: The KKK in Essex & Warren Counties

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Ku Klux Klan members hold a march in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 9, 1925There was no place in the Christian Church for racism, according to the Rev. Charles O. Judkins, longtime pastor of Christ Church Methodist in Glens Falls, NY. “You don’t belong in the church if you are a Klansman,” Judkins proclaimed at the annual Methodist Troy Conference in 1925.

Judkins was a prominent pastor, theological scholar, social justice advocate, and political influencer who frequently traveled to make speeches at urban cities. [Read more…] about 1920s: The KKK in Essex & Warren Counties

1920s Warren County, NY Radio News

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Family listening to the radio in Washington, DC, circa 1925In 1925, from morning to night, radio was bringing new experiences to its listening audiences in Warren County, NY.

“Getting up in the morning is not nearly so hard if you know that you are one of thousands who are doing the same thing and feeling the same way about it. Daily tuners-in on station WOR for its 7 am setting-up exercises are getting real joy out of their new early rising,” The Post-Star of Glens Falls reported on March 27, 1925. [Read more…] about 1920s Warren County, NY Radio News

Light-Hearted Political News from Historic Northern NY Newspapers

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A New York Times pressman checking a newspaper for defects in 1942You’ve heard about hard cider. How about hard sauerkraut? During Prohibition State Assemblyman Louis A. Cuvillier (D-Manhattan) mockingly introduced legislation to allow police authorities to search the basements of homes for “intoxicating” sauerkraut, The Glens Falls Times reported on Feb. 18, 1925.

“Some dries have contended sauerkraut is intoxicating and if that is true than the houses of people should be searched for this terrible stuff,” Cuvillier said. [Read more…] about Light-Hearted Political News from Historic Northern NY Newspapers

A Millionaire Runs for Governor: Hearst & The 1906 Independence League

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William Randolph Hearst of the Independence Party, an organization represented as his fawning puppet in this cartoon, ca 1907Millionaire publisher William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) did not make the short list of candidates which The Argus of Albany, recommended for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1906.

The Argus, a Democratic-aligned newspaper, opposed Hearst because of his fusion strategy, seeking to run on multiple party lines. [Read more…] about A Millionaire Runs for Governor: Hearst & The 1906 Independence League

Northern New York Railroad News, 1880-1895

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Detail of Seneca Ray Stoddard stereograpgh of Crown Point Iron Company's Railroad crossing the New York and Canadian Railroad line in Moriah, NY, ca 1900 (Adirondack Experience)In 1895, railroad travel through the Champlain Valley got a service upgrade. “Vestibule dining room cars will be run on three of the Delaware and Hudson trains beginning July 1,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on June 29, 1895. “Train No. 102’s dining car will run from Plattsburg to Whitehall, No. 101 from Whitehall to Rouses Point, and Train No. 8 will serve supper from Rouses Point to Plattsburg.”

In other 19th century railroad news collected from Northern New York historic newspapers: [Read more…] about Northern New York Railroad News, 1880-1895

The Lighter Side of 19th Century Politics

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A New York Times pressman checking a newspaper for defects in 1942If you can’t beat the temperance law, separate your city from the rest of New York. “One prominent Democrat has declared in the New York Sun in favor of secession of New York City from the rest of the state and the setting up of the state of Manhattan,” The Granville Sentinel reported on July 26, 1895. “He is provoked to this by the way the Sunday laws are enforced against the sale of liquors.”

The Sentinel suggested that upstate Republicans would be immediately agreeable with the proposal. [Read more…] about The Lighter Side of 19th Century Politics

Thanksgiving Dinner News Collected from Historic Newspapers

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Thanksgiving Postcard with turkey hauling a pumpkin ca 1925The rule at a wedding is don’t show up the bride. The rule at Thanksgiving dinner is don’t show up the bird.

“The Thanksgiving Dinner should always be plain and plentiful,” The Granville Sentinel suggested on Nov. 30, 1894. “The turkey is so grand a dish that it should not be obscured by its surroundings.”

In other Thanksgiving dinner news collected from historic newspapers in Northern New York: [Read more…] about Thanksgiving Dinner News Collected from Historic Newspapers

Dick Lawton: Warren County’s Early Radio Writer

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The logo from a 1953 Sentinel Radio Corporation stock certificate signed by Richard A. Lawton as SecretaryGlens Falls High School graduating senior Richard B. “Dick” Lawton in 1922 wanted to make a mark on the world. “What can I do to be forever known, and make the age to come my own?” was his favorite saying.

His fame would not be forever but, at least in Glens Falls, in Warren County, NY, he would claim the new emerging radio age as his own. Lawton, in 1923, was the first Post-Star radio editor, a new specialized beat. [Read more…] about Dick Lawton: Warren County’s Early Radio Writer

19th Century Chicken and Egg Oddities Reported in New York Newspapers

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A Silver-laced Wyandotte rooster (chicken)You’ve heard of bad jokes. How about fowl tales? Here is a collection of 19th century chicken and egg oddities collected from Northern New York historic newspapers:

Are drumsticks that come from a four-legged chicken half-price at the grocer? “A curiosity in the shape of a four-legged chicken, five days old, is exhibited in one of the windows of I.N. Scott & Sons grocery store, Ridge Street [in Glens Falls],” The Morning Star reported on May 25, 1894. “It is the property of Alexander Bovair, Coffin Street.” [Read more…] about 19th Century Chicken and Egg Oddities Reported in New York Newspapers

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