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Ulysses S. Grant’s Summer at Mount McGregor

June 4, 2021 by Maury Thompson 1 Comment

The trip to Mount McGregor was set, if the hospice patient had enough strength to make the journey.

“If the present favorable conditions are maintained, General Grant will travel to Mount McGregor Tuesday, June 23rd,” The Morning Star of Glens reported on June 8th, 1885. “President Rutter, of the New York Central and Hudson Railroad, has placed its special car at General Grant’s disposal for the use of the general and his family on the trip. The car will be attached to a morning express train from the Grand Central depot.” [Read more…] about Ulysses S. Grant’s Summer at Mount McGregor

Some New York Political History Trivia

May 11, 2021 by Maury Thompson Leave a Comment

Trivia clue: A First Lady who was a member of the Nyack (New York) Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Correct response: Who is Florence Harding? [Read more…] about Some New York Political History Trivia

Washington County Farmers In Spring, 1876

May 6, 2021 by Maury Thompson Leave a Comment

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May showers bring?

Optimism for a prosperous agricultural season.

“The weather for the past two or three days has been quite warm and spring-like, with frequent showers, and Mother Earth is fast putting on her robe of green,” the Putnam correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on May 12th, 1876. “The farmers have nearly finished their sowing, but we have not heard of much planting being done yet. Winter grain is looking finely, and the prospects are good for an abundant harvest.” [Read more…] about Washington County Farmers In Spring, 1876

Schaghticoke’s Congressman: John A. Quackenbush

April 13, 2021 by Maury Thompson Leave a Comment

When in doubt, take a dinner break.

That was the strategy for reaching unanimity in 1888 at New York’s 18th Congressional District nominating convention.

And the strategy worked, although some of the politicians from Washington and Rensselaer counties may have eaten crow, so to speak. [Read more…] about Schaghticoke’s Congressman: John A. Quackenbush

Suffolk County News On Long Island History Podcast

April 12, 2018 by Chris Kretz Leave a Comment

In 1960s Sayville, Long Island, no woman editor had ever run the hometown paper.

Then Mary Lou Cohalan and her friend Joann O’Doherty took over the Suffolk County News.

What followed was a crash course in journalism, politics, and crisis management set against the Vietnam War and the rapidly expanding suburbs in the town of Islip. [Read more…] about Suffolk County News On Long Island History Podcast