This day in history: August 14
Date/Time
Date(s) - 14/08/2026
All Day
Categories
1876
Nelson Rust passed away today. In 1831, Rust took over the tannery established by Eben Britton on the site of the Rialto Theatre on North Ann Street. In 1844 he moved it to East Mill Street. Rust also ran a leather goods store on Second Street and served as village president in 1851. The tannery was sold to J.J. Gilbert and William Weeks in 1874, who in turn sold the tannery to J.S. Barnet & Brothers in 1885.
1884
The Protection Fire Company held an excursion to Catskill for two dollars, round trip. Two trains took 2,560 people to Albany, then by boat to Catskill. The revelers returned to Little Falls at 4:00 am the next morning – tired and happy? Before the Motor Age, recreation was of a group nature rather than the individual system.
1896
James Riley has erected a large dancing pavilion on the vacant lot at the corner of German (Flint Avenue) and Jefferson streets, opposite his hotel. The opening party will be held tonight when the Pelican Club will give the first of a series of dances.
1912
The survivors of the 121st Regiment of the Grand Army of the Republic and their wives, visited the Southern battlefield.
1914
Miss Helen T. Hooley, the first woman lawyer in this area, passed away today at her home in Little Falls. Born in this city, a graduate of Little Falls High School and later Eastman Business College in Poughkeepsie, Miss Hooley spent her whole life here. She was admitted to the bar in 1903, and was appointed to several terms as clerk of the Surrogate’s Court.
1945
WW II Era – In a spontaneous demonstration, wildly whooping crowds swept the city and cheered the news of the end of World War II. The celebration almost defied imagination, as the three years and eight months of struggle ended in victory. Crowds were gay and loud and orderly – grills did a big business.
1976
The Little Falls Little Leaguers defeated Williamsville-Buffalo 5-4 in the semifinals, but lost to Staten Island 4-0 in the finals of the New York State Little League Championship. The same group of boys won the high school state baseball championship in 1982.
1987
The inaugural Little Falls Canal Celebration started today. Former resident and businessman, Al Lovenheim, conceived of the idea as a way to replace the always-popular and well-attended St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s parish celebrations. Jayne Ritz is given credit for the name, to distinguish Little Falls from other communities having canal days or canal festivals.