This day in history: July 14

1864

The prolongation of the Civil War necessitated replenishing the Union ranks, and volunteers weren’t numerous or enthusiastic. Major Zenas Priest, county supervisor from Little Falls village, proposed that the county offer a “bounty” of $300 to each man joining the colors.

1896

The Bicycle Club, Rifle Corps, and the Union Guards joined together and incorporated as the Athletic Association of Little Falls. Dues will be used to equip the gymnasium and drill hall.

1905

The Sheard’s Park bandstand on Furnace Street is now open.

1911

A boulder weighing two tons has been drawn to the site of the old Octagon church, on Church Street, and will be fitted up as a marker. The D. A. R. will dedicate the marker during centennial week in September.

1914

The aldermen have started the proceedings to condemn the property at the corner of Main and William streets, owned by Dr. D.H. Rowe, as a site for its $100,000 city hall. Dr. Rowe uses the property for a barn and a hospital for the care of animals.

1915

New York State Comptroller Travis, after a review of the 1914 fiscal year for Little Falls, has deemed the city government to be confused and in a “chaotic condition.” Three incidents that have occurred are permitting friendship to intervene in the matter of enforcing the law, significant friction between city departments, and motives of personal revenge.

1931

Birger Lundstrom is branching out in the business world. What started out as a joke, selling hotdogs and ice cream from a floating dispensary on Ingham Lake (Keyser Lake), has turned into a profitable business. His enterprise has been well received by the flocks of bathers and campers who congregate there.

1952

Employees of industrial plants in Little Falls were being asked to volunteer to be observers for the local aircraft warning post atop Hotel Snyder. Forty observers were needed.

This day in history: July 15

1918

Hugh Fitzgibbons, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Fitzgibbons of 68 West Monroe Street, the local aviator flying with the English Royal Flying Corps, previously reported missing after combat with a German flyer, is safe and will shortly return home.

This day in history: July 16

1957

Dr. Elveleth dies, praticed medicine here for 60 years.  Dr. George S. Elvelerth sucummed to infirmeries at his house in Newprort, NH.

1880

The Little Falls  Fire Department’s annual convention of the Firemen’s Association State of New York will be held in Auburn and continue in session for three days.  All of the fire companies have received an invitation to a picnic and dance at St. Johnsville, Thursday of next week.

This day in history: July 17

1777

Finding that Barry St, Ledger had massed troops and loyalists at Oswego in preparation to invade the Mohawk Valley, General Nichols Herkimer issued a proclamation calling for all men from sixteen to sixty  to arm themselves and prepare to march to Fort Stanwix in defense of the valley. Men over sixty were to defend the homes.

1874

Judge Loomis is having the swamp lot, on the corner north of the Catholic church, filled in with gravel from the hills above. This will make a good building site, and be an improvement over the duck pond that has existed there for years.

1883

A contract was made by the village with McDermott & Ashenhurst to build a sewerage system for a city of 10,200 people.

1945

WW II Era – Another accident at the Gorge View highway entrance to Little Falls as four tons of fish spilled when a  freighter upsets on East Main Street. It wasn’t Friday, but  dozens, if not hundreds, of local families had fish as their main course for dinner.