It's our latest edition of One Century Ago, a collaboration between Patch and the Historical Society serving Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown.

This column brings you the front page of a local newspaper that covered the news in Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow (North Tarrytown) one hundred years ago. This front page comes from the Tarrytown Press-Record. The Press-Record was published as a weekly from 1893 to 1946 and has been preserved by the Historical Society on microfilm.

See the bottom of this article for the latest news on the Historical Society's events and happenings.

Tarrytown Press-Record, November 24, 1911

Booze Binge Ends Mugger's Short Spree

The Press-Record declared one of the "most daring robberies ever perpetrated" in the villages had occurred Wednesday evening.

The bold mugging spree began on Franklin Street as a man dressed in a dark suit and a slouch hat thrust a revolver in to the face of a Mrs. William S. Allan of Benedict Avenue, and demanded her purse. The highwayman nabbed the woman's handbag and threatened to shoot as he backed away and fled.

Not more than an hour later, the same man held up a Mrs. Edward Hall on Broadway near Benedict Avenue. The crook demanded the woman's money and, having secured her pocketbook without struggle, fled east on Benedict Avenue.

Police, armed with an accurate description of the assailant, began inquiring with neighboring police departments about the incident and the suspect involved. While the investigation was ongoing, both women's handbags were found and it was ascertained the thief got away with $4.60.

A lucky break happened in the case when North Tarrytown police arrested William O'Brien for carrying a concealed weapon in a Cortlandt Street saloon late on Wednesday night.

O'Brien had reportedly been at the bar all evenings when he ran out of money for drinks. He told the bartender he would be back with the means necessary to continue his binge. Having secured his illicit monies, the scoundrel downed spirits until a fight broke out. O'Brien pulled his gun and threatened to "clean up the joint" before he was arrested.

Police quickly put two and two together. With a positive identification by both victims, O'Brien was sent to jail to await trial on robbery and concealed weapons charges.

Bridges Planned for Railroad Crossings

As soon as Tarrytown was done celebrating the arrival of electric rails at the village's train station, work was begun to ensure vehicle and pedestrian traffic would not delay train schedules.

While today's only point of access the to west side of the track is over the H-bridge, in 1911 the village approved two bridges to be built over the tracks, one at the end of Franklin Street and the other just north of Main Street.

As part of the construction of the new bridge, Depot Square, which is where Village Hall currently sits, had to be filled in to increase height and reduce the grade on the bridges. The work would remove the muddy swamp that collected in the area 100 years ago.

The plans were also made for what would eventually become Green Street which runs parallel to the western-most track. In total, the village had to pay for 25 percent of the project, while the state forked over 25 percent and New York Central Railroad covered the rest.

Worker Hurt in Y.M.C.A. Construction

The building of the Y.M.C.A. on Main Street was a grand event when it broke ground earlier in the year.

The Press-Record reported that the first accident to occur during construction happened on a Tuesday. A worker named John Smith was helping move a girder into the building when the crowbar he was using slipped and struck him in the face.

The man knocked out some teeth and cut open his lips, but later returned to work after being sewed up by the doctor.

Religious Revivals in the Villages?

The Press-Record made a small mention of a campaign conducted by all local churches, save one, to participate in "Church Week".

Placcards were placed in the windows of stores and religious centers urging residents to participate in the event. The paper noted residents should pay attention because "something more than usual is doing" in the villages' churches. The campaign called for an entire week to be devoted to church purposes, and for all to participate whether they are part of a congregation or not.

The Press-Record encouraged all to "co-operate with this church movement" because, the paper proclaimed, "Tarrytown needs a spiritual awakening" and the only way of doing so is through the "regular channels of the church". 

Events at the Historical Society Serving Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown

The Historical Society's annual Holiday Open House will take place on Sunday, December 4, 2011 from 1-4 p.m. There will be stories, music, crafts for kids, a visit from Santa, holiday refreshments and more. For more information visit the Society's website: http://www.thehistoricalsociety.net/