Welcome back to One Century Ago, a collaboration between Patch and the Historical Society serving Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown.

Each week we're bringing 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.

January 5th, 1912: 

Gas Meter Thief

One hundred years ago gas meters were coin operated, making an attractive and irresistible bounty for potential thieves. In the first days of the new year, many residents of Tarrytown reported that their gas meters had been broken into and emptied. Mr. W. J. Martin and Mr. Joe Cohen were the first victims of the gas meter thief, and Martin informed Police Chief Bowles that he was suspicious of a boy in his employ, named Murray. This boy had also been working in Cohen’s house around the time that he was robbed. The boy was brought in for questioning, and he quickly confessed to all the offenses.

However, when Mr. Martin and Mr. Cohen decided not to prosecute, Murray was let off with just a reprimand. Whether or not it was the right choice to release the boy was still uncertain, as houses continued to be entered and had their gas meters opened and robbed.

Death of Howard H. Morse - Soldier, Lawyer, Author

While we honored Winfield L. Morse by naming the local school after him, one hundred years ago Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow residents honored his father, Howard H. Morse, who died December 31^st, 1911 of natural causes.

Mr. Morse, born in Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, N. Y. in 1842, was a long time resident of North Tarrytown. He was survived by his wife, Isabel, and son. The Press-Record described his life as “exemplary”.

He had trained as a lawyer and was admitted to the Bar just as the Civil War broke out. Morse was quick to answer the call to arms in defence of the Union, raising a company of volunteers himself, and going to the front as First Lieutenant of Company C, 128^th Regiment, N.Y.S.V.

At the close of the war, Morse continued his illustrious legal career, becoming one of the leaders of the Dutchess County Bar. The Press-Record states that as a speaker, Morse was “brilliant, vigorous and eloquent”. After a time spent working in New York City, Morse moved to North Tarrytown and remained there for a number of years, becoming one of the village’s most prominent citizens. In 1896 he was elected President of the Village, and took an active part in local affairs and politics. He was often mentioned as a candidate for Congress, but he always declined to consider that role. On top of all his other responsibilities, Morse found time to write and publish a history of Rhinebeck.

The Press-Record was continuously effusive in praise for Morse throughout the half page article, calling him “courteous, kind and considerate, firm and dignified... command(ing) the respect of all those with whom he came into contact”.  

Local Gossip

Since residents of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow were not overwhelmed with gossip magazines and columns as we are today, the Press-Record was more than happy to provide in that capacity. On the front page there was a small corner where local gossip was indulged. Unlike the scandal that is common currency today, the paper politely notes that “Charles McManus... has been spending the last few days in New York City” and that Dr. Katz was instructing the children of Tarrytown Hebrew School in preparation for the Purim play.