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Each week we bring 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 on microfilm.
Friday, May 17, 1912:
Bouquet Thieves
Residents of the Harris and Jones estate on Hamilton Place became suspicious when they noticed two men hanging around the area for several hours. After residents called the police, the two prowlers were confronted by an officer of the law. Curiously, the officer found the men in the process of gathering large bunches of beautiful flowers which were growing in the local gardens.
The flower thieves were arrested and taken to the police headquarters, where their names were revealed to be Joseph Sepwitz and Felix Kapelka. When arraigned before a judge the following day, Kapelka pleaded guilty and said that he was stealing the flowers for his girlfriend because he couldn’t afford to buy her any. He was fined $5 and released.
Sepwitz had been carrying a revolver when he was arrested, and was therefore sent to White Plains to await a jury decision on the charge of carrying concealed weapons.
Officer Reverts to Horsepower
Motorcycle policeman Harry Cregier was injured while on patrol. He was travelling down Broadway and turned towards the curb to pass two large corporation wagons. At that moment he was struck by a heavy “touring car” belonging to a Mr. Arthur G. Tompkins. The policeman was thrown from his motorcycle and landed awkwardly on the ground. The car screeched to a halt and the distraught occupants ran over and frantically “inquired whether they could be of any assistance”.
Luckily no bones were broken but Cregier was badly shaken, and his motorcycle was quite severely smashed up. In the days following the accident Cregier abandoned motorcycle transport, and was instead seen resolutely patrolling Broadway on horseback.
Shredded Wheat Luncheon
The Shredded Wheat luncheon held at the was a great success. The event was paid for by The Shredded Wheat Company of Niagara Falls, and was organized by the Women’s Auxiliary of the YMCA. This kind of public luncheon was a method the company frequently used to advertise their products, and they sent Miss Martha D. P. Marx to conduct the event and explain the products.
Admission was 25 cents, and the proceeds went to the YMCA. Around 90 people attended, and they were said to thoroughly enjoy a menu which included toasted Triscuit, creamed peas in Shredded Wheat, apple and nut salad, and jellied fruit sandwiches. The meal was rounded off with coffee and chocolate-dipped Triscuit.
Ideal Site for New Town Hall
Mr. E. W. Harden recently purchased the Dean property on the corner of Main Street and Broadway, and announced that he would erect an office building on that spot. However, he soon had a dramatic change of heart and declared that, for an undisclosed reason, he would sell the property to the Village in order for them to build a town hall there. Furthermore he offered to sell the land at the same price he had paid for it, which was estimated to be about $30,000. The Press-Record congratulated Harden on his outstanding public-spirit.
Trolly and Truck Collide
One hundred years ago a trolly crashed into a huge motor truck opposite the Hotel Tarry. The truck was on the trolly tracks and was waiting for the gates to go up in order to cross over the tracks and drive away. The Press-Record speculated that “evidently the motorman of the trolly thought that the truck had no business there and endeavoured to push it off the tracks”.
While no serious damage was done to either vehicle, a lot of “talk” passed between the truck driver and the trolly conductor, and things escalated further when a number of bystanders joined in the dispute. Eventually officer Cregier straightened out the affair, and the truck proceeded on its way.
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