A MONTH IN HISTORY 

DECEMBER 1903 – over 100 YEARS AGO

 Headlines: “Panama Signs Canal Treaty”; “Columbia Has Not Lost the Idea of Regaining the Isthmus”; “Our Panama Policy – Army and Navy Departments Ready to Repel Colombian Invasion”;  “Colombia Invades Panama—Report that One Hundred Troops Have Landed on Island of Pines.”  “Marines for Isthmus – Two More Battalions To Sail.”  “May Eat Meat on Friday – As Christmas falls on Friday this year, Roman Catholics all over the world will be permitted to eat meat on that day…” and a 1 1/2”, 3-sentence article, bottom, center, front page, between “Spurious Paintings” and “Death of Dr. Higgins [of Cortland] – “Successful Flying Machine – The trial of a flying machine made yesterday near Kitty Hawk, NC, by Wilbur and Orville Wright of Dayton, Ohio, was a complete success.  The machine flew for three miles in the face of a wind blowing at the registered velocity of 21 miles an hour and then gracefully descended to earth at the spot selected by the man in the navigator’s car as a suitable landing place.  The machine has no balloon attachment but gets its force from propellers worked by a small engine.”

New York State & Tompkins County:  “No Protection on Rabbits” [meaning no limit on hunting rabbits];  “Ice Cutting Begun” on the 15^th and “Ice on Beebe Lake 12”thick on the 28^th.  “Dastardly Murder Carefully Planned – Poisoned Candy Sent to Home of [Judge] Michael Casey -- Two of His Children Sample Sweets and Are Made Dangerously Ill”

Weather: The month started cold, but “fair.”  It snowed on the 3^rd and “the roads have been frozen solid for almost two weeks and are almost as smooth as glass.  Continued cold weather such as we have been enjoying is unusual at this time of year when we are more accustomed to rain and mud.”  The forecast was for fair skies but instead 4” of snow fell. There was a brief thaw and then it snowed nearly every day after the 14^th (That day was fair with a high temp of 23.)  Although rain was forecast for Christmas, snow fell, as did the temperature and continued falling each day through the end of the month with the lowest reading at -10.

Prices:  Raisins-12 cents/package; dates-10 cents; Cream Cheese-15 cents/lb.; mixed nuts-15 cents/lb; WOOD—1 cord (delivered) -- $1.50.

Town of Caroline:   “The old [milk] depot [in Central Chapel] has been torn away, improving the looks of the place.  The new station is a great improvement.”  “The new switch board at the Caroline telephone exchange was installed…and is a decided improvement over the old one.” The 15-month old daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Harry Straight was terribly burned about the head and shoulders and it was thought she would not survive, however 10 days later she was improving, and there was hope of her recovery. Miss A. Gertrude Jenks and Mrs. Catherine Akins of Speedsville, William H. Nelson of Central Chapel, Frank and George Schutt formerly of Slaterville Springs, Mrs. M. A. Graves of Brookton, Andrew Boyd of Caroline, and Edward Little of Morris Chapel died. Charles Phillips of Speedsville was about to retire for the night when he heard a faint cry for help.  Hastily lighting a lantern he followed in the direction from which the cries came and in his orchard found a horse and an overturned cutter.  A short distance farther he found Mr. Charles Richardson, an aged [70] and highly respected resident of West Newark who had been driving from Ithaca to his home and had reached Speedsville when he lost his way in the blinding storm.  Mr. Richardson was nearly covered with snow and almost frozen.  He was unable to rise, and it was with great difficulty that Phillips succeeded in getting him into the house.  Restoratives were given him and Mr. Richardson was later able to tell of his misfortune.  Several days later he was sufficiently recovered from his exposure to return to his home.

DECEMBER 1953 - 50 YEARS AGO

Headlines: “Freighter Says Egyptians Fired on Her” in the Gulf of Aqaba; “Pakistan Gets Warning From India” regarding Kashmir. “Safety Belts in Automobiles Seen as Way to Save Lives”; “TV Football Lacks Appeal…although a few of them developed into good TV Sports Shows.” “TV Turning to Basketball.”  “Post Office Opens at North Pole” New York. “Big Sale of Color TV Sets Forecast” by GE; “Plane Claims Speed Mark”…2 ½ times the speed of sound.

Some things don’t change department:  “Three Children Slain by Dad”; “Israeli Soldier Killed”;  “Advisors Split on Policy.”

NY & Tompkins County: Rev. LeGrand Chase dies. Since the NYS Board of Regents suggested daily classroom prayers 2 years ago, “Daily Prayers In Schools Said Widely”  “Prayer is left up to each individual during brief periods of silence.”  “County Supervisor’s Approve $3,746,560 Budget.”  69 cases of Polio were reported in Tompkins County in 1953 (2 of them in December).  “No hunting allowed on the idle 107,000 acre Camp Drum, NY Military Reservation.” “Mohawk Planes Carry 1^st Class Mail” for the first time on the December 17^th, the 50^th anniversary of flight.  “Bank, Stores Burglarized; $2,183 Amount Stolen.”  914 vehicle accidents in Tompkins County in 1953 resulted in 19 dead, 316 injured, and 1,578 vehicles damaged.

Weather:  The month started with snow and temperatures in the mid 20’s but things warmed up to lightening, thunder, wind, rain, and temperatures in the high 50’s within a couple of days.  Then winter hit! Snow, sleet, wind, temperatures 0-20 until the 22^nd and it warmed up for a while and the snow showers changed to rain (with thunder) and back to snow.  By the next day there was another inch of snow, the wind was blowing 25-30 m.p.h., it was icy and cold temperatures (0-25), snow, ice and wind continued through the end of the month.

Prices:  Raisins—15oz pkg/21 cents; dates—29cents/lb.; Cream Cheese—3oz. Pkg. 2/31 cents; mixed nuts—49 cents/ lb.

Birthdays: Mary Martin was 40; Kirk Douglas and Betty Grable were 37; Steve Allen was 32; Edward G. Robinson was 50; Winston Churchill was “in his 80^th year.”

Movies & Entertainment:

·        Strand: Veils of Bagdad with Victor Mature; Calamity Jane with Doris Day & Howard Keel; Gun Fury with Donna Reed & Rock Hudson; Marry Me Again with Robert Cummings & Marie Wilson.

·        Temple: The Captains Paradise with Alec Guinness & Yvonne DeCarlo; Sky Commando with Dan Duryea; Paris Model with Marilyn Maxwell, Eva Gabor,& Paulette Goddard.

·        State: Botany Bay with Alan Ladd & James Mason; All the Brothers Were Valiant with Robert Taylor, Stewart Granger & Ann Blythe; Escape From Fort Bravo with William Holden & John Forsythe; Crazy Legs with Elroy “Crazy legs” Hirsch & Lloyd Nolan; The Kid from Left Field with Dan Dailey & Ann Bancroft.

·        Ithaca: The Juggler with Kirk Douglas; From Here to Eternity with Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift & Frank Sinatra; All Ashore with Mickey Rooney; Mogombo with Clark Gable, Ava Gardner & Grace Kelly.

Wednesday Afternoon TV: Valiant Lady; Bride & Groom; Love of Life; Search for Tomorrow; Hollywood Matinee; Guiding Light; Stop, Look, Cook; Garry Moore Show; Ladies Day; Double or Nothing; Houseparty; Kate Smith; Big Payoff; Welcome Travelers; On Your Account; Atom Squad; TV Ranch Club; Gabby Hayes Show; Howdy Doody; Wild Bill Hickok.  (Key to Channels: 3—WSYR; 4—WHAM; 5--WHEN; 12—WNBF).

Town of Caroline:  “Fire Destroys Lumber Mill; Loss $8,000” to the mill (including a planning mill, lumber, 2 stake-bodied trucks and other equipment, owned by Raymond Johnson, between Bessemer and Slaterville on Route 79. Girls were born to: Carl & Ellen Meacham Cory; Cholas & Delores Jordan Compton; George & Mary Gratzer Pancoe.  Boys were born to: Ernest & Alice Pfohl Bennett and Larry & Mary Mulks LaHart.  Beverly Harris, of Slaterville Spgs., received her LPN Cap.  Robert Dale Gonfonia of Slaterville Spgs. Was released from the service.  The Caroline tax rate was fixed at $25.40 -- $12.82 for general purpose and $12.58 for Highways. “Sarsy’s Inn, Caroline Center, will be closed for the Christmas weekend” but will be open for New Year’s.  The Slaterville Community Center presented a “Community Christmas Program” to a capacity audience.  The Archie Nash family held a Christmas party for 20 grandchildren at the Mark Nash home.  “Edward English of Caroline Depot, was stabbed by a pickpocket in a Los Angeles movie theater..his condition…very critical.”

The Historian has a "cut & paste" project available for anyone who would like to help.  It is something to do at home during the bad weather months, very easy and comes in its own container. 

Historical Room Hours are 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Thursday and other times by appointment.  The room will be closed from Thanksgiving until April 1st except by appointment.  Please call Barbara Kone at home (539-6464) or work (330-3200) or email her at: barbarakone@yahoo.com for an appointment.  The Town Historian’s web site is now active and chock full of information.  Check it out at www.carolinehistorian.org/