Feb. 6th
1808
William Alexander, son-in-law of John Porteus, and agent for the Ellice Estate, leased to himself the lot on the south side of Main Street extending to the Ann Street corner for the sum of three dollars a year. Crane’s Tavern was built on the site, the first tavern in Little Falls. It became the leading gathering place in the early history of the village.
1890
The village sold the right to cut ice on the reservoir to B. & B. Casler for $375. This ice could be used in drinks, unlike the river water, so was in greater demand.
1918
A Little Falls veteran of the Civil War, with a great war record, passed away today. Alfred Casler, a member of the 121st Regiment, had to his credit 35 battles, some of the bloodiest of the war. He was at Appomattox when General Lee surrendered.
1980
An announcement was made of the approval of a federal grant of $350,000 toward the $1,450,000 cost for a new motel in the city by the Little Falls Motel Associates, Inc. Representative Donald Mitchell made HUD official s aware of the importance of the motel complex to Little Falls’ overall development effort.
2009
Longtime Little Falls High School baseball coach Ted Schoff was inducted into the Mohawk Valley Baseball Hall of Fame. Over 31 seasons, Schoff’s teams won 533 games, 12 Section III championships, 14 league titles and a state championship in 1982.
Feb. 7th
1888
A letter from California tells of green peas, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, etc., all growing in the open air, with beautiful blossoms. Here in Little Falls, the open air products just now are pneumonias, catarrhs, neuralgias, rheumatism, and pleurisies, and the only nosegays are red noses and rum blossoms.
1911
Rollin Smith, born in Little Falls in 1838 and admitted to the bar in 1863, passed away. He was a County Judge and one of the organizers of the Little Falls National Bank. In 1910 he made a will leaving his home on East Main Street and Waverly Place, to the village for a library, in addition to a substantial monetary bequest.
1961
The Board of Public Works was authorized by the Common Council to proceed with the construction of a nine-hole golf course on city property, adjacent to the auxiliary reservoir. The $20,000 required for the project would be appropriated from the Surplus Water Fund, and revenues from the operation of the golf course will be credited to the same fund.
1966
Senator Robert f. Kennedy gave his views on many different subjects before a large and welcoming crowd at the Little Falls High School. RFK responded to a number of different questions posed by students, and opined that the Vietnam War could not be won by military measures alone.
Feb. 9th
1897
The firm of Snyder & Fisher, manufacturers of knitting machines and bicycles, has been dissolved. Homer P. Snyder will conduct the business alone. This is one of the most complete bicycle plants in the country, and their “Swell Newport” has given excellent satisfaction. They will continue to turn out the best bicycles in the country.
1934
Jack Frost pushed forward relentlessly to new records of frigidity for the season with temperatures ranging from 30 to 35 below zero. The official temperature at the city reservoir shows 28 below. Owl’s Head, in the Adirondacks, registered -50F.
1994
After years of study and often heated and contentious public debate, the Board of Education of the Little Falls City School District unanimously came to an historic decision – to reconstruct the Benton Hall Academy rather than build a new grade school on the outskirts of the city.
Feb. 10th
1842
The warm rains caused the ice on the Mohawk River and West Canada Creek to break up and come down the river in large masses causing significant damage to the railroad, canal, and buildings in Little Falls. The water was estimated to be 25 feet above low water level. One house was swept away nearly to the Fink ferry bridge.
1902
Four of the eight aldermen purposely “went on strike” and did not attend the Common Council meeting. Since business could not be conducted and bills audited, police officers were sent out by the mayor, with search warrants, to look for the absentees. They were not found. Five members are needed for a quorum.
1963
Changes continue in the Cherry- Burrell Company and its ties with Little Falls grow fewer and fewer. David H. Burrell 3rd, Edwin Fisher, and Anthony Wening resigned as directors, and representatives of the investor group which recently bought into the company were elected to succeed them.
2000
Numerous area residents had an opportunity to meet and talk with first lady and U. S. Senate candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton at her campaign stop at the Ann Street Deli in Little Falls.
Feb. 11th
1891
James Tappan, better known as “Hunkey” Tappan, was arrested by Officer Holmes at the polling place in Skinner Hall for being drunk, and disorderly, and for trying to vote twice. He was discharged with a reprimand.
1916
For a week or more, the water in the city reservoir was lowering six or eight inches a day. A resident noticed that Furnace Creek was unusually high, and a big break was found nearby in the dead line in Skinner Woods which was repaired.
Feb. 12th
1898
Opposition has arisen to the Academy project of building a new $65,000 schoolhouse at the site of the current academy at the corner of East Main and Alexander streets. A movement has started to build the school on West Main Street with the claim that this would be more convenient for the 141 students who live in that general area, but many of them attend St. Mary’s.
1916
Weber and Fields appeared at a stage show at the City Theatre.in Little Falls.
This Week in History” is brought to you by the Little Falls Historical Society. Please Visit the Little Falls Historical Society Website and please consider supporting the Museum by becoming a Member. Download the membership form here!