CWA jobs for 800; rail service threatened; Taconic Chorus and a championship ewe

The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.

December 7, 1933

‘Eight Hundred to be at work by the End of Week on County CWA Jobs... Approval for Courthouse Remodeling and Other Jobs Under Federal Aid Received’; By the end of this week 800 Dutchess County men will have been put to work as the result of the Board of Supervisors’ action in approving recently the reconstruction of the county courthouse under the Civil Works Administration and other reconstruction projects under the CWA. The First part of the week found officials rushing at top speed to get the various projects under way [sic] and on Tuesday more than 125 men were put to work. Additional workers are being added daily so that the full complement of 800 will be employed on the courthouse, Matteawan State Hospital projects and other projects in the city of Poughkeepsie.

December 5, 1974

‘Threatened Rail Service Set as Meeting Topic’; The threat of loss of rail freight service in the Harlem Division of Penn Central Railroad in four counties, and procedures to avert this possible loss will be the subject of a U.S. government-sponsored all-day meeting announced for Thursday, Dec 19, Millerton. Starting at 10 a.m., the meeting will extend into the afternoon and include a press conference around 3 p.m. It will be held in the Village Community Room over the Millerton Free Library on Dutchess Avenue.
Clifton Curtis of the Office of Public Counsel of the Rail Services Planning Office, Washington , D.C., has asked the Harlem Valley Transportation Association (HVTA) to set up this meeting so that all concerned with the future of rail service in the area can attend to study and discuss developments.
“Unless the present plans of the U.S. Railway Association (USRA) are challenged and reshaped to reflect local social and business needs, according to authoritative word which has reached HVTA,” said HVTA President Lettie Carson, freight service could be terminated on the Harlem Division in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess and Columbia Counties.
USRA, established under the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to rescue the railroads of the northeast,” said Mrs. Carson, has already considered numerous applications for interim abandonments of branch lines including six segments in New York State of which the Harlem line, Millerton to Ghent, was one. “It is imperative, however, that local shippers, consignees, town, village and county officials concerned with this area cooperate in assessing the community impact of the possible loss of this service,” continued Mrs. Carson.

‘Historical Society Works on Centennial Projects’; The North East Historical Society is paving the way for the coming centennial!
Topics at a recent meeting covered ideas for the centennial of MIllerton’s incorporation 1875-1975. Historical Society President Marion Byron appointed Marion Smith as chairwoman for the antique exhibit. Mrs. Smith chose Lillian Cox as her co-assistant. Eileen Banks will take charge of publicity.
Annual elections were held. Marion Byron was asked to retain position temporarily as president. New officers are Floyd Herdrick, secretary; John Hicks, treasurer.
Chet Eisenhuth, historian, has been asked by the Village to choose five landmarks which will be presented with a plaque to be mounted on the site.
Already under investigation is the restoration of the Maltby Furnace, the official seal of the North East. A committee of Marion Byron, Chet Eisenhuth, William Bradley, and Roy Hancock examined the site. In commemoration and pride for the community, the town and state may make funds available. Bob Trotta, town attorney, is presently negotiating the proposal.
The society has been meeting with the Little Nine Bicentennial Committee Pine Plains. Members in attendance represented individuals from most areas of the territory known as the “Little Nine Partners Patent.”
The North East Historical Society invites everyone to join the meetings. “Acquaint yourself with your land of The Little Nine Partners,” said member Eileen Banks, for it was under the rule of Queen Ann of Great Britain in 1706 that this land was granted. Included were Milan, Pine Plains, North East and sections of Clinton and Stanford.”
Anyone with information on the old Salisbury Road please contact Dick Hermans… Research on this old toll road is now taking place. Historical Society maps and programs available at Terni’s Store on Main Street, Millerton.

‘Mr. Pizza Given Wrong Number’; Royal Phillips doesn’t want to hear any more about pizza — at least for a while.
It seems that the advertisement for Millerton’s “Mr. Pizza” carried in both The Millerton News and The Lakeville Journal last week had a wrong telephone number, which turned out to be Mr. Phillips’. He spent a good part of the weekend answering telephone calls for pizza.

December 2, 1999

‘Taconic Chorus Has Christmas Programs’; MILLERTON — The Taconic Chorus under the directorship of Ms. Gretchen Rueckheim, will perform seasonal Christmas music twice in the coming week.
The chorus will present a program of works by Bach, Saint-Saens, John Rutter and Vaughan-Williams as well as Christmas carols Saturday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Millerton.
The chorus will be accompanied by Christine Astley at the piano and Keith Niver on the organ.
Mr. Niver is the owner of Niver’s Music Store in Hudson, as well as the organist and choir director for the Chatham Methodist Church.

‘Santa Needs Wish Letters’; MILLERTON — Once again, the children of North East and Millerton may write to Santa Claus with their holiday wishes.
Some time last week an urgent call came in from the North Pole, according to Astor Early Childhood Center Director Mariley Najdek. It seems Santa was concerned he had not received any letters from local children, with a little more than three weeks before Christmas.

‘Kirby Barrett Wins Prize for Champion Ewe’; MILLERTON — Competing against the best of the best nationally in its class, a ewe owned by Kirby Barrett of Millerton has taken home the second-highest prize of reserve and champion ewe in the spring ewe lamb, early competition, at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky.
She also won first place in the pair of ewe lambs event and third place in the pen of three competitions.
Another of Ms. Barrett’s Cotswold sheep competed in the spring ewe lamb late class, where second place was secured.
And one of her yearling ewes took eighth place out of 18 sheep.