Keeping Borden bottling; beard judging contest

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

August 16, 1934

‘Local Officials Move To Avert Shut Down At Borden’s; Closing Of Bottling Department Slated’; Minor, Brewer And Parsons On Committee To Intercede

Following close upon the heels of an announcement made public last weekend that Borden’s Farm Products Company, Inc., plans to close the bottling department of its local plant Sept. 4 with a resultant lay-off of approximately twenty men, local officials took action Monday night at a regular meeting of the Village Board in an effort to avert the shutdown. A committee was appointed composed of Supervisor Frank L. Minor of the Town of North East; Mayor William J. Brewer, of Millerton, and Harry Parsons, president of the Chamber of Commerce, who will go to New York this week to discuss the situation with officials of the Borden Company.

‘Mayor’s Daughter Makes Hole-In-One’; Miss Gladys Brewer, fifteen-year-old daughter of Mayor and Mrs. William J. Brewer, of Millerton, made a hole-in-one Monday afternoon on the 173 yard eighth hole of the Hotchkiss School course at Lakeville. Miss Brewer used a spoon in making the shot.

August 21,1975

‘Millerton Beards Judged; Rule-Breakers Get Creamed’; Shaving cream, finger paint and dog clippers were flying freely at the Millerton Beard contest, the high point of last weekend’s Millerton Centennial Celebration.

Eight prizes were awarded to a bearded bevy of beauties who have been growing various forms of facial hair since last January. Winners were Sandy McClune, fullest beard; Art Royal, longest beard; Randy Smith, curliest beard; Billy Crawford, most colorful beard; George Gordon, best-trimmed beard; Dick Valentine, best muttonchops; Dick Weinstein, best goatee; and last but not least, Sanford Kaplan, most pathetic beard.

After the contest, most of the men removed each other’s beards with dog clippers.

‘Century Avenue’; Violet Dean placed the winning entry, Century Avenue, in the New-Name-for-Parking Street contest.

Other suggestions included Deuel Avenue for Isaac Deuel, mayor of the Village when the street was purchased, Hoag Drive for Dr. F. Hoag who owned property on both sides of the street and practiced medicine in the area for 63 years, Postal Plaza because the Millerton Post Office is located there, Duxbury Street for Duxbury and Herman’s Insurance Company and Irene Duxbury, CNE Drive for the Central New England Railroad that used to have a line running along that route, CNE Esplanade, CeEnee Street, Firehouse Lane because the Millerton Firehouse is located on the street, The Boulevard, Memory Lane to commemorate all those who did much for the community, Park Place, Busy Boulevard, Draggin’ Strip and Squeelin’ Drive.

Judges for the contest were Dorothy Tabor, Henrietta Terni, Scott Lind, Violet Simmons and Dorothy McGhee.

‘Time Capsule’; Centennial Committee member Dick Valentine said this week that very few people have given him anything to place in the large time capsule that is to be buried Saturday, Aug. 30, in the Town Park in downtown Millerton.

Since the capsule will be disinterred in 50 years, Valentine suggested that people write letters to their grandchildren, merchants send in catalogues and trade magazines featuring their merchandise, families and social organizations submit photographs, and people contribute current magazines.

‘The Day Lake Amenia Disappeared’; Once a thriving and attractive resort, Lake Amenia in the early summer of 1955 was a beautiful, if quiet, lake just south of the village. Then, suddenly, 20 years ago this week Hurricane Diane struck, dumping over 10 inches of rain in a 12-hour period, and by the time that mad lady moved out to sea, Lake Amenia had disappeared!

August 17, 2000

‘Wright Joins Navy’; MILLERTON - Bobbie-Jo Wright, a 1999 graduate of Webutuck High School, after one year at Dutchess Community College with a Presidential Scholarship, joined the United States Navy. Miss Wright graduated from boot camp in July with 960 other recruits at the Great Lakes Training Command Center, Illinois.

‘Editorial: New Rescue Truck a Welcome Addition’; It’s here. After almost two years of controversy and waiting, the Millerton Fire Department’s new rescue truck has finally arrived.

And quite a specimen it is. The truck comes with the best equipment money can buy, including an advanced extrication system, built-in light towers, a Cascade air supply system, retractable twin awnings for a rehab station and a modern communications center.

The new vehicle replaces a 30-year-old “bread truck” purchased for only a dollar.

‘County Literacy Partnership Includes Millerton Library’; A new collaboration is underway among Literacy Volunteers in Dutchess County, a United Way agency, the libraries in the towns of Dover Plains and Millerton and the Headstart centers in Millerton and Wingdale.

Marian Thompson, literacy rural coordinator, has brought together Gail O’Brien, librarian in Dover Plains, and volunteer grant writer and board member, Mike Rindsberg with Margaret Quick, librarian for the Millerton Library.

Millerton has written and received grants designated to help immigrant populations in the rural areas to learn to speak, read and write English.