The following excerpts from The Millerton News were com- piled by Kathleen Spahn, Vivian Sukenik, Nancy Vialpando and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the NorthEast-Millerton Library.
91 years ago: March 16, 1933
‘Local Man is Married in Brooklyn’: The marriage of Albert A Berger, of Millerton, to Miss Rose A Lehrman, of 1583 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, N.Y. took place last Sunday. [...] Mr. Berger has been in Millerton about four years and is the proprietor of the Army and Navy Store.
‘Millerton Bank Now Reopened’: Permission to resume received at 1 A.M. on Wednesday
The banking situation in Millerton is now normal again. At one o’clock in the morning, yesterday, George Andrews, cashier of the Millerton National Bank, received a telegram from the Federal Reserve Bank, in New York City, giving the local bank permission to open. This action has been confidently expected for, with its surplus and profits exceeding its capital, the Millerton Bank was in an exceptionally strong position and the permission to reopen was merely a matter of form.
50 years ago: March 2, 1974
‘Village Board Appeals for Rail Improvements’: The Village Board of Millerton last week requested the continuation and improvements of rail service to this area […]Following is part of the content of the Board’s appeal: “So often in this age the voice of the small community goes unheard, drowned out by the clamour created by more vociferous interests. The Village of Millerton is faced with termination of all railroad services. The Village of Millerton wants railroad service to continue, in fact, it wants and needs railroad service to increase. But the people of Millerton fear, and rightly so, that they will be ignored…”
‘Rail Cut Perils $2 Million Plant’: Proposed abandonment of its Harlem Valley line by Pen Central now threatens Tri-Wall Container Company’s plan for a $2 Millerton plant expansion in Wassaic. Jerome Wallerstein, President of Tri-Wall, […] described the proposed elimination of freight service […] as “inponderable” […] “That’s why I stay up late at night […]”
‘Cable Break Disrupts Service to 12,000 Phones’: As many as 12,000 telephone customers in Columbia County were unable to make long distance telephone calls last weekend when a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter dropped a weighted channel buey on a telephone cable resting on the floor of the Hudson River. […] The “Cable Queen” was dispatched from New York City to the scene.
25 years ago: March 18, 1999
‘Last Hurrah for Hizzoner’: Monday’s Village Board meeting was the last hurrah for legendary Millerton Mayor Jake Shoifet who recognized six outstanding individuals, including village attorney Michelle Haab, highway/water superintendent Larry Merwin, planning board chair Cathy Fenn, and chief of police Tom Briggs. In village elections, Mike Cawley was elected mayor, while Mariley Najdek and Mark McAvoy won seats on the village board.
‘Three Firefighters Complete Course’: Three members of the Millerton Fire Department recently completed a course designed to develop the supervisory and management capabilities in structural firefighting operations. Mark J. McAvoy II, firefighter-EMT, has successfully completed the “Managing Company Tactical Operations: Decision-Making” course and Chief Michael Segelkn and Michael F Cobirn completed the “Managing Company Tactical Operations: Preparation” course.
‘Show and Tell Offered at NE Library’: The first meeting of the season for the North East Historical Society will be a show and tell program. Last year many interesting items were brought in for discussion: a silver cane, 1836 map, phosphor-coated metal flower light bulbs, tablecloth from a local factory, carved wooden trays and a frame, pewter spoons from Mt. Riga […] and a maple syrup bucket.
"They had this in mind from last year," girls varsity head coach Les Funk of Pine Plains said. Funk said the young team wanted the sectional title and "never gave up," until they won it Wednesday, March 5, at Mount Saint Mary College.Photo by Nathan Miller
Naveah Rennie, no 34 of Pine Plains, was the Bombers' dominant scorer, racking up 20 points by the end of the matchup against S.S. Seward Institute during the Section IX Class C finals at Mount Saint Mary College on Wednesday, March 5.Photo by Nathan Miller
Lent: Time to consider social gospel movement
We are entering the annual Christian season of Lent this week.With its 40 days of contemplation and “little Easter” Sundays, it is a time to remember the healing ministry and the sacrifice of Jesus.During this season, we are invited to think deeply about our role as agents of grace and love in our hurting world.
There is a long history of making sacrifices and commitments for Lent, modeling our discipleship and hopes for a more heavenly world. It is through this lens that I invite you to join us in considering what gifts and services the community needs that we can commit to bringing forth in the weeks leading up to Easter.While many lean into solitary introspection during Lent, it may be particularly advantageous to use our meditations and sacrifices for the greater good this year.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, advised his followers centuries ago that “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness. Faith working by love is the length and depth and breadth and height of Christian perfection.”These words are connected to the firm belief of Wesley that a Methodist was fundamentally one who loved God with all their heart, mind, strength, and soul, along with loving one’s neighbor as oneself.He believed that being in love with God naturally also required loving other people, as every person was a beloved soul coming from the same source of life that we are.
Consequently, Wesley stood against slavery long before it was a popular view, prioritized caring for those who were poor and imprisoned, and made a point to do good to as many as he could for as long as he was physically able.
Indeed, the Methodists are not the only Christians who believe such things.These thoughts are primary messages of the Christian faith.In more recent history, we can note that during the time of the Golden Age, at the end of the late 19th century, the Christians mobilized to counteract the abject poverty, child labor, dangerous working conditions, and lack of education of the time.Famous theologians such as Washington Gladden, Walter Rauschenbusch, and W.E.B. DuBois began the Social Gospel movement, enacting with new verve the passion of Christ that empowers the community toward building the Kingdom of God.As Christians, they believed in uplifting the downtrodden and creating a community where all had a chance to thrive.Child labor laws were enacted, better working conditions were secured, Sunday School helped provide education, settlement houses were created, and the Salvation Army was born.
The social gospel movement continued in another wave of reforms and empowerment through the Civil Rights era.Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his intellect, energy, and life to help secure the reforms that enabled persons of color to vote, go to non-segregated schools, and have the right to share public spaces without discrimination.Like Christ, he paid the ultimate price for his prophetic vision.However, his impact on our society was formidable, lasting far beyond his short lifetime.
As Christians, it is very clear what to do in times of hardship, crisis, or challenge.Throughout the centuries, our call has been to help heal the world, doing whatever we can to uplift and transform loneliness into community, reminding each one how precious they are and how important it is to unite for the sake of the whole.Individually, the challenges can be overwhelming, even too much to bear.Collectively, we can do all things through the One who strengthens us.As they say, “We have the receipts!” We can do it again.
This Lent, let us give up our pessimism and fear, replacing it with a commitment to community and hope.Yes, things can seem dreadful, but our souls are not served by allowing ourselves to descend into the dark.We are keepers of the light.Let us do all within our power to create brightness so that its warmth may strengthen all as we live into the Social Gospel movement for our time.Chin up, friends, we can do this.We simply must be willing to get serious about doing it together.
Rev. Dr. Anna Crews Camphouse is pastor of Canaan, Lakeville, Millerton, and Sharon United Methodist Churches
Lead Pastor of the Northwestern Hills Cooperative
Parish UMC