Plant walks, ‘tree talks’ and a raging forest fire

91 years ago: April 20, 1933

New Minister has had Wide Experience: The Rev. K.M. Reynolds, who replaces the Rev. Raymond Ward as pastor of the M.E. Church at Millerton, comes to his new charge with a record of thirty years’ service in the ministry. Ordained by Bishop Wilso at Metropolitan Temple, he has preached at churches at Cook’s Falls, Jeffersonville, Greenville, Bloomingling, and for five years at the Gardnertown M.E. Church in Newburgh. His last pastorate before coming to Millerton was at Bangall.

Mr. Reynolds, a former railroad man, has two sons, Thomas I Reynolds, of Toledo, O., [sic] and Cocil J Reynolds, of New Symrna [sic], Fla.

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FOR RENT: Tenement 6 rooms, improvements; Center St.; $17 per month. Fred Adams. 2t-4-26p.

50 years ago, April 18, 1974:

Goals Determined Only By Citizens: After the good response to the questionnaire distributed in the Town of North East on the Comprehensive Plan, it is of great importance that citizens attend the public meeting in Millerton next Wednesday, April 23. The Dutchess County Department of Planning and the North East Planning Board have completed one third of the 18-month study of all aspects of community life. It is now time for the residents to decide on the plans goals and objectives.

Tree Talk: Arbor Day was first observed in 1872 with the planting of more than a million trees[...] Today, says Robert A. Bartlett, president of The F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co., Arbor Day should be a day of significance, a revival of this custom. As living space diminishes with a growing population, there is more need than ever for more trees. Trees help to purify our polluted air, and the more trees there are, the more carbon dioxide can be absorbed, and the more oxygen returned to reduce pollution.

25 years ago: April 15, 1999

Harlem Valley Rail Trail To Sponsor Earth Day Walks: The Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association will host two walks along the rail trail on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, at 6 p.m.

One walk will begin at the Coleman Station parking lot five miles north of Amenia. The second walk will begin at the parking lot on Undermountain Road, eight miles north of Millerton.

Plants, animals, railroads, and the history of the rail trail will be some of the topics discussed. Each walk will last about an hour.

Webutuck Students To Plant Trees On Earth Day: Webutuck Junior-Senior High School students will plant about 20 white pines along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22.

The students are members of the technology and ecology clubs at the high school. John Roccanova, a teacher at Webutuck, leads the clubs and will oversee the planting.

Brush Fire Threatens Homes in NE, 16 Departments Respond: A major wildfire on Gun Club Hill last week prompted a quick response from 16 fire departments and many area firefighters.

Although there were no injuries and no major structural damage to homes in the area, high winds and rough terrain at an elevation of up to 850 feet kept firemen at bay all day.

The fire whistle sounded at about 3:15 p.m., prompted by a large tree falling on a 69,000-volt high-tension power line. Smoke reached the outskirts of the village, and could be seen for miles around.

Dave McGhee, the fire warden in Millerton, said 200 fire personnel were on the scene, along with 30 pieces of equipment[…]

Pulver Trucking Co. of Pine Plains, a milk company, brought in one of its tankers to hold water […] Dutchess Oil was also at the scene to refuel equipment […] Several members of women’s auxiliaries in surrounding departments made and distributed enough food to feed an army. Village merchant Irving Saperstein paid for all the food, which cost hundreds of dollars[…]

In all, 18 acres of woods burned, leaving an oval scar on the mountain face.