Shekomeko fire; Rudd Pond ‘profit’; big oil spill

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

September 20, 1934

‘$5,000 Loss In Midnight Fire At Shekomeko’; SHEKOMEKO—A midnight fire levelled the blacksmith shop owned by George Hunt, destroyed a fifty passenger school bus of the Pine Plains Central School and an automobile owned by James Decker last Wednesday night here with a loss of more than $5.000. The Pine Plains Fire Department answered the alarm, but was unable to reach the scene of the blaze, which was six miles from the station, in time to save the building. The firemen were credited with saving other nearby buildings which were threatened, including the Community Hall, the Dairymen’s League milk station and several residences.

‘About Millerton’; Miss Ethel S. Kimball has returned to her duties at the Millerton National Bank and reports a very pleasant vacation.

Miss Helen Gormley, of Amenia, is assisting at Shufelt’s Bargain Basement this week.

Miss Janet Jenks left Wednesday for Pawtucket, R. I., where she will be the guest of Miss Barbara Kyle.

William and Ernest Hilperts-Hauser are attending the Eastern States Exposition at Springfield, Mass., this week.

Willard S. Vail is enjoying a vacation this week from his duties at Shufelt’s store

Miss Louise Merwin, of New York City, spent the week-end with her mother at Irondale.

September 18, 1975

‘Rudd Pond Deal Profit Likely’; The Town of North East may make a profit of several thousand dollars from its unprecedented operation of Rudd Pond this summer, according to figures released this week.

The State had abruptly closed the Taconic State Park at Rudd Pond on May 22 without evaluating the impact on the surrounding community. After huge protest from residents the state agreed to allow the Town to operate the park for the summer season. It was the first time such an agreement had been made in New York State.

‘Village Chases Water Funds’; Millerton’s Village Board will actively begin seeking Federal funds to aid in the creation of a pollution-free water system as result of action taken at the Board’s Sept. 10 meeting.

Millerton Mayor John Hermans reported that he met with FHA representatives in early September. “It looks like we might get some money for our project if we ever do it,” said Hermans.

Meanwhile, of the Village’s 3 monthly water samples given to the County Health Department, 2 failed inspection tests.

‘A New Library’; Alice Robertson of Stanfordville, chairman of the Board of the First Church of Christ Scientist in Millerton, hands over the church building’s deed to Shirley Conklin, president of the Millerton Free Library Association. The library will move into the former church within the next few months.

‘Veterans Day Restored To Nov. 11 Of Each Year’; Representative Hamilton Fish Jr. (R-N.Y.) this week announced the Congress has passed legislation, which he has sponsored, restoring Nov. 11 of each year as Veterans Day.

September 21, 2000

‘Tower Back In The News’; NORTH EAST-At a public hearing before the North East Planning Board last Wednesday, Sept. 13, Silver Mountain residents again voiced forceful opposition to the replacement of a communications tower off Perotti Road in North East.

The free-wheeling hearing ended in a 4-1 decision by the board to side with the town’s attorney, Warren Replansky, in calling the proposed tower a “reconstruction” of an existing tower. As such, the project would face less scrutiny by the board before receiving a permit from the building inspector.

‘Cheerleaders Attend Camp In Penn., For Prowess Earn Awards’; GREELEY, PA — Ninth-graders Tracy Robertson. Danielle Harvey, Dana Murphy, Tabbatha Sugrue and Erika Carrubba enthusiastically attended cheerleading camp to represent Webutuck High School.

At the awards ceremony, the Webutuck cheerleaders took a Superior Trophy, 10 ribbons and a much-coveted Spirit Stick.

‘MFD Fights Oil Spill On Main Street’; MILLERTON — It wasn’t exactly the Exxon Valdez, but Main Street became a slippery slope last week as an unknown vehicle spilled gallons of motor oil onto the road.

Village Mayor Michael Cawley called the Millerton Fire Department around 4 p.m. Friday after he drove his van west on Route 44, tried to brake for the light at Route 22 and skidded all the way from the former Stitch-In-Time storefront into the intersection.