Suffragette’s unlikely tale; Millerton auto shop break-in; year 2000 calendars show ‘way it was’

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

October 26, 1933
‘Aldrich Once a Suffragette’; Raymond E. Aldrich, of Dutchess County, Republican nominee for Supreme Court Justice in the Ninth Judicial District, once took the role of a suffragette. Back in 1909, when young Aldrich had just finished his course at the Albany Law School and was too young to be admitted to the Bar, he was leaning nonchalantly against a telephone pole in Albany one day when a woman approached him.
“Young Man, do you want to earn two dollars?”
Aldrich jumped at the chance.
“Come with me,” the woman said, “we want you to carry a banner.”
So up toward the State Capitol marched Aldrich carrying a heavy banner “Votes for Women” and flanked on either side by suffragettes.
He told this story at a political meeting not long ago and his hearers challenged his statement.
“How could he prove it?” they asked.
That had the former district attorney of Dutchess County stumped, but not for long.
The story was printed in the Poughkeepsie newspapers and next day the corner druggist hailed him.
“You want proof that you carried a suffrage banner. Well, here is the proof; I saw you trudging up the hill in Albany.”

‘Grange Plans Hallowe’en Masquerade’; The annual Millerton Grange Hallowe’en masquerade party will be held in the Grange hall next Monday evening…The lecturer is making arrangements to provide a most interesting and enjoyable entertainment, to be followed by the serving of delicious refreshments of which there will be an abundant supply.

‘About Millerton’; An Automobile driven by Harry Moore and a truck owned by John Mercer collided Tuesday morning on the new Boston Corners road. Although both cars were damaged considerably, neither driver was injured.

Tom Flood reports that the first day’s pheasant hunting in Connecticut brought surprising results.

October 24, 1974
‘Dutchess Auto Burglarized’; Dutchess Auto Company, on the corner of Main Street and Route 22 in Millerton, was burglarized sometime between Sunday night, Oct.20 and Monday morning, Oct. 21.
About $1500 [sic] in an assortment of auto body shop equipment was stolen, according to New York State Police Investigator Hugh McNallen.
The Burglary was discovered a little after 6 a.m. by employes [sic] arriving at work. At present, the police said Tuesday afternoon that they had no suspects in the case.
Investigator McNallen said that entry was gained to the shop through a side window where a pane was broken. He added that he imagined that more than one person was involved in the burglary. It is still under investigation.

October 28,1999
‘Year 2000 Calendars Show ‘Way It Was’’; MILLERTON: The North East Historical Society is offering for sale a Year 2000 Calendar of North East-Millerton, “The Way It Was.” Each month features a turn-of-the-previous-century postcard taken from the society’s archives and private collections. Some of the scenes depicted include the Methodist Church of Millerton before the bell tower was removed; the bank and dry goods store (now Saperstein’s) on Main Street; a view of Indian Lake from the Pinnacle; and the ruins of an old iron furnace, to name a few.
Phil Thompson, vice president of the historical society, scanned the postcards while Elsie Albig looked over his shoulder to make sure he captured the beauty and detail in the scenes.
The calendars sell for $8 each and can be purchased at Terni’s, Oblong Books and Music, The Millerton News, Weinstein’s Rexall Drugs and the Millerton Antique Center. Only 200 calendars were printed making it a limited edition collector’s item, as well as an ideal holiday gift.

‘Hooked Rugs on Display at NE Library’; MILLERTON - A collection of American traditional hooked rugs is currently on exhibit at the North East-Millerton Library. All the rugs have been crafted by Marilyn Ashfield, who has been hooking rugs for 18 years.
Two of the hooked rugs on display are specific to this area: one is of a train with the legend “Harlem Valley R.R., Boston Corners, NY,” the second is labeled “Hell’s Acres” and depicts homes and buildings in Boston Corners.
Also on display is the hooked rug Marilyn Ashfield has donated to the Millerton Library. The drawing for this rug, which will be the first prize in a raffle to benefit the library, will be held at the Dec. 8 meeting of the library’s board of trustees.
Second prize is a handmade drop-handle shaker basket, signed and dated by Bob Albig, which is on display at the library. Third prize is a 3-by-5-foot wool braided rug, also handmade by Ms. Ashfield. Chances are available from the library for $1 each or six for $5.
Rug hooking is considered by many authorities to be the one indigenous folk art in America, and dates back to when worn-out woolen garments (including flannel underwear) were too precious to be thrown away. They were transformed into rugs to be used on beds for warmth (not on the floor). If you are interested in this uniquely American craft, stop by the library for more information and to see these rugs in person.