Our Old Times

Here we present yet another collection of accidently-rediscovered news bits, too short for a complete article, but still worth sharing, from the days of our old times. The March 1, 1894 Gloversville Daily Republican informed readers, “Horatio Grant Sr. was found guilty of abusing his wife yesterday, notwithstanding the efforts of counselor Parker to make him out a ‘henpecked’ husband. The sentence was a $25 fine or 25 days in jail. Grant is now receiving…

If younger readers immediately wonder what an old-time drummer was, that’s no surprise considering the only drummers drumming these days drum in bands, but in our old times, although a ‘drummer’ made little noise unless he laughed or sneezed, he was still an essential component in American business activities. The term ‘drummer’ was slang for describing men who essentially ‘drummed up’ sales for companies they represented as traveling salesmen covering a defined territory. They appeared…

Although well-preserved today, Sir William Johnson’s 1749 stone mansion, referred to now as “Old Fort Johnson,” has endured more than one threatening experience. Besides being flooded several years ago, the July 21, 1936, the Amsterdam Recorder headlined, “Ice House Damage Set at $12,000,” a burning issue causing the loss of considerable liquid assets. “An ice house located at Fort Johnson holding about 2,000 tons of ice, the property of William Barber, was destroyed when fire…