1925 Glens Falls — End of era

It was the end of an era in winter street maintenance.

“Mayor Charles H. Hitchcock stated this afternoon that the city will collect no ashes this spring. This practice has been abandoned as too expensive, the mayor said,” The Glens Falls Times reported on April 8, 1925. “The city formerly placed the ashes collected on city streets, but this practice has been found undesirable, and as it costs about $1,200 (the equivalent of $21,641 in 2025 dollars) annually to collect the ashes, the city fathers feel that the money could be better used for other purposes.”

In other 1925 Glens Falls area news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

• Genius minds were captivated with designing imaginary creatures intended to thrill young and old alike.

“’Gook,’ a hitherto unknown animal whose origin is vague, will be a feature of the parade which will precede the Y. M. C. A. carnival and circus to be presented at the Association building two nights, April 24 and 25,” The Post-Star reported on April 17. “’Gook,’ which is being constructed by Harry Yaffee and Ralph Woodbury, is only one of the ingeniously designated beasts that roam undiscovered portions of Thibet and darkest Asia which will ‘do their stuff’ for the annual circus.”

• The Glens Falls School Board adopted an annual budget of $172, 349 — the equivalent of $3.12 million in 2025 dollar.

Spending was down slightly from the previous year’s $173,774 budget.

“An increase in the salaries of grade teachers is provided in the budget to bring them up to the average paid in other cities the size of Glens Falls.”

• “V. Del Signore was awarded a gold watch at the dancing party conducted Saturday night under the direction of Joseph Verdi Lodge, Sons of Italy. The Italian Five furnished the music,” The Post-Star reported on April 13.
• The Boston Store was preparing to open “a handsomely equipped, up-to-date beauty salon” on the Glen Street department store’s second floor, The Glens Falls Times reported on April 20.

“The opening date will be announced soon.”

• Having enrolled 420 new members, the Glens Falls Auto Club extended its membership drive by a week, hoping to meet a goal of 500 new members, The Post-Star reported on April 22.

“Enthusiasm manifest by the team captains and workers indicated that with another week in which to line up more members the goal will easily be reached.”

• More than 200 reservations, including many from out of town, had been made for the Glens Falls Rotary Club dinner at Episcopal Parish Hall the following evening with author and world affairs expert Homer Folks as speaker, The Glens Falls Times reported on April 22.

“Mr. Folks’ book, ‘The Human Cost of the War,’ is considered one of the best presentations of the European situation following the war.”

Click here to read the most recent previous 1925 Glens Falls history post.