19th century Crown Point — filling ‘gouge holes’

Now they call them potholes.

Regardless of what one calls them, the importance of filling them is paramount in politics.

“Commissioner McIntyre is filling up gouge holes with slush, and there will be better roads and less swearing,” the Crown Point Centre correspondent reported in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on Jan. 26, 1877.

The slush did not make a lasting difference.

“Roads now-adays in this section are enough to inspire a second edition of Mark Twain’s ‘Roughing It’ with a little profane prefix to the ‘Rough,’” The Crown Pointe Center correspondent reported in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on Feb. 23, 1877.

In other 19th century Crown Point news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

• “A new shoe shop has recently been opened in J. W. Treadway’s harness shop,” the Crown Point correspondent reported in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on Jan. 26, 1877.
• “Fobes Manufacturing Company is entirely at a standstill. Work is to be resumed at reduced wages when the snow melts and crick rises,” the Crown Point Centre correspondent reported in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on Jan. 26, 1877.
• “Dr. B. P. Treadway has returned from a professional trip to Schroon Lake, where he has been fixing up incisors and molars in shape for masticating bear flesh and venison,” the Crown Pointe Centre correspondent reported in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on Feb. 23, 1877.
• The Put’s Point Trotting Park Association scheduled its annual meeting at 3 p.m. April 3 at the Crown Point House, the Crown Point Centre correspondent reported in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on March 23, 1877.
• In the recent prize rhetorical contest at Factoryville, the prizes were awarded to Miss Effie Buck and Herbert Smith. Second prizes to Miss Carrie White and Warren Robbins,” the Crown Point Centre correspondent reported in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on March 23, 1877. “There was some excellent speaking by many others who participated.”
• “W. H. Barnett goes to Schroon Lake to assist in running the beautiful steamer ‘Effingham.’ His farm is to let, and he will sell his teams. implements, etc. at auction Saturday March 30 at 1 o’clock.”
• “Benj. Breed’s new granary is nearly completed. We are glad to notice so many improvements in this place,” the Crown Point correspondent reported in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on May 18, 1877.

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