19th century Ti — Frightful Santa

This is the latest in an occasional series of posts about news reported in 19th century weekly issues of the Ticonderoga Sentinel.

A capacity crowd turned out at Crown Point Academy Hall for the 1874 community Christmas Eve celebration.

“People and presents were in great abundance,” the Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on Jan. 2, 1875.

The children presented a “highly credible” program.

But an over-zealous Santa Claus spoiled the mood.

“Mr. Trombly, as Old Nick, sent the children screaming to their mothers’ arms for protection. He should, like Snug the Joiner, have given previous notice of the frightful characterization he was going to assume.”

Snug the Joiner is a character in the Shakespeare play “A Mid Summer Night’s Dream” who is worried that the ladies might be frightened if his lines are convincing.

Editor Tobin reflected on the old year passing and the new year ahead.

“Seventy-four marks the last season of the stages which have run so regularly every season for a number of years.”

The stage line, which shuttled steamboat passengers between Lake George and Lake Champlain, and vice versa, was being replaced with a rail line.

Elsewhere in the transportation sector, the new rail line between Albany and Canada had been completed as far north as Port Henry.

The Treadway Hotel was under construction, and Professor Toby of Burlington was to begin holding singing classes at Ticonderoga twice a week.

“And last but not least, we would mention the establishment of the first newspaper in Ticonderoga, the Sentinel,” Tobin wrote, referring to the newspaper’s first issue that came off the press Feb.7,1874.

In other Jan. 2, 1875 Ticonderoga Sentinel news:

Weather: “Too much snow for good wagoning on East and West roads, and not enough for sleighing on the North and South.”

From Bolton: “We have a brass band here of thirteen pieces, all new instruments. And after the practice they have had, they play very nicely.”

From Elizabethtown: “This place is enjoying a season of good health. — No epidemic shows its appearance yet, so prevalent at this season of the year.”

Click here to read the most recent previous post in this series.