19th century Ti — On-time trains

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

Autumn was setting in at Old Ti.

“The foliage is beginning to change color, and the leaves to fall. … The band discoursed some pleasing music from the bandstand,” the Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on Sept. 19, 1874.

It was the season of harvest and hunting.

“Thursday, Mr. Scribner, brother of our townsman, Charles Scribner, shot a fine buck at Putts Pond.”

Work on the railroad continued.

“The main line between this place and Whitehall is laid with rails and the greater part ballasted and ready for passenger trains. The balance will be completed within a few days,” the Sentinel reported.

“The work on the line between Ti and Port Henry is also being pushed with vigor, and we are assured by parties that through trains will run on time between Port Henry and Albany early in November.”

Completion of a line through Ticonderoga, connecting the Lake George and Lake Champlain shore lines, postponed until Spring.

“The wages of the railroad laborers has been reduced and many men discharged.”

In other Sept. 19, 1874 Ticonderoga Sentinel news:

The Sentinel was offering a choice of four art print engravings as a premium for new subscribers paying $2 — the equivalent of $47.90 in 2021 dollars — in advance for a year’s subscription, or existing subscribers for a 6-month renewal.

The Ti Union Club baseball team was set to play Tuffertown, at Tuffertown, that afternoon.

On Sept. 22, the Grand Army of the Republic was scheduled to debate the topic “Resolved that the Mineral kingdom is of more benefit to the human race than the Animal.”

H.G. Burleigh and brother Brackett were at Ticonderoga on Sept. 17.

Humor:

“A clergyman told his people at the close of the sermon that he intended, in a few days, to go on a mission to the heathens. After the congregation was dismissed, a number of the members waited for their pastor, and, crowding around him, expressed their astonishment at the new turn of affairs, asking him where he was going and how long they would be deprived of his ministrations. He said to them, ‘My good friends, don’t be alarmed. I’m not going out of town.’”

Fashion:

“Some very handsome silk costumes have velvet sleeves, with the silk cuffs and a broad bias band of velvet as a trimming to the skirt and the overskirt. The polonaise, despite the opposition of dress makers who are becoming very tired of it, still continues to be popular.”

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