Century-old Ti — Bring back night train
This is the latest in a series of posts about news reported a century ago in the Ticonderoga Sentinel.
A “concerted and well-organized,” grass roots “movement” was pushing to restore year-round night passenger train service on the Delaware and Hudson rail line between Whitehall and Plattsburgh.
Night train service in the region, offered for many years, was limited to only the summer months when the federal government took control of rail lines during World War I.
Without night passenger service, it was impossible to visit another town in the region and return the same day.
“The withdrawal of these trains after the summer months is generally considered as unfair and unjustified treatment of the towns affected and has given rise to much caustic criticism of the railroad management,” the Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on Aug. 12, 1920.
Meanwhile, state Sen. Mortimer Ferris, R-Ticonderoga, was trying out a transportation mode of the future.
Aviator Lieut. B. D. Chamberlain had been demonstrating his Bellanca air plane at Ticonderoga the previous weekend, and took Ferris along as a passenger on a flight to Glens Falls for supplies on Monday.
“Bucking a stiff south wind, it took them forty minutes to make the flight down to the falls but only 26 minutes to return, flying at times as high was four thousand feet,” the Sentinel reported.
“It was the one time in the Senator’s career when he felt above the common people and looked down upon the ordinary man.”
Ferris was running for re-election to a second two-year term.
In 1918, he defeated long-time incumbent Republican James Emmerson of Warrensburg, in a divisive primary, and went on to easily win the general election.
Emmerson and brother and political mentor L.W. Emmerson, both signed Ferris’ nominating petition this time around.
“Former Senator James A. Emmerson has shown himself to be a good sport.”
In other Aug. 12, 1920 Ticonderoga Sentinel news:
The infestation of grasshoppers at Streetroad and other parts of the town was getting worse.
“It has got to the point where some of the farmers have decided to cut their oats green for fodder in order to save the crop from utter destruction.”
Master Tom Cook and wife brought “a freezer of their delicious ice cream” to the Aug. 5 meeting of the South Ticonderoga Grange, inspiring member to vote to schedule a cake and ice cream social on Aug. 19.
“We hope some of the motorists will see fit to patronize it as it will be a joint affair with the Streetroad Church.”
W.E. Clark, new operator of the grocery store at Factoryville, in Crown Point, was selling flour for $2.07 per sack or $16.50 per barrel.
From the Graphite correspondent: “Thomas Ryan says he has always heard that a Ford would run on its reputation, but he says that is not so. You have to have some gas.”
Click here to read the most recent previous post in this series.
