Century-old Ti — ‘Stick to the old sod’

This is the latest in a series of posts about news reported a century ago in the Ticonderoga Sentinel.

Grant and Burr Thatcher, “two of our enterprising young men” from South Ticonderoga, purchased a farm on Paradox and are set to take possession in April, the Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on Feb. 12, 1920.

“It seems good to know that some of our boys are going to stick to the old sod,” the South Ticonderoga correspondent wrote. “And if they are spared, they will certainly make good, both being honest, upright fellows and understanding farming from A to Z.”

It had been a rough week for area residents,

“The snow and the flu did great things last week. What the snow didn’t do the flu did,” the Sentinel reported. “They both stopped the wheels in more places than one. But we must take them as they come and make the best of them.”

The weather was worse in other parts of the Northeast.

“We thought the storm of last week was pretty bad until we read the account of it and the suffering it brought in New York City and along the coast,” the Streetroad correspondent reported. “Then we were thankful we lived in the country where we had plenty to eat and wood to keep us warm, even if the roads were filled with drifts and Mike did tip over and have to walk part way home from the Grange meeting.”

Neither snow or flu could totally shut down Ticonderoga community spirit.

Despite a snow storm on Feb. 5, twenty-seven friends of Sarah Brokney turned out for a surprise farewell party for the woman who was moving to Detroit.

“Victrola and piano music, with Miss Havens at the piano, were enjoyed.”

The hospitality of Joseph Huestis and wife at a Grange meeting and social the same evening must have been exemplary, because three separate correspondents reported about it.

“Many good eatables were served and all left with the feeling that it was great to be a Grange member.”

Mrs. T.J. Dowd won a pocketbook and Joseph Lawton a box of stationary at the Knights of Columbus card party.

Tickets were on sale at 15 cents each — the equivalent of $1.98 in 2020 dollars — for the Epworth League “red letter evening” of entertainment Feb. 20 at Ticonderoga Methodist Church.

“We promise even the most solemn people one or two loud smiles, so come out and have a good time with us.”

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