New Year’s 1885

Staff at The Morning Star worked into the wee hours of Jan. 1, 1885 to report on deadline that there was a large attendance at the St. Mary’s church New Year’s Eve fair.

“Dancing was continued until shortly before midnight.

Musician Fred Tilotson performed at a New Year’s Eve Party in Fort Ann, and about 10 couples from French Mountain joined other couples in Glens Falls for a surprise party for Effie Dunn.

Lake George was frozen over as far out as Diamond Island.

“Happy New Year! Write it 1855 hereafter,” the morning daily newspaper greeted readers. “Will your record during the past year bear inspection?”

It was expected that many local residents would spend New Year’s Day visiting family and friends.

“The demand for luxury rigs promises to be equal equal to, if not greater than, the supply today. This is a liveryman’s harvest.”

In national news, people were still on edge after a bitter presidential election that Democrat Grover Cleveland narrowly won, leaving Republicans to allege fraud and inaccuracy in counting votes.

“The Blaines (losing candidate), the gossips say, will go out more in society this winter than ever before and will do more in the form of entertainment,” a Washington correspondent reported. “The Republicans intend to do everything they can to make the Cleveland administration fail.”

Morning Star reporters, editors and printers took New Year’s Day and the night off.

“The Star force will attend church, purchase diaries and record new resolutions today. They will also rest from the their everyday labors, like the rest of mankind, and no paper will be issued from this office tomorrow.”