Looking Back in Philipstown 250 Years Ago (September 1776) 150 Years Ago (September 1876) 100 Years Ago (September 1926) 50 Years Ago (September 1976) 25 Years Ago (September 2001)

Gen. George Washington reorganized his army into three divisions, including one led by Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, for whom Putnam County was later named.

The Turtle, a submersible pod built by David Bushnell and piloted by Ezra Lee, attempted to attack the 64-gun HMS Eagle in New York Harbor.

Washington asked Congress to send 600 men from Orange and Ulster counties to the Highlands to defend and strengthen its forts.

In Philadelphia, Congress adopted the name "United States of America."

After Washington retreated to what is now Morningside Heights, the Council of War voted 10-3 to abandon New York City as indefensible.

British ships ferried 4,000 troops to Kip Bay [34th Street]. After a quick victory, Maj. Gen William Howe pushed his forces north to what is now 90th Street.

On Sept. 20, a fire destroyed 493 buildings between Broadway and the Hudson River.

On Sept. 22, the British hanged the spy Nathan Hale, 21, in Manhattan. He had been posing as a Dutch schoolteacher. By one account, Hale's final words included the lament, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." Some speculate Hale was reciting a line from Cato, a popular play: "What pity is it / That we can die but once to serve our country."

Detective Scanlon caused a stir when he alighted from an early train with Dan Bow, who had escaped from the Carmel jail on April 11. "This is the first time we remember when an escaped prisoner was ever returned to our county jail," said The Cold Spring Recorder.

Johnny Parker was cleaning a pane in the front door at Carey Brown's place when he slipped off the chair and pushed his hand through the glass, badly slicing his wrist.

The U.S. steamer Mayflower, manned by cadet engineers, docked at Cold Spring. "The sailors, with the true instinct of that profession, got a taste of our 'firewater' the moment one of them got leave to come ashore," The Recorder said.

A rough-looking "humbug" circulated in Cold Spring selling a powder that he claimed would prevent a kerosene lamp from exploding. Several boxes were sold.

Another crowd gathered around a trader of packaged stationery who had "a discordant banjo and a jabber of nonsense," according to The Recorder.

After the driest summer in six years, with just 6 inches of rain, the pump at the corner of Main and Market went dry.

The window of the telegraph office was draped in mourning for Miss Dykeman, the late operator.

Robert Barton opened a news depot three doors from the post office, with all the New York City periodicals and delivery to anywhere in Cold Spring.

J.G. Southard put up a lantern in front of his store, making four on one side of Main Street, with Baxter's, Southard's, McCarty's and O'Donnell's.

James Ladue, who left Cold Spring 12 years earlier to enlist in the Union Army, returned to work at the West Point Foundry.

The Town Hall hosted a return engagement by Blind Tom Wiggins, 27 (below), a pianist who had visited five years earlier. Promoters said the former slave from Georgia was discovered as a boy playing pieces he heard when the girls practiced.



A.W. Cole, a Putnam Valley farmer, harvested a 14-inch ear of corn with 592 kernels.

John Foster, Edward Foster and Peter McCaffery shot three raccoons in Breakneck Hollow that weighed 18, 19 and 27 pounds.

The village president offered to return his $25 annual salary [about $780 today] as trustee to repair the southerly walk on Bank Street. He had opposed paying the trustees.

Hance Wood added a sign to his blacksmith shop that covered the front of the building.

The Hudson River Railroad extended the signal wires from Sandy Landing to a point near the depot, eliminating the need for a day hand and a night watch.

Kent Henlon, keeper of the Putnam County farm, grew a 40-pound watermelon to enter at the fair, but someone stole it from the field.

The school year started at the Nelsonville school with a record attendance of 95 pupils. The Garrison Union Free School, with 96 students, had a new principal, F.D. ...