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Mystery of the Red-Covered Library Books

July 3rd, 2009 | No Comments

July 3, 1908, page 8
Red-Covered Books at Library
Mania for Them by Some One Causes Loss of Two More Covers.

The mystery at the library over who has an unconquerable desire for the red covers of books was added to Wednesday, when two more books were found with the red covers removed and the body of the book left on the tables.  This practice of gathering red-covered books together and then removing the covers from some of them was first started over two years ago, and in all the situations made to the  library since but two or three books at a time have been mutilated.  The usual manner of procedure is to gather 10 or 12 books with bright red covers and then taking one or two from the lot strip the cloth binding off and carry it away.  One time the covers were simply ripped off and left, but usually either the covers are taken away or the cloth is ripped from the cardboard and taken.  This makes the sixth time that the incident has happened and the visitations are so far apart that a strict watch for the miscreant cannot well be kept.  The last visitation to the library before Wednesday was Wednesday, January 8 when the covers from three books were removed.  In December 1907, the library was also visited but it is usually six months or more from one visitation before the same prank is repeated.  Detectives were set at watch after the visit in January, but after several months the watch was less strictly carried out and no trouble was experiences until this week.  The reason for the action is a mystery and why red-covered books should always be selected is hard to understand.  It is evident that the person doing the work is partial to red for some reason and particularly enjoys the colors on the library books.  To stop the trouble it may be necessary to taboo red covered books from the library when the person concerned may transfer the unwelcome attentions to the book stores.  It would seem to be the action of some person mentally unbalanced for it destruction was the only end sought any color of a book cover would evidently do.  Whoever is causing the trouble uses cunning enough so that the work is performed when the library staff is not watching.

Excerpted from the Springfield Republican.

Disorderly Housekeeping

July 3rd, 2009 | No Comments

July 3, 1900, page 8

Fannie Smith was arraigned in the police court yesterday morning on the charge of keeping a disorderly house.  She pleaded guilty and agreed to leave the city, and was fine $73.  William Cronin was sent to jail one month for begging on the street.  James McCormack was sent to jail two months for drunkenness, two other “drunks” were fined $6 each, and one had his case continued.

Excerpted from the Springfield Republican.

Fireworks

July 3rd, 2009 | No Comments

July 3, 1898, page 8

The sale of fireworks was allowed to begin yesterday, while the use of them cannot be tolerated under the decree of the board of public works until sunrise of Monday.  There is thus likely to be a conflict between patriotism and desire to obey the laws and rules.  The lot of the patrolman for the next few days is not expected to be a happy one. All of the men who have been on vacations will be on duty over the Fourth and specials will be put on duty to full in some of the unguarded spots.  In anticipation of possible trouble, Chief Lynch has conducted the usual search of the alleyways for combustible that would be likely to cause fires.   He will have all of the men on duty in the fire department houses until next Tuesday.

Deaths from the Cuban War

July 2nd, 2009 | No Comments

July 2, 1905, page 1
How the Holyoke Men Fared.
Co D Has Lost No Men From Effects of Cuban Campaign Since 1898.

Co D, of Holyoke, while losing a number of men in Cuba and soon after the return home, has so far as is known lost no men from the effects of the campaign since 1898.  The record of the company shows the following statistics: –

Number dying in Cuba, three; number dying on the way home or shortly after reaching home, three; number wounded in Cuba, four; number returning badly broken in health, six; number enlisting subsequently in army or navy, five; number mustered out directly after return, 46.

Capt W. J. Crosier and First Lieut R. E. Hunter resigned soon after the close of the war, the latter going south afterward.  On May 1, 1904, Capt. F. D. Phillips, who had been promoted from the 2d lieutenancy to the captaincy, resigned, as did Second Lieut. A. F. Reed and First Sergeant W. L. Weymouth, the latter going South.  A. F. Foote was elected to the captaincy, Walter H. Brown to be 1st lieutenant and Alexander MacDonald to be 2d lieutenant.  Quartermaster Sergeant Edgar R. Train died at Montauk Point on his return home.  Sergeant George A. Collier died three days after his return.  Both did gallant service and were accorded military funerals.  Sergeant Frank G. Mattine died soon after his return home, like the others, of fever contracted in Cuba.  Corporal Ruel H. Coit was wounded in Cuba and is now a Holyoke letter carrier.  Alexander McDonald went out as a corporal, was promoted to sergeant, and a year ago was made 1st lieutenant, a position he still holds.

Corporal Edward Wagener was promoted to be sergeant on his return , and soon left the city.  Corporal Joseph W. Eaton was wounded at San Juan hill by a Mauser bullet which tore out part of his jaw and carried away part of his hand.  He was promoted to be sergeant, and then quartermaster sergeant and is still with the company.  Henry Lempje, the company musician had previous to the Spanish war seen three years’ service in the regular army, so took life easily.  He was discharged with honor and has been employed since at the Chemical paper mill.  Samuel C. Bogart, wagoner, is still in the transportation business, being freight conductor on the New York Central railroad.  Joseph Bonneville, popularly known as “Bonny,” died in Cuba of yellow fever and was buried near the old railroad station at Santiago, his body being later brought to Holyoke.  Corporal E. J. Cain [Earl J.] reenlisted and was honorably discharged in 1904.  Edmund Damour was wounded in the back and side at El Caney and crippled for life.  He had to come home shortly after and has been unable to do regular work.  Antone Dugas was killed at El Caney.  A Mauser bullet pierced a cartridge in his belt, which exploded and tore a hole in his abdomen.  He lived 8 or 10 hours, and was buried, after his death, in a trench with 21 others.  His body was later exhumed and taken to Holyoke.  Otto Eger took his discharge, then served three years in the regular navy, came back to Holyoke and re-enlisted January 1, 1905.  He is a machinist.  Warren A. Graces returned broken in health from rheumatism and has not been able to do a day’s work since his return.  Albert E. Fay took his discharge and is now superintendent of the brass foundry department of the United States patent office.  George A. Fisher is foreman at a Chicopee Falls factory.

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Marriage Was a Surprise

July 2nd, 2009 | No Comments

July 2, 1907
Samuel Hunt and Miss Viola Thompson Wedded Last Week

Samuel Hunt, cashier for the Adams express company, and Miss Viola Thompson, the 19-years-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick E. Thompson of 44 Suffolk street, were married last week, the parents being notified of the fact by telephone yesterday afternoon.  Mr. Hunt asked for his vacation last week and departed ostensibly to visit his folks in New Bedford, and Miss Thompson started for a visit to her relatives in Brooklyn, N. Y.  Nothing was heard from either one of the couple for a day or two, after which Mr. Thompson began receiving pictorial post cards from his daughter mailed from Savin Rock in New Haven.  This caused suspicions that the daughter had been sidetracked from the Brooklyn trip.  Nothing was heard from the couple, however, until  yesterday afternoon, when Mr. Hunt telephoned Mr. Thompson and asked for an extension of one day to his vacation which was granted, and the couple will return home to-morrow.  Mr. Hunt was formerly employed by the American express company and later by the Adams company, of which his father-in-law is the local agent.  The young man is popular in the city and of good habits, the only objection to the match made by the parents being that the daughter was too young.  The couple will be received with open arms on their return.

Excerpted from the Springfield Republican.

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