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October 15, 1946: Democratic Candidates At Rally Here Gov. Maurice J. Tobin, headliner at last evening’s Democratic rallies in Berkshire county, is shown at the Richmond hotel with local candidates and party leaders. Left to right, Rep. Joseph N. Roach, seeking re-election; the governor, Mayor Cornelius E. O’Brien, candidate for county commissioner; Chairman Samuel E. Levine of Democratic City committee who presided here, and Peter Petri, former city committee chairman. Note: The state and federal elections were held in November but the city elections were held in December.

Answer to this week’s trivia question for October 14th: In 1885, the idea of building a street railroad from North Adams to Adams began to be talked about. With help from Charles Haines, of the Haines Brothers of Sandy Hill, NY and S. Proctor Thayer of North Adams the Hoosac Valley Street Railway Company was organized. In the fall of 1886, tracks between the two towns were laid. The rails were laid down on what is now known as the Curran Highway and Howland Avenue. The first cars were horse drawn, but by 1888, a new system was put in place for the newly purchased electric trolleys. As you can see in the caption, the Hoosac Valley Street Railway was the fifth company in the nation and the first in New England to have electrified cars. These two North Adams Transcript Photographs show both types of cars. :-)

This week’s question of the week for October 14th: A new form of transportation was suggested in 1885., no not the train. What was this transportation called? Bonus: What was the name of the company that was established? This was one form to transport that was used in the 1800’s and even into the early part of the 1900’s in some areas of Berkshire County. :-)

This Sunoco Ad was in the North Adams Transcript on October 14, 1946. Did you use Sunoco? :-)

October 14, 1946: Holiday Week-End Traffic Reaches Pre-War Standards Columbus day week-end traffic in Northern Berkshire returned to pre-war standards yesterday. Local police this morning estimated that traffic was a heavy yesterday afternoon as almost any year before the war, but reported only one accident, that of an inconsequential nature in the town of Florida. Hotels and cabins were filled to capacity and eating places here, in Williamstown and along the Mohawk and... Taconic trails reported they did a huge business. The rain Saturday morning was thought to dampen the spirits of many tourists, but when the skies cleared early yesterday morning, the situation changed rapidly and cars from all parts of the state and adjoining states flocked here for the scenery. Hills in Color: The brilliant hues of orange, yellow and red on the maple trees, contrasted with the dark greens of the evergreen trees, were as gorgeous as ever yesterday. In North Adams, traffic reached a peak about 4 o’clock in the afternoon when Main street was almost solidly packed with vehicles. Police said a line of vehicles extended far beyond Brown street in the west and beyond the five roads in the east. One motorist reported it took him 35 minutes to come from the Western summit of the trail to the center of the city. Accidents of any nature were at a minimum. N the Shelburne Falls area, state police said they had no report of any mishap. The only report received by the local police was when cars operated by Gerald J. Conley of Greenwich, N.Y. and Frank Swett of New High Park, N.Y. came together in Florida early last evening. As no one was injured, police had no details on the mishap. Williamstown reported two minor accidents, one involving a cow but no personal injuries and the same report held true of Adams. Three unidentified Hoosick Falls, N.Y. men, on their way to a football game in Williamstown Saturday, escaped injury when their car turned turtle in Pownal, Vt., as the right wheels struck the soft shoulder of the highway. Patrolman Louis Zocchi of the police department, who is on his vacation, was called back to duty at 5 o’clock Saturday night and the same last night, but with this one exception, regular officers on duty were able to handle traffic. This photograph of the cars on the Mohawk Trail was published with the article. :-)

October 14, 1946: Baker-Francis Wedding Miss Helena Catherine Francis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie T. Francis of 131 River street, and Frederick William Baker, son of Mrs. John Walsh of Taconic trail, Williamstown, were married at 7 o’clock Saturday evening in the First Congregational church by the pastor, Rev. Dr. Victor B. Chicoine. Miss Barbara Downey, a friend of the bride, was the maid of honor, while the bridesmaids were Mrs. John Francis, sister-in-law of the ...bride and Miss Gwendolyn Matthews, a friend. Filmore Baker served his brother as best man and the ushers were Gordon Morrison of Williamstown, a friend and Stewart George of Petersburg, N.Y., a cousin of the bridegroom. Ralph U. Domin, organist, played a short recital before the ceremony and also the wedding marches. The bride, who was given in marriage by her father, wore a white period style gown, made with bodice of bridal rose lace, a portrait neckline of net, long sleeves pointed at the wrists and a bouffant skirt of double net over taffeta terminating in a long train. Her finger-tip veil of illusion was sprinkled with orange blossoms and attached to a half-hat of illusion trimmed with orange blossoms, and she carried a shower bouquet of white roses, with an orchid in the center. The maid of honor wore a petal pink gown, fashioned with a fitted bodice of lace, short sleeves and a full net skirt over taffeta. She also wore gauntlet gloves and a pink tiara with shoulder length veil. Her frontal bouquet was of yellow roses. The bridesmaids wore a petal pink gown, fashioned with a fitted bodice of lace, short sleeves and a full net skirt over taffeta. They also wore gauntlets and blue tiaras, with shoulder-length veils, and carried frontal bouquets of yellow roses. The bride’s mother wore an evening gown, styled with a white lace bodice, short sleeves and black crepe skirt, long black gloves and a corsage of red roses. The bridegroom’s mother wore an evening dress of black lace over rose taffeta and a corsage of pink roses. Immediately after the ceremony, a reception was held in the church parlors with guests present from South Vernon, Vt., New York city, Petersburg, N.Y. and Cold Springs, N.Y., Pittsfield, Adams, Williamstown, Stockbridge and this city. The bride is employed in the local exchange of the New England Telephone and Telegraph company and is a member of the Rainbow assembly. Her husband, a veteran of three years service with the U.S. Army signal corps in the South Pacific, the Philippines and Japan, is a member of the Williamstown American Legion. The couple will go to New York city, Greenville, N.C., and Baltimore, Md., on a wedding trip before taking up their residence on the Taconic trail in Williamstown. The brides’ traveling costume consisted of a black gaberdine suit, with black and white accessories, and an orchid corsage. This photo of Mrs. Baker accompanied the article. :-)

October 15, 1920: ’Jakey’ Grows In Favor Here The consumption of ‘Jakey’ the name by which Jamaica ginger has been familiarly known since the advent of prohibition, is increasing at an alarming rate in this city, according to every one who is in a position to know the true facts in the situation. In reality, there are enough surface signs to prove that this is true, without making a deep and searching investigation of conditions. All that is necessary is to step in back...Continue reading

October 12, 1920: War Martyr’s Body Expected The body of First Class Sergeant Paul W. Robinson who died at St. Lazaire, France April 22, 1919 from diphtheria contracted while he was serving as hospital sergeant there, will arrive in this city late this afternoon and will be taken to the undertaking rooms of L.A. Simmons. Burial will take place tomorrow afternoon at 2.30 o’clock in the Richards lot in Hillside cemetery with Rev. H.S. Metcalfe of the Methodist church offic...iating. It will be the second burial this city of a body brought here from France; the body of Sergeant Herbert Sprague having been brought here several months ago. Sergeant Robinson was born in this city 26 years ago and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Robinson. His mother died while he was a child and he was brought up by an aunt, Miss Elizabeth Richards of Blackinton, now of Oregon. The young man attended Drury high school where he was a prominent football player and was president of the senior class in 1912. He did not graduate from Drury, however, removing to Oregon shortly before graduation. He matriculated at Polvallis college in Oregon and was employed as druggist in North Dakota for some time. He was married in December 1917 to Miss Gertrude Stone of Brooklyn, N.Y. and two months later left for overseas with American Expeditionary Forces. He is survived by his wife, his father, who is in Cuba, and his aunt, Miss Elizabeth Richards of Portland, Ore. This high school photograph of First Class Sergeant Paul W. Robinson was published with the article.

October 9, 1920: Physicians Warn Against the ‘Flu’ Arrival of fall weather brings a reminder for North Adams residents to take precautions against chills and colds for prominent medical authorities are declaring that the influenza epidemic, which exacted heavy toll during the past two years, will again be prevalent. At present, no known cases of influenza have been reported in this city, and since last February, the local board of health has received reports of only four... influenza cases. But a number of local residents are now suffering from colds and in some instances, slight attacks of grip, believed to have been bought about by seasonal weather changes. While there is no undue cause for alarm, prevention is much easier that cure, and if all persons will be what they can to avoid colds, the chances for influenza gaining a hold will be greatly lessened. Health experts state that the influenza epidemic this year will not be as virulent as was the case in the past two years. This ad for Vick’s VapoRub touts that it is a preventative against influenza. How many of you still use it? :-)

October 8, 1920: Much Jostling By The Women A policeman had to be called to preserve order among upwards of 400 women who jammed the City hall last night to register in order to exercise their newly won privilege of voting. There was no violence, the whole difficulty having been due to the fact that a few women, impatient of their long wait in line, managed to squeeze through to the table at which members of the board of registrars sat and others, seeing that they were s...Continue reading

"Shoes You'll Like Are Here..." This ad was in the North Adams Transcript on October 8, 1920. :-)

October 12, 1946: Benjamin Hirshes Married 50 Years Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin M. Hirsh of 223 Ashland street will observe their 50th wedding anniversary at a family dinner party to be followed by a reception from 4 to 6 o’clock tomorrow afternoon in the Hebrew Community building. While the anniversary date is Aug. 15, the observance was postponed because of the illness of one of the couple’s daughters. Mr. Hirsh, a native of Russia, and Mrs. Hirsh, the former Dora Strauss, ...who was born in what was the Austria-Hungary, came to the United States as young people and settled in North Adams. They were married here on Aug. 15, 1896 by Cantor Simon Ratner. Mr. Hirsh, who has been in the real estate and insurance business for many years, served several years as a constable, is a former secretary of the United House of Israel and has served in official capacities in organizations affiliated with the synagogue. Mrs. Hirsh is a member of the Ladies Aid of the United House of Israel and the Hadassah chapter. They have one sone, Samuel U. Hirsh of this city, tow daughters, Mrs. Charles Levitt of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Mrs. Samuel Carr of Pittsfield; six grandchildren, Mrs. Philip Cantor of Brooklyn, Eugene Levitt of California, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps reserve. Rachel Leah and David Carr of Pittsfield, and Sandra N. and Michael G. Hirsh of this city, and one great grandchild, Terry Cantor of Brooklyn. This photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Hirsh was published with the article. :-)