It was the end of Schenectady.

German planes flew over the city on Monday, Feb. 9, 1942, and spotting lights from the air, bombed the city into bits and pieces. Houses, roads and business districts were ruined. People were as dead as fried chicken.

The monster explosions would have been the story of the year for the Schenectady Gazette, but the enemy campaign wrecked the newspaper, too.

Good thing it was just pretend. But after city residents failed to properly cover up during a “raid” on a cool winter evening, defense officials worried about the real thing and real headlines (really, it would take more than a sneak attack to keep the old Gazette from its appointed morning rounds).

The “blackout” during the early days of World War II had been planned for days. Instructions were simple — no lights, anywhere. During the 8 p.m. hour, residents were supposed to duck and cover their windows. Explosive charges, sirens and whistles announced the exercise.

Violations were seen in many places. Four neon signs on State Street and a huge one on Broadway advertised positions. “They stood out for all the world — including Hitler — to see,” wrote a Schenectady Gazette reporter.

Night lights in stores were other problems. Shop keepers had left bulbs burning in back rooms of their businesses, believing light could not be seen from the streets. They were wrong.

Some places were still open during the make-believe bomb run, and bartenders, waiters and shop clerks annoyed the defensive team. Restaurants, bars and drug stores just turned out their lights and left customers in the dark. They were supposed to have black curtains over windows in place, but many did not. They were practically inviting Adolph in for a steak and a Schlitz.

Traffic stood still. Wardens and worriers watched the lights fade — well, most of them, anyway — from vantage points on top of the Parker Building in downtown Schenectady, now the Parker Inn. They noticed some households did not draw their shades, but said many seemed to join the dark side.

Some lights, like red lights on broadcasting antennae and orange fire box lights, were cleared for operation. After the drill, people pledged greater efforts to save electricity.

“We have got to do something about these people who either do not realize that their lights are showing or who just don’t bother to do anything about it,” said Richard K. Hamlen, a General Electric employee from 1138 Parkwood Blvd. who also worked as chief air raid warden.

Blackouts also were observed in Scotia, Glenville, Niskayuna, Amsterdam, Saratoga Springs and Cobleskill.