"Reelin' in the years" by Type A to Z

Here are a few quick bites from time's cookie jar. This morning, bad dogs, World War I, baseball paychecks, Israel and a fuel crunch are on the schedule!

1908: Bad Dog!

One hundred years ago, people were concerned about vicious dogs. On May 14, a 7-year-old girl was mauled by a vicious dog in Paterson, N.J.

"Instances of this kind are frequent," the Schenectady Gazette wrote in an editorial that appeared on May 16. There was also concern about a rabies epidemic in New York and other cities.

"There is but one remedy for this, and it is one that raises an indignant cry from dog owners. It is to muzzle them all," the editorial read.

"It may work some hardship on the dogs, but it is better that a thousand of them should be so safeguarded than that a single child should be bitten or a person exposed to rabies."

1918: Helping Hands

American soldiers were "over there" as World War I raged in Europe. Children in Schenectady did their share "over here."

During the first weeks of May, kids in elementary grades made pillows, knitted squares that would be assembled into afghans and manufactured candles.

Classes had different jobs. Kingergarten students and members of the first and second grades snipped cloth into small pieces; the strips would be used to stuff pillows, which were made by the third grade.
Fourth-graders were making slings and bandages. The fifth grade was in charge of handkerchiefs and scarves.

"Nearly all of these things are made from materials brought from home and the children have learned many lessons of thrift in seeing what good use can be made of cast-off materials," the Schenectady Gazette reported.

1946: Baseball's Big Money

Sports fans were marveling over baseball players and their enormous salaries. Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers was baseball's richest man, with an estimated $60,000 compensation for his services in the field and at the plate.

Tiger pitcher Hal Newhauser was the top money man on the pitcher's mound, with $45,000 in the bank every season. Cleveland's Bob Feller was second, with $42,500.

The New York Yankees were paying $360,000 in salaries, and sports experts said the Tiger payroll was probably higher. Brooklyn, Boston and Chicago's Cubs were also in the "heavy sugar" level.

"Although exact figures never are available for ball players, it is believed that the 10 major league teams will shell out in the vicinity of $5 million for players and talent this season," the Associated Press reported.

1948: Salute to Israel

The newly established state of Israel had friends in Schenectady. On Thursday, May 20, 1948, city residents filled the Jewish Community Center on Germania Avenue to support the new country.

"A new state has been born," said Edmund A. Koblenz, chairman of the United Jewish Appeal and Welfare Board dive. "Ours has been a long, very difficult struggle."

Koblenz also said the Jewish people had been blessed with a land in which they were welcome, with competent leaders in place."

Eleven others spoke at the rally, which began at 8:30 p.m. Among them were Rabbis Benjamin Miller and Louis Hait and city Mayor Owen M. Begley.

"I think I speak for everyone," Begley said, "when I say I hope the tremendous sufferings and pangs of birth are only temporary and the lusty, strong infant whose heritage is so great will thrive and prosper, taking its place among the great nations of the world."

1979: Gasoline Crisis!

Gasoline prices were on the rise in May 1979, and automotive marketing wizards were predicting more people would invest in smaller, gas-stingy models.

"We do not for one moment ... believe that the big car will be sidelined entirely while only their pint-sized counterparts hog the highways," the Schenectady Gazette said in an editorial. "If the future dictates that driving must be limited because of gasoline shortages, rationing or sky-high prices, so be it. But there are many motorists who will disregard the economy factor and stay with their big cars because they prefer the utmost comfort and driving ease when they take to the road."

May 12, 2008
2:52 p.m.

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davidgiacalone ( no real name given ) says...

There is a lot to muse over in this post, Jeff. Thanks for digging them up and taking off the muzzle.

May 12, 2008
4:15 p.m.

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jwilkin ( Jeff Wilkin ) says...

David: Thanks for reading ... I'm trying to assemble these history "outtakes" every Monday, as that's the day we run our popular history features in the print version!

I'm always amazed at the newsy, fun-to-read items in old newspapers, and encourage folks to visit local libraries with newspaper microfilm collections. Someday, people will not even need them; many newspapers' entire content will be on the Internet!

Found the dog story kind of annoying .... while there have always been responsible pet owners, there are so many irresponsible ones ... there was concern in 1908, and 100 years later, we still have worries about crazy dogs. And because of the oddball culture of training dogs to be fighters or just plain mean, the situation is probably more dangerous than ever!!!