This day in history: November 10

On November 10, 1951, the first direct dial phone call was made from NJ to CA using a newly developed area code system.

This day in history: November 9

On November 9, 1731, Mathematician and astronomer Benjamin Banneker was born in Ellicott’s Mills, Maryland. Largely self-taught, Banneker was one of the first African Americans to gain distinction in science.

This day in history: November 8

On November 8, 1837, Mary Lyon founds Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, which later becomes Mount Holyoke College. In keeping with her social vision, she limited the tuition to $60/year, about one-third the tuition that Grant charged at Ipswich Female Seminary, which was central to her mission of “appeal[ing] to the intelligence of all classes.”

This day in history: November 7

On November 7, 1837, Elijah Parish Lovejoy was killed by a pro-slavery mob while defending the site of his anti-slavery newspaper the St Louis Observer. His death both deeply affected many individuals who opposed slavery and greatly strengthened the cause of abolition.

Inter-urban trolley lasted 30 years by Mat Rapacz

The electric trolley started in Little Falls in 1903 with great fanfare, a convenient and, for awhile at least, popular way to travel between Little Falls and points west and south.

This day in history: November 3

On this day, November 3, 1783 the United States Continental Army is officially disbanded at New Windsor, New York.

This day in history: November 1

On November 1, we begin National Native American Heritage Month with a PBS Newshour video to learn about The Akwesasne Freedom School.

This day in history: October 31

On October 31, many Americans celebrate the traditions of Halloween by dressing in costumes and telling tales of witches and ghosts.

This day in history: October 30

José Manuel Gallegos was born in Spanish colonial Mexico, in the town of Abiquiú, Nuevo México, on October 30, 1815. His people were Hispanos, descendants of early Spanish settlers.

Cars still a relative novelty at time of ‘Sociability’ run

Automobiles were still a relative novelty in Little Falls in 1909 when the Smith brothers, proprietors of the Richmond Hotel (later called Hotel Snyder) concocted the idea of a “Sociability” automobile run from the city to Cooperstown and back.