Hudson and History

Because of the renovations going on there now, Gossips has been giving a fair amount of attention to our beautiful Beaux Arts Columbia County courthouse, designed by Warren and Wetmore. That attention inspired Bob Weinman to share this picture, which he came upon recently while straightening up.

These guys, in their overcoats and fedoras, may look like extras from a prequel to The Godfather, but they're not. This is the 1936 Columbia County Board of Supervisors, and in the front row, third from the left, is Weinman's own grandfather, George J. Weinman. The others are: [Row 1] Richard E. Cullen, Howard M. Hallenbeck, Weinman, Allen E. Phelps, J. P. Lasher (Chairman), Frank M. Briwa (Clerk), Edward West, Harry George; [Row 2] Sterling Wyckoff, Milton V. Saulpaugh (Sheriff), Joseph R. Veit, George Spaulding, Fay Van Duesen, A. Parker Boice, H. Delavan Stickles, Samuel E. Swift, L. Proceus Hover (Superintendent of Highways); [Row 3] James W. O'Neill, Hugh Potter (County Treasurer), Edward C. Johnson, Grant A. Miller (County Clerk), Ralph Hamm, Morton L. Fingar, William B. Daley, Jr., John McHugh, George B. Van Valkenburgh, Frank L. Kent, Sherwood B. Speed (County Attorney).

Note the original front door of the courthouse. Wouldn't it be grand if we could have that back?

To put this picture in the context of history, here are some things that happened in the world in 1936:

• On January 20, Edward VIII succeeded his father as king of England, and eleven months later, on December 11, he abdicated, so he could marry American divorcee Wallace Simpson.
• Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell, was first published.
• The 11th Olympic Games took place in Berlin. Adolf Hitler opened the games, and African American Jesse Owens gained international fame by winning four gold medals.
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected for a second term as President in a landslide victory over Republican Alfred M. Landon.

TEXT COPYRIGHT 2013 CAROLE OSTERINK