Year in Review: 1917

On December 29, 1917, the Hudson Evening Register began its retrospection on the year coming to an end, and so today, a hundred years later, Gossips shares those musings with you.

Within a few days 1917 will have passed to the land of Never Return, but not into oblivion. It is doubtful if 1918 will bring forth more startling events or things of a greater magnitude than those which occurred during the old year.

Numerous developments during 1917 in Columbia county were unprecedented as a result of the great world conflict. Strange things, more wonderful than can be imagined, actually happen in a short period of time's progress, and to-night about 600 Columbia county young men are awaiting orders to go into the trenches or to assist in the battle for democracy, though less than a year ago they were enjoying the environments of home life. Who knows what 1918 has in store for them? Who knows how many more will be away from home a year from to-night? What the future has in store for residents of Columbia county is a matter for conjecture.

Prominent persons answered the call of father time; there were unusual developments in industrial activities; economical measures of considerable merit have been adopted; great projects have sprung up and received splendid support, and various other unexpected things happened--whilst 1917 reigned.

Throughout the old year a wave of prosperity was experienced, hampered only by a scarcity of help and somewhat by a shortage of fuel. During the last twelve months hundreds of persons cultivated the thrift habit and became more economical than they were during the preceding year.

What followed this preamble was a month-by-month list of noteworthy events that occurred during 1917. The lists for January, February, and March were published on Saturday, December 29, with the promise that the review would continue on Monday, December 31. (The Register wasn't published on Sunday.) Gossips will recount just a few of the items considered noteworthy in 1917.

January 7--Justice Chester holds that no nuisance existed at Atlas cement plant and awarded $5,000 for damage incurred by Frank Shults.

We include this for a few reasons. First, according to the Evening Register's own report, the judgment was handed down on January 6, 1917, not January 7. Also, when the lawsuit was initiated in November 1916 and when the ruling was made, the cement company was known as New York & New England Cement and Lime Company; at the end of 1917, it is Atlas Cement. It's also interesting how the judgment was summarized. Mabel Hoffman and Frank Shults sued for damages to their late mother's house and farm caused by the cement company and sought an injunction against the cement company "to restrain any operation of the cement company that might cause any further dust to come on the plaintiffs' property." They were awarded $5,000 in damages, but there was no injunction. 

February 5--Hudson in the grip of season's worst storm.

February 26--X-Ray machine installed in Hudson hospital.

February 27--Potatoes boycotted because of high prices.

March 2--Motion pictures of ice cutting methods taken on Underhill pond under direction of Gifford Wood Company.

March 23--Ice was moving in the Hudson River.

March 28--Frederick Riley, Herman Coon and Harry Requa, of Athens, drowned in the Hudson river.

Gossips' recounting of this 1917 retrospection will continue on December 31.  
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