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HISTORIAN’S CORNER
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1904
By Don Tiffany
It was a great year. As Yakov Smirnoff says, "What a country!" There were 8,000 automobiles in the United States but only 144 miles of paved roads - the Town and Village of Phelps had none. The average worker made $200 to $400 a year but butter sold for 22c/lb., coffee, 15c/lb and eggs, 22c/doz. Over 95% of all babies were born at home and the average life expectancy was 47 years. The five leading causes of death were: 1. Pneumonia and Influenza, 2. Tuberculosis, 3. Diarrhea, 4. Heart Disease, 5. Stroke. Marijuana, heroin and morphine were available over the counter at drugstores. The United States population was 75 million.
The Republicans held their convention in Chicago in late June and nominated Theodore Roosevelt for a second term. His running mate was Charles Fairbanks. The Democrats chose their candidates in St. Louis in early July. They were Alton B. Parker for President and Henry G. Davis for Vice President.
August: >Pheasants were noted as being a nuisance around Canandaigua Lake, damaging rain, fruit and other crops and they couldn't be hunted until 1910! Joel Caves was working on three houses and four barns. Although it was not reported in the "Phelps Citizen", the Olympics were held in St. Louis this year and the majority of the track and field events were won by Americans.
>"Justice Dunwell held up a party of automobiles between Lyons and Clyde last Saturday. The Judge, with his wife, was driving out behind a fractious horse when the automobiles approached at full speed. The Judge signaled the chauffeur to stop, but no attention was paid to the raised hand. Handing the reins to his wife, the Justice Dunwell jumped to the ground, picked up two big stones and, standing in the middle of the road, waited with arm held in a throwing position for the automobile to come up. The chauffeur stopped the machine, however, the Justice Dunwell severely lectured the astonished tourists.
>The local Democrats formed a Parker/Davis Club on Sept. 10th with about 50 members. R.E. Connolly was elected president. The Phelps Republicans formed a Roosevelt/Fairbanks club three days later with W.L. Crothers, president.
Other notes from September: >"Sig Santelle's Circus unloaded at the Depot last Friday. Boys with 'sporting proclivities' lost several hundred dollars to gamblers and confidence men at the circus." >E.O. Rogers, a traveling stock company, performed plays all this week (Sept. 1st) at Gibson Hall. Monday - "A Match for a King", Tuesday - "The Heart of the Mountains", Wednesday, "Wanted - a Wife", Thursday - "An Iron Will", Friday - "The Great Coal Strike", Saturday - "The Poor Mr. Rich". >The New York State Fair was open from September 5th through the 10th in Syracuse. >The 65th annual fair of the Ontario Agricultural Society was held on September 15th - 17th.
>"A new telephone line is being constructed connecting Newark and Phelps.: "Labor Day Celebration - parade at 9:30 sports contest, baseball game at 4:00, and the 148th Regimental band concert in the evening."
>"Mrs. Charles Fisher, 49 years old, committed suicide..three bullet wounds, two in the left side and one in the right temple caused death. - (Suicide??) - The weapon was a .22 cal. Revolver…" >"Elias Burgess, while fishing in the Outlet near Creager's Bridge a few days ago, captured a muscallonge (sic) which weighed nearly 12 pounds, being the best catch of the season." >The Oaks Corners Church celebrated its centennial on September 28th and 29th. "All trains will stop at the Oaks Corners Depot on those days, except the 5:30 p.m." >"James Hewitt heard chicken thieves prowling about his mother's premises early Sunday morning and took a shot at them. It is to be hoped that James will have a truer aim next time." >Judson Padden opened a coal yard at the intersection of Pleasant Street and Park Place next to the New York Central cattle yard.
October: >George Case, photographer, formerly of Clifton Springs, opened a studio in the Ross Block. >On Monday, October 24th, J. Simpson put one thousand brown trout fingerlings in the Outlet. The trout came from the State Fish Hatchery in Caledonia. >"Our venerable citizen, Norman Rockefeller, passed his 92nd birthday last Monday, Oct. 24th. He observed the occasion by calling upon Truman Dewey, Eliphelet Stoutenburg, who passed his 93rd birthday last Saturday, and Col. Stevens, who will be 97 years old tomorrow. Mr. Rockefeller is quite smart for a man of his years. His brother, William, who is the father of John D. Rockefeller, is 95 years old."
>"The Statue of Liberty is to be thoroughly renovated, the pedestal repaired and a passenger elevator substituted for the present stairway. It should then also be given a torch somewhat more brilliant than its present street lamp light.
November: Roosevelt and Fairbanks were easily elected along with a Republican sweep both state and locally. Higgins elected Governor, S.E. Payne - U.S. Representative, Raines - State Senator, Burnett - Assemblyman. George Salisbury is the only Democrat that had a plurality in Phelps. Unfortunately, it did him little good in this Assembly District. >Classified Ads: Luther Falkey has ferrets for sale. LOST - A shield-shaped fraternity pin surrounded by small pearls and marked on the back, E.B.P., xi-99.
>"Numerous towns are claiming the distinction of having the oldest voters in the state but none of them seem to outdo Phelps in this respect. Col. I.C. Stevens, who is in his 98th year, cast his vote last week, making the 20th time he has voted in a presidential election."
> "A quartet, consisting of B.E. Babcock, Stuart Prichard, C.H. Burt and E.B. Partridge sang a couple of selections at a party given by Dr. and Mrs. Prichard."
> President Roosevelt visited the St. Louis Exposition during its last two days.
December: >Dr. Haslett and R.E. Reynolds of Waterloo purchased the hardware store of M.D. Crosier. >Mr. J.L. Salisbury and Miss Lulu Ringer were married at the home of Col. I.C. Stevens on December 7th. >The $15 million buildings of the St. Louis World's Fair are being town down at a cost of $386,000.
>"As the cart of the White Hose Co. is in constant need of repairs to make it serviceable, Chief Lane is endeavoring to have it replaced with a light wagon which can be handled more readily. The old cart is too cumbersome and makes a hard pull for the firemen when it is necessary to cover any distance."
>A new lodge of the Phelps Ruling of the Mystic Circle was formed. >There was a bad fire in the sanctuary of St. John's Episcopal Church.
>15th: Harvey & Vicinity: When Spencer Westfall went to the barn last Sunday morning he found his fine grey horse in the stall with broken leg. The animal was shot.
>29th: Harvey & Vicinity: Spencer Westfall purchased a horse of O.A. Middaugh last week.
The end of the year saw the elections of officers in the Phelps Dairy Association, Phelps Hive #171 L.O.T.M., Phelps Tent #232 K.O.T.M., St. John's Church M.R.C., Wide Awake Grange and John B. Murray Post #597 G.A.R.
For months during this year there had been speculation about where the Rochester & Eastern was going to run their tracks through the Village. Three routes had been surveyed and none had been selected by year's end. This new trolley line was to run from Victor through Shortsville, Manchester, Clifton Springs and Phelps to finally tie in with R&E line in Geneva.
There were four railroad lines operating through the Town and Village. There were depots and freight houses at several locations along each road. Business was brisk, employment was high and Phelps citizens were optimistic. It was a good year.
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