Looking forward to Spring
          and bicycling in warmer weather?

Bikers may enjoy this historic look back:

DECLINE OF THE BICYCLE. 

GOOD REASONS WHY IT WILL NEVER 

SUPERCEDE THE HORSE AND CARRIAGE.

 The bicyclers up-town, says the Kingston Freeman, are gradually falling off in their journeying. Too hard work for fun you see. It's much better to take a horse and wagon. There's nothing sociable about one of these two-wheel concerns. A man can't take his girl along, and in fact can't even have a pleasant talk with her. Then who wants always to dress himself in knee breeches in order to take a little ride ? The bicycle costs about as much as a horse, and though it don't eat anything more than wear and tear and the interest on the investment, neither will it talk to you as a horse, or show you affection for kindness. Who ever heard of a bicycle recognize a pat on the back like a horse ? Then a horse isn't half so dangerous. Besides a man can wear an ordinary costume with a horse without running the risk of having his coat tails torn off, but above all, with a horse and a wagon attachment there's a chance for your best girl to sit close to you, when the dandelion hours of life can be exhaled in sweet perfume, and ice cream be bought by quarter's worth.

THE EVENING GAZETTE, Port Jervis, NY, TUESDAY, MAY 29, 1883.

Little did they know!

Why this cold weather was hoped for - in the good old days....

ICE HARVEST IS NOW UNDER WAY

The Port Jervis Union Ice Company yesterday began the harvesting of ice at Vail’s pond  in Duttonville.  Ice of good quality has formed there to a thickness of ten inches and a force of 75 men is now at work. The ice house there will hold about 3500 tons.  Eight inch ice has also formed on Reservoir No.1 and the company intends to fill the storage plant there which has a capacity of 3500 tons. When both houses are filled, there will be sufficient for the needs of Port Jervis. 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 , 1919    Port Jervis, NY - The Evening Gazette 

Vail's pond was near current day Route 23 and accessed by the old Clove Road, 

located within what is now Nature Conservancy's Minisink Preserve tract.

Courtesy of a post at https://www.facebook.com/WeatherNJ

HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE SATURDAY NIGHT 2/14 THROUGH SUNDAY 2/15 AFTERNOON...

* WINDS... NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH.
                     * TIMING... THE HIGHEST WINDS SHOULD OCCUR LATE SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING.
                        * IMPACTS... BE PREPARED FOR POWER OUTAGES... POSSIBLY LASTING FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS.
TREES AND TREE LIMBS WILL BE KNOCKED DOWN.
 MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO HOMES IS POSSIBLE.
DO NOT PARK VEHICLES WHERE TREES CAN FALL ON THEM.
MAKE SURE ALL CELL PHONE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE FULLY CHARGED.
  IF YOU HAVE GENERATORS... PLEASE MAKE SURE THEY ARE WORKING PROPERLY AND PROPERLY VENTILATED.
EXPECT BRIDGE RESTRICTIONS.
EXPECT BLOWING SNOW TO HAMPER TRAVEL AND SNOW REMOVAL

From the 1917 Official Automobile Blue Book:

Can you tell where they are mentioning 

something within Montague?

Hint:

"Tri-States, NY 4-corners" was likely the corner by the current Ford Dealer's, 

just past South Maple Ave.

Previously, that was the site of a mill and hence had a bridge crossing the stream.

The "fork beyond blacksmith shop" was within the Brick House Village area, just before where the road split - allowing one to head to Milford or to continue south and to the Hainesville section of Sandyston Township. 

There was a blacksmith's shop, that was located just beyond the current Foster-Armstrong House on River Rd.