The last time it was 10/10/10…

This is an interesting numerological date.  10-10-10.  This hasn’t happened in a hundred years.

So what was the news like one hundred years ago?

One quick trip to the Albany Public Library and its microfilmed collection of Times Union newspapers, and I have the answer.

It’s October 10, 1910.  And here are some of the news reports and cultural informations from the Times Union on that date.

By the way, the Times Union of 1910 advertised that they had “10,000 a day more than the COMBINED circulation of ALL the other Albany dailies.  THAT IS THE CIRCULATION OF THE TIMES UNION.  $5,000 is yours, Mr. Advertiser, if this isn’t so.”

A well-known contractor, John Dyer, Jr., received a grant of divorce against his wife, Martha Pier Dyer.  Apparently the marriage had gone so sour, that Mr. Dyer was granted custody of their four children, with Mrs. Dyer receiving visitation on the third Saturday of every month, at her attorney’s office between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.  Mrs. Dyer is also forbidden to remarry during Mr. Dyer’s lifetime.

A roll of copper wire was stolen from a stable in Hunter Alley Saturday night.  Apparently the wire made its way to the Mcardle junk shop on Northern Boulevard.  It was later recovered.

Today is the last trip for the Adirondack Express from Lake Placid to New York City over the New York Central Railroad, with a stop at Albany at 1:15 p.m.

Three runaway Albany boys who left their homes to seek a new life in New York City had a narrow escape from death when they climbed atop an express train on the Boston and Albany line, and rode ninety miles from Hillsdale station to White Plains.  The boys were nearly dead from exposure when taken off the train at this point.  The three boys – ages 16, 14 and 12 – were returned to their Albany homes.

At Thomas’ music store at 15 North Pearl Street (where a Rite Aid pharmacy is located today), you can purchase the new Victrola XII for only $125, and hear the latest recordings from singer Blanche Ring on Victor records.  Her latest recordings, on Victor’s purple label imprint, are “Nora Malone” and “Top o’ The Morning.”

In Round Lake, a Mr. T.U. Derby, who has been proprietor of the Orient Hotel with his son, just purchased the hotel from the estate of its former owner.  He plans to operate the hotel as a year-round rest area.

At Whitney’s, smart shoppers may purchase plenty of clothes at Whitney’s great October sale.  Satin brocades, which are regularly $2.50 to $5.00, are now as inexpensive as $1.50.  Whitney’s also announced the arrival of one hundred taffeta silk petticoats, which will be sold at $3.98 apiece; they also have some Persian taffeta silk petticoats, at $4.98.  And if you need any underclothes, Whitney’s has men’s heavy weight natural wool union suits at $2.50 apiece, women’s “forest” mills white ribbed underwear, made of pure wool, at $1.00, and “Dr. Denton” sleeping garments for children, at 50 cents for ages 1 to 3 years, and 75 cents for ages four to seven.

The Empire Theater offers two performances of Phil Sheridan’s “Marathon Girls,” as they perform two musical satires, “The Kentucky Girl” and “Read Feather.”  At the Empire, you can “smoke if you like.”  Meanwhile, at Harmanus Bleecker Hall, there will will be a stupendous showing of the classic “The Bohemian Girl,” complete with 159 people and 20 horses.  Prices are 25 cents to $1.50 per ticket.

Drislane’s, a food delivery service, offers four new brands of roasted coffees – “Regal,” “Wedco,” “Club” and “High Grade,” ranging from 25 cents per pound to 37 cents per pound.  Purchasing a pound of Drislane’s coffee on Tuesdays or Wednesdays entitles the purchaser to an additional pound of granulated sugar for free.

Those were some of the things I found in the newspaper 100 years ago.  I wonder if, on October 10, 2110, someone will go back in time and find the current events from today’s paper.

Who knows?