100 years ago in The Record
Wednesday, April 11, 1917
“One of the largest American flags ever unfurled in this vicinity” now floats over River Street outside Cluett, Peabody & Co., The Record reports. The 20’ x 40’ flag is formally presented to Cluett in a patriotic ceremony this afternoon. “Several thousand persons, a majority of whom are employed by the Cluett company, attended the patriotic exercises,” our reporter notes. A chorus of voices singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” can be heard for blocks, accompanied by the factory’s Arrow Orchestra. The flag presentation is one of many patriotic events held in Troy following the U.S. declaration of war against Germany on April 6. In South Troy, Mayor Cornelius F. Burns speaks at a flag raising at the Fuller-Warren stove factory. “Realizing that the efforts of every workingman is needed in the present international crisis,” the mayor “urged they, as well as all others in the city, make the most of every day. To lose no time, to take advantage of the opportunity to steadily produce things, is the outlet through which they may greatly help the country.” Following the mayor’s remarks, “an engine, waiting on the tracks, moved slowly over large caps which exploded amid the music which had again started up.” A workers’ parade follows the noisemaking.
With the troops
Troy’s National Guard reg- iment was called into service well before war was declared. Companies of the Second New York Infantry are currently performing guard duty on bridges and railroads in Schenectady and Montgomery counties.
“To-day a wind that most of the time was of the hurricane order swept through this entire district,” a reporter writes from Amsterdam, “It hurled guards against bridge rails, do as they could to prevent it, and hats had to be tied down very fast.”
Despite the blustery weather, many of the troops are looking forward to baseball season. Last summer, while on border-patrol duty in Texas, the Company D nine went undefeated against local army teams and other units from New York State.
Writing from Gloversville, regimental chaplain Royal K. Tucker reminds Record readers that while “the government has been very liberal in supplying their wants,… I don’t think I have visited a single post but that I found some need or comfort” that Trojans could meet.
Having exhausted his chaplain’s fund, Tucker has set up a donation station at the Troy YMCA where “little gifts and comforts” can be contributed. He recommends towels, cigarettes and reading matter, as well as hay for the soldiers, not the horses.
“With chilly breezes blowing as at present, some hay underneath makes the blankets much warmer,” the chaplain explains.