100 years ago in The Record
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 1917
“At 12:45 o’clock this afternoon practically every Trojan at Camp Devens, Ayer, Mass., boarded a special train and started for Troy,” The Record reports after Mayor Cornelius F. Burns arranges for the local men to receive a Thanksgiving furlough. “Upwards of 500 men” from Troy, Cohoes, Green Island, Waterford and Watervliet” are on the special train scheduled to arrive at Troy’s Union Depot at 5:45 p.m. They’ll have a holiday with their families until 12:30 a.m. Friday. “Mayor Burns in conjunction with a committee of citizens has arranged to defray the traveling expenses of any who did not feel they could afford to spend the money in that way so that a Thanksgiving at home was arranged for every Troy man at the camp,” our reporter explains. Camp Devens is the training facility for local men whose numbers were selected in the July 20 national draft lottery, and who have subsequently been medically cleared for military service. “It was at first planned to have a demonstration in their honor which would include a short street parade,” the mayor explains in a press release, “On account of the brief furlough granted, however, this was deemed [in] advisable, as the men expressed a desire to spend as much of the time as possible with their relatives and friends.” The mayor hopes, however, that families can tear themselves away from the Thanksgiving table tomorrow to watch the benefit football game at the Laureate Boat Club between the Camp Devens squad and the All-Troys of Lansingburgh. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the recreation fund of the local regiment, the 303rd U.S. Infantry.
Christmas Seals
In a separate announcement, Mayor Burns urges Trojans to purchase Red Cross Christmas Seals this holiday season to help prevent the spread of tuberculosis among American soldiers in Europe.
“We must make some preparation to combat the ravages of the white plague so prevalent there,” the mayor writes. France, the ultimate destination for most American troops, is currently swamped with tuberculosis cases. According to the New York State health commissioner, France has 500,000 tuberculosis patients, but facilities to treat only 11,000 of them.
“Our task, therefore, is to see that every man of military age, who if not already in the service, may be called at any time, is fully instructed in preventative measures against tuberculosis,” the mayor continues. Christmas Seal sales will benefit the Tuberculosis Relief Committee, which will do the instructing.
“I dislike to add to your burdens,” the mayor closes, “But if everyone will only purchase a few seals the individual expense will be light.”