On this date in ...

William Furlong, the well-known undertaker at 10 Broad St. in Albany who handled the arrangements for many of the city’s residents killed by the Spanish flu, was himself a victim of the disease. The 40-year-old had come down with the flu four days before on Friday, but pneumonia quickly set in and by Tuesday morning he was dead. He was survived by one brother, Edward, whom he lived with, and a sister, Mrs. Charles Wolford of East Berne.

1968: A Sept. 25 public hearing to discuss the uniquely designed $15 million Albany High School for 4,000 students drew only about 130 people. Few, if any, city and county government leaders were there and school and civic groups were not wellrepresented. The plan drew both praise and criticism, with Mayor Corning being in favor of the plans, the Common Council president saying its suggestions were being incorporated and Albany District PTA saying the members had not been asked for suggestions. Robert Greenbaum, former Albany PTA council president said the “small turnout was disappointing” and the “apathy of the average person was alarming.”

1993: Cohoes police would soon receive aid in the battle to deter crime and keep children safe. City officials announced the formation of a municipal watch/safe kids program, which called on the efforts of city employees — particularly fire and public workers who used marked vehicles — who would be briefed on how to report suspicious or criminal activity to the police via radio-dispatched vehicles. The objective was to decrease criminal activity as well as provide police with information. The safe kids aspect of the program meant students would be able to hail city employees in marked cars.

Want to read more about the Capital Region’s past? Have any memories or thoughts about how our history relates to today’s events? See http://blog.timesunion.com/history/