On this date in ...

1919: Tulips would not bloom in Albany’s park s during the spring of 1920 because for the first time in many years, no bulbs would be planted in the previous fall. The reason was purely economical — the current cost of the flower bulbs, all imported from Holland, was between $ 40 to $ 60 per thousand. The city’s park system, which besides Washington Park included St. Joseph’s, Van Rensselaer and Bleecker park s, as well as the Plaza, required 90,000 bulbs and city officials deemed the cost prohibitive for just five or six weeks of blooms. Pansies, daisies and primroses were to be planted instead, to be replaced later in the year by summer plants.

1969: Depending on how one read the figures, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center had a good, bad or indifferent season over the summer. SPAC general manager Craig Hankenson referred to the United States Weather Bureau’s statement saying the summer of 1969 has been the wettest in 53 years. It had rained for 25 of the 33 performances held at SPAC during August alone. Actual attendance at all performances was lower in 1969 than it had been in 1958 — largely because of the weather — but the average income per ticket had increased because of a trend toward the purchase of better seats. Hankenson said he “anticipated the best season” in SPAC’S history with plans for the orchestra season including observance of the 200th anniversary of Beethoven.

Want to read more about the Capital Region’s past? Have any memories or thoughts about how our histor y relates to today’s e vents? See ht t p:// blog. t imesunion. com/ histor y/.