John Girard, 28, was arrested by Patrolman Frank Cain after he was found stretched out and passed out on the sidewalk of South Pearl Street in Albany during the middle of the afternoon. At his arraignment the next morning before Judge John J. Brady in police court, Girard said, “A couple bottles of ‘that’ knocked me cold.” According to the court reporter present, “All efforts of the magistrate to ascertain what ‘that’ was, were fruitless.”
— Times Union, June 27, 1920
50 years ago
Mercury discharge dangers
Imperial Paper Co., identified by the state Health Department as the only known New York state source of mercury discharge into Lake Champlain, discontinued use of the contaminant. As the company closed down its wallpaper manufacturing plant for its regular three-week vacation and renovation period, management disclosed that another material would replace mercury when operations resumed. Donald B. Stevens, director of the Health Department’s bureau of water quality management, Pure Waters Division, disclosed the situation at a federal water pollution conference held in Burlington, Vt., to seek solutions to the interstate pollution problems in Champlain. Stevens said Imperial had used small amounts of mercury in ink as a fungicide. He stressed the situation should not be considered “a blemish” on the company, since “until recently, nobody was aware of the danger” of mercury discharge.
— Times Union, June 27, 1970
Looking Back is compiled by C.J. Lais Jr. and Azra Haqqie. For questions about this feature or to submit information about historic events, contact Tim Blydenburgh, 518-454-5421 or [email protected]
