Then
& Now The Ice Industry and Henry Hudson Park By Susan E. Leath Once the ice reached the ideal thickness of 14-16 inches, the first step was to mark off the ice field in a grid pattern. Horse drawn plows then cut along the lines to a depth of about 12 inches. Men then bar off the individual cakes and they are floated in channels to the ice warehouse.
Cedar Hill. Traveling down Barent Winne Road, on the way to Henry Hudson Town Park, at the top of the hill that goes to the river, one notices the elegant Second Empire style home of George and Ursula Best. When it was built in the 1880s, the home’s central tower would have had a sweeping view of the Hudson River, and the ice warehouses that Best built. Now a-days most traces of the Hudson River ice trade are gone, yet as early as 1850 ice was a major U.S. industry. Having ice in the summer time became as essential as having coal in the winter time. In 1879, the year after George N. Best bought his Cedar Hill property, the U.S. ice harvest was estimated at 8 million tons. Melting during storage and shipment reduced to 5 million tons the amount that reached consumers. By 1886, the annual U.S. harvest figure was 25 million tons. There were at least 135 ice warehouses along the Hudson River from New York to Albany with Bethlehem’s shoreline being well
represented. Besides George N. Best, other local names included Dettinger, Tilly Littlefield, Wheeler, Baker and Schifferdecker. In view across the river would have been ice warehouses on Staats Island and Campbell Island. The March 1905 issue of the Cold Storage and Ice Trade Journal notes that both of George N. Best’s warehouses were at capacity: 38,000 tons at Cedar Hill and 35,300 tons at Campbell Island. The Hudson River harvest below Albany, with 151 ice houses reporting, was 3,313,371 tons of ice. Best, and his Cedar Hill Ice Company, had a New York City office with dockage for the ice barges coming down the river. Son Harvey Best maintained those operations. Harvey tragically died of typhoid fever at the age of 26 in Hoboken, New Jersey. His wife, Amanda Clum, eventually moved in with her in-laws at Cedar Hill.
While the exact location of this ice house is not known, it was probably located on the Hudson. Men send the cakes of ice to the ramp where they are lifted to the top of the warehouse. Ice is carefully packed in straw or saw dust to survive the heat of spring and summer. (Courtesy of the Bethlehem Historical Association.)
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ASK
THE
Miriam Elkomos-Botros Pharm.D. Candidate, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Prescription
Drug Abuse What do I need to know about abuse of prescription medications? Prescription medication abuse is a serious issue in the United States as each day 46 Americans die due to an overdose of prescription pain killers. In 2012, over half of the 41,502 drug overdose deaths in the United States were related to prescription or over the counter medications. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 2010 – 2012 death rates from prescription opioid pain relievers decreased overall, they were still more than twice as high as heroin overdose death rates. Why is prescription drug abuse dangerous? Many believe that because medications are “prescription” (vs illicit) they are “safe”. However, when used incorrectly, even just once, overdose or death can occur. Prescription medications are readily available making them a source for abuse. In 2010, enough prescription painkillers were prescribed to medicate every American adult around-theclock for a month. Even though these medications are prescribed for a legitimate medical need, they can end up in the hands of people who could misuse them, even accidentally. What can I do about prescription drug abuse? Take your medications as prescribed by your doctor and avoid taking pain medications with other pain medications without talking to your doctor or pharmacist. Do not mix the pain killers with alcohol as this can add to the negative effects. It is important not to share medications with others. If you have a prescription opioid painkiller from your doctor and have some left over, do not keep it around your home where is can be stolen or misused. Local police departments have drop-boxes and every year the DEA holds a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. In Albany County, the public has 24-hour access to dispose of their prescription pain medications at NYS Troop G located at 760 Troy Schenectady Road in Latham. What if I know someone who needs help dealing with medication abuse? Help is available from your doctor and by calling 1-800-662HELP. Many who abuse prescription opioid medications are not aware of the overdose prevention programs that are available to them or how to prevent overdoses. A study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy found that even those with numerous past overdose experiences 40
were not aware of how to treat an overdose, namely with the use of naloxone, a medication that reverses a heroin or opioid pain medication overdose. Family members and loved ones can also learn how to recognize and treat an overdose. What are the signs of an opioid overdose? During an opioid overdose the person will be unable to wake up, and will be breathing very slowly or not at all. Their lips or nails may be blue. In case of an overdose, call 911 immediately. If the person is not breathing, perform mouth-to-mouth by pinching the nose and blowing into the mouth. Administer naloxone if you have it. This is a lifesaving medication that works by blocking heroin and other opioid pain medications. You do not need to be a medical professional to spot signs of an overdose or use naloxone. In March, the New York State Senate passed a bill, allowing prescribers to issue non-patient specific orders of naloxone to certified training programs, which can in turn distribute the Naloxone kits and train the public on how to properly use them. For more information go to http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/opioid_ overdose_prevention/ Some individuals may be cautious to call 911, thinking that there may be criminal charged involved either for themselves or the person who overdosed. In September 2011, the 911 Good Samaritan Law went into effect. The law provides legal protection against criminal charges for the possession of controlled substances when an overdose is occurring. Where can I get more information? Additional information is available at the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (www.drugabuse.gov) and the NY State Department of Health opioid overdose prevention program. (http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/ general/opioid_overdose_prevention) http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6339a1.htm http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/opioid-prescribing/ http://www.ijdp.org/article/S0955-3959(14)00206-0/abstract http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/opioid_overdose_ prevention/
To submit a topic for this publication please email your ideas to: Paul@4CRx.com
Hamagrael Handcrafted Craft Fair Saturday, December 6th, 2014 from 10 am to 4 pm at Hamagrael Elementary School, 1 McGuffey Lane, Delmar, NY. ADMISSION IS FREE.
Free Admission Live Music Food on site Come shop over 90 local craft vendors & support our school Find us on facebook @ “Hamagrael Handcrafted Craft Fair”
Bethlehem Historical Association November Meeting & Lecture
“Albany and Bethlehem’s Changing Boundary Lines” On Thursday, November 20 at 7 PM Albany City Historian Anthony Opalka and Bethlehem Town Historian Susan Leath will illustrate how the boundary line between Albany and Bethlehem has changed over the years. The City of Albany evolved from Fort Orange and Beaverwyck; Bethlehem from Rensselaerswyck Manor and the Town of Watervliet. Bethlehem was divided in 1832 to form the Town of New Scotland and Albany has annexed many sections since then. Discover more during Opalka and Leath’s talk at the Cedar Hill Schoolhouse, 1003 River Road, Selkirk. Free and open to the public. Visit BethlehemHistorical.org Online at www.ourtownebethlehem.com
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