I was browsing around the internet when I came across a document proclaiming Briarcliff Manor’s 50th Anniversary in 1952. It’s a real treasure trove of information and one thing that struck me was the description of the the Police Department:
The Police Department…As with other Briarcliff Manor organizations, Progress is the word. The Police Department started with one person, on foot, and the police room was in an old barn back of the Briarcliff Realty Company office. Then followed three members who patrolled on bicycles. Today, there are eight patrolmen with a Chief, two radio cars and a motorcycle, and 33 auxiliary policemen. The department has been adequately housed in the Municipal Building since 1914.
The first patrolman was L. Harold Bayly, appointed April 16, 1906. The roster today is: Chief,Arthur W. Johnson; Patrolmen, Harry Addis, Fred Borho, Edward Brosnan, C. Everett Garvey, Arthur W. Johnson, Jr., Gilbert Johnson, Raymond Wolf, George Wolf, Previous Chiefs were Edward Cashman and Allan O. Keator.
Members who have answered the invisible command are Edward Cashman, Chief; Allan O. Keator, Chief; Floyd Bernard, Lieutenant; Charles A. Johnson, Jr., Gerow Birdsall, Joseph Henning, Daniel O’Connor.
Two incidents lend amusement to so serious a business. From the Clerk’s book, as of September 3, 1907; “Chief of Police Cashman made a report to the Trustees as to the advisability of purchasing a bloodhound.” Two young women were recently followed by some young men on the street. There is no record, however, of such a purchase.
Again, note this ordinance as of May 12, 1905. “That all vehicles must slow down to 8 miles per hour.” The next year a concession was permitted autos, up to 10 miles per hour, but down to four miles per hour at corners and over the bridge. The ordinance had real teeth in it, a fine of $250.00 and possible imprisonment also. There is no record that the teeth did any biting.
Note the first paragraph mentions that: “The Police Department started with one person, on foot, and the police room was in an old barn back of the Briarcliff Realty Company office”. A few days later I was in the village and decided to take a look behind the realty office. The picture above shows what I saw. Could this be the same barn that once housed the Police Department?
Taken with a Fuji X-E1 and Fuji XC 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 OSS II