Like most parts of our country, Niagara County residents are faced with the same tough question of what to do with rowdies and nar-do-wells whose sole purpose in life seems to be to cause trouble and make life miserable for law abiding citizens. A common response has been the formation of Neighborhood Watch groups that supplement the eyes and ears of the local police force. This has not always been the response to this problem as evidenced in these articles from the Niagara Falls Gazette of April 1894.

“Some steps should be taken by the proper authorities immediately to suppress the crowd of useless hoodlums that do nothing but bring the city into disrepute. A number of these toughs gathered near the Central Milling Works when it was on fire last night and jeered the men who give their service for free and were doing their best to save the building from destruction. The firemen threatened to turn the hose on them. It should have been done, although a more severe punishment would be more in place.”

“A whipping post for the punishment of wife beaters and petty thieves is to be established in the District of Columbia. The Gazette would respectfully suggest that similar methods of punishment in this city might produce good results if used on the roughs that frequent the Falls.”

Douglas Farley, Director
Erie Canal Discover Center
24 Church St.
Lockport NY 14094
716.439.0431
CanalDiscovery@aol.com
www.NiagaraHistory.org