This Day in History: 1940-08-19

A dispute over the use of a spring near Franklin Turnpike between Sanitary Inspector Howard Cochran and Board of Education President Havilah M. Smith simmered over when Cochrane issued a sanitary code violation against Smith. At issue was a spring which Smith was supposed to be using to provide water for his tenants. Complaints had been made that people were washing their dogs in the spring. Cochran investigated and gave Smith a few days to correct the situation. When he did not do so and reportedly dared Cochrane to issue the summons the Sanitary Inspector obliged. The violation was to be heard in Recorder Frank Young’s court on the 26th. While the Inspector was issuing the complaint his wife and son Bruce and Mrs. Edward Schneider and children Joyce and Bruce were visiting the World’s Fair in Flushing Meadow. The case could not be heard on the 19th because Smith was out of town on vacation. (Bristow)