Leap Year in Clinton County
Clinton County Historical Association To be a leap year, the year number must be divisible by four – except for end-of-century years, which must be divisible by 400. This means that the year 2000 was a leap year, although 1900 was not. 2024, 2028, 2032 and 2036 are all leap years.
March 1876 – Ellenburg Depot – Ethan Allen took Fort Ticonderoga by surprise and so did a few of Mrs. Stephen S. Batchelder’s friends take him and his household on the night of the 13th. It was in honor of his 64th birthday, and it was resolved by some of the good ladies to invite their husbands (it being a leap year), and the principal of the village school, to march to the gates of the Batchelder home supplied with all the necessaries for a festive occasion.
December 1883 – Clinton County – Be patient a little longer, girls; next year will be a leap year.
January 1884 – Mooers – The leap year ride was enjoyed by a few of the ladies and gentlemen of this place last week. The party pulled up at the residence of J. S. Blackman, where they were cordially received by the inmates. Like all well-organized bodies, the ladies, with due forethought, provided well-filled lunch baskets and in a very gentlemanly way, proved themselves equal to the occasion. The evening was enlivened with music, games, and social conversation.
February 1884 – Altona – Schuyler Falls – Redford
In Altona, a leap year party is being talked of among the young ladies.
In Schuyler Falls, there is to be a leap-year ride to Valcour on Wednesday evening. The young gents of the village have been prevailed upon to accompany the fair ones on this extraordinary occasion. The party will go to Valcour and spend the evening with Mr. and Mrs. John Clark. A sleigh ride with the girls will be an event with our bashful gents.
Parties seem to be the order of the day in Redford. One long-talked-of “Leap Year” party came off on Monday at M. D. Dustin’s. There was a large company, and all enjoyed themselves tripping the light fantastic toe.
December 1884 – Clinton County – Girls, not quite a month of Leap Year remains. What are you going to do about it? Shall the wedding bells ring out before New Year’s?
May 1896 – Dannemora – The leap year dance, which was held Friday evening, May 1st, was a social and financial success. The ball was opened at 9pm and kept up till 12:00 when Miss Goddeau of the Invitation Committee announced and twenty minutes for refreshments and then was served various kinds of cake and coffee after which the dance was continues till 3am when the party broke up all voting that they had never spent a more enjoyable evening. The committee on invitations did very poor work indeed – several families being slighted, and the committee were quite indignant when called to account by the chairman, but the floor committee, the Misses Mabel Sanderson, Anna Goddeau and Minnie Kenelty should receive great praise and also Mr. Lester H. Manley for his generous help in prompting. Of course, being a leap-year dance, there were some disappointments. – two of the young ladies in particular for the Plattsburgh boys declined with thank. Well, never mind, girls, take the home boys next time.
August 1896 – Saranac – One of our young men of town appeared with a sign, “Girl Wanted.” It affords an excellent opportunity for the girls these leap year days.
Did you know that not every 4th year is a leap year? To check if a year is a leap year, it must be divisible by 4 and not divisible by 100 or divisible by 400. Check here to find out when the next “nonleap year” is. https://www.calendar.best/leap-years.html
Posted: February 7th, 2024 under Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History.