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HOMETOWN HISTORY

April 5, 2019

150 Years Ago

News from Delaware County – The school moneys for Franklin for the current year amount to $2,438. The “goodbye card” of Professor Jewell will interest all friends of the Institute at Franklin. It is a matter of deep regret that his valuable services could not continue in that prominent school.
Hay is scarce in many parts of the county. The lack of hay is made up with western corn and other coarse grains.
The old courthouse at Delhi was sold at auction last week, at $605, Judge Palmer as President of the village being the buyer.
A large black bear was killed near Shavertown a few weeks ago by Ichabod Sprague and Robert Ruff, which dressed 400 pounds of clean meat. The hide brought $25. The Delaware Mountains are “some” on bears, panthers, wild cats and such.

April 1869

100 Years Ago

About 50 members of the English classes of the Oneonta High School met last evening at the Methodist Episcopal Church and enjoyed dinner served by a committee composed of five ladies of the church with Mrs. G.J. Dann as Chairman. After the dinner toasts were responded to by about 15 of those present. Velmore Campbell, editor of the high school publication “The Echo” acted as toastmaster in an exceedingly clever manner. The purpose of the event was to acquaint the English students with “how it feels” to make an “after-dinner” speech. It was indeed rare to find any trace of “stage fright,” the six students giving their addresses in a manner which reflects credit upon their instructor, Miss Thompson.
About 200 dogs have been licensed at the City Clerk’s office. Owners of dogs who have not secured and placed the tags on the collars of their canines need not be surprised if the animals are gathered up by the officers enforcing the quarantine. They have secured in all about 50 dogs, of whom all but one has been redeemed.

April 1919

80 Years Ago

Encircling Hitler – Before and during the World War, German children were taught to repeat in school – “Germany is our Fatherland surrounded by Foes.” Spokesmen for the Nazi government are now raising the same cry, as a result of the effort of the democratic powers to check Hitler’s growing aggression against Germany’s neighbors. With every increase in the effectiveness of Prime Minister Chamberlain’s new policy, there comes a louder wail from Berlin, mingled with dire threats. “We must once more emphasize,” says an official Nazi news agency, “that the Reich does not have any intention of waiting until the encirclement net has become closed and unbearable.”
Another Nazi spokesperson declares, “The self-defense is on our side.” The British Government, praised so highly by the Nazis when it let them absorb Sudetenland, is now described as a ruthless power trying to destroy an innocent fatherland by drawing a military net around it, to choke out its life. This, as most Americans and many Germans know, is
simply talk. The present “encirclement” is an effort to draw a “sanitary cordon” of defensive nations around a country betrayed by its present masters into a tremendous effort to dominate Europe and destroy human liberty everywhere.

April 1939

60 Years Ago

The Library Board of Huntington Memorial Library has completed its plans for an addition to the building and is advertising for bids. The Rev. Louis van Ess, Chairman of the Board, said he hopes the cost will be under $20,000. The plan is to use what funds are available now and borrow the remainder for amortization in five years. The library is one of the most extensively used among cities of Oneonta’s size and is open more hours each week than the average public library. Already a new children’s room has been created by enclosing the front porch. “The new children’s room has been a very great success,” he said. “That has convinced us that the old building, with some renovations, will be useful for many years to come, if we can make certain changes in it. The alternative would be to erect a new building which probably would cost $250,000. We are very much attached to the old building as the public is.”

April 1959

40 Years Ago

Head Start in Otsego County is looking for children to enroll in the program during the next school year. Head Start is a complete child development program which provides educational, health, nutritional and social services to low income children including those with handicapping conditions. Eligibility criteria established by the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare include income guidelines which are now $6,200 a year gross income for a family of four and $8,240 for a family of six. There are currently five Head Start Centers in Otsego County and each has a waiting list of children.

April 1979

20 Years Ago

Economic development leaders in Otsego County told area residents Monday about the challenges they face in trying to promote local job growth. Those obstacles include high taxes, high utility rates, big government and an anti-industry mentality among many residents. “It’s hard for businesses in New York State to be competitive,” said Rob Robinson, president and chief executive officer of the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce. “Other states have fewer costs for businesses which allows capital to be reinvested into the business, which brings new jobs along.”

April 1999

10 Years Ago

Broadband Internet is fast becoming a necessity to industry and private individuals in upstate New York and elsewhere. But, it has been difficult to ensure its availability in rural areas. President Barack Obama’s multi-billion-dollar plan to bring broadband to rural America could benefit Delaware and Otsego counties. The federal government plans to hand out the $7.2 billion to bring high-speed Internet to unserved and under-served areas of the United States.

April 2009

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