BOUND VOLUMES • April 25, 2019
200 YEARS AGO
Execution – On Friday last, James Teed and David Dunning were executed at Goshen for the murder of Richard Jennings, in the presence of an immense concourse of people. The prisoners were escorted to the place of execution by a military guard, attended by a number of the reverend clergy. All the offices of kindness, both spiritual and temporal, were bestowed on the prisoners by the clergy, the sheriff and his officers; and about half after two they were ushered into eternity. We understand no particular confessions were made by the prisoners, but Dunning admitted he ought to suffer death for his crimes.
April 26, 1819
175 YEARS AGO
It was remarked by a wise man that “he is not fit to govern others who cannot govern himself.” A wiser man yet has said “he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.” This is the first lesson to be learned by one who aspires to rule a nation. Why should he wish to govern millions who cannot govern one, and that one himself? The passions are our worst counsellors; they darken the mind and blind the judgment. The slave of passion is surely not fit to be the ruler of the people. Let him free himself before he would bind others.
April 29, 1844
150 YEARS AGO
Excerpts from a letter to the Editor: “At the present day it seems to be considered a grievous error for a young lady to enter into an engagement of marriage, and such a rumor is made the basis for all sorts of unjust surmises and unkind if not slanderous remarks. If a young lady appears to be making herself agreeable to a man old enough to be her father, with a wife at that, or one so young as to be considered hardly old enough to leave his mother, these Argus-eyed monsters, gossips of society, are ever on the alert to nudge their neighbors and appear justly horrified at the unladylike conduct of Miss So and So, who thinks she will fascinate him! If she is seen with a young man a half dozen times, or is intimately acquainted with the family of which he is a member, and asserts this acquaintance by calling, she is ‘fishing’ for him. This town has more than its share of Mrs. Grundys, and almost without an exception, they are women who are professed members of our Christian churches, but who forget Christ’s teachings of charity, and that a false witness that speaks lies and him that sows discord among brethren is an abomination unto the Lord.”
April 27, 1869
125 YEARS AGO
Local – The game of baseball played on the fair grounds on Saturday last between the Y.M.C.A. Stars of this village and the Index Team of Phoenix Mills, resulted in a score of 15 to 10 in favor of the latter team.
An order for 1,500 business cards, 1,000 note heads, 500 letter heads, 2,000 statements, and 1,000 printed envelopes, received by this office at 8 o’clock a.m. was delivered at 2 o’clock p.m. When in a hurry for printing, bring it to the Journal office.
April 26, 1894
100 YEARS AGO
(Excerpts from “Tail Spins” the newspaper of the Officers at the Aviator’s Hospital) Description of a Fair Damsel at a Dancing Party – “She was some 5 foot 4 inches in overall length, tractor type, designed somewhat after the Mary Pickford model, faultlessly streamlined. She being a tractor type, her fuselage was carefully covered with the finest quality fabric. She had a stately and well sprung undercarriage and as she taxied about the floor her graceful take-off was very noticeable, although she had a slight Dutch roll. One of her pilots reports that she was so perfectly aligned that she responded very quickly to the controls, especially in a spin, and she readily assumed her gliding angle.
April 23, 1919
75 YEARS AGO
Kay Bouton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bouton, now a “G” Girl (stenographer with the FBI) in Washington, D.C. has the following lyrics to be sung to the tune of “Shoe Shine Boy.” The title is “Soldier Boy.” “Soldier boy, you work hard all day. Soldier boy, got no time for play. Every furlough counts a lot. So, pray, pray soldier boy. You keep marching up and down your beat; pleading with each Sarge you meet – ‘Sergeant, can’t you spare some time?’ Soldier boy, soon the time will come. Soldier boy you’ll lay down your gun. Then we’ll get some loving done. So fight, fight, soldier boy.”
April 26, 1944
50 YEARS AGO
The death of Rowan D. Spraker, Sr. who retired in 1955 after 30 years as editor and president of The Freeman’s Journal occurred Friday morning at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital where he had been admitted the day before. He was 79 years old. Mr. Spraker guided the destinies of the Journal as its fifth editor from 1925 until his retirement 14 years ago. He also retired as President of The Freeman’s Journal Company and became Chairman of its Board of Directors, a post he held at his death. His son, Rowan D. Spraker, Jr. assumed the editorship on his father’s retirement, and also as President of the company. Mr. Spraker began his long career in the newspaper profession 60 years ago after his graduation from Cooperstown high school in 1909 when he applied for a summer job as a reporter for the Glimmerglass, a summer publication highlighting events at the Otesaga Hotel and around Otsego Lake.
April 30, 1969
10 YEARS AGO
During the wild thunder and lightning storms Tuesday, April 21, lightning struck the steeple at First Presbyterian Church at 9:15 p.m. A committee meeting was under way in the sanctuary next door, and the Cooperstown Fire Department was summoned quickly to the scene. Electrician Kevin Preston conducted a subsequent review, and the scene was declared all clear by 11 p.m., according to Katie Boardman, church elder.
April 24, 2009