HOMETOWN History

Oct. 18, 2019

150 Years Ago

It was supposed when the law was passed that about 1,200 of the veterans were still living in this State, and that the $50,000 appropriated would be sufficient to pay off the certificates of all the survivors. But it seems that 2,700 of the old soldiers were alive and filed their certificates with the Adjutant General. Many are still living to whom certificates were never granted. The result of this mistake on the part of our lawmakers is that the amount appropriated is only sufficient to pay about thirty-six percent on the principal of the certificates, saying nothing about the interest. The pro rata distribution has been made, and the soldiers are now being paid at the State Hall. The deficiency in the appropriation rendering a pro-rata distribution necessary, and the great difficulty in gathering in these certificates with the proper proofs, has given some of the state’s departments an immense amount of extra labor. The brave old veterans have long waited for the small amounts they are now receiving. We trust the next Legislature will see that justice is done.

October 1869

125 Years Ago

A girl balloonist lost her life at a fair in Franklinville, New York last Saturday. As the balloon started it was noticed that the girl held the trapeze by only one hand. Her strength was not equal to the effort of getting a grip with the other hand. When she reached a great elevation she lost her hold and fell to the earth. She struck on her head and shoulders and her body dug a hole in the ground a foot deep and three feet long. Her neck was broken and her body terribly crushed. She was only 18 and had promised her parents that this should be her last trip.

October 1894

100 Years Ago

A United States census will be taken commencing on January 2, 1920, and ending in cities and villages that had 2,500 or more population in 1910 in two weeks and in all other localities in one month. The fifteenth district of the State of New York is composed of the counties of Broome, Otsego, Chenango and Delaware and has been divided up into enumeration districts small enough so that the work can be done in the allotted time. An enumeration of the population and also of the agriculture will be taken.
Applications for appointment as enumerator were supposed to be filed with the supervisor on or before the fifteenth day of October, 1919. Persons between the ages of 18 and 70 are qualified, providing they have the other necessary qualifications.

October 1919

60 Years Ago

Two hundred shares of capital stock of the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) valued at about $81,000 have been donated by Mrs. Charles W. Collins of Cooperstown to the State University College of Education at Oneonta to purchase rare books, unusual collections and special supplies, not normally provided from state appropriations. Mrs. Collins made the donation in honor of Dr. James M. Milne, the first principal of the Oneonta State Normal School for whom the college’s new library has been named. She was one of Dr. Milne’s students while attending the school. After graduation, she continued her education at Vassar. Raised in one of the oldest families in Oneonta, Mrs. Collins is the former Florence Ford, whose original family home stood where the Acme Market now is located. Her grandfather, Elaikim Feed Ford was one of the first merchants to settle in the village of Oneonta.

October 1959

40 Years Ago

The menu of the Otsego County Nutrition Program for the Aging the week of October 22-26 will be: Monday – Pineapple-grapefruit juice, Chop Suey with pork on rice sliced carrots, onion-dill bread, ice cream, coffee, tea, milk served with each meal daily. Tuesday – Cran-apple juice, stuffed peppers with tomato sauce, wax jellied fruit-cottage cheese salad, oatmeal bread, mixed fruit cup. Wednesday – Salmon loaf with white sauce, baked potato, broccoli, whole wheat bread, chocolate tart. Thursday – Tomato juice, roast beef and gravy, mashed potatoes, Brussel sprouts, tossed salad, popover apple. Friday – Grapefruit juice, cheese strata, Harvard beets, lime gelatin salad with shredded carrots, apricot halves. Meal locations: Nader Towers, Cooperstown First Baptist Church, West Oneonta Fire House, Worcester American Legion Hall, Unadilla Methodist Church.

October 1979

20 Years Ago

The Ku Klux Klan sued New York City and its police department alleging that its First Amendment rights to wear the traditional white hoods would be violated if the group was denied a permit to rally. The permit was denied on the grounds that the wearing of hoods violates a state statute that prohibits groups from congregating in public places while wearing masks or disguising their faces except for authorized masquerade parties or entertainment. The law has been on the books 150 years but is rarely used, officials said. New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Norman Siegel said “This is an important First Amendment case. Regardless of the message, the First Amendment says people have a right to express their views. They have a right to anonymous political activity.” The KKK contends its members wear the hoods to protect their identities because they have been subjected to retaliation because of their views. KKK National Imperial Grand Wizard Jeff Berry has also said that the hood is part of the group’s “religious attire.”

October 1999

10 Years Ago

The affiliation of A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta
with Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown is expected to be completed by January 1, 2010, officials at both organizations confirmed at a media conference at the FoxCare Center in Oneonta. Following the unanimous approval by the boards of both Bassett and Fox, the decision only needs the approval of regulators and the completion of a management and medical services agreements. Under the agreement, Fox will become an affiliated hospital in the Bassett Healthcare Network according to Bassett President and Chief Executive Dr. William Streck. “Any time health care is delivered in a more coordinated fashion, access, quality and efficiency improve and there is a reduction in the fragmentation of patient care,” Streck said. As part of the agreement Bassett will provide management and medical services to Fox.

October 2009