BOUND VOLUMES

December 3, 2020

200 YEARS AGO

Thanksgiving — Wednesday next is the day recommended by the Chief Magistrate of this State to be set apart for Public Thanksgiving and Prayer to Almighty God. The inhabitants of this County, being principally emigrants from New England, and accustomed to venerate the examples of their forefathers, it is presumed a recommendation so consonant with their practices, will meet with the most respectful consideration, and that setting aside the things of time and sense, they will, with one heart, join in devout aspirations of prayer and thanksgiving, for the innumerable mercies and benefactions of their common Father in Heaven.

December 4, 1820

175 YEARS AGO

Advertisement: Dentistry – William S. Barnard respectfully informs the inhabitants of Otsego and adjoining counties that he is located at Milford, for the practice of DENTAL SURGERY in all its branches. His office is on River Street, two doors south of the Presbyterian Church, upstairs, where he will be happy to wait upon those who will favor him with a call in the line of his profession. Teeth of his setting may be seen in the Village, which have been in use five years, proving perfectly satisfactory. All operations at the following prices will be warranted equal to any in the State of New York, or no charge: Whole set on gold plate — $65.00. Small plates, proportionately low. Teeth on pivot, each $1.50; filled with gold 65 cents; filled with composition 35 cents; Set of teeth cleansed 50 cents.

December 6, 1845

150 YEARS AGO

Death of our oldest citizen – Mr. Charles Thurston, the oldest resident of this village, died December 2, and was buried with Masonic honors on Sunday last. He was born in North Stonington, CT., July 2, 1780, and was in his ninety-first year. He had resided in this town 80 years, and in Cooperstown since 1816. Mr. T. was for many years in the employ of the Messrs. Phinney, who esteemed him an excellent and faithful workman. He was always an ardent Democrat, and when asked on November 8 whether he would go to the polls and vote for Hoffman, replied “Yes, if it kills me.”

December 8, 1870

125 YEARS AGO

Thanksgiving Day this year came on November 28 and the weather was superb – neither too warm, nor too cold, and the sun shining brightly all day long. The attendance at the Union services in the Methodist Church was quite large, and the sermon by the Rev. Mr. McHarg most appropriate and interesting, from the text: “Say not thou that the former days were better than these? For thou dost not consider wisely concerning this.” The material interests of the country were not discussed. The comparisons were along the line of the nation’s growth in education, morality and religion – “and there is a steady growth, and the former days were not better than these.” The discourse was one well calculated to turn away the thoughts of the hearers for the hour from the daily ambitions, cares and worries of life, and to afford cheer and courage in the contemplation of matters of higher import. A collection was taken for the benefit of The Thanksgiving Hospital.

December 5, 1895

100 YEARS AGO

Cooperstown Girls Play Basketball – Friday evening was the occasion of two lively games of basketball, one between the “Bluebirds” and the “Juniors,” with a score of 3 to 1, the three points being the dexterous throws by Miss Ann Hyde of the “Juniors.” Frances Byard scored the point for the Bluebirds.” In the first half, their allowed time having expired after neither team had scored, they clamored for a second trial. This was granted after some hesitation, yielding the eventual result. Teams from Hartwick Seminary and high school freshmen then took possession of the boards. The high school fellows easily led the visitors all through the contest, the game closing in their favor with a score of 31 to 9.

December 8, 1920

50 YEARS AGO

The Service Guild of the Presbyterian Church will meet Monday, December 7 at 8 p.m. at the home of Mrs. Frederick H. McGown, Jr. Mrs. Jane Oldham, who teaches children under the BOCES program for Otsego and Delaware counties will be the speaker. There are also Christmas projects to work on.
Hugh Cooke MacDougall of New York City spent the Thanksgiving weekend with his grandmother, Mrs. Joseph B. Cooke at her home on Chestnut Street.
Mr. and Mrs. Waldo T. Ellsworth of Cooperstown have announced the engagement of their daughter Eleanore Taylor Ellsworth to Hugh Cooke MacDougall, son of Hugh MacDougall and the late Ursula Cooke MacDougall of New York and Cooperstown.
Thanksgiving weekend guests at the home of Mrs. Charles D. Ellsworth on Pioneer Street were her son Gerald, a graduate student at the University of Michigan and Mrs. Roy Baker of Rochester.

December 2, 1970

25 YEARS AGO

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was abuzz Tuesday as Ted Spencer, curator, took his spot in front of the statues of Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, waiting for his cue to be on television. Spencer was just one of many people interviewed from 7 to 9 a.m. for a live broadcast segment of “Good Day New York” a New York City-based television program that aims to bring vacation spots within driving distance of the city to viewers. Host Jim Ryan and correspondent Donna Hanover (wife of New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani) were in Cooperstown, along with about 15 television technicians and producers.

December 3, 1995

10 YEARS AGO

Seismic Testing for natural gas deposits was underway along Beaver Meadow road near Cooperstown. Gastem Inc., the Montreal-based exploration concern, had just completed its first vertical frack on Crumhorn Mountain and was preparing for another in Cherry Valley’s Irish Hollow. Then came word from Albany on Monday, November 29, of the lop-sided 93-43 approval for a state-wide drilling moratorium on the much-feared method of discovering and extracting natural gas from deep subterranean shale deposits. Local environmental groups and their supporters who have opposed fracking for more than a year were exultant. “This is a very significant achievement,” said Nicole Dillingham, President of Otsego 2000, a member organization in the anti-fracking coalition.

December 2, 2010