Bound Volumes

December 5, 2024

210 YEARS AGO

Martial Hymn by Wm. Ray—Arm! Sons of freedom arm! The British legions come! Blow loud the trumpet of alarm, And roll the thund’ring drum! Fly to repel the foe! Your dearest rights to save—Crush the dire monster at a blow, Ye spirits of the brave! Shall Britons, drunk with blood, Your peaceful shores invade? Shall the fell despots of the flood, Your conquerors be made? Forbid it mighty God! My country, O forbid! No, let us nail them to the sod, As our forefathers did,

December 1, 1814

85 YEARS AGO

On Thursday and Friday nights this week, Clark F. Simmons Post No. 579, American Legion, is sponsoring the appearance of the Mohawk Valley Minstrels, with a cast of twenty, made up of old-time minstrels from in and around Herkimer and Little Falls. All funds derived from the entertainment will go toward furnishing the Post’s new headquarters which have been set up in the Hyde Building on Main Street, recently purchased by the Legionnaires. The entire building has been renovated and will be opened about the first of the year with elaborate ceremonies. The cast will include Ralph Cress as interlocutor, and end men Leslie “Sambo” Bishop, Kitty “Bones” Usinn, Edson “Rastus” Wood. Forrest “Molasses” Siegel, Thomas “Amos” Donahue, and Etta, “Amy” Rogers. Prices are 40 cents for adults and 25 cents for children under 14.

December 6, 1939

60 YEARS AGO

Residents of the Hartwick community may become owners of their own water distribution system if current plans work out to form a water district to take over the privately-owned firm which now supplies the community. The privately-owned Hartwick Water Works Company, headed by Orlo G. Burch of Hartwick village, was organized in 1896. It currently has about 150 patrons who pay a flat rate of a dollar a month for service. Its supply source, until it dried up, was a lake about a half mile east of the village on Barney Gulf Creek. Another source is a driven well and a spring southeast of Hartwick. A 150,000 gallon reservoir, in a state of disrepair, is used for storage. Treatment facilities consist of a pressure chlorinator and an electric chlorinator.

December 2, 1964

35 YEARS AGO

Only a few families are left to be adopted from The Freeman’s Journal Christmas Fund. Taking care of five children is hard enough, but Christmas is a real hardship. New outfits for the children would be greatly appreciated. Ginny, age 6 and size 6 needs tights and T-shirts; Patty, age 9, size 8-10 girls, also needs tights and T-shirts; Nancy, age 7, size 7 would like a new pink dress with tights; Tony, age 2, size 4T and Bobby, 8 months, size 12-18 really need new outfits. Some books or games would be a big surprise.

December 6, 1989

20 YEARS AGO

Like Santa Claus bearing early Christmas gifts, State Senator James Seward brought a sack of large checks to the Cooperstown Fire Station Tuesday morning. All told, the seven grants to six local organizations totaled $266,000 in state funds. Receiving grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 were the Cooperstown Volunteer Fire Department, the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Otsego, the New York State Historical Association, the Brookwood School and the Cook Foundation which oversees Brookwood Gardens. “The grants will enhance the quality of life in Cooperstown, help build the community and improve the local economy,” Seward said.

December 3, 2004