HOMETOWN HISTORY, November 29, 2013

125 Years Ago
The women of our land are daily gaining a firmer foothold in all the business of the country, and winning more of public recognition of their ability and genius. For some time past, many of the higher grades of social and literary events, in some of our large cities, have been in their hands, and in situations and vocations where a few years ago there was no thought of competition, women are acknowledged to be equally competent as men.
November 1888

100 Years Ago
John Kendrick Bangs lectured to the students of the Oneonta Normal and High School course. The title of his talk was “Salubrities I Have Met.” By “Salubrities” Mr. Bangs explained that he meant the pleasant, whole-souled, genial men and women whose humor, tact, and gentle courtesy make life worth living. The lecture was incomparable as a genial, wholesome, overflowing of humor out of the very heart of the speaker’s personal experiences. To say that his audience was pleased is but a trite expression, for an emotion which followed with keenest interest every statement and expression, laughing heartily at quip and jest, smiling at the gentle touches of a rarer humor and betimes saddening at the pathos of his word.
November 1913

80 Years Ago
Three Greek letter organizations on the Hartwick College campus held their informal initiation ceremonies Monday evening at their respective houses. Two sororities and one fraternity participated, initiating a total of 17 students. A mock initiation ceremony, in which all the members acted as members of an Indian tribe, featured the informal initiation of Phi Sigma Phi sorority held at 8 Cozy Avenue. The pass words “wekum,” “wakum,” and “wokum” were used. Those initiated were the Misses Galey Cop, Catherine Fox, Elizabeth Gregory, Janet Holden, Ida Moshier, and Lucille Remey. The pledges came dressed to represent a politician, an old maid school teacher, a hobo, a football hero, and a farmer. The remaining one was termed indescribable.
November 1933

60 Years Ago
Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill declared today that the danger of war has lessened because now the Russians – along with the rest of mankind – fear the annihilation an atomic conflict would bring. In an optimistic review of foreign affairs, the Prime Minister told the House of Commons he believed the Russian people and their leaders have lost their stomach for aggression. Churchill held that the fearful nature of atomic weapons which “cast their shadows on every thoughtful mind” may force the human race to keep a lasting peace. The 78-year-old Prime Minister stated: “I do not find it unreasonable or dangerous to conclude that internal prosperity, rather than external conquest is not only the deep desire of the Russian people, but also the long interest of their rulers.”
November 1953

40 Years Ago
Fox Hospital, in a move to expand its emergency room services, has hired a veteran physician to become is first chief of Emergency Medical Services. The appointment of Dr. Joseph B. Fowler, 59, formerly of Salt Lake City, was announced yesterday. Also, Dr. Stephen W. Van deCarr, 30, joined the hospital staff as a fulltime member of the Emergency Room staff. Already serving on the Emergency Room staff is Dr. John Spoor of Gilbertsville. The hospital expects to hire a fourth physician for the Emergency Room “within a month or two.”

November 1973
30 Years Ago
Local Young Volunteers in Action have given more than 3,141 hours of volunteer service in 1982-1983 according to Nancy Kroll Y.V.A. coordinator. She expects the program, started in December, 1982, to generate 5,000 volunteer hours over the next twelve months. Y.V.A. gives youth, 14 to 22 years of age, a chance to get involved in their communities while exploring their career interests.
November 1983

20 Years Ago
More than 80 children from the Oneonta area begin their school day every morning by going to an office complex, filing past architectural and software firms and into their classroom – a converted optometrist’s office. It’s quite a change from the last six school years, when the non-denominational Oneonta Community Christian School was located in Baptist churches. School officials made the move into their new site at 3200 Chestnut Street, formerly known as the Trade Mart, in September.
November 1993