HOMETOWN HISTORY, September 14, 2012

100 Years Ago
The Central New York Fair, the big event of the year in this city, opens next Monday for four days. The association will distribute $5,000 in premiums and prizes to exhibitors of articles. An equal amount will be spent for the aviators, the races, and the roof garden attractions for entertainment. The association believes that it will sustain fully its reputation of giving the best value for 25 cents of any county fair in the state. The successful flights made by aviator Ely of the Curtis Exhibition Co. last year, which so delighted all in attendance, resulted in another contract with that reliable concern, which will send one of its most skillful aviators here for the week of the fair. A second aviator has also been engaged to assure an abundance of flights so that there will be no disappointment likely for visitors. The aviation display alone will be worth coming miles to see.
September 1912

80 Years Ago
A herd of seven deer was reported in John Orr’s pasture on the South Side Tuesday afternoon by Grant Wilber who resides on Franklin Mountain, across the road from Noble’s restaurant. The animals were first seen by Mrs. Vernon Townsend, housekeeper at the Wilber home, and she called other members of the household. The deer came out of the woods to drink at a spring near the edge of the pasture, but were soon frightened away by the barking of a dog. They were of medium size, and were apparently young animals. Deer have been seen in the vicinity before, but this is the first time that a herd of this size has been reported.

Launching a surprise attack under cover of darkness, Co. G, Monday night stormed Kiwanis Island in Neawha Park and succeeded in wresting the fortification from the enemy. The attack, which was given all the frills of war, was one of the problems in night operations mapped out by Captain Danforth Bolton, First Lieutenant Frank McCook, and Second Lieutenant Franklin C. Davis. The crackling of rifle fire and the occasional boom of a big gun caused excited speculation among residents of the city until it was learned that a “war” was on. Due to lack of artillery, bombs were used to simulate the “Big Berthas.”
September 1932

60 Years Ago
Fourteen Spaulding Co. truck drivers in the Oneonta area will receive the benefits of a new union contract with the firm, starting Wednesday, September 17. The first immediate benefit of the new contract will be the inauguration of a five-day week. As a result of the shorter work week, in the future, no bread will be delivered on Wednesdays, but drivers will be expected to work more time on some of the other days of the week. Other benefits to be granted, depending on approval first by the Wage Stabilization Board, are a $2 weekly pay increase, and granting of three vacations after ten years of service. The new contract will affect not only drivers in Oneonta, but also Spaulding drivers throughout the firm’s territory, as well as drivers for National Biscuit Co. and Cobako in this area.
September 1952

40 Years Ago
Figures released by the New York State Department of Health reveal that 70 Otsego County residents received induced abortions. A total of 136 abortions were performed in the county during the calendar year 1971. Of the 136 induced abortions in Otsego County, 54 abortions, or 39.7 percent of all abortions in the county were performed on New York residents that live outside the county. Another 12 women received abortions in the county, who live out of state. Eighty women received abortions in Delaware County, with just half of them residents of the county. Another 36 women, or 45 percent, were New York State residents living outside Delaware County. Four others were from out of state. In New York State, a total of 262,807 induced abortions were officially reported to the State Health Department during 1971. Of these, 159,969 were performed on out of state residents, accounting for 60.9 percent of the total. Nearly 79 percent of the induced abortions were performed during the first three months of pregnancy. The procedures most used were suction and curettage, and dilation and curettage. Together, these procedures accounted for 84.5 percent of the reported abortions. Most abortion patients were young. Persons under 25 obtained 63 percent of the total. Four-fifths of the abortion patients were Caucasian.
September 1972

30 Years Ago
The finance committee chairman of the Otsego County legislature, which has been studying a proposed local income tax, said Monday that his group probably will recommend that the state be asked to look into the matter, even though the committee is against the plan at this time. The committee includes Rep. Carl Higgins (R-Edmeston), Charles Bateman (R-Cooperstown) and Leon Kalmus (D-Oneonta). During a committee meeting on August 25, Higgins said, “We all agree that the income tax has probably always been considered the fairest tax that has been devised.” Other disadvantages, however, outweigh the advantages, he added. Proponents of the income tax saw it as a substitute for the property tax, but Higgins said, “We discovered in our study that it would be almost impossible to do away completely with the property tax.”
September 1982

20 Years Ago
About 2,500 spectators witnessed the debut of Hartwick College’s first football team in 42 years on Saturday. Hartwick’s Warriors lost to King’s College (Pennsylvania), 20-17. Last February, the Oneonta Common Council approved a special use permit allowing the college to enlarge its All-Weather Field, previously used for lacrosse and field hockey, by 15 feet. The permit also allowed the school to add 500 additional seats, doubling the bleacher capacity.
September 1992

10 Years Ago
Thomas Golisano, a candidate for governor, called for cutting the number of public school teachers, teaching abstinence from sex to students, and eliminating day-care facilities for teen mothers at schools. Golisano said education in New York State is failing despite the ever-rising amounts of taxpayer dollars the state is contributing.
September 2002