HOMETOWN HISTORY, July 6, 2012
125 Years Ago
The Local News – A beautiful sight was witnessed at the residence of Lester Eaton, Fairview Street on Monday evening – the blossoming of a night-blooming cereus. Seven buds gradually opened during the evening, filling the room with fragrance and bringing exclamations of delight from all who were privileged to watch the flowers as they unfolded.
The weather this past week has been the hottest known in years. For several days the mercury has managed to creep above ninety degrees, the highest altitude attained being ninety-seven in the shade. Still, there are those who mechanically inquire, “Is it hot enough for you?”
A.D. Yager now carries a fine gold watch which he won by guessing the number of beans in a bottle at the auction rooms of Mr. Close. Mr. Yager guessed within two of the right number as did also G.W. Raymond. Mr. Raymond sold Mr. Yager his interest in the watch.
July 1887
100 Years Ago
It is a fact of much gratification to the faculty and board of education of the Oneonta high school that almost every individual member of this year’s graduating class is planning to continue the search for education in the higher branches next year and a very large percentage of these young men and women are to enter college in September, while a large number also will enter the Normal or continue at the high school for a post graduate course as preparation for college. According to present plans the Normal will receive Misses Janet Mary Ainslee, Agnes Bell Bailey, Ruth Luella Clark, Grace Madge Crouch, Blanche Eldred, Sarah McCracken Emory, Lila Mae Hall, Ethel May Kidder, Louise Marie Kirchoff, Marion Marcia Lull, Mae Elizabeth MacDonald, and Mable Neva Reynolds. Clyde Frederick Bresee will enter New York University; Herbert Clapsaddle Getman, Hamilton College; Earl Sewell Hoyt, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Daniel Luce, Jr., Yale University; Raymond Maure, Wesleyan University; Douglas Stewart McCrum, Amherst College; Ernest Granville Rathbun, Cornell University; and William Henry Stratton, Colgate University.
July 1912
80 Years Ago
Five play centers opened for the summer on Tuesday with a trained staff of playground workers with recreational programs for the young folks of the city. This summer marks the eighth season of playground activity in this community. All sorts of equipment will be at the disposal of the various groups and a varied and interesting program of crafts, games, and sports is in readiness. A trained worker is in charge of the boys’ and girls’ groups respectively at each unit of the system, and careful consideration is shown to each child in attendance. The girls will have their time available for soap carving, basketry, weaving, paper-modeling, leather braiding, and the making of yarn gifts as well as the many games and sports. The boys will begin immediate work on athletic badge tests, with an opportunity for all ages to earn a badge on the successful completion of the standard tests for his age. These tests include running, jumping, chinning, ball throw, etc.
July 1932
60 Years Ago
General Douglas MacArthur, the old soldier who didn’t fade away after all, set the Republicans on fire last night calling for a mighty all-party crusade against making America “a socialistic, or even later a Communistic state.” The five-star general of the Army set off a long, wild ovation when he came before the strife-torn Republican National Convention to flay the Democrats for “tragic blunders” leading the nation, he said, toward a third world war. MacArthur’s speech struck two main chords: One – The Democratic Party has been captured by schemers who are wrecking the American standard of living, making world conquest easy for the Russians and setting this nation’s course “unerringly toward the socialistic regimentation of a totalitarian state.” Two – The Republicans have a golden opportunity in the November election to enlist Americans with no distinctions of race, creed or political affiliation in a crusade for peace, prosperity and tranquility.
July 1952
40 Years Ago
How do you create a project that will combine science, mathematics, art and reading for a group of fifth-graders with the added feature of keeping them actively interested? Fifth grade teacher Wendall Bachman of Greater Plains found the answer. Take a trip – a trip to Mars, that is. Bachman’s class created a “space craft,” planned their trip, computing the time and distance on a scale of three minutes equaling one day, programmed a scale flight progress model, and took off for Mars. The youngsters went so far as to remain in school over Friday night, so that the flight wouldn’t be interrupted. “Blast-off” was at 12:02 p.m., Friday, June 16, with the flight schedule landing on Mars at 9:46 p.m. on December 23. Part of the astronauts’ schedule was a series of “walks on Mars” during which astronauts Steve Lawton and Tom Gaffney gathered “specimens of plant life” as well as samples of the Martian “soil.” They left Mars at 10:16 p.m., January 4, and landed back on earth at 8:01 a.m. July 15. Mr. Bachman and his wife stayed with the youngsters during the entire experiment, camping out in the classroom with them Friday night.
July 1972
30 Years Ago
The 194th General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America declared its opposition Monday to a proposed constitutional amendment, endorsed by President Ronal Reagan. The amendment reads in part: Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual or group prayer in public schools or other public institutions. No person shall be required by the United States or by any state to participate in prayer.
July 1982
10 Years Ago
Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. is set to offer its first Child/Teen Bereavement Camp. Called “Camp Forget Me Not,” the campers will meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the State University College at Oneonta Camp. The camp is free of charge to area children and teens in grades K-12 who have suffered the loss of a parent, sibling, or other close relative or friend. There will be fun activities mixed with grief support and counseling.
July 2002
