BOUND VOLUMES, August 22, 2013
200 YEARS AGO
We are informed that a Floating Battery, in the form of an Octagon, constructed under the superintendence of Mr. William Cooper, formerly of this village, was stove to pieces on its way from Oswego to Sacket’s harbor, the fore part of July. It is said that 15 men were navigating it, one or two of whom were drowned and the remainder considerably injured. It is stated to have been built at the expense and risk of Mr. Cooper, and to have cost about 5,000 dollars – intended to have carried 16 heavy guns. (Ed. Note: The William Cooper referred to was the son of William Cooper, the founder of Cooperstown.)
August 21, 1813
175 YEARS AGO
This region has, during the last ten days, been visited by frequent thunder showers, and the earth is literally drenched with water. The lightning has been unusually sharp, and in some cases has produced swift destruction not only to property, but to human life. In the afternoon of Saturday, the dwelling houses of Mrs. Ernst and Mr. Richard Cooper, situate at the eastern extremity of this village, were severally struck by bolts of lightning, but without doing material injury. In the former case, the shock was so severe as to prostrate a young man and fritter to atoms two looking glasses. A barn, belonging to Mr. Warren, situate on the road on the west side of the lake, about three miles northwardly from the village, was also struck, but not much damaged. Asa B. Thompson, aged about 24 years, of the Town of Decatur, was killed instantly by lightning on Saturday last, while at work in the hay field. He was a young man very much respected by all who knew him; his funeral was attended the following day by a very large concourse of people.
August 20, 1838
150 YEARS AGO
Miss Minnie Crawford, the celebrated blind vocalist, will give a concert of vocal music at the Court House in this village, on Thursday evening of next week. Miss C. was educated at the New York Institute for the Blind, and comes highly recommended. She will be accompanied by her sister, Miss Emma Crawford. These young ladies deserve, and we hope will have a full house. Tickets are for sale at W.H. Ruggles’ and G.M. Grant & Co.
Summer visitors have crowded the hotels and boarding houses of our village to overflowing this season, and scores of families might have been added to our visitors, could suitable accommodations have been furnished. What a pity that Cooperstown is so destitute of capital in these flush times that a large first-class hotel cannot be erected to meet the growing demands of the public.
August 21, 1863
125 YEARS AGO
Local & Personal: The many friends of Miss Cooper are happy to see her occasionally on the Lake steamers and out driving this summer. Her health has improved with the improvement in the Orphanage finances, which has lessened her cares and efforts in at least one direction.
In the lawn tennis tournament at the Cooper House last week the winners were: gentleman’s single, Marion Wright; Gentleman’s double, Mssers. Trevor and Bowers; mixed double, Mr. Trevor and Miss Johnson.
Base Ball: At the Phoenix, August 11th – Phoenix Athletic Association 18, Cooperstown Athletics 8.
August 24, 1888
100 YEARS AGO
The real estate, buildings and entire equipment of the knitting mills at Phoenix Mills, N.Y. are to be sold to the highest bidder at public auction of Thursday of this week. Some of the buildings are now being torn down. For many years these mills, under one ownership or another, furnished employment for many expert hands, and added much to the business life of Cooperstown and vicinity. One owner after another was compelled to give up because of the handicap of the high freight rates. The knitting mills at Phoenix furnish one of the best reasons why the town railroad stock should be sold to the D&H Company, the sale carrying with it the removal of all arbitrary freight rates.
August 20, 1913
75 YEARS AGO
Under perfect weather conditions and in a setting of incomparable charm, upwards of 2,500 people of Otsego County and Central New York gathered at the new Lakefront Park in Cooperstown on Sunday afternoon and gave a whole-hearted response to the invitation of Lorenzo Camilieri, leader of the People’s Chorus of New York, to sing. The crowd thrilled to the marvelous interludes of the orchestra made up of twenty pieces from the Philharmonic Symphony orchestra, who came up from the metropolis to assist. No greater or more highly enjoyed gathering has been held in this place for years. Among the songs sung were: “America,” “Old Black Joe,” “Nancy Lee,” “Annie Laurie,” “Santa Lucia,” “My Sunshine,” “Nearer My God to Thee,” and “Onward Christian Soldiers. The event concluded with “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
August 24, 1938
25 YEARS AGO
Area residents and visitors came out last Saturday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lake Front Park. A donation from Robert Sterling Clark in 1937 enabled the village to acquire the park from the Otsego Lake Transit Company. The Cooperstown Community Band inaugurated the new park by performing its weekly concert there on August 10, 1938. Last Saturday, the Cooperstown Community Band performed again along with Skip Parson’s Riverboat Dixieland Jazz Band and storyteller Rick Angerami.
August 24, 1988
10 YEARS AGO
The local area was sporadically affected last Thursday, as a record-setting power outage cut electricity to the Northeastern United States. While the villages of Cooperstown and Cherry Valley were cast into darkness shortly after 4 p.m., Richfield Springs, Milford, Hartwick, and other areas experienced only low power, or a very brief interruption in service. Customers whose power is supplied by the Otsego Rural Electric Co-op weathered the situation mostly intact. Customers of New York Electric & Gas were without power for hours in some locations, and all customers of Niagara Mohawk lost power for several hours. The villages of Cooperstown and Unadilla were the last in Otsego County to have power restored.
August 22, 2003
