BOUND VOLUMES

December 24, 2020

200 YEARS AGO

A New Kind of Bed: These beds are made of the husks of Indian Corn in the following manner – So soon as they are ripe, the husks should be gathered when they are dry and in a clear air. The outer hard husks are to be rejected and the softer inner ones to be fully dried out in the shade. Cut off the hard end formerly attached to the cob and draw the husk through a hatchel, or suitably divide it with a coarse comb. The article is now fit for use. It can be put in an entire sack as straw is, or to be formed into a mattress, as prepared hair is, of any size and thickness you please. This material is sweet, pleasant and durable, lasting from five to ten years. Two invalids, who have used them for eight years past in this
neighborhood, unite in saying that those who have once tried a bed of this kind, will wish no other winter or summer.

December 25, 1820

175 YEARS AGO

In the U.S. Supreme Court: The Captain of a vessel refused to pay the tax of one dollar upon each emigrant passenger in his ship having arrived at the Port of New York, in accordance with the laws of our state. An action was commenced against him. It was decided in his favor and brought up to the Supreme Court of the United States. Martin Van Buren appeared as Attorney General for the State of New York. His speech today marks him a man of the brightest genius as one possessing a high order of talents. Daniel Webster is to appear for the defendant another day. It is intellectual combat which will attract the deepest attention.

December 20, 1845

150 YEARS AGO

The Roll of Honor for the Grammar Department of the Cooperstown School in order of relative scholarship and no absences beyond three: Sarah M. Potter, W. Eugene Johnstone, Frank C. Hyde, Delia E. Bell, Julia W. Stowell, Fannie C. Leaning, Lizzie M. Wood, Minnie S. Lathrop, Fannie B. Lewis, John M. Russell, Alice G. Dennison, Fred B. House, Cora Temple, Edgar H. Lake, Adelbert Smith, Libby Sweet, Willie P. Sayles, Fannie E. Grant, Eva Bliss, J.A. Melrose Johnston, Jean S. Lathrop, Mary F. Parshall, Willie S. McNamee, Genevieve B. Higby. Emma A. Perkins, Jennie Snyder.

December 29, 1870

125 YEARS AGO

Village Affairs: A petition signed by a majority of the property owners on Pine Street was presented to the Trustees asking that the name of said street be changed to Beadle Avenue, in memory of the late Erastus F. Beadle. On motion, the name was ordered changed, the vote being four in favor, none opposed; five being present. (Ed. Note: Erastus F. Beadle was a native of nearby Pierstown. By the 1850s Beadle had become famous as the “Dime Novel King,” for his widely distributed, suggestively illustrated, cheap, popular newsstand paperbacks. Beadle made a fortune and retired to Cooperstown late in life. In American literature, Beadle’s publications were the “low brow” to James Fenimore Cooper’s “highbrow.” Today, the street remains Pine Boulevard.)

December 26, 1895

100 YEARS AGO

Excerpts from an editorial on “Disarmament” – There is considerable discussion in the newspapers just now in regard to the idea of disarmament. It has been discovered that 93 cents out of every dollar of Uncle Sam’s money this year goes for war, past, present and yet to come. People are beginning to wonder whether competitive armaments among the great nations are a good investment, and whether it would not be better to turn our attention from the manufacture of means of slaughter. Almost everyone, outside of those directly interested in the means of manufacture and sale of armaments, will agree that money so spent is worse than wasted. And yet, unless there is to be some understanding among the nations, there is nothing that any nation can do excepting to prepare for war. By a great majority, the people of the United States have voted against the Treaty of Peace, which would have averted future wars and which provided for disarmament among the nations. There are only two paths that we as a nation can pursue. We can spend our money for implements of war and thus get ready to protect ourselves in the next conflict, or we can make an agreement with the other nations which would establish a court to which future controversies would be taken, and thus pave the way for lasting peace.

December 29, 1920

50 YEARS AGO

Cooperstown Central School rebounded Friday night from its first boys’ basketball loss of the season to hang an 80 to 66 defeat on Waterville and move into a tie for first place with Sauquoit Valley in the Eastern Division of the Center State Conference with identical 3-1 records. Three nights earlier the Redskins dropped a 58-56 decision to Sauquoit in sa game marred by fouls, injuries and sloppy basketball. In the Waterville game, the Redskins scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to break open an otherwise close game. Good rebounding ad a fast break offense were the main reasons for the surge. The game was tied 36 – all at halftime. Cliff Coleman scored 18 points in the second half for the Redskins and led all scorers with 29 points shooting 60 percent (13 of 22) from the floor mostly with jumpers.

December 23, 1970

25 YEARS AGO

Area Births – December 1, 1995 – Born to Linden and Sylvia Summers of Cooperstown, a son, Park Garland. November 29, 1995 – Born to Joseph and Julie Bell of Cooperstown, a son Aiden Conner. December 11, 1995 – Born to Fabian and Karen Bressett IV of Edmeston, twin daughters, Paige Kathleen and Kelsey Anne.

December 24, 1995

10 YEARS AGO

Middlefield’s Bill Glockler pointed out the other day that Jan. 1, 2011 will be 1/1/11. When that was pointed out to Bill “William from West of Westville” Sanford, he observed that 1:11 a.m. on the first day of the year will be 1:11, 1/1/11.
Let’s do him one better – The clocks will come to a time on Jan. 11, 2011, that will be 11 hours, 11 minutes and 11 seconds twice (a.m. and p.m.) on the same 1/11/11.

December 23, 2010