BOUND VOLUMES, July 12, 2012
200 YEARS AGO
Advertisement – Ran Away from the subscriber on the 25th of June, a servant boy by the name of Stephen Scudder, aged 18 years, the sixth day of April last; it is expected he will enlist into the United States Army at Otsego. I forbid all persons harboring or trusting him on my account; any person apprehending him, and returning him back to me, shall have one cent reward and no charges paid. Henry Cable, Maryland.
July 11, 1812
175 YEARS AGO
The arrangements for celebrating the 61st anniversary of our National Independence in this place were fully carried out on the 4th instant. The day was ushered in by the firing of cannon and ringing of bells, and 11 o’clock a.m., a procession was formed and escorted by the military to the Baptist Church, where the exercises were opened by a fervent prayer from Elder Raymond, and continued by the reading of the Declaration of Independence by J.H. Prentiss, the delivery of an Oration by S.S. Bowne, and the benediction by the Rev. Mr. Whiston. A large auditory gave the strongest evidences of their gratification at the manner and matter of the exercises; and we do but justice to Mr. Bowne, when we say that the matter of his oration was well arranged, the composition neat and forcible, and its delivery graceful. The dinner prepared by Mr. Butts was got up in excellent style, and displayed all the good things which a sincere desire to please is sure to afford. On no occasion have we ever sat down to so good an entertainment in this county.
July 10, 1837
150 YEARS AGO
Volunteers are needed to reinforce our brave army in the field. How shall they be obtained fast enough, and in sufficient numbers? The Government offers liberal pay; but the inducement is not sufficient in this crisis. Men are needed now, and they must be had, or the rebellion becomes a success. Otsego County should furnish 400 of the 50,000 men New York is called upon to raise. To do this properly, she should donate $50 to each volunteer as an additional inducement to enlist, or to assist in taking care of his family. Why should not the country, as well as the cities, aid in this manner? Let the Supervisors of Otsego County meet immediately, and vote to raise $20,000 by loan to aid in this movement. The amount might be paid in four years, and none of us feel the poorer. Shall it be done?
July 11, 1862
125 YEARS AGO
Local – Masher vanquished. Were the narrow escape of a specimen of that human biped called a “masher” from deserved public chastisement at the hands of one of our stalwarts generally known here, it might serve to save young ladies in Cooperstown from further annoyance of a certain kind. That is a foreign imposition of ill manners not to be tolerated here by “plain country people.”
About forty of the friends of Samuel S. Bowne gathered at his home last Tuesday, to celebrate with Mr. and Mrs. Bowne their fifth wedding anniversary.
Miss Kate S. Hamlin, who proposes to give a series of morning talks on English Language and Literature, is the teacher of reading and literature in the Troy Female Seminary and has the highest credentials. The place is the Presbyterian Chapel; opening talk, Friday, 10:30 a.m. Tickets for a course of five talks — $2.
July 15, 1887
75 YEARS AGO
The Cooperstown Playgrounds opened last week for the thirteenth season under the direction of Lester G. Bursey. In the two days of activities of activities, over 100 children have registered. The director has two young people assisting him this season – Miss Catherine Foland and Walter Eggleston. Miss Foland is taking full charge of the girls’ program while on the grounds and will assist with the swimming on girls’ day.
At its regular luncheon on Tuesday, the Cooperstown Rotary club voted unanimously to recommend that the board of directors arrange for weekly luncheons of the club hereafter at the Cooper Inn.
July 14, 1937
50 YEARS AGO
Paul A. Donnelly of Holyoke, Massachusetts assumed his new duties last week as an administrative assistant at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital. He will handle the major portions of the hospital’s public relations program. Mr. Donnelly is a native of Holyoke. He attended Holyoke Junior College for two years before transferring to the University of New Hampshire where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1960. He graduated from the Cornell University graduate school of Business and Public Administration last month. While at Holyoke J.C. Donnelly was vice-president of his class and an outfielder on the school’s baseball team.
July 11, 1962
25 YEARS AGO
Bassett Hospital has announced that local pitching ace Holly Aprile of Afton, N.Y. has agreed to join their softball team for the benefit game against the WGY All-Stars, scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. Proceeds from the exhibition game will go to Friends of the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in their efforts to establish the Bassett Birthing Center. Miss Aprile recently completed her junior season at Afton high school and led her team to the New York State Class D championship with an undefeated record. Miss Aprile has thrown 23 career no-hitters and is generally acknowledged to be among the top softball pitchers ever to have performed in New York State.
July 15, 1987
10 YEARS AGO
A red fox was found to have rabies after several village residents reported being attacked and bitten last week. On July 2, Patricia Thorpe of Estli Avenue reported being attacked by a possibly rabid fox. An hour later, Laura Kilty reported that a fox was attempting to enter her house. Cooperstown police officer Joe Kenney responded and encountered the animal outside Kilty’s home along Estli Avenue. Kenney fired five shots at the fox, striking it three times before it ran off. Half-an-hour later Judi Tripp of Lakeview Drive reported being bitten by a fox.
July 12, 2002