BOUND VOLUMES, July 5, 2012

200 YEARS AGO
The period which we have, from the most pure and disinterested motives so long and so deeply deplored, has at last arrived. War against Great Britain and her dependencies, has been solemnly declared by the constituted authorities of the United States. Calculating largely on the united patriotism of the citizens of the United States, the government has taken a bold attitude. They have not been mistaken. War is declared. Duty will now impel every citizen, without distinction of party, to obey; and honor, and patriotism and love of country, for we know no country on earth but America, will soon steel every heart and nerve every arm, to support our country through her present difficulties, and bring the present war in which she is engaged, to a prosperous, honorable, and speedy issue. To do this, the war must be carried on with vigor and activity, commensurate with the expectations of the people.
July 4, 1812

175 YEARS AGO
The Committee of Arrangements for the approaching Anniversary of our National Independence in Cooperstown, have agreed upon and directed the publication of the following order of proceedings. Order of the Day: 1. Morning gun at daybreak. 2. A Federal salute at sunrise; the bells to ring during the firing. 3. The procession will be formed in front of the Eagle Tavern at 10 o’clock a.m., under the direction of Colonels Jarvis and Clark, as Marshals, assisted by Captains Babcock and Holmes. Procession: Military companies; Mozart Society; Orator & Reader; Clergy; Committee of Arrangements; Revolutionary Officers and Soldiers; Citizens & Strangers. The procession will move, under the direction of the Marshals, through the principal streets to the Baptist Church. Exercises in Church: Music; Prayer; Music; Declaration of Independence read by Col. John H. Prentiss; Music; Oration by S.S. Bowne, Esq.; Music; Benediction. In the evening there will be a splendid display of fireworks, with other appropriate manifestations of joy. Two balloons will be sent up – one during the day; the other in the evening.
July 3, 1837

150 YEARS AGO
Local – Base Ball: The match game of base ball between the Olympic Club of Cooperstown and the Leather Stocking Club of Middlefield Centre, played on the County fair grounds, resulted in favor of the former. The game (9 innings) stood as follows: Olympic 39, Leather Stocking 20.
July 4, 1862

100 YEARS AGO
Tuesday, Schneider Bros. Bakery celebrated its 24th anniversary of its establishment in Cooperstown. During all those years they have supplied our people with the best in home-made baked goods, and their store is more popular today than ever. Cooperstown is justly proud of its business places, and of none more than its bakery.
July 3, 1912

75 YEARS AGO
Cooperstown’s grand and glorious Fourth of July celebration was held Monday with a crowd of between one and two thousand people. The celebration officially started in the morning with a parade, led by the village policemen, at 10 o’clock under the auspices of the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce with C.B. Johnson as grand marshal. It was voted the best seen here in years. Following the parade and a flag-raising ceremony at Doubleday Field, the Cooperstown Fire Department and the Hartwick CCC camp teams played a game of baseball won by the firemen, 10-0 behind the three-hit pitching of Gene Willsey. A band concert at 1:30 p.m. was followed by another baseball game between the Home of Baseball team and Richfield Springs, won by the home team, 1-0. A thousand spectators at the high school witnessed a horse show given by the State Police Troop C barracks at Sidney. Wondrous and Muggins, handled by troopers William Mossman and E.J. Palombo put their horses through their paces. Muggins the talking horse, answered questions put to him by Trooper Mossman, by a shake of the head and numerical questions by the pawing of his feet.
July 7, 1937

50 YEARS AGO
The Blue Angels opened the Babe Ruth League season Tuesday night of last week with a 5-0 victory over the Red Devils. Former Mayor H. Gregory Lippitt threw out the first ball. Young Greggy Lippitt hurled three-hit ball for the winners and struck out 10. John Gill got all three of his team’s hits off Lippitt. Brent Nicklas struck out three, gave up two hits and four walks, and wound up the losing hurler. He was relieved by Clark Hall who went on to pitch hitless ball and strike out 10.
July 4, 1962

25 YEARS AGO
History of the U.S. Constitution – The Virginia Plan submitted to the Constitutional Convention on May 29, 1787, called for the creation of a two-house national Congress. In the opinion of most delegates, the second branch, the Senate, would represent the interests of the wealthy in checking the more volatile House of Representatives. To accomplish this goal, the delegates thought that Senators should have a longer term of office than Representatives. Governor Edmund Randolph of Virginia argued that “the licentiousness of State Legislatures proved the necessity of a firm Senate. “If the Senate be not a firm body, the other branch…will overwhelm it. James Madison argued that the Senate as having two functions – to protect the people from abuse by other branches of government, and to protect the people from themselves. The people, Madison argued, are liable to err from fickleness and passion.
July 8, 1987

10 YEARS AGO
To celebrate the Fourth of July, the Leatherstocking Women’s Golf Association held a Flag Day celebration. Each golfer placed an American flag on the course when her score reached par plus her handicap. The winners were those whose flags were closest to the clubhouse. Winners were: Flight A – 1. Pattie Carrier, 2. Carol Robinson, 3. Barbara Lasher; Flight B – 1. Jean Duffy, 2. Linda Kehoe; Flight C – Nuala MacCabe, 2. Dottie Gebbia.
The Cooperstown Rotary Club will provide refreshments and novelties at this year’s fireworks festivities at Lakefront Park on July 5. For sale will be hot dogs, ice cream, soda and bottled water. Profits will benefit Friends of The Parks.
July 5, 2002