BOUND VOLUMES

May 28, 2020

200 YEARS AGO

The following convictions took place before the Oyer and Terminer, which closed its session in this Village, on Thursday last. Bejamin A. Thompson, an Irishman, convicted of burglary, and sentenced to the State Prison at hard labor for life. At the time of passing sentence, Judge Woodworth intimated that there were doubts in his mind, whether Thompson had in fact committed the offence charged upon him, and that therefore, if he conducted himself well, it was probable a pardon would be obtained. Abraham Quackenboss, convicted of passing counterfeit money, and sentenced to the State Prison at hard labor for ten years – it appeared that this fellow was hardened in crime, and when sentence was pronounced upon him, he laughingly said, “I honor your judgment!” William Gannett, convicted of passing counterfeit money. He pled guilty, and threw himself upon the mercy of the Court – sentenced to the State Prison at four years hard labor.

May 29, 1820

175 YEARS AGO

The Binghamton Courier reports that the house of Mr. A.C. Angell was entered on Friday night by some person unknown. Mrs. A., being awake in bed, heard a slight noise, and aroused her husband, who made his way into the kitchen without a light, and discovering a person in the adjoining bedroom where slept his children, demanded to know his business there. Receiving no reply, he stepped a little back and seizing hold of a chair when the burglar did the same and an encounter ensued. At the fourth or fifth blow, Mr. A. floored his antagonist, and not knowing that he had made a finish of him, as he lay perfectly quiet without noise or motion, Mr. A. stepped to his room once again for a light. On returning the thief was gone, having failed in his object and received a sound drubbing.

May 26, 1845

150 YEARS AGO

The Great Democratic Victory in New York – The result of the Special Election in this state on the 17th shows an unexampled Democratic victory. The Democrats have carried the state by about 90,000! When the telegraph first announced that the City of New York had given a Democratic majority of over 50,000, the Republican press said, “The rural districts cannot overcome this large majority.” But it turns out that outside of that city, there is a Democratic majority of about 30,000 – and this notwithstanding the Republican reinforcement of say 8,000 colored voters. The Albany Argus says “New York was first of the Northern States to shake off the delusions and hallucinations by which American politics have been so largely affected since the breaking out of the late rebellion. The crimes, the frauds, and the various smaller “rascalities” inflected by radical politicians upon the State of New York upon pretense of “saving the nation” have been exposed by the Democracy and have been checked by the results of the New York elections of the last four years. The conservative elements all over the country have taken fresh courage.

May 26, 1870

125 YEARS AGO

Local: The lake water as it flows from the pipes in the houses of this village shows a temperature of 51 degrees, cold enough for pleasant drinking.
We have alluded to the fact that robins are not as numerous as usual this year. There are, however, many other birds, including one or two new varieties for this section.
Miss Chaffee of New York is visiting her Aunt, Mrs. Alfred Corning Clark at “Fernleigh.”
F.D. Dexter is in town this week tuning pianos. He will return next month as most of his patronage desire tuning in June. Orders for tuning may be left at the usual places, or addressed to Dexter the piano tuner at West Winfield.

May 30, 1895

75 YEARS AGO

A group of young women of the First Presbyterian Church met recently at the manse for organization purposes. Officers elected were: President: Katherine Bouton; Vice President: Barbara Hall; Secretary: Mrs. Frederick McGown; Treasurer: Mrs. Charles Hadcock; Chairman of the Membership Committee: Mrs. John Sill. The group will be known as the Service Guild and plans to meet the third Monday in each month.
Chief S.K.E. Sydney Smith and his son Hugh Smith, of Edmeston, had the pleasure of meeting recently and each spent a day on each other’s ship. This was the first time
father and son had met in three years, and the first visit since son Hugh has been in the Navy.

May 30, 1945

50 YEARS AGO

Federal Census Totals for Otsego County 21,636 (1800); 38,802 (1810); 44,856 (1820); 51,372 (1830); 49,628 (1840); 48,638 (1850); 50,157 (1860); 48,967 (1870); 51,397 (1880); 50,861 (1890); 48,939 (1900); 47,216 (1910); 46,200 (1920); 46,710 (1930); 46,082 (1940); 50,763 (1950); 51,942 (1960); 55,421 (1970). The 1970 total is a preliminary figure.  (Editor’s Note:  Census 2020 is underway, but the latest Census figures put Otsego County’s population at 60,244.)

May 27, 1970

25 YEARS AGO

Bernie Nonenmacher of Edmeston has been named Cooper Country Crafts June Artist of the Month. Nonenmacher contributes two very different crafts to the cooperative. She does black and white historical sketches and also constructs real fur-covered stuffed animals. Nonenmacher began drawing when she volunteered at the local museum. Taking many of the old, faded photographs, she tried to reconstruct how some of the older historical buildings might have looked. She has saved many historical scenes from extinction by converting the photos to black and white sketches.

May 31, 1995

10 YEARS AGO

Cooperstown Central School is planning two programs – on safety in schools and on cultural diversity. Parents and community members are invited to both. Dr. James Gabarino of Loyola University, Chicago, an author and expert on violence among children, will deliver a lecture on June 2. Funds for the event have been provided by the Clark Foundation and the Heilig Foundation. A panel discussion titled “Broadening the Horizon: Reconciliation across Differences” will also be presented June 8. The event is co-sponsored by the Cooperstown School District, the Village of Cooperstown and the Oneonta Branch of the NAACP. Panelists are Gretchen Sullivan Sorin, Ph.D and Cooperstown Graduate Program Director, Grace C. Olmstead, SUNY Oneonta, Dr. William S. Walker, SUNY Oneonta and Dr. Regina Betts, Vice-President and Political Action Chair of the Oneonta NAACP Branch.

May 28, 2010