BOUND VOLUMES, November 1, 2012
200 YEARS AGO
Yesterday, William Henman, a soldier of the 15th United States’ regiment, in pursuance of the sentence of a court martial, was shot. His crime was desertion, with intent to go over to the enemy. Another soldier of that regiment, who deserted at the same time, was brought out for execution, but was pardoned by General Bloomfield; it having appeared that he was enticed away by Henman.
October 31, 1812
175 YEARS AGO
Editor’s Note: In 1837, members of the Democratic Party were sometimes referred to as republicans.
Reasons Why the Democrats of Otsego County should give their Ticket now in nomination a united and vigorous support at the coming election. 1. The Convention which nominated it comprised the bone and muscle of the democratic party of the county – men, who in no situation in life – could be made to yield their integrity. 2. The Ticket was nominated in the most fair and unexceptionable manner, by open ballotings. 3. The Ticket is composed of men of the first respectability who have been repreatedly pronounced worthy of confidence by the citizens of several of the towns, and by the county – and who are well qualified in every respect for the proper discharge of their duties of the respective stations to which they are nominated. 4. The candidates are all Republicans, “good and true” – men who have principles, and possess that integrity which will unflinchingly maintain them. 5. The peculiar position of the political affairs of the country, on the question of vital importance, calls for an unequivocal & full expression of opinion on the part of the democracy.
October 30, 1837
125 YEARS AGO
Personal – A little four-year-old lad the other day strongly hinted to an aunt who often gratifies his childish wishes that it would be the proper thing to do to request Santa Claus to send him a “real live pony.” When informed that Santa Claus confined his gifts to books, toys, etc., he came close to the side of his aunt and whispered in her ear: “Don’t you think God would send the pony, if we telephoned him?” The little fellow’s faith was strong.
A branch of the Salvation Army invaded Cooperstown on Tuesday last, holding services on Main Street. There are two men and three women in the band. Give them a fair chance and an open field to do all the good they can. People who do not believe in their methods, need not hear them, and those who choose to attend their meetings should keep order.
November 4, 1887
100 YEARS AGO
Woodrow Wilson’s Message to the People: “I am glad to have an opportunity to state very simply and directly why I am seeking to be elected President of the United States. I feel very deeply that this is not an ambition a man should entertain for his own sake. He must seek to serve a cause, and must know very clearly the cause it is he is seeking to serve. The cause I am enlisted in lies very plain to my own view: The Government of the United States, as now bound by the policies which have become characteristic of Republican administration in recent years, is not free to serve the whole people impartially, and it ought to be set free. It has been tied up, whether deliberately or merely by unintentional development, with particular interests, which have used their power, both to control the government and to control the industrial development of the country. It must be freed from such entanglements and alliances. Until it is freed, it cannot serve the people as a whole. Until it is freed, it cannot undertake any programme of social and economic betterment, but must be checked and thwarted at every turn by its patrons and masters.”
October 30, 1912
75 YEARS AGO
A rejuvenated Cooperstown high school team came back into its own Saturday afternoon by defeating West Winfield High, 43-0. The Redskins’ over-powering offense drove deeply into the invader’s territory throughout the contest, and the result was never in doubt from the opening whistle. Members of the team are Don and Dorrance Weir, Bliss, Putnam, Wells, Callahan, Hintermister, Fowler, Eggleston, Chapman, Bailey, Cortez, C. Pugliese, Lettis, R. Dodge, Stergas, Rathbun, Knapp, Wilmot, Gilchriest, Kinney, Russo and Holden.
November 3, 1937
50 YEARS AGO
John Sheffield of the Cooperstown Central School Cross Country team scored another victory on Saturday when he crossed the finish line at the Cooperstown Country Club to take top honors in the Center State League Championship Cross Country meet. His time was 11:34 for a distance just slightly less than 2.4 miles. Cooperstown won the meet with a score of 25. CCS coach William Eldridge stated that the track was very fast and he was very proud of the excellent time by Sheffield.
October 31, 1962
25 YEARS AGO
The Cooperstown Central School Board of Education will draw up plans to implement state mandated AIDS instruction at this week’s board meeting. An advisory board will be created to pursue the issue and determine how the program will be fused into the K-12 classrooms. The state mandate requires that “all elementary schools shall provide instruction concerning the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) as part of the sequential health education program.” The establishment of an advisory board is also mandated.
November 4, 1987
10 YEARS AGO
Jane Forbes Clark was the featured speaker at Tuesday’s Cooperstown Rotary club meeting at the Pepper Mill Restaurant. She addressed a number of topics including a planned $10 million renovation to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the $3.6 million renovation and restoration project currently underway at the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home. Frank Maloney, general manager of the Otesaga Hotel, introduced Clark. “Jane picked up the reins from her dad 10 years ago,” he said. “And I think it’s fair to say that our landscape has not been the same since – she’s the person who is truly responsible for making all this happen.”
November 1, 2002