BOUND VOLUMES, November 29, 2012

200 YEARS AGO
Beware of Counterfeits – There are in circulation, imitations of some of the twenty dollar notes of the Bank of North America, dated the 21st of February, 1812, issued payable to D. Etwein, or bearer. The citizens are cautioned not to receive such notes, without a careful examination. The editors of papers will render a service to the community by republishing this caution.
November 28, 1812

175 YEARS AGO
Ed. Note: John H. Prentiss, editor of The Freeman’s Journal, was elected to the House of Representatives in the election of 1837. He therefore informed readers of his intentions with regard to the newspaper with the following message:
“The discharge of public duties imposed upon him by his fellow-citizens, will require the absence of the editor of this paper from this date. Congress will commence on the 4th proximo, and probably continue in session 6 or 7 months, during which time the charge of furnishing matter for the Journal, will be committed to Mr. Wm. L. Crandall, who recently officiated in the same capacity. He is a young man of sound principles, and respectable talents, and the trust is resigned to him in the fullest confidence that it will be discharged, not only with faithfulness, but with ability. The business of the office, in other respects, is committed to the charge of Mssrs. Ezra D. Burr and Pembroke S. Booth, whose acts will be ratified by the proprietor.”
November 27, 1837

150 YEARS AGO
Complaints constantly reach the government that soldiers, with wounds permanently disabling them for active service in the field are sent here (Washington, D.C.) from large cities as deserters. In many instances, the discharges are destroyed, or they are refused the privilege of going to their homes to procure the evidence of their discharge, and in case of soldiers on leave, their passes are taken away from them, and torn up. The only incentive to these outrages is the reward of $5, which the government pays for the arrest of each deserter. There is an effort making on the part of the military authorities to put a stop to these outrages, being not only a swindle upon the government, but causing very great annoyance to the friends and relatives of the victims.
November 28, 1862

125 YEARS AGO
If the old “Cooper Grounds” on which once stood the Hall of James Fenimore Cooper, where are still growing the trees which he planted, and which he owned at his death – could be bid off on Friday by any capitalist with reference to making it in time a memorial place to the name of the great American novelist, and to which perhaps could be removed the monument erected to his memory, there are those here and elsewhere who would contribute liberally to such object. The opportunity should not be lost and we commend it to the prompt attention of real estate owners and others of Cooperstown.
December 2, 1887

100 YEARS AGO
Not in recent years, if ever, have the people of Cooperstown had the opportunity of witnessing a genuine wrestling match. There being no other attraction in this village for Thanksgiving Day, the management of the Star Theatre took advantage of an opportunity to book a company of well-known wrestlers for a performance both afternoon and evening in connection with the regular programme of moving pictures. Miss Cora Livingston, the champion female wrestler of the world, and her company, after closing a tour of the big theatres in central New York this week, were induced to play in Cooperstown. The company also includes Miss Dunne of Kansas City who is the wrestling partner of Miss Livingston; Charles Kaiser of Gloversville and Harvey Parker of Brockton. Massachusetts. The entertainment will be high class in every respect. Miss Livingston is a well-educated woman who writes entertainingly for the magazines and newspapers on health and hygienic topics. The price of admission will be 25 cents.
November 27, 1912

75 YEARS AGO
Five women, the first representatives of the fair sex ever to sit on a trial jury in Supreme Court in Otsego County, were drawn Monday morning to consider the evidence in the first jury case to be tried at the November term at the courthouse in Cooperstown. Justice Ely W. Personius of Elmira presided. Sitting with them were seven of the sterner sex which in the past has had a monopoly of this service to the state. No longer in New York state will verdicts be rendered by “twelve good men and true,” for the new law passed at the last session of the legislature allows the ladies, if they wish, to do their patriotic duty. The first five women to hear evidence in a case on trial in Supreme Court in this county were Ruth MacDuff, of Schenevus, Frances B. McCarthy of Oneonta, Theodora Peters of Westford, Edith Vandenberg of Cooperstown and Nellie Balcom of South Hartwick. The matter involved a breach of contract.
December 1, 1937

25 YEARS AGO
Ron Head, Cooperstown’s village justice, is resigning as of March 31, 1988. “It’s time to move on,” said Head, who has served on the bench for a decade. The job has become increasingly more demanding and complicated. Head estimates that the village has handled more than 500 driving while intoxicated cases during his tenure. These cases take time and range in complexity. Head teaches economics, law and history at Cooperstown Central School.
December 2, 1987

10 YEARS AGO
Village residents and tourists may find relief more readily available in the near future thanks to a $50,000 Capital Projects Grant secured by Assemblyman Bill Magee. The money is earmarked for the construction of restrooms on Main Street, according to Mayor Carol Waller. “The need for centrally located public bathrooms has been identified repeatedly, and there was no way that the village could afford such an amenity. We are thrilled,” Waller said. The location of the restrooms has yet to be determined. “We will be relying on the Planning Board to guide us as we go forward,” Waller said.
November 29, 2002