BOUND VOLUMES, September 12, 2013
175 YEARS AGO
Advertisement: On Teething – To Mothers & Nurses. The passage of the teeth through the gums produces troublesome and dangerous symptoms. It is known by mothers that there is great irritation in the mouth and gums during this process. The gums swell, the secretion of saliva is increased, the child is seized with frequent and sudden fits of crying, watching, starting in the sleep, and spasms of particular parts; the child shrieks with extreme violence, and thrusts its fingers into its mouth. If these precursory symptoms are not speedily alleviated, spasmodic convulsions universally supervene and soon cause the dissolution of the infant. Mothers who have their little babes afflicted with these distressing symptoms should apply Parris Celebrated Soothing Syrup – which has preserved hundreds of infants when thought past recovery from being suddenly attacked with that fatal malady, convulsions. Sold by appointment. (Ed. Note: Most, if not all such remedies for teething discomfort, contained a measure of alcohol)
September 10, 1838
150 YEARS AGO
The Constitution – It is no idle work, no waste of time or labor, to keep the public mind steadily impressed with the importance of confining the war to its original objects. The thoughtless man may see no danger. The designing partisan may loudly protest that there is no danger. But the danger exists and is manifest that we may see the end of this war only in the destruction of the American Union, and the sacrifice of every great principle which distinguished us from the nations that had gone before us. Men who think that the Constitution may be safely laid on the shelf for a little while, and the absolute will of Congress or a Cabinet, or the President, substituted for it, reckon with blind confidence in their fellow men, and not as statesmen or patriots should reckon.
September 11, 1863
125 YEARS AGO
Local Politics – The meeting held by the Democratic Club in the court house on Wednesday evening last was largely attended, for Cooperstown – where businessmen and those of leisure as a class do not attend political meetings, no matter by what party held or by whom addressed. Mr. Bunn claimed the close attention of his audience – principally composed of the workingmen and farmers of Otsego and Middlefield – for nearly two hours, showing the benefits to be derived from adopting the Democratic theory in regard to the tariff, exposing many of the fallacies of the Republican Party on that question, and proving by extracts from the messages of Republican Presidents and speeches of leading Republicans in Congress that the opposition has changed ground on the tariff and federal taxation.
September 14, 1888
100 YEARS AGO
The Otesaga Hotel is entertaining this week what is probably the most representative, if not the largest gathering in the history of the hotel. The members of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies of America are here with their families to the number of about four hundred. The visitors come from all over the United States. The men are holding daily business sessions in the ball room while the ladies are amusing themselves with golf, tennis and the many other pastimes offered on the ample Otesaga grounds. The hotel grounds are illuminated with various electrical devices erected for demonstration purposes, in addition to the myriads of colored lights arranged especially for the occasion. A tent has been erected on the north lawn facing the lake where vaudeville shows and moving pictures are given nightly. On Wednesday evening there will be a big display of fireworks.
September 10, 1913
75 YEARS AGO
Joel Green White, Cooperstown’s oldest citizen and the last member of L.C. Turner Post, G.A.R., to answer the final muster, passed away at 8:30 o’clock Wednesday night of last week at his home on Nelson Avenue at the age of 95 years, five months and 24 days. His final illness extended over a period of about a month. Mr. White was the only son of Mortimer and Arminda (Averell) White and was born at Springfield Center March 14, 1843. Mr. White attended the district school in Springfield and at an early age showed much promise as a musician. He became a fine Cornet player, and at the age of 18 enlisted as a member of the band of the 66th Regiment, New York Volunteers in the Civil War. He was stationed with the regiment on the James River, Virginia and received an honorable discharge August 9, 1862.
September 14, 1938
50 YEARS AGO
Seven-year-old Pamela Moffat, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Moffat of this village, was runner-up to the queen of the 17th Annual Mohawk Valley Hunt Club Horse Show held Sunday, September 8, at New Hartford. Debbie Teesdale of New Hartford won the title, amassing 14 points in both western and English classes. Pamela, riding her good thoroughbred hunter, Star General, had ten points, having won the trophy in the Pee Wee Horsemanship Class and also the Hunter Hack Class where she was the only junior rider.
September 11, 2012
25 YEARS AGO
A New York State Committee on Minimum Public Library Standards recently issued a revised report containing recommendations for improving standards in public libraries. However, Joseph Gerace, director of the state Office of Rural Affairs, said although there is nothing wrong with the idea of improvement, the recommendations themselves are unfair to rural libraries. The proposed requirements would require all libraries to employ a director with a master’s degree in library science, installing computers, telephones, photocopy machines, public restrooms, and to provide handicap accessibility. Gerace estimates the cost at $50 to $60 million and says rural libraries do not have the funds to comply with the regulations.
September 14, 1988
10 YEARS AGO
A festive crowd of celebrants turned out under the tent at The Farmers’ Museum to mark the 134th birthday of “America’s Greatest Hoax – The Cardiff Giant.” Portraying the role of George Hull, the giant’s creator, was Fly Creek resident Tom Heitz who said the 10-foot tall concrete man’s longevity was “a tribute to the gullibility of mankind.”
September 12, 2003
