HOMETOWN HISTORY, April 25, 2014

125 Years Ago
G.H. St. John, representing A.C. Couch, president of the Oneonta and Richfield Springs railroad company, made Oneonta a visit in the interest of the proposed railroad on Tuesday. It is a singular fact that notwithstanding both from the name of the company and the commercial importance of Oneonta the town would naturally be supposed to be one of the first places the projection of the line would visit. However, this was the first time a representative of the company had been to Oneonta, the plan being to work from Richfield down. However, the newspapers have been alive to what has transpired along the route of the proposed road. Mr. St. John was agreeably surprised to find such a hearty interest manifested in the project on every side. Contrary to what was half-suspected, he found the Delaware & Hudson Company were in no wise opposed to the new line, and he also found the citizens of Oneonta ready to lend substantial encouragement.
April 1889

100 Years Ago
Mrs. George W. Fairchild, wife of Representative Fairchild of New York has a business ability, which if she had been a man would probably have made her a captain of finance. With characteristic modesty Mrs. Fairchild overlooks this fact whenever she is asked for information regarding her. But the truth concerning her may always be had upon the good authority of her husband who gives her credit in a large measure for his success as a businessman. He advises and consults with her on all business matters and does not hesitate to say that he values her sagacity and her judgment as highly as those of any man of his acquaintance. Before her marriage Mrs. Fairchild was Josephine Mills Sherman, niece of the late Joseph G. Mills of New York. Executive and business ability in a woman are usually arguments for woman suffrage. Mrs. Fairchild is anti-suffrage in her sympathies. She believes a woman’s influence will in no wise be strengthened by the right of franchise and that woman’s sphere is full of undeveloped opportunities for all woman kind.
April 1914

80 Years Ago
A fast six-inning game featured the Oneonta High School baseball drill yesterday afternoon at Neahwa Park. Scoring five runs in the final inning gave the “A” squad a close victory over the “B” group. The winners lined up with Barry, first base; Mastro, second base; Ritchko, shortstop; Cerra, third base; Nader, left field; Bertuzzi, center field; Munson, right field; Munson, catcher; Genberg and Piper, pitchers. Team “B” consisted of Lorraine, first base; Super, second base; Swart, shortstop; Goodrich, third base; A. Nader, Bockes and Gardner, outfielders; Brown, catcher; Reynolds and Hebert, pitchers. During the workout, Coach Harold Hunt shifted players on each squad. Labrit, the flashy Cuban, suffered a badly sprained finger in practice Monday afternoon and was unable to participate. Labrit, who is expected to win a regular position in the outfield, will be back in uniform by the end of the week.
April 1934

40 Years Ago
Tuesday was a good day for Oneonta High School track and Field competitors who met STAC rival Susquehanna Valley and posted an 85-55 victory. In the mile relay – Mike Pidgeon, Steve Parisian, Mitsu Iwanag and Tim Clapp – were timed at 3:56.8. Iwanaga was first in the 880 with a time of 2:15.2. Oneonta’s John Wertam won the pole vault with a 10’6” mark. Craig Tirrell was first in the long jump with a leap of 16’11” plus. Jim Fruscella heaved the discus 151’ 10”. Fruscella was also first in the triple jump at 36’ 2.5”. Rich Walling won the 100 yard dash in 11.2 seconds. Paul Laymon topped the high jump bar at 5’6”. Stu Gardner won the two-mile heat in 10.52. Brice Nichols took the 440 in 55.9.
April 1974

30 Years Ago
From the Shui Mai to the fortune cookies, Joe Poon provided a memorable meal for Oneontans Wednesday evening. It was his way of saying thank-you to the people, the church, and the college that helped him when he was a struggling SUNY undergraduate. Poon now operates the Sang Kee Peking Duck House in Philadelphia, Penn. but he has kept close ties with Oneonta.
April 1984

20 Years Ago
Eric Goddard, recently named Oneonta High School’s Student of the month for March, approaches his future differently from some of his peers. “I’m confident God will put me in the best position to help people that I can,” he said. Goddard was cited for his work as a volunteer line judge in the Susquenango League for volleyball games.
April 1994

10 Years Ago
Forty area high school students will be going to a summer science camp free of charge thanks to a federal grant that organizers hope will lead to career choices in science. The camp, to be held at State University College at Oneonta, is funded by part of a $877,000 grant that five college faculty members from SUNY were awarded by the National Science Foundation last fall. The program, which targets high school juniors and seniors, will meet for five days on the SUCO campus.
April 1994