135 Years Ago
The Local News—In excavating the cellar for the Bundy building, a Canadian Sou (coin) was found several feet below the surface. It was well preserved, and though bearing no date, must be very old. L.H. Blend has it.
The organ grinder, as genuine a harbinger of spring as the robin, made his appearance here on Wednesday. He was afterward arrested for cruelty to a boy in his company, but the justice discharged him.
Louise Arnot and company will begin a week’s engagement at the Metropolitan on Monday evening, opening in the popular drama “49.” Miss Arnot is pronounced one of the best actresses ever appearing in Oneonta, and her support is first class. Popular prices: 10, 20 and 30 cents.
There is no better place to form an idea of the number of new buildings now being built in Oneonta can be found than on the hill on the south side of the river. In all parts of the village new houses are seen going up, while the East end looks as though it had the chickenpox, so freely is it spotted with newly built unpainted buildings.
April 1889…

110 YEARS AGO
An Evening in Erin—A good 550 people of whom 518 were spectators packed Holy Name Hall last evening to the very doors and spent a happy and entertaining three hours in “The Land Where the Grass Grows Greenest.” The whole entertainment was the biggest kind of a success for the church, the performers and the audience, and everyone was happy and good natured. Everything on the program was a hit. Joseph Haggerty with his song replete with local hits struck the spirit of the audience dearly. The pie-eating contest provoked a few gales of laughter, but Miss Murphy was funnier. All were excellent. This St. Patrick’s Day will long be remembered. The proceeds were about $200 and practically the whole amount will go to the new seats.
March 1914…

70 YEARS AGO
As the onetime Ulster & Delaware Railroad prepares to dismantle and pack up its last passenger train, the children of the late William H. Hickok, for 48 years a conductor on the line, are also packing up the possessions in his home at 88 Elm Street. The house has been sold to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Estabrook. Dr. Benjamin B. Hickok of Michigan State University and his sister, Mrs. Charles Hampe, Thornwood, are preparing to move or store away the contents of the Hickok house, among which are nearly priceless antiques. “Bill” Hickok, who always said he was a third of the famed western marshal, was known and loved by thousands who traveled between Oneonta and Kingston. He died January 30, 1937, when 65 years old, after having been employed for 48 years by the railroad.
March 1954…