HOMETOWN HISTORY, December 20, 2013
125 Years Ago
College Training for Women: The women gain the day. The authorities of Columbia College have consented to an “annex,” by means of which young women may have the same instruction as young men receive at Columbia. There will be a separate building for separate classes, but the curriculum will be the same for both sexes. With the fall of conservative Columbia, the propriety and desirability of college education for such women as desire it may be regarded as having passed beyond the stage of controversy. Separate colleges for women have been established, to which the objection may be made that their schemes are apt to be rather for “female education” than for a general education in all respects equivalent to that given to young men, and that they have a social isolation not altogether desirable. Against the co-education of the sexes in the same classroom there is a strong prejudice and some valid grounds of objection. The “annex system,” or a separate provision in the same institution for affording to women the same means of study, the same instruction, and the same testimonials of proficiency and achievement as are afforded to the other sex, seems to be the most rational and satisfactory solution of the problem, and it bids fair to be a successful one.
December 1888
100 Years Ago
The proposal of George I. Wilber to donate the sum of $29,000 for the purchase of acquiring that portion of the Walling property lying north of a continuation of the southerly line of Center Street for a park and playground for the city, previously presented and approved by the board of public works, was formally and unanimously ratified by the common council at the meeting held Tuesday evening.
The new Belasco play wherein Frances Starr is leading lady is “The Secret” an adaptation from a successful French play, and it had its first presentation at Detroit on Monday of last week. The part taken by Miss Starr is Gabrielle Jannetot. After last week in Detroit and the present in Baltimore, Mr. Belasco will take his play to New York where it will be presented at the Belasco Theatre on December 23 following David Warfield’s engagement in “The Auctioneer.” Oneonta friends of Miss Starr will be interested to know that she has given up her Albany home and with her sister, Mrs. Gladwell, have taken up their residence at 158 West 18th Street in New York. (Ed. Note: Frances Starr was familiar to Oneontans having grown up in the city before embarking upon a notable stage career with David Belasco’s company)
December 1913
60 Years Ago
A program on Americanism, directed by Mrs. Foster Crosby, highlighted the Christmas party of Sidney Chapter, DAR Wednesday in the Community House. Mrs. Crosby, in a reading on Communism in this country, described a devotee to Communism as a fanatic who lives only for his party, placing that above everything. She urged Americans to exert themselves to spread Americanism so others may realize how necessary freedom is in our way of life. Howard Dunbar, faculty member of Sidney Central School, introduced members of his Americanization class who have come to us from foreign shores. Among those introduced at the gathering was Miss Eva Sjagren, who came from Helsinki, Finland in January 1950. Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Kaiser emigrated from Stuttgart, Germany in November 1952. Mrs. Hedwig Riesen came from St. Gallen, Switzerland in 1922.
December 1953
40 Years Ago
The Cost of Living Council granted a 23 percent jump in the price of domestic crude oil Wednesday, setting up another big round of increases in the retail cost of gasoline and home heating oil. The $1-a-barrel increase will push the after-tax price of gasoline to 44.6 cents per gallon compared to 37.2 cents average for regular gasoline last January 10. The price of home heating oil will go up to 30.7 cents, up from a January average of 19.4 cents. At the same time, President Nixon proposed an excess profits tax to prevent oil companies from reaping huge windfall profits from the soaring prices on scarce petroleum products. An additional two-cent increase for home heating oil approved by the council two weeks ago goes on top of the hike granted Wednesday and would raise the consumer price ultimately to 32.7 cents.
December 1973
20 Years Ago
The Oneonta Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, has established a scholarship to assist elementary teachers in the Oneonta City Schools in obtaining further study to improve their professional performance. The scholarship honors the memory of LouElla Gridley, a member of the chapter and an Oneonta teacher. Gridley attended Oneonta Normal School from 1927 to 1930 and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Hartwick College in 1932. She received a Master of Arts degree from Albany State Teacher’s College in 1938.
December 1993
