HOMETOWN HISTORY, January 31, 2014

100 Years Ago
John Smith, a D&H trainman, residing at 217 Main Street, this city, had both legs crushed to such an extent that amputation of both will be necessary as the result of an accident occurring in the Schenevus yard last night about 6 o’clock. Smith was the milk messenger on Train 318, the short milk south bound, in charge of Conductor C.G. Perry, and was on the front of a car that was making a flying switch when the section of the train on which he was riding was sideswiped by the remainder of the train. Smith was caught between the two cars, crushing both legs. Dr. S.J. White of Schenevus did everything in his power to alleviate the terrible suffering of the injured man and accompanied him to this city where he was brought on passenger train 208 which was flagged at Schenevus. The ambulance awaited Smith at the station here and he was taken to Fox Memorial Hospital where he was operated on by Dr. Arthur W. Cutler.
January 1914

80 Years Ago
The emergency nursery school to be established at the Center Street School will open in about two weeks, Mrs. Ray D. Champlin, director, has announced. This will be operated under the auspices of the Oneonta Board of Education and financed with CWA funds. Sixty children can be accommodated and the ages will range from two to four. Boys and girls from the families on the city’s relief rolls will have first opportunity for enrollment, and the rest of the quota will be filled by children who will most benefit. This will be determined through the census of pre-school children now being taken by a group of workers under the direction of Miss Helen Putnam. Each child will receive a thorough physical examination. Each day’s program will start at 8:30 and close at 3:30. Breakfast, dinner and an afternoon lunch will be served. Time will be spent in supervised play, rest and story hours. Mrs. Champlin, who is director of parent education for Oneonta public schools, will be assisted by Benedict DeAngelo, assistant director of the nursery school, who will be in charge of organization, equipment and parent education for foreign-born residents of the city, and by Dr. Ray D. Champlin, district state health officer, as examining physician.
January 1934
40 Years Ago
A proposal calling for the use of Homer Folks hospital as a “regional center to serve human needs,” was made public yesterday by Dr. Indulis Ritenis. Dr. Ritenis is Director of Otsego County’s Community Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services unit located at Fox Hospital. The proposal was issued on the eve of a scheduled public session to discuss the future of the hospital at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. Dr. Ritenis said part of Homer Folks should be used as a training facility by several area agencies to provide training for college students in the areas of mental health, mental retardation, alcoholism, and other related medical fields. In addition, he proposes “rehabilitation and job training facilities for the physically and mentally handicapped as well as people with minor legal problems.”
January 1974

30 Years Ago
Fox Memorial Hospital’s 1984 profile census shows that through October 1983 there were 33,806 adult medical surgical days. The medical/surgical occupancy rate averaged 84 percent; maternity occupancy averaged 83 percent. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of births at Fox Hospital in the last several years. In 1979, there were 227 births; in 1982 there were 452. For 1983, through the end of November, 535 babies had been born at Fox, and 580 births were expected by year’s end. In 1983 Fox Hospital employed more than 600 people, making it the second largest employer in Oneonta.
January 1984

20 Years Ago
The 1994 Human Services Fair will start today at Oneonta’s Southside Mall. Sponsored by the Otsego Council on Human Services, the fair is designed to help the community understand the range of programs available through the area’s human services agencies and to show people how to begin using these services. The theme of this year’s fair is “Your Health, Your Community, and You.”
January 1994

10 Years Ago
Safety rules for operating snow blowers: Do not stick hands into the snow blower chute or near moving parts. Do not disable manufacturer safety mechanisms. Make sure the snow blower has stopped completely before trying to work on it. Although the motor may be stopped, snow puts pressure on jammed blades and blades can move after clogged snow is removed. Use manufacturer supplied objects to unclog the snow blower. Do not put sticks or similar objects into the machine. Never allow children to operate a snow blower.
January 2004