HOMETOWN HISTORY, July 4, 2014

125 Years Ago
The third annual meeting of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Otsego County was held in the M.E. Church at Milford, June 19th and 20th. The Superintendent of Unfermented Wines reported that, of the 22 churches responding to inquiries, eighteen used unfermented wine, and of the four using fermented wine, at least one had been the cause of the fall of a reclaimed man, who at tasting wine at communion, aroused his old appetite and for three weeks remained in a state of intoxication. This incident shows the importance of this department of our work. Mrs. Chas. Smith of Oneonta will be Superintendent of Unfermented Wine for the coming year.
July 1889

100 Years Ago
Local News – A shirt waist dance for the members of the Oneonta Country Club will be held at the club house Saturday night, July 4, from 8 to 11 o’clock. A late car from Hartwick will stop at the club grounds at 10:15 p.m. in order that members who do not happen to be motor car owners can return to the city after the dance.
The Otsego & Herkimer trolley company will run an excursion from Oneonta to Canadarago Park and from Oneonta to Cooperstown on the Fourth of July. The price of the round trip to Canadarago Park is 75 cents and to Cooperstown, 50 cents. The last car will leave Canadarago Park at 9 p.m.
To lovers of fresh wild strawberries it is welcome news that this delightful summer fruit is more plentiful this season than in several years. Many pastures and meadows in this vicinity are red with fruit, and a ten quart pail full of strawberries as the result of an afternoon pilgrimage is not infrequent.
July 1914

80 Years Ago
An investigation of a statewide counterfeit ring has been launched by U.S. Department of Justice agents following the arrest in Oneonta of a man accused of passing bogus money on several business firms. Under arrest is Nick Barry, 35, of 207 Main Street, Oneonta. He was questioned last night by Secret Service Agent Albert Whitaker and Chief of Police Frank N. Horton. He will be arraigned today before U.S. Commissioner Arthur Seyboldt on a charge of passing counterfeit money. Chief Horton said Barry admitted the crime, but when he was searched at headquarters he had none of the bogus money in his possession. Police said Barry has not revealed where he obtained the money, but denied that he knew it was counterfeit. Secret Service men recently uncovered a gigantic counterfeit ring in Binghamton. Word that worthless bills were in circulation quickly spread about the city yesterday, and one prospective purchaser found difficulty in breaking a $20 bill.
July 1934

60 Years Ago
Is television still cutting into the reading habits of Oneontans? “Not by a long shot,” says Miss Rosanna C. Bagg, librarian at Huntington Library, and she has figures to prove it. “Television hurt us last year,” Miss Bagg admitted, “but this year, we have had a steady gain in circulation since last February. I think people, especially children, have become used to television, and are returning to the library.” With a circulation total of 51,114 in 1954 through June, as compared with 40,864 in 1953, the gain in circulation for the first six months of this year amounted to 10,250. The largest gain was in children’s books. “The most avid readers we have, she said, are second graders. “They have just started to read and can’t seem to get enough.”
July 1954

40 Years Ago
Independence Day was a red, white and blue celebration for Oneontans. It was red for those who headed to the parks and lakes to escape the heat and instead tangled with the blistering sun. It was white for the flash of fireworks which punctuated the lazy summer day. And, it was blue for those unable to take advantage of the inaugural summer holiday because of work schedules. The temperatures soared into the 90s during the afternoon and downtown Oneonta was nearly deserted. Since most of the businesses were closed and travel by car was at best uncomfortable without air conditioning, there was no reason to even drive through town. Clearly the place to be this July 4th was the parks. The pools were packed with screaming youngsters celebrating nothing in particular and having a great time doing it. “When I think of the fourth of July, I think of fire crackers,” said Bill Benson, 11, of 2 Union Street. “But I also think of swimming because it’s usually hot.”
July 1974

20 Years Ago
Fox Hospital has moved its outpatient service center from the 41-45 Dietz Street office to the ground floor of the hospital on Main Street. Responding to patient concerns and protests, however, Fox will leave blood-drawing services and blood pressure checks at the Dietz Street location. Patients who need mammograms, phlebotomy and cardio-pulmonary services will now find them in the lobby of the hospital. According to hospital official the lobby location is more convenient for those patients who are preparing for surgery. The Dietz Street offices will re-open in September as the home of Susquehanna Family Practice, staffed by four physicians recently recruited by Fox Hospital.
July 1994

10 Years Ago
Freshman classes at colleges in Oneonta and Delhi are expected to meet enrollment targets this fall, college officials said this week. The State University College at Oneonta expects 1,050 to 1,075 freshmen. The State University College of Technology at Delhi projects having 900 freshmen. Hartwick College is planning on 422 freshmen. Applications at the three institutions indicate academic backgrounds are about the same or better than in recent history. “This class is the strongest in well over a decade here,” said Roger Sullivan, vice president at the State University College at Oneonta. “We’re very excited.” According to Sullivan, 2004 marks the seventh consecutive year that SUCO has seen an increase in the academic profile of its freshman class. The average SAT score for the class was 1105, the same as last year. The high school average was 88 this year.
July 2004