HOMETOWN History

June 13, 2020

135 Years Ago

Preparations for the laying of the cornerstone of the new state armory next Thursday indicate that, should fair weather prevail, there will be an immense crowd in Oneonta. The parade in the afternoon will be the grandest ever seen in the Susquehanna valley, comprising as it will two or three richly uniformed commanderies, a score or more of blue lodges, several military companies and the Albany cadets besides the Oneonta fire department, and the post of the Grand Army of the Republic. The governor and staff, the secretary of state and staff, and the grand master of masons of the state, and the grand lodge, in carriages, will also form part of the parade.

June 1885

110 Years Ago

Clyde S. Tripp, a conductor on the D. & H., was fatally injured while working in the Oneonta yards early Wednesday morning. The accident occurred just below the Fonda Avenue crossing. He was standing on the rear running board of a switch engine, which was backing toward a string of cars, when the tender crashed into a box car and he was struck by the lever, which punctured his abdomen. When picked up it was found that his left leg and arm were broken, and that he had received fatal abdominal injuries. He was taken to the Fox Memorial Hospital, where he died about ten o’clock. The deceased was 30 years of age and a son of Mr. and Mrs. David Tripp of this city. He is survived by his wife, a daughter of five years, one brother, and his parents. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church. Interment will be at the Plains.

June 1910

90 Years Ago

With interest gaining momentum each week and with its factory already three weeks behind on its orders, officials of the Linn Trailer Company are adding a few experienced machinists, blacksmiths, and toolmakers to the list of employees. It is now expected that within a week the production of the plant will have been more than doubled. As one of Oneonta’s youngest industries, and as an organization producing an article of established merit in a field which has seen little development in more than a score of years of use, the Linn Company’s patented design stands out.
Eugene Lee Ward, who may be appointed sales manager for the company, recently made a road trip with a demonstrator trailer towed by a Chevrolet Coupe and met with unusual success in interesting dealers and securing orders well exceeding the production capacity of the factory.

June 1930

70 Years Ago

Two new library alcoves dedicated Sunday afternoon at Hartwick College, will serve as a source for Otsego and Central New York State historians. The Traver Alcove contains the library of the father of Hartwick institutions, Johann Christopher Hartwick. Even though a good portion of the texts are written in German and Latin, they contain an accurate picture of life in the early 1800s. Many of Hartwick’s own original texts are included in the library. Several are written in the form of a diary thus accurately outlining his contacts with the settlers and prominent people of the area. The Traver Alcove is given in loving memory of Dr. John G. and Mrs. Ettie Traver, faithful servants of Hartwick Seminary from 1886 to 1941, by former students and friends. For many years Dr. Traver served as a teacher at the Seminary and as headmaster. An alcove dedicated to Richard H. Franchot and his brother Charles, given by descendants, will house a collection of writings and volumes of this area. The alcove is to be known as the Franchot Alcove of Otsego History. Charles P. Franchot presented a small round trunk once owned and used by his grandfather Charles when he enrolled at Hartwick Seminary in 1830. Both Richard and Charles Franchot attended Hartwick Seminary between 1830 and 1832.

June 1950

50 Years Ago

A five-member County Narcotic Guidance Council was appointed by the Board of Representatives at its June meeting on Wednesday of last week in response to a request made by Representative Stuart P. Taugher of Cooperstown. Appointed to the Council were Lewis Sturgess, a Unadilla druggist, the Rev. Robert Heffner, a member of the campus ministry at Hartwick College in Oneonta, Oneonta post-master Samuel J. Bertuzzi, who was named Chair of the Council, Dr. Joseph Lunn, an associate physician at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, and George S. Kepner, Jr., a Cooperstown attorney. Each
member will serve three years.

June 1970

40 Years Ago

The asphalt, gravel and curbs taken from Oneonta’s Main Street are to be melted down and recycled for use as fill and patching material for potholes around the city. Asphalt removed by the Cerasaro Construction Co. in the Main Street reconstruction project is being hauled away to Neawha Park. A machine purchased by the city for $12,000 to $15,000 is used to melt and remix the old paving asphalt. Asphalt recovered from River Street earlier added to the Main Street asphalt will provide sufficient recycled fill and patch material to last 25 years, city engineer Richard Olton says. New asphalt costs about $35 a ton whereas the recycled asphalt about $2 a ton as remix for patch work.

June 1980

20 Years Ago

Classified advertisement: Program Coordinator (full-time) – Seeking motivated self-starter to implement the Leatherstocking Promise ACT for Youth Program. Work with various audiences including youth, parents, volunteers and media to enhance and build youth programs. B.S. in Social Work, Human Ecology, Social Sciences, Health Services, Education, or related field and two years of experience. Transportation required. Deadline June 23, 2000.

Bassett Healthcare’s Mobile Mammography Program will host three mammography and osteoporosis screening sessions in June. On Monday, June 19 and Tuesday, June 20, the van will stop at Bassett Healthcare Oneonta. Women who would like to have a mammogram or an osteoporosis screening test at this time may call 1-888-416-3409 to schedule an appointment. Free or reduced cost mammograms are available through the New York State Breast Health Partnership to income eligible, underserved, or uninsured women.

June 2000

10 Years Ago

Damaschke Field is alive again.  The Oneonta Outlaws hosted the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs at Damaschke Field on Tuesday, June 8, for their inaugural Opening Night at Damaschke Field.

June 11, 2010