Bound Volumes, Hometown History

March 28, 2024

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

50 YEARS AGO

A $10 billion tax cut to ease inflation was urged Sunday by the Democratic majority of the Congressional Joint Economic Committee. In its annual report, the committee said the Nixon administration has underestimated the pace of inflation and the growth of unemployment. The committee described Nixon administration efforts to control prices as a “debacle” and said efforts to offset rising unemployment are “pitifully weak.” The panel predicted an inflation rate this year of 8 percent or more and said unemployment will rise to 6 percent or higher.

March 1974

40 YEARS AGO

Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and “Pretty Young Thing” will open and close the 1984 Live Video Dance Review to be presented by the Wendy Wade Studio. Proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society. The show in the Oneonta High School auditorium will consist of nine numbers performed by Wendy Wade and her students. Mrs. Wade will do a spiritual number with the theme “Sameness.” The group will split up and perform three short pieces and unite at the end. A “Jellicle Ball” will be done by Mrs. Wade and her daughter, Kelly, with Kelly dressed as a cat. Mrs. Wade says she does dance reviews for the public to show prospective students that they can learn to dance.

March 1984

30 YEARS AGO

In too many cities, suburbs and even rural areas drugs play a part in nearly half of all homicides and violent crimes nationwide. With frightening regularity, young people are the victims – and the assailants. More teenage males die of gunshot wounds than of all natural causes. In New York City, homicide is the leading cause of death for men between the ages of 15 and 29. Violence associated with drugs and alcohol manifests itself in different ways. There is the street crime of addicts, the random shootings of innocent bystanders, and the turf war killings among rival street gangs. The governor has sought to limit the availability of assault weapons and establish tougher penalties for violent crimes. But drugs are at the heart of the problem and the first battle must be to save our youth.

March 1994

20 YEARS AGO

Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. will host the Hospice Foundation of America’s Eleventh Annual “Living with Grief,” teleconference at the Morris Conference Center at SUNY Oneonta. The program will be broadcast live via satellite and will focus on Alzheimer’s disease and its implications for family life. Reaching an audience estimated at 125,000 people nationwide, the teleconference will benefit a wide range of professionals who support their communities and help families cope with grief and loss issues associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

March 2004