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Bound Volumes: August 4, 2022

Bound Volumes August 4, 2022 135 YEARS AGOWe had occasion to step into the telephone office with a friend on Sunday last, when to our surprise we found counselor Brooks in charge. He was busily engaged in pulling out some stops and shoving in others, occasionally shouting “Hello!” and trying to hold a conversation with some party who must have thought that lightning had played mischief with the wires near Cooperstown. It was very warm in the office, and the…

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Bound Volumes: July 21, 2022

Bound Volumes July 21, 2022 209 YEARS AGOBritish Monsters – Excerpt of a letter from Captain Cooper to Charles K. Mallory, Esq. Lieut. Gov. of Virginia — “I was in Hampton with my troop; that place having been evacuated in the morning by the British.My blood ran cold at what I saw and heard. The few distressed inhabitants running up in every direction to congratulate us; tears were shedding in every corner — the infamous scoundrels, monsters, destroyed everything but…

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Bound Volumes: 05-12-22

Bound Volumes May 12, 2022 212 YEARS AGO Poem – What art thou, Death; that we should fear the shadow of a shade? What’s in thy name that meets the ear of which to be afraid? Thou art not care, thou art not pain, but thou art rest and peace: ‘Tis thou canst make our terrors vain, and bid our torments cease. Misfortune’s sting, affliction’s throes, distraction’s poisonous breath; the world itself and all its woes are swallowed up in…

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Bound Volumes: 04-28-22

Bound Volumes April 28, 2022 162 YEARS AGO Fine Horses – There are more fine horses, especially matched teams, now in Cooperstown than we ever saw here at any one time before. The farmers of Otsego are turning their attention more to the raising of fine horses than formerly. It is a business that pays better than the growing of hops – at present rates! The weather – Snow squalls and cold weather ‘about these days.’ Where is the man…

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Bound Volumes 03-31-22

BOUND VOLUMES 212 YEARS AGO Just received and for sale at the Otsego Bookstore – The “Alcoran of Mahomet” (Ed. Note: a version of the Koran) Price in 1 vol. 2 dollars; in 2 ditto, bound in calf and neatly gilt, with a copious preliminary discourse, and abounding with large explanatory notes, 750 cents. Likewise Spelling Books, Murray’s Grammar, American Selection, American Reader, Art of Reading, American Preceptor, Dwight’s Geography, &c., &c., &c. March 31, 1810…

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Bound Volumes 1-13-22

Bound Volumes 160 YEARS AGO It is well known that a year ago the village of Cooperstown suffered to the extent of perhaps $20,000 on account of the prevalence of small pox — which was first contracted by one of our citizens in New York City. It nearly destroyed one trade for the entire winter; and put the county and the village to a large expense. To the mild type of the disease and the active precautions taken by the…

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BOUND VOLUMES: January 28, 2021

BOUND VOLUMES January 28, 2021 200 YEARS AGO “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” The exemplification of this moral is perpetually occurring on the most common objects of daily attention. The very paper on which I am now writing, affords me an example. A little while ago it was clipped off from an old garment, a useless rag. Betty would have swept it to the door. But the industrious rag man took it up and gave…

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HOMETOWN HISTORY: January 28, 2021

HOMETOWN HISTORY January 28, 2021 150 Years Ago In the Village of Oneonta during the year 1870 the mortality was as follows: Total number of deaths: 9; of which 5 were women, 1 man, 2 boys and 1 girl. Ages: Under 1 year and under: 2; between 1 and 5 years: 1; 15 and 20 years: 1; 30 and 40 years: 5. Diseases: Bronchitis: 1; Cancer: 1; Consumption 1; Dysentery 1; Hemorrhage of Lungs 2; Killed by Cars (Railroad) 1;…

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HOMETOWN HISTORY: January 21, 2021

HOMETOWN HISTORY January 21, 2021 150 Years Ago Local: The coal bill of Bissell & Yager, for the month ending January 1, amounted to nearly $5,000. H. Sessions fell from a scaffold on his house a few days since, from which he received quite severe injuries. E.R. Sabin, T.N. Derby and George Bond have each drawn a silver watch from prize candy packages. We learn that L.J. Emmons and E.G. Bixby contemplate moving to Kansas during the Spring or Summer.…

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BOUND VOLUMES: January 21, 2021

BOUND VOLUMES January 21, 2021 200 YEARS AGO Letter to the Overseer of the State Prison at Auburn Village from Utica – “Dear Sir: I have been informed that there is a young woman in prison for which her father offers the sum of $3,000 to the person who will marry her. If that be the case, I want you to see her father and have him write to me as soon as possible. If he writes to him direct,…