90 YEARS AGO: Inherited monkey characteristics are responsible for humankind’s widespread use of the telephone, radio, talking pictures, and similar inventions, Dr. Orestes Caldwell, engineer and editor, asserts. “Outstanding traits of the monkey tribe,” said Dr. Caldwell, “are love of chatter and overwhelming curiosity – traits which have carried our own evolution to its present level of civilization. Monkeys like to gather in the treetops and chatter. And today, their human descendants delight to gather in conventions, night clubs, legislatures…
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tom heitz history column - Page 3
160 YEARS AGO: Re-Election of Mr. Lincoln—It is probable that Mr. Lincoln—denounced by leading members of his own party as “a failure,” truly respected by but few of them, re-nominated by a convention made up largely of office-holders and contractors—has been re-elected to the Presidency of our dissevered and unhappy Republic. We esteem this a misfortune, which might have been prevented by wise action on the part of the Chicago Convention. The destinies of the country are to remain in…
90 YEARS AGO: Brooding over the death of his parents a few years ago, and despondent because he was left with almost no near relatives, Ellery A. McGinnis, 28 years old, went to his mother’s grave in Glenwood cemetery yesterday afternoon and ended his life by putting a bullet from a .32 caliber revolver through his head. Dr. Norman W. Getman of Oneonta, Otsego County coroner, visited the scene and inspected the body. Dr. Getman concluded that the man “died…
135 YEARS AGO: Good Advice for Girls—Take plenty of exercise. Take it in the open air; take it alone and breathe with the mouth closed. Live on simple food – all the fruit and rare beef you want; very little pastry; a glass of claret for dinner; coffee in moderation, but never a sip of beer, because it thickens the voice and stupefies the senses. Keep regular hours for work, meals, rest and recreation, and never under any circumstances, indulge…
135 Years Ago: The Local News—A sea gull, a rare bird for this region, was shot near the upper reservoir a few days since by Albert Richardson. Taxidermist Wm. McCrum has it mounted in fine shape.
All Halloween was duly observed last Thursday evening by a company of youngsters, who played the mischief with door steps, hitching posts, signs and even the sidewalks in various parts of the village.
An Italian attempted to raise some money by buying a stove on contract…
160 YEARS AGO: The Final Arrangements: Final and thorough arrangements must be made by the Democrats of each town and election district for the contest of the 8th of November. We wish to offer a few timely suggestions to our friends in the county to this important matter. A committee should be appointed in each town, say of nine members, who should take upon themselves: 1. To complete the poll lists and see that every Democrat is registered. 2. To…
110 YEARS AGO: Evidence of skill with the rifle was witnessed Saturday by many Oneontans when two Ford motor cars were driven into the city by Mssrs. William Whitney and William Walker of Deposit, containing three fine bucks which were shot in the Long Lake region in the Adirondacks. Willis Walker, who was also a member of the party, brought down two of the bucks with his rifle.
Among all the autumn decorations in the display windows of the city, few…
210 YEARS AGO: About 300 Negroes from the Chesapeake, arrived at Halifax on the 2nd ult. In an emaciated condition—30 had died on the passage, and four expired on the quay, at landing them. Among them were many women and children, one man 70 years old and blind. Nine hundred more were expected. Those able to work had been sent to the work house. The people (of Halifax) were dissatisfied with the encumbrance.
October 27, 1814…
90 YEARS AGO: Plans for the Fourth Annual Halloween Festival under the auspices of the service clubs of Oneonta are complete. Capt. Lewis M. Baker, general chairman of the affair this year, presided at a meeting attended by representatives from the Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions clubs. The marchers will assemble in Walnut Street and proceed down Elm Street to Main, Chestnut and Academy streets beginning at 7:30 o’clock. The parade will consist of three or four divisions of school students…
160 YEARS AGO: Ladies at the County Fair—Our attention was first directed to the Domestic Manufactures. The Ladies deserve much praise, for their department has become an attractive feature of the Exhibition. There was a good display of quilts. There were 12 entries. A beautiful silk patchwork quilt, containing 3,000 pieces, by Mrs. James F. Smith of Richfield Springs, was much admired as a work which had required no little time and skill to complete; another by Miss Amanda Belknap…