HOMETOWN HISTORY • April 12, 2019

150 Years Ago

We are glad to announce the dedication services of the Presbyterian Church to occur on April 23. The pastor has been fortunate in securing the services of Rev. Dr. Darling, of Albany, and Rev, C.K. McHarg of Cooperstown, as preachers for the occasion. It is hoped that the neighboring pastors and congregations will be present, and that the people generally will welcome the completion of a good enterprise among them.
Mr. R. Monell of Poughkeepsie has completed the fresco painting on the new M.E. Church. It is a beautiful piece of work. Harvey Bissell will continue at his present place of business for another year. His excellent bakery goods are quite satisfactory to the public and a great convenience to housekeepers. In fancy goods and confectionery, Bissell’s stock is equal to the best, but seeing is believing – therefore call and see.
L.P. Carpenter offers for sale his house and lot. This is a nice little place and whoever is fortunate enough to secure it, will have a pleasant house.

April 1869

125 Years Ago

Local – About one hundred and fifty Oneonta ladies attended the reception given last Friday evening by Mrs. I.H. Rowe and Mrs. S.R. Barnes at the residence of the latter on Ford Avenue, the occasion being a very enjoyable one to all present.
It is rumored that Mr. D.F. Wilber is financially interested in the Erie Canal Traction company certificate of incorporation of which was filed yesterday in the Office of the Secretary of State. The capital stock is placed at $100,000 with power to increase to $4,000,000. The company proposes to furnish electric power from Niagara Falls for the propulsion of vessels along the Erie Canal.
The Normal Dramatic Company presented the comedy of “Married Life” at Unadilla Friday evening to a large and
well-pleased audience. The play will be given by the same company at Hamilton April 13 and at New Berlin April 27.
The Normal societies netted $30 from the Unadilla entertainment.

April 1894

80 Years Ago

Mrs. Walter Larter of 38 Center Street has been invited to exhibit her hobby, a collection of glass slippers, in the hobby section of the New York World’s Fair. Her collection, which numbers over 600 pieces, first brought her fame when she was invited to broadcast over the Hobby Lobby program in March 1938. Typical of many hobbies, it has now grown into a business, as Mrs. Larter now operates the Golden Slipper antique shop at her home, having become interested in antiques in her collection of ancient glass slippers. She still continues her hobby, despite the demands on her time of the antique shop. She now concentrates on slippers of considerable age.
Hogan’s Shamrocks, Oneonta’s Girls’ basketball quintet finished the 1938-1939 campaign with a record of 18 victories over leading basketball teams in Otsego, Delaware and Broome counties, against two losses in exhibition contests including one to the Bucktown Cagers, champions of western Pennsylvania. The team was coached by Francis Delaney and managed by Irwin Hartman. Squad members are Emma Joy, guard, 15 Grand Street; Helen Delaney, guard, 18 Center Street; Dorothy Hartman, center, 14 West Street; Katherine Hogan, forward, 87 Main Street; Edith Conte, forward, 30 West Broadway; and Ruth Fraser, forward, 192 West Street.

April 1939

60 Years Ago

Alarms are being raised over our waning foreign trade advantage, and with reason. Exports of such things as farm equipment, steel and automobiles are declining. Imports are on the increase. The country is pricing itself out of the world market. For the first time in history, imported automobiles in 1957 exceeded U.S. exports. The 259,343 new cars imported that year being nearly twice the total we sent abroad. The auto import figure was more than 10 percent of U.S. production in 1958. Tractor and farm implement manufacturers are making parts overseas and shipping them here for assembly. This is cheaper than making them here in this country. Sale of foreign steel in this country is growing and would be larger if European and Japanese mills could supply more tonnage. The impending steel strike worsens this picture. The higher wages and prices expected to result would further weaken American steel’s position relative to foreign steel.

April 1959

40 Years Ago

Debbie Herklotz of Franklin volunteers one day a week to a job she finds most interesting. Debbie is a recruiter for the Job Corps. As a recruiter, she talks with young women 16 to 21 years of age from lower income families in the area to provide information about opportunities at the Job Corps. Debbie serves under the “Women in Community Service (WICS) program sponsored by Delta Kappa Gamma, a society for women educators. Other local women in the program include Mrs. Ruth Davidson in Treadwell and Mrs. Esther Brooker in Worcester, also volunteers, who look for candidates in their areas.

April 1979

20 Years Ago

Organizations throughout the region are participating in a national discussion on bereavement to be held Wednesday afternoon. Area residents can participate in the Hospice Foundation of America’s sixth annual National Bereavement Teleconference.

April 1999

10 Years Ago

This month, the Sixth Ward Athletic Club celebrates 50 years since its founding and 30 years at its current location this month, according to a club history prepared by Albert Colone. The club started in 1959 when 12 men wanted to create an organization to promote fast-pitch softball.

April 2009