HOMETOWN History

July 19, 2019

By TOM HEITZ & SHARON STEWART • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

150 Years Ago

Jacob C. Dietz, of Anamosa, Iowa, is spending a few weeks here among the homes and haunts of his early life, and is greeted most cordially on all hands. In childhood, youth and early manhood, “Jake” had the way that always wins and keeps many friends. Now that he comes back to us broadened-out by the whole-souled progressive manhood of glorious Iowa, it does one good to grasp his warm hand and feel the throbbing of his liberal soul. He finds his native village doubled in size since he left, and much of the old farm covered with busy streets. We are glad that young Iowa gets so many Otsegoes and puts them into the front rank of its thinking, working conquering hosts.

July 1869

125 Years Ago

The Local News – Sewer and water pipes are being laid on the Walnut Street extension, thus avoiding a necessity for expensive excavation after the grading is completed.
A new mineral spring has been found at Wilber Park, Oneonta. It is very pleasant and cool, and has an abundant flow and tastes very similar to Waukeshau water which was sold everywhere on the World’s Fair grounds for a cent a glass. Many take the health-giving waters to their homes. The water is free to all.
Lady passengers traveling on trains 6 and 7 will hereafter during the summer months be presented with a handsome bouquet when the train reaches Oneonta. This graceful little custom was inaugurated Monday, when bouquets of sweet peas were given out. Tuesday and Wednesday sweet peas and pansies were used. Each day hereafter the flowers will be varied.
D.F. Wilber has just stocked Crumhorn Lake with 500 adult black bass.

July 1894

100 Years Ago

Five physicians and two druggists were held today in heavy bail for trial when they were arraigned before United States Commissioner Hitchcock – the first result of the crusade started by the federal authorities against alleged traffickers in habit-forming drugs. Bail was fixed at $7,500 for Dr. Jacob Kornblum, Dr. M.A. Levy, Dr. H. Stern, Dr. Jacob Katz, Dr. Edward E. Gardner and Aaron Goldberg, druggist. Dr. F. Phillips, the second druggist was held on $5,000 bail. According to one of the federal agents who conducted the raid, several doctors against whom evidence had been collected were warned in time and disappeared. The federal campaign was reinforced by New York State officials who prepared to enforce the new state law under which doctors are forbidden to prescribe narcotics for any person who has not obtained a registration card with his photograph attached. The city health department estimates that there are 200,000 drug addicts in Greater New York City and out of that total, 11,500 are registered.

July 1919

60 Years Ago

Nee and Waa, baby swans of Oney and Onta, ventured into the water for the first time yesterday. Protected by their hovering parents, the little birds made a dash for shore. After greeting several youngsters lined along the edge of Neahwa Pond, the small swans were escorted back to their island home and nestled under the wings of their mother. The mother bird did most of the nesting yesterday and treated a third egg with much more care than the two little swans that have been hatched during the past two days. While the little swans were herded under the mother swan’s wings somewhat roughly, the egg was rolled onto the nesting with the same care a human being would offer a newborn baby. The little birds amused several hundred youngsters yesterday. Cars came and went, stopping for a few minutes to see how the little swans were doing.

July 1959

40 Years Ago

The Fourth Annual Oneonta Farmers’ Market in the city parking structure will open Saturday at 9:30 a.m. At least 15 businesses or individuals will sell produce, handcrafted items, and baked goods in the market, organizer Su Yates said. The market in the Water Street level of the parking structure will continue to 2 p.m. each week and will operate each Saturday until the end of October. In addition to the sales booths, there will be music, demonstrations, and such events as watermelon-eating contests on Saturdays. At least 15,000 people came to the market last year, she estimated. Among the current list of farmers and craftsmen are Roger Wilms, produce; Arvilla Juhl, handicrafts; Otsdawa Gardens, plants; Ellen Myiri, home-baked goods; Reynolds Greenhouse, plants and flowers; Judy Douglas of Meadowland, Herbs; Alice Siegfried, Pottery; the Wider Oneonta Rights Coalition; Joe Hendricks, produce.

July 1979

20 Years Ago

A powerful, sweeping thunderstorm ripped through parts of Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties Sunday night, knocking down trees and cutting power to many areas. Oneonta was one of the hardest hit areas according to officials with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Binghamton. Other parts of Otsego and Delaware counties were affected as well. However, no injuries had been reported to law enforcement officials as of 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Bob Hudgins, a spokesman for the NWS, said the thunderstorm blew through the area starting in Chenango County at about 7 p.m. with wind gusts ranging from 50 mph to 60 mph. The storm, which lasted about 30 minutes, ravaged the River Street area in Oneonta, where residents lined the streets afterward. Mary MeHegan was sitting outside her home at 16 Ann Street around 7:30 p.m. as the storm began to rumble toward Oneonta. She began to see lawn chairs, buckets and other outdoor paraphernalia being blown around and swept up into the wind. “Everything was being blown all over the place.”

July 1999