Bound Volumes

January 4, 2024

160 YEARS AGO

Standing on the threshold of a New Year, the mind naturally turns to a contemplation of the stirring events which marked the outgoing of the late Administration, and which have distinguished that of the present. The civil war which now devastates the land actually commenced in January 1861, when the rebels fired upon the vessel sent to provision and reinforce the little garrison in Fort Sumpter—now a heap of ruins. The early leaders in this wicked rebellion no doubt contemplated the complete and comparatively easy consummation of their plans; they expected to effect the division of the Union, the secession of all the slave States, with little or no fighting. They were not prepared for such a demonstration of devotion to the Constitution and the Union—for such a determined opposition even unto blood, to any and every attempt to destroy the nationality of this mighty Republic.

January 1, 1864

110 YEARS AGO

The death of J.A. Melrose Johnston in the early morning of December 26th brought deep sorrow to the people of Cooperstown. Death was attributed to heart failure. Mr. Johnston had never been sick in bed a day in his life. As custodian of the wealth of others, J.A.M. Johnston gave his entire time to that and never accepted any of the honors of a public nature that his townsmen might have given him. In his capacity as agent for the Clark Estates, however, he probably did more for the village than any man in his generation, for it was he who built the Alfred Corning Clark Gymnasium, the Village Club and Library, the Cooper Park, the O-te-sa-ga, the Country Club, and all the other enterprises both public and private that have been provided by the Clark family. Mr. Johnston also had charge of dispensing the many charities that are maintained by the family.

December 31, 1913

85 YEARS AGO

The Penn Athletic Club baseball team of Philadelphia has accepted an invitation to take part in the National Baseball Centennial in Cooperstown early in the coming summer. And fittingly enough, the Pennac Nine will play Connie Mack’s Athletics on a day to be known as “Connie Mack Day.” Mack, is one of the immortals whose name has been placed in Baseball’s Hall of Fame. He said of playing the Pennacs, “It’s a fine idea and I’m glad of the chance to play baseball at the game’s birthplace. The celebration of the birth of baseball 100 years ago is one of the greatest things the game has provided and those in back of the project should be commended.”

January 4, 1939

60 YEARS AGO

The auditorium of the Village Hall has been refurbished and other renovations to the structure completed, for use by the Cooperstown Youth Center. The auditorium now has a light and airy appearance. The space has been closed as a Youth Center headquarters for more than eighteen months. The project cost $4,645 and was carried out by Neil R. Nielsen, Inc. of Oneonta. Youth Commission Chairman Dr. Joe H. Cannon said the Youth Center would reopen when new equipment arrives in January or February. Commission and Center members raised more than $5,000 to finance the project and will spend about $1,000 to equip it.

January 1, 1964

20 YEARS AGO

The Walking Example Group will present the second annual “Deck the Halls” Walking Tour led by Pat Thorpe on Sunday, December 28, at 2 p.m. Thorpe will provide an “up close and personal” tour of the holiday designs of Theatricum Botanicum. The walk will depart from the Otesaga Hotel near the Hawkeye Grill entrance.

January 2, 2004