Bound Volumes, Hometown History

February 29, 2024

110 YEARS AGO

Within the past few months many of the pool rooms, lunch rooms, cigar stores, candy stores, and public places of the like in Oneonta have been operating slot machines, candy cards, cigar boards and numerous other devices in which a man might get a whole lot for a nickel or a dime, but the majority of players would be more likely to get nothing. The operation of such devices is in direct violation of the law and, at various times, the police department have made efforts to eliminate them from the city but without complete success owing in a measure to a lack of interest on the part of the judiciary. Within the past few days all places in the city operating such devices have been visited by the police and their owners notified to remove the same and keep them removed, lest they be punished under the provisions of the law.

February 1914

50 YEARS AGO

The neighborhood is still a cherished concept for Oneonta families whose children attend schools in the Oneonta School District. Superintendent of Schools Frederick Bardsley has been meeting recently with small groups of parents to discuss the district’s building needs. District officials are considering a number of proposals, one of which recommends closing the Junior High School and converting Riverside School into either a junior high or middle school. If this proposal is adopted Riverside students would be transferred to other city elementary schools. “The bussing issue came up continually during the meetings,” Bardsley said. “Many parents simply don’t want their kids bussed out of their areas.” Bardsley has found that interest in an addition to the senior high school is fairly strong. This option has not previously been discussed much because it would require expenditures that would exceed the district’s $1.3 million debt limit. To his surprise, Bardsley is finding that many parents are not opposed to the additional expense.

February 1974

40 YEARS AGO

An increase of more than 10 students in this fall’s Kindergarten enrollment would force the Oneonta School District to add another Kindergarten class, according to local teacher contract regulations. Currently, 165 students are enrolled in the seven Kindergarten classes at the district’s four elementary schools. According to the terms of the teachers’ contract, the size of Kindergarten and first-grade classes cannot exceed 25 students. Enrollment levels at the four elementary schools put all of the district’s Kindergarten classes at or near maximum capacity. School Superintendent Lowell Foland said district officials will have to wait to see how many youngsters officially register, and possibly how many students actually show up for classes this fall, before determining if an added class is required.

February 1984

20 YEARS AGO

The New York State Senate has rejected a controversial Pataki administration plan to require periodic renewal of pistol licenses. Gov. Pataki’s budget would have required pistol owners to renew their licenses every five years and pay a fee of at least $100. The proposal angered many of Pataki’s fellow Republicans who saw it as both a new tax and an infringement on Second Amendment rights. “It really only impacted law-abiding gun owners, who are not the problem,” said Senator James Seward, (R. Milford). The Governor’s budget estimated that the fee would generate $31 million a year in revenue, with most of the money going to the state’s general fund. Administration officials argued that the revenue would allow state police to keep the database of handgun owners current.

February 2004