Bound Volumes, Hometown History
November 7, 2024
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 of L.B. Lennon and then selling it for cash. He seemed slow to realize that he had committed some wrong, but when arraigned in court made satisfactory settlement and was discharged.
The diphtheria scare in Oneonta has subsided. There have been, to be sure, several cases, and a few deaths, but at no time have there been cases enough in the village to make the situation alarming.
Richard Riley, employee of the railroad shops, lost 3 fingers Tuesday while running a planning machine.
November 1889
70 Years Ago
Passenger car production in 1955 is expected to top the 5,250,000 cars indicated for 1954. New Ford automobile models go on display on Friday, November 12. Chrysler models will be offered on November 17; Lincolns on November 23; and Mercury on December 2. Pontiacs and Chevrolets, the first of the new General Motors models, went on display in September. High-styling, stepped-up horsepower and improved automatic transmissions mark the new models. Giants are taking over the automobile industry. The merger of two of the oldest manufacturers, Studebaker and Packard, was approved by stockholders in August. Hudson and Nash combined as American Motors four months earlier. General Motors accounts for slightly more than 50 percent of current production; Ford for 32 percent and Chrysler for 13 percent.
November 1954
50 Years Ago
James and Alan Paret, whose plans for a restaurant in the former Viking Studio at Dietz & Walnut streets were blocked by a zoning change in the Oneonta Common Council, have relocated a block away on Ford Avenue. The brothers are redecorating a large nine-room house at 23 Ford Avenue formerly owned by O. Charles Koenig. Alan Paret said the property is zoned commercial and that the sale is already settled. No major renovations are needed, he said for two dining rooms on the first floor and a wine and cheese room on the second floor. The restaurant will be named “The Open Door.” The brothers’ original plans for a “home-style foods” restaurant at 55 Dietz Street were scuttled when neighbors there protested to the Common Council and the zoning for that site was changed from commercial to residential.
November 1974
40 Years Ago
Student groups from both colleges are offering transportation to polling sites throughout the city in an effort to get out the student vote. The Oneonta State College Student Association is providing a 15-passenger van to take students to the eight polling places in the city. The van will leave Schumacher Hall every half hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. About 3,000 SUCO students are registered to vote locally. The Hartwick College Student Senate is providing rides to the polls with a 10-passenger van leaving Arnold parking lot six times during the day.
November 1984
30 Years Ago
Twenty local merchants face fines of up to $300 following an underage undercover operation aimed at snuffing out sales of cigarettes to teens. In the county-wide sting, sponsored by the anti-tobacco coalition known as Project A.C.T.I.O.N., a 16-year-old girl tried to purchase cigarettes over the counter in 31 area stores – 20 times she walked out with a pack.
November 1994
