Bound Volumes, Hometown History
August 21, 2025
90 YEARS AGO
A big army bomber flew itself over a triangular course today. Only at the take-off and landing did the pilot put his hands on the controls. Army Air Corps officers hailed the feat as “successful automatic radio navigation.” But, the engineers emphasized there is no thought of sending huge bombing planes, crewless, to rain death upon an enemy in any future war, even though England’s little “Queen Bee” planes have demonstrated that unmanned aircraft can be flown by radio remote control. Secret equipment aboard the Martin bomber flown today couples a radio compass and a Sperry automatic pilot and with this arrangement a plane can be turned toward any radio station at or near the destination. Army spokesmen insist that the equipment tested today is “purely a matter of navigation,” to bring “ship and crew safely through fog or storms, or over great distances.”
August 1935
70 YEARS AGO
Problems are shaping up in Otsego and Delaware counties over plans for police distribution of liquor identification cards for teenagers, although the ID card system is almost ready to begin. It is generally agreed that the cards would safeguard bartenders from selling illegally to minors. However, opposition has developed over use of police agencies as distribution centers for the cards. County attorney Sterling P. Harrington has turned thumbs down on the official use of the Otsego County Sheriff’s office as a distribution agency for Otsego County. In the City of Oneonta, the Public Safety Board has given city police the green light to proceed with the distribution as soon as city liquor dealers complete final plans.
August 1955
40 YEARS AGO
Raise the pennant. The Oneonta Yankees are again champions of the Yawkey Division. After a two-year absence, Oneonta is heading to the New York-Penn League playoffs after beating Jamestown 7-2 Wednesday night to clinch its seventh divisional title in nine years. With 14 games yet remaining on the regular season schedule, only a natural catastrophe could have prevented the Yankees from reaching the championship series. In a pre-game ceremony last night at Damaschke Field Oneonta’s STAC championship baseball team was honored and coach Joe Hughes was presented with an engraved bat.
August 1985
30 YEARS AGO
A fire destroyed hundreds of antiques overnight in two buildings at Secret Caverns, a tourist attraction 40 miles west of Albany in Schoharie County. A fire in the admission booth spread to the museum building located 35 feet away. Several horse-drawn carriages, a horse-drawn hearse and several artifacts from an early 20th century one-room schoolhouse were destroyed before firefighters from Cobleskill could bring the blaze under control. Fire Chief Douglass Angle said the fire was being investigated as suspicious.
August 1995
20 YEARS AGO
Otsego County has identified its first confirmed case of West Nile virus, a disease that affects the nervous system, Public Health Director Diane Cusworth said. The virus was found in a dead crow in Otego on August 2. It is also the first case of West Nile virus identified in the region. No cases have been reported and confirmed in Schoharie, Delaware or Chenango counties. Mosquitoes spread the disease, but birds, especially crows which become infected are often the precursors to reports of human cases. Otsego County did not have a case of West Nile virus last year until September, Cusworth said. That case was in an owl and was the only incidence confirmed. The department has submitted ten birds for testing this year, including the crow recently confirmed as infected with West Nile virus.
August 2005
