Bound Volumes, Hometown History

December 25, 2025

110 YEARS AGO

Christmas Day—The greatest photo-dramatic production ever seen on the screen will be the attraction at the Oneonta Theatre on Christmas Day when Geraldine Farrar, the celebrated operatic prima donna will appear in a film version of her famous opera “Carmen,” produced by the James L. Lasky Company. In securing the appearance of Miss Farrar before the motion picture camera, the Lasky Company scored the greatest coup in the history of the motion picture industry. This distinguished international artist had held herself aloof from scores of flattering offers to appear before the camera until she was approached by a representative of the Lasky organization. In “Carmen,” Miss Farrar is seen as the half-wild, fascinating gypsy who is the head of a band of smugglers. How she leads one man to death and another to ruin and is herself stabbed by a jealous lover are but incidents in this thrilling five reel picture.

December 1915

50 YEARS AGO

Saturday will be the last day the Oneonta W.T. Grant store will be open. Both area residents and store employees said that the announcement on Monday about the closing “after Christmas” was completely unexpected. Less than a month ago, store officials had indicated the local store would remain open although hundreds of W.T. Grant stores were being closed across the country. All stock still on the shelves is being sold at 20 percent discount and all Christmas merchandise at 50 percent discount. The store has employed 42 persons all of whom are eligible to be considered for positions at other W.T. Grant stores.

December 1975

40 YEARS AGO

Lincoln, the Siamese cat has joined the ranks of Garfield and Morris as a famous kitty. Lincoln now has a human pacemaker pulsating in his chest. The 11-year-old feline became the second cat to survive the unusual life-saving surgery which was performed by doctors in the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in Ithaca. “He’s doing fine, and he’s right back to being king of the house like he always has been,” said Douglas Thompson, Lincoln’s owner. “He looks like he’s been through the war, though.” Thompson took Lincoln to Cornell after the usually active cat became listless for a month and stopped his usual frequent meowing. Local vets suspected Lincoln had Leukemia, but tests were negative. Dr. N. Sydney Moise, a Cornell animal cardiologist, examined Lincoln and discovered the cat’s heart was beating nearly three times slower than normal. She diagnosed the problem as third-degree heart block, a pacing impulse condition.

December 1985

30 YEARS AGO

New York State Governor George Pataki, one year into his first term, was sipping diet Snapple iced tea and resting his legs on a coffee table in his newly furnished office at the state capitol. “I like the responsibility and the ability to change things,” he said. “I love this state. There’s a tremendous amount of ability to get things done.” Since taking office, Pataki’s job approval rating has wallowed around 40 percent although it did climb to 46 percent in a recent survey. However, a March poll earlier this year found Pataki with a 34 percent rating. “We could be looking at a one-termer,” said Utica-area pollster John Zogby.

December 1995

20 YEARS AGO

A proposal to change long-standing federal policy and deny citizenship to babies born to illegal immigrants on U.S. soil ran aground this month in Congress. But, it is sure to re-surface and rekindle bitter debate even if it fails to become law. At issue is “birthright citizenship” provided for since the Constitution’s 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868.

December 2005