HOMETOWN History

Compiled by Tom Heitz and SHARON STUART, with resources courtesy of The Fenimore Art Museum Research Library

150 Years Ago

Oneonta: The entertainment at Union School Chapel on New Year’s evening was a very delightful affair, and despite a wild, wintry storm aAdd Newnd the deep snow it was very well attended. So boisterous was the weather that all of the farmers and child-players could not be there, but all who did come bore their parts so well as to please all the observers. Indeed, it is now proved that Oneonta Union School with its live, hard-working teachers and its newly awakened plucky scholars, can get up any sort of proper “doings” in short order, and in a style which honors themselves and the town.

We are looking anxiously with many others for the cheap coal that is coming from Scranton via Binghamton next week. We learn that Bissell & Yager have arrangements completed for an early and constant supply.

On New Year’s Day a coat was stolen from the basement of Miller & Pope’s store. The coat belonged to A. Wing and was worth about $14.

January 1869

125 Years Ago

100 Years Ago

Three months have now passed since the city became dry and figures as to the number of arrests are interesting and suggestive, especially in view of the fact that under the former regime the police officers sent home many who were still able to navigate while now the orders are to place under arrest all who are seen on the streets in an intoxicated condition. During October four arrests were made, in November two and in December six. Several of those during the latter month came directly to Oneonta from other cities which are wet. In fact, the largest proportion of all the arrests during the three months have been traceable to purchases made outside the city. In the corresponding months of 1917, the arrests were 15, 17 and 12, respectively, or a total of 44, nearly four times as many. The police have some parties under surveillance at present and quite likely before many weeks pass arrests will follow. The supporters
of the “dry movement” are unanimous in support of the change.

January 1919

80 Years Ago

A new kind of million-volt x-ray tube, equal to $90,000,000 worth of radium with a structure resulting from the discovery of a new electrical principle was announced today in Schenectady. This tube was made for treatment of human cancer, but is also designed for industry, and will give both sectors a new tool. In cancer it furnishes an amperage or volume of current, far in excess of anything previously known. For industry it is the first of these million-volt giants that can be carried on a truck. Such rays, useful for looking through steel have been available only for jobs that could be transported to them. The tube was built by scientists of the General Electric Research Laboratory for installation by the General Electric X-ray Corporation. It will be placed this spring in the new $4,000,000 memorial hospital now nearing completion at 68th Street and New York Avenue, New York City. This hospital is designed to be the world’s most completely equipped cancer institute. The director of cancer work, James Ewing, M.D., one of the nation’s ranking cancer scientists, says the great amperage will be useful to try on resistant types of cancer. “No one knows what the effect will be, “he explained, because no such amperage has been available.

January, 1939

60 Years Ago

Four families were left homeless in near zero weather when fire raged through an attic in a three-story frame house at 1 River Street about noon. Members of seven families were forced to flee. An overheated chimney set fire to the roof, firemen said. Eleven persons resided in the dwelling. Those forced to evacuate in near zero weather were Mrs. Pearl Tooley, Mrs. Maud Curry, Mrs. Christina Shaw, Bernard McDonald whose wife and two children were out of town visiting, Mrs. Martha Calvey and her two children, William Zobey and Isaac Beardsley. Asst. Chief Kenneth Hooks estimated the damage at $5,000. The home is owned by Mrs. Anna Chickering, 34 Main Street. Chief Joseph M. Scanlon commended Vincent A. “Jimmy” Microni, operator of the service station next to the burning building, for aiding several persons to escape.

January 1959

40 Years Ago

Second degree murder indictments against two Oneonta residents and two West Oneonta teenagers were handed down in Otsego County Court at Cooperstown. Charged in the single indictment for the death of 17-year-old William “Billy” Adkins of the Town of Hartwick on December 14, were David R. Northrop, 22, of Oneonta, Mark P. Brown, 17, also of Oneonta, Charles Larsen and Christian Tenace, both 15, and each a resident of the West Oneonta area. Indictment of the two 15-year-olds marks the first time Otsego youths have been charged under the state’s new Violent Offenders law. The law permits the juveniles to be tried as adults. The two-count indictment accuses the four defendants of “intentionally aiding each other with the intent to cause the death of William Adkins. The indictment charges they killed the youth with three stab wounds in the area of his heart. A second count charges the four with “a depraved indifference to human life.” After beating Adkins with fists and feet and throwing him to the ground they left him and failed to secure medical assistance.

January 1979    

20 Years Ago

Senators from both parties say President Clinton should not deliver his annual State of the Union address to Congress if the scheduled date conflicts with his impeachment trial in the Senate. The January 19 date for the speech thus provides a concrete deadline for Senators now searching for a way to bring a quick end to the impeachment trial. When Congress convenes on Wednesday the Senate’s first order of business is to determine the shape of the trial on House-passed articles of impeachment, which charge the President with perjury and obstruction of justice in the Monica Lewinsky affairs.

January 1999

10 Years Ago

When the time came for Hometown Oneonta to name its first Citizen of the Year, the choice was an easy one, times 20:  The Oneonta Centennial Committee, representatives from business, the arts, academe, the medical field, young and less young, a cross-section of the city itself.

Co-Chaired by Tom Clemow and Kevin Herrick, committee members included: Maggie Barnes, Theo Basdekis, Lucy Bernier, Bob Brzozowski, July Carney, Will Clemons, Diane Georgeson, David Hayes, Fred Hickein, Jim Koury, Dana LaCroix, Angie Neilsen, Madolyn Palmer, Edie Polhamus, Janet Potter, Mark Simonson and Art Torrey.  Emily McDonald was intern on the effort.

January 2, 2009