Bound Volumes

April 27, 2023

205 YEARS AGO
Fire! The most destructive fire that ever occurred in this village, took place on the morning of Friday last. Between 4 and 5 o’clock, it was discovered in the Hatter’s Shop belonging to Capt. R. Worthington, and had advanced to such a degree as to preclude the possibility of saving a single article from the flames. The inhabitants were prompt on the alarm and succeeded in clearing the adjoining buildings of the greater part of their movable contents – their endeavors, however, to check the progress of the fire were unavailing till the whole block of buildings from Cyrus Clark’s to George F. Craft’s, were entirely laid waste. The following estimates of losses sustained has been furnished us as being nearly correct: Cyrus Clark dwelling house: $1,200 (approx. $28,519.94 in 2023); John H. Prentiss building: $500 (approx. $11,883.31 in 2023); George Pomeroy Store (Insured): $700 (approx. $16,636.63 in 2023); Henry Olendorf, Goods and Grain in the Pomeroy Store: $400 (approx. $9,506.65 in 2023); Thaddeus Lacy, Cabinet Work, Grain, etc.: $150 (approx. $3,564.99 in 2023); R. Worthington Shop, Stock, Books, Notes (nothing saved): $8,000 (approx. $190,132.91 in 2023); J.F. Ernst Jewellers’ Shop (articles and tools mostly saved): $600 (approx. $14,259.97 in 2023); George F. Craft’s Store (insured): $800 (approx. $19,013.29 in 2023); George F. Craft (loss in grain): $600 (approx. $14,259.97 in 2023).

April 27, 1818

180 YEARS AGO
Slave Trade – A Spanish Slaver escaped with impunity – A letter from on board the U.S. ship Vincennes states that last February, they overhauled a schooner with three Spanish Custom House Officers on board having Spanish papers and Spanish colors, which prevented their seizing her. She had 560 slaves on board – thirty-four had died, two jumped overboard in frantic despair. She was 28 days from the coast of Africa, making for Cuba. The vessel was built in New York in 1835 or 1836.

April 24, 1843

155 YEARS AGO
Local: Spring has really come, for Trailing Arbutus – a harbinger among the flowers – is in bloom on the hills east and west of us. From the maples still dark and grey, not a single crimson bud has yet wakened from its winter sleep. But, under the soft mosses, covered and protected by the dead leaves, the creeping tendrils of Trailing Arbutus have wound their way unseen and springing into life with the first genial sun, have brought forth in full perfection the fragrant, tiny flowers. Some weeks ago we had a few clusters in blossom in our parlor. It is a fastidious little creature and will grow only in the locality it loves. It is a perennial plant with evergreen leaves and is found in the woods from Nova Scotia to the Carolinas.

April 24, 1868

130 YEARS AGO
The Ohio Wesleyan University has an unenviable notoriety for the outrageous “hazing” practiced there. Last week, some of the young women students caught the hazing spirit and fell upon some of their sister schoolmates. About twenty young women got a strong solution of nitrate of silver and proceeded to brand six or seven of their school friends on their necks, breasts, arms and hands, for the purpose of disfiguring them that they would be unable to wear evening dress at the senior reception. They lay in wait for them until after midnight when the girls were returning from their society meeting. The victims have suffered greatly in mind as well as in body. A civil suit has been commenced by the victims of the branding for $100,000.

April 27, 1893

105 YEARS AGO
May Arrest Disloyal Persons – Any American may bring to justice those uttering unpatriotic remarks. If you ever, on the street, or in a trolley car should hear some soft-shell pacifist or hard-boiled but poorly camouflaged pro-German, make seditious or unpatriotic remarks about your Uncle Sam, you have the right and privilege of taking that person by the collar, hand him over to the nearest policeman, or else take him yourself before the magistrate. You do not require any official authority to do this and the only badge needed is your patriotic fervor. The same thing applies to women. Every American, under provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure has the authority to arrest any person making a remark or utterance which outrages public decency.

April 24, 1918

80 YEARS AGO
The original manuscript for the book “The Gremlins” written by Flight Lieutenant Roald Dahl of the R.A.F. and illustrated by Walt Disney, has been presented to the New York State Historical Association by the Artists and Writers Guild, Inc. of New York. The typescript is signed by Lieutenant Dahl and is dated 1942. It will be exhibited in the “Gremlin Center” in Cooperstown, the Museum of the New York State Historical Association for several weeks and is then to be permanently placed in the association’s library.

April 28, 1943

55 YEARS AGO
The Fly Creek Volunteer Fire Department was called to battle flames which totally destroyed a barn and garage north of Fly Creek in the Fly Creek Valley late Saturday afternoon. The farm, known as the old John Hribar property, is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Peplinski and has been rented since last October to Mr. and Mrs. Junus W. Rowell. The blaze was discovered by friends, Mr. and Mrs. James Viertell of Milford who were visiting the Rowells about 5:20 p.m. when they noticed smoke coming through the roof of the barn. Mr. Rowell and Mrs. Viertell led several animals from the barn and removed a garden tractor, lawn mowers and tools from the nearby garage. Fly Creek Fire Chief Donald A. Davis and 20 men, upon arriving at the scene with all their equipment immediately summoned the Cooperstown Fire Department under mutual aid. They responded with 25 men and two pieces of equipment under the direction of First Assistant Chief Malcolm Root.

April 24, 1968

15 YEARS AGO
On April 15, members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors appointed Jeff Idelson president of the National Pastime’s Mecca. He’s thrilled to have the job, but he didn’t expect to get it after being named acting president after Dale Petroskey’s resignation three weeks earlier after a nine-year run. “I started as much on the bottom floor as you can get, Idelson said, recalling his part-time PR-internship with the Boston Red Sox at $125 a month.

April 25, 2008