Bound Volumes

August 14, 2025

135 YEARS AGO

(Ed. Note: The following passage describes a Minstrel show performed in blackface by members of the Cooperstown baseball team) A large and appreciative audience greeted the young men who gave the Concert and Entertainment on Tuesday evening in the Village Hall for the benefit of the Athletic Association. Almost every number of the program called for an encore, the many topical songs being especially appreciated. The boys composing the Charleston Blues, by their brilliant performance elicited a vociferous applause, which they fully deserved. All the topical songs showed much merit in their composition as well as delicacy in the manner in which they touched upon local matters and incidents. The Association is to be congratulated that it has aroused interest sufficient to produce as excellent an entertainment. The program as published was fully and well-rendered. The proceeds were $100.

August 15, 1890

110 YEARS AGO

The floating island which has been in Goodyear Lake for several years and which recently floated up against the dam much to the inconvenience of the Collier’s Light, Heat & Power Company is now being cut into sections and a considerable portion has been drawn around the point into a bay where it is being anchored adjoining lands owned by the company. Another part has been drawn farther up the lake. It is believed that in a short time the entire island will be safely removed from the zone where it might cause damage to the plant and the dam.

August 11, 1915

60 YEARS AGO

When the motor on a boat caught fire on Otsego Lake Dr. John D. George, his wife Sandra, and daughters Jill, age 2, and Debbie, age 4, were forced to jump into the water, a few yards from the dock at the Cooperstown Country Club. The two daughters were wearing life jackets and Dr. George is a good swimmer. However, Mrs. George does not swim and lacked a life jacket. She managed to cling to a floating seat cushion. The Paula Lee, operated by Alfred Engelmann of the Cooperstown Marina saw the mishap and pulled the boat around and took them all on board. No injuries were suffered although Mrs. George was in a state of shock. Martin Tillapaugh, age 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. George G. Tillapaugh of Cooperstown, came along in his 14-foot outboard and using an extinguisher which he always carries on board, quickly put out the flames.

August 11, 1965

35 YEARS AGO

Pain management services have been available at Basset hospital for about 10 years. In 1985, the hospital organized the first comprehensive post-operative pain management program in New York State. Physicians found that patients whose post-operative pain was managed correctly often experienced shorter, more pleasant recovery periods. Recently, the same pain management techniques have been applied to visits with outpatients and many find their quality of life improves greatly.

August 15, 1990

20 YEARS AGO

Village officials say that Thursday night’s concert at Doubleday Field with the Beach Boys and Herman’s Hermits will be an intimate affair with about one-fourth of the field’s seating capacity sold in advance. According to Chamber of Commerce Director Polly Renckens, her office had sold just over 2,800 tickets as of Monday. That figure does not include children younger than age 10 of which 400-500 are expected. Concert promoters Ed and Judi Tripp said they hope to eclipse the 3,000 mark in attendance by the time the show starts on Thursday.

August 12. 2005