Bound Volumes
August 27, 2026
135 YEARS AGO
The Swanswick Ball—Mr. Shaw (Editor of The Freeman’s Journal): It is an easy matter to sum up the ball given at Swanswick-on-the-Lake last Thursday night. Every one of the 130 departing guests gave voice to the simple truth when, in making their adieu—anywhere between the hours of three and four in the morning—they sincerely and elatedly thanked Mr. and Mrs. Pell Clarke for a “perfectly delightful ball,” without a grain of extravagance in the saying. The ball was given by Mr. and Mrs. Pell Clarke to celebrate the entrance into social life of their nieces, Miss Katherine Temple Emmet and Miss Rosina Hubley Emmet. Among the guests were Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Olmsted, Miss Browning, Mr. J. Prentiss Browning, Miss S.A. Cooper, Mrs. George Clarke, Mr. Edward S. Clark, Miss Phoebe Pomeroy, Mr. William C. Bowers, Mr. Alex Phinney, Mr. William McKim, Mr. and Mrs. G. Hyde Clarke, Mr. and Mrs. H.L.Wardwell, and Mr. Henry D. Sill.
August 27, 1891
85 YEARS AGO
John C. Pearson, who now resides in Cleveland, Ohio, but who was born and raised in Cooperstown, has presented the New York State Historical Association with two early examples of Cooperstown printing and also with a manuscript letter of 1794. The printing was done by Elihu Phiney in 1799 and consists of an address and exhortation delivered at Cooperstown on April 2, 1797, a fast day recommended by President Washington. The speaker was the Rev. J. McDonald, A.M. who spoke on “The Dangers of America Delineated” and “The Duty of America Endorced.” The letter is dated December 15, 1794 and is from William Hanna, an early settler and innkeeper of Unadilla to General Jacob Morris regarding the proposed subdivision of the Town of Unadilla into three towns.
August 27, 1941
60 YEARS AGO
Construction started last week on the new National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Library building. Situated south of the Hall of Fame and the Alfred Corning Clark gymnasium, the front of the library building will face the James Fenimore Cooper monument in Cooper Park. Paul S. Kerr, president of the Hall of Fame, said this week that the building will be ready for occupancy in the summer of 1967. The building will be faced on the exterior with rubble stone obtained from one of the original buildings at the old Otsego County Farm and Home at Phoenix Mills. The stone was presented to the Hall of Fame by the Huntington family of Westford which purchased the county farm site from William H. Sheffield, Jr. last spring.
August 24, 1966
35 YEARS AGO
An era in local baseball ended this week as MACS baseball coach Deane Winsor announced his intention to retire at the season’s end. For fifty years Winsor has guided the team and the MACS have never had a losing season. Winsor helped get the MACS home field built in Wilber Park and for many years has served as the groundskeeper. Winsor is a long-time member of the Otsego County Board of Representatives.
August 28, 1991
20 YEARS AGO
The 150-year-old Fly Creek Cider Mill will host its 12th Annual Antique Engine Show on August 26-27. Antique engines from the early 1900s will be on display along with the mill’s own vintage equipment collection. Fly Creek Community Days will be held on Saturday, August 26 with yard sales, shows and special events taking place up and down the Fly Creek valley.
August 25, 2006
