BOUND VOLUMES:

Jan. 9, 2020

200 YEARS AGO

Excerpts from a report to the New York State Legislature regarding progress in the construction of the canal system: “The middle section of the Western Canal, including a lateral canal to Salina, and comprising a distance of more than 96 miles, has been completed. On October 23 last, the Commissioners navigated it from Utica to Rome, and found their most sanguine expectations realized in the celerity, economy, and excellence of the execution; and on November 24, the Champlain Canal was also in a navigable condition. In less than two years and five months 120 miles of artificial navigation have been finished, and thus the physical as well as financial practicability of uniting the waters of the western and northern lakes with the Atlantic ocean has been established without a doubt or cavil. The efforts of direct hostility to the system of internal improvements, will in future be feeble. Honest and well-disposed men, who have hitherto retained doubts, have yielded them to the unparalleled success of this measure.”

January 10, 1820

175 YEARS AGO

Selected state popular vote results from the Presidential Election of 1844 in which James K. Polk defeated Henry Clay, 1,385,260 to 1,299,706, a majority of 85,554. New York State: Polk 237,588; Clay 232,408 (Polk’s majority: 5,180); New Jersey: Clay 38,318; Polk 37,495 (Clay’s majority: 823); Mississippi: Polk 25,126; Clay 19,206 (Polk’s majority 5,920); South Carolina: Polk 50,000; Clay 3,054 (Polk’s majority: 46,946; Kentucky: Clay 61,255; Polk 51,988; (Clay’s majority 9,267); Georgia: Polk 44,154; Clay 42,115; (Polk’s majority 2,039); Alabama: Polk 36,022; Clay 24,875; (Polk’s majority 11,147;
Ohio: Clay 155,113; Polk 149,059;
(Clay’s majority 6,054).

January 13, 1855

150 YEARS AGO

The Otsego County Board of Supervisors are now in session in this village to consider plans and specifications for building a new jail and Sheriff’s residence. On all hands it is admitted that the present jail is a disgrace to the County of Otsego – that it is a source of constant large expense – that its insecure condition has a demoralizing effect. It has been repeatedly condemned by Grand Juries and Boards of Supervisors – and the building of a new jail is recommended by all the newspapers in the county. As a matter of wise economy, the jail should be built now, to be paid for say one-fifth at a time in five years.

January 13, 1870

125 YEARS AGO

Death of Susan Fenimore Cooper, the eldest daughter of James Fenimore Cooper – We would that the writing of the obituary of this highly noted and gifted woman were done by someone better qualified for the service – one who might speak somewhat in poetic language of the fact that she entered upon the year 1894 by seeing and cheerfully and pleasantly conversing with the few friends who that day called upon her – that upon the last Sunday afternoon of the year she was able to join the little family circle at dinner, appearing unusually well; that she read family prayers before retiring to her room; and then at the dawn of the closing day of the year she peacefully fell upon sleep.

January 3, 1895

75 YEARS AGO

Lieutenant General James H. Doolittle, commanding general of the Eighth Air Force, recently awarded the Bronze Star medal to Major Kenneth W. Root, Jr., of Cooperstown. Major Root is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth W. Root, Sr. Major Root serves as the base engineering officer for the Eighth Air Force Liberator Station in England. During his absence, his wife,
Mrs. Helen Root, is residing in Mansfield, Louisiana, but is currently visiting her parents here. Major Root was graduated from Cooperstown High School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was formerly employed by the Central New York Power Company as a results and test engineer. Major Root entered the service in February, 1941 as a Private in the field artillery and was commissioned as an engineering officer on March 8, 1942.

January 10, 1945

50 YEARS AGO

The Department of Psychiatry at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital will observe its fifteenth anniversary this year with a growing emphasis on mental health care. Dr. Harvey Gurian, psychiatrist-in-chief at Bassett, has issued a report on the operation of the department since its creation in 1955. According to Dr. Gurian, Otsego County has had one of the more stable psychiatry programs that have been developed for a rural area. In addition to Dr. Gurian, the staff includes Dr. Hugh R. Williams, associate psychiatrist (Child Psychiatry); Dr. William J. Nape, Assistant Psychiatrist; and
Dr. Charles W. Lamb, Chief Psychologist. In addition, the department has the
services of Dr. Robert F. Savadove, Assistant Resident in Psychiatry, and Dr. George Ainslie who is interning. “The philosophy behind the department’s development has been to increase service gradually as personnel becomes available,” Dr. Gurian states. “Closer liaison with various community agencies such as the Department of Social Services, the schools and the courts will be developed.”

January 14, 1970

25 YEARS AGO

Bassett Healthcare’s Birthing Center rang in the New Year, welcoming Cherry Valley’s newest resident – Brandon Scott Yeardon. The 7-pound, 4-ounce bundle of joy was the first baby arriving at Bassett and in Otsego County at 3:43 a.m. on the morning of January 1. Michael and Jennifer Yeardon are the parents. Bassett’s Birthing Center’s “First Baby of the Year Basket” included a handmade quilt by RN Debbie Blue. RN Libby Akulin made the label for the quilt. Also included was a Carter’s Baby Sleeper from Ellsworth and Sill; a Onesie, a knit hat, and OshKosh socks from Cooperstown Kid Company; health care needs from Church and Scott Pharmacy; a stuffed animal from the Bassett volunteers a floral arrangement from Colonial Florists and baby cream from Straws and Sweets.

January 8, 1995

10 YEARS AGO

Letter to the Editor from Thomas J. Hickey, Owner of the Cooperstown Hawkeyes: “On behalf of Cooperstown’s new baseball team, I would like to thank all those who have supported our efforts to bring a high quality baseball experience to Doubleday Field. Our very successful “Name the Team Contest” concluded recently. Out of 80 entries Cooperstown’s David Pearlman submitted the winning entry – the “Cooperstown Hawkeyes.”

January 8, 2010