BOUND VOLUMES

June 5, 2020

205 YEARS AGO

At the late Court of Oyer & Terminer, held in this county by His Honor Judge Spencer, Samuel McCollom was convicted of stealing a pocket-book from a Mr. Henry of Cherry Valley, and sentenced to four years imprisonment at hard labor in the State Prison. Intemperance, the father of much mischief and wickedness, seems to have led this man to his present disgraceful situation. It appeared from his own acknowledgement to one of the witnesses, that previous to the commission of the theft, so much was he wedded to his favorite liquor, that he actually took a pint of whiskey to bed with him. In aggravation of his crime, it seems that he had been in the habit of teaching school in the neighborhood. He took his departure for his new residence under the custody of the Sheriff last Thursday.

June 8, 1815

180 YEARS AGO

The following is taken from an account of the Republican Young Men’s Otsego County Convention in Cooperstown in late May, 1840. (Ed. Note: The word Republican in 1840 described members of the Democratic Party) “Not less than three thousand Democratic Young Men, of Old Otsego, came together in this Village on the 27th ult. (May, 1840). It was a grand display of the rising Democracy of Old Otsego, and cheering to the highest degree to the hearts of all those who love their country and have a just regard for its prosperity and happiness. Every Town in the County was fully represented, and the procession was of the most imposing character, and, as it proceeded through the Village, the several Delegations composing the same were enthusiastically cheered by the vast multitude which filled the sidewalks, the corners of the streets and the piazzas of the hotels.
The “Huge Paws” appeared truly formidable, and the hewing down of Federal Whiggery that will take place in this County at the next November Election will be like the effects of the sweeping tornado.”

June 8, 1840

155 YEARS AGO

Thursday, the 1st of June, being set apart by the President as a day of humiliation and mourning, on account of the death of Mr. Lincoln, a union service will be held in the Presbyterian Church of this Village at 11 o’clock a.m. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Peaslee.

Fourth of July Meeting – The Trustees of the Village invite the citizens generally to meet at Bowne Hall, on Friday evening of this week at 7:30 o’clock, to take into consideration the subject of a Fourth of July celebration.
A full attendance is desired. S.K. Thompson, President; C.R. Burch, Clerk.

June 2, 1865

130 YEARS AGO

Summary News – A sewer is to be laid through Church Street from River to Fair Street, and down Fair to Main Street – the expense of which is borne by Christ Church, Alfred C. Clark and James Bunyan, whose property flanks the sewer on each side the whole distance.
People leaving New York for Cooperstown will find the 9:50 train out of the city the best one, arriving here at 5:25 – only 7 hours and 35 minutes on the road – unless there should be a detention on one of the other roads. The train leaving Cooperstown at 2:10 p.m. connects with the boats at Albany.

June 6, 1890

110 YEARS AGO

Mayor Jack King was overseeing some public work on Chestnut Street the other day and was leaning against a tree. Down the sidewalk something unusual attracted his attention.
It was a cat and right behind it was a dog and they were coming. As they came nearer the dog gained on the cat and just as they reached Jack the race seemed to be lost for the tabby. Then spt z-z-z! swish 23 blankety-blank!-! – the cat thought the Mayor was part of the tree, and up him she scrambled. The dog tried to follow, but Jack administered a kick and down the street the dog went with a kiyi and astride his tail. The Mayor picked up his hat and rubbed the places along his anatomy where the cat’s claws had struck. The cat, astride a limb, looked down upon the scene triumphant.

June 4, 1910

55 YEARS AGO

Editorial – Into the 20th Century – When Governor Rockefeller signed a bill Tuesday which outlaws, with two exceptions, capital punishment in New York State, he brought the Empire State into the 20th Century insofar as the administration of justice is concerned. It ends a 17-year fight to banish an archaic and barbaric form of punishment that has no rightful place in modern society. Capital punishment has been in effect in New York since Dutch Colonial times. Since 1891, when the electric chair was first used, 614 persons have been executed. New York thus becomes the 12th state to abandon the use of the death penalty. Abolishment of the death penalty has had strong support from responsible segments of society.

June 2, 1965

30 YEARS AGO

Memorial Day weekend 1990 was a winning time for twelve-year old Erica Collier. Erica and her father Steve Collier won first place in the General Clinton Canoe Regatta Generation Gap race on Friday. She and her Dad beat the boys who came in second and third. Then, on Sunday, Erica got dressed to compete in her first-ever beauty pageant at Albany’s Empire State Convention Center where
she placed tenth among 59 contestants to qualify for a national beauty pageant in Orlando, Florida in January. “It was a dream come true,” Erica said.

June 6, 1990

15 YEARS AGO

Village native Teri Barown is getting her desk in order and greasing the wheels of Cooperstown’s government in her new position as Village of Cooperstown Clerk. Born and raised in Cooperstown, Barown graduated from Cooperstown High School in 1979. While she went to college part-time, Barown took a job in Lynn Green’s law office. In subsequent years she worked for the Otsego County Personnel Office, the New York State Historical Association’s Membership Department, and recently as District Clerk for Laurens Central School. “Until I worked in Laurens, I had always been in Cooperstown,” Barown said. “My kids go to school here. It’s like home to me. When I saw this position, I had to go for it. It’s nice to be back in Cooperstown.”

June 3, 2005