BOUND VOLUMES

March 19, 2020

200 YEARS AGO

Advertisement: Academy and Boarding School for Young Misses – The Rev. Mr. Molther, respectfully informs the Ladies and Gentlemen of Cooperstown and its vicinity, that after New Year’s Day, 1820, he intends to establish in this Village, an Academy and Boarding School for Young Misses. Aided by his eldest daughters, he proposes to give instruction in the following branches of learning: Reading, English Grammar, Writing, Orthography (or correct spelling put to practice), Arithmetic, Geography, Use of the Globes, Composition, History, Vocal and Instrumental Music on the Piano, the French language taught grammatically, Knitting and Plain and Artificial Needlework. Days of tuition from Monday to Friday inclusive. The terms of tuition, as well as of boarding, will be regulated by the customary terms of other teachers and boarding institutions of this neighborhood. A few Young Gentlemen, between the age of six and thirteen years, may be admitted at school for the time being. Once a week, a catechetical in the principles of religion, will be given, without entering upon controversial tenets.

March 20, 1820

175 YEARS AGO

A Terrible Operation – The Lowell  Advertiser speaks of a terrible surgical operation at the Massachusetts General Hospital performed by Doctor Warren – No less than the complete removal from the head of nearly one-half of the upper jaw; that is from the mouth to the ear. The skin and flesh of the cheek were first turned up over the eye and then the separation was effected by saws and the use of the chisel and mallet. The whole occupied an hour and a half, and the unfortunate patient bore it with firmness. He is an elderly man (not robust) from the eastern part of Maine. A brother is one of the wealthiest and worthiest merchants. The disease is cancer. Dr. Warren is of the opinion that, though cancer may remain in the head, the sufferer will live several years longer than he otherwise would.

March 17, 1845

150 YEARS AGO

Attempting Jail Break – The Otsego County Jail is notorious for its insecurity. Of the three criminal cells, but one remains unbroken. Into this least insecure room, the Sheriff locked the two persons – John Kilpatrick and Geo. E. Hewitt – sentenced by Judge Sturges to one year each in the State Prison. But, knowing the reputation of the jail, and having seen its weak points for the past two months, Sheriff Franklin made an early inspection on Friday morning last, when ascertained that by the aid of a small piece of iron and a portion of their bedstead these prisoners had (“Just for the fun of it!” they said) made a hole in the partition wall large enough to crawl through, had concealed the dirt and bricks under their bed, and the hole with a portion of their bedding, expecting the next night to work their way out. The Sheriff felt constrained to put irons on these industrious lovers of liberty, and justified in putting the county to the expense of a watchman for a few nights.

March 17, 1870

125 YEARS AGO

Local: Dr. D.E. Siver commenced the practice of Dentistry in Cooperstown thirty years ago last Monday. For a few years he also manufactured artificial teeth which interest he afterwards sold out. Cooperstown has always been noted for its superior dentistry.
We are glad to learn that the Gymnasium is very well patronized this spring by ladies and gentlemen.
On Wednesday evening of next week, Rev. B.P. Ripley will deliver his lecture “Concerning Girls” at Mt. Vision by invitation of the W.C.T.U. of that place.
The Presbyterian Sunday School has a sleigh ride Sunday afternoon.

March 21, 1895

75 YEARS AGO

After one of the most severe winters in years Spring is here. She came early on the morning of Tuesday, March 20. Spring found the snow, which had been piled high everywhere, practically gone and everything ready for fixing the lawns, housecleaning and the like. Farmers say there is no frost in the ground which ought to mean good crops. Winter sometimes plays a trick on Spring and runs back for a last blast after supposedly saying goodbye. Maybe it will be so this year.
Sgt. Ralph Reid Birdsall, who has been in the European War theatre for some time, has been spending a brief furlough with
his mother, Mrs. H.S. Leverich, at the Tunnicliff Inn. He was accompanied by Mrs. Birdsall who is now making her home with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John F. Thompson at New Canaan, Connecticut. Sgt. Birdsall left Friday of last week for Officer Candidate School. He spoke briefly at the meeting of the Cooperstown Rotary Club.

March 21, 1945

50 YEARS AGO

Mike Phillips, a senior at Cooperstown Central School, was voted the Outstanding Wrestler in the Eighth Annual New York State Intersectional Wrestling Tournament in Syracuse on Saturday night after he had captured the 215-pound class individual championship in leading Section III to its first-ever victory in the state tourney. Philips, the overpowering Cooperstown youngster was the darling of the crowd of 5,500 which turned out at the War Memorial for the tournament finals. The raw-boned strong-boy, who was a star tackle on the Cooperstown Central School football team, is being recruited as a football player by Cornell, Notre Dame and Syracuse universities.

March 18, 1970

25 YEARS AGO

Paula Diperna, author and film producer from Cooperstown, recently spoke at the World Summit for Social Development.
The summit took up foreign assistance and jobs creation. “The summit focused on how best to use foreign assistance for the alleviation of poverty, as well as the need to consider unemployment as a global problem, particularly the phenomena of jobless economic growth. “There is a lot of concern that as productivity increases, workers are nevertheless permanently laid off. Thus, who is truly benefitting from the productivity increase? Also, many Americans would be surprised to learn that the United States ranks twenty-first, far below most developed countries in its foreign aid program taken as a percentage of GNP. Our foreign assistance is only about one percent of our federal budget.

March 19, 1995

10 YEARS AGO

In the largest turnout in memory and by a clear majority, Cooperstown voters Tuesday, March 16, elected Village Trustee Joseph J. Booan, Jr., a top BOCES administrator, as mayor. The tally was 431 votes for Republican Booan to 329 for Democrat Jeff Katz, the deputy mayor. But words of conciliation were heard from both men after a hard-fought campaign.

March 18, 2010