BOUND VOLUMES
May 13, 2021
Compiled by Tom Heitz/SHARON STUART, with resources
courtesy of The Fenimore Art Museum Research Library
185 YEARS AGO
Nature is beginning a length to throw off her sable mantles and everywhere Spring is appearing in all its primitive loveliness – the God of the seasons is breathing upon the autumnal earth and changing it from gloom to glory. There is a lofty and peculiar spirit belonging to the vernal developments of nature which man would do well to imitate. As the harvest in autumn depends upon the seed committed to the earth in spring, also the character of the man depends upon the principles implanted in the minds of youth in the springtime of life.
May 9, 1836
160 Years Ago
Captain Tuckerman of Cherry Valley has filled up the ranks of his Company and reported to Governor Morgan as ready for service. This is the first company from Otsego, though several persons from this county have enlisted at other points. A full regiment can be had when needed.
Flag Raising at Middlefield Centre – On Saturday last the inhabitants of Middlefield Centre reared a pole nearly a hundred feet high and hoisted a beautiful Flag made by the Ladies of that place. Speeches were made by Messrs. Bowen and Davison.
May, 17, 1861
135 Years Ago
Local: About 20 years ago, the practice of quitting work at 5 o’clock on Saturdays, was introduced in the Journal office. This week, all the Cooperstown boss mechanics but for two or three agreed to the adoption of the same rule, and we presume all will probably do so. This office has also given all hands the usual four or five holidays occurring during the year.
There are several stories in circulation in regard to an assault, or fight, which occurred near the corner of Main and Chestnut streets last Saturday night, in which one man was severely pounded, and a girl who was in company with her brother had her dress partly torn from her. It is charged that the man beaten was offensive and insulting, but it is doubtful whether he intended harm to the girl. He was intoxicated at the time.
May 15, 1886
110 Years Ago
Mr. G. Hyde Clark of Hyde Hall came to town Monday carrying his eye in a sling. In reply to the questions of the Journal reporter he said that he had been hit with a baseball, while playing the national game with the Hyde Hall boys on Saturday afternoon. The boys asked Mr. Clarke to play with them, and so to amuse them he took a position behind the bat. The pitcher threw an excellent curve, which landed on the catcher’s left optic. Mr. Clarke has discovered, he says, that he is older than he used to be, although his heart is yet young.
For a long time past the need of an additional building at Thanksgiving Hospital has been felt, to contain a mortuary, delivery, and pathological rooms. Through the generosity of Miss Florence V. Sill, this building is to be supplied. As a memorial to her brother, the late Henry Dorr Sill, the commodious building containing the offices formerly occupied by Dr. Sill adjoining the family residence at “The Maples” on Chestnut Street, will be removed to the hospital grounds and placed to the west of the nurses’ home.
May 10, 1911
85 YEARS AGO
At the regular assembly at the Cooperstown high school on Tuesday morning little Miss Mary VanDusen, six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dwight VanDusen of Milford, gave a most delightful program of interpretive dancing. She is a pupil of Peggy Scholler studios of Oneonta. Following the original performance for the high school and grammar department students, it was repeated for the children of the grades. The first number of the diminutive danseuse was a triple buck on toe, a very difficult achievement involving clogging on the toes. For this she wore a very attractive
accordion pleated green crepe dress. The second was a military tap dance for which she wore a military costume of silver. The third was a classical toe dance for which she was dressed in pink ruffled georgette. Mrs. Charles A. Coleman played the piano accompaniments.
May 13, 1936
60 YEARS AGO
Fifteen-cent-an-hour wage hikes will be paid to hourly employees of the Otsego County Highway Dept. commencing May 16 to compensate them for loss of pay to be brought about by a cut in the work week from 50 to 45 hours. Highway superintendent Francis S. Olin of Cooperstown said that in the future, highway crews will no longer work Saturday mornings. The new pay schedule calls for a working maintenance foreman to earn a minimum of $1.50 per hour and a maximum of $2.20. Garage foremen will earn between $1.70 and $2.20 per hour. Mechanics will earn between $1.50 and $2.05 an hour. Road maintainers will earn from $1.05 to $1.55.
May 10, 1961
35 YEARS AGO
Bassett Hospital has planned a series of special events this week to celebrate National Hospital Week. The third annual “Run for the Health of It” a 10K road fun run/walk will be held Saturday, May 17. A photo exhibit, “History of Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital” has also been organized by Bassett photographer Robert Burns. The exhibit features photographs and memorabilia on the growth and development of the hospital.
A free concert by Bassett’s Big Band is set for Thursday, May 15, in the Bassett Hall auditorium at 7 p.m.
May 14, 1986
35 YEARS AGO
Arby Schlather, a CCS high school freshman, won first place in New York State History Day competition for the category Senior Individual Performance. Schlather presented a monologue in the character of local icon William Cooper, founder of Cooperstown. At the suggestion of Peter Severud, his teacher, Schlather began the project by delving into Alan Taylor’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece titled “William Copper’s Town.” The result was a series of vignettes transporting Schlather and his audience back more than 200 years to the frontier. Schlather will compete in national History Day at the University of Maryland.
May 11, 2001