Bound Volumes

October 12, 2023

135 YEARS AGO
As the result of numerous inquiries among businessmen in Wall Street and elsewhere, a reporter of the New York Times reaches the conclusion that businessmen are, as a rule, less bibulous than were their predecessors a quarter of a century ago, and that it has ceased to be good form for a man to rush off to a saloon and close each transaction with a drink. The character of the drink has also changed, and wine and beer and even ginger ale, and other non-alcoholic drinks have now largely taken the place of spirits among those who adhere to old customs. Some of the above remarks in the Times article are applicable to this village. There is very little of that vice seen among our residents in these days. There has been a decrease within the past quarter century or more. Public sentiment is strong against it, and is steadily working a reform.

October 12, 1888

85 YEARS AGO
A valuable addition was made last week to the collection of mementos at the National Baseball Museum came from Tyrus R. Cobb, first of the immortals to be elected to a place in the Hall of Fame. Mr. Cobb writes from his home at Menlo Park, California, that the gift includes the best of what he has left of the mementos of his days of glory on the diamond with Detroit and the Philadelphia, Athletics. There is a sweater, jacket, shirt, pants and stockings, and a pair of shoes and sliding pads he used for many years. The Cobb items are being displayed for the present in a case with other immortals of the game.

October 12, 1938

60 YEARS AGO
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the establishment of a residence in Cooperstown by the Clark family, although the first member of the family to live here was not a Clark, but a Jordan. Jordan Cottage, still standing on the northwest corner of Main and Chestnut Street, was the home of Ambrose L. Jordan, a native of Columbia County, who arrived in Cooperstown to practice law in 1813. Mr. Jordan practiced law here until 1820. During Jordan’s time in Cooperstown, his eldest daughter Caroline was born and received her early education. Caroline later married Edward Clark, her father’s law partner and the couple purchased the Apple Hill property on River Street in 1856, now known as Fernleigh.

October 9, 1963

35 YEARS AGO
U.S. astronaut and shuttle commander Robert “Hoot” Gibson, 42, will take a piece of Cooperstown, a baseball inside a cube, on board the Atlantis spacecraft when NASA’s next flight is launched in November. Gibson, who was born here, spent his early years in Fly Creek, but moved away in 1948. Astronauts have been taking small packages, known as “personal preference kits” into space with them which contain small objects such as medallions. Upon return, they are not allowed to sell the items. Generally, the items are presented to public officials, museums, or kept by the astronaut and family members.

October 12, 1988

20 YEARS AGO
“Without a doubt, this has been the fastest five years of my life,” Suzanne “Polly” Renckens said. “There’s a lot to be said for ‘time flies when you’re having fun.’” This summer Renckens marked five years as the director of the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce. Since moving to the Cooperstown area with her husband James, 30 years ago, Renckens has been the owner of the Hickory Grove Inn on State Route 80 and of Country Memories in Springfield Center. She also served as director of Otsego 2000 before taking the reins of the chamber in 1998.

October 10, 2003