Bound Volumes, Hometown History
April 17, 2025
135 YEARS AGO
The Local News: The Kniskern boy, sentenced to the Rochester Industrial School for theft, escaped from the custody of officer Butts while on his way to that place. The lad jumped from a train running at the rate of forty miles an hour. No clue yet to his whereabouts. Many of the pupils of the Normal School are boarding themselves on the club plan. Rooms are hired, usually for four, and arrangements made with the landlady to do the necessary cooking. The cost is divided every Saturday night equally among the members of the club. Good board is thus obtained at $2.00 to $2.25 per week. We mention this chiefly to assure prospective pupils that the expense of attending the Normal need not be great. Rooms can be rented cheaply and in first class families at a short distance from the school. Even if you wish to hire board outright, as a large number do, the rates are very low as compared with Albany, Buffalo, Oswego and some other places where Normal schools are situated.
April 1890
50 YEARS AGO
The Oneonta Urban Renewal Agency would like to proceed with plans to demolish the old Winney Hotel building but can’t because a Black Cat has crossed its path. Agency Director David Cooper said that the contractor for the demolition is prepared to move ahead but is stymied because the Black Cat Tavern is still located in the building despite requests to leave. Now the agency’s attorney, James Konstanty, and the tavern’s attorney, Frank Getman, have been asked to pursue the matter, but can’t because both are in Florida.
April 1975
40 YEARS AGO
The Oneonta Peace Network met Tuesday night to plan for today’s demonstration scheduled for 12:15 p.m. in front of the 125 Main Street Office of Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-NY. The group will demonstrate to express support for Boehlert’s previous vote against aid to Nicaraguan Contra rebels. “We want to assure that he won’t turn around and vote for aid because of the pressure President Reagan is putting on people at this time,” said Richard Siegfried, a network member. The group also made pledges of civil disobedience if the U.S. increases its involvement in the Central American war.
April 1985
30 YEARS AGO
Downsville Central School students are preparing for the 21st century. Starting with this year’s sixth-graders, the students will have their own computers in school. Chances are it won’t be long before other schools follow suit. Without question, there are pluses to the idea. But nobody should forget that computers are in the end, just a tool. But the tool is useless, if students don’t learn to think for themselves.
April 1995
20 YEARS AGO
April 2005
