Bound Volumes, Hometown History
August 14, 2025
110 YEARS AGO
Decline in Passenger Traffic—The number of travelers over the Delaware & Hudson lines is far below normal and the decrease is felt all over the system. Through-travel between Albany and Rouses Point, as reported on the June statement, shows a deplorable loss of 31 percent as compared with last year. The group of trains running between Albany and Rutland earned 23 percent less than they did last June. Between Albany and Binghamton, earnings are 15 percent off, while further up the line the Saratoga and North Creek branch shows a decrease of 32 percent. June holiday travel from Albany and intermediate stations to Lake George was 14 percent under last year. Purely local business like the Albany to Troy Belt Line should at least hold its own—but the Belt Line business has dropped 11 percent and the Albany-Altamont showing is far worse, resulting in a 27 percent decrease. This depression gives cause for serious thought. Today, enough railroad mileage to circle the earth is under bankruptcy. Securities worth 1.75 billion dollars are affected. When James J. Hill was congratulated on his great fortune, he replied: “Young man, when you talk about my fortune, remember that I owe more money than all the men in St. Paul.”
August 1915
50 YEARS AGO
The Kindergarten teachers in the Oneonta school system are concerned. The Kindergarten program should not be cut to half day, they believe, because it will hurt the educational program for youngsters in the Oneonta area. None of the teachers stand to lose their jobs, since all are senior teachers in the district. They will be transferred to other grades. “We’re not fighting for our jobs. That’s not it at all,” one of the teachers said. The Kindergarten teachers are Nancy Chicorelli, Joan Morgan, Anne House, Mary Benjamin, Dorothy Lawson and Betty Dean. They are hoping the school board will reconsider the half-day plan. The cutback would also eliminate the hot lunch program for Kindergarten students. The Kindergarten curriculum covers many topics in math, science, social studies, motor development, music and language arts with much emphasis on reading readiness.
August, 1955
40 YEARS AGO
Local employers do not screen job applicants or employees for traces of illegal drugs because they do not see drug use as a problem locally and because there are other ways to detect worker ineffectiveness. That attitude contrasts with a report by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, estimating that 25 percent of Fortune 500 companies now screen job applicants or current employees for use of illegal drugs. Michael McNally, director of human relations at Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta, said blood screening or urinalysis to test for signs of illegal drugs is not always reliable and raises legal and moral questions. McNally noted that drug screening tests, which the hospital does not use and has no plans to use, does not measure how effective an employee would be. The hospital uses a detailed interview process to determine how effective an employee should be. “Whether or not they will be hired should be dependent on whether they can do the job well,” he said.
August 1985
20 YEARS AGO
The Oneonta Town Council amended the town’s outdoor burning ordinance to mandate a 50-yard buffer zone on private property in some rural areas of the town that abut residential areas. No outdoor burning will be allowed in the buffer zone, which is designed to prevent smoke from drifting into residential areas as well as minimize fire risks. However, some town residents are still lobbying for a burning ban in all districts.
August 2005
