Bound Volumes, Hometown History
August 22, 2024
90 YEARS AGO
An outbreak of anti-Christian propaganda from Nazi sources has stirred the troubled church situation in Germany causing apprehension in Catholic and some Protestant groups. August Hoppe of the Hitler Youth press department has written in a periodical titled “Bordland”—“The time has come to take up the fight against Christianity. Germans must and shall realize that their conversion to Christianity was a crime against the race and the people, which put them completely at the mercy of powers outside the state.” Meanwhile, on the advice of Rabbi Stephen S. Wise of New York, the Boycott Commission of the Third Jewish Conference issued a communique tonight declaring the boycott will be redoubled until German Jews get back all their rights of citizenship. The communique calls for the formation of an international center which would direct all action of world Jewry against discrimination, and the creation of a central office of propaganda to encourage a boycott of German merchandise.
August 1934
70 YEARS AGO
New York State intends to make smokers pay the three-cent-a-pack New York tax on cigarettes bought by mail from other states. Allen J. Goodrich, president of the State Tax Commission, said that tax notices were sent to “thousands of individuals” who have been getting mail order cigarettes from states that do not tax them. Most of the cigarettes come from Virginia and many of the purchasers are from New York City. Under federal law, mail order houses are required to report monthly to the New York Commission the name and address of each cigarette buyer, except licensed dealers, the quantity purchased and the date of sale. The law requires buyers to pay the three cent tax within 24 hours of receiving untaxed cigarettes. Penalties range up to 50 percent of the tax, plus 1 percent for each month of delinquency.
August 1954
40 YEARS AGO
Since meters were installed in the parking lot beside the Old City Hall Building early last year, the city has collected 33,200 nickels, or $1,660.00 in parking fees. Paul Kogut, city chamberlain, said the average weekly income on the meters has been about $55 to $60. The meters were installed in the lot last January. A nickel buys half an hour of parking time.
August 1984
30 YEARS AGO
The Oneonta Capital Budget and Planning Commission approved site plans, with conditions, for Hartwick College to build two new residence halls. The stipulations require compliance with the Department of Environmental Conservation’s publication on storm water run-off, a requirement the college already meets. The college must also schedule inspections with the city engineer for all water management phases. Engineering department sign-off will also be required for landscaping and water run-off measures.
August 1994
20 YEARS AGO
A youth-sponsored festival Sunday in Neahwa Park marking the end of summer will feature the sounds of five bands. Organizer and Oneonta high school junior Jen Milillo said Summerfest 2004 will be held at the Skate Park along with a skateboard competition and volleyball tournament. Milillo is a member of the Oneonta Community Alliance for Youth. Concessions—hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers and drinks—will be sold at the event to benefit the organization. “We’ve been working toward getting a teen café, so we’ve been doing all that we can to raise money,” Milillo said. The bands are My Favorite Accident, Inside Draw, Jonas, White Side, and Stacey Miller & Friends.
August 2004
