HOMETOWN HISTORY

December 10, 2020

150 Years Ago

Home and Vicinity – Next year will witness the erection of more buildings in Oneonta than in any previous year. It has surpassed the expectations of the most sanguine, but we look for greater improvement next year. Many only await the opening of spring to begin the erection of business houses and residences. Mr. Peter W. Swart, so long and well known in this town and vicinity, died quite suddenly at his residence on Monday night. Mr. Swart, though in quite feeble health was able to be about and was at the village only a few days ago. He was a man of much kindness of heart and very highly esteemed as a friend and citizen. About 1 o’clock Monday morning a fire was discovered in the back part of Mendel’s stone building on Main Street. It was next the walls of the house, near the chimney, and directly opposite a partition, and probably caught in some manner from the chimney. When discovered the fire had made but small progress and with the help of a few citizens was quickly extinguished. If the people of Oneonta and especially those on Main Street value their lives and property, they should see that something is done in the matter of a fire engine.

December 1870