Bound Volumes, Hometown History
July 17, 2025
135 YEARS AGO
Lawn tennis is becoming a fashionable out-of-door sport in Oneonta this summer. Already, several courts have been laid out, Dietz, Elm, Maple and Ford Avenue each having one court or more. Saturday afternoon of last week the Maple Street and Ford Avenue clubs met for the first time. The double was won by Messrs. Lauren and Giles by a score of 6 to 2. The first single was won by J. Lauren, 6 to 3; and the second and third singles by H.H. Buckley, defeating Dr. Bell and J. Lauren, 6 to 2 and 6 to 3.
The Union School District Library now numbers 1,300 volumes—an increase of over 300 since January 1. Generous donations of books have been received from Mrs. W.A. Tompkins and Messrs E.M. Johnson, W.E. Yager and John Cope, for which, on Tuesday night, a vote of thanks was given by the Board of Education. The Librarian is Alva Seyboldt, Esq.
July 1890
40 YEARS AGO
Four protesters against U.S. aid to Nicaraguan rebels were sent to Otsego County Jail for 15 days Monday on trespassing charges. Two of them are reported to be refusing food while in jail. Three other protesters paid $25 fines. Oneonta City Court Judge Frank Getman found the seven protesters guilty of trespass for occupying the Oneonta office of U.S. Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, R-Utica. William Siegfried and Eve Brown of Oneonta, Charles “Kip” Shaw, of Meredith and Valentine Green of Bloomville were sentenced to 15 days in jail when they refused to pay $25 fines. Daniel Birnbaum and Siegfried’s father, Richard, both of Oneonta, and Gary Doupe of Bainbridge paid the $25 fine and $25 in court costs and were released. All seven were given probation for six months. The defendants were among 11 protesters who sat in at Boehlert’s office in June after the House of Representatives approved $25 million in aid to rebels, known as Contras, fighting the Nicaraguan government. Boehlert voted against the amendment authorizing the aid, but at the same time voted to lift a Congressional ban on military aid to the Contras.
July 1985
30 YEARS AGO
A scampering squirrel short-circuited electrical equipment at the Pierce Avenue NYSEG substation on Saturday, causing power outages to thousands of area customers. The outage, which occurred at 8:40 a.m. on Saturday, left 2,600 residential homes and businesses without power for several hours. The Pierce Avenue substation services the Southside, the West End, including Chestnut Street, Oneida Street and River Street neighborhoods. The burned carcass of the squirrel was the telltale evidence of the outage cause. The squirrel’s doings complicated work for NYSEG repair crews as they were already dealing with the after effects of an early morning thunderstorm that downed lines and poles hit by falling tree branches. In all, between the storm and the squirrel, an estimated 5,000 Oneontans were left without power for several hours.
July 1995
20 YEARS AGO
The Sunday 10 a.m. worship service at First Presbyterian Church will include music provided by Cindy Donaldson. She will sing “Oh Rest in the Lord” and “The Quiet Heart.” Interim minister, the Rev. Pat Raube-Wilson will lead the service, delivering a sermon titled “Traveling Mercies,” which falls under the sermon series of “Beach Reading.” Tim Lutner will provide organ music. Child care will be available during the service. The church is handicap accessible by the first side entrance. There are still openings for the Church’s Vacation Bible School, “Serengeti Track: Where Kids are Wild about God.” VBS will be held Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon. Children will meet at church each day at 9 a.m.
July 2005
