Bound Volumes, Hometown History

June 13, 2024

135 YEARS AGO

That the people of Oneonta are thoroughly aroused over the street paving question, was shown by the large turnout of citizens at the meeting last evening of village trustees. A petition generally signed by property owners along Main Street was presented to the board, asking that the street be macadamized. The key to the situation appears to be with the street car company. If it will consent to pave between the tracks with asphalt, it is thought certain that asphalt will be laid; if not, the paving of Main Street may have to be postponed for the present. The position of the street car company it is but fair to add, is that as at present it is making no money and is in debt, it is not in a position to incur the heavy expenditure that would follow the laying of asphalt. On motion of Mr. Price it was resolved that a committee of two be appointed by the chair to meet and confer with the street railway company on the matter.

June 1889

110 YEARS AGO

One of the pressing needs of this city, which is quite generally recognized among business and professional men generally and often discussed when they meet, is a live and active Chamber of Commerce embracing all those earnestly desiring to promote the communal welfare of the city. Such organization should have a salaried secretary and collect annual dues of an amount that would place a considerable sum in the treasury each year for promotion purposes. It is a disgrace that every time some funds are needed for a public purpose that the paper goes round and liberally inclined subscribe while many others equally interested are missed. Oneonta should have such an organization and the time for action should no longer be deferred. It needs a live and active commercial body of all the business and professional men, real estate and property owners, embracing at least 200 members with annual dues of at least $20. It is firmly believed that every business firm could make no more profitable investment than $20 a year.

June 1914

40 YEARS AGO

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday to require every U.S. employer of four or more workers to make certain that his employees have a legal right to be in the United States. The House also voted to exempt employers of three or fewer workers from all provisions of the immigration control bill. That would mean for example that households that hire illegal aliens as maids, child care workers or laborers would not be subject to civil or criminal penalties. But, labor contractors who bring migrant workers into the country would still be covered, even if they hire three or fewer. The proposal to exempt small employers was offered by Rep. Sam Hall, (D-Texas) and carried by voice vote. Hall said that subjecting small employers to the bill’s provisions would represent “a threat to mom and pop operations, the shop owners and employers of Main Street, U.S.A.” The proposal to require employers of four or more workers to attest, under penalty of law, that their employees are eligible to work in this country was adopted by a 321-97 vote.

June 1984

20 YEARS AGO

With about 7,000 dairy farms producing more than 12.2 billion pounds of milk annually, New York is the nation’s third largest dairy state. The average dairy farm in the state is family-owned and has 95 cows producing an average of 18,019 pounds of milk annually. In Delaware County this weekend the Meredith Dairy Fest will run for two days to celebrate “everything dairy.” About 25,000 people attended last year’s event. There is no entry fee. Farm animals of every type, large and small, will be on display. There will be milking demonstrations, wool-spinning, and horse-shoeing as well.

June 2004