HOMETOWN HISTORY, June 29, 2012

125 Years Ago
The Local News – There is no part of a locomotive that cannot be made at the Oneonta railroad shops. If required, an entirely new locomotive could be built there, and indeed, some of the old engines which have been through the shops for repair are so nearly new when they come out that there is little left by which to recognize them.
The railroad company, at the suggestion of the Board of Health, has filled up the swamp near the railroad track near the Main Street crossing. The readiness with which the company complies with suggestions of this sort is commendable, to say the least.
Picnic parties at Crumhorn Lake are almost a daily occurrence nowadays. The Lake House is popular under Mr. Richmond’s management, and the lake is fast developing into a favorite resort for picnickers. On Sunday, several Oneonta people were there. The drive from Oneonta is delightful.
June 1887

100 Years Ago
Helen Gardner Pell, a former Oneonta girl, who for the past two years has been featured in picture plays, and who had recently been revisiting the scenes of her childhood in Oneonta, departed Friday for New York City. The talented pantomimic says: “It is true that I have severed my connection with the Vitagraph Company and that I am to have a large personal interest in a new company, which will be called the Helen Gardner Players. Suitable quarters have already been secured, competent support engaged and we shall put upon the market films which will mark a new departure in picture playing. Heretofore, moving pictures have catered largely to a public taste not of the highest sort, and many of the pictures have had no literary or artistic value. The Helen Gardner players will reach out with their work for a better clientele.” Miss Gardner’s new company is to be managed by Charles A. Gaskill, lately with the Vitagraph Company.
June 1912

80 Years Ago
Several visiting airplanes have made overnight stops at Keyes Oneonta Field during the past few days. A Kellet auto-Gyro on the way from New Jersey to Cooperstown landed at the field early Thursday afternoon. Another visitor was a Curtiss Junior biplane from New Milford, PA with a passenger for New Berlin. The passenger and pilot went on to New Berlin after arriving here, and the latter will return today and fly to Norwich. Flying conditions were not of the best Thursday and the pilot of a Travelaire biplane en route from New York to Norwich landed during the afternoon for a short rest after receiving a hard buffeting by the wind. Two cabin monoplanes passed over the city during the day, but did not land. E.K. Reese, flying from Philadelphia to Syracuse in a Challenger Robin plane, reached here last Thursday and stopped for the night on account of wind and rain which made further flying risky. He came by way of New York where he stopped for a short time. After his stop at Syracuse, he plans to go on to Chicago.
June 1932

60 Years Ago
The Board of Public Safety at an adjourned meeting yesterday awarded Simonson Brothers of South Side, a five-year contract for the operation of a sanitary land fill across from the site of the open dump which has been in operation for the past five years. Commissioner Sidney Levine, in moving to award the contract, said that the site was chosen to save the taxpayers of Oneonta considerable expense. It was pointed out that refuse haulers, if required to go to more distant sites, would be forced to raise their charges beyond what acceptance of lower bids would save in tax money. The contract amount is for $12,897.50 a year for five years with an option for a five-year renewal. The contract requires that disposal of garbage, ashes, and other refuse be compacted and covered with at least six inches of clean dirt at the close of each day. Completed or uncompleted fill shall be covered with not less than two feet of dirt within 48 hours.
June 1952

40 Years Ago
Charles A. Belden, principal at Oneonta Senior high school has been selected by the Oneonta Jaycees as Oneonta’s Outstanding Citizen for 1972. In making the announcement, James R. Gundlach, Jaycee president, said, “Mr. Belden has quietly served the Oneonta community and its young people for many years. We felt he should be recognized for his contributions to the community. He has served through his work in the Oneonta school system, first as teacher, then as guidance counselor and for the past 25 years as principal of the high school. His efforts have not ended there. He has been a spiritual leader as well, acting as a Sunday School teacher and as president of the Oneonta Family YMCA.”
June 1972

20 Years Ago
An estimated 1,525 dogs representing 132 breeds are expected to compete in confirmation and obedience classes at Damaschke Field on Sunday. The event is sponsored by the Del-Otse-Nango Kennel Club. Besides recognizing canine breeding and behavior, the show gives would-be dog owners a chance to see different types of dogs and talk to other owners. Puppies for sale at the show may range in price from $500 or $600 up to two or three times those amounts for some breeds of dogs. German Shepherds will be the most represented breed with 60 entries.
June 2002

10 YEARS AGO
Wall Street ended a truly terrible second quarter Friday when stocks retreated from a solid advance and ended the session mixed. Stocks gave up their gains late in the day as President Bush announced he would undergo a colonoscopy on Saturday and Xerox reported more accounting problems. “We know there are problems in some corporations in America. So this is more bad news, but not new bade news,” said Arthur Hogan, chief market analyst at Jeffries & Co. The Nasdaq composite index completed its worst first half since 1974; the Dow Jones Industrial fell below 9,000 and both the Nasdaq and Standard & Poor’s 500 dipped below the closing lows they reached following the 911 attacks.
June 2002