Bound Volumes, Hometown History
October 3, 2024
70 YEARS AGO
Dickie, a two-month-old blue parakeet, flew through an open door about 3 p.m. yesterday to explore the big world outside the Donald Holcomb home, 44 Church Street. Thereafter, the bird cut a trail of high adventure. In a tree at 36 Cherry Street, Dickie was espied by David Rittinger, 8, who captured him. Thinking there might be a reward for the bird, David took Dickie to the home of Police Sgt. James Fawcett, 44 Clinton Street, where he interrupted the Sergeant’s concentration on the baseball World Series, via television. Sergeant Fawcett phoned Sergeant Ernest Johnson at the police station and then contacted radio station WDOS. Sgt. Fawcett then put Dickie in a shoebox and later into a bird cage borrowed from his sister. Station WDOS sent out a news bulletin about Dickie which was heard by Doris Deyo at 104 River Street who had lost a blue parakeet two months earlier. Deyo went to the Fawcett home where Sheila Fawcett, 11, gave up Dickie and off he went to the Sixth Ward. Later, Mrs. Holcomb heard about the parakeet SOS and went to the Fawcett home and learned that Dickie had left earlier with Doris Deyo. Still later, Mr. Holcomb drove to the Deyo home and positively identified Dickie by a leg band and serial number. Dickie returned to the Holcomb family, much to the delight of Donna, 9, and Judy, 6.
October 1954
50 YEARS AGO
Classes resumed without incident in the Oneonta Public Schools yesterday, following a three-day strike of teachers in the district. Francis Doherty, business and personnel director for the school said “real education” was taking place in the classrooms and that bitterness from the strike was at a minimum. Oneonta Teachers’ Association President John Miller agreed, saying he had requested the union’s building representatives in each of the schools to personally shake hands with each of the teachers who had crossed picket lines during the strike. “They are our friends,” Miller said. “We want them to be with us. You don’t do that by vindictiveness and bitterness.”
October 1974
40 YEARS AGO
Oneonta peace activist Will Siegfried was released early Friday morning from the Oneida County jail hours after he had been sentenced to serve four days by Oneida County Judge Daniel C. Wilson. Siegfried, 27, of 67 Church Street, and a member of the Oneonta Peace Network, was among a group of 71 protesters who were arrested June 4 for blocking an entrance to the Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome in protest of the storage of nuclear weapons on the base. He was sentenced to the jail term on charges of disorderly conduct after the judge rejected his defense and found him guilty. Siegfried refused to pay a fine and announced plans for a hunger strike for the duration of the jail term. Siegfried’s early release came after he was credited with time served and good behavior.
October 1984
30 YEARS AGO
Among the more than 800 people who took part in the inaugural “Pit Run” 10K race, and the hundreds who watched it from street curbs throughout Oneonta, perhaps no one enjoyed it more than Debra Parisian, widow of the slain trooper from Oneonta in whose memory the event was held. The race raised about $9,000 for a scholarship to help high school graduates pursuing careers in special education.
October 1994
20 YEARS AGO
Hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities cannot prohibit gay and lesbian domestic partners from visiting loved ones under a bill signed into law Friday by Governor George Pataki. The state’s Patient Bill of Rights gives patients the right to authorize family members or other adults to get priority to visit them. The measure takes effect immediately.
October 2004
