90 YEARS AGO: “The Grange stands four-square against the legalized liquor traffic and will fight to the last ditch this greatest of all destroyers,” Fred J. Freestone, master of the New York State Grange, declared in his address opening the business session of the 63rd annual convention of the organization at the State Armory here in Oneonta yesterday. “We should remember that while the nation has repealed prohibition, the Grange has not done so,” he said. Mr. Freestone further asserted…
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110 YEARS AGO: The city council, at a special meeting held Tuesday evening passed a resolution directing the calling of an election for the purpose of voting on a proposition to appropriate the necessary funds for the purchase of a building and site for the Oneonta Public Library...…
135 YEARS AGO: The amount of bounty paid by the Town of Unadilla on woodchucks’ tails amounts to $257 and some odd. At 10 cents the tail, it accounts for 2,570 hapless chucks that lost their tails and their lives...…
90 YEARS AGO: Principal Charles W. Hunt of the Oneonta State Normal School will lay before Governor Lehman’s budget committee a proposal for the acquisition by the state of a 25-acre plot west of the present campus upon the hill overlooking the city as a site for an athletic field. The plot is located west of Elm Street and extends from Arnold Avenue north to Sherman Avenue and over the hill nearly to Clinton Avenue. There are four houses included…
70 YEARS AGO: A defective coal-heating system was found to be the cause of the deaths of Dr. and Mrs. Walter S. Packer, 29 West End Avenue, who were found dead in their home on Monday. Dr. Fisk Brooks’ Coroner’s report shows that the Packers died from the effects of coal gas poisoning. Their daughter, Janet, age 2, and a pet dog Cappy, escaped the deadly monoxide fumes and were unharmed. Dr. Packer was Director of the Regional Oneonta Poultry…
90 YEARS AGO: Approximately 254 messages, exclusive of tests, have been sent over the police radio system since it was installed at headquarters in the municipal building in August, Chief of Police Frank N. Horton reported yesterday in his annual report to the Board of Public Safety. “Last year, in my annual report, I recommended that a two-way radio system be installed, as it would be of real advantage to this department,” Chief Horton said.…
110 YEARS AGO: At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce on Saturday evening, the trustees of the Oneonta Public Library were represented by Arthur M. Curtis, Alva Seybolt, and Andrew B. Saxton, who appeared before the chamber for the purpose of explaining certain conditions relative to the library which now exists, and to ask for the active cooperation of the chamber in securing a permanent location...…
50 YEARS AGO: A hoax by two young brothers had about 40 fire emergency and police volunteers searching for a body in the West Branch of the Delaware River for about three hours Saturday morning. The search ended when the two youngsters, ages six and seven, confessed that they had made up the story of a young fisherman falling off a dam abutment into the rain-swollen waters. The youngsters’ names were withheld because of their ages. As the story was…
Clifford D. Beach, 69, of 398 Main Street, a noted postage stamp enthusiast, died in his sleep. He had lived in Oneonta all his life. Mr. Beach was born January 10, 1886, in Oneonta, the son of Orrin G. and Adelee (Champlin) Beach. He married Grace Stone, September 27, 1913, in their home on Main Street. He was a salesman at Gardner’s Shoe Store...…
70 YEARS AGO: Oneonta High School’s football team shattered Mohawk High’s 21-game unbeaten football record Saturday, powering its way to a 26 to 6 victory over the Mohicans. The victory was accomplished on some fine passing by Bill Whittaker, great running by Sam Lamonica and Joe Pidgeon as well as brilliant offensive and defensive play by a rugged line...…
