125 Years Ago Under the rules and regulations of the Board of Health, “every privy vault and cesspool shall be cleaned and contents thereof removed at least once in each year, and on or before the first of May,” etc. It is hoped that citizens will appreciate the importance of complying with the requirement and govern themselves accordingly. The farther the contents of these receptacles of filth can be removed from the human habitation the better. No doubt we as a community suffer from the burial of filth near our residences. If it be so that any who live not very near neighbors think they can safely bury the contents of their vaults, I would urge them not to bury it within 1,000 feet of a house, well, or spring of water. Above all, do not bury it deep; cover slightly with soil, just sufficient to absorb the odor. The gravel or sand underneath the soil possesses no power or property of absorbing anything; it is a sanitary point of view, simply a conductor of air and water; hence the danger of deep burial of decaying and putrid matter. O.W. Peck, M.D., Health Officer.
210 YEARS AGO Another gratification – His Britannic majesty’s brig Emu, of 12 guns, a prize to the privateer Holkar of New York, arrived on Sunday last at Providence, and saluted the town. She is an uncommonly strong and well found vessel, burthened upward of 200 tons; was fitted with a new patent defence surmounting her bulwarks, composed of spring bayonets, and had a great quantity of ammunition and provisions for Botany Bay, whither she was conveying a number of convicts. She was commanded by an arrogant Lieutenant of the British Navy who could not persuade his crew to fight the Yankees. The ammunition and provisions were taken on board the Holkar; the crew and convicts were landed on one of the Cape Verde Islands.
210 YEARS AGO A Fair Set-Off – Poor unadvised Pace has placed into a newspaper of this village, and says, with his usual thoughtlessness that I have eloped from his bed and board; he might have had a board, but never had a bed of his own. I have bedded and boarded him fifteen years, in the same place which I now occupy and elsewhere – I regret saying that, I am wearied with it; the numerous debts which I have paid for him, he is welcome to, if, as he has now eloped from my bed and board, he will keep away for the future. To close, Henry, I am friendly enough to advise you to become steady and industrious, and drink less whiskey and buy a bed, which you may enjoy unmolested by Bethia Eaton, Otsego, March, 1813.
135 Years Ago The season 1888 opens with the biggest real estate deal yet recorded for Oneonta in the purchase by Geo. I. Wilber, from A.C. Lewis, of all remaining to the latter of the old Ford place, 156.75 feet on Main Street, at about $30,000. This includes the east half of the Union Block, 22.5 feet, a fine four-story brick building, store on the street and three flats above – as well as a large barn and tenement in the rear, and the well-known old stone dwelling now used as a boarding house. The lot has an irregular rear, 180 feet in length, and varies in depth from 223 feet on the west line to 169 on the east line. The Ford property had originally a frontage of about 259 feet. It was purchased in July, 1881, by A.C. Lewis and C.B. Pepper at $11,500. Subsequently, Mr. Lewis gave his partner $1,000 bonus for his half interest. In 1882, D.F. Wilber purchased 80 feet, corner of Ford Avenue, with space in the rear for a barn, at $3,500. The next sale off the property was to M.S. Roberts, of East Meredith, who joined with Mr. Lewis in the building of the Union Block, securing 22.5 feet frontage with good rear, at $2,500. Now, Mr. Lewis closes out his interest at $30,000. Allowing $8,500 for his half of the Union Block and some other improvements, Mr. Lewis has put into the property $21,000. He takes out at least $30,000 plus $6,000 previous sales, making a clean profit of $15,000, which, considering the time involved, less than seven years, may be considered a pretty fair speculation.
CONNECTIONS—1:15 p.m. Join former Freeman’s Journal editor Tom Heitz to learn “How America’s Greatest Hoax Got a Home in Cooperstown.” Community Room, Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com
210 YEARS AGO Yesterday, William Henman, a soldier of the 15th United States’ regiment, in pursuance of the sentence of a court martial, was shot. His crime was desertion, with intent to go over to the enemy. Another soldier of that regiment, who deserted at the same time, was brought out for execution, but was pardoned by General Bloomfield; it having appeared that he was enticed away by Henman.
209 YEARS AGO British Monsters – Excerpt of a letter from Captain Cooper to Charles K. Mallory, Esq. Lieut. Gov. of Virginia — “I was in Hampton with my troop; that place having been evacuated in the morning by the British. My blood ran cold at what I saw and heard. The few distressed inhabitants running up in every direction to congratulate us; tears were shedding in every corner — the infamous scoundrels, monsters, destroyed everything but the houses, and (my pen is almost unwilling to describe it) the women were ravished by the abandoned ruffians. Great God! My dear friend, can you figure to yourself our Hampton females seized and treated with violence by those monsters, and not a solitary American arm present to avenge their wrongs! But enough — I can no more of this.”
212 YEARS AGO
Poem – What art thou, Death; that we should fear the shadow of a shade? What’s in thy name that meets the ear of which to be afraid? Thou art not care, thou art not pain, but thou art rest and peace: ‘Tis thou canst make our terrors vain, and bid our torments cease. Misfortune’s sting, affliction’s throes, distraction’s poisonous breath; the world itself and all its woes are swallowed up in death.
212 YEARS AGO
Just received and for sale at the Otsego Bookstore – The “Alcoran of Mahomet” (Ed. Note: a version of the Koran) Price in 1 vol. 2 dollars; in 2 ditto, bound in calf and neatly gilt, with a copious preliminary discourse, and abounding with large explanatory notes, 750 cents. Likewise Spelling Books, Murray’s Grammar, American Selection, American Reader, Art of Reading, American Preceptor, Dwight’s Geography, &c., &c., &c.
COOPERSTOWN REFLECTS – 7 p.m. Library Anti-Racism series continues with “Cooperstown Reflects on Racism in Arts and Monuments.” Panel includes Eva Fognell, Thaw Collection of Native American Art, Fenimore Museum; Tom Heitz/Sharon Stuart, Otsego town co-historian; CGP Director Gretchen Sorin, and Glimmerglass Festival Art & General Director Francesca Zambello. Free, registration required. Presented by Friends of the Village Library of Cooperstown. 607-547-8344 or visit www.eventbrite.com/o/friends-of-the-village-library-23034666815
Stuck at home
Wrote this poem
•
Had some lunch
With Captain Crunch
Washed the dish
Made a wish
•
Fed the cat
Found my hat
Broke a mirror
Bad luck here
•
Made the tea
Had to pee
Sun went down
Moon is round
•
Took a fall
In the hall
Bumped my head
Went to bed
•
Drank some booze
Took a snooze
Up at dawn
Mowed the lawn
•
Stuck at home
Wrote this poem
First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown this morning unveiled two state historic markers, one commemorating a celebration of the July 4, 1827, freeing of the slaves in New York State; the other a speech by Susan B. Anthony on site in 1855. The committee that worked on the project included Will Walker, Katie Boardman, both professors at the Cooperstown Graduate Program in Museum Students, and Tom Heitz, Town of Otsego co-historian. Posing this morning after the event are, from left, Walker (and daughter Eleanor), Boardman, the Rev. Elsie Rhodes, pastor; Heitz and the Rev. Ladonna Clark, an associate at the church. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
CONCERT – 8 p.m. The Tesla Quartet performs as part of the Honest Brook Music Festival. $30. Stamford Methodist Church, 88 Main St, Stamford. Info, tickets, (607) 746-3770, hbmf.org
Tom Heitz, local historian and volunteer at the Greater Oneonta Historical Society shows off some of the scores of historical advertisements on display at GOHS’s newest exhibit Oneonta Commercial Advertising: From the 1850’s to the New Millennium. The exhibit pulled from a collection of nearly 700 ads from the archives of the Oneonta Herald and other local papers from The Fenimore Art Museum microfilm collection. “We all sat down and went through them to pick out what we thought were the best ones.” said Heitz. The exhibit is presented in chronological order so trends in advertising can be seen through the decades. A reception will be held 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at GOHS. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
CONTRADANCE – 7:30 p.m. Fun social dance featuring music by Erik House and Friends, Peter Blue calling. Arrive at 7:15 for introduction to steps. Admission, $8/adult. First Presbyterian Church, 25 Church St., Cooperstown. 607-547-8164 or visit www.otsegodancesociety.blogspot.com/
COOPERSTOWN REFLECTS – 7 p.m. Library Anti-Racism series continues with “Cooperstown Reflects on Racism in Arts and Monuments.” Panel includes Eva Fognell, Thaw Collection of Native American Art, Fenimore Museum; Tom Heitz/Sharon Stuart, Otsego town co-historian; CGP Director Gretchen Sorin, and Glimmerglass Festival Art & General Director Francesca Zambello. Free, registration required. Presented by Friends of the Village Library of Cooperstown. 607-547-8344 or visit 
