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/
PONY PALOOZA – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Horse rescue opens doors for family friendly celebration. Includes pony hugs, tours, games, local vendors, rides, food, face painting, more. Rosemary Farm, 1646 Roses Brook Road, South Kortright. 607-538-1200 or visit www.facebook.com/RosemaryFarm/
HOPS FOR HISTORY – 2 – 8 p.m. Downtown venues offer food pairings with local beers. Tickets, $30 day-of. Available only at Oneonta History Center, 183 Main St., Oneonta. 607-432-0960 or visit www.oneontahistory.org
HARVEST FEST – 3 – 6 p.m. Celebrate Summer Harvest featuring Farmers Market, Live Music, kids zoomobile, more. Free admission, food. Guy Rathbun Park (behind firehouse), 117 Main St., Morris. Visit butternutvalleyalliance.org
CABARET – 7 – 8:30 p.m. Join the Guilty Pleasure Cabaret for a fun, all-levels, dance class sure to get you sweating. Combines elements of Jazz, Hip Hop, fitness, stiletto heals to bring out your inner diva, build confidence, find your fierce. Bring water, active wear, sneakers. Cost, $15/adult. THE CHURCH, 2381 NY-205, Mount Vision. 607-638-5119 or visit www.upsi-ny.com/upcoming-events-news/
PARADE – 11 a.m. Celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence at the 103rd Springfield 4th of July parade. Followed by a party with live music, Brooks chicken bbq, 4th of July Quilt Show, a Revolutionary War display by the Fort Plain Museum, the Utica Zoomobile, a bounce house, games, raffles, and more. Free parking. Springfield Community Center, 137 Co. Rt. 29A, Springfield Center. wskg.org/event/springfield-4th-of-july-parade-and-celebration-2/
FREEDOM – Noon. Listen to Frederick Douglas’ famous “History is a Weapon” speech about what freedom means to a slave as performed by one of the Templeton Players. Followed by a reading of the Declaration of Independence on the Tavern Green at 1 p.m. The Farmers Museum, Cooperstown. www.farmersmuseum.org/Independence-Day-July-4th-Celebration
HISTORY PRESENTATION – 6:30 p.m. Tom Heitz opens history season with some stories from WWI about shell shocked aviators recovering at Bassett Hospital and the good-natured hijinks they got into with the Cooperstown community. Event is free and open to all. Includes light refreshments. Kinney Memorial Library, Co. Rt. 11, Hartwick. Info, Deb Mackenzie, President Otsego County Historical Association, (607)293-6635
ART RECEPTION – 5-7 p.m. Opening of “Off Your Walls: A Tribute to Lisa Rodewald” and “The Fabric of Life: Textiles From
Around the World” art exhibits. Cooperstown Art Associeation. Info, www.cooperstownart.com
Tom Heitz, the Town of Otsego historian, reads the Declaration of Independence today, its 240th anniversary, to an attentive gathering on the Green at The Farmers’ Museum, extending a local Independence Day tradition. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Compiled by TOM HEITZ with resources courtesy of the New York State Historical Association Library
200 YEARS AGO
175 YEARS AGO
Latter Day Saints – The Liverpool Chronicle contains the following: “The New York packet ship North America, Captain Lowbar, sailed on Tuesday with 19 cabin passengers and 200 in the steerage. The whole of the
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 
