175 YEARS AGO
Advertisement – Mr. Wooding from New Haven, respectfully informs the Ladies and Gentlemen of Cooperstown and vicinity, that he will open a school on Monday, the 15th of July where he will faithfully teach Carstair’s incomparable system of free, elegant, Expeditious, and permanent Writing; applicable to general purposes, and attainable by persons of all ages – No matter how bad the writing of either sex may be, old or young. Lessons given at the house of Isaac Lewis, from 8 to 10 o’clock a.m. and from 8 to 9 p.m. Terms extremely moderate. Improvement guaranteed. Henry H. Wooding.
July 15, 1833

150 YEARS AGO
Mars and Venus – The two planets, Mars and Venus, are now both visible in the heavens, on every fair evening. The former is in the southerly section of the heavens, reputed to be fifty millions of miles distant from us. When at his extreme distance from us, he is a mere dot of light; now he is large and brilliant. Venus is far distant from Mars in the western heavens. They may be easily distinguished.
Caught! William and Gilbert Bronson, two of the prisoners who escaped from the jail in this village on December 28, were arrested at Ilion, Herkimer County, on Tuesday last.
July 9, 1858

125 YEARS AGO
Writes Doctor J.T. Wallace of Oneida: “I have read The Freeman’s Journal since I first learned to read, and must have it still. I well remember with what eager expectation I used to wait for it when a boy, living on old New Lisbon’s hills. In those days no music was sweeter to my ear than the tooting of the carrier’s horn, as it heralded his approach on his weekly round with the much-prized newspaper. And now that the faithful carriers, John Perkins, “Uncle Jared” Gardner, and their successors, have all passed away, and New Lisbon Center, the home of my early childhood, has donned the more euphonious name of ‘Welcome,’ and is regularly served by one of Uncle Sam’s mail coaches, instead of the carrier on horseback; and the boy has grown to be a man nearly 47 years of age; still the weekly visits of the Journal are as welcome and as anxiously looked forward to as in days of yore.”
July 14, 1883

100 YEARS AGO
The new summer hotel to be built by Mssrs. S. and Stephen C. Clark, is as yet without a name, and Mr. Stephen C. Clark stated on Tuesday that while many names had been under consideration, none had yet been accepted as exactly suitable. He furthermore said that suggestions would be gladly received, and gave The Freeman’s Journal authority to invite its readers to express their ideas on the subject. The name, in our opinion, should be one known in local history, in local Indian lore, or in Cooper’s tales. It should be a familiar name, one easy to pronounce and one that would in itself be in keeping with the dignity of such a hotel, and, at the same time, convey something of the charms of this environment.
July 9, 1908

75 YEARS AGO
Construction of new post office buildings in Cooperstown, Boonville, Dolgeville, Ilion, Hamilton, Mohawk, Canastota and Rome are included in the public works program laid before President
Roosevelt for his approval on Thursday of last week by Donald H. Sawyer, temporary Public Works Administrator. Bids for the buildings will be asked at an early date after purchase of the sites. The limits of cost set for the Cooperstown building is $95,000.
July 12, 1933

50 YEARS AGO
Duke Ellington, America’s foremost composer of modern music, and his famous band will appear at the Otsego County Fair in Morris for two performances on the night of Saturday, August 2.
At the Otesaga Hotel this summer guests will be treated to a public fashion show and luncheon in the main dining room on Thursdays, sponsored by the Smart Shop. Dancing to live music by the house band for house guests and the public will be held on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights in the informal Templeton Lounge.
July 9, 1958

25 YEARS AGO
Donna Jeanette Eissler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Eissler of Springfield Center, was married June 4 to William Anthony Hribar, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hribar of Fly Creek. The double ring ceremony was performed by the Rev. John Sise at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cooperstown. Debbie Hribar of Fly Creek, sister of the groom, was maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Alice McLean of Richfield Springs and Denise Richards of Springfield Center. The flower girl was Susanna Ehlers of Cherry Valley. Frank Hribar, brother of the groom, was best man. The couple honeymooned in Vermont, the Adirondacks and Lake George.
July 13, 1983

10 YEARS AGO
The Otsego Sailing Club is offering a sailing program on Otsego Lake for community juniors and adults. The instructional program has been designed to introduce the concepts of sailing and sailboat racing while building on previous sailing experience. While covering a large volume of material, the program will preserve the feeling of camp-type activity in the junior program and provide a way to learn to sail with dignity in the adult program. Kurt Ofer is the Sailing Program Coordinator.
July 10, 1998

Bound Volumes is compiled from resources provided courtesy of the New York State Historical Association Library. Tom Heitz is the Town of Otsego historian.

Labels: Bound Volumes, Columns