Compiled by Tom HeiTz with resources courtesy of The New York State Historical Association Library
200 YEARS AGO
Advertisement – A Young Lady about 17 or 21 years of age as a wife; she must be well acquainted with the necessary accomplishments of such – she must understand washing and ironing, baking bread, making good coffee, roasting beef, veal, &c. boning a fowl, broiling a fish, making tarts, plumb puddings and desserts of all kinds, preserving fruits and pickles, expert with the needle, keeping a clean and snug house; must know reading, writing, and arithmetic; must never been in the habit of attending ball rooms; she must have been taught true and genuine principles of religion, and a member of a church in good standing. She must not be addicted to making too free use of her tongue, such as repeating any report that is injurious to her neighbor or using taunting language to any person about her house. Any lady finding herself in possession of the above accomplishments will please address to Alphonse.
August 1, 1816
175 YEARS AGO
Death by Lightning – Mr. Samuel Whaley, aged 52 years, was instantly killed by a bolt of lightning while sitting in his own dwelling, about a mile from West Hartwick village. The bolt descended upon the chimney and divided and ran down in several directions, and discharged at or near the mantel trees in two of the rooms. One of the streams ran down one of the rafters and communicated with a stud upon the chamber floor directly over where Mr. W. was sitting, and thence
through the plastering down upon the backside of his head, cutting a hole in his hat and discharging itself at the bottom of his left boot. He did not appear to move a muscle or change his sitting posture. There were several persons
in the house none of whom were affected by the shock except Mrs. Avery who appeared lifeless for a short time, but by the free application of water was soon restored to her senses.
August 2, 1841
150 YEARS AGO
The Freeman’s Journal is now about the oldest country newspaper in the State, and one of the oldest papers in the Union, having been established by the late Col. J.H. Prentiss in 1808. We hope its centennial birthday may be recorded by some future prosperous and useful owner. Probably at no time within the past 35 years has the circulation of the Journal been less than 1,500; at one time its regular edition was 1,100 above that figure; and its present issue of upwards of 2,100 is about four times the average circulation of country newspapers.
August 3, 1866
125 YEARS AGO
The Girl from New York – The most predominant characteristic of the New York girl is that she is always there. If it is a new book, she has read it. If it is a new play, she has seen it. If it is a new style of gown, she has it on, and if it is the last new man to whom she has been introduced, he is pleading for an invitation to call on her. She is healthy because she believes in bathing and plenty of exercise. Her eyes are clear; and, if she walks a little too rapidly for absolute grace, you know it is because she has an object in view, and she intends to gain it. She is slightly cynical. She has by no
means an abiding faith in men, and she believes that “out of sight, out of mind” is usually true as applied to them; consequently, she meets them on her own ground, and, in her close fitting, tailor-made suit, leaves them victims on the field of coquetry, slain by a determined enemy, and with weapons they don’t exactly understand.
August 6, 1891
100 YEARS AGO
What has become of the Village Improvement Society? This very useful organization started four or five years ago. The work it did was good, but for the past two years nothing has been heard of this society. The grounds that it beautified at the foot of River Street have grown up to weeds and bushes. The trash cans that were placed at the street corners have been carted off and thrown upon the village dump along with the rubbish. The trend of public opinion nowadays seems to indicate that the women will be called upon by their exercise of the right of suffrage to take an active part in civic affairs. Is not this an opportunity for the ladies of Cooperstown to demonstrate to the men folks that they are capable of doing things?
At a meeting at the home of Mrs. W. Scott Root, 29 Nelson Avenue, at which there were 47 ladies present the Cooperstown Home Economics Club was organized. Miss Florence H. Freer, county agent was present, and explained fully the general plan of a Home Economics Club, as to organization and work done.
August 2, 1916
75 YEARS AGO
The largest opening attendance in the history of the Cooperstown Community Sings, a throng estimated at 4,000 people gathered on the lawns of the Otesaga Hotel on the shores of Otsego Lake Sunday afternoon. Weather conditions were perfect and the setting from which the singers could scan the entire length of the Glimmerglass and its surrounding wooded hills was entrancing. Dr. Elmer A. Tidmarsh of Schenectady conducted the musical program.
August 6, 1941
25 YEARS AGO
Glimmerglass Opera’s August production of Mozart’s “Il re pastore” will be broadcast nationally on National Public Radio’s “World of Opera,” a program that presents broadcasts of the best American regional companies, including the San Francisco Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Glimmerglass.
August 7, 1991
10 YEARS AGO
Mona Buckley and Marie Murray bid and made a bonus slam when Cooperstown senior bridge met Monday, August 1, at the Clark Sports Center. Irma Cizek was high scorer with 4,830; Marion Maxson second with 4,510; Nancy Birdsall third with 4,460. Betty Semrov won the special prize. The group meets at 9:45 a.m. every Tuesday. Bring a bag lunch. Coffee and tea provided. August 4, 2006
KABAT: Sexual Orientation is A Choice
KABAT/from A4
sexual orientation is not a choice. This is based on flawed research by Simon Le Vay, a homosexual (do you think he might have researcher bias?), done in 1993 on a grand total of 35 cadavers in which he noticed different brain sizes between alleged gays and straights. Ergo, it must be in the genes. The research was never replicated, leading experts to believe that the study was not valid. Other legitimate questions were raised as well. However, that didn’t stop Gay inc. from promoting the New Big Lie. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control came out with credible evidence that sexual orientation is due to personal history, including sexual abuse and violence. in other words, it is learned behavior. Learned behavior, as most social scientists will tell you, can be unlearned.
The New Big Lie also flies in the face of basic Christian doctrine. We are all born into sin. The human experience includes sin at its very core. But through the redemptive power of Jesus Christ we can be freed from our sinful nature. But in a way, Ms. Randall is correct. for many, many homosexuals the behavior is not a
choice in that it is compulsive. it is compulsive like drinking is to an alcoholic or smoking is to a smoker. However, there are millions of alcoholics who have conquered their drinking as have thousands of former homosexuals who conquered their homosexuality. Christians including myself believe that we cannot conquer the enslavement of sin without Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We have no choice in our sinning until we are freed by Christ. With God, what seems to be impossible becomes possible. Does this offer a glimmer of hope to those in the snare of sin? Definitely, YES! if there is anyone out there who might be questioning their homosexuality, look me up. i would be more than happy to engage with you in pursuing the straight alternative. No condemnation. No pressure. Only acceptance and compassion in walking alongside of you.
JERRY KABAT Oneonta
Kabat is director of the Calvary Hill Retreat Center, Oneonta
famed Architect Built Cooperstown Village Hall
FLAGG/From A4
so the sound is not transmitted from one apartment to another. Without, the houses have none of the discouraging barrack look. The architecture is distinctly pleasing.” And, Riis might have added, each apartment had its own private toilet -- and the buildings paid their owners a five percent dividend.
More important, flagg’s scheme became the model for other similar buildings all over Manhattan, and eventually prompted significant changes in New York City’s Zoning Laws.
Ernest flagg’s connection with the Clark family would last for many years. He designed a series of commercial buildings and homes for frederick Bourne, who from 1889 to 1905 was president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company – as well as a luxurious New York City mansion for Elizabeth Scriven Clark herself. in 1896 flagg designed the 10-story Singer headquarters at 149 Broadway. And in 1897 he planned the Library building which we know today. The Cooperstown site, at the corner of Main and fair Streets, had once been occupied by the Otsego Hotel, which had burned in the great fire of 1862. from 1868 to 1889, it was occupied by a huge, unfinished, decaying building known popularly as the Skeleton Hotel. Parts of it were used to store hops until its remains were bought by Alfred Corning Clark and the haunted monstrosity was demolished.
After Alfred’s death in 1896, his widow Elizabeth Scriven Clark engaged Ernest flagg to design a building for the local Young Men’s Christian Association, a library, and a museum. The YMCA, in those days, was primarily a club; the squash courts behind the Library, now the Cooperstown Art Association, were not added until 1914. flagg wanted his building to be beautiful and indeed striking, but at the same time to blend in with its historical and visual surroundings. He used the same local stone
from which many other Cooperstown buildings are built, adding a Greek-revival facade of columns that reflect those on the 1830 Otsego County Bank Building across the street. The viewer’s eyes were also directed upwards by the balustrade that originally decorated the roof on all sides – and that i for one hope may one day be restored.
Excavations began on April 13, 1897. Local papers record at least two visits to the site by Ernest flagg – in July and October. As autumn ended, the giant wooden columns, produced by Cooperstown’s Pioneer Mills on Grove Street, were being erected. The following spring, in May 1898, the scaffolding came down, and on Aug. 17, 1898, Elizabeth Scriven Clark held a lavish ball on the upper floor, officially opening the building and celebrating the 21st birthday of her son, Robert Sterling Clark. As originally laid out, the room to the right of the entrance was a library; that on the left had the YMCA Pool Tables. Behind were rooms for playing cards, and for the building manager. in 1932
Robert Sterling Clark presented the building to the Village of Cooperstown. it was not one of Ernest flagg’s largest projects, but surely one of his finest.
4 focus Employees face Charges
FOCUS/From A1
man’s Office posted a press release Tuesday, Aug. 2, reporting the arrests of LPN Lorraine Caldwell, 54, Holland Patient; LPN Amanda Gus, 30, Hartwick; Sarah Schuyler, certified nurse assistant (CNA), 29, and CNA Donna Gray, 48, Sidney.
Each of the four face charges they failed to provide care to a 94-year-old resident over the Memorial Day weekend this year.
According to the press release, surveillance camera footage shows a resident, identified only as “M.P.,” was left in a recliner for 41 hours, receiving only one meal, one round of her medications and one change of her briefs. At the end of the 41-hour period, the resident was removed from the recliner, returned to her room and diagnosed with a pressure sore measuring slightly less than one by 2 inches.
“This is just beyond terrible,” said Stuligross. “it’s hard work, the pay is low and finding dedicated people is
crucial. People need good care in our county. it’s shocking.”
Calls to county board Chair Kathy Clark, R-Otego, and focus Executive Director Jeff Emhoff were not returned by deadline. in 2014, the county board sold Otsego Manor to focus for $18.5 million in a 4-3 vote, following informational meetings held around the county over the previous winter. Due to changes in state and federal reimbursement rates, the Manor was costing the county $5 million a year, half the total raise by local taxes.
“We didn’t want to sell it,” said Stuligross. “But financially, we couldn’t keep it.”
Three employees were charged with the felonies of falsifying business records, endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person in the first degree, as well as the misdemeanor charge of willful violation of
health laws. Gray was arraigned on the misdemeanor charge of willful violation of health laws. They appeared Aug. 2 before Otsego Town Justice Gary Kuch in fly Creek. The defendants were released on their own recognizance. “Our healthcare workers have a basic duty to care for their patients, to provide required care, keep them safe and not to injure them,” Schneiderman said in the release. “My office will bring to justice caregivers who hurt and neglect patients, who ignore the law and safety protocols, and who falsify records to cover up their crimes.”
The investigation was conducted by investigators from the state Medicaid fraud Control Unit.
The facility has a one-star rating from Medicaid in its five-star quality rating system.
