Aviation amazed, music was masterful and payments were pending in the spring of 1931.
Memories of long ago had meaning around Oneonta, as well.
In the present, readers of the June 4, 1931 edition of The Oneonta Herald found out, “Oneonta aviation fans Friday afternoon had their first opportunity to witness the flight of an autogiro, a machine that is said to be the safest type of airplane in use at the present time. The plane that flew here is owned by the Standard Oil Company of New York, and flew from its headquarters at Binghamton to Norwich, and then to the Keyes airport at West End,” then on Country Club Road, on what is today’s Browne Street.
“This type of aircraft has a comparatively small wing surface, but it is equipped with four long blades mounted above the fuselage, which revolves to supply the lifting power, and also make it possible to drop almost perpendicularly at a low rate of speed.
“A crowd of about 500 or more rapidly gathered at Keyes airport, and before the autogiro completed its two hour visit, 1,200 had visited the post and inspected the plane at close range. After landing, the ship made two more flights over the city before taking off on its return trip to Binghamton just before 5 o’clock.”
An organization which brings quality music to our area was in its early years, and as The Herald of April 20 reported, “Mrs. David H. Mills, president of the Oneonta Concert association, announced last evening that an office will be maintained, starting today and continuing until Friday when the annual membership campaign of the organization comes to a close, at the Chamber of Commerce office, 248 Main street, with Miss Elizabeth Hancock in charge from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Residents of Oneonta and vicinity may join the association upon application there, and those who have made advance subscriptions may pay their dues. Already nearly 400 of the 685 memberships available have been taken.” Three seasons had passed for the association at that point, and survived the tight years of the Great Depression.
Another local institution that struggled financially during those years was Hartwick College. Herald readers of May 14 were told, “Reminders that the fifth and final payment of local subscriptions to the fund for the creation of Hartwick college are now due and payable and are being sent to subscribers to the fund this week and serve to remind one and all that the institution that once was but a vision has become a reality and that residents of the city should come forward and make good the subscriptions that were given in good faith to the project.”
Many residents had made pledges, back when the economy was good, in 1927 and 1928, but some were experiencing the Depression. Hartwick College also survived those years, after enrollment plummeted and it nearly closed — only then to be hit later with World War II.
Oneonta was acknowledging some significant anniversaries of its past during the month of May. The Herald of May 21 informed its readers, “Eighty-four years ago this Tuesday (May 19, 1847) the charter list of the first record of any organized fire company in Oneonta was filed with William Wright, town clerk.” Oneonta incorporated as a village a year later.
“The first record of any organized fire company for the village of Oneonta was May, 1847, and was organized by the authority of E.B. Brown, supervisor of the town; Elisha Sheppard and Samuel J. Cook, justices of the peace, and was before any charter of the village had been granted.”
While the village was incorporated in 1848, Herald readers of May 28 were reminded, “That the town of Oneonta was organized 100 years ago may not be generally known, the first town meeting having been held at the public house, conducted by Thomas T. Alexander, March 1, 1831, an act of the state legislature of the previous year having set off the territory from the town of Huntsville (former name of Otego) and Milford.”
Past history moments such as these are being remembered as Oneonta prepares to celebrate America 250, and can be seen on Facebook: Oneonta250.
On Tuesday, a look at our area’s life and times in June 1981.