Your home is your castle, some might say.
Around our region, some homes were like sandcastles, to be washed away in 1956. Others were ready to be built.
With a dateline of Cannonsville, The Oneonta Star of July 5, 1956 reported, “More than 3,000 people yesterday jammed the streets of this soon-to-be-doomed community to celebrate the 170th anniversary of its settlement by Jesse Dickinson.
“Yesterday was one of the happiest days in the history of Cannonsville, and likewise, one of its saddest, for the celebration there marked the celebration to end all celebrations in the little village of from 350 to 400 inhabitants.
“Within three to four years, the entire village is to be dismantled by the New York City Board of Water Supply to make way for the $140,000,000 Cannonsville Dam and Reservoir.
“Jesse Dickinson, a native of New Jersey, had previously explored the country and in the spring of 1786, with his family, a number of horses, cows, oxen and other livestock, after travelling from New York to Catskill by sloop, headed for Delaware County.
“The road to the head of the Delaware had been cut out down to Kortright. The Indian path after this was very little used and considerable difficulty was experienced in chopping through the dense forest.
“It was not until 1811 that a road was completed along the West Branch of the Delaware from Stamford to Deposit. Arriving at Trout Creek, then known by the Indian name of Ganniwissy, Mr. Dickinson then headed for what is now known as Cannonsville. Mr. Dickinson built a town hall and a sawmill, inviting all the male inhabitants within a distance of 25 miles or more to the raising.
“He also built a grist mill. To this mill people came a distance of 40 to 50 miles on horseback. He was finally obliged to mortgage his estate, as his expenditures in his building and making improvements exceeded his income. Finally he was obliged to surrender the property and sold his estate to Benjamin Cannon.
“The half mile celebration parade marched from the large creamery across the Delaware to the Main Street on Route 10, to the Presbyterian Church on East Main, thence to the school grounds,” for a special program with speakers.
While the many homes and businesses were doomed in Cannonsville, new ones were in the works in Oneonta that month, as Star readers of July 17 learned, “The city last night completed its 1956 obligations for assisting new housing developments when the Public Service Board signed a contract with Grant L. Hamm for extending water and sewer lines on lofty Overlook Drive. It was the third project and the last one currently in sight inside the city.
“Last week the board voted to extend lines for Ravine Park North, the Harold G. Hall development; and earlier in the year the board did the same for College Park, another level development above Crestmont Terrace, sponsored by Albert E. Farone and Manuel Barretto.
“In each of the three cases the city agreed to pay half the cost, or approximately $7,800.
“The three developments provide space for about 70 new homes, all with broad frontages and ample grounds and all considered deluxe locations.
“Mr. Hamm’s development is above his earlier College Drive project, both rising above Upper West Street, with a view of Hartwick College, and both offering panoramic views of Oneonta.
“Ravine Park North, also on Upper West Street, is near the new entrance to the spacious campus of State Teachers College. While lower in elevation than the other developments it presents a graphic view down Silver Creek valley.
“One house is already complete on Overlook Drive, work will start soon on two others, and prospects are good for still two more this year, Mr. Hamm said. The new area has space for 15 to 20 houses, all with 100 to 200 foot frontages.
“Mr. Barreto reported last night that 1,000 feet of water line has been laid in the College Park development in the Upper East Street section. This part of the work is virtually done, he said.
“This development of 31 acres makes room for 40 to 45 new homes, all with broad frontages of at least 100 feet.”
On Saturday, Norwich summertime leisure life in 1926.