Anation and Oneonta were in mourning during September 2001, and the same was true in September 1901. But life went on, after each of these years.
Much of the country stood still after the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania in 2001, and in 1901, it was the death of a president, following an assassination.
As The Oneonta Star of Sept. 17, 1901 reported, “The memorial services in honor of the late President McKinley were held in the armory of Company G this afternoon. All business places were closed and practically all, by means of draped pictures, festoons of crepe, flags at half-mast and other decorations, evinced the deep sorrow of our citizens at his death. Not in many years if ever before has so impressive a scene been witnessed in Oneonta.
“President N.H. Briggs of the village board of trustees presided over the meeting, which filled to overflowing the immense drill room of the armory.
“The music was furnished by the combined choirs of the village churches, and several village pastors had part in the services, at which all are present, as were also the board of trustees, members of the bar, press, faculty of the Normal and public schools, Company G, Farmer post G.A.R., and many others.”
President William McKinley had been shot on Sept. 6 on the grounds of the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, and died from the wounds on Sept. 14.
The days following the shooting stirred some local opinion. The Star of Sept. 12 told readers, “The strength of local public sentiment against the man who shot President McKinley was shown by an incident in Oneonta this week. W.L. Ingerham, who conducts a barber shop on Broad street, returned a few months ago from the Philippines, was a loyal soldier and is a firm believer in the President and his policy. After the attempted murder, Mr. Ingerham in conversation with a customer said: ‘The assassin ought to be hung up and studded with diamonds from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.’ To ‘stud with diamonds’ is an army phrase and means to shoot him full of lead.”
In Sidney, according to the Sidney Record of Sept. 21, it told of a march from the head of Main Street to a memorial service for President McKinley at the Congregational Church, now the Community Cultural Center.
Despite the assassination attempt on Sept. 6, there was still much interest in people going to Buffalo. The Record added, “The tide to the Pan-American from the Sidney station of the O. & W. continues unabated. Last Sundey night a party of fifty left for Buffalo.”
Likewise in Oneonta, according to The Oneonta Herald, there were 138 tickets sold to the Pan-American exposition from Oneonta during the first four days of this week. There was also an ad in The Herald for a place to stay near the exposition, which one needed to write to for information.
The Herald of Sept. 26 also reported, “The Oneonta Fair, unavoidably postponed on account of the weather and the death of the President, closed Saturday afternoon.”
Life carried on after the president’s death. Around our area, news was transportation-related.
Also in The Herald of Sept. 26, “Notice from the secretary of the state board of railroad commissioners was received Saturday, stating that commission had decided the present Main street grade crossing of the D. & H. tracks in the village of Oneonta to be dangerous, and that it had ordered a bridge to be constructed,” which was the viaduct in the area of River Street and Fairview Avenue.
Elsewhere in that same edition it was told, “The trolley road to Cooperstown is practically completed and the company hopes to have cars running regularly to that place from Oneonta on Sunday. The matter of the right of way for the Richfield end of the line is being pushed, and the management hopes soon to begin work thereon.
On Tuesday, the writer has one thing in common with a Baseball Hall of Famer.