It has been a mighty long time since our area has seen a dog show at Gilbert Lake, horse and auto racing in Oneonta’s Neahwa Park or plowing contests in Milford.
It would be 75 years ago, in fact, all during October.
As The Oneonta Star of Oct. 13, 1949 reported, “Expecting what once was one of the largest beagle field trials in the East, the Klipnockie Beagle Club will conduct its first licensed field trial since 1940.
“Announcing details of the trials, Bryson George of Laurens Road, field trial chairman, said that headquarters will be at the Morris Inn and the running grounds will be at Gilbert Lake State Park.” It was a four-day event, and entries came from seven states.
Star readers of Oct. 17 found out, “Rabbits had a rough time at Gilbert Lake State Park over the weekend, for 95 beagles running in pairs kept the cottontails on the run.
“The frenzied bunnies will get no rest today and tomorrow either.” There were classifications in 13-inch and 15-inch beagles.
The first-place winner Saturday was Fish Creek Koko, owned by C.W. Jones of Rome. As reported Oct. 19, “Dogs handled by two Oneonta owners were among the winners yesterday in the fourth and last day.
“Oneonta winners yesterday were Corporal of Wilber Lake, owned and handled by Alfred Sobers of Oneonta RD, second place, and Ronnie’s Lucky, owned and handled by Ronald Knott, third place.
Plans were underway for another dog event for the following spring at Gilbert Lake.
While dogs raced at the lake, horses were featured in Oneonta.
As The Star of Oct. 18 reported, “As members of the Oneonta Riders and Driving Club horse show committee complete arrangements for the show Sunday at Webb Island, two key figures in the event have returned to Oneonta from Saratoga. They are True Silver, seven-year-old gelding owned by Jacob H. Enders and Chuck Perkins, trotter owned by Robert Hall.
Webb Island was found in the area now occupied by Catella Park, home to a large oval track and athletic fields.
“The horses will race against each other in a ‘grudge’ exhibition of two heats Sunday afternoon. Both trotters have been competing in the fall harness racing program at Saratoga Raceway.”
News from the Star’s Oct. 24 edition said, “About 500 persons thronged to Webb Island yesterday where they saw Chuck Perkins, owned by Bob Hall, defeat True Silver.
“The exhibition was one of the features of a horse show. Chuck Perkins won the first heat when True Silver broke on the first turn. The crowd was on its feet in the final half of the two-heat race as the two horses came down to the wire together. Chuck Perkins won the heat by a nose.”
From horses, we turn to horsepower, as The Star of Oct. 14 reported, “Reversing their final positions of last week’s feature race at Webb Island, Curt Ackley of Otego won the 20-lap main event yesterday in 10:05.65, finishing in front of George Markie of Schenectady. Last Sunday Markie was first and Ackley the runner up.” The races were sponsored by Webb Island Raceways.
In Milford, as The Star of Oct. 19 reported, “Kenneth Peterson of West Laurens yesterday was acclaimed ‘plow king’ of Otsego county at the plowing contest at the Low farm, Milford, which culminated two days of plow adjustment demonstrations.
“Mr. Peterson defeated more than 30 contestants, most of them last minute entries, to win the championship. Runner up was Michael Skramko of Richfield Springs.
“More than 200 farmers and spectators attended the final plow adjustment demonstration, conducted by Donald Bates, Cornell agricultural engineer, and heard soil conservationist Everett Clark discuss plowing practices as they affect soil conservation methods.
“At the morning session, and Tuesday, at the farms of Percy Holmes, Decatur, and Keith Matteson, West Laurens, Mr. Bates demonstrated correct methods of adjusting plows for maximum efficiency, putting the plows brought to the demonstration by area farmers in shape for the coming plowing season. County Agriculturalist Robert J. Ames said yesterday that every plow brought was put in shape before the contest started yesterday afternoon.
“Nine farm machinery dealers of the county provided the prizes for the plowing contest.
On Wednesday, a Vietnam Moratorium in Oneonta in 1969.