So many events brought large groups of people together in the summer of 1925. One gathering was a last for citizens of an area community, before the water came.
Cornerstone laying events mark a new beginning, and as The Oneonta Star of July 13 reported, “Interesting and impressive and witnessed by a large throng were the exercises attendant upon the laying of the corner stone of the new edifice of the First Methodist church of Oneonta held at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon, and while nearly all of those in attendance were obliged to stand during the exercises, very few indeed left until the conclusion was reached. The weather was fair, though the temperature was such as to make fans in demand, and there were many visitors from the surrounding country, including some former members of the society.”
From downtown we move to the “remote” area of the East End, to the Oneonta fairgrounds. It was where today’s Belmont Circle neighborhood is found.
A previous, recent entry told how the Oneonta Police Association had been established in 1925. Their first big public event for the city was held here.
“Today promises to be the biggest day in years of Oneonta and Otsego county’s funfest history,” Star readers were told on July 30.
“Beginning promptly at 10 o’clock this morning, and lasting until some time in the wee hours of tonight, the Oneonta Police association has arranged a field day program, which together with allied events, promises to give lovers of wholesome fun hereabouts one of the most enjoyable days in years.”
The events took place on a Thursday, and attendance was highly encouraged. As The Star reported on Wednesday, “The city will be closed tight as a drum. Yesterday afternoon Mayor W. Irving Bolton issued a proclamation asking all citizens of the city to attend … in the afternoon, which is practically equivalent to declaring a holiday. The members of the Merchant’s association have promulgated an announcement that they will close their stores in the afternoon and it is expected that very little business will be done during the entire afternoon, except that which is done by the several thousands who are expected to throng the fair grounds, if the weather man does not get a grouch.”
As it turned out, the “weather man” put a smile on many faces, as The Star of July 31 reported, “Nearly 4,000 persons thronged the fair grounds…and, for five hours, witnessed a program that sparkled like an entertainment cocktail mixed out of thrills, fun, laughter and color.”
Activities included motorcycle and auto races against time, track and field contests, horse races, horseshoe pitching, baseball games and even a beauty contest.
On a much smaller scale, The Star of July 2 reported, “The Otsego county health camp at Chaseville, halfway between Maryland and Schenevus, will open today when the first 16 girls who are to be there through the month of July arrive.
“The children going to the camp were examined by Dr. Augustin of Oneonta and by Doctors Helmer and Sterns of Otego. None of the children are really ill, but the conditions and environment is such that disease may easily become fastened upon them unless they become more sturdy.”
One other gathering was for a last time, as The Star, with a dateline of Gilboa, on July 17 told readers, “The dramatic story of a river turned back from its course and tunneled beneath a mountain and of a prosperous village buried 150 feet beneath an artificial lake unfolds toward its pathetic end here today. Last groups of Gilboa’s 200 citizens are watching their home town fall slowly into ruin, so that New York city’s water supply can have a new reservoir.
“While ‘movie’ men clamor for picture rights to the flames that will mean final destruction, the persons who built up Gilboa, who were born here, and had hoped to die here, are scattering to find new homes.” No movie company was able to film the fire, because fire broke out before the planned event could take place, destroying 18 buildings. Whether the fire was accidental or set by a bitter former resident, probably no one will ever know.
On Wednesday, a local family’s land became a new state park in 2005.