For 1949 in Otsego County’s seat, there was growth in many forms in the village for homes, whether it was for a building or a neighborhood.
While many have argued through generations that Cooperstown is not the home of baseball, it can be said it is definitely the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Having opened in 1939, and with a growing collection of memorabilia, this home needed more room.
As the Otsego Farmer reported on May 20, “Baseball’s distinguished Hall of Fame, which is visited every year by thousands of lovers of the national game, is to be enlarged to nearly double its present use. The contract for the new construction has been awarded to William Crawford, Inc. of No. 7 East 42nd street, New York City, according to an announcement made Wednesday afternoon by Harry St. Clair Zogbaum, the architect. The work is to commence at once, and it is expected that it will be completed at an early date.
“Under the plans the front façade of the existing building is to be altered to bring the enlarged structure when completed into harmonizing Georgian architectural design. The addition will be of local brick to match the west wall of the present building.
“The motif of iron work shown by the balcony on the second floor of the existing building and the railway of the loggia and gateway of the new building will represent a baseball diamond. Three archways will lead into the loggia which is to be the main entrance of the enlarged building.
“At the main entrance provision is made for an admission ticket office and the large exhibition hall beyond will house the Babe Ruth collection and be connected by a substantial archway leading to the main exhibition hall of the present Hall of Fame. There will also be a large souvenir counter on the ground floor. To the west a monumental stairway will lead to the basement and upper floors. The present main entrance will be retained as a secondary entrance. The new loggia will be approached from Main street by a terrace and pathway.”
It wasn’t just the Hall of Fame expanding in Cooperstown that month. As reported in the Farmer of May 6, “The southern section of the village is becoming a beehive of building activity. No less than eight houses are being built or planned on Walnut Street Extension this Spring or Summer.
“Miss Grace Doig and Miss Mary Watrous moved this week into their new home there. The six room concrete block dwelling is complete except for miscellaneous trimming to be done. It was started last Fall with Dr. Daniel H. Dwyer as contractor and Russell Catlin, builder.
“Also nearing completion is a Gunnison home for Mr. and Mrs. Harold H. Hollis being built by the Bob Davis Realty Company, Otsego county dealer for Gunnison Homes Inc., a subsidiary of the United States Steel Corporation.
“Work on the six room manufactured dwelling was started on March 14. The structure itself has been completed. Workmen are landscaping the plot this week.
“During the past few days, cellars have been dug on the north side of the street for four more houses which will be erected this Spring and Summer. At the corner of Walnut and Delaware, a white stucco cinder block one story dwelling will be erected for Mr. and Mrs. Chester A. Todd.”
Gunnison homes were becoming popular housing options across our region. Foster Gunnison is considered a pioneer in pre-fabricated housing. The home office and manufacturing facility was in New Albany, Indiana.
According to a Time magazine article from 1944, Gunnison’s “conveyor-belted production methods” produced all the parts of a house in 25 minutes. Prices were kept low for “lower middle class” houses, as they could be purchased for $2,800 to $5,000, depending on which options were chosen.
On Wednesday, more firsts and lasts made news in the region in May 1964.