It has been a while since Main Street in Cooperstown has been closed off for an event other than baseball, as it is this weekend.
It was during the summer of 1926, years before baseball was so dominant in the village, and the street closing was just a part of many leisure activities going on in northern Otsego County.
As the Otsego Farmer of Aug. 6, 1926 reported, “The Chamber of Commerce is now perfecting plans for its second annual Street Fair to be held … August 11th and 12th. Main street will be blocked off as last year during the two evenings of that date and the streets will be decorated and lighted by many strings of colored lights.”
Festivities were enjoyed, as the Farmer of Aug. 13 reported, “Main street, blocked off between the Fenimore corner and the Liberty pole, presented a mardi-gras appearance from early in the evening until midnight with the surging crowd competing eagerly with one another to answer the call of the ‘barkers’ at the various booths and tents.
“It goes without saying that the concert by the Canajoharie band made a big hit. Another feature which thrilled all who watched were the two performances by Wheadon, the slack wire artist who gave an exhibition of equilibration which has seldom been equaled here.
“Thousands of hot dogs, unlimited numbers of ice cream cones, gallons of pop and a myriad of balloons were dispensed by the great confetti-covered throng that filled Main St. Wednesday night.”
To add to the fun of the street fair, the Farmer of Aug. 20 told readers, “Downie Brothers circus arrived in Cooperstown early Thursday morning from Cherry Valley where it showed Wednesday, and pitched canvass on the Fair grounds,” in the area of today’s Cooperstown Central School. “Big crowds were at both performances.
“The coming of the circus brought joy to young and old, for after all ‘breathes there a man with soul so dead who never unto himself said, many and many a time, ‘I enjoy a circus.’”
Leisure in the summer means a dip in cool waters for some, and as the Farmer also reported on Aug. 13, “Splash Week ended Saturday with amazing water results. Attendance was taken every morning and afternoon at the float and the total for the week was over five hundred.
“Every swimmer and non-swimmer had individual attention and many were taught, others were converted in their methods to improve their form and strengthen their arm and leg strokes in the water.”
Fun in the water took on a new form that summer, as the Farmer of July 3 reported, “The McEwan Hardware company this week has introduced into this resort a new water pastime called ‘bubble boating.’ The sport is said to be exceedingly thrilling and to be giving thousands in America, England and France a new joy.
“The bubble boat, which consists of a light frame buoyed up on the water by three good-sized rubber balloons has a sail and can be propelled with a paddle, or by wind, or both. It is said that it will not upset or sink and has all the comforts of a deck chair lounging upon the deep.”
Summer leisure was interrupted for some by bad weather, similar to what we’ve experienced in 2026. As the Farmer also reported on Aug. 13, “The long promised relief from the heat wave which has been wilting this community for the past few days came Thursday afternoon ushered in with a cyclone or western ‘twister’ the likes of which has never been seen in the history of Cooperstown.
“The whirling gale came from the south and created unparalleled devastation among the beautiful elms and maples, some of which have stood since the days of our grandfathers, that adorn the streets. That no lives were lost and no one even injured in the whole of the wide territory visited by the storm is a miracle for which the whole village is devoutly thankful.”
On Tuesday, local disability awareness in Oneonta, long before the Americans with Disabilities Act.