Endings and starts for various modes of transportation were newsmakers during August 1930.
Likewise, there were other modes, bringing the governor to visit the region.
There was no more “clang, clang, clang” of the trolley, as readers of The Oneonta Star of Aug. 11 found out, “Trolley cars, which with their predecessors, the horse-cars, have been operating in Oneonta for scores of years, have withdrawn from the city, their place being taken by motor buses.
“Yesterday the Southern New York railway operated the last of its Herkimer-Oneonta trolleys within city limits, and effective today, the trains will stop at the Junction corner, opposite the Plains school,” then found at the corner of Chestnut Street and Winney Hill Road, “where a new combination freight and passenger depot has just been completed. Passengers will be brought to Oneonta by the buses of the Maxson Transportation corporation.”
Trolleys were fading while another means of travel was on the rise locally, as The Star of Aug. 25 reported, “A crowd estimated at nearly 10,000 people was attracted to Oneonta yesterday for the second day of the dedication celebration of the Keyes Oneonta airport,” on Country Club Road near Browne Street, “which was sponsored by three war veterans’ organizations.”
The first day was pretty much a washout, but there were plenty of activities Sunday, including, “The Miss Albany, a Ford tri-motored ship from the capital city, which arrived in Oneonta Friday afternoon, started its passenger flights yesterday morning and was busy until darkness settled over the field. Carrying 14 or 18 passengers on almost every trip, this quaint ship was one of the features of the meet and had hardly a quiet minute.” While the Miss Albany was the main attraction, there were other passenger carriers, and one served the airport following the dedication weekend.
With the now well-established and trusty motor car, a motorcade brought then Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt to a few local places, and his visits brought people by auto to hear him.
For example, The Star of Aug. 7 reported, “Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt is expected to discuss farm problems and policies at the annual meeting of the Schoharie County Farm bureau at Howe Caverns, Aug. 21.
“At least 6,000 farmers from all parts of the state are expected to attend, though preparations are being made to handle a crowd of 10,000.”
In addition to talking polices and solutions, the meeting also had programs including athletic contests, horseshoe pitching, pacing and similar events for children and adults. If it was a hot day, a visit into the caves was a welcome relief.
Governor Roosevelt was making his rounds to visit with farmers, as The Star of Aug. 13 reported, to speak at the annual Delaware County Farmers’ Picnic in Delhi.
“He will come to Delhi from Norwich where he is scheduled to speak on the fairgrounds earlier in the day. It is reported that he will arrive at the State School grounds at Delhi about 2 p.m. and deliver his address. The speaking will take place on the athletic field where a special platform will be erected. In past years, the speaking has been in the school grove, but this year because of the record breaking crowd, the committee believed it advisable to have Governor Roosevelt deliver his address on the athletic field where more people can be accommodated.”
The governor shifted from the agricultural demographic to the academic about a week later, as Star readers on Aug. 22 learned, “For the first time in the memory of many Oneontans, the State Normal school is to be visited this morning by the governor as the head of the state’s business, and at the same time, Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt will revisit the scenes of his campaign grounds during the World war when he spoke here as assistant secretary of the navy, running on a semi-independent ticket for the United States senate.”
The governor and his delegates went directly to the school, but as soon as he departed, there was one long blast on the city’s fire whistle, and that was to notify city residents that the governor was heading downtown, where he gave an address in front of the Hotel Oneonta.
It wouldn’t be long before Roosevelt would be doing more touring like this, having aspirations for higher office in 1932.
On Wednesday, a whirlwind of news took place around Oneonta in August 1965.