Oneonta’s future and its past got plenty of recognition by residents during August 1965.
Something that would have a profound effect on the city’s downtown and suburbs got its start that month, as The Oneonta Star of Aug. 6 reported, “The 25 member Urban Renewal Citizen Advisory Committee will hold its first official meeting August 18 since its members were appointed by Mayor Albert S. Nader last May.
“The committee’s main function…is advising citizens what urban renewal is all about and what the city plans to do.”
That first meeting brought about the rhetorical question on whether to tear down or renovate buildings in the downtown business district. Star readers on Aug. 19 learned, “Slightly over 60 per cent of the buildings in the central business district have deteriorated to such a point where rehabilitation may not be feasible, the Citizens Advisory Committee for Oneonta’s urban renewal program was told Wednesday night.
“If the committee approves the program, they will have to ‘sell’ it to other people, Patrick Kane, of the planning firm Planning Associates-East, Buffalo, said.”
Oneonta’s YMCA had recently vacated its building on Broad Street, soon to be in the target area of Oneonta’s urban renewal program, and had relocated to its new Ford Avenue facility, formally dedicated on June 17.
As Star readers of Aug. 7 found out, the opening day was set for Monday, Aug. 16. “A final letter of approval from the building’s architects has been received by Sterling Harrington, chairman of the building committee.
“Lewis Knox, director of physical education at the Y, is working on a program schedule to go in to effect when the new building opens.”
What is known today as Damaschke Field was due to become a busier place, as The Star of Aug. 30 reported, “Oneonta will become a member of the New York-Pennsylvania League next year.
“Oneonta Mayor Albert S. Nader announced Sunday night that the city has been assured of a spot in the league next year.
“Nader said that Oneonta will be given a working agreement by the Boston Red Sox.
“The mayor stated that Neil Mahoney, Director of Minor Leagues for Boston, had informed him that the Sox would transfer their franchise from Wellsville, now a member of the NY-P, to Oneonta.”
This wasn’t the first time Oneonta had ties with Boston, as the Oneonta Red Sox had been a franchise in the former Canadian-American League, which operated from 1936 until 1951.
Expansion was in sight for a local employer, still around today. As The Star on Aug. 31 reported, “Astrocom Electronics announced plans Monday to build and occupy by December 1 a new $120,000 factory which will provide space so the firm can double its work force.
“Astrocom president Derwood K. Lifgren said yesterday the new 16,500 square-foot concrete block, one-story plant will be built along a 10-acre plot along Route 28 just north of the Route 7 intersection” in Colliersville. At the time the company worked out of the three-story building at 1 Dietz St., formerly a telephone company building.
Many Oneontans took their focus off the future to remember an important part of their past. The Star told readers on Aug. 28, “Movies and slides on railroad topics, a display of railroading mementoes and a letter from the Governor are props for the ‘100th Anniversary Party’ to be held Saturday night at Oneonta’s infant Railroad Museum,” once located at today’s Depot Restaurant. The show started at 8 p.m.
August 29 was important to Oneonta, as The Star continued, “Innkeeper Charlie Lewis stepped into the street and took a long look at his hostelry, the Oneonta House, on the northwest corner of Main and Chestnut Streets,” where 125 Main St. now stands. “He had spent the preceding day draping the tall columns with bunting and hanging flags from the many windows. He wanted everything to look just right, for it was Tuesday, August 29, 1865, the Day the Railroad Came to Town.”
Crowds and celebrations unlike any seen in the village before, took place when the first steam locomotive arrived.
This weekend, many memories stirred in Delaware County in 1930.