Oftentimes, in the distant past, the place you worked for became a social nucleus in the village or town. Employees at large companies such as Endicott-Johnson Shoe Co. or IBM in the Binghamton area took part in activities after work such as sports, music and theater, both in and out of town, to represent their company.
For Oneonta, the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Co. employees had such a social nucleus, both here, and sometimes they played hosts for D&H employees from other company communities across the company territory.
With hopes for a 1927 baseball season in Oneonta, consisting of a team of D&H employees, help came from out-of-town D&H workers to make that team a reality, through a fundraiser. A cast of employees from the D&H offices in Albany came here to put on a show at The Oneonta Theatre on Tuesday, May 10.
"This evening at 8:15 o'clock the capable cast from the employees at the general offices at Albany, which produced 'The Show Off' so successfully in that city recently and scored such a signal success an evening or two at Carbondale, where the comedy was presented for the benefit of the Athletic association of the Pennsylvania division brings the play to this city for one presentation, the proceeds being devoted to the maintenance of the base ball team that will represent the Susquehanna division," The Oneonta Star reported.
"Last year the proceeds, which went over $500, were generously donated to the Fox Memorial hospital, and this year, when it will be used to aid the local ball team, the city should respond with equal interest and give the performers a crowded house."
Oneonta's committee of the D&H Athletic Association was not disappointed, as the Star reported the next day, "The house was packed when the curtain rose on the first scene, and from then on, the action was so tense, so sad at times, and again so gay that no one noticed the hours slip by."
No figures were reported as to how much money was raised to make the baseball team possible, but it was apparently enough.
"Oneonta is to be represented on the base ball diamond this season by the Oneonta D. & H. nine. Master Mechanic George Brown was again elected president of the association and he is making every effort to produce a crack ball team," it was reported on Tuesday, May 17.
"'Dutch' Damaschke has been named manager of the team, and he has secured the services of several excellent ball players." That's Ernest C. Damaschke, the name behind the ballpark we know today in Neahwa Park.
"Saturday at 3:30 the team will play its first game against the Endicott team. The season will not open official, however, until Decoration day, when the local outfit is scheduled to play a double header against the Kingston Colonials. New uniforms have been ordered, but will not be used until Decoration day."
Oneonta had a team for 1927, but things were uncertain whether they'd be part of the D&H League, which was under consideration that month.
If that failed, Oneonta was ready to make a bid for entrance into what was called the Tri-County League.
And if that fell through, plans were confirmed for games with Cooperstown, Ewing's All-Star Colored team, Kingston and Schenectady.
According to Bob Whittemore's book, "Baseball Town," published in 1995, this was the general uncertainty of Oneonta baseball during the mid-1920s, but "Dutch" Damaschke always helped to ensure a team for many years.
On Monday: A truly lighter side of news in Oneonta in May 1952.
City Historian Mark Simonson's column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or email him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com. His columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/marksimonson.
Columns
Damaschke essential to ensuring Oneonta baseball in 1927
- Big Chuck D'Imperio
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My pal Brucie, savior of Sidney's hospital
Ask any hospital administrators if they've ever heard of a closed hospital in New York state that has ever been re-opened. They will say, "Impossible." In a half century of going through records you can't find any.
Continued ... - Catching a whiff of 'Vermont Vapor'
- Selections from the virtual mailbag
- Recalling days of 'Doughnut King'
- Opera great's visit still a thrilling memory
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My pal Brucie, savior of Sidney's hospital
- Cary Brunswick
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We've become our own worst enemies
The past month has been marked by a seeming unprecedented number of man-made tragedies, as distinct from those caused by violent outbursts of the natural world, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis.
Continued ... - Plenty of blame to go around for Bangladesh horror
- Obama is going against his word on Social Security
- Reflecting on a Florida trip
- Those magnificent spies in their flying machines
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We've become our own worst enemies
- Chuck Pinkey
- Guest Column
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Records seizure is an insult to free press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
Continued ... - The evangelical view of same-sex marriage
- Manor's fate will be Otsego board's legacy
- A closer look at our economy - Part II
- Use fracking to fill budget gaps
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Records seizure is an insult to free press
- Lisa Miller
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A view from above
Fire towers in the Catskill Mountains have always been destination points, built to capture some of the region’s best views. These sentinel stations served an important role for the earliest possible sightings of forest fires in the remote mountain ranges. But the fire towers and those who manned them fulfilled a multitude of other roles as well.
Continued ... - Being a parent is a constant learning process
- Healthy doesn't have to mean expensive
- A family era ends with close of Potter series
- Independent stores make up for loss of Borders
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- Mark Simonson
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General Clinton Canoe Regatta got a new home in 1972
Ever since 1963, when Charles Hinkley and a group of Tri-Town businessmen came up with the idea for what we know today as the General Clinton Canoe Regatta, people lined the shores of the Susquehanna to watch the canoeists as they made their 70-mile trek from Cooperstown to Bainbridge.
Continued ... - Sunday movies in Oneonta finally shown in 1934
- Politics, fitness and landmarks dominated local news in May 1968
- Local people sought income in many ways in 1933
- Local windstorm in 1983 caused tense moments
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- Rick Brockway
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Kids have sparkle in their eyes
When I was in my teens, old Bill Naatz told me about a stream north of Lake George where a man had panned out enough gold to make his wife a wedding band. It was all rumors, but to his grandson and myself, it sounded like the makings of a great adventure.
- People make the outdoors even better
- Turkey season has ups and downs
- Spring air isn't always the freshest
- Adriondacks keep growing and growing
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Kids have sparkle in their eyes
- Sam Pollak
- William Masters
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Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
As the time to vote draws near, we need to remember how money can run politics more than we can. Raising funds is a prominent (if not the dominant) task of getting elected. Raising issues is also crucial, but those efforts are subject to distortion and fear-mongering.
- Republicans feelentitled to allthey can garner An entitlement is a legal benefit available from the government to individuals who are within a defined category of recipients, such as needing insurance for unemployment or health services.
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Romney focuses on self; Obama emphasizes unity
Mitt Romney criticizes President Obama for saying a person's success is rooted in his community, and is not all his alone. Romney belittles this with his belief in individual initiative. He is better at the put-down than the push-up.
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Romney shows little regard for common man
The Republicans in Congress have voted over and over, 33 times, redundantly and uselessly, to rescind what they call Obamacare.
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Scouts' gay ban creates problem where none exists
The Boy Scouts of America's "emphatic reaffirmation" of its vow to exclude any and all homosexuals from its hallowed ranks is ill-considered and pathetic, especially in view of its having reviewed the matter for two years.
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Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
