Emotions were starting to run high as the calendar was changed over to August 1917, regarding the local preparation of men heading off to Europe for World War I. Some were doing whatever they could to go fight, while many read in the newspapers how others did all they could not to fight. It was a month when Oneonta's Company G sent its first men for military mobilization camp and was given an enthusiastic farewell from our area residents.
Our area read in The Oneonta Star of Aug. 4 how groups of armed men, numbering almost 400,000, had gathered in south central Oklahoma to forcibly resist their selection as soldiers under the new draft law.
Meanwhile in our area there were very few who became draft deserters. Some men could become legally exempt from the draft, if they applied, in cases such as business owners or farmers.
"You need not make out any exemption papers for me," said Lewis Fink of Schenevus on Aug. 2. "I know that I am exempt under the rules, but my affairs can be taken care of and I want to go." Fink was given a physical examination, passed and was ready for the military to call.
Willis S. Warner of Gilbertsville had applied several times for enlistment, but had always been rejected. Warner was a musician and had only one good eye, but begged the board of examining physicians to find some place for him in which he could enlist.
The days were fast approaching for the departure to camp of the men of Oneonta-based Company G. Both planned a military field day to raise needed funds. It was set for Friday, Aug. 10, at the Oneonta Fairgrounds, where the Belmont Circle neighborhood is today.
About 2,500 showed up for a series of track, baseball and wrestling contests. Company D, based in New York City, swept Oneonta's Company G in all contests.
Just a week later, Company G departed for mobilization training camp in Spartanburg, S.C. The men gathered at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18, at the armory on Academy Street, first for a drill and then a march to the D&H Railroad depot, today's Stella Luna Ristorante on Market Street.
"Early in the day friends from about the county commenced to arrive," the Star reported, "by motor car chiefly but on train and trolley as well, and hundreds if not thousands, including many from Cooperstown, were added to the city residents who turned out enmasse to give them a farewell that attested the appreciation and admiration of their fellow citizens."
The march from the armory and the scene at the railroad station took longer than anticipated.
The men stood side by side in line for nearly a half hour at the station, "and there were more goodbyes, it being impossible to restrain the crowd of friends who could not refrain from a handclasp and other more demonstrative tokens of affection.
"Here and there remained a tear stained or drawn face that watched with loving eyes until the train disappeared beyond the viaduct and the loved ones were gone."
Sidney residents then gathered en masse at the O&W Railroad station, to welcome and cheer not only the Company G men, but those from Company H of Binghamton. From Sidney, the full train departed for New York, making a stop in Walton to pick up Company F men, complete with its 3,000 well-wishers at the railroad depot.
Once in New York, Company G marched through the city streets to its temporary camp at Van Cortlandt Park. After participating in a grand parade of all state soldiers on Broadway on Saturday, Sept. 1, it was off to camp in Spartanburg.
On Monday: Local life and times in July 1987.
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
Men got ready for military camp in August 1917
- Big Chuck D'Imperio
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Safety Patrol D.C. visits never get old
I asked Cam Morris, head of Eastern Travel/Oneonta Bus Lines, how many years her company has been handling the Safety Patrol trip to Washington, D.C.
Continued ... - My pal Brucie, savior of Sidney's hospital
- Catching a whiff of 'Vermont Vapor'
- Selections from the virtual mailbag
- Recalling days of 'Doughnut King'
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Safety Patrol D.C. visits never get old
- 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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A closer look at the Oneonta town survey
The Town of Oneonta conducted a survey of town residents during February and March of this year. The survey indicated that generally town residents are satisfied with the quality of services provided and they are happy to live here. They want to balance the quiet, rural way of life we have with additional commercial development and environmentally sound practices.
Continued ... - Farmers markets are in full bloom
- Records seizure is an insult to free press
- The evangelical view of same-sex marriage
- Manor's fate will be Otsego board's legacy
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A closer look at the Oneonta town survey
- 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
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- Mark Simonson
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Blackmail scheme failed to hurt Richfield Springs resort season in 1888
The timing simply couldn't have been worse. Thousands of visitors were making plans for their summer vacations to Richfield Springs in 1888 when a bombshell of a newspaper article hit the newsstands of New York City. The article appeared in The New York Sun that stated typhoid fever and diphtheria had a "heavy presence" in the resort village, known and respected worldwide for its cleanliness and good health.
Continued ... - General Clinton Canoe Regatta got a new home in 1972
- 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
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Blackmail scheme failed to hurt Richfield Springs resort season in 1888
- Rick Brockway
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Waterfalls are even better when you keep them to yourself
Millions of people flock to see the great waterfalls of the world. They watch the millions of gallons of water wash over Niagara Falls or see the water come out of spectacular mountains to fall hundreds of feet into the valleys below. Waterfalls are truly some of nature's most beautiful sights.
- Kids have sparkle in their eyes
- People make the outdoors even better
- Turkey season has ups and downs
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Waterfalls are even better when you keep them to yourself
- 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
