An automobile show as large as those in Albany or Utica. That was the heady claim of the organizers of Oneonta's first such show, set for early April 1917.
The numerous auto dealers in Oneonta made plans to exhibit at the show, held at the State Armory, today's Asa C. Allison Municipal Building on Academy Street, on April 4, 5 and 6. The dealers brought in John Kelly, of Philadelphia, Pa., who had charge of auto shows all over the country, to manage this debut show for Oneonta.
The dealers' aim was to impress, and The Oneonta Star reported on March 28 how, "The hall will … be beautifully decorated with floral designs, with over $500 expended on the decorations alone."
As the show grew closer, it was reported on Tuesday, April 2, that when the doors opened on Thursday, 20 makes of cars and 45 models would be on display, representing a value of $100,000.
"When one considers that the city of Oneonta the dealers can put on a show where the prospective buyer can inspect 45 models of the latest and best cars for the money there certainly remains no good reason for going miles away to visit an automobile show," the Star reported. While the show was primarily for viewing and possibly purchasing automobiles, the Armory also became a place to socialize.
"Gardner's orchestra will furnish music for the show and dancing, to permit the latter, a portion of the floor being reserved, and the young people are assured of a good time."
Another feature of the show was a noted giveaway for a prize, a Victrola, which was big for the time, as this "talking machine," a record player as most of us recall, sold for between $200 to $300 at that time. The Victrola was on display throughout the show.
Opening day, which was Thursday evening, was a success.
"The attendance last evening," the Star reported on Friday, April 6, "considering the weather and it being the first night was large and all spectators were quite enthusiastic in approval of the show. Unfortunately the decorations, which Mr. Kelly had assurances they were shipped several days ago by express, have not arrived, and a determined effort is being made to locate them with a possibility they have gone to Oneida or some other similar place. It is hoped they will arrive today. However with the aid of bunting and national colors, the interior has been made attractive."
The entire city of Oneonta was decorated with national colors, ever since President Woodrow Wilson had asked Congress for declaration of war against Germany that same week. Chances were pretty good a lot of the conversations among people at the auto show had something to do with the U.S. entry into the "Great War."
The Star reported exactly where each dealer was located in the armory. The Francis Motor Sales Co. of Milford and Oneonta got a booth that attracted visitors first. They were the Overland dealer in the area, and The Star said, "The sporty appearance of the new Country Club with wire wheels and four passenger tonneau is conspicuous."
"Unfortunately the Oneonta Sales company has been unable to keep or secure cars for the Show, so that no Fords or Dodges are shown." Oneonta Sales was a car dealership found on Market Street at a couple of locations between 1912 and 997.
The touted decorations finally arrived in Oneonta on Friday night, so those attending the show on Saturday got to see them. While the weather had been less than kind for the duration of the show, attendance was still very good, and dealers said they made several sales and many prospects.
The editor of the Stamford Mirror-Recorder, L.H. DeSilva, was the winner of the Victrola. No definite announcement was made, but it was hoped that the show would become an annual event.
On Monday: New developments in Oneonta education were plentiful in April 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.
Mark Simonson
Oneonta's first automobile exhibition took place in April 1917
- Mark Simonson
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Sunday movies in Oneonta finally shown in 1934
You know an issue is divisive when a vote to resolve it is quite close. In Oneonta during the early 1930s there were probably plenty of discussions or arguments at the family dinner table or sermons from the pulpits on Sunday mornings, regarding whether or should be able to see a movie in Oneonta on Sunday.
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Politics, fitness and landmarks dominated local news in May 1968
Area residents mulled over the idea of Gov. Nelson Rockefeller as their next President of the United States. New fitness opportunities emerged for all ages. One area landmark was saved while another was razed. It was only a part of our life and times in May 1968.
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Local people sought income in many ways in 1933
In the economy that was the Great Depression, there were times people would do what it took to try to earn some money.
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Local windstorm in 1983 caused tense moments
I realize I've got the wrong month in mind when I say "May came in like a lion." However, that's what happened in 1983 as a number of twisters moved through our region, leaving plenty of damage behind in their trails. Add some melting snow and heavy rain, and scenes of cleanups were widespread 30 years ago this month.
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Disaster, expansions put people to work in May 1913
- Monday, April 29, 2013
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Job opportunities abounded in area 45 years ago
If you were looking for a job in April 1968 in our area, or perhaps looking to change your employment situation in the near future, opportunities were pointing in your favor.
- Saturday, April 27, 2013
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Oneonta greeted an aviation giant in 1928
An early aviation superstar came to Oneonta in 1928.
- Monday, April 22, 2013
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Area saw its own armed standoffs 30 years ago
This past Friday, we watched how the Boston area went into a lockdown during a tense search for the last suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings. Had I still been living and working in that area, as I was in the early 1990s, I would have had a day off from work Friday, as police scoured the city of Waltham.
- Saturday, April 20, 2013
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U.S.S. Maine explosion, war drew much local sentiment
For most people in our area in early 1898, a growing conflict between two distant nations probably didn't get much attention, other than some glances at the newspaper. When a young Oneonta man was one of many injured or killed in an explosion of a battleship he was aboard, the local attention increased markedly to what was soon to become the Spanish-American War.
- Monday, April 15, 2013
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Oneonta river walking path came from a surveyor's daydream
Leon Kalmus of Oneonta spent a lot of time surveying land near the Susquehanna River in the early 1970s around the time Interstate 88 was being planned and built in this area. What he saw along the shores of the river, he called “pristine,� and soon had an idea for some kind of walking or hiking pathway along the shores of the river in the town of Oneonta.
- Saturday, April 13, 2013
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Decline of Prohibition led to return of beer in April 1933
“I think this would be a good time for a beer,� remarked President Franklin D. Roosevelt, when he signed the Cullen-Harrison Act on March 22, 1933. This marked the beginning of the end for Prohibition that year.
- Monday, April 8, 2013
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Dietz Street shifted from residential to commercial through the years
By taking a walk along Dietz Street today, heading north to Walnut Street, one can see a lot of businesses and the recently refurbished parking lot on the east side of the street. It would take some imagination to see this street lined with houses and a church, but prior to the late 1940s, that’s what was there.
- Saturday, April 6, 2013
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Oneontans voted for a 'dry' city in 1918
- Monday, April 1, 2013
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Future city historian kept family busy for Easter and April 1958
- Saturday, March 30, 2013
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Colliscroft became new Oneonta landmark in 1902
If the Oneonta building trade sector of the economy could have awarded a plaque to a most valuable individual customer of 1902, it would have nearly been a shoo-in. That was Edward H. Pardee, who was listed in the Oneonta Directory around that time as a farmer, on Southside.
- Wednesday, March 27, 2013
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Historic Cooperstown cottage got a new address in 1988
To unknowing tourists seeking information from the tourism information center at 31 Chestnut St. in Cooperstown, they would probably believe that the mid-19th century cottage had always been on that site. It blends in well with some of the grand old houses along that street, and the same tourists might think it has an interesting history behind it.
- Saturday, March 23, 2013
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Free mail delivery began in Oneonta 125 years ago
- Monday, March 18, 2013
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Oneonta enacted first building code 60 years ago
There will be no parade, fireworks display or commemorative coins minted for the occasion.
- Saturday, March 16, 2013
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Area isolated during historic March 1888 snowstorm
Earlier in the week, we recalled the "Blizzard of 1993," which was one containing historic snowfall that fell on our region on Saturday, March 13. It was the largest recorded in a single local snowfall in the 20th century, and ever since another storm dating back 105 years. The latter snowfall was worse than the 1993 storm, falling overnight into Tuesday, March 13, 1888. It was commonly referred to as the "Blizzard of 1888."
- Monday, March 11, 2013
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Blizzard of 1993 was a local memory maker
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