Mark Simonson
- Mark Simonson
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- Monday, February 4, 2013
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Lady Justice became plastic in 1970s Norwich
I’d guarantee that if you stood atop the Chenango County Courthouse for nearly 140 years through all the elements, you’d look pretty tattered, too. This was the situation in the late 1970s for Lady Justice, the wooden statue having had an outstanding view over Norwich since the Andrew Jackson administration. The time had come for her retirement from the outdoors and a suitable successor. A debate began on whether she should be bronze or plastic.
- Saturday, February 2, 2013
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Area residents sought gold in Alaska in 1897
"Where the river is windin,' Big nuggets they're findin,' North to Alaska, They go North, the rush is on."
- Monday, January 28, 2013
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Methodist retirement center chose Norwich location in 1978
Opportunity came knocking Oneonta's way in January 1978 in the form of filling a large vacant lot on Academy Street with a senior citizen retirement center. Oneonta embraced the idea but in the end, the developer had a change of heart. The dividing issue was over property taxes.
- Saturday, January 26, 2013
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Oneonta's Arabian Knights tumbled across the U.S. in the 1930s
There’s nothing more satisfying to this historian than solving a mystery of local interest. Some are pretty easy, but then there are those that can go on for years. I mentally tuck some cases away now and then, and when I least expect it, a clue surfaces.
- Monday, January 21, 2013
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Local greetings and farewells took place in January 1978
That early 1970s song by Melanie, "I've Got a Brand New Pair of Roller Skates (Brand New Key)," might have been played at a Sidney wedding. There was a change in local state Supreme Court justices. The world said goodbye to a Beetle while Delaware County said hello to an ex-Beatle. The local history book closed for a landmark downtown Oneonta business, itself a former bookstore. These were just a few of the events going on in our region in January 1978.
- Saturday, January 19, 2013
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Phinneys of Cooperstown used unique marketing methods
Baseball Hall of Famer "Wee" Willie Keeler once advised hitters to "Keep your eye clear and hit 'em where they ain't." It's a good strategy for the game, and not a bad one for competition in business, either. The Phinney family of Cooperstown would likely agree, when it came to its book publishing business in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Phinneys were innovators, bringing the written word to places others had not, or perhaps hadn't yet thought about.
- Monday, January 14, 2013
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Oneonta's Homer Folks Hospital closed in 1973
To some, it was inevitable. For others it was a time to choke back tears.
- Saturday, January 12, 2013
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Four attempts made to establish state agricultural school in Delhi
Talk about not taking "no" for an answer. Had area residents of Delhi given up about 100 years ago, there would never have been today's State University College of Technology at Delhi.
- Monday, January 7, 2013
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Otsego tourism was enhanced in 1988
- Saturday, January 5, 2013
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Thousands showed for 1928 new car debut in Oneonta
Other than some football and news, I didn't view a lot of television over the holidays.
- Monday, December 31, 2012
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1972 marked beginnings of 'civic center' and a political career
The year 2012 has been quite successful for big-name performers, and securing better acoustics for the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center in Oneonta. The city had visions of such a center 40 years ago, and earlier. That same year a future state legislator, who helped secure funds for Foothills in more recent years, made his first run for office.
- Saturday, December 29, 2012
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Oneonta's music, art, dance offerings increased in 1887
- Monday, December 24, 2012
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Non-violent toys were promoted locally for Christmas 1987
Gift giving without a violent theme was part of the mood at Christmastime in 1987, much like it probably has become this year. Shoppers were seeking out the traditional toys and gifts, as well as the ultramodern items of the late 1980s. When the shopping was done, one could join in on a caroling tour in the Otsdawa area of Otego.
- Saturday, December 22, 2012
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Oneonta's water supply expanded in 1887
It wasn't specified if there were any kind of ceremonies for the first water being pumped from Oneonta's new, larger reservoir in the early part of November 1887.
- Monday, December 17, 2012
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Chinese teacher learned American education methods in Oneonta
An experiment of “East meets Westâ€� began for sixth-grade students at the Percy I. Bugbee School in the autumn of 1947. It was early October, and the students were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new teacherâ€"from China.
- Saturday, December 15, 2012
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The Diana Restaurant served area diners for many decades
- Monday, December 10, 2012
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Three found gift of freedom in area in 1940s
Probably the greatest gift three area people could think of ever receiving in December 1947 was that of freedom, especially from Nazi slavery during World War II. Two men in Oneonta and one woman in Schenevus had relocated here recently, were doing well and finding this area much to their liking.
- Saturday, December 8, 2012
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Walton Theater emerged from aftermath of 1912 fire
- Monday, December 3, 2012
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Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society rolling along at 30
It passed quietly in 2012, but the Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society commemorated its 30th anniversary of formation, to preserve the area's railroad heritage. It was a year of some adversity, what with their excursion train being idled for awhile, but as with every other setback or triumph in the past, the Society is back to full strength and has no plans to call it quits anytime soon. Their ups and downs have been the norm since 1982.
- Saturday, December 1, 2012
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South Kortright woman threw a heck of a party in 1940
"This little hamlet of South Kortright Saturday night was the scene of a party such as Delaware county had never seen before," reported The Oneonta Star of Monday, Sept. 23, 1940.
