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From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, July 14, 1810 Compiled, with comments by HUGH C. MacDOUGALL
BROAD-WHEELED WAGONS The directors of the first company of the Great Western Turnpike Road, desirous to encourage and patronize the introduction and use of broad wheeled waggons, have passed a resolution that ``all waggons passing on their road, the felloes or tire of the wheels of which are six inches broad or upwards, shall be exempted from paying toll at any of the gates of the said company, for the term of two years from the date of the said resolution; and that all the waggons the tire of which shall not be less tolls, for the said term of two years.’’
As this information must be important to the western traders, and persons concerned in the transportation of goods or produce, printers of newspapers, by publishing the same, will no doubt confer on many of their readers a particular favor.
COMMENT: The ``first company’’ of the Great Western Turnpike operated the toll road between Albany and Cherry Valley. The purpose of this enticement to wide rimmed wagon wheels was obviously to reduce the damage from ruts caused by ordinary wagons with narrow wheels. It probably had little effect; the turnpikes rarely made money, and were soon to be replaced by the Erie Canal and then by railroads.
COOPERSTOWN CELEBRATES THE FOURTH
A large concourse of the inhabitants of the town of OTSEGO assembled for the purpose of celebrating the anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America, where a Liberty Pole, on an elevated piece of ground, was erected, eighty five feet in height, with the American colors flying.
The order of the day being called for, a respectable volunteer company of Infantry, under the command of Lt. CALVIN UNDERWOOD, paraded on a green in front of Esquire LATHROP’s house, where the following Toasts were delivered.
1st. The Independence of the U. States of America -- May it be as lasting as time; and those who attempt to destroy it, let the majesty of the People frown into oblivion forever. (6 cheers) 2d. James Madison -- May he not stray from the neutral path. (3 cheers) 3d. George Clinton: the good old patriot and sage -- May our nation be blessed with his counsel for many years to come. (6 cheers) NOTE: Clinton was Governor of New York from 1777-1795, and from 1801-1804, and served as Vice President from 1805 until his death in 1812.
4th. Thomas Jefferson, our late beloved President -- May happiness attend him in his retirement. (6 cheers) 5th. Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor of the state of New York -- When the righteous bear rule, the People rejoice. (6 cheers) NOTE: Tompkins, the recently re-elected Governor of New York; would become Vice President under President Monroe from 1817- 1825. 6th. John Broome, our worthy Lieut. Governor. (3 cheers)
NOTE: Broome was Lieutenant Governor from 1804 until his death in August 1810. Broome County, and the Town of Broome in Schoharie County, are named for him.
7th. Agriculture, Manufactures and Commerce without tribute! 8th. May the tongue falter, and the hand wither, that justify the insults of a foreign nation. (3 cheers) 9th. The memory of Gen.
Washington -- His name will be ever dear to America (silence observed)10th. May all good men be great, and great men honest.... May we have no hypocrite nor knave in our general or state government. (3 cheers) 11th. The American Farmers.... The Hull of the political barque (ship). Without them the rigging would never stand. (3 cheers) 12th. May the People of the United States be virtuous and wise....free from the intrigues of Lawyers; deception of Doctors; Holy fraud of Priests, and lying Printers!! (6 cheers) 13th. The Heroes of the Revolution....Their names will ever be dear to the real friends of America. (3 cheers) 14th. Equal liberty, without licentiousness. (3 cheers) 15th. A permanent Embargo upon the lips of falsehood and detraction (3 cheers) 16th. John Adams, late President of the United States of America.... Though the Essex Junto have palmed their monarchial measures upon him, yet when his country calls, he exposes their nefarious plots.
(6 cheers) NOTE:
The ``Essex Junto’’ was a Federalist scheme in Massachusetts to secede from the United States in 1802; President Adams was frequently accused of wanting to become King.
17th. The fair Daughters of America.... May virtue adorn their lives, and their arms never embrace an enemy oftheir country. (3 cheers
COMMENT: It was customary at Fourth of July celebrations to give as many toasts as there were States in the Union at the time. This same paper carried the toasts (and other activities) honoring the Fourth of July in Cherry Valley, Milford, and Unadilla, all of which were specifically and enthusiastically partisan on behalf of the Republican (Jeffersonian) party.
INLAND NAVIGATION
The following gentlemen, to wit, Gouverneur Morris, Stephen Van Rensselaer, De Witt Clinton, Simeon De Witt, William North, Thomas Eddy, and Peter B. Porter, appointed by the legislature of this state, at its last session, to explore the most practicable route for improving the Inland Navigation from Hudson’s river to Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, have entered upon the duties of their appointment; -- an appointment which in its result promises the highest advantages to the community. Albany Gazette.
COMMENT: Thus began the work which ended in the Erie Canal, and which entirely transformed both the State and City of New York.
Columns
Otsego Herald: Celebrating the 4th
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From Fly Creek: Revving up for spring
Time to bring you up to date on Fly Creek’s happy clambering into Spring. First, the eatery scene. “Is Jerry’s open yet?” The answer is, “Oh, yes!” The porches are freshly stained; the lawns a uniform green, and the hop vines are already climbing the posts on the covered side deck. Blue and I went up there to lunch earlier this week, and I celebrated spring with my traditional bacon, onion and Swiss cheese hamburger. We two sat on the deck, enjoying the broad view and some spectacular clouds marching across, up toward Schuyler Lake.
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In These Otsego Hills: More from 1986 ...
This week we continue with the discussion of telephone service from the pre-dial days. On March 12 we noted that: “No one has yet produced a telephone directory from pre-dial days, but Doug Preston of New Hartford recalls that some business (which one?) in the village had the phone number 7.”
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Home Notes: Celebrations abound at the Thanksgiving Home
April was a month of celebrations and much to appreciate. We had a 90th birthday celebration for Wanda Noyes on April 4 including her family and friends. Personal care staff Dee Bouck worked with residents to hand paint Easter eggs for the tree in the activity room.
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In These Otsego Hills: 1986 continues ...
This week we continue our journey through the columns of 1986 with the answer to the question “for whom, according to tradition, was Hannah’s Hill named?”
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Book Notes: Baseball book features local contributors
Baseball is part of the nation’s fabric. Most kids have a memory of the game either from playing Little League, attending a major league contest or meeting a favorite player. In Cooperstown that feeling is magnified since we are the official home of baseball. We get to see firsthand what has made the sport the national pastime.
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From Fly Creek: Ya really wanna know?
SETTING: Fly Creek General Store. CAST: Assorted seated geezers, drinking coffee. [Door opens, enter heavy-set geezer; walking slowly with wide stance, maybe prostatitis.]
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In These Otsego Hills: Returning to 1986 ...
For the past several years now we have undertaken sharing some of the area’s oral history we have collected over the years that we have written this column. Therefore, this year, we would like to go back to 1986 to share that rather unusual year. Those who were here then no doubt remember that it was that year that the village celebrated the bicentennial of its founding.
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From Fly Creek: For reasons unknowable
[Jim’s reached back to 2002 to share one of his favorite columns.] My father was born as the last century began into a river village in tidewater Maryland. He told me once of a man there in his boyhood who, like so many, made a thin living tonging for oysters in the cold months and, in the hot and humid ones, crabbing and raising vegetables.
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In These Otsego Hills: CCS balancing act ... side two
Last week we shared a number of activities in which students at CCS can participate. We thought it was an impressive, if not overwhelming, list. And we are indeed pleased that the young people of our area have these opportunities. However, we think it is also important to keep in mind that these undertakings do have a cost associated with them. They are not free. In fact there are, no doubt, those who would say they do not come cheap.
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From Fly Creek: A graceful crowd
Make of this what you will, friends. I feel I’m really meant to share it with you. Despite good medication for my Parkinsonism, every four or five weeks I can sensethe symptoms building up on me, giving me more than ordinary trouble. Lately it’s been falls, and last week brought a typical one. I’d gone out to get the paper, moving along with penguin steps on the snowcoved ice patches, and usingmy spike-tipped cane the waya climber uses an ice axe. But circumstances overcame me. Parkinson’s wipes out the possibility of multi-tasking.
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In These Otsego Hills: This and that and the other side ...
We note that the CCS Class of 2012 is presenting its senior class play, “Snow White” by Tim Kelly, this week with performances 7:30 p.m Thursday and Friday, March 29 and 30, and at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31. All performances will be at the Nicolas J. Sterling Auditorium at the Middle/High School.
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In These Otsego Hills: That green thing ...
Of late we have noticed that our email inbox has been much busier than usual. In fact, we find ourselves hard pressed to keep up with all the various messages we receive. As a result we suspect we have not answered some in as timely a fashion as might be thought appropriate.
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From Fly Creek: What you need to know
In their last Sunday’s bulletins, all 84 churches of Otsego County were to have carried announcements of an important meeting; most of them did. But because the announcement is so important, and not just to the churched, here it is again.
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Book Notes: Living the magic of ‘Hoosier’
A lot of people consider “Hoosiers” the best sports film of all time. The 1986 classic follows the exploits of a fictional small town Indiana high school basketball team in 1952 as it attempts to achieve the impossible dream of a state championship. The story is inspired by the true life achievement of the 1954 Milan team, who with an enrollment of only 161 students shocked big city power Muncie Central on a last second shot to win the state title. It’s the kind of sports story that represents something that is hard to grasp unless you live in a small town.
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In These Otsego Hills: The most perfect village... home to heavy industry?
We suspect we would get a whole lot more accomplished if we spent less time thinking, pondering and musing about things. In fact, there is a good possibility we might actually have completed our goal of cleaning the basement if we only focused on the task at hand, instead of trying to figure out the world around us. It almost makes us wonder if it is possible to think too much about things. We certainly hope not because should that be the case, we are in deep trouble.
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Up On Hawthorn Hill: The past in the present
Clichés abound about the value of photographs. Most are probably true at least to a certain extent. What I do know about an image is that it represents something of the past that is not the pastitself. But that is the power of any image. It represents something that once was. The beauty of an image, revisited, is that it functions as a catalystfor reliving in the present a past experience. My own view, one that I thank the Spanish writer Jorge Luis Borges for, is that all we ever can experience is the present.
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Home Notes: Workshops held for Thanksgiving Home residents
We welcomed Linda Keller, Ph.D. of the Bassett Research Institute and Ida Baker of NYCAMH who presented a six-week workshop for residents and staff.
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From Fly Creek: Late-winter hamlet news
Well, at least I’m “guessing” it’s late winter now — in the winter that wasn’t. But, if not snow, I can provide a flurry of Fly Creek news to share with you, scooping Associated Press, Reuter’s, and United Press International, not to mention all local news services except our General Store.
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In These Otsego Hills: Waiting for spring to have sprung ...
Difficult as it to believe, both January and February seem to have flown by and we find ourselves turning the calendar over to the month of March, which we have long thought is one of the more dreary months of the year. Of course, as in the pastthere are signs of spring as reflected by the tapping of the maple trees. For many years, the trees sprouted buckets to capture their all important sap. However, we now know to look for the sap collection lines that are strung from tree to tree.
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Book Notes: Kennedy: a unique individual
It’s been almost 50 years since the Kennedy assassination shocked the nation. Since then much has been written about President John F. Kennedy and whether he would have achieved his destiny (whatever that may have been) if he had lived. It is said he inspired young people in a way that has never been equaled. And there is the notion of Camelot, espoused by his widow Jackie, that there will never be a time of hope and promise like that again.
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From Fly Creek: Revving up for spring
