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A while ago now while motoring up Prospect Place on our way to Nelson Avenue, our front seat passenger mentioned that a mutual friend always referred to Prospect Place as Pig Alley although no one knew why.
We explained that the answer to that was quite simple as the original name for Prospect Place was Pig Alley.
We went on to explain that at one time the alleys in Cooperstown were all named and furthermore we could elaborate on those names as we had a record of them at home.
At least we thought we had a record. We remembered clearly that a handwritten note with information regarding the alleys was stored on the back of a Frank Whiting drawing of Hoffman Lane.
What we didn’t remember was the fact that we had given that particular drawing away as a gift last Christmas. Fortunately, via the magic of e-mail, we were able to retrieve said information.
Prospect Place, which runs from Pine Blvd. to Nelson Ave., was indeed called Pig Alley. And a quick check of ``The History of Cooperstown’’ by Cooper, Shaw, Littell and Hollis, discovered that in February of 1938 ``The Village Board of Trustees received written requests from two residents of the area to change the name of Prospect Place back to its original name, Pig Alley. No action was taken by the Board.’’ No doubt those currently living on Prospect Place are grateful for the board’s inaction.
Cooperstown’s other named alleys, according to the back of the Whiting drawing, were Hall Alley, which ran from Pioneer Street east to Cooper Park, Deer Alley, which ran from Fair Street to River Street, and Beaver Alley, now known as Hoffman Lane, which ran from Main Street to Lake Street.
At one time, we seem to recall having heard that Hall Alleyáwas originally owned by the Coopers as an access to Otsego Hall. However, before telling too many people that, we suspect we would be wise to do a bit more research on the subject.
While dining two week ago now with the Dinner Belles at the Hawkeye, we received word that Goose Gossage was in the bar.
And while a number of the diners were duly impressed, we were so misguided as to ask ``Who?’’ And although outrage and shock were not displayed, we were lead to believe that we should know who Mr. Gossage is given his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2008.
We immediately realized the error of our ways and had managed by the time he came into the dining room to be seated for dinner to be duly informed of the salient points of his career.
And, much to everyone’s surprise, and we might add, seeming delight, he was kind enough to come over to our table to say hello to everyone. During the ensuing conversation he looked around the table at our dinners, which had just been served to us, and asked what we were all having.
We suspect the view of our dinners from his perspective must have been quite something as he was looking down on eight enormous bowls of beef stroganoff. Each and every one of us had ordered the dinner special. He told us he thought it looked good and we all assured him it was excellent. And we hope he enjoyed his dinner as much as we did ours.
The next meeting of the Literary Discussion Group, sponsored by the Women’s Club of Cooperstown, will be held on Thursday, July 22 at 2:30 p.m. at Virginia Weiler’s home. The book for discussion will be ``When the Wind Blows’’ by James Patterson. The August meeting of the group will be held on Thursday, August 26 also at 2:30 p.m. at Daphne Mason’s home. The book for discussion at that meeting will be ``Staying On’’ by Paul Scott. For more information about these meeting, please contact Cathy Howarth at 607-547- 5412,
We realized when we traveled to Oneonta last week that it was that time of year when it is a good idea to take the back way to Milford, which we did. But, there was still enough traffic on Route 28 between Milford and Route 7 to convince us to take the back way home from Cooperstown Junction which we also did.
And it was a delightful drive up the east side of Goodyear Lake and then on up the east side of the valley and then up the back way from Milford to Bowerstown.
And while doing so did not save any time, in fact it may have taken longer, we quite enjoyed the ride, not missing the traffic a little bit. Of course we have long since taken to only crossing Main Street at its intersection of River Street. And even that corner seems to have become more problematic than normal particularly if one encounters a visitor using that intersection, instead of the entrance to Cooper Park, to execute what is probably an illegal U-turn.
However, our sources tell us that approval has been given to make the intersection of Main and River Streets a fourway stop which we think will be a vast improvement for the intersection since the sightlines there are far from ideal. Of course, that is not the only intersection in town with sightline issues.
We find it most difficult to see when traveling from Pioneer Street on to Beaver Street. Between the fence to the east and the foliage to the west, it is virtually impossible to see either direction without practically pulling out into the intersection.
And when the construction of the new sidewalk on the south side of Beaver Street is added to the mix, we have come to the conclusion that heading north of Pioneer Street to go south is starting to make sense.
In closing, as we muse on our choices of roads for summer travel we are reminded of Robert Frost’s poem ``The Road Not Taken’’ in which he wrote:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I _ I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.
And while we are of the opinion that he was talking about something other than traffic, we think it also works for the traffic issue as well
PLEASE NOTE: Comments regarding this column may be made by mail at 105 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, by telephone at 607-547-8124 or by e-mail at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com.
Columns
In These Otsego Hills: The road less taken
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From Fly Creek: For help with the smug
I’ve been having much fun lately, friends, writing a short book called “Saints for Special Needs,” completely fictional characters whomight get us thinking about humanity—and ourselves, in particular. Here’s a sample. Let me know your reaction. (Oh, and I have a fine cartoonist to illustrate the book!) [Almost every culture has a place for “the wise fool,” the vacant sort of person who, in fact, has a witty and trenchant view of humanity, and may even see into its future.]
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In These Otsego Hills: Still more from 1986
Early August found us asking the question, “Does anyone know when Edgewater was builtand by whom?” The answer, much of which came from Ralph Birdsall’s history of the village, appeared in the Aug. 13 column as follows:
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In These Otsego Hills: Continuing on from 1986 ...
We continue this week by answering the question we asked if anyone remembers the old Cooperstown National Bank? On May 13, we wrote: “Martha Dickison, Delaware Street, called to tell us about the Cooperstown National Bank where she worked at her first ‘real job’ after her graduation from school.
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Up On Hawthorn Hill: Spring inventions
The second line of Lawrence Durrell’s novel “Justine” reads as follows: “In the midst of winter you can feel the inventions of Spring.” I first read all four novels of his magnificent Alexandria Quartet during the year I traveled from Saigon to Paris after working in Vietnam for a refugee organization for several years.
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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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From Fly Creek: For help with the smug
