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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.
