In December, Robert Scramlin donated a deed to land in the Lindsay Patent in Cherry Valley that has been in the possession of his family since 1754. Scramlin of Cherry Valley and Johnstown, presented the deed to the New York State Historical Association with Joe Homburger, a member of the board of Otsego Land Trust, with which he recently partnered to conserve the bicentennial farm, according to a media release from NYSHA.
The land in the Lindsay Patent holds historic significance because Otsego County’s first permanent white inhabitants, seven Scotch-Irish families, settled there in 1738, the release stated. For a quarter century, that settlement continued as the only one in what is now Otsego County. The deed shows the land was sold by Richard Miller of Albany to James Willson, high sheriff of Albany.
Willson took up residence on the land and it has been in the possession of his descendants ever since. The deed has also been in the same family and came down to Robert Scramlin, a descendant of Willson.
Commenting on the deed, NYSHA’s head librarian, Wayne Wright, said in teh release, “The Research Library is pleased to add the deed to itsmanuscript collection since it represents such an early period in Otsego County’s history and helps to document the coming of the first white settlers to the county.” The deed, written by hand on vellum, will be housed in the Special Collections department of the library.
“The Land Trust is very pleased to work with Bob Scramlin and NYSHA to conserve part of our local history. Now both the historically significant farm and its deed are secure for future generations,” Homburger said in the release.
The Research Library is open to visitors and researchers year-round. Its collections include over 90,000 books and bound periodicals, manuscripts, newspapers, and photographs.
Holdings on New York’s state and local history, agricultural history, 19th century life, art, and family history are particularly well represented. The library is located on
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NYSHA acquires 1754 deed
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Public hearing gives one last look at proposed budget
A handful of people gathered in the Cooperstown Middle/High School cafeteria for a public hearing on the district’s proposed budget. The district is proposing a $16,772,080 spending plan for the 2012-13 school year. Although this is a decrease of $140,907 (.83 percent), it was upped by nearly $58,000 before being adopted on April 4 by the school board.
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Six candidates vie for four seats on BOE
Tuesday marked the first time in a long while that a Meet the Candidates Night has been held for district residents to interact with those vying for seats on the Cooperstown Central School Board of Education. The gathering was a held by the League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area.
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Top four students named at CCS
On Sunday, June 24, 85 Cooperstown Central School seniors will put on caps and gowns to conclude one phase in their lives and prepare to embark on another.
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Not many attend Main Street meeting
Few people attended a meeting last week to learn more about a proposed project that would give Main Street a facelift. The board of trustees scheduled the town hall-style meeting in an effort to gauge public opinion about some design elements and material selections for the project.
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CCS graduate receives recognition
Cooperstown Central School graduate Phil Pohl has been shining on and off the field. He is among 10 finalist in the Lowe’s Senior Class Award, and Clemson University announced Friday that the College Sports Information Directors of America named Pohl First-Team Academic All-District IV for the second year in a row.
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Relay for Life cancer awareness event to focus on caregivers
The Cooperstown/Northern Otsego County Relay for Life is coming soon. The event, now in its 14th year, has raised more than $1 million to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.
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County hires firms for tax sale
Otsego County lawmakers agreed Wednesday to farm out the county’s annual auction of tax-delinquent properties to private firms already handling the same task for numerous other upstate counties.
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Cider Mill to host brochure exchange
On Thursday, May 17, the regional tourism industry will gather at the Fly Creek Cider Mill and Orchard to participate in a brochure exchange followed by a networking dinner, according to a media release from the mill.
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Character Education committee to propose programs
The Cooperstown Central School Character Education Research Committee is proposing two programs for consideration of the board of education. The two programs are Haptitudes and A World of Difference. A public presentation is scheduled for the June 13 board meeting.
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Exhibit to focus on Stewart’s photography
The New York State Historical Association Research Library and The Cooperstown Graduate Program announce the opening of a exhibition celebrating the late Milo Stewart’s work, titled “Reflections of Home: Photography by Milo Stewart,” according to a media release from NYSHA.
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BVA walk set for May 13
The Butternut Valley Alliance invites its members and the general public to participate in a wildflower walk to be held Sunday, May 13, according to a media release from the organization. The walk will take place at 1:30 p.m. at Elmwood, 133 Peet Road, approximately one mile south of Morris. Reservations are requested by calling Jack Maier at 263- 5411.
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CCS to present ‘Messiah’
The Catskill Choral Society, under the direction of G. Roberts Kolb, will present Handel’s Messiah May 11 and 12, according to a media release from the society.
Continued ... - Thursday, May 3, 2012
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Village committee asks for no spraying
The village’s environmental conservation committee will recommend to the board of trustees that the village halt the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides on village property.
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Opera is not purely entertainment
Going to see an opera may not be No. 1 on your list of things to do. It may not even be on your list at all. However, before ruling it out, perhaps getting to know the history and background before attending one would create more enthusiasm.
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New Orleans trip is full of surprises
The Cooperstown Central School jazz band director said he would like to take his students on another trip to New Orleans some day, but is afraid he could never re-create the same experience. “It was really a charmed trip,” Tim Iversen said after returning from the birthplace of jazz.
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HOF employee tests baseball IQ
The MLB Network now has its first game show called “Baseball IQ. “ The show debuted Jan. 24 and wrapped up with a season championship at the end of February. Among those who competed in the recall-based trivia show was National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Director of Communications Craig Muder.
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Towns invited to decorate with purple
The Cooperstown/Northern Otsego County Relay For Life committee announced that Mayor Jeff Katz of Cooperstown and Mayor Ron Frohne of Richfield Springs have proclaimed Friday, May 11, as “Paint The Town Purple Day” in their villages. Purple balloons will festoon the Main Street in both communities.
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BFS volunteer divers declare Otsego Lake open
The Biological Field Station Volunteer Dive Team removed the no-wake zone buoys from their winter storage location and installed them in Otsego on Lake Saturday, according to a media release from Paul Lord.
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Otsego Regional Cycling sets Bike to Work day
Otsego Regional Cycling Advocates, a committee of the Otsego County Conservation Association, is planning its fourth annual Bike to Work Day for Wednesday, May 16.
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Hanford Mills to host Woodsmen’s Show
Hanford Mills Museum will bring 200 years of logging, sawing and woodworking history to life at the Woodsmen’s Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 5, according to a media release from the museum.
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Public hearing gives one last look at proposed budget
