HISTORY COLUMN
By Tom Heitz |
35 Years Ago – July 1970
Three young ladies from Richfield who are apprentices at the
Cooperstown Playhouse this summer will be making their on-stage debut
in the musical “Carnival” when the playhouse opens July 21 for two
weeks. They are Lorraine Cizek and Susan and Sherry Maxson. It will be
recalled that Susan sang the lead role so delightfully in the
production of “Oliver” at the R.S.C.S. school musical last spring.
Lorraine is also assisting at the box office at the Playhouse this
summer.
40 Years Ago – July 1965
Nicholas J. Macrina was elected president of the Canadarago Lake
Improvement Association, Inc., at the annual meeting Saturday, July 10,
in the central school. Mr. Macrina succeeds Mrs. William I. Reynolds
who served for two years during the organization and formation period
of the association. Mrs. Reynolds was presented a bouquet of roses for
her untiring efforts in launching the C.L.I.A. Henry Van Buren was
elected vice-president and Rufus Washburn, secretary-treasurer. The
“netting” campaign to rid the lake of unwanted carp was reported on by
Claude Stickles who appealed for more volunteers to keep up the good
work. The netting is done weekends and is heralded by a worker circling
the lake and sounding a siren which is a call for assistance. Carp,
destructive to game fish spawn, weighing as much as 35 pounds have been
taken in the nets.
50 Years Ago – July 1955
The weekly stock car racing events, now being presented every
Thursday night under the newly installed illuminating system at the
Richfield Speedway is the number one sport attraction in this
picturesque community. Located just off Route 28, the half-mile dirt
oval, recently renovated, is quickly becoming known to veteran stock
car wheelers as one of the fastest racing strips in the East. Last
Thursday night, upwards of 2,200 racing enthusiasts were on hand to
watch one of the most thrilling cards ever presented in the area. Among
the regular stock jockeys who compete in the weekly Thursday night
events are Don Henderburg, Rome, former New York State champion; Tommy
Wilson, Waterville; Peter Corey, Cohoes, current point leader; Bob
Fiske, Frankling, runner-up to Corey; Red Biddlecome, Utica; Bill
Schultz and Joe Ciganenko, Richfield Springs.
60 Years Ago – July 1945
Schuyler Lake – On Sunday, a reunion of the Perkins family was held
at Lake View, summer home of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Perkins. Among those
present were Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Perkins’ son, Pvt. Norman Perkins, who
has recently been released from a German prison camp.
The Richfield Springs Garden Club will hold its regular meeting at a
picnic at Huyck’s Camp on the east side of Canadarago Lake on Friday of
this week. Mrs. Robert Conklin will read a paper on Amateur Flower
Shows.
75 Years Ago – July 1930
Otsego Leads in Reforestation – The County of Otsego has set
1,000,000 trees this year. This is about 400,000 above any other county
in New York State. Otsego County has always been a pioneer in
reforestation of idle land, especially for county forests, and it
certainly looks as though it is going to maintain this position. Aside
from the million trees set by the county, about 400,000 have been set
by individuals and village corporations and more than 1,000,000 trees
have been set by the state within the county. By the end of 1930, it is
safe to say that from 2,500,000 to 3,000,000 trees will have been set
within the county by all agencies.
100 Years Ago – July 1905
A number of Richfield’s young people went over to Otsego Lake Sunday
and will board at the Five-Mile Point house and occupy a camp nearby. A
portion of them returned Monday and others will remain throughout the
week, The party included Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Carpenter, Mr. and Mrs.
Charles M. Tuller, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Cary, Miss Elwood, Miss Eugenia
Hinds, Miss Marian Smith, Miss Tuller, Miss Ward, Miss Blue, and the
Messrs. John M. Stewart, William T. Welden, James McKee, Homer Baker
and Charles M. Butler.
Resources for this column have been provided courtesy of the New York State Historical Association Library.
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