Published: September 01, 2009 07:39 am      

Step Back in Time

Step Back in Time features community news items from The Daily Star 25 and 50 years ago.

25 years ago

Sept. 1, 1984

BLOOMVILLE _ "Six thousand attend camp meeting at Bloomville Methodist Church, 36 communities represented...sleep in tents."

This news item was written more than 100 years ago, in 1859, for Bloomville was for many years a center of religious revival.

A historical marker will be dedicated at the church at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 9. Community residents and former parishioners are invited.

Methodists began evangelizing the region around Bloomville almost as soon as the Revolutionary War was over. Bloomville was served by a circuit rider as early as 1790, seven years before Delaware County was carved out of Ulster and Otsego. The Delaware Circuit covered all the territory from the head of the West Branch of the Delaware River to about 100 miles downstream. In this circuit there were 33 preaching places. This necessitated a ride on horseback of more than 200 miles every four weeks for each of the preachers, his saddlebag loaded with his blanket, Bible and umbrella. Sunday services were held in homes, schoolhouses, or even under a grove of trees.

The Bloomville United Methodist Church is the oldest church of that faith west of the Hudson River in continuous use for worship since 1800. A citation issued by the American Association of Methodist Historical Societies and the New York Annual Conference in 1966 hangs in the vestibule.

50 years ago

Sept. 1, 1959

Work has started on the new $75,000 front for Bresee's Oneonta Department Store.

The first job is to install heavy steel beams to support the added load from the new facade. The beams are expected by next Monday. Wilmer E. Bresee, vice-president of the store, said it will take five to six weeks to install the beams and another week to put up the facade.

The new facade will be made of lightweight Alcoa Aluminum panels in two shades of anodized grey. These panels are constructed to allow passage of air and light and several "breakaway" panels will be included to allow access or exit in case of emergency.

The display windows are being entirely rebuilt to the most modern specifications, both as to design and lighting. Already well-known for beautiful window effects, Bresee's display department will be able to give the Oneonta area the newest in window display techniques.

The facade was designed by Roy Frederick Van Lent of Croton Falls and is being installed by Neil R. Nielsen of Oneonta.