Published: March 12, 2008 09:01 am         

Oneonta’s first centennial

Oneonta and its centennial. You’ve heard plenty about the one this year, with a full calendar of events until the end of the year.

There’s plenty to celebrate, as we mark our change to a city in 1908. But this isn’t our first centennial. Sixty years ago, Oneonta was busy planning another centennial — to mark 100 years as a village. In common with both celebrations is the former State Armory, today known as the Asa C. Allison Municipal Building, as you recently read about in a “Bright Side” feature, being a social hub of activity.

In late September 1948, Oneonta was swarmed with visitors to celebrate the village centennial. A fiveday celebration got under way on Thursday, Sept. 23.

The Oneonta Star reported that although hotels and tourist homes were jammed, enough rooms in private homes had been made available to accommodate the anticipated crowd. To get things started, about 1,500 representatives of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (BRT) came in on the D&H Railroad to unveil a war memorial in Neahwa Park. The memorial, made of Indiana limestone, bears the names of the 856 World War II dead of BRT Lodges throughout the nation.

The late morning event saw one train arrive from Albany and another from Binghamton. Others had arrived the day before from all over the country. This was the 65th anniversary of the BRT.

Back in 1883, one interpretation said, eight D&H Railroad brakemen met in a caboose in the Oneonta rail yards, and that was the beginning of the powerful railroad union. We know that caboose as the one placed in the shrine in Neahwa Park, back in 1924. In addition to the unveiling of the war memorial, the BRT presented a 65-year emblem to Elmer Wessel, of Oneonta, who at the time was the only surviving charter member of the BRT.

Later that day, nearly 700 members of the BRT made their way to the historic “hub,” the State Armory, for a banquet. Later that evening, some took in a football game at Neahwa Park Field, today’s Damaschke Field, between Hartwick College and Brockport State. Hartwick trounced Brockport, 30-0.

Neahwa Park Field was a very busy place during the five-day celebration. The next afternoon, the Oneonta Red Sox won the Canadian- American League championship, defeating Pittsfield, 11-3, taking the playoff series, four games to one. After that game ended, the ballpark was converted into a showplace all weekend for a historical pageant, called “It Happened in Oneonta.” Rehearsals had been going on since early September and featured a cast of nearly 400. A stage of 250-feet, made from five sections, was put into place.

Scenes portrayed times when American Indians lived in the area. Another depicted the Vanderwerkers, Oneonta’s first settlers, as they arrived. There were nine episodes in between the prologue and finale. Nearly 1,400 turned out for the Friday night show.

Oneonta’s downtown was decked out. A firm from Cohoes was hired as the official decorator of city streets and buildings. Between 15,000 to 20,000 turned out for a Centennial Parade on Saturday afternoon, which was called the largest event that ever thronged Main Street. The parade started at 1:30. To give you an idea of how many participated with floats, military units, bands, firemen and a pet parade, the awards ceremony in Neahwa Park was scheduled to start at 4 p.m. There was a Parade of Drums and Vesper Services on Sunday in Neahwa Park. Throughout the celebration days, Neahwa Park also had a carnival midway, which was likely very busy between times of the major events.

Youngsters got half the day off from school Monday, because the theme of the day was “Salute to Our Youth.” That afternoon, students participated in a variety of track and field events.

D’Imperio’s Ten Piece Orchestra provided the music for a Block Dance at the corner of Main and Elm streets at 9 p.m. The grand celebration concluded at 10 p.m. with a fireworks display in Neahwa Park. Sixty years later, the city’s centennial celebration continues on Saturday with the Centennial Ball at the “State Armory.” You can find out what else is in store for the remainder of the year by visiting www. oneonta100.com.

This weekend: Oneonta boys take a liking to “industrial arts” at school.

City Historian Mark Simonson’s column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or e-mail him at simmark@stny. rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian. com.