Local kids had fun, kept fit in mid-19th century

March 30, 2008 04:00 am

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Young people, whether in the early 21st century or the mid-19th century, have always had a few similar situations in growing up around Oneonta. They can have fun, or no fun at all.

Also, a major difference between youth of now and then, life in the mid-1800s kept a body more physically fit.

On the not-fun side we hear about the concerns of bullying these days. But it is nothing new. In Willard Huntington's notes from the mid-19th century, he wrote, "The ancient rivalry, not to say hostility, still exists between the juveniles living in the upper part of the village and those belonging in the lower part of the place; these two sections being commonly designated as `upper Clip' and `lower Clip,' respectively; while the old feeling of mutual distrust is likewise maintained between the boys of the village and those living at the Plains." The Plains, of course is also known as the West End.

Oneonta once had the nickname of Clipnockie, which depending on the interpretation or spelling, denoted the action of a brawl, or a location that's rocky, or full of rocks. So this rivalry was what later generations called "upper deck" and "lower deck."

On the more fun side, Huntington wrote, "Before 1843, the famous Vlai, situated near the summit of the South Mountain, was well known to the village youth; and already had they begun carving their names on the rocks, another popular resort." Also spelled Vlei, it is on Franklin Mountain.

Unless the kids borrowed the family's horse to go there, this meant a hike up the mountain.

"Baseball was then usually played either on Main Street or back of the schoolhouse, recently erected, on the Baptist church hill," Huntington wrote. Huntington was known to revise his notes. This place of baseball would be in the Grove and Academy street area we know today. The Baptist Church was on Grove Street at that time, and a new Union School was built on Academy Street in 1868. The Academy Arms Apartments are on the site today.

Ask a 21st century youths if they want to play a game called "Hunting the Gray Fox," and they might believe you're referring to a game for their Xbox.

Huntington said this was a popular game in the summer months in Oneonta. "In playing this game," Huntington said, "a boy was selected to be the fox,' and, having been given a fair start, was expected to make every effort, when once out of sight, to avoid and discovery and capture of his companions, who were acting the part of hounds in full pursuit. Did he succeed in completely eluding them, then it was the rule, after a sufficient interval, for him to give a clue as to his approximate location by crying out: Hunt the gray fox!' Whereupon, the chase was again resumed, and perhaps soon resulted in his capture."

While this actually could be an amusing video game in the present, Huntington said the game was played within the village limits.

Swimming was popular in the same era. It was pretty much done in the Susquehanna River. A favorite was near the "red-covered bridge," a place known for "the Aunt Betty hole," likely near the Main Street bridge we know today, crossing the Susquehanna. It was also a great place to skate in the winter.

"About this same period," Huntington wrote, "it was a favorite amusement for certain village lads "¦ to improvise fireworks for the gratification of themselves and friends. This exhibition was furnished by means of balls of cotton batting soaked with turpentine."

Carleton Watkins, an Oneonta native and later a famous photographer of the western U.S., was named by Huntington as one of these "lads." They'd climb the Presbyterian Church tower, then a wooden structure, found next door today's Oneonta City Hall, light these cotton balls and, "throw them forth, blazing into the dark void below; illuminating the immediate surroundings with spectacular effect, during the brief interval of descent to the ground."

Kids had their fun in the mid-1800s, and they sure got their exercise!

On Monday: Oneontans followed Hartwick College to a Division III Final Four.

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.

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