For nearly the last 20 years, Oneonta has been a hub of activity on July 4, with the annual Hometown Fourth celebration in Neahwa Park.
One hundred years ago, the ink was barely dry on the legislation making Oneonta the 46th city in New York state. One might believe that with this change in status, Oneonta would be the center of attention for Independence Day celebrations in the region.
That was hardly the case. "One of the quietest observances of the national holiday which the village "" or city "" of Oneonta has been known was that of Saturday last," reported The Oneonta Herald in its July 9 edition.
"While it is true that there were fire-crackers of all sizes and numbers aplenty on Main street," the report continued, "and their continual discharges was perhaps somewhat annoying to sedate citizens, there was no formal observance of the day and at no time any considerable crowd upon the streets. Many took advantage of the general discontinuance of labor and trade to visit out of town."
Where did everyone go? According to The Herald, Worcester, Hartwick and Norwich were the destination places for Independence Day celebrations that year.
It was easy to get to and from Worcester, as people boarded the D&H Railroad passenger trains. Worcester had the only celebration between Afton and Cobleskill. The day featured morning and afternoon baseball games between Worcester and Schenevus, ending up a split victory.
"The chief event of the day," according to The Herald, "was the stirring patriotic address by Hon. W.H. Johnson of Oneonta, whose well-known eloquence inspired a renewed feeling of patriotism in the hearts of his hearers."
A custom of the time to begin and during many festive events was firing of a cannon.
"The venerable cannon, weighing about 900 pounds, which for a century or more has celebrated all important events in Worcester, burst during the day, the pieces being blown in all directions. Fortunately no one was hurt. The gun is said to have been captured at Stillwater during the Burgoyne campaign and the parts will probably be put together and preserved as a souvenir of the Revolution."
Another celebration in Hartwick kept the former trolley that ran between Oneonta and the Mohawk Valley busy all day. People came for the games, races and sporting events. Refreshments were served in the churches and there was "excellent music being discoursed by the Seward cornet band."
Hartwick's chief speaker was Judge Abraham L. Kellogg of Oneonta who, "clearly, forcibly and eloquently depicted the deeds of our forefathers in the brave days of old."
The Norwich celebration attracted several thousand people. The events began with a band concert on Friday evening, followed by an automobile parade, "in which 26 machines were in line, all prettily decorated with flags and lanterns." A carnival ball was held later in the evening at Jewell Hall.
Saturday's speech was made by Judge George W. Ray. The afternoon baseball game was between Norwich and Oneonta, and the hometown nine were the winners, 11-4.
At each of these community celebrations, the evening fireworks displays concluded the day.
On Monday: Pardon me, while I go feed the meter.
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.
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