Tuesday's mayoral election in Oneonta was certainly well-represented by our two colleges in the city. A former Hartwick College president, Dick Miller; a current student at the State University College at Oneonta, Jason Corrigan; and Erik Miller, a graduate of SUNY Oneonta, were vying to become Oneonta's 20th elected mayor. Dick Miller won the race.
This isn't the first time a mayor of Oneonta was so closely associated with the colleges of our city. Oneonta's second mayor, Frank P. Blodgett, was on the faculty of what was then called the Oneonta Normal School, serving as mayor from 1912-14.
Just as was the case in the 2009 election, Blodgett wasn't an Oneonta native. He was a graduate of the Cortland Normal School and of Amherst College, and had been on the faculty at Oneonta Normal since 1890, a year after it opened.
The Republican ticket for the November 1911 election was announced on Oct. 5 in The Oneonta Herald, which said of Professor Blodgett:
"While his ability as an educator is conceded, he is no less highly esteemed as a citizen. A speaker of unusual ability, he has always lent his voice and his efforts to the best interests of our city; and he has a host of friends in every occupation of life who can be relied upon to work and vote for him as a candidate for mayor."
According to a book concerning the history of SUNY Oneonta, "In Honor and Good Faith," by Carey Brush, Blodgett began teaching ancient languages, and then transferred to logic and the history and science of education.
According to Brush, Blodgett, ""¦ was an exacting teacher of high standards whom students both feared and respected. Although one of his former students does not recall ever seeing him smile, others report that he had a fine sense of humor which helped to make his classes enjoyable."
The Oneonta Herald was unabashedly a Republican-oriented newspaper. Blodgett's opponent was Democrat George L. Gibbs, who ran and lost against Albert Morris in Oneonta's first city mayoral race. Seen on the front page of the Oct. 12 edition of the Herald was a headline, "To You, Mr. Taxpayer":
"The Oneonta Taxpayer who votes for the Democratic city ticket this year votes against his own interests," it began.
The Oct. 19 edition went into great detail about the Republican platform. If one went looking for the Democratic side, it wouldn't be found in this newspaper. Professor Blodgett was said to have given a "ringing speech" the night before at a rally "" inside Municipal hall, today's 242 Main St. An even larger Republican rally was advertised on the front page of the Oct. 26 edition of the Herald, held at The Oneonta Theatre.
It was another close race, as it was in 1909. George Gibbs won in the First and Sixth Wards, but Frank Blodgett took the others, winning the mayor's post by only 145 votes, 1,169 to 1,024.
Throughout the campaign, there had been a lot of interest at Oneonta Normal School. The Herald noted that the pupils, "mainly of the sex that as yet hasn't the right to vote, have a deep interest in the election." The day after Professor Blodgett's victory, pupils marched to chapel in Old Main bearing banners inscribed "To His Honor, Our Mayor." These banners were formed in an arch under which the whole school marched.
"Cheers were then given with a will and songs with a timely reference to the campaign were sung, after which to peremptory demand, Professor Blodgett made a brief address full of humor and sincere appreciation of the good will and loyalty of the students."
On Tuesday, Jan. 2, 1912, Frank Blodgett was officially inaugurated in the Common Council chambers at 242 Main St.
Blodgett served one term. Joseph Lunn was nominated on the Republican ticket in October 1913. In 1915, Blodgett accepted the presidency of Adelphi College, then located in Brooklyn. It was a position he held until his retirement until 1937. Blodgett was that college's second president.
On Monday: A look back at Veterans' Day 50 years ago.
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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