Canajoharie

Twenty Years Ago

The Canajoharie Town Planning Board unanimously approved a plan for the construction of a Women’s Crisis Residential Facility in the town on property along Carlisle Road just outside of the Canajoharie village limits. The proposed facility is a joint venture between the Community Heritage Corp. and the Women’s Resource and Crisis Center in Amsterdam, which has an office in the Catholic Family and Community Services Center on Church Street in the village of Canajoharie.

Henry Mueller was named president of the Canajoharie Central School District Board of Education, succeeding Marion Lupo. Mueller, a veteran member of the school board has served as board president in the past. Elected as the board’s vice president was Pamella Tallent. The board held its reorganizational meeting at the East Hill School complex, recently, at which time Lupo was sworn in as a member of the board for another five-year term.

Nearly two months after Town of Canajoharie Supervisor Robert McMahon announced that he would not seek election for a one year term in November, he changed his mind after a discussion with the Canajoharie Republican Committee and decided that he would run. He will be opposed by Randall Hogue, founder of the Montgomery County Taxpayers Association. The Association began circulating petitions after the Democratic Party failed to name a candidate. Hogue will be running as a Democrat in the election. McMahon was appointed to the position of town supervisor after veteran Supervisor Jackson Douglass made a sudden announcement he was resigning, shortly after he assumed office following a successful reelection bid. The one year term will fill out the remaining unexpired term of Douglass.

Thirty Years Ago

H. Elizabeth Baker, Canajoharie, recently was notified by the American Red Cross, Fulton County Chapter, that she is eligible for a ten year certificate and pin for her service in assisting servicemen and women in time of emergencies.

Ribbon cutting ceremonies took place at the newest McDonald’s Restaurant, Dutchtown Shopping Plaza, Palatine Bridge.

The 50-lap feature for modifieds at the Fonda Speedway was one of the wildest of the season with more than half of the field forced into the pits during the first few laps. When the dust had cleared, Canajoharie’s Dave Lape was in the Winner’s Circel for the sixth time this season.

Forty Years Ago

Congressman Samuel Stratton and Assembly-woman Mary Anne Krupsak were the guest speakers at the annual Montgomery County Farm Organization’s picnic held at Wintergreen Park.

Fort Plain

Twenty Years Ago

The landing was accomplished on the tiny (18-foot wide) landing strip at Nellis Airport. Pilot Dana Van Loan said most pilots from out of the immediate area do not like to land their airplanes on the strip because it is no narrow and is not very straight. A recent offer from local dairy farmer and part-time pilot Van Loan, was taken up excitedly by a Courier-Standard-Enterprise reporter, Alan J. Krutz, to go for an airplane ride and tell a story of how to go about learning to fly.

For four years now, a combined effort between the Canajoharie-Fort Plain Garden Club, Inc., and the Prospect Hill Neighbors Group has resulted in a gradual metamorphosis of the Prospect Hill Park, from an overgrown eyesore, to a beautiful community park. According to an historical marker erected by the New York State Department of Education in 1939, the year the park was officially recognized, the hill was once the site of the Mohawk Indian town of Osquage. The hilltop site also is alleged to have been visited in 1634 by Van Den Bogaert and was the site of the Tarajorees from 1700 to 1755. Last year the group, consisting of entirely volunteer efforts, uncovered a walkway that had been covered with weeds and brush that few area residents even knew about.

Thirty Years Ago

The second annual Street Fair, sponsored by the Fort Plain-Nelliston Merchants Association was artistic, as well as a financial success. Unlike Canal Days, the weather cooperated, the rain holding off until 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon is when crafters were packing up their wares and antique car owners had started to disperse. Over 600 halves were served at the chicken barbecue on the lawn of the Fort Plain Free Library, sponsored by the Fort Plain Rotary Club and merchants association. Said General Chairman Paul Hage, “we seem to be picking up additional interest every year. This was a good community effort. Many people pitched in to help make it a success.”

The Fort Plain Museum is continuing its special exhibit of the miniature of the local Erie Canal Lock grocery for the Sesquicentennial Celebration through the end of this year. Proceeds from this exhibit will go to help defray the expenses of the museum.

When the cry of “Break-a-Leg” signals the beginning of the three-night run of “Babes in Arms” at the Fort Plain High School, it culminates six weeks of intensive rehearsals by the cast and diligent work on the part of the technical crew. The scenery was constructed by John (Al) Bartlett and Bart Leneker, after its design by Joan Leneker; painting and set construction by Tom McCauley, Joel Leneker, Jeanne DeValve, Dan and Lee Leneker. Stage Manager Paul Baumgartner, is assisted by Patricia Blowers, Jo Ann Mickle, Mark Baumgartner and the apprentices.

Forty Years Ago

The Fort Plain Central School District unanimously adopted a $1,691,469.50 budget for the 1972-73 school year at its monthly meeting. Dr. Hugo Veit, Canal Street, was appointed to fill the vacancy on the Board of Education created by the resignation of Robert Moyer.

Edward Young, Fort Plain RD 1, was in the rear of the Youngcrest Implement Corporation at Yosts, when he spied a rattlesnake over four feet in length. Collecting his wits, and a stick, he killed the snake.

Babe Ruth baseball took on an international flavor as the Fort Plain team journeyed to Lennoxville, Quebec, near Sherbrooke, for two games to face the Canadians.

St. Johnsville

Twenty Years Ago

A request from the Oppenheim-Central School District that St. Johnsville consider a discussion on a possible merger/consolidation prompted considerable discussion from the St. Johnsville Board of Education. The school board also approved the appointment of three new district teachers following a 90-minute executive session. District Superintendent David LaPone informed the school board during a meeting that he had received a letter from former Oppenheim-Ephratah District Superintendent Terrance Brewer concerning possible discussions on the question of a merger or consolidation.

A young man, only about 17-years-old in the early 1950s, caused a sensation, which is still reeling the scientific world. The man’s name is Ronald Hezel. His invention of the first working robot in the United States brought a certain amount of both fame and fortune, and secured for him a four-year scholarship at New York University.

Thirty Years Ago

Mrs. Katherine LaCoppola was recently awarded an Associates Degree in Applied Science through the Registered Nurse Program at Fulton-Montgomery Community College.

Forty Years Ago

The Rotary Club will sponsor a contest for the selection of a St. Johnsville Bicentennial Queen.