S. M. Shaw

“ The address of the Bar of New York on the termination of my judicial labors, and in approbation of them, I look upon as the crowning reward, which will be a source of perpetual consolation in the decline of life, and so long as a kind Providence shall permit the speaker to linger here on earth in the enjoyment of faculties unimpaired. ”

“ Stairs lead to the highest platform of the tower, and from the numerous openings and loopholes with which the walls are pierced, a fine panoramic view of the lake and country can be obtained. The effect of the structure is that of a picture from mediæval times, and its value to the lake is very great. Mr. Clark has been led to erect it simply by a desire to beautify the lake and add an attraction which must be seen by all who traverse the lake or drive along its shores. They whose minds can rise above simple notions of utility to an appreciation of art joined to nature, will thank him for it. ”

“ The town of Oneonta was before the Board of Supervisors at the time with a proposition to put up the county buildings at its own expense. By a vote of two to one in numbers, representing not less than four-fifths the taxable property of the town, the tax-payers thereof had voted, and nearly all of them afterward cheerfully paid, this tax — which they all thought should not have been made necessary by the action of the Board of Supervisors. ”

“ On the other hand I can say that I have witnessed their professional career from the beginning and until their present eminence, many of whom hold my license to practice, granted when Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State. The eminent chairman of the meeting, Mr. O’Conor, the eldest of them, is scarcely an exception. The first session of the Supreme Court of the State after my appointinent as Associate Justice was the May Term. of 1831, held in the city of New York, more than forty-one years ago. He was then a young counselor, just rising in the profession. ”

“ In November, the Cooperstown Aqueduct Association purchased the old Gregory Mill property, thus getting control of the "water power" for running their pumps, and decided to reconstruct the entire water works, by building — on the site of the old grist mill — a new brick pump house, and placing in it two very powerful pumps, capable of supplying the village most abundantly with water. This plan was carried into effect. A large pipe was laid up into the lake, commencing at a point just south of the cemetery, and running thence to a well in the pump house ”

“ Since my first advancement to the Bench, nearly half a century ago, I have had their uniform good will and friendship, have been instructed by their learning and encouraged by the expression of their favorable opinions. They have ever been not only ready but forward to economize and lighten the labors of the Court when the amount of busin pressed the hardest, even at the expense of their own personal convenience. ”

“ A large steamer was put on the lake; the Fire Department was for the first time properly organized, and new apparatus bought; the Hotel Fenimore was built; a large addition made to the Union School building; a new Jail and Sheriffs residence, and then a Court House erected; the threatened bankruptcy of the Cooperstown railroad prevented; the Pioneer Mills erected at a cost of about $45,000; the Aqueduct Association enlarged its supply of water to meet the growing demands of the village; the census of 1880 sbowed a gratifying increase in the population of the place. ”

“ They are now all steel. 1877 A famous game of old-fashioned base ball was played here, in August — Judge Sturges heading the "Reds" and Judge Edick the "Blues" — 16 on a side. The victory was with the "Blues." It called together a large concourse of people. The first accident on the Cooperstown railroad, resulting in the loss of life, occurred October 3. A man named G. W. Hopkins, who had been an inmate of the County House, was seen walking on the track, and although the engineer immediately reversed the engine, the unfortunate man was struck by the pilot and instantly killed. ”

“ Clark, at an expense of about $45,000, erected the new Pioneer Mills, and Planing Mills, the former of which were leased to E. Delavan Hills & Co. for a term of years, and the latter run by Mr. Clark’s Agent. These mills are located near the railroad depot, and are connected with the railroad by a side track and turn-table; are equipped with the best and most approved machinery manufactured. The power for propelling this machinery is furnished by two large boilers, a 150-horse-power Watts, Campbell & Co. engine, located in a brick building adjoining the mills. ”

“ The Ballard House was opened to the public in May, being the J. H. Story dwelling and the George Story brick block, on Main street. ≈ 103 The corner stone of the new building of H. M. Hooker & Co., Main and Pioneer streets, was laid with considerable ceremony, during the latter pail; of July. Remarks were made by citizens of the village, and the village band discoursed stirring music for the occasion. "Kingfisher Tower," standing a little out from the shore, in lake Otsego, two miles north of Cooperstown, naturally attracts the attention of all visitors to these waters. ”

“ Between eight and ten thousand people were in attendance The Masonic Order was represented by the Grand Master and other high dignitaries of the State Lodge, the Utica Commandery, K. T., fourteen different Masonic Lodges, and representatives from several other lodges; the 10th Regiment Band of Albany, the Utica City Band, and two other bands were in the procession, with the Board of Supervisors, Building Committee, Village Trustees, and others. ”

“ Some apprehension was felt lest a proper foundation could not be secured strong enough to resist the force of the ice in winter. This has been accomplished by driving a number of piles on which a grillage was formed of heavy timber, filled with concrete, and on this solid masonry was laid, several feet in height. ”

“ This young man, (not 21 years old at the time of the murder,) was tried and convicted the following winter, and executed in this village, November 14,1879. The prosecution was by District Attorney Benedict and L. L. Bundy; the defense by James A. Lynes and S. S. Morgan. The execution was performed by the sheriff. Mr. James F. Clark. The surviving members of the 121st Regiment held a reunion in this village in November. It was largely attended, and the "Boys in Blue" were well entertained. The Court House building was condemned, by a committee appointed for its inspection, in December. ”

“ They were completed in March, and operations began in the following month. ≈ 106 The Fly Creek "Fantasticals" made a sudden descent upon Cooperstown on the 14th of August and caused much amusement by their ludicrous appearance and deportment while parading the streets. The Board of Supervisors met in extra session in June, to consider the matter of building a new Court House, and decided that a new building was a necessity and that immediate action must be taken to erect one. The committee on finance was authorized to issue county bonds in aid of that purpose. ”

“ The ice remained in Otsego lake until the 4th of May, and the lake was again skimmed over on the morning of the 6th. No similar record had occurred for nearly 40 years, as shown by the record kept by Mr. G. P. Keese. ≈ 101 1874 January 1. — Governor Dix appointed Edwin Countryman, Esq., Justice of the Supreme Court to fill vacancy. He was not an applicant for the place. A "mysterious stranger," who proved to be an imposter, spent several days in this village early in this year; he pretended to be deaf and dumb; intimated his desire to purchase real estate ”

“ Although this decade covered an extended season of general hard times throughout the county, Cooperstown experienced very little of its effects; even the individual cases were few among our citizens. The village grew and flourished, 1871 witnessing the erection of about 30 dwellings, including that of Fred. G. Lee on Lake street, afterwards purchased and doubled in size by Mrs. Jane P. Carter, and the completion of the large brick dwelling put up on Main street by Mr. ”

“ A few days later a set of colors was formally presented the boat by a few citizens of the village. On the 3d August, Professor Maillefert gave an exhibition of the modus operandi of sub-marine blasting, on Lake Otsego, which was witnessed by a large number of highly interested spectators. The Scotchmen of this village and surrounding, country this year organized a society and held their first annual meeting at Three Mile Point. Addresses were made by Rev. Mr. McHarg of this village, and Hon. ”

“ Voluntary taxes for churches and charitable objects are all right — but in purely public matters like this, the money should be raised by a general tax. The following were the subscribers to the "jail fund:" Jedediah P. Sill, - - - $500 00 L I. Burditt, - - - - $100 00 Edward Clark, - - - - 500 00 Fiederiek G. Lee, - - - 100 00 H. F. Phinney, - - - 250 00 A. A Jarvis, - - - - 100 00 W. C. Keyes, - - - - 200 00 B. F. Murdock & Bro., - - 50 00 Samuel Nelson, - - - 150 00 R. Russell & Co., - - - 50 00 Mrs. ”