OBLITERATING OLD LANDMARKS

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, January 4, 1889.

Obliterating Old Landmarks.

   The changing of the historic names of some of the principle streets of our village is a disgraceful piece of snobbery which should not have been permitted. The names of Merrick [Maple Avenue] and Adams [Homer Avenue] streets are suggestive of the early history, and of some of the pioneer inhabitants of the town who owned the premises through which these streets were laid. So also Mill [Clinton Avenue] street is indicative, and means something to all who are at all conversant with the early history of the town.

   These names were probably changed at the instance of some snobbish individual having no legitimate claims to gentility, and who prefers to live upon an avenue rather than upon a street with a plain plebeian name. It would be just as sensible and no more snobbish to dub Randall's garden and residence "Melrose," or "Randalies Arbor and Castle." But the sensible proprietors of such premises never belittle themselves by adopting such a style of nomenclature.

   There is no objection to any respectable names for new streets. But let the old landmarks be preserved, and let those old, historic names be restored, if in no other way, then by a vote of the sensible people of the town.

   COM. [Pen name of contributor. Current street names inserted by CC editor.]

Surprise.

   Last Saturday evening the neighbors and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hinds made them a complete surprise. This evening they were to return from the Hinds' reunion held at DeRuyter this year. The company began to arrive about 1 o'clock P. M. Sean Mr. Hinds arrived with his team. Mrs. Hinds came on the train, the road being rough. When she arrived she found a house full of folks and a nice extension table loaded with refreshments by the company. Fifty-three guests were served from this new table, after which Mr. Matthewson, her father, presented the host and hostess, this table with very appropriate remarks, Mr. and Mrs. Hinds responding with many thanks.

   Plays, games, music and good cheer was the order of the evening. This is the fifth surprise in the neighborhood this winter. Where next? A description of the Hinds' reunion will he found in the Nemos letter.

   X. Y. Z [pen name.]

Deputy Sheriffs.

   Sheriff Borthwick has appointed the following Deputies:

   Cortlandville —R. C. Duell, Aaron B. Gardner.

   Cuyler—Eli J. Colgrove.

   Cincinnatus—John. L. Smith.

   Freetown—Austin Dickinson.

   Harford— W. W. Parker, Loren Rood.

   Homer—Elisha A. Williams, Frank Phillips.

   Lapeer—G. N. Valentine.

   Marathon—E. M. Meacham.

   Preble—Nicholas Collier.

   Scott—Theron R. Warner.

   Taylor—Rufus L. Cass.

   Truxton—Chauncey Webster.

   Virgil—Aaron R. Overton.

   Willett—Chas. Burlingame, A. R. Green.

   We can see no reason to find fault with the appointments for this town [Cortlandville] and as to the others, with perhaps one or two exceptions, we believe they are very fair men. Mr. Duell of this village is an active young man and possesses the ability to make a good official. We believe he will take pride in doing his duty and if active and laborious work for his party count for anything, he is certainly entitled to the place. Mr. Gardner is a well known citizen of McGrawville and is well qualified for the office.

HERE AND THERE.

   Wickwire Bros. have secured letters patent on a machine for winding wire upon spools.

   Wm. Baldwin, of Cuyler, has purchased the hotel site in Truxton, and will soon commence the erection of a new hotel.

   The insurance adjusters have allowed the Cortland Wagon Company the full amount of insurance on machinery burned.

   Don't fail to see Mr. Geo. M. Wood in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at the Opera House this evening. Seats on sale at Hollenbeck's.

   Mr. Geo. Daniels, of Homer, has purchased an interest in the grocery store heretofore carried on by O. B. Andrews in that village.

   The Howe Stove Company are placing their machinery in their new buildings here, and will soon be ready to commence active operations for the coming season.

   De Forest R. Davis, of Buffalo, has leased the south store in the new Union block in Homer, and will open the same with a stock of dry goods in March.

   H. H. Pomeroy and Miles Robinson have leased the south store in the new

Churchill block, and have opened the same with a large stock of variety goods.

   The Second National Bank declared a semi-annual dividend of 3 per cent, on Monday last, and passed a little over 2 per cent to surplus and undivided profits.—Standard.

   A large force of workmen are engaged in clearing up the grounds where the Cortland Wagon Company's buildings were burned, preparatory to the erection of new buildings.

   A project is on foot to change the line of the E. C. & N. railroad from Bingley to Perryville, bringing it nearer Chittenango Falls, so as to avoid an up grade going north. The line is already surveyed.—DeRuyter Gleaner.

   John Holden, formerly employed in the type writer works at Groton, now in London, Eng., has mailed a postal card to a friend in Ithaca upon which he had written 534 words. It is exhibited in Ithaca as a curiosity.—Ithaca Democrat.

   Excelsior H. & L. Company gave their annual banquet at the Messenger House, last Saturday evening. Those members of the company who were married took their wives along, and those who were not, took some one else. About 55 persons sat down to an excellent menu provided by Mr. Chadbourne.

   People in this county as well as in other counties should know that there is no such post-office in this county as State Bridge. Railway mail clerks are obliged by law to send all mail, directed to State Bridge, to a post-office of that name in Oneida county, notwithstanding the fact that they know that the package is meant for Messengerville. This is true even if the letter is directed to State Bridge, Cortland county. Direct all letters and mail matter to Messengerville, instead of State Bridge, and thus insure a prompt delivery and save the mail clerk considerable trouble.

  

Facing west from Main Street at Groton Avenue, Cortland Opera House on right. Photo credit, Grip's.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

   Those of our readers who have not seen this great dramatic success are advised to attend at the Opera House this Friday evening when Mr. Geo. M. Wood supported by a splendid company will produce the same. Those who saw the performance of the drama as presented by Dore Davidson and company last winter will feel inclined to see it again. It is a performance that stamps itself indelibly upon the mind and will not soon be forgotten. It is entirely different from any other presentation which undoubtedly accounts for the peculiar fascination which attaches to it. The Chicago Inter-Ocean speaks of the performance as follows:

   "There was a very large audience to witness the representation of a new dramatization of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, made by Mr. Geo. M. Wood, an English actor, who appeared in the dual character. If it is the desire of Mr. Wood to be told in a phrase, that he has made a better play from the leaven of Mr. Stevenson's story than did Mr. Sullivan, he must be answered—yes. Taken as a play, his work is certainly much superior to the other. Mr. Wood has made a consistent and a rational play, an effective drama. He has shown better judgment than did Mr. Sullivan, in the introduction of the love element. He makes the heroine of the play the daughter of Jekyll, and shows in Jekyll the affection, tenderness, sympathy and solicitude of paternal affection. This not only enhances interest but increases probability as well.

   "Mr. Wood has a very good play. For the acting of the dual roles it must be said Mr. Wood has earnestness. His Jekyll has in it dignified intelligence and a quiet pathos that invites sympathy. As Mr. Hyde he acts the part with intensity. From a moral view point also, Mr. Wood's performance is commendable."

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   CHENAGO.— About noon Tuesday, James and Michael Galvin, brothers, residing at North Norwich, left the D. L. & W. station at that place on a railroad tricycle to visit their father who resides in Oxford. When about two miles south of North Norwich, they were discovered on the track by the engineer of passenger train No. 6, which passes that station at 12:50 P. M. They did not heed the engineer's danger whistle, and the hand car was struck and thrown fifty feet into the air. James was thrown ahead of the train, the cars passing over him, mangling him in a shocking manner, and killing him instantly. It is reported that Michael saw the approaching train in time to jump, thus escaping injury.

   When Sheriff Robb, of Norwich, visited his guests Tuesday morning, he was not a little surprised to find William Bracey—who burgled H. B. VanCott & Co.'s clothing store in this village on the night of October 12th, and was arrested at Sherburne on the night of the 19th, after a desperate resistance—in an unoccupied, unlocked cell. Since his escape from jail and recapture a few weeks later, Bracey has worn a ball attached to his leg by a chain, and handcuffs on his wrists. When discovered Tuesday morning he was free from these ornaments, having in some manner removed them, and with an iron bolt about a foot in length, with which he had possessed himself, he had made an opening through which he had crawled to the next open cell. J. D. Marion was called, who gave him a new outfit of bracelets, etc., which Bracey says are "no good." He is a hard customer and will bear watching.

   TOMPKINS.— Complaint was made to the City Superintendent last week that the Street Railway Company in Ithaca was using salt on its track, and that horses feet were injured thereby. The railway officials stated that it was necessary to use salt in order to keep the slush from freezing on the track, but they complied with the request of the Superintendent to use no more salt. As a result the cars did not run until the thaw came.

   William B. Estabrook, as referee in the case of Ira Dwight, a farmer living near Freeville, vs. the E. C. & N. Railroad has rendered a decision in favor of the plaintiff, awarding him damages amounting to over $500. This action was brought by the plaintiff to recover damages for the burning of grass and the scorching of fruit trees upon his premises, caused by fire ignited by sparks from a locomotive owned by the railroad company. This was a test case and the judgment rendered sustains the principle of law that a person owning property adjoining a railroad must be permitted to enjoy the same as if no railroad existed. The plaintiff was represented by Raymond L. Smith, and the defendants by James Armstrong of New York city, and F. E. Tibbetts of Ithaca.