Friday, March 6, 2015

FOURTH OF JULY 1889 IN CORTLAND



Painting of Fourth of July Parade.

1894 map showing Cortland Fairgrounds and Racetrack near Homer and Wheeler Avenues.
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, July 12, 1889.

The Fourth in Cortland.
   There were two celebrations of the National holiday in Cortland last Thursday and a large crowd of people were in attendance. Besides the Y. M. C. A. field day entertainment held on the fair grounds, the temperance people held a celebration at the Floral Trout Park which was attended by about 2500 people. The Hitchcock Company band furnished music on the fair ground and a drum corps called the people together at the Trout ponds. The following prizes were awarded at the fair grounds:
   Fat Men's Wheelbarrow RacesPrizes: Water Set, Half Dozen Cabinet Photographs. Won by G. Ells and C. M. Tyler, of Cortland.
   Pigs in the Clover— Prize won by J. Fagan in one minute and three seconds.
   One Mile Novice Bicycle Race—Prizes: Gold Medal, Gent's Dressing Case, won by C. A. Benjamin, of Syracuse, and  E. K. Norris, of Cortland.
   Two Mile Bicycle Race (Open)—Prizes: Gold Medal, Silver Medal, won by E. L. Lancaster, and L. Edgecomb, of Cortland.
   Half-Mile Bicycle Race, Boys—Prizes: Silver Cup, Fish Rod, won by W. H. Loveline, of Binghamton, and Smith, of Cortland.
   Mile Bicycle Races—Prizes: $10, Traveling bag, Gold Head Umbrella, won by E. L. Lancaster and L. Edgecomb.
   Half-Mile Foot Race, Men—Prizes, Violin, Foot Rest, won by W. H. Jessup and F. Peck.
   Half-Mile Foot Race, Boys Prizes: Pair of Slippers and five pounds candy, Pocket Book, won by F. Ketchum, of Ithaca, and F. E. Fitzgerald, of Cortland.
   Throwing Baseball—Prize: a Pair of Tennis Shoes, won by C. H. Hamblin, who threw the ball 335 feet.
   100 Yard Dash for Men—Prizes: Blacking Cabinet, Tennis Shirt, won by A.Sager, of Cortland and W. H. O'Dea of Binghamton.
   100 Yard Dash [Boys] Prizes: Tennis Racquet, Pocket Knife, won by F. Ketchum, of Ithaca, and F. S. Fitzgerald, of Cortland.
   Three-Legged Race—Two Prizes: Two Hand Satchels, won by Harry Dowd and Harry Place, of Cortland.
   Sack Race—Prizes; Lamp, 1 Dozen Cabinet Photographs, won by Frank Kearsley and Wm. Seacord of Cortland.
   Tug of WarBinghamton (6) and Cortland (6), won by Cortland.
   The base ball game played in the forenoon between the Junior Y. M. C. A. of Cortland and the Junior Y. M. C. A., of Ithaca was won by the former by a score of 17 to 3. In the afternoon the regular Cortland Y M. C. A. team played the Y. M. C. A. team of Binghamton. It was a very close and interesting game. At the end of the ninth inning, the score stood 8 to 8. In the tenth inning the Cortlands had made one run when the inevitable dispute arose and the Binghamtons refused to finish the game.
   There were nearly 2,000 people present and the [Cortland County Agricultural] Association will clear something over $125.
AT THE TROUT PARK.
   One of the great features of the entertainment here was the singing by the Silver Lake Quartette, which was most excellent. The regular tent exercises began at about 9 o'clock P. M. Prayer was offered by Rev. D. P. Rathbun of Blodgett Mills. Mr. Vernon P. Squires delivered an eloquent temperance address, and Rev. Mr. Weeks of Marathon, Mrs. Damon of Homer and A. E. Seymour of McGrawville spoke on the same subject.

A Long Way Ahead.
   The new charter of the village of Cortland provides for the election of a police Justice next March. The handsome salary attached to the office, $l,000 per annum, has brought forth a large bunch of candidates. We learn that the following gentlemen are already in the field: Lewis Bouton, Jerome Squires, W. C. Crombie, Enos E. Mellon, Dr. H. C. Gazlay and William Corcoran, all republicans. There will undoubtedly be others after the plum before the election takes place, and a lively scramble for the nomination will take place.
   Thus far we have heard of no candidates on the Democratic side but under favorable circumstances there will undoubtedly be found a sufficient number of aspirants. The election would be a rich prize for some of the young sprigs, who are trying to maintain themselves while reading law, and there are several practitioners at the bar that would be mightily benefited by the office. The DEMOCRAT hopes the best man will win, but the election is a good ways off yet.

Injured by an Ugly Horse.
   A vicious stallion came near killing two men at the races in DeRuyter on the 4th of July. The horse is said to be owned by G. C. Potter of Syracuse, and it is also said that he is a recent importation from England. He was entered in the running race and when brought on the track was covered with blankets to such an extent that he was blindfolded. He was finally stripped for the score and a blanket doubled and fastened on him by a surcingle and his rider was lifted to his seat.
   The horse was ugly about scoring and the blanket not being properly fastened slipped back towards his hips causing him to be restless. The rider knowing that the horse would kick if the blanket was not readjusted, asked one of the attendants to take the horse by the bit, but the attendant was afraid of the brute and refused, whereupon the rider dismounted and took hold of the bit and the animal at once commenced striking at him with his forward feet.
   The rider jerked on the bit and the bridle broke when the horse seized the man by the shoulder with his teeth, threw him to the ground in a twinkling and jumped upon him with his knees. A man who stood near kicked the horse on the nose and forced him to leave his victim.
   Mr. Henry Stowell of Woodstock then came on the track and attempted to secure the beast, but was immediately seized and thrown to the ground by the horse. A vigorous application of clubs and cobble stones soon drove him away and he was finally driven to a stable on the grounds and secured.
   The rider's shoulder was terribly crushed and he was thought to be internally injured, but we understand his physicians now think he will pull through. Stowell was badly injured but will recover. The horse is said to be very fast and would be valuable as a racer, were it not for its viciousness. The owner would have shot him if he could have borrowed a revolver, but strange to say, there was not a shooting iron on the grounds.
   Prof. Gleason, the noted horse tamer, who is now giving exhibitions in Syracuse, has purchased the horse and was to give a public exhibition of his skill in taming the brute last evening.

27 Clayton Avenue Damaged by Fire and Water.
   At twenty minutes before 11 o'clock last Tuesday evening, box 432, corner of Port Watson and Main streets gave an alarm and the department turned out to find a lively blaze in a room on the second floor of the new dwelling house No. 27 Clayton Ave., owned by Mrs. Lois Robinson. The first floor of the building was occupied by Mrs. Robinson, but she was out of town. The second floor was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Ward.
   Mr. Ward was in the sitting room reading and Mrs. Ward was in the bedroom preparing to retire. She took a towel from the dresser, not noticing that the lamp stood on one corner of it. The lamp was over-turned and exploded scattering the burning oil in all directions. Mr. Ward undertook to smother the flames with a comfortable [sic], but failed, when he gave the alarm. Most of the goods were removed before the water was turned on and the fire was soon extinguished by a stream from the hydrant near by. The owner had an insurance of $1.430, and Mr. Ward had $500 on his furniture, which covers the loss in both cases.

HERE AND THERE.
   Cortland boys won all the prizes for foot races on Thursday last at Tully.
   The Cortland Y. M. C. A. netted about [$400] on their Fourth of July field day.
   The Homer Wire Fabric Co. has stopped work until Aug. 5th, for the purpose of repairing machinery.
   The Homer Cornet Band will give a concert at the Mansion House, Homer, N. Y., Friday evening, July 12th at 8 o’clock.
   The [person] who robs a bird’s nest is now [liable] for imprisonment for from one to thirty days, and a fine of $10 to $50 as [determined.]

VIRGIL.
   The celebration of the fourth was a success in every way. The band boys did honor to themselves and the town. The speaking was by Hon. A. P. Smith of Cortland, Mr. J. H. Tripp of Marathon and Rev. E. R. Wade of McLean. One hundred and twelve numbers were sold for the dance at the hall in the evening. Much praise is due Mr. Freer for not selling anything that would intoxicate.
   Mr. Nathan Spencer is very sick. Dr. Tripp is attending him.
   Born to Mr. and Mrs. Will Seamans, July 5, a daughter.
   Mrs. Rodolph Price and Jennie Rennie were at Cortland Saturday, calling on the family of J. H. May.
   Mr. Newton Leet of Center Lisle, and lady friend was in town the last of the week visiting his sister, Mrs. E. V. Price.

McGRAWVILLE.
   Mrs. Sarah Huntington has traded her house and lot on East Main St., with Mrs. Sarah Shattuck for a house and lot in Cincinnatus, and will move there about September first.
   C. D. Fish has resumed his old position as prescription clerk at the drug store of C. B. Warren, where he will be pleased to meet his old friends in the future as in the past.
   Eugene Wood has the foundation nearly ready for a new house on Elm St.
   Mrs. Crumb, wife of Silas Crumb, after a long illness died on Wednesday morning at one o'clock. Funeral at her late residence on Friday at 10 o'clock.
   NEPOS. [pen name]

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.
   TOMPKINS.—Newfield is to have a town library.
   Epizootic is prevalent among horses in Ithaca.
   Ithaca glass factories have closed for the summer.
   A Washington dispatch says that First Lieutenant Herbert E. Tutherly, 1st cavalry, has been detailed as professor of military science and tactics at Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., relieving First Lieutenant W. P. VanNess, who has been ordered to join his battery.
   H. D. Freer, of Ithaca, who purchased the Falls Hotel at Taghanic [sic] last week, has already taken charge of that picturesque resort. Under his management it cannot fail to become one of the most popular summer hotels in this region. It is stated that Mr. Freer paid $10,000 for the property, which includes the hotel buildings and ten acres of land.
   The Ithaca Journal says: "A resident of this city whose name need not be mentioned, purchased a parcel of real estate on East Hill, a few years ago, for $8,000. He has recently declined an offer of $28,000 for it, and says he would not let it go for $40,000. Is not this evidence that men of shrewdness and nerve can do as well with their money here as by investing it in Western land which may be booming today and worthless to-morrow?"

New Lodge of Grand Templars.
   By authority of the Grand Lodge of New York state, a new lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars was instituted last Monday night, by Mr. Jerome J. Woodruff, of Homer. The officers are as follows:
   C. T.— Geo. Allport.
   V. T.—Mrs. R. Culver.
   Sec.—Mr. Robert Culver.
   C—Rev. B. F. Weatherwax.
   M —A. Frost, Jr.
   F. Sec.—Dr. F. D. Reese.
   Treas.—Mrs. Geo. Allport.
   Sent.— Mr. W. B. Stevenson.
   Guard—Miss Junie Tanner
   L. D.—W. B. Stevenson.
   P. C. T.— Rev. U. Mitchel.
   S. J. T.—Mrs. A. Frost, Jr.
   The lodge will he called Harmony lodge. The next meeting will be held Tuesday evening, July 16th, at the rooms now occupied by the W. C. T. U.
 

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