NEW QUARTERS FOR CORTLAND'S DEMOCRAT NEWSPAPER

 Grip's Historical Souvenir.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, August 23, 1889.

New Quarters for the Democrat.

(From the Cortland Standard.)

   Last Thursday the work was begun of tearing down the old buildings on the lot on Railroad street [Central Avenue], purchased by Editor B. B. Jones as a location for a new DEMOCRAT building. The plans are now being prepared by Architect H. W. Beardsley. The structure will be of brick, three stories high, forty-nine by sixty feet in size, and in design a modification of the Romanesque. The front is to be of pressed brick, with trimmings of Cleveland limestone, like that used in the new Presbyterian church. The DEMOCRAT will occupy the basement and first floor on the west and north, the southeastern corner being designed for a small store for rental. The two upper floors are to be used for offices.

   A number of Cortland's builders are preparing to figure on the job and Brother Jones expects that his new quarters will be finished and occupied early in November. He will then have one of the best and handsomest country newspaper offices in the State, and will be a subject for congratulations from his editorial brethren generally. The Standard tenders its congratulations in advance.

The Cortland Democrat, Grip’s Historical Souvenir of Cortland.

   The Cortland Democrat was established in 1864 by M. P. Callendar, who sold to Lucien S. Crandall, and he in turn sold, in 1868, to the late Benton B. Jones, who, with the exception of one year, when the paper was owned by Hon. Daniel S. Lamont, conducted it until his death on Dec. 20, 1896. Mr. Jones was one of the brightest paragraphers in the state, as well as a genuine newspaper man, and he brought the paper to a high state of excellence. The increase of business compelled the erection of the present Democrat building at Nos. 12 and 14 Railroad street, into which the office was moved in 1890, and where it remains.

    After the death of Mr. Jones, the paper was carried on by the administrator of his estate, Mr. George J. Mager, now president of the Second National bank, till purchased by its present publisher, Fay C. Parsons, on March 1, 1899. It is the only Democratic paper in the county, and active canvassing is bringing its subscription list where it will soon pass the 3,000 mark. Connected with the Democrat is an excellent job printing plant, which embraces five presses, one being brand new in Nov., 1899, and an excellent assortment of job type, which, with a competent force of employes [sic], places the Democrat in position to compete with any office outside the largest cities.

   In its stock room is as large an assortment of papers, card boards, etc., as is carried in Cortland county. Mr. Parsons is a young man and a practical printer and newspaper man, having been variously connected with the business in every capacity from "devil" up since childhood, and in some of the largest offices in the state.

Unitarian-Universalist Church

Re-Dedication of the Universalist Church.

   The formal dedicatory service for the re-modeled and renewed Universalist church of this place was held on Wednesday evening. This was preceded by several other services during Tuesday afternoon and evening, and Wednesday morning and afternoon. All these services were largely attended, and were deeply interesting and highly gratifying to the members and friends of the Universalist society. At the Wednesday afternoon service for receiving new members and observing the Lord's Supper, seven new members were received, and an unusually large number, something near one hundred and fifty, partook of the communion.

   On Tuesday evening there was a good attendance, and the Rev. E. F. Pember, of Titusville, Pa., delivered a discourse which was highly spoken of by those who heard it. And on Wednesday evening, in spite of the brisk shower which set in just about the time calculated to keep many from going out, the church was completely filled, so that additional seats had to be provided in the aisles.

   The sermon by the Rev. Dr. A. J. Canfield, of Brooklyn, N. Y., was truly an able discourse. Although he took for his theme, "The Incarnation," which is a very difficult subject to make interesting to an ordinary congregation, he so treated it as to keep the close and interested attention of the crowded house for about three quarters of an hour. We would be glad to give at least an extended synopsis of the discourse, but we have not the time to do it before going to press, and we feel that we could not do it justice by any hurried abbreviation of it. Thoroughly undenominational in tone and style, it presented the great central truth of Christianity, the divine nature and power of the man Christ Jesus, in a manner and with a power of argument most persuasive and impressive.

   Those who had not before been in to see the work of transformation which has been accomplished in the church building were surprised at the beauty of the structure in its present form.

Found Hanging to Rafter.

   Near the Price school house in the town of Virgil, and about four miles directly south from Cortland, lives Mr. Salem Wilcox. He owns a small farm and is a very respectable citizen. His son, Fred, aged 26 years, resided with him and worked on the farm. At about 4 o'clock last Sunday afternoon Fred left the house and did not return that night. He had been complaining of feeling poorly for some time and his absence caused his parents to be alarmed.

   Neighbors and relatives began to search for him Monday morning and the search was kept up until late in the night but no trace of him could be found. On Tuesday morning, his brother in law, John S. Park, went to the barn on Mr. Wilcox's premises and found what he had been searching for. Fred was hanging from a rafter over the hay and had evidently been dead some time. He was taken down and the body carried to the house and Coroner W. J. Moore notified. He had cut a gash in the left arm just above the elbow over the brachial artery, but did not sever it.

   He had also attempted to cut the same artery in the right arm, but only succeeded in cutting a vein. Undoubtedly he became satisfied that he would not bleed to death, and so he took a rope halter and tying one end to the rafter over the bay, dug a hole in the hay to keep his feet from touching, and standing on a higher spot, adjusted the halter about his neck and swung himself off.

   Mr. Parks had searched the barn carefully the night before without finding any trace of him and it is believed that he was hiding in the barn at the time, especially as a hole was found dug out in one corner and Fred's coat was hidden there.

   Young Wilcox was highly respected by all who knew him and had a large circle of acquaintances and friends who sincerely mourn his untimely end. He was engaged to be married to Miss Eva Spencer of the same place, and it is understood that the event was to have taken place in the near future. His brother Chauncey has been an inmate of the County Alms House for some time and has occasional spells of insanity. At still other times, and in fact most of the lime he is perfectly sane and harmless.

   Coroner Moore empanelled a jury from the neighbors and held an inquest on Wednesday. The jury found that the deceased came to his death by suicide while temporarily insane.

No Brain Food for Him.

   A prominent ex-official of this county spent a few days last week at the Thousand Islands and when he returned he brought home a big box full of fish, which were generously distributed among people more or less prominent in this village. Among those who were thus favored was the editor of the Standard. It has since been learned that the fish were promptly returned to the donor with thanks. Whether our neighbor still holds a grudge against the ex-official and desired to effectually put a stop to any overtures looking to a reconciliation, or whether he looked upon the presentation as an inference that he was in need of brain food, and took that method of resenting the insult, our informant could not tell. It is a fact, however, that our neighbor does not subsist on fish taken from the Thousand Islands during the dog days of 1889.

He Beat the Coon.

   William Reilly, the fleet-footed pedestrian of this place, defeated Bert Johnson, the colored pedestrian of Ithaca, in a 100 yard foot race at the latter place on Monday by two feet. The stakes were $100, and the distance was made in 10 3/4 seconds. Quite a crowd of sports from this place attended and considerable money exchanged hands.