10 Years Ago – March 1999 The Richfield Springs Central School board is considering a building project that would add classrooms, an elementary library, a science laboratory and an art room to the school, according to Nicholas V. Fazio, school superintendent. “At this stage, we’re just exploring this project,” Fazo said. Architect James Jordan of Richfield has been retained to study the feasibility of the project Fazio said. Staff members at the school, which is attended by about 750 students, are also working on a budget for the upcoming year. Fazio said it was premature to forecast how the budget will affect local taxes. A proposal by New York Governor George Pataki to cut building aid for schools could spell trouble for RSCS, if adopted. 20 Years Ago – March 1989
A program for gifted children in grades 7-12 is underway at Richfield Springs Central School according to district superintendent Thomas M. Rooney. All Richfield teachers in grades 3 to 12 were asked by Mr. Rooney to establish a pool of students for the program. Results of aptitude tests were computed for mathematics and vocabulary and a “Gifted and Talented Identification Committee determined an academic cut-off for students to determine program eligibility. Students with a grade point average of 2.8 or above were considered. The committee based their determinations on the data only without knowing the names of students linked to the data. 50 Years Ago – March 1959 Those responsible for the production of the third annual Community Minstrel Show can take a well-deserved bow for their two nights of hilarious entertainment at the central school last week. The production includes the cast, directors, stage hands, the chorus, the usherettes, the scouts, brass ensemble, specialty act, general manager, stage manager, vocal director, accompanist, cast director and all assistants, etc. – over 100 residents pulled together to produce the show. The net proceeds will be a little over $100. For three successive years the minstrels have been presented under the sponsorship of the Richfield Springs Rotary Club. Requests have been received to repeat the performance in nearby towns. One out-of-town booking has been made to appear at Homer Folks Hospital in Oneonta this Friday. 60 Years Ago – March 1949
An unseen audience of thousands of spectators in 14 major cities from the east coast to the Mississippi River saw the recent Presidential inauguration, the first time such event was televised. This was made possible by a newly completed coaxial cable of the Bell System between Cleveland and Philadelphia, linking the Buffalo-St. Louis Midwestern network and the Boston-New York-Richmond eastern network of television channels. Together, the two systems supply some 5,000 miles of Bell System video as well as telephone channels. The video and voice network includes some 1,740 miles of coaxial cables and 370 miles of radio relay microwave routes. These growing channels represent a big step forward in plans for nationwide television. 75 Years Ago – March 1934
Town Topics – The heavy snow storm two weeks ago resulted in delaying the return and reloading of empty coal cars, hence a shortage of soft coal at the local league plant. Coal was secured from Cherry Valley, Jordanville and West Winfield. This “borrowed” coal gave off a much blacker smoke than the grade generally used at the local plant. This explains the “soft coal nuisance” suffered here for several days. A very quiet wedding took place at the home of Rev. C.E. Nickols of Herkimer, when Miss Florence Elnora Jordan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abram Jordan of Starkville, was united in marriage to George G. Hopkinson, son of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Hopkinson of South Columbia. The bride’s gown was of white satin with a white lace jacket. She carried a bouquet of pink sweet peas. The traveling outfit consisted of a grey serge, fur-trimmed suit with hat and shoes to match, and navy blue accessories. 100 Years Ago – March 1909
Advertisement – You won’t have to go out in the yard to smoke a Woodbine Cigar. Your wife will like its odor as well as you do. It’s fragrant because it’s made from specially chosen tobacco, “ripe” enough to smoke freely and satisfyingly. 5 cents is all it costs to make one good trial. You get 50 for $2.00. D.W. Woods, Sign of the Indian, Main Street, Richfield Springs, Headquarters for New York papers. Resources for this column have been provided courtesy of the New York State Historical Association Library.
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