HISTORY COLUMN
By Tom Heitz |
10 Years Ago – April 1999 Congressman Sherwood Boehlert went to bat for dairy farmers last Thursday via a letter to Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman registering his opposition to the USDA’s final rule for the reform of the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) system. Boehlert said that the ruling will cause farmers in the Northeast to lose an estimated $1.5 million per week in farm income. “We need a dairy pricing structure that is fair to producers and consumers and strong enough to ensure adequate supplies of locally-produced fresh milk,” Boehlert said. Boehlert called for the reauthorization of the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact. 20 Years Ago – April 1989
A leaflet distributed by a previously unknown and still unidentified group calling themselves “Concerned Taxpayers Village of Richfield Springs” may have cost Trustee Joseph Spytko his bid for re-election. On the Saturday before the election, Ruth Bogart, who said she works for The Pennysaver, arrived home to find a pile of leaflets in her shed with a note that said, “Would you please deliver these?” The note also said to deliver them only in the village. That Saturday, she delivered the leaflets to village residents. The paper begins with the heading “Is Trustee Spytko Looking Out For Our Best Interests?” The last line of the leaflet reads: “We just cannot afford to have Trustee Spytko on the village board, to save us additional monies.” As a result of the election, Leonard Butler will replace Spytko on the board. Peter Bickford, president of the Richfield Area Improvement Association, said he found the leaflet “very disturbing” because it contained “half-truths and serious omissions.” 50 Years Ago – April 1959
Baseball practice started Monday inside because of the weather. There were 23 candidates and many of the regulars were back. Coach Kurkowski has been working with pitchers Tom Southworth, Art Wilkinson and Joe Famulare. Catchers include Mike Steckler and Steve Woytowich. Infielders are Charney Boutellier, John Woytowich, Jay Bernhardt, Larry Hunt, Doug Palmer and Don Bond. Outfielders are Chucky Smith, Mart Matthews, Ed Huxtable, Bob Bibik, Marty Branigan, Fred Culbert, Sam Morris, John Jersen, Doug Getman, John Skinner, Dave Getman, and John Purcell. The first league game is at Richfield Springs on May 4 against New York Mills. 60 Years Ago – April 1949
Editorial – The Mercury urges all persons to attend the special school meeting at the school building in Richfield Springs next Monday evening April 11 at 8 o’clock, and vote for the proposition to enlarge the school building at the estimated cost of $281,000. It should be borne in mind that the state pays 60 percent of this 281,000, and the interest thereon until the principal sum has been paid. The actual financial obligation of the central school district would be $112,400. There is every indication that the building of the proposed additions would cause no increase in the tax rate assessed over that paid during the present school year. 75 Years Ago – April 1934
Approximately 140 men of Richfield Springs and the neighboring sections attended the fourteenth annual dinner of the Men’s Class of the Presbyterian Church in the church parlors last Thursday evening. The food was excellent. Mayor Rush Lewis of St. Johnsville, the speaker also served excellent food – for thought. Taking his theme as “The Trend of the Times,” Mr. Lewis emphasized the necessity in our economic recovery program of regulating the supply to the demand, pointing out the fact that the regulation must be made either voluntarily by producers or by the government. When the government takes this regulation in hand, Lewis said, it must not fail – it must use force to gain the end sought if necessary. Mr. Lewis cited the government’s efforts in the fields of cotton growing and raising hogs which were partially defeated when growers accepted money for cutting production, but continued to produce more. 100 Years Ago – April 1909
The memorial window in remembrance of the late Dr. William Baker Crain will be unveiled in St. John’s church during the Easter services. The window is the work of the Tiffanys and a very beautiful one. The subject is “Christ Healing the Sick.” This window is given by his relatives and some friends, the donors being: Hon. D. Jones Crain, Hon. T.C.T. Crain, John M. Bowers, Paul Warren, C. Stewart Warren, J.H. Aldrich, Robert W. Tailer, Thomas R. Proctor and Dr. A.R. Crain. Resources for this column have been provided courtesy of the New York State Historical Association Library.
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