While the day-to-day headlines were much about World War II in February 1944, some locally were also thinking ahead to the days of postwar.
There was still a lot of war left to be fought, and as The Oneonta Star reported on Feb. 8, “St. Mary’s parish concluded 1943 with its property free of debt, invested $5,000 in War bonds, and the church interior was remodeled, according to the Very Rev. Arthur A. Cunningham, pastor.”
The 4th War Loan drive was on, and many continued to invest. At that time, St. Mary’s Church was found near the corner of Main and Grand streets, where the Hughson & Benson Agency is today. Rev. Cunningham said that the war bond investment would be used toward the building of a new church, which finally opened on Walnut Street in 1957.
On the educational front, The Star of Feb. 11 reported, “A post-war planning committee, consisting of three members of its board, and an equal number representing the faculty, alumni association, student body and citizenry of Oneonta was authorized at the annual meeting of the Hartwick college board yesterday at Hotel Wellington, Albany.
“The committee, to be appointed immediately, will make a study of post-war needs of the institution and suggest a ten-year plan of development logically integrating the steps to be reasonably achieved each year.
“In his annual report, Dr. (Henry J.) Arnold told how the college has made the changes which wartime conditions have required and urged that in these trying times friends of the institution make a special effort to come to its assistance that it may be enabled to maintain itself in a strong position to meet the tremendous demands which will be made upon colleges with the coming of victory.” Enrollment had fallen very low as the war progressed.
Citywide, as The Star of Feb. 23 informed its readers, “Oneonta wants every organization in the city — veteran, fraternal, and church — to formulate a plan for post-war activities, so that there will be no work problem for the returning veterans of this war, Mayor Alexander F. Carson told 150 at the annual American Legion post banquet in St. Mary’s school last evening.
“‘We want no repetition of the things that occurred when the men came back in 1918 and 1919. We want no more WPA,’ he said, ‘but we do want constructive projects.’ When the plan is completed, he said, send it to the city offices to be studied along with other suggestions, that the good of all be obtained.”
Oneonta had a War Council at the time, and as The Star reported on Feb. 17, “Youth recreation, postwar employment, paper salvage, and service by block workers were discussed by Oneonta War council last evening at the Municipal building,” then found at 242 Main St. “Following a report by OHS Principal Harold V. Hager on plans for a youth recreation center at the school Friday and Saturday evenings, the council appropriated an amount not exceeding $200 to buy equipment. Board of Education offered the use of the building, but has no funds for the equipment, it was reported.”
Star readers had learned about this center in the Feb. 16 edition as, “Oneonta young people desire ‘a recreation center downtown where they can sit down at tables, be served soft drinks, and have music and a place to dance,’ a committee of OHS students told representatives of community organizations at an informal meeting Monday evening at the school.” The center eventually opened at the school on Friday and Saturday nights, and was soon known as the Saturday Night Club.
There had been plenty of activities going on at the Oneonta State Teachers College campus, then found on State Street and Normal Avenue, also known as Old Main.
The Star of Feb. 23 reported, “Summary of STC participation featured at the assembly at friendship day yesterday morning in Alumni hall. STC war council reported: Soldiers’ kits made by a sewing group; $10 donation to the Red Cross unit working at the college; $50 earned and sent to the world student service fund for refugee students; clerical work by students directed by Mrs. Charles W. Hunt, in connection with gasoline rationing; making of surgical dressings; 40 students and instructors volunteered to donate to the Red Cross blood bank in March.
“Miss Patricia Tate reported that 100 former students are in the armed forces, including about 15 women in the WAC, WAVES and marines, 25 men overseas and 60 men in camp in the United States.”
On Wednesday, a look at our area’s life and times in February 1994.
Oneonta City Historian Mark Simonson’s column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area before 1950. His Wednesday columns address local history 1950 and later. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or email him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is oneontanyhistorian.com. His columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/opinion/columns/.