With longer days, warmer temperatures and a growing season fast approaching, there can be a sense of optimism about spring.
Not necessarily for our lawns, gardens and such, but also about a growing economy. This could be said about Sidney, 100 years ago in spring.
As the Sidney Record of April 12, 1924 reported, “During the past week local business men of Sidney incorporated as a stock company for $10,000.00 for the sale of CINCH, a scientific preparation combined of twenty-six different ingredients, each and every one a cleaner, disinfector or preserver of its own.
“It cleans rugs, carpets, draperies, tapestry, silks, satins, cottons, woolens, woodwork, tile, polished furniture, cut glass, linoleum, lace curtains, blankets, kid gloves, clothing, hair brushes, linen lampshades, in fact anything that plain water will not harm. It will remove a spot or stain from any material without leaving a ‘ring.’
Even in the 21st century, many a cabinet may contain a bottle of Cinch in it, made by a company called KIK Consumer Products. While an online search of the product’s history after Sidney was unsuccessful, one might speculate that the product made here was bought by a larger company and the name was kept.
The Record continued, “The factory is located on Cartwright avenue and orders are beginning to come in. Soon Cinch will be the by-word of every home, as the men behind this organization will ensure its success.
“Watch it grow. We have something that is different than anything on the market. Distributors are being signed up every day.”
With winter’s end comes spring cleanup, and as the Record of May 17 reported, “If spring pouts and sours like a little girl that’s told she can’t go to the show, our Main street and other store windows don’t resemble that little girl. They look brighter than ever and Main street generally keeps up a prosperous atmosphere.
“Kipp’s grocery windows are always the year around centers of attraction, appetizing appeal for the best market values in that line and with every order Myron chucks in a 2×4 inch smile and a good word besides.
“F.E. Buddenhagen’s front windows always have a dressy appearance, never overcrowded; you can see the very latest on the outside and you know the prices before you go in and once inside reckon on F.E.B. to do his level best to please and satisfy.”
These were but a few of many store descriptions.
In recent years in many places across America, there have been moves to de-fund police forces. Apparently in 1924 the same was true around Sidney and the state.
Record readers of May 3 learned, “Those who are blessed with memory that goes back three or four years will recall. About that time a distant movement on part of certain elements in New York State to abolish the State Troopers and some high officials at Albany were in favor of that proposition.
“Public sentiment, even at that time ran high in favor of retaining the protection afforded by the State Troopers system appreciating the elasticity of its movements upon instant call to overhaul malefactors and criminals.
“It was obvious even at that time that the Trooper control was vastly swifter than the old and slower methods of apprehending violators of the law. This public sentiment in favor of the State Troopers has since been greatly strengthened and their efficiency as an arm of the law has been more widely recognized throughout the Empire State.
“In proof of this the Record points to the new law signed last Thursday by Gov. Alfred E. Smith, providing for increase of salary for the N.Y. State Troopers and the addition of 20 more Troopers at each one of the six Trooper Barracks in the state.”
With one of those barracks in Sidney, this news was no doubt music to the ears of local residents. More money could be spent in those downtown stores, or perhaps, new stock investment for that new product, Cinch.
On Wednesday, life on the Hartwick College campus in May 1954.