You might say a few new developments “came in for a landing” in Oneonta during June 1959.
As readers of The Oneonta Star of June 18 found out, “The newest private airport in Otsego County could really be tabbed “A Labor of Love.” For it was deep interest in flying, and a desire to bring a private airfield service to Oneonta that prompted Albert J. Fortin and Harold Felske to invest several thousand dollars in an airstrip.
“Nearing completion the 3,000-foot airstrip, longest private field in Otsego County, should be ready about July 4.
“The strip, located on ground where Mr. Fortin lives about a half mile south of Emmons on the West Davenport road and owned by his father-in-law, Vyrle Young, runs in a north-northwest, south-southeast direction. The northern end of the field faces in the direction of the Susquehanna River.
“The two men have spent the last year working on the field. They did almost all the labor themselves, cutting down scores of old thorn apple trees and making ready for the bulldozer.
“‘We had the land leveled and then planted grass. Our field is 150 feet wide and is an ideal spot for landing small private aircraft,’ Mr. Felske said.”
The airstrip would soon become known as the F&F Airport, on grounds we know today as Fortin Park. It was a first airport in Oneonta since 1954, when a public airport closed in the area of Country Club Road, Keyes Airport. F&F Airport operated until the late 1990s.
In another development, The Star of June 6 reported, “Oneontans enter a new telephone era tomorrow when more than 9,000 phones are converted to dial. New York Telephone Co. estimates the cost of more than $2 million.
“Brief ceremonies this afternoon will usher in the conversion which actually starts at 3:01 a.m. Sunday.
“Today’s ceremonies, starting at 2 p.m., will be held at both the old phone building on Dietz Street and the new one on Elm Street.
“Participants will tour the old building and view the equipment of by-gone days, watching preparations to cut the obsolete equipment out of service.” This was at today’s 1 Dietz St.
“Then they’ll tour the spanking new building and note preparations made to switch to dial.
“At 2:55 p.m. officials at Oneonta, N.Y. will dial their counterparts in Oneonta, Ala., and confer several minutes with their Southern confederates.
“Oneonta Mayor Roger G. Hughes will talk with Oneonta (Ala.) Mayor James W. Russum. Clarence Preston, of the Oneonta Chamber of Commerce, will talk with his southern counterpart. The same with telephone district manager D.F. Parce.
“Then Mayor Hughes will declare the Oneonta exchange ready to serve the public on a nationwide dial toll system.
“The dial era brings to an end years of local personal service, but the company plans to keep about two thirds of its operators for long distance, information and other telephone activities.”
“Oneonta’s dial phone exchange will be GEneral 2, as part of a Southern Tier dial code 607. Oneontans can dial other areas by using different codes before the regular phone number.”
The switchover went smoothly and telephone customers were welcomed to an open house at 17 Elm St. on Sunday, June 21.
Lastly, it was an old theme with a modern touch at another open house, as The Star reported on June 9, “The abandoned depot at the foot of Broad Street,” most recently known as the Stella Luna Ristorante, “teemed with activity again yesterday, much like the days before advent of the gasoline buggy.
“Crowds flocked back to the ancient station to see a modern marvel on a nearby siding. This was the innovation in cabooses, a modern luxury-safety creation that stands out like diesels over the venerable sunflower stacks of years back.
“The $25,000 all-steel beauty, placed on exhibition by the Delaware & Hudson Railroad, made a big hit in this railroad town.”
This weekend, Norwich created its own YMCA.