If area residents gathered at “Expo 74” at the Oneonta Armory in late September, there were lots of things to talk about, if they took a few minutes away from the exhibits, to visit with friends and neighbors.
The Expo was the fifth annual Home Show, sponsored by The Daily Star, attended by thousands to see over 40 exhibits. It opened Sept. 27.
Chances were good that the attendees had an opportunity to visit between exhibits and talk about the happenings of the time.
Earlier in the month, The Star had reported on Sept. 9, “President Ford granted Richard M. Nixon ‘a free, full and absolute pardon’ Sunday for any criminal conduct during his presidency, and Nixon responded with a statement of remorse at ‘my mistake over Watergate.’”
Reaction was mixed with Oneonta residents. Nora Green, for example said, “I’m outraged. I think the man is definitely guilty and I think that before Ford ever got into office he made a deal with Nixon to give him a pardon. I’ll have no confidence in Ford after this.”
On the other hand, a woman who didn’t give her name said, “We’ve had enough of this Watergate stuff and Nixon has had enough grief to contend with. I think it’s time to forget this political nonsense and get on with the real problems of the day.”
One could rest assured people at the Home Show talked about tension in the city, as The Star of Sept. 28 informed readers, “The Oneonta Teachers Association called the first strike in the city’s history yesterday morning, forcing district officials to cancel classes for the day.
“At least 160 of the 180 teachers participated in the work stoppage called after contract talks broke down.
“The strike vote was nearly unanimous at an early morning meeting of the association in the Holiday Inn on Southside,” today’s Quality Inn.
“Shortly after the meeting, teachers threw up picket lines at each of the district’s six schools, that brought a complete halt to the normal activities in the schools.” The writer was among the many students who had a day off.
District personnel manager Francis Doherty said the strike would be over quickly, and it was. “He said classes were cancelled…because there was not enough time to contact substitute teachers to come to class. Teachers, however, claimed that substitutes refused to heed the district’s requests to cross the picket lines.”
Tension had built since the first day of school and the strike ended peacefully and on a positive note, but tension was about to return, as dealing with the school budget and increased teacher salaries could possibly lead to staff cuts in the district.
While there was tension to talk about at the Armory, there was danger as well, as The Star of Sept. 9 had reported, “Evel Knievel’s much heralded attempt to rocket across the Snake River Canyon failed when a parachute deployed too early and sent him plunging into the bottom of the canyon Sunday. He was quickly rescued from his Sky-Cycle at the bottom of the 600-foot chasm.
“A spokesman for the promoters of the stunt, which will net Knievel millions despite his failure, said the motorcycle jumper from Butte, Mont., suffered ‘possible internal injuries.’” Knievel didn’t rule out the possibility of another attempt to clear the canyon.
At the Home Show, many were probably talking politics, other than Watergate. The Star continued from Sept. 28, “Visiting the show yesterday were Republican candidates for Congress, Bill Bush and Al Libous, and other Republican candidates — Assemblyman Charles Cook for re-election, June Hotaling for Otsego County Clerk and James Higgins for Otsego County treasurer.
“Democratic candidate for county clerk Deane Winsor and Senator Mary Anne Krupsak are expected to attend the show today.”
This weekend, help for the harvest in September 1944.