Whether they were re-purposed, newly built, demolished or in the works, buildings were making news around Oneonta in August 1974.
Likewise, a new means of getting to these and other places in the city and town was inaugurated.
As far as re-purposing, The Daily Star of Aug. 3 reported, “Urban Development Corporation officials were caught by surprise…when a message from Oneonta State President Clifford Craven explained that the college hoped to have 440 students at Homer Folks Hospital during the coming academic year.”
The former tuberculosis hospital grounds are occupied by the Oneonta Job Corps Academy. The hospital had closed in 1973 and state officials were looking to use the grounds for a new purpose.
“Oneonta State badly needs bed space to avoid having to triple many of its students and would like the building on a temporary basis.
“Last year, the college was granted permission to house students in the nurses quarters and the arrangements proved to be popular on the campus.
“The college is betting that the normal state bureaucratic process will leave the facility vacant until the spring of 1975, making it practical for students to live there this year.”
The old hospital grounds went without a major tenant until Job Corps opened in 1980.
A new building project came along, as Star readers of Aug. 7 learned the Pindars Corners Fire Department made an addition to their firehouse, practically with their own hands and on a limited budget.
“It all started out, Fire Commissioner Ben Beams says, when Robert Chambers donated a 300 by 135 foot plot of ground facing Route 23 almost across the highway from the intersection of the West Davenport Road.
“With that contribution as the incentive, firemen came up with plans to build the new 40 by 80 foot structure, which will contain four bays for the equipment.” They hoped to keep the cost of material, plumbing, electrical work and heating to around $20,000, primarily relying on volunteer labor.
While that building was ready to go up, another was coming down as The Star of Aug. 8 reported, “The city is planning to purchase Clifton Root’s house at 54 West Street to improve the sight distance at ‘Crash Corner,’ the intersection of West and Center Streets.
“The city will allow Root to remove a new furnace and some plumbing fixtures from the house prior to demolition.”
Future buildings also made news as The Star of Aug. 10 reported, “A major industrial development site south of the Pony Farm Road is drawing a lot of attention from city, town and county officials.
“The site is in the Town of Oneonta, would require City of Oneonta utilities and would be developed through the Otsego County Industrial Development Agency.
“A meeting was held this week between Oneonta Mayor James Lettis, Town Supervisor Les Foster, County Planner Robert Augenstern, John Checchia of the Southern Tier East Regional Planning Board and others to begin resolving some of the problems of developing the 40-acre site. These include a working agreement between the city and town, the determination of a sponsor for the project, and a procedure to follow in the numerous applications for available federal funds.
“The cost of developing the land with water, sewer, storm sewer and roads is tentatively pegged at $500,000.” It is known today as the Oneonta Business Park.
With the exception of the fire house, Oneontans could get to and from these buildings and more by a new kind of transportation. Star readers of Aug. 13 found out, “Here’s how you can ride Oneonta’s new dial-a-bus system, dubbed the ‘Go-Line’ by city officials.
“It’s easy — call the dispatcher…give him your name, location and the time you would like to be picked up. If possible, place your call about 45 minutes in advance. A spur of the moment call will entail an average wait of 20 minutes.”
The Go-Line rates were 65 cents for a regular fare, 35 cents for students and 25 cents for senior citizens. The new service continued into the early 1980s.
This weekend, our local life and times during the summer of 1934.