Our mindsets are about to turn to summer, now that Memorial Day weekend is upon us. The spring of 1944 was reaching its end and it had been a busy time all around.
Local college semesters ended later, and in the wrapping up of another wartime academic year, there was an official transfer taking place for Hartwick College.
As The Oneonta Star of April 26 told readers, “Transfer of the real property of Hartwick seminary at Hartwick Seminary to Hartwick college as one of the steps to the establishment of a strongly-endowed school of religion at the institution here has been approved by County Judge Joseph P. Molinari on petition of the trustees of the seminary, made through Seybolt & Seybolt as attorneys.”
Hartwick College could use some, but not all of what was still near Cooperstown, but as The Star continued, “Included in the transfer is the large three-story classrooms and dormitory building, parts of which are more than a century old, a single-story gymnasium, the modern brick bungalow long occupied by the late Dr. J.G. Traver, two two-story dormitory buildings, and a caretaker dwelling, as well as accessory buildings. In addition there is the Burditt farm of 130 acres, purchased some years ago. The buildings have not been regularly used by the seminary for many years, but part of them have been leased recently by government agencies.”
At the Oneonta State Teachers College campus, The Star of May 5 reported, “Evident desire to solve community problems locally instead of depending on government aid, featured the conference of 60 agricultural and other leaders at STC yesterday. Charles W. Hunt, STC president, welcomed the group.
“In an afternoon address Dr. Robert Polson, extension rural sociologist at Cornell university, Ithaca, discussed problems of soldiers who will return to civilian life, suffering from the shock of war. Some, he said, will want to live an outdoor life, and others will turn to farming to escape mingling with large numbers of people.
“Discussing wartime solutions to the farm labor problems, Dr. Polson said Oneonta had the best record of any community in the state in the season of 1943 in accepting and working with outsiders. He mentioned bean pickers, many of whom plan to return this year.”
In fact, as The Star of May 6 reported, “Several hundred New York city youths will form a farm labor pool this summer to offer their services to Otsego and other state farmers in a program designed to minimize acute farm labor shortages.” About 200 boys would become available soon for the area.
Not only on farms, area residents were doing their part to produce their own food. As The Star of May 24 reported, “Although the need for victory gardens is more urgent than ever, the number of Oneontans planning gardens is smaller than in 1943, and A.O. Ingerham, victory garden chairman for the War council, urged everyone enrolled in last year’s program to sign up again, and stressed the need for many new gardeners. In one plot, where every garden was taken a year ago, 17 are unrented.”
Memorial Day fell on a Tuesday that year, and as The Star reported on May 29, “Beginning with decoration of veterans’ graves Sunday morning, observation of Memorial day will continue Tuesday morning with the annual parade at 9:30, following by exercises in Riverside cemetery with an address by Rev. Roscoe Conkling Hatch, Episcopal rector at Richfield Springs and chaplain of the 2nd regiment, NYG. The usual GAR ritual will be carried out.” The Riverside Cemetery is found in back of the First Presbyterian Church.
At Sunday services, The Star continued, “‘The future is in our hands. We can make it, mar it, or ruin it,’ said Rev. Louis van Ess, rector of St. James Episcopal church, in a challenging sermon at the union Memorial service in First Methodist church last evening.
“‘We have before us the future, with its vast panorama of responsibilities and its deep valleys of despair. We solve no problems, build no cities, win no battles except as we look ahead. Never has a nation like ours has such power in its hands as we have.’”
On Wednesday, a new hospital for Margaretville in 1967.