Years Ago
This column is a revitalized weekly addition to the paper. The following moments in history are selected, researched, and edited by Skaneateles High School students enrolled in Kate Hardy’s 10th grade Honors English class. For the next school year they hope to celebrate the past and remember the days from years ago. Thank you to the Skaneateles Library and the Historical Society for providing the Press archives.
10 Years Ago
10 years ago Tim’s Pumpkin Patch celebrated their 20th anniversary. This year, it will be their 30th and their business is thriving! Erica, from Tim’s Pumpkin Patch said, “We started out as a little farm stand…We attribute our success to keeping things simple, affordable, and putting in the hard work.” Many people go to Tim’s Pumpkin Patch every year as a tradition looking for those perfect pumpkins. The pumpkin patch has been steadily growing and expanding over the years and has become even more family oriented. Head over to Tim’s Pumpkin Patch on Rose Hill Rd Marietta to help them celebrate!
25 Years Ago
25 years ago, President Bush outlined national educational goals for the United States, due to low test scores in math and science in the year 1991. The Skaneateles Press explained how The Golden Rule Insurance Co. announced a plan to pay for private education for low income students; they claimed this would create competition in public schools, driving better education and test scores. However, 25 years later, American math and science scores still rank around 30 out of 60 countries; which continues to shows a relevant need for educational improvement. 2016 presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, have both proposed separate plans to invest large amounts of money for American education, with emphasis on paying tuitions for low income families. This being said, as in 1991, quality education for all still remains a major issue today.
50 Years Ago
This week in 1966 the Skaneateles Lakers won a soccer game for the very first time in their history. They had gone two consecutive seasons without a single win. It was in their third season that they beat West Genesee with a score of 4-2. Five out of the starting eleven had never played soccer before in their lives. The third year of Skaneateles soccer was coach Al Kise’s first year coaching. He would later lead the Lakers on for 24 seasons and 298 victories, and then he would spend three more seasons coaching the girls’ team. Kise’s team won the sectional championships five times and took three teams to the state finals. In previous articles, Kise has been praised for bringing a feeling of joy and passion about soccer to the town. Today, Skaneateles Lakers varsity soccer coach Aaron Moss does just that. Moss hosts camps throughout the summers to keep kids’ interest levels up. Both Moss and Kise have helped to bring enthusiasm to the sport and keep kids always playing soccer. This year, Moss and the Lakers have a record of 5-3-3.
75 Years Ago
An announcement was published in the Press about an upcoming school dance in the Skaneateles gymnasium. The dance would take place on a Thursday night in the fall of 1941, from 8 to 12 pm. Sponsored by the student council, the funds from the event were raised to provide busses for fans and players to go to out-of-town games. Today the Skaneateles High School still has a beginning of the school year dance that goes from 7 to 10pm on a Friday night, with the funds being raised for the junior class prom; which will take place in the spring.
100 Years Ago
In early October, the Skaneateles War Relief Committee started to prepare for the 1916 “Christmas in the Trenches” in connection with the National War Relief Committee, urging the village residents to participate. Those involved were asked to prepare small packages filled with a total of 8 items; 6 “useful items”, a postcard from the gift package donor and a small game or puzzle. Some of the useful items that were recommended include knives, combs, toothpaste, socks, and washcloths, among other things, for personal use. The act of the Skaneateles villagers helped to encourage the importance of family during hard times and taking care of each other. Today, there are still soldiers abroad who do not get to be at home with their loved ones during the holidays. There are organizations, such as Boots on the Ground NY that send care packages to American soldiers around the world. As you prepare for the holidays, consider donating or sending a care package to someone away from home.
