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
A highlight was posted in the Skaneateles Press regarding the Charlie Major Nature Trail and available tours given by Major himself. On this tour, participants would get a glimpse of the former water powered industries and remains from the days of the Short Line Rail Road. The tour was on April 21 at 10am, and was approximately an hour in length. Today, you can enjoy the nature walk any day of the week free of charge. The maintained trail is just under a mile. Dogs are welcome.
25 Years
Twenty five years ago, Coldwell Banker had the largest open house in real estate history. They opened 70+ houses to the public in one day. According to the article it was an “opportune time” to buy a home or property because interest rates were lower than they had been in 18 years. Coldwell Banker has done well for themselves since then. According to the Coldwell Banker website, in the past year, they sold 131 properties in the Skaneateles area. They currently have houses ranging from twenty thousand to 2.5 million dollars listed for sale. Coldwell Banker has been serving the people of Skaneateles for 111 years.
50 Years
In 1967, Shell Oil Company hosted the game “Americana”, which was a cash prize game for customers. Players could go to participating Shell gas stations and try to find matching halves of dollar bills that would win them money based on that denomination. While Shell doesn’t do this anymore, game-lovers can get their fix by participating in the Tops Markets’ Monopoly game. Players of this game collect game tags each time they shop at Tops which are then used to fill up a monopoly board. Certain sections of the board offer different prizes like money and trips. This game started March 26th and lasts until June 17th, so make your way to a Tops Market today! You never know.
75 Years
In today’s world where each American on average produces 4.3 pounds of garbage per day, it may be shocking to know that even 75 years ago people were aware of the amount of waste they contributed and its effect on our planet. From April 13th-April 18th a “Week of Clean-Up” was advertised to promote recycling scrap metals and materials that could be used to make battleships for World War II. Another article in the same edition of the Press describes waste as a preventable parasite, destroying our Earth and thriving off of our carelessness. A new service was created in 1942 to collect and recycle old magazines and newspapers monthly in an effort to reduce their environmental impact. With Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, we encourage you to take this opportunity and join us in doing what you can to help our planet.
100 Years
While some people hold canned food drives to help those in need, the manager of a theater in New Jersey thought outside the can a century ago when he charged two potatoes per person to attend a matinee. The Spudraiser accumulated 75 bushels of potatoes. At 50 pounds per bushel, that was 3750 pounds of spuds! Although some criticized the manager for overcharging, (potatoes were $3.50 per bushel), it was undeniably a creative way to help the poor in his city.
