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.

20 Years Ago

Skaneateles students went to the world competition of Odyssey of the Mind in Tennessee. Established on Sept. 2, 1969, Odyssey of the Mind is an international competition in which students from grades three to twelve are given a certain problem, a riddle of some sort, and, given certain stipulations, they must find a solution to that problem. At the state’s competition, the Skaneateles team succeeded in this, out-performing the others. By winning the state competition, the team qualified to compete in the World Competition in Knoxville. Then they faced another obstacle, not posed to them by OOTM: money. They needed to raise money to finance the trip. A silent auction, at a celebration called Just Desserts raised 1,200 dollars toward the team’s goal. Various items had been donated to the auction by students, members of the team, teachers, and other people in the community. The winner of the auction received a boat trip around Skaneateles Lake with wine and cheese at hand, donated by the Sherwood Inn. The freshman class also chipped in, donating half the proceeds from a dance to the OOTM team. And with help from numerous other donors, the team was able to compete at the world competition. Today, students from our elementary schools to our high school still participate in Odyssey of the Mind. Every year, students will perform their skits for the community the week of the Regional Competition at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES.  If a team from Skaneateles wins the regional competition, they qualify to compete in the State Competition, which is usually held in Binghamton. Nearly every year, a team from Skaneateles competes in the state competition. Last year, a team from Skaneateles’ State Street School won the states competition and went to the OOTM world competition, just like a team did 20 years ago. If OOTM sounds interesting to you, make sure to go to the annual community demonstration to support our district’s teams.

40 Years Ago

… a reader of the Skaneateles Press wrote a letter to the paper’s editor expressing his disgust with the state of the Skaneateles school system. The letter said that the board of education had done a poor job of pushing students to their maximum academic potential, and how the community was losing confidence in the ability of the school to provide children with a quality education. In the letter, the writer states that, “students should receive instruction and academic discipline to enable them to aim for the top.” Although we are unfamiliar with the specifics of the Skaneateles School District in 1979, it seems as though the concerns expressed in this letter have since been addressed, with Skaneateles High School being honored as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2018. In order to receive this prestigious distinction, schools must be in the top 15% of schools in its state, perform well on standardized reading and math examinations, in addition to other requirements. Skaneateles was one of only twelve high schools in New York State to be designated as a Blue Ribbon School.

60 Years Ago

… an advertisement in The Skaneateles Press was published, promoting the newly opened Skaneateles shop, Riddler’s, and the products sold there. At the time, Riddler’s was known for selling tobacco products, coffee, newspapers and candy. After a few changes in ownership the tobacco and candy store closed in May of 2014, and was replaced by F. Oliver’s. F. Oliver’s sold fine crafted oils and vinegars and was only in business at its Skaneateles location for four years. After the closing of F. Olivers, the building was bought by husband and wife, Blaine and Mackenzie Vossler, where they run a business called The Local Branch. The Local Branch sells handcrafted leather goods, jewelry, clothing, and accessories. For more information on this local business, check out their website at thelocalbranch.co, or go to their shop on 4 Jordan St., in Skaneateles N.Y.

80 Years Ago

… the Skaneateles Press published an article regarding the suggested summer trends which were known to be very popular. The article stated that in the 1930s women used to wear silk-print aprons and capes that were suggested to be tied back with black velvet strings. The article also recommended adding a collar or some vibrant buttons to an old item. Neither capes nor collars are particularly popular among today’s fashionistas; however, fashion trends of the 1970s seem to be circling back around with scrunchies, bell bottoms, and jean jackets making a comeback. It’s always a good idea to hold on to your most treasured articles of clothing for they’re certain to become favorites again a few decades down the road.

100 Years Ago

… The Democrat published an article informing the public about the upcoming ceremony to honor the fallen soldiers who died in France during World War I. The memorial took place in the Suresnes, an American cemetery near Paris. There, President Woodrow Wilson delivered a speech to acknowledge the lives lost. Today, the United States commemorates those who serve our country in a variety of ways. The Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act prohibits protests within 300 feet of the entrance of any cemetery under control of the National Cemetery Administration. Traditional ways of honoring veterans include leaving poppies at cemeteries, visiting memorials, and having parades on both Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day. Even just flying the American flag is a gesture of respect.