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

… Richard Besse returned from the windswept, old isle of England, and wrote a small article about its Lake District. In it he describes the remarkable similarities it bears to New York’s very own Finger Lakes Region. In fact the Finger Lakes and the lakes in the Lake District may as well be brothers. Both were parented by the long, frictional journey of glaciers, and were carved out thin and deep by the massive ice, then filled with water as the glaciers melted and died. There is a similar beauty in the Lake District, and it captures the imagination and inspires joy for the Britons, just as the Finger Lakes provide us with months of entertainment and delight. Three of the lakes there are municipal water sources, and they go unfiltered into the pipes and faucets of the towns, just as Skaneateles Lake has been largely unfiltered for drinking water.

One of the most vital similarities, though, is that both regions face a similar menace. Besse describes how the lakes’ own beauty endanger them, with the two-lane highways leading eventually to their shores stretched tumid with the traffic traversing them. This observation made by Besse may be more prescient than he thought at the time.

Today, the Finger Lakes Region of Central New York, including Skaneateles Lake, and the Lake District of England remain popular tourist spots for sightseers; however, their attractiveness to tourists is in jeopardy. As readers know, Skaneateles experienced a very alarming algae bloom in the summer of 2017. For the first time in centuries, native species of these lakes are facing threats to their very existence.  But it’s not too late.  There are many nonprofit organizations, including the National Wildlife Federation, that are doing whatever they can to prevent algae blooms in some of the most beautiful lakes in the world.  As citizens of Skaneateles, we can attend conferences that discuss solutions to the threats that are endangering the ecosystem of our lake.  Hopefully, Skaneateles Lake will remain a safe place for generations to come.

40 Years Ago

…An ad was published in the Skaneateles Press for a program at the Albany Savings Bank known as the Rainbow Account. The Rainbow Account allowed users to invest any amount from $1,000-$50,000, and the money would earn 8.28% interest per year. In addition, after one year, account holders would get to choose one of a variety of luxury items to keep. The items were categorized into groups based on the amount of money in the account, ranging from items such as a chain saw for $1,000 invested, up to a brand-new Corvette for $50,000 invested. The only catch was that the money had to remain in the Rainbow Account for four years, and could not be used during this time period. This deal is amazing compared to today’s banking norms, as modern banks usually offer an interest rate for savings accounts of less than 1%. Online banks sometimes offer slightly better rates, but no bank, to the best of our knowledge, will give an investor a free Corvette.

60 Years Ago

… an article published in the Press addressed an opportunity given to two local teachers of Cayuga County, which allowed them to attend a Family Financing Workshop at Syracuse University. The workshop took place over the course of six weeks. Mrs. M. Alva S. Pitman and Bernard Van Derveer were among forty-five other teachers from the northeastern region granted a scholarship to attend. Today, local teachers are still taking advantage of free time in the summer months to brush up on their profession. This year, Syracuse University hosted local school teachers for an International Studies Summer Institute in partnership with Cornell University. The Institute highlighted cultural sustainability, which focused on specific world regions and shared multimedia resources teachers can then use in their classrooms next school year. Five Skaneateles High School educators were in attendance: Mr. Guy, Mrs. McConochy, Mrs. Hardy, Ms. Kramerson and Ms. Cinelli.

80 Years Ago

… the Press published an article advertising sweet corn for the upcoming summer festivities. It’s that time of year to start purchasing fresh and in season sweet corn for family get-togethers, parties, and cookouts. There are many local farm stands around Skaneateles offering this seasonal favorite side dish. Not only can you eat corn at the dinner table though. You can also use corn to make one of America’s favorite snacks – popcorn. There are several companies in CNY that make their own including Ma & Pa’s Kettle Corn & Popcorn Factory in Liverpool. Popcorn is a great way to enjoy corn all year round.

100 Years Ago

… The Democrat published an advertisement for Camel cigarettes. This company eventually became known for its camel mascot and used these advertisements to draw in young adults. Joe Camel, the name of their mascot, was prominently featured in the ads, often in ‘cool’ situations and popular outfits in order to emphasize his ‘smooth character.’ Today, cigarettes have largely been replaced by electronic cigarettes. These new devices, meant to help people quit smoking, have become increasingly popular among teens because of their fruity flavors. Certain e-cigarette companies, such as Juul, have gotten in an immense amount of legal trouble for targeting a younger audience with an addictive and potentially dangerous product. With companies publishing these persuasive advertisements, it is imperative that children are aware of the risks. Talk to your kids about the dangers related to smoking.