Years Ago

This column, contributed by Skaneateles Honors English students from the class of 2022, is written to connect the past to the present by revisiting articles from years ago. The students would like to thank the Skaneateles Historical Society for providing the archives and Eagle Newspapers for publishing their words.

20 Years Ago

… The Skaneateles Press published an article about Kaitlin Corona, a Skaneateles freshman, who earned an award at the Greater Syracuse Science Fair for a survey she conducted on teen depression. She discovered that out of 40 surveyed students “55 percent have thought of suicide at least once.” Shockingly, Corona also found that 99% of those surveyed knew someone who had thought of suicide at least once. It is important to note the potentially skewed statistics of Corona’s survey based on its small survey size.  According to childtrends.org, the rate of teen suicidal thoughts stands at 17% as of 2017. If you or someone you know is struggling, there is always help. You can reach out to friends, family, respected individuals, or you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

40 Years Ago

… The Fifth Annual Benefit Mixed Doubles Tennis Tournament was held to raise money for Arc of Onondaga. The tournament was held at Limestone Tennis Club. The money raised in this tournament would support Arc’s facilities and services. Arc of Onondaga is still around today and is one of the largest providers of services to people with developmental disabilities in Onondaga County. Arc of Onondaga serves over 1,000 people and their families, and also provides jobs for over 500 people. Arc of Onondaga has around 40 different sites throughout Central New York and provides a variety of opportunities for those with developmental disabilities. There are many ways you can get involved and help support or raise money for Arc of Onondaga. Registration is now open for the Dunkin’ Run ARC Race which will happen in September at Long Branch Park. To learn more go to Arc of Onondoga’s website: arcon.org/.

60 Years Ago

… The Skaneateles Press published a story describing the Sophomore Circus, a local fundraiser held by Skaneateles High School’s tenth grade students. The Sophomore Circus has been an annual tradition for many years, and every successive sophomore class has been in charge of putting it together. Currently, the funds raised from the circus are spent on the student’s prom the following year. A few weeks ago, on March 13, this year’s circus was scheduled to be held in the Skaneateles High School’s gym. The event was unfortunately cancelled; however, we’re hopeful it will be rescheduled later this school year and continue to be an annual tradition in our community.

80 Years Ago

… The Skaneateles Country Club was planning to reopen on May 15 after closing for the winter season. A meeting was held to determine the heads of committees which were appointed by president of the board of directors, Howard Will. The committees included greens, the house, sailing, membership, tournaments, and entertainment. This meeting took place at the Barber’s Lodge, a business that cooked the food for both the Skaneateles Country Club and the Auburn Country Club until 1944. Like in years past, the board was planning for an active season of sailing and golfing, with the annual spring party scheduled for June 10. The country club also held weekly dances for members. Today, the Skaneateles Country Club has been a big part of the Skaneateles community for 105 years and opens at the end of spring until late September each year. However, the restaurant and special events rooms are available year round. We look forward to taking advantage of the club’s waterfront and other facilities when it returns this spring.

100 Years Ago

… Chairman Butler of the House Committee reported to Congress that America’s navy will be about equal to British by 1924, when it was stated that Britain would have 60 battleships, the United States 47, France 26, Japan 15, and Italy 13. Even though Great Britain would have more ships, America would be equal in fighting power. From 1942-1944, the United States had officially outranked Britain in their navy. America’s navy was greatly expanding during this time due to the war. Today, the United States has skyrocketed in the number of ships they have, while Britain has stayed within the same range. Our country has a whopping 415 naval ships (according to businessinsider), while Britain has only grown by 29, totaling 89 warships today (according to reuters.com). Within the past century, these two powers have changed dramatically in military strength. Both are notable, but the U.S. has outmatched Britain’s naval power greatly.