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 decade ago this week, The Skaneateles Press published an article concerning underage drinking. Nick Fedchenko was asked to come to the high school to talk about the topic. He covered the consequences of drinking and how it affects your life, in an attempt to keep teens sober. Next month, on May 11th the district will be hosting another guest speaker, to address the students of Skaneateles middle and high school, Marion Blumenthal. She is a Holocaust survivor, who will be speaking to enlighten and inspire young students not just at Skaneateles, but schools across the country. You can learn more by visiting her website at fourperfectpebbles.com/.
25 Years
Twenty five years ago this week, several articles were published in The Skaneateles Press about the school district’s budget. The proposed budget for the 1992 school year was 12 million dollars. This year the proposed budget has increased to over 32 million dollars. It is important to note that there has only been a 2 percent increase since last year. The increase from 1992 is due to inflation and efforts that have been made to improve the school district, such as staffing additions, new programming classes in the technology department, and school renovations. These numbers however are susceptible to change once the state aid comes through.
50 Years
Fifty years ago this week, an advertisement ran in the Press marketing a “Destroilet”, a unique incinerator designed as a toilet to eliminate waste. Advertised as “safe, sanitary, sure”, Bobbett Gas Service offered installation of the “Destroilet” through a complete LP (liquefied petroleum) gas service. Today, the incinerating contraption is an oddity of the past, however in its place, a similar device exists called the “Incinolet”. Modernized with electric plumbing and a wide variety of seat colors, the Dallas company “Incinolet” sells a product that is virtually the “Destroilet” of today and they have a big sale on all “Incinolets” during the month of April!
75 Years
In 1942, the Skaneateles Press published advertisements in favor of the war effort. The ad included a cartoon, featuring Hitler, Mussolini, and Hirohito. It was paired with an article encouraging citizens to buy war bonds. During the Second World War, the US pushed to raise funds to produce ships, tanks, guns, and other necessities for combat. Their goal was 10 billion dollars in one year. To do our part, Skaneateles had roughly 25 locations where bonds were sold. The article requested that “everybody, you, me, us, all” gave what they could. What do you think the US government would have us all do today?
100 Years
One hundred years ago this week, the Skaneateles Press published an article that informed readers where the United States’ common imports were coming from. Wool from Iceland, cotton from China, beans from Brazil, and lobsters from South Africa showed eccentric trade patterns and a reliance on foreign nations. Now, the United States is far less reliant on other countries for these particular products. The topic of foreign trade had a direct correlation with WWI, which was the main concern for Skaneateles residents in April, 1917.
