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Thursday, 2022 Thursday,June June30, 3, 2021
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B-2 Summer Dreams
Thursday June 30, 2022
what’s fun in Otsego County
BEST BETS
Celebrate Pride Month and attend Pride Prom with the Otsego Pride Alliance. Must be aged 18+ to attend and 21+ to drink from the cash bar. Tickets are $10 per person, with 25 percent of the proceeds supporting the Alliance. Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta; Thursday, June 30 at 7 p.m.
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Learn more about this summer’s Glimmerglass Festival on Friday, July 1, with the final 2022 Talking Opera program, held at the First Baptist Church, 21 Elm Street, Cooperstown. Conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya and Director Chloe Treat are working together on the “Double Bill” this season and will offer insights into Taking Up Serpents and Holy Ground, staging July 29 through August 20 at Glimmerglass Festival.‘Taking Up Serpents’ is about the journey 25-year-old Kayla takes home when her fire-andbrimstone preacher father is bitten by a serpent. The story explores question faith, family, and destiny, with shocking results. ‘Holy Ground’ is a comedy about three archangels drowning their sorrows as the apocalypse approaches and the messiah has yet to be born. Parking is available in the Baptist Church parking lot. Doors for Talking Opera open at 6:30 p.m., and there is an elevator for individuals needing handicap access. The program
begins at 7 p.m., is free and open to the public, and recorded and posted at the Guild website: www.glimmerglassguild.org.
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Of course you need more books! The Friends of the Village Library in Cooperstown ends its 2022 book sale on Saturday, July 2, and Sunday, July 3 with its ever-popular bag sale. Fill any sized bag you choose and fill it up with used books for only $5 per bag. Find the book sale on the Fair Street side of the Village Library at 22 Main Street in Cooperstown. 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.
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Hijinks ensue when two men fall in love with the same woman in William Shakespeare’s “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” a story about the price of friendship, betrayal, finding true love, and the limitations of man’s best friend performed by a six-person production of ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona.’ Free admission, donations appreciated. Franklin Stage Company, 25 Institute St., Franklin. 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 1 and Saturday, July 2, and at 3 and 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 3.
►ON THE COVER Main Street Cooperstown, 1937 Photo: Arthur Rothstein
Thursday June 30, 2021
Summer Dreams B-3
Otsego County in 1937: Smithy exhibition highlights a region on brink of change Ted Potrikus
The third floor of The Smithy Gallery & Clay Studio doubles this summer as a time tunnel back to the era of the Great Depression with the magnificent exhibition “American Ideals: Picturing Otsego County in 1937,” on display through September 3 at 55 Pioneer Street in Cooperstown. It’s a project that began in 2016 when Dr. Cynthia Falk and students from the Cooperstown Graduate Program, Lynds Jones, Kim McCleary, Kimberly Rose, and Alex Sniffen, researched pictures from September 1937, when the federal Farm Security Administration sent young photographer Arthur Rothstein to Otsego County to document the construction of a new lumber mill under construction in Phoenix Mills. Mr. Rothstein was at the beginning of a decades-long career as a photojournalist — one best remembered, perhaps, for his stirring images of the Dust Bowl — but it’s his work from a brief stay in Otsego County that make up the images now on display. “This is 1937 Otsego County,” Dr. Falk said. “The Farm Security Administration sent Arthur Rothstein up here to document the Phoenix Mills project that many saw as the thing that would save farmers in Otsego County during the Great Depression. Hops were not doing so well and there were a lot of people in need.” “They sent this young, enthusiastic photographer to document the construction,” she said. “He did do that — some of the construction images are pretty good and have that 1930s vibe.” “But two other things he did that are fantastic and what the FSA would become known for — he took pictures of people and he took pictures of small towns,” Dr. Falk continued. “He visited the families of some of the workers who he’s meeting at the sawmill and he photographs them at home.” “The people add so much to the story he was sent to tell,” she said. “He could’ve just taken pictures of the construction. He did more than that.” The exhibition’s images indeed tell more than construction — photographs of Otsego County families in 1937 in Depression-era kitchens and living rooms, outside at work with their horses and cattle, headed to work. “He has this story he has to tell,” Dr. Falk says of Mr. Rothstein. “There are all these lumbering resources here in the county. The FSA’s initial thing was to take farmers off bad land and relocate them somewhere else — that’s where his Dust Bowl pictures begin. By 1937, though, it’s not to take them anywhere else. It’s to show them to recognize what’s here, then figure out how to use it.” A captivating corner of the gallery’s display shows Cooperstown’s Main Street as it existed on one early autumn day in 1937. “It looks to me like one day he decides to take a walk down Main Street,” Dr. Falk said. “He captures what Cooperstown was like in the late 1930s — Smalley’s, the gas station on the curb, the Cooper Inn sign. He was really interested in these small institutions like the bank, the Masonic Lodge, the Mohican Club. He captures Doubleday Field two years before the big bleachers project.” “It’s Cooperstown on the brink of change,” she said. “We don’t yet have the Hall of Fame, that’s still in 22 Main; there’s a sign for Cooper’s grave.” It’s an exhilarating walk through a single moment in time for Otsego County and for Cooperstown, on display through September 3 at The Smithy, Cooperstown’s oldest building. Located at 55 Main Street in Cooperstown, find more information about the Gallery and its work at www.smithyarts.org or by calling 607-547-8671.
B-4 Summer Dreams
Thursday June 30, 2022
Remembering Oneonta in the 1960s
Photo display bringing about oral history of Oneonta door handles still remaining on the long-gone discount store’s Growing up in Cooperstown front doors a few steps away at in the 1960s and 70s meant 203 Main Street. looking forward to a drive “I just saw noticed those again down to Oneonta, shopping on one of our guided walking at Bresee’s, Woolworth’s, tours around Oneonta,” she said. Barker’s, Jamesway, and “When I was growing up here I others — made special by the can’t tell you how many times I fact that Main Street stores used to go into ‘Building 203’ stayed open until 9 p.m. on and never really noticed that Thursdays. Surely it was the detail. It’s just another example same for others in the era, be of how we live in this amazing they Oneonta residents or visi- historical space.” tors from nearby villages – and Our discussion of all things it’s an era coming back to life Oneonta stemmed from a look through a summer-long exhibit at the Society’s “Remembering open to the public at the Greater Oneonta in the 1960s” exhiOneonta Historical Society’s bition — a photographic and 183 Main Street headquarters. burgeoning oral history of the “History is all around us city during a decade of growth here,” said Dr. Marcela Micucci, and transition. A photo display the Oneonta native appointed to sparks memories of frontbecome GOHS’s new director window displays and Bresee’s, in February 2021. She made the students moving books to the comment after we had chatted new library at SUCO, buildings briefly about the Woolworth’s long gone or transformed, a city GOHS Director Dr. Marcela Micucci in transition. “When we were envisioning what the 1960s exhibit could be, we wanted to do some25TH Annual Independence Day gathering (with potluck supper) thing different,” Dr. In memory of Louise Porter Moore Micucci said. “Instead Monday July 4th , 2022 • Concert at 4:00 of writing a script, we Presenting a musical tribute to the late could make the crux of CHARLES (CHUCK) SCHNEIDER the exhibition these oral history interviews, and featuring several musicians from featuring several musicians from past seasons whowho were close they would become the inpast the seasons past seasons were close friends/colleagues of Maestro Schneider script. Then it became friends/colleauges Maestro Schneider. a lot like our walking tours — kind of a nostalgic walk through Oneonta in the 1960s.” 2009 Clinton Road , Ft. Plain “That’s why we decided to name it ‘Remembering Johana aRnoLD, soprano KIM PaTERSon, pianist Oneonta in the aLonE ToGEThER: The Mollin-Clay Jazz Duo 1960s,’” she continued. JEREMY WaLL, composer/keyboardist “This decade is one of STEVE GoRn , bansuri (bamboo flute) momentous change nationally, but also For more information please call the Conservatory (607)263-5230 locally, and it has been really fascinating to FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC on a walk-in basis meet Oneontans and Please bring a dish to share if possible, Table services/Beverages provided. Presented as a gift to the community by the Catskill Conservatory. talk with them about Ted Potrikus
A QUIET CONCERT FOR THE FOURTH
Windfall Dutch Barn
their experiences – not only living in Oneonta, but also how they were understanding and assimilating all the changes happening nationally in the 1960s.” She’s collected a half-dozen interviews already — available for listening on the iPads at the exhibit — and plans to add many more throughout the summer. “We’ll find local residents willing to be interviewed,” she said. “They come in and talk about their experiences, their most vivid memories, the places they used to go and what they used to do. For me as a historian it has just been incredible. I get to sit and listen to these fantastic stories.” The photos serve as the jumping-off point for people going in to reminisce. “The images on the walls are just a nod to some of the things we’ve heard in the interviews, and also to the changes that took place in Oneonta in the 1960s,” Dr. Micucci said, then listed several transformative events from the decade. “The new high school, urban renewal, what people were doing on Broad Street. We have in the interviews a lot of people who were teenagers in the 60s — they remember going down to the YMCA on Broad Street, or Mosca’s Pizza, or going to Woolworth’s on a Thursday night. High school sports with the Iroquois League — that’s like Division I sports today.” “Collecting an oral history of this magnificent city, that’s the intention,” she said, noting that GOHS welcomes interviews with anyone who was in Oneonta in the 1960s. The Society’s permanent exhibit launched anew in mid-May of this year after a nearly five-month renovation to the building that included
Thursday June 30, 2022
Summer Dreams B-5
protecting its historic tile floor by carefully covering it with hardwood laminate. Visitors can still see the detailed flooring through a sturdy Plexiglas window — adding a special historic accent to the exhibit space. Dr. Micucci is an eager and knowledgeable tour guide with a special love for the city’s history. “Obviously I’m a nerd,” she says as we walk through the welcoming space. “We thought it was important to show all of Oneonta’s history and expanded from just one wall in the building to this chronological walk from the landscape in transition and early Native American history all the way to the George Floyd protests.” Starting with the title wall — “Small C o m m u n i t y, Big Ideas, G r e a t e r Oneonta” — the GOHS space takes the visitor on an informative tour through the city’s railThe GOHS permanent exhibition concludes road past, its with this ‘what’s next’ idea wall. days as the home of what has become the New York State Fair, urban renewal, downtown growth, and the infamous ‘Black List’ from 1992 that left scars throughout Oneonta. The permanent exhibit focuses, too, on the people and stories behind Oneonta’s past, present, and future. Along with a kids’ corner filled with activities, GOHS offers a tidy selection of societybranded gifts and collectibles sure to delight Oneontans at home and far away. The GOHS History Center is located at 183 Main Street in Oneonta, and is open to the public Wednesdays through Fridays from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission is free with donations appreciated. Find out more about the permanent exhibit, the GOHS walking tours, the ‘Remembering Oneonta in the 1960s’ opportunity and more at oneontahistory.org, and plan your visit today!
Norman Rockwell, (1894–1978), New Kids in the Neighborhood, 1967. Norman Rockwell Museum Trust, Licensed by Norman Rockwell Family Agency. All rights reserved.
Through September 18
310 Genesee Street, Utica, New York 315-797-0000 | mwpai.org
We thank our exhibition sponsors Christian and Cheryl Heilmann, Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D., Family of F. X. Matt II, Joseph Abraham, The John and Cynthia DeTraglia Fund of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, P. J. Green, Inc., Dr. W. Anthony and Carol B. Mandour, Nye and Company Auctioneers / Appraisers, and the Hon. Joan E. Shkane (ret.). Norman Rockwell has been organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Media sponsorship has been provided by Curtis Licensing, a division of The Saturday Evening Post.
®I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission.
B-6 Summer Dreams
Thursday June 30, 2022
Staff Picks
Our best bets for local dining
Cooley’s Stone House Tavern
Cooperstown Diner
49 Pioneer Street Cooperstown (607)-547-1311
136 ½ Main Street Cooperstown 607-282-4367
Cooley’s is the perfect place to get out for a casual evening with friends. It’s just off Main Street, on Pioneer Street, and close to everything. I really enjoyed the pot roast sandwich with mushrooms and Swiss cheese, and a side of fries. The meat was tender and juicy, and with the mushrooms and cheese, it was delicious. With the central location, delicious food, and cozy atmosphere, I would definitely recommend dropping by while exploring the Cooperstown Main Street. Larissa Ryan Office Manager
Don’t blink when you go down Main Street in Cooperstown or you may miss it! What a quaint, tiny, fantastic gem it is! There are four tables in the diner plus stools at the counter, so plan on a little wait for some fantastic diner food. And they just did the “changing of the table tops” for the current 2022 Hall of Famers. Each table features a jersey of a 2022 inductee. It doesn’t really matter what you start with, but my favorite is the mac ‘n cheese triangles. These perfectly fried little triangles of cheese love are delicious and just enough to get the
Sunday jazz brunch buffet on the delaware
aLONE TOGETHER: THE mOLLIN-cLaY jaZZ DUO
Rich Mollin, bass • Carleton Clay, trumpet PLaYIN G amERIca’S cLaSSIcaL mUSIc EVERY SUNDaY
caSTLE ON THE DELaWaRE 139 STOcKTON aVE, WaLTON Serving 11 am- 3 pm music starts at noon. For more information, go to castelonthedelaware.com (917) 348-7890
juices flowing for the biggest cheeseburger I’ve ever been served! Get the platter with curly fries and you won’t eat for days after! The tuna melts are grilled to perfection. They come with chips, but order the fries or huge onion rings.
Did I mention they serve breakfast all day long? A grandmother recently sent in a letter asking the manager, Casper Ewig, how to duplicate the grilled cheese sandwich because her grandson loved it so much. He replied it can’t be duplicated because
of the grill so they need to keep coming back. Indeed! I can’t find anything not to love about the diner, make it part of your Cooperstown experience! Tara Barnwell Publisher
Thursday June 30, 2022
Summer Dreams B-7
_______ what’s fun in OtsegO COunty
►Thursday, June 30
►Friday, July 1
FREE COFFEE – All day. Enjoy free coffee, learn about the new programs offered by Cooperstown Center for their residents with Community Liason Danielle Donato. Stewarts Shop, Cooperstown. 518944-7329. BOOK SALE – 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Support local library at the annual Friends of the Village Library Book Sale. Featuring a wide variety of books from children’s books to nonfiction. Held on the Fair Street side of The Cooperstown Village Library, Main St., Cooperstown. 607-547-8344. PRIDE PROM – 7 - 10 p.m. Celebrate pride in glamorous style with the Otsego Pride Alliance. Must be 18+ to attend, 21+ to drink from cash bar. Tickets, $10/person, 25% to support Otsego Pride Alliance. Hosted by Bigger Dreams Productions at Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. CONCERT SERIES – 7 p.m. Bring the kids, a chair and some blankets for fun evening featuring a performance by the Oneonta Community Concert Band. By the bandstand, Neahwa Park, Oneonta. 607432-0680.
ZOOMOBILE – 11 a.m. Bring the kids for a story and to learn about the animals of the Utica Zomobile. Richfield Springs Public Library, 102 Main St., Richfield Springs. 315-858-0230. ICE CREAM SOCIAL – 5 - 7 p.m. Enjoy cake, ice cream, lemonade before heading to the park for Independence Day fireworks. Cost, $6/person. Mask required when not eating. First Presbyterian Church, corner of Pioneer & Elm St., Cooperstown. 607547-8401. RALLY – 6 - 7:30 p.m. ‘We Wont Go Back’ Rally against the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Otsego County Courthouse, 197 Main St., Cooperstown. TALKING OPERA – 7 p.m. Get behind the scenes insights on productions by Glimmerglass Festival. This week, learn about ‘Taking Up Serpents,’ and ‘Holy Ground’ with Conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya and Director Chloe Treat. Doors open at 6:30. Held at The First Baptist Church, 21 Elm St., Cooperstown. Visit glimmerglassguild.org/events
P R O F E S S I O N A L T H E AT E R O F T H E G R E AT W E S T E R N C AT S K I L L S
JULY 1–17
Shakespeare’s
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Shakespeare’s early play, a comedy about friendship, òăŹŬØƛØĺ̐ Ʊ ŅûĤŅę ŹŬƀă ĺŎƔă ØŅû ŹĠă ĺĤłĤŹŰ Ŏė łØŅ̵Ű best friend. LIMITED SE ATING • RE SERV E AHE AD
FranklinStageCompany.org
Fast Casual Restaurant
Serving you for over 71 years!
Thank you for your patronage! Order Online Catering Gift Shop brooksbbq.com 607-432-1782 5560 NY Rt 7 Oneonta
B-8 Summer Dreams
Thursday June 30, 2022
A Perfect Day on Otsego Lake The Blue Mingo Grill Lake Otsego’s only open-air lakeside dining spot offers creative grill cuisine on its Adirondack porches at the water’s edge. Inspired by a multitude of international cuisines, the Blue Mingo Offers an eclectic menu that The New York Times has calleD “the area’s most interesting dishes.” (607) 547-7496
Sam Smith’s Boat Rentals
Spend some quality time on the lake in a rental boat at Sam Smith’s. .ZWU SIaIS[ KIVWM[ IVL Å[PQVO JWI\[ \W TIZOM IVL [UITT XWV\WWV JWI\[ rentals are available by the hour to a full day (607) 547- 2581
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On your way to the dining porches of The Blue Mingo Grill, you will pass through the LMTQOP\N]T IVL M^MZ XWX]TIZ 4ISM +TI[[QK 7]\Å\\MZ[ I JW]\QY]M ÅTTML _Q\P IV MKTMK\QK collection of clothing, gifts and accessories inspired by the classic casual elegance of Adirondack Great Camp style
The Mingo Market a contemporary take on the classic country store, with a unique and wide-ranging offering of authentic products and provisions from around the world and around the corner. From gourmet foods, take-out lunches and locally-sourced grocery items and produce to kitchen and entertaining essentials, pet and garden supplies, treats for \PM SQL[ ]VQY]M KTW\PQVO TWIL[ WN PIZL \W ÅVL Q\MU[ IVL U]KP U]KP UWZM
All at one lakeside location 2 1/2 miles north of cooperstown on west lake road, 6098 state highway 80 general information: 607-547-2543 www.bluemingogrill.com