Miscellaneous

Russell Stead Receives Degree at Ithaca College

Bainbridge News & Republican, February 1, 1945

Ithaca:  Russell Stead, of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], received the degree of bachelor of science in physical education from Ithaca College on Friday, Jan. 26.  The graduates were presented their diplomas by President Leonard B. Job at an informal gathering in his office.  The next formal commencement program will be held in June for a large class of seniors.  While an under graduate, Mr. Stead was a member and corresponding secretary of Phi Epsilon Kappa, national physical education fraternity; business manager of The Cayugan, the college Yearbook; member of Adelphi, honorary scholastic society; was on the Dean's list for high scholastic average; participated in "Student Scampers," original musical comedy.  Mr. Stead, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Stead, 998 N. Main street, will teach at Geneseo High School.

Charred Letter Received

Bainbridge News & Republican, February 22, 1945

 

An airmail letter written by Bruce Silvernail, who is in the armed forces overseas, to his wife in Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], should have in the course of events, been promptly delivered, but a fire occurred.  Last week Mrs. Silvernail received from the post office in New York city the delayed charred remains of the epistle, with a large part of the envelope burned away.  The letter contents were received complete.  The letter was recovered from a mail carrying plane which was in an accident while on its way to this country.

 

Valentine O'Blinski, Achieves 102 years

Bainbridge News & Republican, February 22, 1945

 

Valentine O'Blinski, of Bloomville [Delaware Co., NY], celebrated his 102nd birthday on Wednesday, Feb. 14, Valentine's Day.  Delaware County has had several residents who have attained the age of 100 years, but so far as the records show the only other county resident to reach the 102 mark was John Dugan, of Roxbury, Civil War veteran, who died Dec. 13, 1941, at the age of 102 years and seven months.

 

Message Came Too Late

Bainbridge News & Republican, February 22, 1945

 

The message for which Martin Sawtelle, of Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], waited for a year before he died in 1943, but which never came, was delivered last Thursday.  From the war department the telegram confirmed officially that his son, Lieut. Donald Sawtelle, was safe, rescued from a Japanese prisoner camp on Luzon.

 

Cyclone at Guilford

Chenango Union, August 28, 1890

 

About half-past six o'clock Thursday evening the 21st inst., and during a gentle shower at Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], it began to thunder and the wind increased to a hurricane.  The wind soon became terrific, and from the southwest of the village there came a dense, black cloud that resembled smoke, that in its northwesterly course, on the rise of ground just beyond the village, and for the distance of about half a mile, and some two rods in width, across the lands of A.P. Merchant, J.J. Godfrey, A. Dickinson, Mrs. G.H. Baldwin, S.A. Reynolds, and G.B. Margraff, scattered rail fences and stone walls, blew over and broke off large maple trees, literally demolished three or four orchards, and fearfully shook up the dwelling house of G.B. Margraff and carried away a portion of his hen house and other out-buildings.  Those who saw the cloud said it resembled a hugh serpent in its coiling course just above the ground.  It was of but a few moments duration, and its force was such as to actually carry away the top of a stone wall and make considerable apertures in another in its course.  Had it come but a few rods north and struck the village, the destruction to buildings and property must have been great.  Immediately following the passage of the cloud, the rain came in torrents, and the sky to the west became brilliant as gold, while to the east it was as dark as night.  Whence it came or whither it went is a mystery, but for the time it stayed it was exceedingly lively, and impressed the Guilford citizens with the full force of its power.  [Chenango Union, Aug. 28, 1890]