The exhibit includes a three panel display on Cooperstown’s history entitled, "Cooperstown Incorporated: 200 Years of Village Life." Created by students of the Cooperstown Graduate Program, these panels feature images and historical information on Cooperstown for the years 1801, 1907, and 2007. While we saw these panels displayed in April at the bicentennial event held at the Village Library Building, we were delighted to see them again in the peace and quiet of the NYSHA library. We also discovered that the display included a handout entitled "Cooperstown History Hunt." We had missed this aspect in April and were quite taken by the hunt. To really answer the questions posed, one would have to traverse the village. We decided visiting the exhibit works now, but it might be wise to wait to do the hunt until the fall.

And while the overall exhibit is not a large one, it does include a number of items of interest for Cooperstown history buffs. The photograph display of views from various locations around the village provides an excellent opportunity to compare the "then" with what we know now. We found it challenging to see what we recognized in the old photos allowing us to orient them to the village today. We also enjoyed viewing an 1807 copy of the Otsego Herald, Cooperstown’s first newspaper, and Phinney’s Almanac, a popular publication in the area at the time.

We must admit, however, that the highlight of the exhibit for us were the three maps of Cooperstown, one from 1811, one from 1853 and one from 1868. We own a copy of the 1868 map but the 1811 and the 1853 maps were new to us. It is interesting to note how the village has changed, starting with the names of the streets, over the years. We were also interested in the fact that the maps clearly mark the Cooper Plot, located in the Christ Church Cemetery, as belonging to the Coopers. Ownership of the Cooper Plot is something we have encountered before and were happy to see that these maps would indicate that the Coopers do indeed own the plot, a conclusion that we had reached earlier and which is seemingly confirmed by the maps in this exhibit. Without doubt, we highly recommend a visit to the NYSHA Research Library to see this exhibit on Cooperstown history. The exhibit is open to the general public during regular library hours: Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Last weekend we had the opportunity to join family and friends in celebrating the 40th wedding anniversary of Al and Sandy Bullard of Milford. We must admit we were somewhat taken aback when we received the invitation to help celebrate 40 years of marriage. We had great trouble with the "40 years" part of the invitation. Surely, we thought, it could not be possible. Forty years is a long time and we tend to think Al and Sandy aren’t nearly old enough to have been married that long. But alas, it is true that 40 years have passed since their nuptials. It is not, we think, a good sign as we know the Bullards are not much older than we are. Nonetheless, we extend our congratulations and wish them many more years of wedded bliss.

The next meeting of the Literary Discussion Group, sponsored by the Women’s Club of Cooperstown, will be held on Thursday, August 23 at 2:30 p.m. at the Village of Cooperstown Library. The book for discussion will be "Dear Bert" by local author, Grace Kull. Grace will be present to lead the discussion and will share some insight into the publishing of the book. She will also be most happy to autograph any of her books for anyone who would like her to do so. The meeting is open to the public.

In closing, we have learned that there are several volunteer positions at Bassett Healthcare that are currently unfilled. There is a need to once again staff the position of ASU (Ambulatory Surgical Unit) escort. The escorts greet the ASU patients and take them to their appropriate destination. For this position, volunteers, who fall into the category of early risers, are needed Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. There is also a need for more gift shop volunteers, particularly on Wednesday afternoons. It is hoped that with more volunteers for the gift shop, the hours of operation could be extended. Anyone who is able to help out, and would like to join the ranks of the Bassett Volunteers, should contact Barbara Ann Heegan, Director of Volunteers, by telephone at 547-4541 or by fax at 547-3584.

We remain,

In these Otsego hills,

The Ellsworths

The Ellsworths may be reached by mail at 105 Pioneer St., Cooperstown, N.Y. 13326, by telephone at 547-8124 or by e-mail at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com. They look forward to hearing from you.

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