We, of course, thank Robin for her timely report, even though it is 188 years early and we may find it difficult to include in this column when the time is right. We also pointed out that we had actually received an invitation to attend the Eagle Street Block Party, but respectfully declined not wishing to throw a shadow on our allegiance to the Pioneer Street Block Party. Besides, we were not certain how a virtual outsider might be received. However, Robin wrote back with "... The guest list started with current E. St. residents. A few years ago we added an alumni group (anyone who ever lived here). On occasion there have been other "friends of E. St." We’ll have to consider cultivating this group. That would necessitate consultation with Eagle St. mayor _ Tom Lyon, Constable _ Charles Hill, Fire Marshal _ Paul Bedworth and hostesses _ Jean Lyon, Cindy Hubbell, Michelle Adsit and moi. It really is quite an illustrious group."

Now that we know the scoop, next time, if there is a next time, we receive an invitation we shall perhaps accept it so we can better learn exactly how the Eagle Street Block Party works. After all, Eagle Street may have some ideas that could be put to good use on Pioneer Street. For example, we suspect that Pioneer Street needs to upgrade a bit as we don’t even have a mayor, although we do have a village trustee in our midst, a constable or a fire marshal. We do have terrific hosts and hostesses however. Nonetheless, Pioneer Street obviously has work to do. And as the street progresses with that work, we will be here at the forefront to report on any and all elections and their attendant campaigns.

In the midst of the usual summer hoopla about lack of parking in Cooperstown, we received an e-mail from former Cooperstonian Bill Hermann who commented on the "... annual debate about parking, or the perceived lack thereof ..." by sharing a story attributed to the late Harold Hollis. According to Bill the story goes thusly: "A Cooperstown cop walking up Main Street noticed a man lying in the street next to the curb. The cop asked, �Are you alright?’ The man replied, �I am fine!’ The cop asked, �Why are you lying in the street?’ The man said, �We found this vacant parking space and I am staying here while my wife is over at Smith Ford buying a car!’"

Of course, when Harold told the story, Smith Ford was undoubtedly located on Chestnut Street which made the concept of walking over to the dealership to buy a car all that more possible. And even though Smith Ford has moved, we still find the story to be delightful and thank Bill for sharing it with us. Bill assures us that there are many more such Hollis stories all of which we think would add to the oral history of the village if Bill but wrote them down. We certainly hope he will consider doing so.

We have also received of late two other e-mails of note. One is from the wee-we, who wrote: "Also I found out today that Mark Peterson, who is a senior and works in the shop for me, has a sister that is in the graduate program in C’town. Her name is Beth Peterson if you should ever run into her ... there is sort of a connection." As far as we know we have not encountered Beth, but if we should we will certainly note the connection, such as it is.

We also received an e-mail from long time reader of the column, Harvey Bantham who wrote: "... Incidentally, Larry Dorn, or was it Doran? was indeed the manager of Smalley’s Cooperstown Theater. As a lad I, and several others, went up and down the streets of Cooperstown, bestowing "bills" which contained the upcoming weeks schedule of movies to each house, sort of a prehistoric TV Guide. We worked for one of the Whitbecks and the most fun was riding to Schuyler Lake and Milford in his car to deliver the bills to those worthys." Harvey also shared his memories of "... Augur’s, where, also incidentally, I used to go on Sundays to pick up my papers to deliver around town. Passed out by M. F. Augur himself."

We thank Harvey for writing about his memories growing up here as well as his question concerning the spelling of the Dorn/ Doran name. We admit we don’t know the correct spelling. Does anyone know for certain? Please let us know.

In closing, we were somewhat bemused when we read a report of the ongoing Notre Dame University graduate student project which included thoughts about "... the little-used Verizon building ..." while referring to the telephone company building on Pioneer Street. And, while the students can, and should be, excused from considering any limitations on the scope of their academic project, it would seem that those reporting on it should not let their enthusiasm for the project lead them to make statements about properties in the village without first checking the facts. To say that the Verizon building is little used would not appear to just be an understatement.

On the contrary, that particular building is in use 24 hours a day, seven days a week providing the necessary switching operations for telephones in the area as well as telephone service to the rest of the world. So contrary to what one might infer by reading a local paper, the Verizon building is indeed in constant use. Without it the area might well be reduced to using carrier pigeons or cell phones, both of which, unfortunately, have a tendency to be unreliable at times.

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, thanks to the Verizon building on Pioneer Street, at 547-8124 or by e-mail at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com. They look forward to hearing from you.

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