June 15, 2005

The Clayville Historical Society conducts its monthly meetings in what was once a church. I know this because I was there the other night.

"Come talk about local history," a member of the club asked. So I did.

It was supposed to last 30 or 40 minutes. It ended up closer to two hours because Society members had questions on a variety of topics, some of which I was even able to answer.

On the way out the door, a lady handed me a copy of the Boonville Herald, dated April 7, 1932. We have that issue in the office but I took it anyway. And read it.

Some advertisements that jumped out at me:

The New York Central was offering North Country residents a "special excursion" to New York City for a Yankee game.

The train left Lowville at 11:12 p.m., left Boonville at 11:57 and Utica at 1:16 a.m., arriving New York City at 6:45 a.m.

The travel time between Utica and New York isn't much different today. The cost of a ticket is different, though. The fare was $6 from Boonville. Or you could get a private compartment for $13 or a drawing room for $16.

For those preferring to get their entertainment without having to leave Boonville, there was always the movies. "With justifiable pride, the management of the Avon Theatre announce 'Play Girl' starring Loretta Young and Norman Foster." The movie ad asked these questions: "Should a business girl marry? Is she better off single? Will a wedding ring bring more happiness and security or less? A tremendous problem of modern morals! It's answered in this absorbing photoplay. "

And movie-goers also got to see a comedy short, a cartoon and news.

If you needed wheels to get to the Avon, a new Chevrolet coupe cost $490 at Griffith-Chevrolet on Schuyler Street. Phone 246.

Or phone 191 and have Walton's take care of floral needs. "Say it with flowers. The Mercury Way," which meant flowers sent by wire.

By the way, "sporting boots," designed for fishermen, were on sale at Dellerba's Shoe Store, Main Street, starting at $1.98

Those in need of groceries could head over to the Market Basket Food Store. For 25 cents a customer could buy four cans of sauerkraut, or three cans of sweet corn, or two cans of Campbell's soup, or a two pound jar of peanut butter.

Oh, and Camels, Luckies or Old Golds were $1.25 a carton.

In the classified section, Palmer's Grocery on Church Street was letting Boonville residents know "that 90 percent of our new popcorn customers have returned for more of that good corn. Sold in bulk."

And near that classified ad was one from the Boonville Mineral Spring Company. "For Sale - One heavy team wagon in good condition; also one 4-horsepower International Mogul engine in perfect running condition; both will be sold cheap for cash."

Also for sale "cheap" in the classifieds were a "girl's muskrat coat, with fox collar, size 16;" and "about four tons of hay, cheap for cash, Fred Fitch, West Street, Boonville;" and "five-room apartment, partly furnished if desired, garage, Mrs. Grace Burdick, 5 Ann St."

But most of the columns in that 1932 issue of the Herald were taken up by all sorts of community events. Lots of stuff was happening in Boonville. The same is true 73 years later.

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Joe Kelly is the editor and publisher of The Boonville Herald & Adirondack Tourist and THE GRIFF.