Oneonta was growing much closer to becoming a city in 1907. As the D&H Railroad continued to expand, so did the population, which led to the creation of several new neighborhoods that had previously been farmland. In 1906, Oneonta was a village of 7,764. By 1908, it had 9,565 residents.

Just about a year before state legislation was signed for Oneonta become a city, the Sixth Ward was experiencing enormous growth. Shearer Real Estate Co. of Oneonta was buying up a lot of land in today’s Sixth Ward. Streets we know today as Riverside, Miller, Gilbert and others in that area along River Street were nearly vacant in early 1907.

The Oneonta Herald of Thursday, May 30, reported that Shearer Real Estate Co. had made large investments in this area, and that all of it had been surveyed and plotted. Some lots had already been sold to residents planning to build new homes. They called this area the Wa-Ta-Ga property.

The news article read, "Over one mile of streets has been opened up on the Wa-Ta-Ga property, which lies wholly within the corporation and is surrounded with all modern conveniences, including city water, electric lights, telephones, sewers, etc. The main line of the trolley is within five minutes’ walk of the property, and it is within three minutes’ walk of the shops and yards of the Delaware & Hudson Company."

With the assistance of The Great Eastern Land Improvement Co. of Glens Falls, Shearer’s announced that there would be a real estate auction beginning that day, and ending Tuesday, June 4.

Shearer’s and Great Eastern made purchasing real estate festive. That Thursday evening they arranged a free open-air concert to promote the auction, in front of the former Central Hotel, located at today’s 189 Main Street. During the daytime sale days, free stagecoaches left Main Street near the corner of Dietz Street throughout the afternoon to take prospective buyers to the Wa-Ta-Ga property.

"Don’t fail to attend," the article continued. "There will be a distribution of useful presents to the amount of $1,000, together with a $350 piano each day of the sale. The growth of the Wa-Ta-Ga property has certainly outstripped any previous extension for home building in Oneonta for a like period."

Shearer Real Estate did a lot of advertising in both the Herald and the Oneonta Star. It had holdings all over the village in 1907. For example, one ad read, "For Sale -- House and lot, 39 Cherry Street. Fine location for Railroad man. It goes for $1,450. A great bargain -- act quick."

Shearer had some competition in the Sixth Ward. Interestingly, right next to a Shearer listing of properties was a news article that the entire Fonda Estate was to be sold. Mr. H.A. Fonda had purchased a lot of land at the time the railroad shops were being placed here in the early 1870s. "Compare these plots with others for sale in the same vicinity before you purchase. Prices range from $100 to $600. Inquire of L.C. White’s insurance agency or J.S. Lunn."

Apparently the three-day land auction was a success. The Oneonta Star on June 1 reported that 22 lots had been sold on the first day, ranging in price from $225 to $350. "The lot bringing in the highest price had a fine upright piano standing on it which went to the purchaser." The lots sold were on Riverside and Riverview avenues, but the auction moved to other new streets in following days.

On the last day of the sale, The Oneonta Star had an article that said most lots had been sold but there were a few still available. "Selling property at auction for development is something new in Oneonta," it stated. "But if she is to don a city mantle, she should become acquainted with city methods, and sales of this nature have done much to make cities wherever introduced."

Great Eastern and Shearer’s presented another auction sale from June 28 to July 1 in the Sixth Ward. This was called Orchard Park, in the vicinity of River and Duane streets, on the north side of River Street, adjacent to the D&H yards. Lots were offered on what they called easy terms, $5 down and $1 per week. Lots in this area sold from $75 to $300.

It wasn’t long before houses began to be built in these new neighborhoods. In less than a year, the governor signed legislation on May 21, 1908, for Oneonta to become a city. The official designation as a city was at midnight, Jan. 1, 1909.

On Monday: A growth spurt at the State University College at Oneonta campus that began in the 1960s came to a halt in the early 1970s.

City Historian Mark Simonson’s column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or e-mail him at simmark@stny.rr.com.

His website is www.

oneontahistorian.com.