As much as young residents of Oneonta may like growing up here, for some it is simply out of necessity that they choose to leave for better opportunities, socially or economically.

What is common in the early 21st century hasn’t changed a whole lot since the early 20th century. People depart, and with the exception of high school reunions, rarely do they return. While they may have pleasant memories of their hometown, they don’t often meet many other Oneontans as they spread out all over the U.S.

In the early 20th century, the place to go for many Oneonta residents who wanted higher incomes and other opportunities was the New York City area.

Those who moved to New York knew or met others from Oneonta already living there. There was a lot of civic spirit about Oneonta these people still held, while in their new communities. As a result, the Oneonta Society of New York was formed in 1913.

Once a year, an annual dinner of the Oneonta Society was held at some of the finer hotels in New York, such as the Waldorf-Astoria, The Glendenning or the Shelton Hotel, among others.

Each year, the meeting was front-page news in The Oneonta Herald. The articles listed all the attendees and what they were doing for a living. It also mentioned exactly what was on the menu for that evening.

At the second annual event held in April 1914 for example, 39 former Oneonta residents, mostly men, were at the Hotel Glendenning.

"They toasted, roasted and otherwise enjoyed seeing each other again after the lapse of years," The Herald reported. "The occasion was thought out and arranged by Lyman J. Fisher, John F. Hynes, A.E. Merritt, C. Clarence Swift and Albert L. Hitchcock, all names that are well remembered here in their old home haunts."

Swift was a former secretary of Oneonta’s YMCA and had moved to New York, where he was a successful insurance agent.

After a hearty dinner, many lit up cigars made in Oneonta by Charles Smith’s company, and the speeches, stories and news from the old hometown filled the evening hours. It wasn’t unusual that many from Oneonta made a trip to New York, just for the Society’s meeting.

The Oneonta Society grew in popularity. At the January 1927 event, 70 members attended at the Waldorf-Astoria. That year, David F. Wilber of Oneonta was elected president. Sherman M. Fairchild of New York City was elected first vice president.

It was noted that the dinner was highly successful, having "had the personal attention of Oscar, the well-known chef who appeared several times in person in the banquet hall."

Dr. Frank Blodgett was the first speaker of the evening. Blodgett, at the time, was president of Adelphi College in Brooklyn, formerly an instructor at the Oneonta State Normal School. Blodgett called on all Normal grads to stand up, and 25 were counted.

The Oneonta Society didn’t always hold its events in New York. It sometimes met in Oneonta. In July 1927, 60 from New York came back to their hometown for a weekend full of activities.

On Friday night, they were treated to a dinner at the Oneonta Country Club. Saturday was time for visits with old friends or a round of golf at the Country Club, and yet another fine dinner at the Club. Music was provided for dancing by Tess Sherman and her orchestra.

Membership started declining somewhat through the Depression years. Articles moved off the front pages. In October 1942, a very short news item announced the upcoming dinner, beginning, "Because of the war, a less ambitious program is being arranged for the annual dinner "¦"

At that dinner, John F. Hynes, the last surviving member of the organizing group, was planning to attend.

On the front pages of The Herald that month were articles about stepped up gasoline rationing, air raid blackout exercises, and other local news about World War II.

It appears that if the dinner actually took place, it was the last one. There was no mention of it in the newspaper as late as the end of 1942.

After World War II, young people left Oneonta for other growing areas besides New York, such as Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle and more recently, North Carolina.

On Monday: In 1942, Oneontans bought a "Bomber for MacArthur."

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.