It was a major celebration in August 1865 when the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad had its first train arrive in Oneonta. Thousands turned out to greet the train, which carried many A&S and government dignitaries for a special celebration. Flags and dozens of arches lined the Main and Broad street areas. The arches were covered with flowers and bunting, and one motto read, "Welcome "" Isolation Obliterated."

Another celebration took place after the last spikes were driven into the rails in January 1869, when the A&S, later to be called the Delaware & Hudson, arrived at the western end of the route in Binghamton.

It was a grand celebration, but not quite as large as the Oneontans had witnessed just a few years before. Many from Oneonta, as well as others from Albany and all along the route came to Binghamton’s party.

For Binghamton, this event was sort of a "been there, done that" thing. They’d had a big celebration in May 1851 when the Erie Railroad had its first locomotives go across the 483-mile path that bridged the Atlantic and Great Lakes.

Five trains full of people boarded between Albany and Binghamton for the day’s celebration Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1869.

In Binghamton, The Daily Democrat reported that visitors began arriving from around Binghamton and Broome County in the morning and by noon, nearly 2,000 had congregated in the streets near the depot. The new A&S trains arrived at the Erie Railroad depot near downtown Binghamton. They had been slowed because of a snowstorm.

The celebration was well covered by the best media of the time, the newspapers. The Oneonta Herald sent a reporter and had a full page of coverage in its Jan. 20 edition. The Daily Democrat made note of the Albany and New York papers here to get the story, among many others.

Around 5:30 p.m. the trains began arriving, and after a banquet was held for invited guests at Firemen’s Hall, the celebration continued with many speeches.

The Hon. R. Balcom of Binghamton presided, and introduced several speakers. A Mr. G. Bartlett, Esq., opened the remarks directed toward the A&S Railroad president, Mr. J.H. Ramsey: "The Albany and Susquehanna Railroad "" may the untiring energy and perseverance which brought it into existence continue to control, guide and shape its future."

Ramsey’s appearance and the remarks drew loud and persistent applause.

Listeners got a bit of a history lesson on the A&S, which had filed its articles of association in April 1851. It took Albany’s loan of $1 million and Binghamton’s $50,000 to get the work started on the railroad in the autumn of 1853. Plenty of subscriptions were sold in the coming years in many places between the two cities.

Col. W.W. Snow was among the speech-givers, representing Oneonta. Snow was a major force among several others who’d worked tirelessly to get the railroad built through the region.

After all the speeches, the celebration was reported to continue well into the night.

That "isolation obliterated" sign mentioned earlier might make some in the 21st century chuckle, but for those living in Schoharie, Otsego, northern Delaware and southern Chenango counties, the new railroad truly meant access to the outside world, quicker and easier. Next weekend, we’ll look at how the railroad opened up the opportunities for travel in our area.

Within just a few weeks after the A&S was completed to Binghamton, people noticed a bit of economic relief in heating their homes and businesses. The Oneonta Herald of Jan. 27, 1869, reported, "The first cars with coal direct from the mines at Scranton, passed this station eastward. It was a goodly sight, but it was better on Friday when a part of the train was left at Oneonta giving us coal at a reduction of $6 per ton. In due time we may hope for a still farther reduction in price."

The many benefits of the railroad were just getting started.

On Monday: "America’s Oldest Teenager" once paid a visit to Oneonta.

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.