June 30 to July 6 History Highlights

Second Look: A paper's history of Northern New York

Kelly and Christina discuss take a second look at history highlights from the Watertown Daily Times for the week of June 30 to July 6.

50 years ago July 2, 1969: The Watertown City Council Monday threw out all bids for the projected Children’s Zoo in Thompson park which, among other things would remove the stone pavilion from public use in favor of a children’s playground and spray pool and eliminate the present paved roadway through the zoo sector. Corporation Council Kenneth W. Brett ruled that bidders had failed to meet specifications.

150 years ago July 2, 1869: Joe Boyer of Evans Mills yesterday sent by express an immense live mud turtle which he had found in his cellar, to the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Watertown with a note, advising them to make it into a soup, eat it, and fat up to true aldermanic proportions. We suggest that the big turtle be put into the basin of the park fountain as a nucleus of a city aquarium. 100 years ago July 2, 1919: Instead of spending their spare time on the school playgrounds this summer, 750 pupils of the city schools will have Victory gardens, growing vegetables to swell the food production of uncle Sam and do their part in solving the high cost of living. The board of education has made no plans for the playgrounds and no paid supervisors will be present to lead the children in play. 25 years ago July 5, 1994: Two men paid $200 fines Monday after they made parachute jumps Monday morning from the Thousand Islands Bridge. One of the jumpers is a member of BASE — “Bridges, Antennas, Spans and Earth” — according to the state park police at Keewayden State Park. The group’s members, as the title suggests, take leaps from structures rather than by conventional means.

Episode is edited by Christina Knott. Music is by Podington Bear. Find us on Facebook and Instagram.

Pick up a copy of the Watertown Daily Times or any of our other publications throughout the north country, or if you are out of the area, visit nny360.com.