Historic Cooperstown

Cooperstown was founded in the late 1700’s by William Cooper. William Cooper was a judge, a member of Congress and encouraged numerous settlers to this area. His mansion, which burnt down many years ago, stood next to what is now the Baseball Hall of Fame and the grounds of the mansion are now a park. Several of the stone houses that William Cooper built are still standing in the village.

The son of William Cooper, James Fenimore Cooper, became one of the best-loved novelists in the United States and his mark is left upon several features and monuments of the village. He referred to Otsego Lake, on the south end of which Cooperstown sits, as the "Glimmerglass" and the name is still used today.

Cooperstown is now best known as the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. According to an interview conducted in 1906 by the Mills Commission, nearby resident Abner Graves attributed the game’s invention to his deceased friend, Abner Doubleday. Graves stated that Doubleday invented baseball on a cow pasture within the village in 1839. This is the present site of Doubleday Field. (The actual origins of baseball are much less clear.) Part of the film A League of Their Own was filmed in Cooperstown. Several nationally recognized tournaments are held at Cooperstown. Cooperstown Dream Park hosts between 96 and 104 teams every summer for twelve year old baseball teams.

Several other attractions are scattered around town. These include the Farmers’ Museum, the Fenimore Art Museum, The New York State Historical Association’s (NYSHA) library, Brewery Ommegang, and the Clark Sports Center (a large fitness facility). Robust zoning policies and a watchful village board serve to discourage businesses deemed to be too risky or not in keeping with the town’s character.

Once known as the Village of Museums, until the 1970s Cooperstown boasted the Indian Museum (adjacent to Lakefront Park), The Carriage and Harness Museum (displaying a world-class collection primarily from F. Ambrose Clark’s estate; now the Bassett Hospital offices on Elk Street), and The Woodland Museum near Three Mile Point. The latter, opened in 1962 by heirs to the Anheuser-Busch company, would fold in 1974, but not before running a close third in annual attendance to the Hall of Fame and Farmers’ Museum.

The internationally-renowned Glimmerglass Opera is closely associated with Cooperstown. Founded in 1975, the company originally performed in the Cooperstown High School auditorium. In 1987, the company relocated to farmland donated by Tom Goodyear of the Cary Mede Estate 8 miles (13 km) north of the village. Here was built the acclaimed Alice Busch Opera Theater, the first opera-specific hall in the United States since 1966.

The Village of Cooperstown was incorporated in 1807, which at that time had 133 houses, 57 barns and 686 residents. (Census 2000) The following is a small list of interesting events that took place in the village of Cooperstown since it’s incorporation:

  • 1901 – First passenger trolley in service
  • 1904 – First cement sidewalk were built at the village expense
  • 1906 – First ticket issued for exceeding speed limit through village
  • 1911 – Site of first New York State agricultural fair
  • 1918 – Nestle Food Company buys International Milk Products Plant on Grove Street
  • 1919 – Last livery stables replaced by Auto & Supply Company
  • 1919 – September 29th, Doubleday property officially transferred to village
  • 1933 – Last Electric Trolley service
  • 1938 – August 21st., first concert held at opening of Lakefront park
  • 1941 – Village purchases water works from Aqueduct Association
  • 1959 – Tom Yawkey, owner of the Boston Red Sox, gave metal seats along 1st base line to Doubleday Field
  • 1962 – Village new docks open for use
  • 1992 – Film location for the movie "A League of Their Own"

In the year 2000, the Village of Cooperstown’s population had grown to 2,032. June 2001, it was ranked #3 in New York State, in the Historic Small Town Index. Well-known residents have included:

  • James Fenimore Cooper, writer
  • Abner Doubleday, known as the father of baseball
  • Robert L. Gibson, astronaut
  • Historic sites and museums:
  • National Baseball Hall of Fame
  • New York State Historical Association
  • Farmers’ Museum
  • Fenimore Art Museum
  • Hyde Hall State Historic Site