Today's Tidbit... Starkey Seminary and the Binghamton Snowbank

Sometimes, giving 110 percent provides benefits. Recently, I gave 110 percent, even 115 percent, effort when I saw an RPPC for sale that showed an undated but c. 1905 football team representing Starkey Seminary, a school on Seneca Lake in New York's Finger Lakes region. The school closed in 1936, in the aftermath of its endowment disappearing in the 1929 stock market crash caused by greedy billionaires and inadequate regulation.

Before losing the endowment, the school was well funded, as shown by the quality and consistency of the football team's uniforms. Every player has the same striped-sleeve jersey, identical vests, and elastic cummerbund to prevent opponents from grabbing the top of the pants when tackling Starkey players. Everyone also has the same socks except the second guy from the right.

1907 Starkey Seminary football team (RPPC, Personal collection)

So, what was the Starkey Seminary, and who were these guys? Before bidding on the RPPC, I searched a bit and almost immediately found a 1907 newspaper article showing the same image as the RPPC, so I knew who they were when I bid, but I did not dig further until I won the item. Still, I figured if giving 115% effort resulted in a lucky identification, giving 120% effort when researching the team might reveal a story worth telling.

('Starkey Seminary Football Team, Which Plays B.C.H.S. Here On Thanksgiving,' Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, NY), November 27, 1907.)

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