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Little Falls, NY

  • This day in history: September 6

    1842

    Father John Shanahan began recording information on baptisms, marriages, and deaths at St. Mary’s parish. He covered an area extending from Tribes Hill to Deerfield and the valley towns to Newport most likely by horseback or horse and buggy.

    1866

    The presidential party, on its tour to Chicago, stopped in Little Falls. President Johnson appeared briefly and gave a short address from the rear platform of the train. General U.S. Grant, Admiral Farragut, William Seward and other notables were in the party.

    1889

    The steam “merry-go-round” is still in operation at the corner of Burrell and Alexander streets and is apparently doing a good business.

    1892

    As of this date, there were twenty-three lawyers in Little Falls.

    1893

    The canal boat “Gilbert Green”, bound to New York from Syracuse, sprang a leak and sank near the Taylor Driving Park with 230 tons of salt on board. The loss of salt is a total one.

    1918

    A military funeral was held at St. Mary’s church for Sergeant Dennis J. Ryan, the first local soldier to die in the service of his country. His body was laid in state at the K. of C. home. The Home Defense fired a last salute over the grave. He died at Fort Lee of a heart condition due to heat exhaustion.

     

  • Many thanks to Louie Baum for his research for This Day in History.

    ALL EXHIBITS

    • 1912 Little Falls Textile Strike
    • 1940 Gulf Curve Train Wreck
    • 240th Anniversary of the Battles of Stone Arabia and Klock’s Field
    • Athletics Wing Collection
    • Battle of West Canada Creek
    • Camp Jolly Exhibit
    • Church Street Cemetery Tour
    • City Hall – A History
    • Distant Drums – Little Falls during the Civil War Era
    • Early Base Ball in Little Falls
    • Early Little Falls Buildings and Organizations
    • First U.S. Cheese Market Exhibit
    • Frog Fountain
    • Herkimer County Bank
    • Little Falls African American History
    • Little Falls Diamonds Collection
    • Little Falls Music Exhibit
    • Little Falls Waterways
    • Little Falls and Women’s Suffrage
    • Making History Today
    • Making History Today Student Edition
    • Massacre at the Little Falls Grist Mill
    • Myjava, Slovakia, Sister City of Little Falls
    • Native American Exhibit
    • Prohibition Exhibit
    • Rockton Exhibit
    • Urban Renewal Exhibit
    • Vietnam War Exhibit
    • World War II and Korean Conflict Exhibit
    Cronkhite Opera House c. 1910

    The Cronkhite Opera House

    January 28, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    “Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is playing tonight at the Cronkhite Opera House. January 28, 1889, Cooney Archives

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Cronkhite-Opera-House-c.-1910.jpg 1200 932 Little Falls Historical Society Museum http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Little Falls Historical Society Museum2023-01-28 08:30:082023-01-28 08:30:11The Cronkhite Opera House
    1883 Little Falls Warehouse Company | Produce & meatpacking cold storage building on East Mill Street

    Jacob Zoller’s packing house

    January 19, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    At Jacob Zoller’s packing house on Main Street, carload after carload of fresh porkers arrive to be cut up, salted, and smoked.

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/F325C63D-B230-4776-B298-5D9C3CCE0C41-scaled.jpeg 1269 1800 Little Falls Historical Society Museum http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Little Falls Historical Society Museum2023-01-19 19:44:002023-01-20 07:51:52Jacob Zoller’s packing house

    Eagle Down by John Frazier

    January 19, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    Donnie Coffin was somewhat of an enigma. Those who remember him recall him as an easygoing guy, but not many people have vivid memories of him.

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/A-proud-mother-and-her-son-Thanksgiving-1967.jpg 796 900 Little Falls Historical Society Museum http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Little Falls Historical Society Museum2023-01-19 07:09:002023-01-19 10:04:44Eagle Down by John Frazier
    Harry Burrell's home at 664 East Main Street | Present-day Verizon Telephone Co.

    The Y.M.C.A.

    January 13, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    Built at a cost of over $100,000, the fully equipped building is dedicated for the benefit of men and women of Little Falls irrespective of creed.

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AB8707FE-D09B-47FD-9844-E8A020133077.jpeg 411 764 Little Falls Historical Society Museum http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Little Falls Historical Society Museum2023-01-13 20:57:392024-09-06 10:48:48The Y.M.C.A.
    Reverend Francis Bellamy | c. 1892

    Rev. Francis Bellamy

    January 5, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    An unknown caller left a little box containing $80 in gold at the home of Rev. Francis Bellamy. An accompanying card informed him that it was from his friends in the Baptist Church.

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/image.jpeg 710 470 Little Falls Historical Society Museum http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Little Falls Historical Society Museum2023-01-05 12:15:222023-01-06 12:20:36Rev. Francis Bellamy
    Moreland Park

    Little Falls Philanthropy by Louis W. Baum

    January 2, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    What did wealthy people do with their money? Some spent lavishly on themselves and their families caring little for their fellow man; others were philanthropic. Over the years, the citizens of Little Falls have greatly benefited in many different ways from the philanthropy of several of its leading residents who lived here in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Moreland-Park.jpeg 900 1200 Little Falls Historical Society Museum http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Little Falls Historical Society Museum2023-01-02 10:58:112023-01-06 11:25:59Little Falls Philanthropy by Louis W. Baum

    Explore our history

    • “Auld Lang Syne”, a short story with the main character being Dudley Burwell, who was known to the villagers of Little Falls as ”The Hermit of Burwell Hill,” was written in 1903 by Frances Ledyard Haun,, twenty-five years after the death of Burwell
      THE HERMIT OF BURWELL HILL POSTHUMOUSAugust 26, 2026 - 8:16 am
    • Little Falls Historical Society Mohawk Valley GivesLittle Falls Historical Society Mohawk Valley Gives
      MOHAWK VALLEY GIVES HAS ANNOUNCED SEPTEMBER 18TH AS COMMUNITY-WIDE GIVING DAYAugust 19, 2026 - 9:02 am
    • The Privy and the Pear Tree: Unearthing Little Falls History in Your Own BackyardJuly 15, 2026 - 2:42 pm
    • Francis Skinner Municipal PoolFrancis Skinner Municipal Pool
      More than 150 Donors Help Reopen Francis Skinner Municipal PoolJuly 1, 2026 - 5:00 pm
    • COMMITTEE OF FIVE PRESENTING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE TO CONGRESS IN 1776.
      THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 1776 – 2026June 26, 2026 - 8:01 am
    • Little Falls Historical Society Membership PicnicJune 5, 2026 - 1:51 pm

    Explore the history of the Mohawk Valley

    Visit MohawkValleyMuseums.us

    Museum Exhibits

    • Little Falls and Women's Suffrage
      Little Falls and Women’s Suffragein: Current Exhibits
    • Rockton Exhibit | Little Falls Historical Society | Little Falls, NY
      Rockton Exhibitin: Current Exhibits
    • Camp Jolly Little Falls Historical Society Museum
      Camp Jolly Exhibitin: Current Exhibits
    • Prohibition Exhibit | Little Falls Historical Society | Little Falls, NY
      Prohibition Exhibitin: Current Exhibits
    • Athletics Wing | Little Falls Historical Society | Little Falls, NY
      Athletics Wing Collectionin: Current Exhibits, Ongoing Exhibits
    • 1940 train wreck | Little Falls Historical Society Museum
      1940 Gulf Curve Train Wreckin: Ongoing Exhibits, Past Exhibits
    • Native American Exhibit | Little Falls Historical Society Museum | Little Falls NY
      Native American Exhibitin: Ongoing Exhibits
    • Little Falls Diamonds Exhibit | Little Falls Historical Society Museum | Little Falls NY
      Little Falls Diamonds Collectionin: Ongoing Exhibits
    • World War II Exhibit | Little Falls Historical Society Museum | Little Falls NY
      World War II and Korean Conflict Exhibitin: Past Exhibits
    • Little Falls Cheese Market | Little Falls Historical Society Museum | Little Falls NY
      First U.S. Cheese Market Exhibitin: Ongoing Exhibits
    • Myjava, Slovakia Exhibitin: Ongoing Exhibits
    • Little Falls Waterwaysin: Past Exhibits

    Explore events happening in the Mohawk Valley

    See what's happening on MohawkValley.Today

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    OPEN FOR CHRISTMAS IN LITTLE FALLS ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13TH

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