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Little Falls, NY

  • This day in history: August 12

    1847

    The new Benton House has opened (later Girvan House) to the public under the directorship of Mr. Giles Orcutt of Binghamton. It is pleasantly situated at the corner of Main and Ann streets, a short distance from the Rail Road Depot and the Packet boat landing.

    1870

    A man named Donaldson walked a tight rope suspended across from the Petrie building to the Loomis building, in a bag and blindfolded.

    1884

    Work on the Little Falls Roller Skating Rink at the corner of Main and John streets is to be commenced this week at a cost of $4,000. The skating floor will be 49 by 128 feet – all appointments to be first class.

    1886

    The last shipment of starch was made from the Gilbert’s factory ending many years as the village’s leading industry. The raw material had been unloaded to the large storage building on the Erie Canal and conveyorized across Seeley Island to the factory on the Mohawk River for processing. The building will be converted to a knitting mill under the direction of J. J. Gilbert.

    1895

    Manager Tittle of Camp Jolly launched the new barge “City of Little Falls” to be used to transport up to 500 passengers to the campgrounds a few miles east of the city. The double-decker is 55 feet long and 14 feet wide and will be lashed to the “Victor Adams” which can accommodate an additional 200 people. There is room on the barge for dancing.

    1922

    “Kite Day” will be introduced to hundreds of Little Falls kiddies, under the age of 12, when they have the opportunity to make a kite and flying it the highest altitude in a contest under the auspices of the Y.M.C.A.

    1930

    Dan Vickers (later Dr. Dan Vickers), son of Dr. and Mrs. H. W. Vickers, and Wells Davy, both of Little Falls, made their first solo flights at Seymour field near Little Falls. They are members of the Little Falls Flying Club where nine other members are learning to fly.

    1967

    The Eastern Herkimer County Industries Inc. has purchased 24 ½  acres of land from the New York Central Railroad Company. This land, between the railroad tracks and the Mohawk River, comprises the Riverside Industrial Park. The city recently received $280,000 from the United States Department of Commerce to develop the Riverside tract.

    2016

    Stephen “Pitt the Painter” Nicholas won the blue ribbon at the first Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts regional art show. ”Pitt” made his living as a sign painter, and was skilled in eglomise or reverse painting on glass. He is most known for his painting of “The Man on the Bateau,” an image seen throughout Little Falls.

  • 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
    Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    About Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    This author has not written his bio yet.
    But we are proud to say that Little Falls Historical Society Museum contributed 233 entries already.

    Entries by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    A massive fire, of mysterious origin, enveloped the Dasey block

    March 10, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    “Washington Hall was built by S.W. Stimson at the corner of West Mill and South Ann, Little Falls, and was dedicated to free speech, anti-slavery, and temperance.”

    2023 Writing Series Dedicated to Edward Cooney By Michael Cooney

    March 10, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    Edward Cooney was City Historian for over forty years, president of the Herkimer County Historical Society, and one of the founding members of the Little Falls Historical Society.

    Reverend Samuel Orvis lecture at Washington Hall on anti-slavery

    March 2, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    “Washington Hall was built by S.W. Stimson at the corner of West Mill and South Ann, Little Falls, and was dedicated to free speech, anti-slavery, and temperance.”

    Little Falls Library

    February 28, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    Originally opened in 1814, the Little Falls Public Library has been serving the community for over two-hundred years.

    The Barge Canal’s Influence

    February 27, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    Did you know that in addition to bringing jobs and money to Little Falls, the Barge Canal also brought two Viking longships to the town?

    Fair View Cemetery

    February 27, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    Welcome to Little Falls’ Fair View Cemetery, located north of town. The land was purchased by the Village of Little falls on June 14th, 1859, as a “New Burying Ground,” and officially opened as “Fairview Cemetery” in 1898.

    Feldmeier Equipment Inc.

    February 27, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    Standing tall before you shines stainless steel with sharp lines protruding toward the sky – industry in the midst of greenery.

    Architect Dwight J. Baum will draw the plans for new home

    February 24, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    Architect Dwight J. Baum, of Riverdale, N.Y., will draw the plans for Frank Simpson’s new home at 39 Salisbury Street. – February 24, 1916, Cooney Archives

    The Old Yellow Church Cemetery

    February 21, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    Places with historic significance can often hold a lot of emotional energy. A sense of connection, feelings of reverence, or an air of solemn tranquility.

    The Western Inland Lock Navigation Canal

    February 21, 2023/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    The Mohawk River Valley has influenced the industry and growth of the United States, providing means of transporting high quantities of goods over vast distances.

    Page 13 of 24«‹1112131415›»

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    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

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