This period is marked by industrialization, agriculture, and expansion. Contact us for more information on the Little Falls Historical Society Museum collection.
Click on date periods to view the timelines.
NOTE: Blue icons identify events that can be referenced at the Little Falls Historical Society Museum.
Herkimer County extended to the St. Lawrence and Lake Erie, until other counties were set up. Its east line was at the beginning of the rapids which separated Little Falls. In 1817 Manheim and Danube were added to Herkimer County.
Several states didn’t like the Constitution and asked that changes be made. Ten amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights were made and approved.
First page of an original copy of the twelve proposed articles of amendment, as passed by Congress.
The Inland Lock and Navigation Company was incorporated with General Philip Schuyler as president. The capital stock was $300,000, but the state added funds when necessary. The work at Little Falls cost $22,500.
The “Mohawk River Improvements” began in 1793 by employing a force of three hundred men.
A meeting was held and eighty- eight subscribers agreed to furnish funds to build an eight sided union church to be known as the Octagon Church. John Porteus donated the land and burial ground for the church as well as twenty pounds. The eight sides of the church denoted that it was intended for all denominations.
View the Octagon Church complete timeline from 1792-1913.
Octagon Church oil painting by Gwen Lee.
To attract skilled craftsmen to settle in Little Falls, it was determined that an improved road was needed. On this date, Porteous received a letter from Albany informing him that the Senate, led by Southern members, had defeated a bill for road work at the little falls. They claimed the treasury was too low for such projects.
The 4,752 foot long Western Inland Lock Navigation Company (WILNC) canal, containing five lifting locks and a guard lock, was “rendered passable” around the little falls and opened for business. 2,550 feet was through solid rock. The finished cost was $100,000. Porteous opined: ”It adds a degree of ornament to the whole place that is only exceeded by the amazing conveniency it occasions.” The toll is a Dollar a ton.
View of the canal.
The stone house at the corner of Church and School Streets, the oldest building remaining in Little Falls, was built as a school about 1796. Elijah Case, Jr. was the first teacher, and all the students were crowded into one room. Mr. Case would summons the pupils to school by blowing on a long coach horn. The property is currently owned by Dr. Peter Adasek, a Little Falls native, who lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The location of the boundary between Herkimer and Montgomery counties was in dispute for many years. On this date it was proposed that the boundary be set at the mouth of the East Canada Creek where it empties into the Mohawk River, and extends northward to Canada.
The location of the boundary between Herkimer and Montgomery counties was in dispute for many years. On this date it was proposed that the boundary be set at the mouth of the East Canada Creek where it empties into the Mohawk River, and extends northward to Canada.
John Porteus passed away, and his son-in-law, William Alexander, took over management of the Ellice Estate, and replaced Porteus as Postmaster.
Begun in 1790, construction of the White House was nearly complete when President John Adams and his wife Abigail moved in.
A company of Indian chiefs passed through the village on their way to New York City to take part in a conference with the whites. They stayed at the MacKinister Tavern and attracted a great deal of attention.
The first newspaper published in Little Falls, the “People’s Friend”, by Edward Griffing, was printed in Mechanic’s Hall on Main Street, and later at the brick house on Garden Street at the head of Mary Street.
The first boat toll on the canal was collected at Little Falls.
Increased travel on the Mohawk River and the new Erie Canal marked the appearance of floating museums, floating book stores, floating lottery offices, and floating dry goods stores.
The “Peoples Friend” is asking for improved mail delivery. Seven days to deliver to Salisbury. Letter to Danube (5 miles) goes to Utica first, and to Winfield (14 miles) makes a 130 mile to Albany and back to Winfield before delivery. Have things improved much in nearly 200 years?
On July 30, Joseph Bonaparte, brother of the famous Napoleon Bonaparte, arrived in Little Falls accompanied by his daughter and her cousin, the young Prince Murat, and the usual train of attendants. They stayed at the Little Falls Hotel. Murat and one of the attendants attended church.
The flotilla of boats bearing Governor Clinton and party arrived in Little Falls at 10 o’clock in the morning as a part of the grand opening of the Erie Canal. His boat, “Seneca Chief,” was towed across the aqueduct to the basin. Following a parade, a banquet was held at McKinster’s Tavern. This occasion was the first authentic appearance of what was later known as the Little Falls Military Band. Elijah Case, Jr. was the leader of the band.
Little Falls NY Waterways
On May 29, an attempt by Judge Sanders Lansing, who represented the Ellice Estate, to write a second charter in 1826 was aborted. Judge Nathaniel Benton drew up a new, less restrictive third charter, in which a majority of trustees must be freeholders. This was adopted, and at an election on this date at the stone school, Benton was chosen as the first village president. The total to be raised by taxes was limited to $300.
Just over two weeks later on June 16, the first fire company was organized and this was one of the greatest social events in the village.
In Little Falls there were only two streets, but there were two mills and two blacksmith shops. Ann Street north of Garden Street was a pasture. All that part of the village east of Second Street and south of Main Street, was a drear wilderness thickly covered with white cedar undergrowth. Although the Erie Canal opened in 1825, the policies of the alien Mr. Alexander Ellice kept the village nearly stationary till 1831.
Congress passed the Indian Removal Act, that exchanged Indian tribal lands in the eastern states for lands west of the Mississippi River.
Disgusted with alien ownership, Little Falls citizens met to petition the New York State legislature to enforce the Alien Land Law of 1817.
On April 20, a group of Albany men, purchased the Ellice’s holdings, and held a meeting at the McKinster House to dispose of the lots and property.
While the next day on April 21, several new streets are to be opened and a number of new buildings are to be erected including two houses of public worship – Baptist and Presbyterian – and a third, the Episcopal, is in contemplation. The chant is “Let the people with money come on to Little Falls and use the water front.”
Then on April 28, in an election for the highest village office, Arphaxed Loomis received 62 votes and Col. David Petree received 24 votes. Loomis had led the fight to break up the Ellice Estate.
Edward Ellice sold his father’s property at Little Falls, consisting of lots from the Burnetsfield and Fall Hill Patents and other parcels, to Albany and New York City interests. A new Little Falls lawyer, Arphaxed Loomis, had aroused the local citizens against Ellice because of his unfair leasing practices. Commercial development at Little Falls had been hindered by lawsuits around Ellices sale of properties involving water rights.
On March 20, the Baptist church in this village, a fine stone edifice, was solemnly dedicated today. The Rev. E. Galusha delivered an appropriate discourse to the extensive congregation present.
Just two days later on March 22, a strong hope was indulged that after petitioning for a bank at this place for the last ten years, and after frequent favorable reports that our wants would be gratified, but when it came to a showdown it was killed, the reason of a result so unexpected and injurious to our interest, is supposed to be the ungenerous opposition from the Village of Herkimer.
On March 29, the Gansevoort Estate of Albany, which purchased local lands of Ellice, agreed to set up a public square as suggested by Arphaxed Loomis. It is now Western Park (Burke Park.)
On November 17, at a meeting held at the stone school house, the local Methodist Society was incorporated. There were 88 members and the salary of the pastor was $280 a year.
Later on this same month on November 22, we are happy to announce that the stone bridge across the Mohawk River is completed. It reflects to great credit the mechanical skills of Robert Stewart and Captain William Chase.
On April 4, Lawyer Arphaxed Loomis advertised water rights for sale. About this time the Mill Street raceway was built that supplied power to many industries along the river.
Later on April 24, in the first village census, it was reported Little Falls had 1602 inhabitants of whom 85 were listed as “colored.”
The first bank in Herkimer County, modelled after the U.S. Bank in Philadelphia, was built at the corner of Ann and Albany streets on a lot purchased from Dudley Burwell. The general contractor was William H. Dale, carpentry by William Chase, and mason work by Robert Stewart who also built the aqueduct. Cost of the building was approximately $3,000. It was built of cyanite rock and dressed limestone with pillars each made from a single stone.
View the Herkimer County Bank complete timeline from 1833-Present.
Little Falls Historical Society Museum
Richard Ray Ward gave the property for the Church Street Cemetery to the village.
Church Street Cemetery
The new Emmanuel Episcopal church on Albany Street was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Benjamin Treadwell Onderdonk, Bishop of New York. The congregation had previously worshipped at the old Octagon church, and purchased this property in 1833. The historic Trinity Church Parish in New York City had donated $1,500 towards the building fund.
The fire began about 2:00 a.m. in a five-story warehouse at the intersection of Hanover and Wall Street and quickly spread due to wintry gale force winds. Since the fire occurred during a time of economic prosperity because of the Erie Canal opening, the wooden buildings were replaced by larger stone and brick structures. After the blaze, the fire services were reformed and water supply system upgraded.
Regular passenger train service on a single track of the Schenectady – Utica division of the Mohawk & Hudson Railroad was inaugurated in Little Falls and the Mohawk Valley. Construction and freight trains had been running for some time. The first Mohawk & Hudson train ran from Albany to Schenectady on August 9, 1831.
A robber detached the “baggage wagon” from an eastbound train a short distance east of Little Falls. It was discovered missing a few minutes later, and the train slowly backed up to the village. Two railroad hands surprised the robber going through the mail and belongings, subdued him, and promptly “closed” the case.
President Martin Van Buren arrived in Little Falls in a barouche drawn by four white horses to the applause and cheering of a large crowd of citizens. After a speech and festivities, Van Buren spent the evening at the Lansing residence at 22 Church Street. He left behind his red night cap which is now a treasured souvenir of the Lansing family.
The first Methodist church in Little Falls, built on Third Street, was dedicated on this date by Bishop Elijah Hedding. The parish outgrew this building and built a new church in 1876. The old building became the Polish Community Association.
A Little Falls newspaper described the work being undertaken in the village as ”There is a splendid public works going on, along the Grand Erie, turning the channel of the Mohawk from its ancient course and bidding its waters seek a new passage to make way for the splendid double locks of the enlargement.”
A large number of unoccupied lots in the outpart of the village, formerly owned by Ellice and more recently by R. R. Ward, were sold at auction. A greater part of the property around the village is now owned by resident citizens. Building in the past year has surpassed that of prior years.
Church St. Cemetery [officially] opened in 1842. A 15-acre lot was purchased by the village from Mr. Ward. At the time, the cemetery was located outside the village with very few homes in close proximity.
The warm rains caused the ice on the Mohawk River and West Canada Creek to break up and come down the river in large masses causing significant damage to the Railroad, Canal, and buildings in Little Falls. The water was estimated to be 25 feet above low water level. One house was swept away nearly to the Fink ferry bridge.
As of this date, Little Falls has 3,000 population, 40 stores, 2 printing offices, 5 hotels, 1 bank, 5 churches, numerous schools, – the manufacturies consists of 2 paper mills, 3 paper mills, 2 saw mills, 3 foundries, 1 machine shop, 1 sash factory, 1 axe factory, 1 woolen factory, 1 clothing factory, 1 distillery, 1 brewery, 1 plasster mill, 2 trip-hammers, and numerous factories in the n=manufacture of Copper, cabinets, carriages etc.
Washington Hall was built at the northwest corner of Mill and Ann streets by S. W. Stimson, and was dedicated to free speech, anti-slavery, and temperance. Many famous people entertained here, including Jenny Lind. And for a time, Catholics and Universalists held services here. After the Skinner Opera house was built on Main Street its popularity declined, and in 1853 it was converted to tenements.
Seventy-six year old John Quincey Adams, ex-president, statesman, poet, and philosopher briefly visited Little Falls, and spoke to several hundred admirers at the railroad depot. Adams, on an excursion of New York State, was warmly welcomed by Judge Loomis.
The boat “The Champion” left her dock at Little Falls for Troy with a mammoth load: 1944 boxes of cheese, 43 cases of cheese, 3 boxes of woolens, and 1 box of leather. The cargo weighed 150,561 pounds and the toll was $56.50.
Temperance – The ladies of the village have sent to the Trustees a long petition, signed by over 200, praying the exertion of their powers to stop gaming houses and grant no more liquor licenses.
Election Day is determined by the U.S. Congress as the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November.
Winning the Mexican-American War, the United States annexed large areas in the southwest and the California west coast.
Also this same year, the California Gold Rush began as gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill, 36 miles northeast of Sacramento, bringing 300,000 “prospectors” to the area.
On this day, John Splan was born in Little Falls, and by the age of seven “had a fair notion of a horse.” He hung around local stables and race tracks and ran away from home at a young age. Splan became a very early pioneer in the sport of trotters and became famous throughout the country in racing circles. Many of the training techniques he developed are still in use today.
Little Falls Lodge # 181 Free & Accepted Masons was formed with eight men in attendance. They first met in rooms above a store at the corner of Main and Ann Streets.
Begun in 1790, construction of the White House was nearly complete when President John Adams and his wife Abigail moved in.
Jenny Lind, “The Swedish Nightingale,” came to America in 1850 at the invitation of the showman P. T. Barnum and gave over one hundred performances. One of these was at Washington Hall in Little Falls according to historian Edward Cooney. Washington Hall was located at the northwest corner of South Ann and West Mill Streets.
A petition to change the village’s name from Little Falls to Rockton, and signed by 500 plus signatures was submitted to the state Legislature.
”Old Joe” Vosburg will be on hand to welcome old friends and the community to his bowling saloon under the Rockton House. The alleys are in first grade order, and his chief cook, David Jones Esq. is there too.
Henry P. Alexander, one of the largest land owners in Little Falls, sold parts of lots No. 99 and No. 100 on North Ann Street and No. 1 and 2 on Garden Street to the trustees of the First Presbyterian Society. The current Presbyterian Church stands at the corner of Ann and Albany Streets.
A mass meeting was held at Temperance Hall regarding the canal enlargement project at which J. N. Lake gave a rousing speech in favor of the project indicating what it could do for the growth of the village. The next day the Little Falls vote was 504 for and 75 against. State-wide the vote was 185,000 for and 60,000 against
A ball was held by The African M. E. Zion Church at the Temperance Hall in Little Falls to commemorate the 27th anniversary of their freedom in the North. Large crowds watched the festivities from the balconies of the hall.
The boiler exploded at the Little Falls Cotton Factory. Mr. Thomas Stevenson who lived nearby and was having dinner, heard the explosion, went to his door and was crushed to death by the falling boiler. Several women and children were also hurt by falling debris. A Grand Jury determined the cause to be a faulty boiler operated by an inexperienced boiler man.
The General Herkimer Company #3 took over the old the old German Street (Flint Avenue) engine house as an independent company. The company was admitted to the village fire department in 1960.
On November 6, Abraham Lincoln is elected President with Hannibal Hamlin as the Vice President. This same year, secessionist states establish the Confederate States of America.
The local press stated “Notwithstanding the hard times, failures and war rumors, our dairymen are hurrying forward their produce.” The streets of Little Falls were crowded with wagons as farmers shipped 1087 boxes of cheese weighing 70,503 pounds at the depot. Farmers and buyers made their bargains along South Ann Street by the bank building.
Learn more about the First U.S. Cheese Market.
Little Falls Cheese Market
The Battle of Gettysburg, fought by Confederate and Union troops during the Civil War was a hard fought battle in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This battle’s distinction is that it resulted in the greatest number of casualties for the entire war with many historians recognizing it as a turning point of the Civil War.
The prolongation of the Civil War necessitated replenishing the Union ranks, and volunteers weren’t numerous or enthusiastic. Major Zenas Priest, county supervisor from Little Falls village, proposed that the county offer a “bounty” of $300 to each man joining the colors.
On April 14 President Lincoln is shot in Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., by John Wilkes Booth while watching a performance of the farce Our American Cousin. The President died from his wounds the next day making Vice President Andrew Johnson the 17th President of the United States.
Less than two weeks later on April 26, in Durham Station, North Carolina, the American Civil War Confederate Army General Joseph E. Johnston surrenders to Union Army Major General William Tecumseh Sherman.
At 7:30 p.m. President Abraham Lincoln’s remains, with his funeral cortege, stopped briefly at the Little Falls railroad depot on their way to his resting place in Springfield, Illinois. A large crowd was present at the solemn event to pay their respect to the fallen President.
A solemn “Welcome Home Celebration” was held for all returning Civil War veterans, as survivors of the 121st Regiment arrived in town. It was bittersweet as only 445 out of 1076 who marched away had returned.
The body of Little Falls constable Anson Casler was pulled from the canal. An autopsy concluded he had not drowned but died of a severe blow to his head. The previous evening, Casler had gone to the Southside, but was unsuccessful in issuing an assault & battery warrant against an alleged combatant in a fracas. After a lengthy trial, the defendant was found “not guilty,” and Casler’s murderer was never brought to justice.
Boys playing with matches set fire to the wooden framed St. Mary’s church, the first Catholic church building in Little Falls, which had been constructed in 1847. The loss amounted to ten thousand dollars. Services were held in Keller Hall until a new edifice could be built.
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.
Ceremonies were held with the laying of the cornerstone for the new Universalist Church with the Rev. L. Holmes of Orange, Massachusetts installed as the new pastor. A glass jar containing various articles was deposited in a niche prepared for it.
The cornerstone for the new, brick St. Mary’s Roman Catholic church on Alexander Street was laid in the presence of a very large assembly. An open air mass was celebrated in a rustic chapel built for the occasion.
St. Paul’s Universalist Church on Albany Street was dedicated today. Originally holding services at either the old Octagon church or the stone school, the Universalists, showing the tolerant spirit of the times, had also held services at the Baptist Church and funerals at the Methodist Church.
Born in New Hampshire, studied under Daniel Webster, fought in the War of 1812, author of the first history of Herkimer County, longtime Little Falls resident and political activist, Nathaniel S. Benton passed away today at his 1825 home, built by him, on Garden Street. A lawyer, he served as Surrogate of Herkimer County, was a member of the New York State Senate, a U. S. Attorney, & auditor of the canal department. Benton Hall Academy and Benton’s Landing were named in his honor.
Little Falls Historical Society Museum
319 South Ann Street
Little Falls, NY (Get directions)
