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Test your knowledge of Little Falls History, explore our exhibits, and have some fun discovering more about the history of our city.
Test your knowledge of Little Falls history
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CIRCA PRE HUMAN: Little Falls Diamond Collection
1. What kind of stone is a Little Falls Diamond?
2. What is a Quartz that is clear and colorless called?
3. What is the natural pocket called that is found within a Dolomite Rock that holds the quartz?
4. How many faces (sides) does a Rock Crystal have?
CIRCA 1570: Native American Exhibit
1. What kind of stone is a Little Falls Diamond?
2. What is a Quartz that is clear and colorless called?
3. What is the natural pocket called that is found within a Dolomite Rock that holds the quartz?
4. How many faces (sides) does a Rock Crystal have?
CIRCA 1781: The Battle of West Canada Creek
1. Who was the Lieutenant that led the Patriots on a charge from Ft Dayton to a ravine on the Eastern side of West Canada Creek after the Tories?
2. The Tories (Loyalist) circled behind the Patriots as they were enticed into the ravine by a lone Indian standing by a fire was a military maneuver known as a what?
3. How long did the Battle last?
4. How many shots were fired before Lt Woolworth was killed?
5. What Country were the Prisoners Taken to?
CIRCA 1782: Massacre at Little Falls Grist Mill
1. The Loyalist surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown bringing an end to the Revolutionary War in what Year?
2. The Treaty of Paris was a peace treaty between the United States and Britain that ended the Revolutionary War. It was signed in what year?
3. Who was the British Superintendent of Indian Affairs whose death started the divide amongst the Settlers?
4. Why did the Patriots fight against the Loyalist?
5. Who was the legendary Loyalist Leader that was known for terror, death & plundering?
6. The raids and massacres on the Mohawk Valley left the area being known by what name?
7. Why was this area also known as “The Bread Basket of the Colonies”?
8. What was the first Industry of Little Falls?
9. What did General George Washington need from the Grist Mill to feed his Army?
10. What event was going on at Ft Dayton that made the Loyalist believe it was full of Military Soldiers because of the noise level?
11. When the Tories (Loyalist) approached the Grist Mill they called the Patriots by what, to get them to come out and surrender?
CIRCA 1792: Early Little Falls Buildings and Organizations
1. What did the Indians use for portage around the river rapids to get from one place to another before roads and city streets were in place?
2. Who was the Scotchman that controlled the Tenants of Little Falls form the 1790’s through the 1820’s?
3. In what year was the six lock Western Inland Canal built to allow boats to avoid the river rapids?
4. In 1806 what did the Aqueduct Association use to get fresh water to the subscribing homes of Little Falls?
5. Where were the earliest church services in Little Falls were held?
6. The planning, construction and improvements of the Octagon Church was over the span of twenty six years. What were the dates of those years?
7. What was the name of the society that was behind the building of the church?
8. Who was the Little Falls resident and Member of the Concord Society who donated the land for the church and cemetery?
9. How many exterior walls were built to form the Octagon Church?
10. What denomination was the Church built for?
11. What was the nickname given to the Octagon Church?
12. What were the two languages spoken for the church services?
13. The Old Stone School House was built in what year?
14. What important document was granted to the Village Board whose meetings were held at the Old Stone Schoolhouse?
15. Who was the first Village President elected at the first Village Election at the Old Stone Schoolhouse?
16. Where did the Octagon Church hold their services during the winter?
17. Nathaniel Benton built a family home in 1827 that is now known as what historic building?
18. Why were the bodies from Octagon Church Cemetery reburied in Church St Cemetery in the 1820’s?
19. What is the name of the first church built in 1835 to serve only one denomination?
20. What was the name of the bank that Little Falls received a charter to build in 1833?
21. The Octagon Church was torn down in 1842 to be replaced by what type of building?
CIRCA 1795: Little Falls Waterways
1. What are the names of the two islands that separate the Mohawk River and the Canal?
2. The Mohawk River rapids stretched for almost a mile before it smoothed while dropping how many feet in elevation over this course?
3. What is the massive rock cropping 40 feet above the water called?
4. What does the profile of Moss Island resemble?
5. What water way was dug to eliminate the currents & rapids of the Mohawk River?
6. What was the width and depth of the Erie Canal?
7. What were the water ways called that were filled in to combine the three small Islands (Seeley Island, Loomis Island and Moss Island) into one big Island called Moss Island?
8. What is the name of the Island that still has a factory that is used today?
9. What was built in 1822 across the Mohawk River so that boaters on the Canal could access the business along the canal?
10. In 1891, a park was formed along the edge of the Erie Canal that held tracks for harness and bicycle racing. Baseball was also played there. What was the name of the park?
11. What is the name of the steamboat that exploded causing the end of passenger steamboat travel on the Erie Canal?
12. What was a hoggee?
13. How many miles did a Mule Driver walk during the day?
14. In 1917, what replaced the Mule Drivers?
15. What was completed in 1918 that took the place of 4 locks on the Erie Canal and was 40.5 feet in height?
16. In the 1930’s, how much was the monthly rent for the Mill Workers Housing on Seeley Island?
17. What did the children find on the railroad tracks that they took home and used for heat?
18. What did the boat drivers throw to the children on Seeley Island as they traveled by?
CIRCA 1827: Early Base Ball in Little Falls and the Little Falls Baseball Association
1. What was the 1820’s nickname (sobriquet) for Base Ball because of its’ popularity across America?
2. In 1827 an ordinance was made so Base Ball couldn’t be played where within the City?
3. What was the law forbid for Base Ball to be played on Sundays?
4. What was the name of the Base Ball Team that won the Herkimer County Championship in 1867?
5. What was the name of the Base Ball Team that won the Herkimer County Championship for 1868 and 1869?
6. Who is the ball player that played for the professional ball team the Excelsoir’s that is well known for inventing the Curve Ball?
7. What Team was known as The Empire State’s Best Team in 1874?
8. African Americans from Little Falls made up the majority of players for what Team?
9. What City Park was Base Ball played in?
10. Why was the Base Ball Association formed in 1886?
11. What are the 4 differences in the Base Ball rules of 1886 to present day Baseball Rules?
12. In the 1880’s what was the nickname for people that loved to watch Base Ball?
13. Who was the Professional Base Ball player from Utica in the 1800’s that was Nationally known as one of the “Early Stars of Base Ball”?
14. What was the main reason for Base Ball to disband in Little Falls in the late 1800’s?
CIRCA 1833 to Present Day: Herkimer County Bank Building
1. The building of the Bank in Little Falls met opposition from what nearby Village?
2. The Herkimer County Bank was modeled after what pre- existing building?
3.What was the cost to build the Herkimer County Bank in 1833?
4. Each limestone pillars was made out of how many pieces of stone?
5. What two historical Churches in Little Falls are made out of the same limestone?
6. Can you name a few other Businesses that used the building over the years after Herkimer County Bank moved to Main St?
7. In 1964 Urban Renewal owned the Herkimer County Bank building and wanted it demolished for what reason?
8. A group of Little Falls Citizens that enjoyed history fought to save the building in the late 1960’s and formed a Society that was known by what name?
9.The Little Falls Historical Society Museum open as a depository for our Village’s historic treasures in what year?
10. What is the oldest Crown Jewel document that the Museum holds on exhibit?
11. What National Trading Market gathered at the Museum’s corner to conduct business in 1870’s?
12. The Museum has a canceled Stock Certificate on exhibit from 1817 that was used for what original purpose?
13.Who drew the Museum’s oldest map on exhibit called the 1821 Turnpike Map?
14. Where was the Octagon Church’s Bible found that is on exhibit?
15. What Church does the Silver Communion Set on exhibit belong to?
16. Who is the Little Falls Author that wrote a Civil War book called “Distant Drums” that is for sale in the Museum’s gift shop?
17. What was found in 1822 within the ground on Flint Ave during the construction of the West Shore Railroad?
18. Who manufactured the Rennet Tablets that are on display in the Cheese Market Exhibit?
19. What was made by the Casler Manufacturing Company in 1859?
20. What year was the Little Falls Hospital founded?
21. What did the H P Snyder Company manufacture?
22. Who was the Herkimer County Bank President in 1862 that signed a Dollar Bill that was issued by the Bank?
23. The Frog Watering Trough Fountain that is located at the rear of the building was formed by what Foundry?
24. Who is the famous photographer who took the 4 feet by 2 feet panoramic view of Little Falls from the Overlook?
25. Who was the long time Little Falls Historian who compiled over a hundred book volumes filled with news print articles from the 1880’s to the 1970’s that the Museum treasures?
26. Where does History live?
CIRCA 1834: Church Street Cemetery Exhibit
1. Who was the Little Falls citizen that sold the plot of land to the Village that is now the Church Street Cemetery?
2. The Poor were allotted what area of the Church Street Cemetery for burial?
3. Where was “The Colored Peoples Section” located within Church Street Cemetery?
4. The “Middle Class” were buried in what section of Church Street Cemetery?
5. What area Of Church Street Cemetery are the “Notables and Wealthiest” buried?
6. Who were buried in the Village Section better known as Potter’s Field area of Church Street Cemetery?
7. What Creek was diverted under ground in 1931 to make burial space for the the lower section of Street Cemetery?
8. What year did Virginia enact Slave Codes that pertained to how Slaves could interact with Citizens of the Crown?
9. What did the 13th Amendment do for African American? What did the 14th Amendment do for African Americans? What did the 15th Amendment do for African Americans?
10. What shape is the African American Memorial Monument in Church Street Cemetery that stands in the honor of African Americans that were buried in the 1800’s?
11. What does the engraved Easter Lilly on a Marker Headstones represent?
12. What Tribe was a Methodist Priest named Peewaush from?
CIRCA 1851: Rockton Exhibit
1. What Amendment of the Constitution did “Q” use to write an article to the Mohawk Valley Courier Newspaper stating that the name Little Falls had outlived its usefulness and proposed the name Rockton should take its place in 1851?
2. Why was the name Rockton changed back to Little Falls after two short years of use in 1853?
CIRCA 1861 : Distant Drums Exhibit
1. Who was the President who issued a call to the Northern States to supply seventy-five thousand men to suppress the Civil Rebellion?
2. George Snell’s “jayhawked” (stolen) dog caught what kind of animal for the Soldier’s supper?
3. What Civil War Battle fought during October 1862 was known as the bloodiest day in American History?
4. Why did Colonel Emory Upton’s Army have to retreat after successfully gaining ground by using a column based military tactic at the Battle of Spotsylvania in 1864?
5. What was Mrs. Van Etten floating on when she was rescued from severe flooding at Finks Basin, Little Falls that was caused by heavy rains on frozen ground on March 16, 1865?
CIRCA 1861 : First US Cheese Market Exhibit
1. From 1864 – 1870 Little Falls was known as the largest Cheese Market for where?
2. Where was the open air Cheese Market held?
3. In 1871 what was the purpose of the Dairymen’s Board of Trade who held their meetings at the Evan’s House?
4. What mode of communication was used for the Dairymen’s Board of Trade to set prices for cheese in Markets in New York and England?
CIRCA 1889 : Frog Fountain Exhibit
1. Who was the first President of the Little Falls Historical Society, that upon his death his Wife gifted the Frog Fountain to the Museum?
2. What was the Foundry’s name that made this Frog Fountain in 1889?
3.What was the purpose of this Frog Fountain and a few others dispersed around the Village?
4.The Aqueduct Water Association supplied fresh water throughout the Village by what means?
CIRCA 1893 : Camp Jolly Exhibit
1. Who was the man that dreamed up Camp Jolly 1893?
2. What was Camp Jolly?
3. Park goers were eager to be transported down the Mohawk River on steamboats such as the Victor Adams until an explosion of what steamboat, that caused the end of Camp Jolly?
CIRCA 1894 : Little Falls and Women’s Suffrage Exhibit
#145. What does Women’s suffrage mean?
1. Who were the two women that formed a partnership that fought for Women’s Rights and formed the National Women’s Suffrage Association?
2. In 1870 what Amendment to the Constitution was ratified to include all races, color and no barring on previous condition of servitude but still excluded women?
3. Who was the Little Falls Citizen that opened her home for meetings for the Women’s Suffrage cause?
4. Who was the English women that first got Women’s Suffrage out in the media for other Suffragist to follow?
5. In 1916 the imprisoned Members of the National Women’s Party caused a nightmare for what President?
6. Who was the first female Congresswomen for the State of Montana in 1916 who passed a Bill that eventually turned into what Amendment of the Constitution in 1920?
7. When were African American men and women given the right to vote?
CIRCA 1895 : Myjava, Slovaki Exhibit
1. A young women got off the train in Little Falls because a Ticket Agent mistook a letter “J” for a “Y” on her hand written ticket and sent her to New York instead of her intended New Jersey. Who was she?
2. Why did over 1000 Immigrants from Myjava, Slovakia come to Little Falls?
3. What area of Little Falls did the Immigrants of Slovakia and other Eastern European countries settle in within Little Falls?
4. Many of the Immigrants, mainly young girls and women, found employment in the Mills and banded together in 1912 against management that is known as what in the History of Little Falls?
5. What Organization in Little Falls brought all the young ethnic groups together to form friendships and marriages between them ?
6. The Gymy students of Myjava were working on a project with a visiting group of Americans from Little Falls. What were they searching for?
7. We have green signage at the entrances to our city& in front of City Hall that state Myjava is our Sister City . What does the Sister City program stand for?
8. Who is the Syracuse basketball player from Solvakia who Face Timed with a group of Little Falls Middle School students that were part of a collaborative Pen Pal Program between them & students in Myjava, Slovakia?
CIRCA 1912 : Little Falls Textile Strike Exhibit
1. How many days did the Textile Strike last?
2. What were the names of the 2 Unions that represented the interest of the workers?
3. Who were the majority of the striking workers?
4. What were the 2 arcs or fragments of the path in American History that led up to be the catalyst for the Textile Strike?
5. What is the name of the Bill that NY State Legislation passed to reduce the factory workers work week from 60 hours to 54 hours, that lowered their weekly pay that sparked the Textile Strike?
6. What were the names of the two knitting mills that were involved in the Textile Strike?
7. Who was the nurse’s that was sent from the wealthy industrialists women’s club , the Fortnightly Club, to study and help treat tuberculosis, that was brought on by the workers squalid living conditions, among the workers?
8. Why did the workers reject the Settlement arranged by the AFL?
9. On Jan 3, 1913 a Settlement was reached and called for 3 things to be met. What were those three things?
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Little Falls Historical Society Museum
319 South Ann Street
Little Falls, NY (Get directions)
