Little Falls Historical Society Museum Events

  • This day in history: May 27

    1869

    Mr. and Mrs. General Tom Thumb and Commodore Nutt and Minnie Warren, who have attracted attention throughout the world, will give two entertainments at Keller Hall. It is a rare opportunity for the citizens of Little Falls to see these little people. Admission 25 cents, children 10.

    1906

    The new Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church on Petrie Street was dedicated today.

    1932

    The salaries of rural mail carriers in Little Falls and around the country may be slashed 10%, and many would be terminated if the proposed measure is approved by President Herbert Hoover. 

    1993

    Linda Vincent, president of Canal Place Development Association and Mayor Roger Stock presided over the opening of the walkway over the hydroelectric plant which leads to Moss Island and Lock 17.

  • This day in history: May 28

    2020

    The Little Falls Volunteer Corps, through partnerships with local nonprofits and businesses, has spent more than 120 hours on coordinating and delivering meals to hundreds of residents, providing summer meals for kids, and distributing more than 2,000 masks during the coronavirus outbreak.

  • This day in history: May 29

    1827

    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.

    1920

    All of the members of the Little Falls police department, except for Chief Long, have resigned with several finding other employment. The blue suits were replaced by the gray suits of the state police with six troopers assigned to patrol the city where they are doing splendid work.

    1953

    By a 1,284 to 421 tally, Little Falls area voters approved school centralization. The new district included city districts and 15 districts from surrounding towns. A seven member school board was created.

  • This day in history: May 30

    1755

    A patent issued by King George II of England, bestowed to John Jost Schnell and Jacob Zimmerman 3,600 acres of land north of the Mohawk River across from the General Herkimer home. Much of the land today is still being farmed by descendants of the patentees.

From the Cooney Archives

News and Updates

New York State historic marker nearby Yellow Church Cemetery.

Little Falls Patriots Day Past and Present

The Little Falls Historical Society will partner with the Yellow Church Cemetery Association to host a Patriots Day observance at their historic site beginning at 11:00 AM on Saturday May 20. The rain date is Sunday May 21 at the same time. The event is free and open to the public.

2023 Writing Series Dedicated to Edward Cooney By Michael Cooney

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.

2022 Annual Report

View the 2022 Little Falls Historical Society Annual report Including membership, sponsors, online activities, writing series, and more.

NYS Education Department Recognizes Black History Month

Resources, Online, and In-Person Programming and Public Broadcasting Events Available Throughout February Across the State

Eagle Down by John Frazier

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.

Moreland Park

Little Falls Philanthropy by Louis W. Baum

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.

Bygone Little Falls winters of skiing and sledding by Jeffrey Gressler

Decades before there was a Pine Ridge ski center in Salisbury or a Shu-maker Mountain ski area outside Little Falls, generations of Little Falls winter sports enthusiasts skied and sledded down the vertical drops that typify our steep, narrow Mohawk Valley topography.