Little Falls Historical Society Museum Events
This day in history: May 14
1818
John Melish, visiting America from Great Britain, described his visit to Little Falls on this day. He wrote, “The road good, adjoining lands stony, but the wheat fields being green of a pleasing appearance.” He went on, “The village has 50 houses many of stone, 6 stores, 4 taverns, church, schoolhouse, 4 mills, and room for 100 mills along the river.”
1886
A new brewery being formed by the Grace brothers is ready to open. One of the brothers spent many months in one of the most celebrated breweries in Burton-upon-Trent, England learning how to make a first-class ale.
This day in history: May 15
1856
100 village lots will be sold today.
1936
According to an appraisal filed in Surrogate Court in Herkimer, Edward J. Burrell left a net estate of $383,313.91. (Equivalent to $7,137,305 in 2020 dollars.)
1942
WW II Era – Motorists rushed to fill their tanks before rationing takes effect today. Long lines of cars were waiting at every gas station and at least one station “went dry.” Many came with jars, cans, drums, and jugs to store a little “in reserve.” A majority of the sales were small, some amounting to only 25 or 30 cents. Nearly 2,000 people registered for rationing cards.
1962
The Little Falls Municipal Golf Course located in the northern part of the city near the reservoir has opened. The course has a beautiful view overlooking the Mohawk Valley. The nine hole course is 3,200 yards long and plays to a par 36.
1985
Dr. Jo Ann Crisp-Ellert, former Little Falls resident and daughter of legendary coach Wilbur Crisp, held a one person art show “Stone House” in Washington, D.C. where she resides. She earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from Syracuse University, and masters and Ph.D. from American University, and post graduate study at Royal College of Art, the Sorbonne, and Yale University. She teaches at the University of Virginia.
1998
In a letter to the Evening Times, the president of the Board of Trustees of the Little Falls Public Library asked the public to support a separate proposition on the Little Falls City School District ballot giving the library funding of $55,000.
This day in history: May 16
1917
The Buffalo Bill travelling show returned to Little Falls even though Buffalo Bill had retired. The show featured Jess Willard the former prize fighter.
2015
Artistic Director Vlad Iftinca and Bellinger Performing Arts presented an “Opera and Broadway Treasures” concert at the Masonic Temple in Little Falls before an enthusiastic, sold-out audience. Iftinca brought musical stars Kristn Mengelkoch, Musical Theater Soprano; Janara Kellerman, Mezzo-Soprano; John Moore, Baritone; and Peter Volpe, Bass to Little Falls.
A stunning, sold-out performance of “Opera and Broadway Treasures” was held at the Masonic Temple under the direction of artistic director Vlad Iftinca. Featured artists were from the Metropolitan Opera and Broadway shows.
This day in history: May 17
1824
Dr. James Kennedy, Little Falls’ first doctor, who came to the “village” around 1797, sold his business and property on Church Street to Dr. Hosea Hamilton and John Dygert.
1847
Confusion reigned as the main roadway through the village was called at various times, Western Avenue, Eastern Avenue, Catherine Street, First Street, and Main Street. A resolution was passed calling these various streets “Main Street.”
Patriots Day Honors Those Who Were Not Sunshine Patriots by Jeffrey Gressler
/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum“These are the times that try men’s souls.” So begins Thomas Paine’s December 23, 1776 epic treatise “The Sunshine Patriot,” written at perhaps the darkest point of the American Revolution, George Washington’s half-starving, dis-spirited troops were in their Valley Forge winter quarters.
Sometimes Distributing Vaccines Easier Said Than Done by Schuyler Van Horn
/by Little Falls Historical Society MuseumWith all the buzz about COVID-19 vaccines, it brought back memories of vaccines administered when I was in Vietnam in 1971-72. I was not a Medic but an intelligence officer stationed in a remote place named An Loc. Not far from the Cambodian border, 70 miles north of Saigon, straddling Route 13 (Thunder Road), I was one of 32 Americans in MACV advisor team 47, next to 2,000 ARVN (Army of the Republic of Viet Nam).
Hector Allen by David Krutz
/by Little Falls Historical Society MuseumTo anyone who walked the halls of Little Falls High School in the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s and even into the 1990’s Hector Allen was a familiar and respected figure.
Hector taught “Social Studies” – New York State, United States and World History – at LFHS for 34 years.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
/by Little Falls Historical Society MuseumUsing a treasure trove at the Little Falls Historical Society Museum, Louie Baum toiled for months creating an over 200-page document to chronicle the historic past of Little Falls.
OLD BANK BUILDING REACHES A MILESTONE
/by Little Falls Historical Society MuseumPhoto submitted – National Herkimer County Bank and Presbyterian Church in the background – (Kinney Plaza) circa 1860. by Pat Frezza-Gressler, member of the Little Falls Historical Society Constructed of native stone in 1833 as the first bank in Herkimer County and placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1970, the Little Falls […]
HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND SUNY ONEONTA COLLABORATION
/by Little Falls Historical Society MuseumThis article is more about the future than the past. Although 2020 will be remembered for the succession of crises that changed our lives in many ways, for the members of the Little Falls Historical Society, a group of six students from SUNY Oneonta’s Cooperstown Graduate Program of Museum Studies and their professor, this year […]
Expatriate hopes generosity will inspire others
/by Little Falls Historical Society MuseumLittle Falls native Blaise Carrig (LFHS class of 1969) and his wife Leslie donated $50,000 earlier this year to six Little Falls non-profit organizations. The Carrigs responded to a series of questions for this article from their home in Longmont, Colorado. “We make a living by what we get but we make a life by […]