Little Falls Historical Society Museum Events
This day in history: March 4
1905
The New York Grocery at 583 East Main Street advertised the following prices: 4 cans of tomatoes, corn, peas, or beets – 25 cents; 4 packages of Macaroni – 25 cents; 3# Tea – 25 cents; Hams, per pound – 7 cents; 3 # Sausage or Frankfurters – 25 cents; 13 large, juicy Naval Oranges – 25 cents.
1971
The worst snow storm to hit Little Falls in years virtually closed the city. The blizzard dumped nearly 30 inches of snow. Main roads were plugged, secondary roads completely closed, schools closed, and many businesses and industries are shut down. Top Notch Road in the city was closed for four days.
This day in history: March 5
1811
After a fire at Crane’s Tavern, a roll-call showed that 23 volunteers from No. 1 company fought the fire.
1841
At the ballroom built over the McKinster Tavern, called the Cotillion Hall, a lecture was so well attended that the floor threatened to collapse. All present adjourned to a new factory.
1886
A number of public spirited ladies, under the leadership of Mrs. W.H.H. Lintner, formed the “Little Falls Industrial School” at the Board of Education room at the Cronkhite block. Young ladies will be instructed in sewing and other similar pursuits.
1917
The American eagle which has graced the flagstaff of the new city hall, “after high winds, folded its wings and fluttered mournfully downward to the top of the tower.” Fire Chief Cooney ascended the tower, got the eagle, and once repaired will be returned to its place.
1921
An historic old tavern, the 100 year old Evans Hotel at the corner of John and Ann Streets, was destroyed by fire. It was at this point that the overland mail stages changed before the building of the railroad through the Mohawk Valley.
1970
The former Herkimer County Bank building, corner of Albany and South Ann Streets, has been entered into the “National Register of Historic Places.” This is an important step in the effort to preserve the old 1833 building.
This day in history: March 6
1936
The annual report for 1935 by Little Falls health officer Dr. George Eveleth showed there were 524 cases of contagious diseases in the city, including 260 cases of German Measles, 187 cases of measles, 25 cases of tuberculosis (5 fatal,) 27 cases of pneumonia (14 fatal,) and 16 cases of scarlet fever.
2020
Al Mlinar, a resident at the Alpine Rehabilitation & Nursing Center since September 2019, celebrated his 105th birthday today with family and friends. The native of Little Falls and long-time resident, Al remembers kerosene lamps, trolley cars, walking to school, working for the CCC planting trees in Virginia, and working in a local slipper factory for 24 ½ cents per hour.
This day in history: March 7
1879
An immense crowd of 2,000 people witnessed the masquerade carnival at the canal rink. The costumes were varied and grotesque, and much fun was had by all present. The music was provided by the Citizens’ Band.
1882
The St. Lawrence county papers are enthusiastic in their praise of Mr. David H. Burrell’s address upon “Ensilage,” delivered at the recent meeting of their counties Dairymen’s Association.
1952
Ed Gregorka, of Gregorka’s Camera Shop, headed to St. Petersburg, Fla. To spend two weeks taking motion pictures of the experiences of a major leaguer at the St. Louis Cardinals training camp. The film was for use on mid-west television.
From the Cooney Archives
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 […]