Little Falls Historical Society Museum Events

  • This day in history: March 28

    1908

    Rev. Henry Macilravy, an evangelist from Little Falls, is the spiritual adviser for Chester Gillette, the murderer of Grace Brown in the famous Adirondack tragedy.  He is working with Gillette’s family to free him from execution.

    1929

    The single blast of the fire alarm just before noon marked the flight over Little Falls by the noted avile atrix, Amelia Earhart. Bad weather forced her to land her tiny Avro biplane in a cornfield in Marcy. She was en route to Buffalo to attend an air exposition.

    1930

    A large contingent of 3,500 fans from Little Falls, travelled to Syracuse to see the Wilber Crisp coached high school team defeat Cohoes 25 to 9 to win the New York State basketball championship. Splendid teamwork on the part of the purple & white, and the scoring of Beck and Kane were too much for Cohoes. Crisp and Mucica heard over the radio after the game.

  • This day in history: March 29

    1832

    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.)

    1844

    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.

    1893

    As the village of Little Falls grew, it extended into the towns of Little Falls, Danube, and Manheim. On this date, voters passed a resolution, by a 914 to 77 vote, to petition the New York State Legislature for Little Falls to change its status to that of a city.

    1960

    The Joint Legislative Committee on Preservation and Restoration of Historic Sites has recommended that Moss Island  be given serious consideration by the State of New York as a park and geological site. Local residents, City Historian Edward J. Cooney and Donal Hurley have long championed the cause.

    1980

    Members of the LFHS 1929–1930 state championship basketball team celebrated the 50TH anniversary of the victory at a dinner party. In attendance were Milan Paracka, Sam Maddaloni, Jimmy Kane, Leland Clark, and Garner Beck.

  • This day in history: March 30

    1792

    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.

    1795

    Workers on the Western Inland Land Navigation Company were paid as follows: Blacksmith 10 shillings (s) per day, Carpenters 10 s per day, and Laborers 6 s per day, and each was furnish his own bedding, provisions, and Liquors, and work from sunrise to sunset allowing one hour at breakfast and at dinner. The company will provide the cook.

    1797

    John Porteous was appointed postmaster at the little falls, and the post office was located in his store. The early mail was delivered once a week punctual by Adam Feeter.

    1811

    The New York State Legislature granted a charter to incorporate a part of the Town of Little Falls as a village. Agents for the Ellice Estate appear to have had a hand in drafting the charter of nine handwritten pages, as the powers were very limited. By 1811, Little Falls contained about 30 or 40 houses, stores, a tavern, some mills, and a church. The entire village was on the north side of the Mohawk River.

    1885

    A large fire at the Little Falls Knitting Mill, commonly known as “Bailey’s Mill”, caused about $30,000 in damages. Of major concern is the welfare of the two hundred and forty hands to whom the mill gave employment and who at this time are without work.

    1896

    The bicycle is fast becoming a popular means of recreation. A cinder path was laid out from Little Falls to Herkimer.

From the Cooney Archives

News and Updates

The Old Bank Building

OLD BANK BUILDING MUSEUM OPEN FOR THE 2023 SEASON

April 28: National Historic Marker Day

The officers and directors of the Little Falls Historical Society marked this day by placing a new historic marker atop a previously installed marker pole at the site of the guard gate for the 1795 Western Inland Navigation Lock Canal.

Grist Mill Attack Historic Marker in Little Falls, New York.

April 28 National Historic Marker Day

This is a service-oriented event intended to bring people together to help maintain their historic markers, celebrate local history, and beautify their communities.

Little Falls Alerts in need of players

The Little Falls Alerts, a vintage base ball team, is looking for players to continue building on the success of the past two years.

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.