Little Falls Historical Society Museum Events

  • This day in history: October 31

    1825

    The flotilla of boats bearing Governor Clinton and party arrived in Little Falls at 10 o’clock in the morning as a part of the grand opening of the Erie Canal. His boat, “Seneca Chief,” was towed across the aqueduct to the basin. Following a parade, a banquet was held at McKinster’s Tavern. This occasion was the first authentic appearance of what was later known as the Little Falls Military Band. Elijah Case, Jr. was the leader of the band.

    1908

    The Little Falls Fish & Game Club received a carload of pike fry from the state hatchery in Constantia. The consignment was dumped into the Mohawk River near Jacksonburg. Anglers are looking forward to good fishing.

    2019

    Father J. Thomas Connery, age 82, as swept away in flood waters in the town of Norway while endeavoring to get to Newport to say mass on All Saints Day. Father Connery’s first assignment as a priest was at St. Mary’s church from 1963 to 1966, and he later returned to Little Falls as pastor from 1981 to 1990.

  • This day in history: November 1

    1891

    Forty-eight Italians arrived in Little Falls from Buffalo to work on the Little Falls – Dolgeville railroad.

    1893

    “Big Frank,” the little 90 pound kangaroo, which was to have boxed at the Star Academy, died in that building from cramps.

    1952

    Radio station WLFH broadcast a pre-election segment to supplement their coverage of the Get Out the Vote campaign which began on Oct. 8 with the mission of registering unregistered voters and continued through the month as this week’s Election Day approached. The program was a live broadcast from 6:30-6:45 hosted by committee chairperson, Edwin Marion, who summarized the efforts and interviewed 4 key volunteers in the campaign: Mrs. Frederika Conrad, Miss Inez McCoy, Chief Francis Reardon and Mr. Walter Sheff.

From the Cooney Archives

News and Updates

Little Falls Historical Society | Little Falls NY

Historical Society Seeks Prohibition Related Artifacts

Many stories abound in Little Falls from the Roaring 20’s era of Prohibition which lasted from 1919-1933. Some of our parents or grandparents may even have violated the Volstead Act. This law attempted to establish the legal apparatus to enforce the 18th Amendment which outlawed the manufacture, sale, and transportation of most alcoholic beverages. There […]

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2018 ANNUAL REPORT

The Little Falls Historical Society Museum 2018 Annual Report is available for download.

Xerxes Willard

Xerxes Willard and the Prominence of the Little Falls Cheese Markets

Little Falls, New York enjoys a singular reputation in American agricultural history as the most important interior market for cheese during the great boom in dairy exports that began in the Civil War and peaked in ca. 1881.