Little Falls Historical Society Museum Events

  • This day in history: September 8

    1843

    Daring robberies and thefts are becoming all too common in our village demanding watchmen at the most important points within a short time. Several places have been robbed – most of the transgressions involving watches and jewelry.

    1901

    About 1800 people attended the pilgrimage of St. Mary’s church to the Auriesville Shrine on the West Shore Railroad.

    1908

    A contract was awarded to Casey & Murray to construct the Barge Canal (Erie Canal) through Little Falls.

    1922

    Leon Dussault’s Orchestra and a group local people under the auspices of the American Legion, broadcast from WGY in Schenectady.  There were so few radios in Little Falls that groups gathered at places such as the Y.W.C.A. to listen.

  • This day in history: September 9

    1873

    The Modoc base ball club of Canajoharie came to Little Falls to play the local “White Stockings” and were “scalped” by a score of 53 to 13. Williams and Selcer each scored 10 runs for the locals.

    1917

    The banner read – “A war to end wars!”  That’s what the first 14 young men from Little Falls thought as they were sworn into the service of the nation and departed for army training camps. They would join millions of humans across the seas locked in a death grip with their foes in World War I.

    1987

    Work crews tearing up Garden Street between Waverley Place and Salisbury Street unearthed wooden water pipes from a water delivery system that had been discontinued from service over 100 years ago. Several years ago, similar wooden pipes were found during excavation for Shopper’s Square.

  • This day in history: September 10

    1886

    The parochial school connected with St. Mary’s church opened with nearly 300 pupils, with their instructions being furnished by four lay teachers. The average for each teacher is too large for the best results, but no more than for Union schools. The large number in students is due in part to child labor laws in our mills.

    1889

    The new bell for the school house on Church street, weighs 387 pounds. It can be heard nearly anywhere in the village.

    1908

    The old Gem Theatre in the Beniens block has been closed and the new Gem theatre, with a capacity of 425 on the ground floor and first balcony, has been opened. The natty little new playhouse has been crowded at each of the three nightly performances.

  • This day in history: September 11

    1898

    Some boys playing in Foley’s gulf above German Street (Flint Avenue) found curious items in a cavity beneath a large rock. Lumps of silver and babbitt metal, hammers, kettles, ladles, and molds for casting 10, 25, 50, and one-dollar coins. The nature of the find indicated the genuine counterfeit equipment had been in the ground for a long time.

    1917

    The contractor building the new City Hall, George Willis Company, declared bankruptcy. James Hallinan was engaged to complete the project.

    1922

    The Little Falls Military Band showed cash receipts of $212.81 and disbursements of $134.41 for Pavement Dances held during the summer of 1922. Four concerts were held with 1,989 tickets being sold at 10 cents each. Popcorn and ice cream sales amounted to $13.91.

From the Cooney Archives

News and Updates

BURIAL GROUND SIGN PLACEMENT COMPLETES LONG PROJECT

BURIAL GROUND SIGN PLACEMENT COMPLETES LONG PROJECT

The combined efforts of the City of Little Falls and the Little Falls Historical Society over a ten-year period culminated in a Thursday August 7th well-attended sign dedication ceremony at the African American Burial Ground section of Church Street Cemetery.

The Victor Knitting Mills, courtesy of the Little Falls Historical Society.

VICTOR ADAMS, A MAN OF PAPER, AND THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH WOODS

In the years when Little Falls was renowned in the Mohawk Valley as the center of the knit-goods industry, Victor Adams’ Box Manufactory provided employment opportunities to many of its local citizens with the manufacturing of paper boxes.

Little Falls Canal Days Celebration

Off-site programs and activities for Canal Days of the Little Falls Historical Society Museum

Brynn on podium

BRYNN SHEPARDSON ADDED TO MUSEUM NYS CHAMPIONSHIP ATHLETIC HONOR ROLL

There is a multi-faceted history of Little Falls athletics exhibit at the Little Falls Historical Society’s Old Bank Building Museum. Part of this exhibit honors New York State high school champions from Little Falls.

Preserve Our Past presenting its annual historic presentation award to the Little Falls Historical Society

HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S OLD BANK BUILDING MUSEUM RECOGNIZED IN CEREMONY

Saturday June 7th was a very special day at the Old Bank Building Museum. Preserve Our Past (POP) presented its annual historic presentation award to the Little Falls Historical Society in a noontime front portico well-attended ceremony.

4th grade students on their Little Falls Historic Entry field trip.

TWO EVENTS HIGHLIGHT DEDICATION OF LITTLE FALLS HISTORIC ENTRY

The Little Falls Historic Entry has become a physical reality. Two recent events served to highlight this community milestone.

Escape from Slavery and Life in Little Falls

Addison and Lucinda Phillips, a Black family, lived most of their adult lives here beginning in mid-1863, raised their nine children here, and are buried locally.

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Individual Membership

Individual | $10

Sustaining | $25

Patron | $50

Student | $5

Family Membership

Family | $15

Business or Corporate Membership

Sustaining | $25

Patron | $50

Silver | $75

Gold | $100

Platinum | $200

Contact Us

Little Falls Historical Society Museum
319 South Ann Street
Little Falls, NY  (Get directions)

(315) 823-0643

Contact the LFHS

Use this form for general inquiries.

OLD BANK BUILDING MUSEUM IS OPEN FOR THE 2026 SEASON BEGINNING MAY 29, 2026.

Monday, Wednesday, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Alternate Fridays from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
(beginning Friday, May 29)
Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon

For appointments, please call
Louie Baum at 315-867-3527
Mary Ann Terzi at 315-823-1502
Jeff Gressler at 315-823-2799

PLEASE CONTINUE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR UPDATES ON OUTDOOR EVENTS, VIRTUAL TOURS & NEWS.
319 South Ann Street, Little Falls, NY, 13365