Little Falls Historical Society Museum Events

  • This day in history: October 25

    1878

    A large ice house, with a capacity for holding 5,000 tons, is being built on the south side flats. The ice will be forwarded to city markets during the hot weather.

    1902

    The city breathed a sigh of relief after police, acting on a complaint, removed a box containing 50 pounds the high-powered variety of dynamite in the cellar of a home on Whited Street. The explosives had been stored there since the building of the Little Falls-Dolgeville railroad several years ago.

  • This day in history: October 26

    1837

    The Hinman’s Cave (Hole), situated about one mile north of the village, was explored extensively by students from the Fairfield Academy. Using ropes they descended 100 feet from the surface. There was one room of importance being between 30 and 40 feet wide with dripping water.

    1909

    The new temple of the International Organization of Odd Fellows, on South William Street, is an ornament and enterprise of the local lodge. The front of the building is an especially fine piece of architecture and is admired by all beholders.

    1964

    Traffic moved for the first time over the South Side Arterial and bridge over the Mohawk River and Barge canal. There were no ceremonies. At the same time, the old lift bridge, between Mohawk Street and Flint Avenue, was closed, and workmen shortly will start removing it.

  • This day in history: October 27

    1882

    Xerxes A. Willard, the man responsible in making Little Falls the “cheese capitol of the nation,” has died. He abandoned law as a career, became a farmer and was editor of the Herkimer County Journal, as well being an author on various phases of cheese making which became standards in the industry. He developed the method for establishing cheese prices and transmitting that information instantly across the country.

    1887

    Improvements in providing water power for running the large number of factories along the Mohawk River have been completed at a cost of about $60,000. Water is now running in the new raceways.

    1894

    A train bearing Governor McKinley, the famous Ohio statesman and champion of Protection, and future U.S. president,will stop in Little Falls today. McKinley will deliver an address in Clinton Park adjacent to the railway depot.

    1910

    Col. Theodore Roosevelt is to speak at the City Theatre in Little Falls today. He will be met at the train station by the local Military Band and escorted to the theatre to discuss the issues of the present campaign before a large crowd.

    1971

    There is opposition to the proposal for a county airport on Gun Club Road just west of Little Falls. Proponents state the airport is a necessary tool for economic development, while the opponents indicate the “luxury facility” caters to private plane owners with taxpayers footing the bill. The airport was never built.

  • This day in history: October 28

    1952

    ELECTION EVE :”LIGHTS ON – VOTES OUT” PARADE

    The “40 & 8” Steam Engine and Box Car …Shooting off a small cannon …The Knights of Columbus had a float also!…VFW -Decarlo Staffo Post -American Legion -Masons -Elks – Moose – all in decorated cars. Then along came the new autos carrying the Motor Corps and City Officials!

From the Cooney Archives

News and Updates

The Lockout of the 20,000

In 1886, 20,000 knitting mill employees were locked out of their jobs by 50 mill owners in New York’s Mohawk Valley. The lockout was mostly lost to history but recently came to light.

Manheim youth pictured in front of Cecconi’s Marine in the late-1950s.

Remembering the Old Manheim Neighborhood

Much of today’s third ward of the City of Little Falls was once widely referred to as “the Manheim neighborhood.”

Captain Stephen R. Stegich, III, USMC (Ret) accepting award

57 Years Later, Reflections on the Tet Offensive

On the night of January 30th 1968, the first day of the Vietnamese New Year (Tet), communist forces launched an enormous, concerted attack on American strongholds throughout South Vietnam.

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.

Become a Member

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 only. Please do not use this form for research requests. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATRONAGE AND VISITS DURING THE 2026 SEASON!!
OUR ALL-VOLUNTEER STAFFED MUSEUM will be open by appointment only beginning Friday, Oct. 9

FOR SELF-GUIDED TOURS THROUGHOUT LF:
https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/little-falls-history-tours/

We WILL be OPEN for Christmas in Little Falls on Saturday December 12
AFTER OCT. 9 (exception above) THE MUSEUM WILL BE OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
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