Little Falls Historical Society Museum Events

  • This day in history: April 4

    1793

    Before the Octagon Church was built, an agreement was drawn up stating that preaching was to be in German and English on alternating Sundays, and pews were to be sold to the highest bidders.

    1833

    Lawyer Arphaxed Loomis advertised water rights for sale.  About this time the Mill Street raceway was built that supplied power to many industries along the river.

    1904

    Titus Sheard, an industrial leader in Little Falls during the Gay Nineties, passed away today.

From the Cooney Archives

News and Updates

Rialto was Little Falls’ movie palace

Rialto was Little Falls’ movie palace

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The Gateway Theatre in Little Falls, later to be renamed Rialto, first opened its doors to the public on October 22, 1923.

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Old-time southsiders Father Dan Lanza and Joe Vespasiano at 2019 South Side Reunion

Little Falls’ South Side in the 1930s – 1940s: A Remembrance of Time and Place

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As long as I can remember my father, Joe Vespasiano, loved to share his stories, and he had a lot of material.

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Little Falls Historical Society | Little Falls NY

The Little Falls Historical Society hits the ground running in 2025

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We are eagerly anticipating this year’s Writing Series with new historical articles that highlight life in Little Falls.

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Noted actress Laura Keene, and John L. Sullivan, the heavyweight boxing champion.

Keene, Sullivan, among those who played Little Falls

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Two of the famous people who performed in plays in Little Falls were the noted actress Laura Keene, and John L. Sullivan, the heavyweight boxing champion.

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Come and enjoy Christmas in Little Falls!

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Plan a visit to the Little Falls Historical Society Museum on your list of fun activities during Christmas in Little Falls at the Old Bank Museum on December 14.

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Dr. D. Willard Bliss summons Alexander Bell to use his induction-balance device to locate the assassin's bullet, which is something of a metal detector device; unbeknownst to them all, is that Garfield's mattress was lying on top of metal springs, which were uncommon at that time. After 80 days of suffering, he died from infection from the gunshot wound. The D. in the Dr. Bliss' name stands for Doctor, given as his first name at birth.Dr. D. Willard Bliss summons Alexander Bell to use his induction-balance device to locate the assassin's bullet, which is something of a metal detector device; unbeknownst to them all, is that Garfield's mattress was lying on top of metal springs, which were uncommon at that time. After 80 days of suffering, he died from infection from the gunshot wound. The D. in the Dr. Bliss' name stands for Doctor, given as his first name at birth.

Garfield’s whistle stop – 1880

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In the presidential election of 1880, — General James A. Garfield, Republican nominee for president, brought his campaign to Little Falls on August 4 with a “whistle stop” on the New York Central.

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First Trolley at Little Falls #24First Trolley at Little Falls #24

Inter-urban trolley lasted 30 years

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The electric trolley started in Little Falls in 1903 with great fanfare, a convenient and, for awhile at least, popular way to travel between Little Falls and points west and south.

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