Little Falls Historical Society Museum Events

  • This day in history: April 3

    1780

    The Rheimensnyders Bush mill and settlement, located east of the yellow church, on the Salisbury Road, just north of Little Falls was burned  by a party of sixty British and Indians, and many inhabitants were carried off to Canada.

    1854

    Little Falls had three paper mills, unfortunately all have been burned down. But Phoenix-like, they have all arisen again with new strength, beauty, and vigor. The Richmond mill is in operation, and the other two mills are nearly complete in construction.

    1908

    The city loses one of its most aged and interesting landmarks in the tearing down of the stone building on Main Street, once known as the McKinster Hotel. The building was recently visited by fire.

    1917

    A great campaign was initiated by Mayor Abram Zoller to have a branch of the American Red Cross in Little Falls. Led by many clubs and organizations, nearly 4,000 local citizens joined. The chapter was housed in the old bank building on South Ann Street after the bank’s move to new quarters in the Burrell building.

    1933

    As the Great Depression continues, the local taxpayers group demanded a further reduction in the city and school budgets, claiming homeowners can no longer afford current taxes. It was suggested that there be larger cuts for higher salaried municipal employees. There were heated verbal exchanges throughout the meeting. The city fathers approved the budgets.

  • 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

Cars still a relative novelty at time of ‘Sociability’ run

Automobiles were still a relative novelty in Little Falls in 1909 when the Smith brothers, proprietors of the Richmond Hotel (later called Hotel Snyder) concocted the idea of a “Sociability” automobile run from the city to Cooperstown and back.

Little Falls High School class of 1954

Nostalgia

Nostalgia becomes a personal emotional experience. In times of stress, nostalgia can provide a retreat, a respite, a way to feel less alone.

Advertisement for Barnum's Circus -August 22, 1822

Jumbo entertains Little Falls

On Tuesday, Aug. 22, 1882, Little Falls played host to a 12-foot tall, 6½ ton entertainer, whose reach extended 26 feet from the ground.

Little Falls was basketball pioneer

When basketball was new, Little Falls (along with Herkimer) was one of its pioneering communities and had some of its better teams.

Little Falls Public Library head librarian Julia Yardley pictured on the front portico of the Old Bank Building Museum during the October 5th cheese festival.

Little Falls Public Library librarian, Julia Yardley, at the Old Bank Building Museum during the October 5th Cheese Festival.

Little Falls Public Library head librarian Julia Yardley pictured on the front portico of the Old Bank Building Museum during the October 5th Cheese Festival.

Albany Symphony Orchestra at the Old Bank Building in Little Falls.

OLD BANK BUILDING MUSEUM SITE OF ALBANY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA RECORDING

Friday September 27 was a most interesting and history-making day at the Little Falls Historical Society’s Old Bank Building Museum.

NOTICE: Little Falls Historical Society Museum closure Friday, September 27, 2024

The Historical Society Museum will be closed the afternoon of Friday, September 27, 2024, due to a scheduling overlap.