Little Falls Historical Society Museum Events
This day in history: September 21
1900
The new industrial building erected by D. H. Burrell & Co., facing on Ann Street, is nearly ready for use. It is the company’s intention to improve the adjacent Albany Street property so all company business will be located in one area.
1903
After much discussion and arguing, the Common Council passed a proposition increasing the speed limit of trollies running through Little Falls from five to ten miles per hour.
1921
An old human skeleton was found under a King Street house while workers were excavating for a sewer line. Five coins found in the soil give an approximate date which coincides with the disappearance of a man who had been thought to have left the area according to Chief James Long.
1938
Many hundreds of autos participated in the cavalcade celebrating the opening of the Gorge View highway. State and local officials gave felicitous talks on why it was necessary to carve out the new road, and eliminate the need of passing under the notorious Gulf Bridge.
1942
WW II Era – The first fatal accident occurred on the George View Highway when a milk tanker tipped over in the small park at East Main and Hancock Streets killing an Ogdensburg man.
This day in history: September 22
1834
Richard Ray Ward gave the property for the Church Street Cemetery to the village.
1863
The Farmer’s Club of Little Falls will hold their Sixth Annual Fair one mile west of Little Falls on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week. All animals on exhibition will be shown to the proper judges who will award ribbons and monetary prizes to the winners.
1896
The title of “Union School and Academy” will be changed to “Little Falls High School” by the Board of Regents who passed an ordinance changing the names of all public secondary schools to High School. A large delegation of local students will be attending college or normal schools including Williams, Yale, Columbia, Vassar, Oberlin, and Albany, Oswego, Brockport & Genesco Normal Schools.
This day in history: September 23
1889
The new schoolhouse on Church Street was put into use today. For the past few days the building has received scores of visitors every day, many of whom were little girls who expect to attend school in the new structure.
1988
With the snip of a ribbon and a ride on a bicycle, Senator James Donovan and local resident, James Miller dedicated the new bicycle trail that runs from Railroad Street in the city to Fink’s Basin. Christened the “James Miller Miracle Mile and a Half,” the trail stretches for 1.3 miles along the bed of the abandoned West Shore Railroad tracks. Miller had lobbied for nine years to have the trail built.
This day in history: September 24
1909
There have been three shootings on the south side in the past five days including two murders. The latest was the slaying of John Fuda, who was lured to a lonely spot on German Street (Flint Avenue) and shot in the back of the head. He was last seen walking with two strangers, reportedly from Utica.
1933
Rev. Anthony Spina, organizer and beloved first pastor of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic parish in Little Falls, has been transferred to Schenectady. Father Spina has been in the city for nearly eleven years and founded the Italian congregation here as well as being active in civic affairs.
1972
Approximately 400 of St. Mary’s parishioners and friends assembled for the dedication of the new multi-purpose auditorium-gymnasium that had been erected at the rear of St. Mary’s Academy. Most Rev. Edwin B. Broderick, bishop of Albany was present to bless the building. Rev. Joseph F. Barker was present as pastor. John B. McGuire was toastmaster.
From the Cooney Archives
AN ELEPHANT NAMED BIMBO AND A FUNERAL by Darlene Smith
/by Little Falls Historical Society MuseumMost people usually don’t have an elephant attend a family member’s funeral, but then most other families didn’t have a grandfather who loved the circus the way Milo Smith did.
CITY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY CONTINUE EFFORTS TO RECOGNIZE AFRICAN AMERICAN BURIAL GROUND
/by Little Falls Historical Society MuseumIt all began sometime in the early-2000s in the mind and heart of deceased former City Historian Edwin Vogt.
“Bellcamp” The Magician by Ann E. Schuyler
/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum“Uncle Archie, can you make me disappear?” I asked. “Yes,” he said, “Go in the other room.” I was expecting something like levitation.
My First and Last Train Rides by Ann Eysaman Schuyler
/by Little Falls Historical Society MuseumIn 1944 I took my first train ride – all the way to Utica, NY. Having lived in Little Falls all my life, some of it on West Main Street at the foot of Glen Avenue, I knew about the railroad.
LOCAL AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY REFLECTED STATE AND NATIONAL EVENTS
/by Little Falls Historical Society MuseumThe primary purpose of this piece of writing is to chronicle a history of African American presence in Little Falls from the time of slavery up to the 2015 dedication of a monument in Little Falls Church Street Cemetery recognizing what was once known as the “Colored Burial Ground.”
The Underground Railroad In And Around Little Falls
/by Little Falls Historical Society MuseumThe Underground Railroad (URR) was a loosely organized network of people, (men and women, African American and white,) dedicated to helping people escape from bondage in the slave-holding states of the South to freedom in the antislavery states of the North and ultimately to Canada in the period before the Civil War.
MEMORIAL SERVICE NOTICE FOR ARTHUR WITHINGTON
/by Little Falls Historical Society MuseumThere will be a Memorial Service for former Little Falls native Annette (Eysaman) Withington’s husband, Arthur, on July 22, 2023, 11am, at the Cornerstone Plymouth Bethesda Church in Utica.