Little Falls Historical Society Museum
  • HOME
  • BECOME A MEMBER
  • CONTACT US
  • WRITING SERIES
  • NEWS
    • Mat Rapacz Archives
  • EXHIBITS
    • VIRTUAL EXHIBITS
    • CURRENT EXHIBITS
    • ONGOING EXHIBITS
  • EXPERIENCE LITTLE FALLS HISTORY & HISTORIC ENTRY
    • Audio Tours
    • Historic Homes and Places in Little Falls
  • BOOKS AVAILABLE
  • SUNY ONEONTA’S COOPERSTOWN Graduate Program | Museum Studies
  • HISTORY SUPER SLEUTH
  • FOR THE HISTORIAN
    • Pre-human History – 1500
    • 1490 – 1650
    • 1651 – 1790
    • 1791 – 1870
    • MAKING HISTORY TODAY
      • Student Edition
  • ABOUT US
    • ANNUAL REPORTS
    • Privacy Policy
  • OUR SPONSORS
  • Menu Menu
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to Mail

Little Falls, NY

  • This day in history: July 28

    1892

    A public spirited citizen, Mr. P. W. Casler, having watched hundreds of boys swimming in the river from the point of Hansen Island, has generously donated some bath houses to be located there. In the name of decency and cleanliness, a small fee might be charged for the use of bathing suits and towels.

    1895

    It is said that Little Falls has more pneumatic tired carriages than any other place of even double its size in this section of the state.

    1921

    A grateful community turned out at St. Mary’s church for the funeral of Deloir A. Marco, the first of its boys to make the supreme sacrifice on the battlefields of France, and the first whose body was brought home to its final resting place.

  • Many thanks to Louie Baum for his research for This Day in History.

    ALL EXHIBITS

    • 1912 Little Falls Textile Strike
    • 1940 Gulf Curve Train Wreck
    • 240th Anniversary of the Battles of Stone Arabia and Klock’s Field
    • Athletics Wing Collection
    • Battle of West Canada Creek
    • Camp Jolly Exhibit
    • Church Street Cemetery Tour
    • City Hall – A History
    • Distant Drums – Little Falls during the Civil War Era
    • Early Base Ball in Little Falls
    • Early Little Falls Buildings and Organizations
    • First U.S. Cheese Market Exhibit
    • Frog Fountain
    • Herkimer County Bank
    • Little Falls African American History
    • Little Falls Diamonds Collection
    • Little Falls Music Exhibit
    • Little Falls Waterways
    • Little Falls and Women’s Suffrage
    • Making History Today
    • Making History Today Student Edition
    • Massacre at the Little Falls Grist Mill
    • Myjava, Slovakia, Sister City of Little Falls
    • Native American Exhibit
    • Prohibition Exhibit
    • Rockton Exhibit
    • Urban Renewal Exhibit
    • Vietnam War Exhibit
    • World War II and Korean Conflict Exhibit
    • Writing Series

    Tag Archive for: Mat Rapacz Archives

    Rialto was Little Falls’ movie palace

    Rialto memories

    February 27, 2025/by Mat Rapacz

    When preparing to write this article, I asked readers for their memories of the Rialto and received the following replies.

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_6641.jpeg 857 1200 Mat Rapacz http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Mat Rapacz2025-02-27 07:40:022025-02-27 07:40:05Rialto memories
    Rialto was Little Falls’ movie palace

    Rialto was Little Falls’ movie palace

    February 6, 2025/by Mat Rapacz

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

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_6641.jpeg 857 1200 Mat Rapacz http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Mat Rapacz2025-02-06 07:47:412025-02-06 07:47:42Rialto was Little Falls’ movie palace
    Noted actress Laura Keene, and John L. Sullivan, the heavyweight boxing champion.

    Keene, Sullivan, among those who played Little Falls

    January 16, 2025/by Mat Rapacz

    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.

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6484.jpeg 800 1280 Mat Rapacz http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Mat Rapacz2025-01-16 09:40:592025-01-16 09:50:32Keene, Sullivan, among those who played Little Falls
    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

    November 19, 2024/by Mat Rapacz

    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.

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Jeff-1-garfield_doctors.jpeg 902 1240 Mat Rapacz http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Mat Rapacz2024-11-19 06:32:482024-11-19 06:53:40Garfield’s whistle stop – 1880
    First Trolley at Little Falls #24First Trolley at Little Falls #24

    Inter-urban trolley lasted 30 years

    November 6, 2024/by Mat Rapacz

    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.

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_6186.jpeg 573 1200 Mat Rapacz http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Mat Rapacz2024-11-06 06:41:012024-11-06 06:41:03Inter-urban trolley lasted 30 years
    Earl Roberts - First Car Manufactured At Little FallsEarl Roberts - First Car Manufactured At Little Falls

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

    October 29, 2024/by Mat Rapacz

    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.

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_6161.jpeg 723 1200 Mat Rapacz http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Mat Rapacz2024-10-29 07:24:242024-10-29 07:25:13Cars still a relative novelty at time of ‘Sociability’ run
    Advertisement for Barnum's Circus -August 22, 1822

    Jumbo entertains Little Falls

    October 22, 2024/by Little Falls Historical Society Museum

    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.

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_6057.jpeg 978 1200 Little Falls Historical Society Museum http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Little Falls Historical Society Museum2024-10-22 07:56:102024-10-22 07:56:12Jumbo entertains Little Falls
    Boy's Basketball Team 1901Boy's Basketball Team 1901

    Little Falls was basketball pioneer

    October 15, 2024/by Mat Rapacz

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

    Read more
    https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_6005.jpeg 795 1200 Mat Rapacz http://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Little-Falls-Historical-Society-Museum.png Mat Rapacz2024-10-15 07:59:442024-10-16 13:37:42Little Falls was basketball pioneer

    Explore our history

    • The Privy and the Pear Tree: Unearthing Little Falls History in Your Own BackyardJuly 15, 2026 - 2:42 pm
    • Francis Skinner Municipal PoolFrancis Skinner Municipal Pool
      More than 150 Donors Help Reopen Francis Skinner Municipal PoolJuly 1, 2026 - 5:00 pm
    • COMMITTEE OF FIVE PRESENTING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE TO CONGRESS IN 1776.
      THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 1776 – 2026June 26, 2026 - 8:01 am
    • Little Falls Historical Society Membership PicnicJune 5, 2026 - 1:51 pm
    • Charles P Colby
      A Capacity For AchievementMay 7, 2026 - 7:35 am
    • Fort Herkimer Church
      Patriots Day Event Saturday, May 16, at the Fort Herkimer ChurchMay 5, 2026 - 8:55 am

    Explore the history of the Mohawk Valley

    Visit MohawkValleyMuseums.us

    Museum Exhibits

    • Little Falls and Women's Suffrage
      Little Falls and Women’s Suffragein: Current Exhibits
    • Rockton Exhibit | Little Falls Historical Society | Little Falls, NY
      Rockton Exhibitin: Current Exhibits
    • Camp Jolly Little Falls Historical Society Museum
      Camp Jolly Exhibitin: Current Exhibits
    • Prohibition Exhibit | Little Falls Historical Society | Little Falls, NY
      Prohibition Exhibitin: Current Exhibits
    • Athletics Wing | Little Falls Historical Society | Little Falls, NY
      Athletics Wing Collectionin: Current Exhibits, Ongoing Exhibits
    • 1940 train wreck | Little Falls Historical Society Museum
      1940 Gulf Curve Train Wreckin: Ongoing Exhibits, Past Exhibits
    • Native American Exhibit | Little Falls Historical Society Museum | Little Falls NY
      Native American Exhibitin: Ongoing Exhibits
    • Little Falls Diamonds Exhibit | Little Falls Historical Society Museum | Little Falls NY
      Little Falls Diamonds Collectionin: Ongoing Exhibits
    • World War II Exhibit | Little Falls Historical Society Museum | Little Falls NY
      World War II and Korean Conflict Exhibitin: Past Exhibits
    • Little Falls Cheese Market | Little Falls Historical Society Museum | Little Falls NY
      First U.S. Cheese Market Exhibitin: Ongoing Exhibits
    • Myjava, Slovakia Exhibitin: Ongoing Exhibits
    • Little Falls Waterwaysin: Past Exhibits

    Explore events happening in the Mohawk Valley

    See what's happening on MohawkValley.Today

    OLD BANK BUILDING MUSEUM HOURS

    By appointment only after October 4, 2025 until May 2026.
    SPECIAL DATES:
    OPEN SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 9-2
    OPEN FOR CHRISTMAS IN LITTLE FALLS ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13TH

    Explore the history of the Mohawk Valley

    Visit MohawkValleyMuseums.us
    © Copyright Little Falls Historical Society Museum in New York. All rights reserved. Design by MohawkValley.today
    • Link to Facebook
    • Link to Instagram
    • Link to Mail
    • Home
    • Exhibits
    • Historical Tours
    • Making History Today
    • Writing Series
    • News
    • Membership
    • About
    • Annual Report
    • Our Sponsors
    Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top