Clinton Historical Society One Fountain Street, PO Box 42, Clinton, NY 13323 315-859-1392 Preserve the Past for the Future

Released on 04/09/08
Clinton Historical Society CHS Annual Dinner Business Meeting May 7th
ANNUAL DINNER BUSINESS MEETING MAY 7 Clinton Historical Society will hold its annual dinner business meeting on Wednesday, May 7th at Skenandoa Club, Norton Avenue. At this time CHS will thank those members leaving the Board, new Board members will be welcomed and election of officers will take place. The buffet dinner will be at 7:00 PM and hors D'oeuvres and cash bar will begin at 6:00 PM. Cost is $21.00 per person. All members are asked to make reservations by May 1st by calling John Fitzpatrick at 315-853-7440. Join us for a fine social spring evening overlooking the Mohawk Valley.

Released on 03/15/08
Clinton Historical Society CHS April Meeting
CHS APRIL MEETING Evelyn R. Edwards, will be guest presenter at the Clinton Historical Society on Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 PM Society's meeting rooms, One Fountain Street, Clinton. She will draw from her newest publication: Around Utica, which features the work of A. J. Manning, who traveled with his camera through central New York in the early 1900s. He recorded historic events as well as nostalgic scenes of everyday life. His photos were produced in small quantities as real-photo postcards, which are quite rare and much sought after by collectors. Edwards is among those dedicated collectors who has sought out Manning postcards and will share them with us during her program. She is well known in the area for her many excellent programs based on her vast and interesting collections of postcards, antique valentines, and interest in B.T. Babbitt, and her wonderful book The Sauquoit Valley. Clinton Historical Society is proud and fortunate to have had Evelyn as a past Board member and dedicated contributor to CHS today. Born and raised in the Sauquoit Valley, Evelyn and her husband Mel reside in Clinton, and she is retired as an Administrative Assistant from then named Sherman Brook Retirement Village, Clinton. The meeting is open to the public, handicapped accessible and as always, refreshments will be provided.

Released on 02/22/08
Clinton Historical Society Children's Museum CHS Program
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM CHS PROGRAM Marlene Brown, Executive Director of the Children's Museum in Utica, will be Clinton Historical Society's guest speaker, Sunday, March 9 at 2 PM at the meeting rooms, One Fountain Street, Clinton. If you have had the opportunity to visit the museum you know what an interesting place it is and what a valuable asset it is for our area. Ms. Brown will tell us all about the Museum and its history. Marlene is a Clinton native, growing up on Brimfield Street and is a descendent of one of Clinton's earliest families, the Marshes who came to Clinton from Brimfield, Massachusetts in 1790. Come and enjoy your Sunday afternoon at CHS. Refreshments will follow the program and the building is handicapped accessible.

Released on 11/01/07
Clinton Historical Society Clinton Historical Society and the Shoppers Stroll
CLINTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE SHOPPERS STROLL Clinton Historical Society joins the Clinton Chamber in its celebration of the beginning of the Holiday Season with its own special offering. The Society, at One Fountain Street, will be open on Friday, November 23, from 12 until 8 PM. Featured in its festive decorations and adding to the Holiday spirit of the Society will be a replica of a garden gazebo, designed and built by Clinton resident, Tom Dressel. The model, while built in 1990, strongly resembles the Village Green gazebo. It will be festively decorated with Susan Dressels beautiful collection of Bryers Carolers, as well as other holiday trimmings. Tom and Susan are very pleased to share the gazebo with all the Holiday Strollers who visit the Society. On display, as well, will be a number of Christmas music boxes, provided by Barbara Munde of New Hartford. These boxes will be shown from Nov 23, through December 4. Refreshments, and a wonderfully decorated Christmas Tree will round out CHS's festivities. Following the stroll the Society will be open to the public, as usual on Wednesdays,1 PM to 3 PM and Saturdays, 11AM to 2 PM.

Released on 10/01/07
Clinton Historical Society David A Siegenthaler Speaks at Historical Society

Released on 06/28/07
Clinton Historical Society Historic Clinton Week
CHS Sponsors Historic Car Cruise In As part of the 37th Historic Clinton Week celebration Clinton Historical Society will sponsor a Car Cruise In at the Clinton Village Parking Lot, South Park Row from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Bring your historic vehicle. The Society's building will be open and a special dealer's model car exhibit will also be on display.

Released on 06/15/07
Clinton Historical Society CHS Annual meeting notes
CLINTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY UPDATE At its annual meeting in May, CHS members accepted new board members Patricia Fox and Wade Lallier, and elected Frank Cittadino, President. Plans are under way for Historic Clinton Week. An exhibit of dealer model cars will be set up and remain in place for the remainder of the summer. This is an extraordinary collection and fits in well with the special Historic Vehicle Cruise In planned for Thursday, July 5, 6:30-8:30 PM in the Village parking lot across from CHS building. In addition to cars there will be some unique farm tractors, as well as a self-propelled antique hay bayler. The Society building will be open on Thurs July 5 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and then reopen at 6:30 PM so that visitors to the Cruise In may view the exhibit. The Society has had signs made to mark four abandoned cemeteries in the Town of Kirkland. The cemeteries to be marked are as follows: the Manchester Graveyard, c.1795-1851, Barker Road Cemetery, 1805-1887, Brimfield Street Cemetery, 1801-1878, and Kellogg Street Cemetery (Chuckery), 1806-1900.

Released on 03/18/07
Clinton Historical Society Popular Music in the 20th Century-Richard Robinson
Development of Popular Music in the 20th Century Music will be the program for the Sunday, March 18th meeting of the Clinton Historical Society. Join, presenter, Richard Robinson, at 2PM, for a lively and nostalgic trip through the music of 1920-1979. The program will look at music from the 1920's through the 70's. From the "Jazz Age", through the "Swing Era", from the crooners to the swinging vocalists, the big bands to the small groups, factors will be explored that made the music "popular", why the music underwent various transformations and what effect these changes had on society. Dick Robinson, retired superintendent of Whitesboro School System, has taught several music appreciation courses at the Mohawk Valley ILR. For this program he has selected approximately 100 music titles, which will be played to illustrate what is described above. What better way to wile away a dreary March Sunday than listening and hearing the music that was and still is so much a part of our lives and memories. The meeting will be held at CHS meeting rooms, One Fountain Street, Clinton. It is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Released on 01/25/07
Clinton Historical Society Robert Tegart will give a presentation
CLINTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY FEBRUARY PRESENTATION

On Sunday, February 11, at 2:00 PM, Robert Tegart will give a presentation titled:A Virtual Walking Tour of Clinton.

If you have ever wished you could find the time to take a walking tour of Clinton's many historic homes and businesses, here is your chance. Come and sit in a comfortable chair to watch the new computer based program where the photographs of historic homes and buildings will interact with a map of the district.

Tegart, past Clinton Historical Society President, will point out the historical buildings, their architecture, the people and events that shaped Clinton's history.

Bob is currently the Chair of the Clinton Historic Preservation Commission and worked with Erol Asu, Scout Troop 9, who developed this computer program as part of his Eagle Scout project last summer. Asu had 6 adults and seven Scouts help accomplish this Eagle Project, which involved taking about 1500 pictures of 203 buildings and loading this data into the computer, and cross referencing with the Historic District Map.

The program, which is held at the Clinton Historical Society Building, One Fountain Street, is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

Released on 01/01/07
Clinton Historical Society Hermine W. Williams CHS Guest Speaker
Hermine W. Williams CHS Guest Speaker

Clinton Historical Society's January meeting will be held on Sunday, January 14 at 2 PM at One Fountain Street. Hermine W. Williams, will present a program on Thomas Hastings, 1784-1872, famous American composer and hymn writer. Hastings came to Clinton in 1796 and received his education locally. While in this region he began his career as a singing teacher, being himself largely a self-taught musician. His most well known hymn, "Rock of Ages" was published in 1831.

Mrs. Williams, Hamilton College scholar-in-residence, is a Vassar graduate and PhD from Columbia. She last spoke before the Society in 2000 on Samuel Kirkland. During the last six years she has written four books including one on Hastings, titled: Thomas Hastings: An Introduction to His Life And Music.

The meeting is free and open to the public and refreshments are provided.

Released on 10/08/06
Clinton Historical Society Annual Community Socializer Dance
CLINTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S ANNUAL COMMUNITY SOCIALIZER & DANCE

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20

7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

CLINTON VFW - FRANKLIN AVE

ADMISSION/DONATION $10 PER PERSON

40's, 50's, and 60's music spun by Mark Fuller! Plus Foods, fun, and cash bar

Tickets available from CHS Board members, at the door, and by calling 859-1392

Released on 10/08/06
Clinton Historical Society Memorials to D-Day WW II
MEMORIALS TO D-DAY - WWII

John J. Barnes, will be the guest speaker for the Clinton Historical Society meeting on Thursday, October 12, 7:30 PM, at One Fountain Street, Clinton. In a slide presentation, Barnes's program will be based on his five trips to Normandy from 1979 to the 60th Anniversary trip in June of 2004, the landing of the 116th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, 29th Division on Omaha Beach Dog Green Sector on June 6, 1944, and the ensuing experiences of Company A as it pushed inland ending on the Elbe River in May of 1945.

Barnes of Holland Patent has authored two books: From Omaha Beach to the Elbe River, Fragments of my life with Company A, 116th Infantry Regiment: a personal history and Rifleman of the Revolution: the story of Tim Murphy.

The meeting is free and open to the public and the building is handicap accessible.

Released on 09/05/06
Clinton Historical Society September 2006 Meeting
2006-2007 CLINTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The beginning of another season of programs and events by the CLINTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, begins on Thursday, September 14 at 7:30 PM, at One Fountain Street.

Members and guests will welcome, Diane Van Slyke as she presents Chenango Canal Review (Bouckville Area). While the Erie Canal was built by 1825 and provided a super water-highway to the vast west, the Chenango Canal's construction began in 1834 and went between Utica and Binghamton from 1837-1877. When completed it was the link between the newly discovered coalmines in Pennsylvania to the Erie Canal. Today's Chenango Avenue is on top of the old canal bed as it passed through Clinton.

Van Slyke will discuss the canal in the summit level near Bouckville on State Route20. Ms Van Slyke, a graduate of Morrisville Ag and Tech, has worked diligently to see the development of the Chenango Canal Association and its many projects.

The program is free and open to the public and as with all CHS events refreshments will be served.

Released on 04/20/06
Clinton Historical Society Clinton Baptist Church and Building History
CLINTON BAPTIST CHURCH AND BUILDING HISTORY

Richard Williams, former Clinton Historical Society President and Town of Kirkland Historian, will be guest speaker at the next CHS meeting, Wednesday evening, April 19 at 7:30. (Please note date change). He will present the history of the Clinton Baptists and the building in which they held services between 1832-1987.

His talk will include the first Baptist Church in this area, the Clinton Baptist building which is now the Society quarters, the dwindling Baptist congregation, and the eventual closing of the church in 1987.

During Williams second time as President of the Society, 1999 to 2004, the building underwent extensive renovations overseen by Williams. The Society is fortunate to have this historic building as its quarters and it will be most interesting to hear about its time as a Baptist Church.

Released on 04/20/06
Clinton Historical Society House Dating Plaques
HOUSE DATING PLAQUES

Back in 1976, the nation's bicentennial, the Clinton Historical Society offered small white metal plaques with dates on for owners to affix to their homes and businesses. Some still survive around town.

Now CHS will again offer a date plate for your building for $20.00. This will be a great way to add to the historical significance of your home. For help in dating your home, the Society's Munson Library may be a good source of information, through maps, atlases, and Clinton Historic District files.

A form is available at the Society or may be e-mailed to you by making a request to clintonhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com.

Released on 03/12/06
Clinton Historical Society Take me out to the Ballgame
As spring training gets into full swing in Florida, Clinton Historical Society will take a look at our own area's rich history of Baseball. Scott Feisthumel will present some interesting information on the general history of area baseball, with special attention to the Ken-Wel Sporting Goods Company, the Utica Blue Sox and one of the all-time characters in baseball's history, a lovable roque by the name of Wild Bill Setley.

Scott will show many photos on the above subjects and will have numerous Ken-Wel items on display. Feisthumel is a former newspaper columnist, author of several books, a member of the Society for American Baseball Research, Oneida County and Clinton Historical Societies. He owns Erie Canal Productions, a book publishing and video production company. Scott and his wife reside in Kirkland.

CHS meeting will take place on Sunday, March 12, at 2:00 PM. The meeting is open to the public.

Released on 02/25/06
Clinton Historical Society In Honor of Ed Stanley
In memory of Ed Stanley's (Mr. Hockey), 100th Birthday, a special book signing event will take place at Clinton Historical Society, One Fountain Street, Clinton, on Saturday, February 25. Jim Mancuso and Fred Zalatan will sign copies of Clinton Comets From the Chenango Canal to National Champions.

This will begin at 2 PM; several Clinton Comet players plan to be present.

Released on 02/12/06
Clinton Historical Society Lucretia Mott, Abolitionist
King Davis of Clinton, will be guest speaker at Clinton Historical Society's, Sunday, February 12 meeting. He will present a talk about his Great-Great-Grandmother, Lucretia Mott.

Lucretia Mott, 1793-1880 famous antislavery and Women's Rights leader was born Lucretia Coffin in Nantucket, Massachusets. She married James Mott in 1811.

Mott's family were Quakers and in 1821 she became a Quaker minister. She was active in the abolitionist movement and spoke eloquently against slavery.

By 1848 she had joined Elizabeth Cady Stanton and helped organize the first Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, NY. And, in 1850 she published a book Discourse on Women, where she discussed the educational, economic and political restrictions on women.

King Davis pursued his education in Geology with an MA and AB from Harvard. After serving in the Marine Corp, he furthered his education in Geology and did extensive field work in the western US, northern Canada and Canadian Arctic. Worked with Rome Air Development as an engineer in their Intelligence Division, before becoming the local district manager for Marin Marietta in a marketing capacity.

Clinton Historical Society is most fortunate to have King discuss for us this extraordinary and remarkable woman. The meeting will begin at 2:00 PM and is open to the public.

Released on 01/01/06
Clinton Historical Society January "Matinee" meeting of CHS
Sunday, January 8 begins the winter "matinee" meetings of Clinton Historical Society. The meeting will begin at 2:00 PM at meeting rooms, One Fountain Street.

Guest speaker will be Leon Koziol, Esq. Koziol will discuss waterways of northern New York and the Adirondacks. These themes are featured in his recent book, Paradise Under Siege, published in July 2005 by BookSurge, LLC.

Atty Koziol is Father of two children, a long time lake mariner and well acquainted with the waterways of the upper Northeastern US and lower Canada, in particular the Lake George area. Underlying subplots of Paradise Under Siege is the Iroquois Indian land claims. He is well versed on this subject as he has been representative attorney for landowners in the decade long battle between landowners and the Indian nation.

The meeting is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

Released on 07/26/05
Clinton Historical Society Summer Hours & exhibition
Summer hours for CHS are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-3PM. The ongoing exhibition of local artists and authors will be on display until end of August. Reminder to mark your calendars Harvest Dance, Saturday, October 29 From 8-11:30, VFW, Franklin Avenue. Tickets will be on sale in near future.

Released on 06/28/05
Clinton Historical Society Historic Clinton Week
HISTORIC CLINTON WEEK EVENTS Beginning in 1971 the CLINTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY has sponsored HISTORIC CLINTON WEEK. The purpose then as now is to remind citizens of our rich heritage and to celebrate Clinton and Kirkland. This year Historic Clinton Week is July 4 to July 9. Events have been scheduled to highlight our heritage, beginning with a walking tour of the Village that was held on Monday, June 27, at the request of the Landmarks Society and Utica Monday Nite, and given by CHS President, Robert Tegart. On Sunday, July 3 at 1 Fountain Street there will be an OPEN HOUSE for the opening of CLINTONIANS IN ARTS AND LETTERS, an exhibit of many of the works of art in the Society's collection as well as some loaned from members. Evelyn Edwards's July 4th collection of postcards will also be on display. Monday July 4th the 229th year of our Independence from England CHS will be open from 3 to 5 PM to view the art show. In addition, the Society will have OPEN HOUSE on Wednesday and Thursday from 1-3 PM. A special program on the history of the Clinton Fire Department will be held on Wednesday, July 6 at 7 PM at fire house # 2 on Franklin Ave. The program will be presented by Clintonian, Jon Scott. CHS is encouraging all residents to fly their US flags all week and to get into the history SPIRIT!!!!!

Released on 03/01/05
Clinton Historical Society March Meeting
MARCH 13TH CHS PRESENTS LOCAL RADIO HISTORY Who better than Ed Slusarczyk, to tell us about local radio history, he has been a part of local radio for 56 years. He will be the March speaker for Clinton Historical Society, on Sunday, March 13 at 2:00 PM at One Fountain Street. Since the 1920's we have been able to tune into Utica and Rome radio stations, and today we have a wide variety of both AM and FM stations coming to our receivers. Mr. Slusarczyk became farm director at WIBX in 1949, seven years later he started his own station in Remsen. Today he runs the Ag Radio Network, which reaches 144 stations with agriculture reports daily. He has traveled extensively to Africa and Poland promoting farm production. A Prospect, New York farm native, Slusarczyk graduated from Holland Patent High School, served with the Army in the D-Day invasion, and was injured at the Battle of St. Lo in France. He earned a degree from Cornell University in agricultural economics. The meeting is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served.

Released on 12/20/04
Clinton Historical Society January Meeting
CHS JANUARY MEETING

Sunday, January 9 at 2 PM Clinton Historical Society will welcome Dick Williams, past president of the Society as its guest speaker. Since 1793 Hamilton College and its predecessor, Hamilton-Oneida Academy, have been a major presence and influence on "The Hill" and in the Clinton Community. Join us and hear Dick discuss the College's impact on the Town and Village and the various important connections that have evolved between the two through the years.

Williams, retired history teacher and Vice-Principal of Whitesboro High School has written: Kirkland Since 1827, published in 2002; a booklet: "Clinton American Revolution Bicentennial" published in 1976 and in 1987 he published "Clinton's Bicentennial…A Picture History".

In 1972-4 and again in 1999-2004 he served as President of the Clinton Historical Society. Currently he is Village of Clinton and Town of Kirkland Historian. His Courier articles on local history are most eagerly followed.

Released on 10/01/04
Clinton Historical Society Nicholas O. Matt Speaker October CHS Meeting
NICHOLAS O. MATT SPEAKER CHS OCTOBER MEETING

MATT BREWING CO. is a four-generation regional brewery whose roots date back to 1885. The CLINTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY will explore the history of this family brewery with Nicholas O. Matt as its guest speaker on Thursday, October 14, 7:30 PM at the historical society meeting rooms, One Fountain Street, Clinton.

Prior to joining the brewery Nick was with Richardson Vicks/Proctor & Gamble, holding various positions of increasing responsibility from 1973-1989. He returned to the Utica area in 1989, joining the company as president. He has led the transition of the company to a more specialized line of products including Saranac beers, Saranac soft drinks, as well as Jed's Hard Lemonade and Two Dogs Lemon Brew. The brewery produces a variety of specialty beverages, both under its own trademarks and for other companies.

The Matt Brewery with its lovely old brick facade on Varick & Court Streets has been an essential part of Central New York's business history, and now as one of the few remaining great American family-owned regional breweries, it continues its family tradition of "attention to detail and uncompromising commitment to quality" as it moves through the 21st century.

In addition to his duties as brewery president, Nick Matt is extremely active in the community, serving on many boards, including, Utica National Insurance Company, SBU/Partners Trust, St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Mohawk Valley Economic Development Growth Enterprises Corp, and Brewers' Association, to name a few.

Nick graduated from Union College and holds an MBA from the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University. He and his wife Susan have three children.

The meeting is open to the public and as usual refreshments will be served.

Released on 08/01/04
Clinton Historical Society opens program year with "Made in Oneida County"

Released on 03/12/03
Clinton Historical Society reaches $300,000 goal
     Clinton Historical Society president Richard Williams said the 2000-02 Capital Campaign to raise $300,000 reached and exceeded its goal.
     Williams said $308,979 has been received and used to rebuild the 1832 Clinton Baptist Church at 1 Fountain St, which now serves as the society's headquarters, and for the endowment fund.
     Campaign chair Clarence Aldridge said there were 239 campaign donors, including society members, civic organizations, foundations, and businesses.
     State Assemblyman Bill Magee provided a $75,000 grant from the New York Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
     The funds were used to renovate the lower level for the Apothecary Shop and other permanent exhibits.
     Further donations may be made to the society at Box 42, Clinton, NY 13323.

Released on 08/01/01
Clinton Historical Society Launches new web page
President Richard Williams announced today that the Clinton Historical Society has successfully launched its new web page. The web page contains announcements relating to the activities of the Clinton Historical Society. You can view the page at www.clintonhistory.org using any available web browser.

Released on 02/12/01
Clinton Historical Society Moves
Clinton Historical Society has moved into new headquarters in the former Clinton Baptist Church on Fountain Street, Clinton. For nearly 170 years, the structure has been a landmark. The Community Foundation of Oneida and Herkimer Counties made a $30,000 gift to the society toward its $300,000 capital campaign to preserve what is the oldest church structure in Clinton, according to Foundation executive director, Gordon M. Hayes Jr.
     To date, nearly $285,000 has been raised. Another significant contribution was a $75,000 member item from Assemblyman William D. Magee, D-111, Nelson. The building was the home of the Clinton Baptist Church from 1832 to 1987. The society restored the building's architectural elegance and maintaining its historic character while adding modern features and amenities.
     The society's previous home was on the second floor of Kirkland Library. Richard Williams, society president, said the three-year renovation program began in August 1999, with the first priorities to install a new roof and rain gutters, paint the interior and exterior and construct a handicapped accessible rest room. Other completed work has been removal of the pews and conversion of the former sanctuary into a flexible, all-purpose auditorium and display hall; construction of a kitchen; installation of a new boiler and handicap lift, and conversion of a loft into an office/work space.
     The final phase was restoration of stained glass windows by Don Henry, owner of Sullivan Studios in Chittenango. Curator Esther Delany has been assisted by volunteers in cataloging artifacts and papers. Membership is about 600.