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100 Objects for 100 Years 29/100 This painting is

100 Objects for 100 Years
29/100

This painting is currently out for our “Ode to Autumn” display and is said to depict the Walsworth Homestead painted by Addie Frances Walsworth Starr. Looking into Addie’s genealogy uncovers her parents, Nelson and Clarissa Walsworth (or Walworth- both spellings appear), and with a little help from maps and deeds we can determine that the Nelson Walsworth family settled on lot 72 in Cortlandville. Their home shows up on an 1863 map, marking the property at the intersection of NY-222 and Sears Road. Taking a look at the street view on Google Maps, it is undeniable that much has been changed about the house, but the bones appear the same.
Addie was born, likely in that very home, on November 21, 1868.
She served briefly as a teacher in South Cortland before marrying Asa N. Starr on April 22, 1896.
There is unfortunately no context to when Addie would have done the painting, but it is a lovely fall scene that is worth a close inspection, available for viewing during a tour through the museum.

Also in our collections are some quilt fragments that were made by Addie’s mother, Clarissa Pike Walsworth (1827-1907). The women of this family cherished these objects, passed them down through the generations until they found a home at CCHS to be enjoyed by all!

In 2025 CCHS is turning one hundred years old! In preparation of our landmark birthday, we are celebrating the unique collections you have entrusted to us over the years.
~Sophie, Collections & Research Assistant

#cortlandcountyhistory #cortlandny #centralnyhistory #experiencecortland #museum #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #history #100objectsfor100years

Today's your last chance to get your tickets for t

Today's your last chance to get your tickets for the Cortland County Historical Society's Pasta Dinner! Check out our website or call 607-756-6071 for more info! Thanks for your support 😊

Tomorrow is the deadline to purchase tickets for t

Tomorrow is the deadline to purchase tickets for the CCHS Pasta Dinner at the Cortland Elks Lodge!

Schedule a date night and support local history! O

Schedule a date night and support local history! Our Pasta Dinner at the Cortland Elks provides the perfect opportunity to do both 🙂 Thank you for supporting the Cortland County Historical Society!

Step into the captivating world of Cortland's arch

Step into the captivating world of Cortland's architectural history!
Did you know that the iconic J.J. Newberry Building at 43-49 Main Street has a rich past that spans over 140 years? Originally known as the Schermerhorn Building, this medieval-castle-like structure has witnessed the ebb and flow of Cortland's business landscape since 1879.
From law offices to shoe stores, from the YMCA to a five-and-dime, this building has been at the heart of Cortland's commercial life. It even survived a dramatic fire in 1897, thanks to the heroic efforts of local firefighters and their innovative ball nozzle!
Want to discover more about the fascinating transformations of this historic landmark? Head over to our website for the full story, including:
• The building's colorful tenants through the decades
• Its brush with disaster and narrow escape
• The architectural evolution from Victorian eclecticism to modern storefront
Uncover the layers of history hidden behind those brick walls. Your next stroll down Main Street will never be the same!

#CortlandHistory #HistoricArchitecture #MainStreetMemories #experiencecortland
#mainstreet #cortlandcounty #cortlandny

We can't wait to see you at our upcoming Pasta Din

We can't wait to see you at our upcoming Pasta Dinner at the Cortland Elks Lodge! Tickets available at www.cortlandhistory.org, by phone at 607-756-6071, or in person at 25 Homer Avenue. Thank you for your support!

There are just FIVE DAYS left for you to get ticke

There are just FIVE DAYS left for you to get tickets to enjoy a delicious pasta dinner to support the Cortland County Historical Society! We can't wait to see you on September 19th at the Cortland Elks Lodge--check your calendar and make a date with us 😃

Tickets are available via our website or you can call us at 607-756-6071 for more information or to purchase your tickets by phone. Thank you for your support!

Join us for “Ode to Autumn,” a First Friday ev

Join us for “Ode to Autumn,” a First Friday event featuring fall-themed artworks and objects from our collection paying homage to the back-to-school season. Admission to the Suggett House Museum is always free!

Did you know you can pick up some great gifts at t

Did you know you can pick up some great gifts at the Cortland County Historical Society? Stop by Wednesdays-Saturdays from 12-5pm 😊

Take a night off from cooking and join us for a pa

Take a night off from cooking and join us for a pasta dinner at the Cortland Elks Lodge on Thursday, September 19. While enjoying a delicious dinner, you will also be supporting the Cortland County Historical Society, helping us continue preserving and sharing our local history!

Time: Choose from two seatings, either 5:00-6:15pm OR 6:30-7:45pm, whichever works best for your schedule.
Where: Cortland Elks Lodge, 9 Groton Avenue
Tickets: Tickets MUST be purchased in advance, even if you are planning on take-out. We will have a guest list and will check you in when you arrive.
Price: $12 per person, children under 6 eat free
Payment: Cash, check, or online payment, check must be made out to Cortland Elks Lodge #748. Visit our website
Menu: penne in red sauce, tossed salad, meatballs, sweet sausage, Italian bread, cookies, and coffee and water
Important: Please note this is NOT an all-you-can-eat dinner. You may purchase take-out, but you must commit to one of the two times offered.

If you are unable to attend but would still like to support CCHS, you can make a donation in lieu of attending.

Call CCHS at 607-756-6071 with any questions. Thank you for your support!

#cortlandhistory #experiencecortland #cortlandelks #pastadinner

We will be closed Saturday, August 31 for the Labo

We will be closed Saturday, August 31 for the Labor Day weekend. We will see you back on Wednesday, September 4. Have a wonderful holiday!

#cortlandhistory #experiencecortland #cortlandcounty #laborday2024

Photo of the week! Library in the Cortland Normal

Photo of the week!

Library in the Cortland Normal School building that was located where the courthouse now stands, c. 1890s. The Normal School burnt down in 1919, then rebuilt up the hill to occupy Old Main in 1925.

#cortlandcountyhistory #cortlandny #centralnyhistory #experiencecortland #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #history #historicalphotographs #historicalphotos #photography

100 Objects for 100 Years 27/100 Work is underway

100 Objects for 100 Years
27/100

Work is underway to spruce things up in the Suggett House in anticipation of celebrations for our 100th anniversary in 2025! One long-overdue project is to repaint the dining room, and preparation has included removing a few layers of wallpaper from the walls, revealing a note left almost ninety years ago!
The penciled writing reads: “John F. Wyckoff and Son- Nov 13, 1938”

I took a look at our city directory for 1938 and found John Wyckoff living at 48 Maple Ave (just across the street from CCHS!), listed as a painter and paperhanger. Also in the household was his son, Lynford, whose occupation was a painter and likely partnered with his father in the task of freshly wallpapering the dining room of the Suggett House. While doing so, they left a mark of their presence on the wall for us to find and investigate eighty-six years later.

In the directory, the Suggett home was indicated as being vacant, but must have been undergoing renovations for intended occupation, likely as a rental. For several years after 1938 John Chester Birdlebough, great-grandson to James Suggett, is listed in the directories as living in the home, but other evidence suggests he was in Phoenix, NY serving as the principal of the high school there. Between 1944-1949, the Rev. Edwin H. Dickinson occupied 25 Homer Ave, followed by Miss Mary E. White. Miss White, a teacher, died in the home in 1955.
No new tenants appear after that, then in 1960 John Birdlebough opened the house up to host a meeting of the Cortland County Historical Society at which he gave a talk titled “John Suggett, Rugged Individualist.” Three years later the Suggett House was gifted to CCHS, and we moved in in 1967!

In 2025 CCHS is turning one hundred years old! In preparation of our landmark birthday, we are celebrating the unique collections you have entrusted to us over the years.
~Sophie, Collections & Research Assistant

#cortlandcountyhistory #cortlandny #centralnyhistory #experiencecortland #museum #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #history #100objectsfor100years

Let kids be kids at the Then & Now Children's Room

Let kids be kids at the Then & Now Children's Room! Slow down and enjoy some good old fashioned play 🙂

📚 Dive into the fascinating story of Philo Mile

📚 Dive into the fascinating story of Philo Miles, a pioneer who settled in Homer, NY in the early 1800s! From building log cabins to making charcoal, this man did it all. Discover how he and his wife Abilena raised 15 children and left a lasting legacy in Cortland County. 🏡🌲

Uncover more local history gems in our latest blog post "Slumbering Souls: Philo Miles" on the Cortland County Historical Society website. Link in bio! #CortlandHistory #PioneerLife #NYHeritage #cortlandounty #homerny #slumberingsouls #charcoalproduction

Snag your tickets and bring the family to our past

Snag your tickets and bring the family to our pasta dinner fundraiser!

Time: Choose from two seatings, either 5:00-6:15pm OR 6:30-7:45pm, whichever works best for your schedule.
Where: Cortland Elks Lodge, 9 Groton Avenue
Tickets: Tickets MUST be purchased in advance, even if you are planning on take-out. We will have a guest list and will check you in when you arrive.
Price: $12 per person, children under 6 eat free
Payment: Cash, check, or online payment (https://bit.ly/4d7IFi1), check must be made out to Cortland Elks Lodge #748.
Menu: penne in red sauce, tossed salad, meatballs, sweet sausage, Italian bread, cookies, and coffee and water
Important: Please note this is NOT an all-you-can-eat dinner. You may purchase take-out, but you must commit to one of the two times offered.
If you are unable to attend but would still like to support CCHS, you can make a donation in lieu of attending.

Visit our website for more information.

Photo of the week! Cortland Normal School agricul

Photo of the week!

Cortland Normal School agricultural department students picking apples in the fall of 1912. Identified men include Dan Flannagan, Glines Kester, James Monroe, Prof. Otis, Frank Ryan, and Claude Schill.

#cortlandcountyhistory #cortlandny #centralnyhistory #experiencecortland #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #history #historicalphotographs #historicalphotos #photography

Do you enjoy history? Consider a membership the th

Do you enjoy history? Consider a membership the the Cortland County Historical Society to help us continue to keep the past alive 🤩

Photo of the week! Corporation Hall, built in 188

Photo of the week!

Corporation Hall, built in 1889 on the north side of Main Street in Marathon and serving as the village hall and fire station. Notations on the photo indicates that the builders included Ogden Gray Underwood, and J.O. Peebles. The hall, along with the neighboring Methodist Church, were moved across the street to make way for the expansion of the Marathon Central School. Corporation Hall is now on the corner of Main and Peck Streets.

#cortlandcountyhistory #cortlandny #centralnyhistory #experiencecortland #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #history #historicalphotographs #historicalphotos #photography #historyforge

Photo of the week! This week's photo also feature

Photo of the week!

This week's photo also features a video demonstrating the use of HistoryForge! The image is of the unique octagon house located at 14 N Church Street in Cortland.
The capabilities of HistoryForge include adding photos, layering historic maps on top of Google Maps, as well as a listing of the previous residents.
Watch the video to learn more!

#cortlandcountyhistory #cortlandny #centralnyhistory #experiencecortland #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #history #historicalphotographs #historicalphotos #photography #historyforge

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