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Photo of the week! As construction season approac

Photo of the week!

As construction season approaches, let us take a look back at a time when Main Street in Cortland was a bustle of the kind of activity we can expect to start again soon!
This image was taken about 1914 and is a view facing north from the intersection of Port Watson Street. On the left, the post office is seen still under construction.

If you'd like to stay up-to-date on the upcoming work on Main Street, check out https://www.crowncityrising.com/project-updates.

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

Check out our Facebook page for the latest Main St

Check out our Facebook page for the latest Main Street Monday!

#MainStreetMonday #experiencecortland #crowncityrising #cortlandny #mainstreet #mainstreetusa #cortlandcountyhistory #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #history #historicalphotos #historicalphotographs

Photo of the week! Front Street in Marathon, unda

Photo of the week!

Front Street in Marathon, undated.

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

Photo of the week! Hidden behind these snowy tree

Photo of the week!

Hidden behind these snowy trees is the Randall-Schermerhorn residence located at what was then 88 Main Street, now part of the YWCA on Clayton Avenue in Cortland.
The home was built for the William "Billy" P. Randall family around 1869, but was lived in for much longer by the James R. Schermerhorn family until the YWCA purchased it and was moved in by 1920.
Prior to the post office being built, a long walkway led up to the front entrance from Main Street.
Let's hope we don't still have snow in May like this photo shows!

#cortlandcountyhistory #cortlandny #centralnyhistory #experiencecortland #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #history #historicalphotographs #historicalphotos #photography #snow #winter #YWCA

As a historical society, we recognize the vital ro

As a historical society, we recognize the vital role that women have played in shaping our community's past. This International Women's Day, we celebrate the incredible achievements of those women who have led, inspired, and made a difference.

Alice Ettling was an enterprising and successful businesswoman at a time when business was very much a male dominated world. After Alice's father’s declining health caused him to retire from his occupation in the carriage manufacturing business, father (Shepard W. Cately) and daughter would form a partnership in about 1888 known as Cately & Ettling. Cately invented the gadgets and Ettling marketed them. Eventually, Alice would take over her father’s share of the business and become the only woman to attend the National Carriage Builder’s Association banquets.She was not afraid to be the only woman at the carriage shows because she knew the value of her products. She carried on as a single parent when her husband died and as the head of a successful company after her father’s death. She was truly an inspiration to a new generation of Cortland County women. Learn more about Cortland's fascinating enterprising and successful businesswoman by checking the link in our bio.
Portrait of Ettling by Molly Reagan

#LocalHistory #IWD2023 #WomenLeaders #cortlandhistory #cortlandcounty #cortlandny #experiencecortland

Photo of the week! Little is unfortunately known

Photo of the week!

Little is unfortunately known about this image, but it is likely to be at the McGraw Corset Company sometime in the 1890s. The company, first known as P.H. McGraw & Son, was started in 1878 by Perrin H. McGraw and his son, Albert P. After his father retired in 1890, Albert expanded lines of manufacturing to include waists, skirts, and other garments. The corset industry put the village of McGraw on the map, referred to for many years as "Corset City".

#cortlandcountyhistory #cortlandny #mcgrawny #centralnyhistory #experiencecortland #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #history #historicalphotographs #historicalphotos #photography #corsets #victorianfashion

Blast from the past! In March of 1990, Don Tennan

Blast from the past!

In March of 1990, Don Tennant retired as Harford's postmaster, a position he held for twenty-four years! The Tennant family also operated a general store in a building filled with history located at Harford's four corners. The location, also known as the Harford Exchange, dates back to 1820 when it served as a stop on a stagecoach line.

#blastfromthepast #cortlandny #cortlandcountyhistory #experiencecortland #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #history #historicalphotographs #historicalphotos

In our series "Portrait Artists of Cortland County

In our series "Portrait Artists of Cortland County" we come to a well-known Cortland name. Cortland native, Jere Raymond Wickwire is an important part of our local history and artistic heritage. Born in Cortland on July 3, 1883, He was a well known artist specializing in portraiture. He also painted still lives and landscapes.
Wickwire was the son of Theodore H. and Emma V. Wickwire. His father, Theodore, along with his brother Chester, founded Wickwire Bros., the prominent Cortland steel company.
After graduating from Yale in 1907, Jere studied at the Art Students League with William Chase in New York City. His work has been exhibited in various galleries across the country, and his portraits include those of William Lyon Phelps and James M. Taylor at Vassar College, and Doctor Chevalier Jackson in Philadelphia. He has a 1936 self portrait at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
Wickwire died December 28, 1974 and is buried in the Cortland Rural Cemetery.
The Cortland County Historical Society is fortunate to have the portrait of Mrs. Sara Churchill as a child in our collection along with a number of other paintings, including this portrait of his son. The paintings are a beautiful example of Wickwire's skill as a portraitist. We’re proud to have Jere Raymond Wickwire as a part of Cortland's artistic legacy. If you're interested in seeing his portrait of Sara Churchill, make sure to visit the Cortland County Historical Society!
#cortlandhistory #jereraymondwickwire #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #localartist #portraitist #stilllife #artisticlegacy #wickwirebros

Photo of the week! Union Building in Homer, c.188

Photo of the week!

Union Building in Homer, c.1888.

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

Visit our Facebook page to see the latest Main Str

Visit our Facebook page to see the latest Main Street Monday post!

#MainStreetMonday #experiencecortland #crowncityrising #cortlandny #mainstreet #mainstreetusa #cortlandcountyhistory #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #history #historicalphotos #historicalphotographs

Happy Presidents Day! Today, we honor the leaders

Happy Presidents Day! Today, we honor the leaders who have shaped our nation's history. In honor of the occasion, we're featuring this stunning engraving of President Lincoln by Francis Bicknell Carpenter. Carpenter spent six months in the White House during the Civil War, capturing the humanity and solemnity of one of our greatest presidents. This portrait is a powerful reminder of the sacrifice and leadership that Lincoln exemplified during one of the most trying times in our nation's history. Carpenter's time at the White House gave him a unique perspective and insight into the inner workings of the presidency and the man who held the office. #PresidentsDay #PresidentLincoln #FrancisBicknellCarpenter #Leadership #AmericanHistory” #cortlandhistory #homerny #cortlandny #cortlandcounty #experiencecortland #homerny

The Cortland County Historical Society will be clo

The Cortland County Historical Society will be closed Saturday, February 18. We will reopen on Wednesday, February 21.

#cortlandhistory #cortlandny

Photo of the week! Cyanotype taken c.1898 at the

Photo of the week!

Cyanotype taken c.1898 at the intersection of Main Street and Groton Avenue in Cortland, showing the Cortland House and opera house. A team of horses pulls a sled of ice blocks.

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

Instagram post 17977876691005129

Instagram post 17977876691005129

“Uncovering the hidden talent of self-taught art

“Uncovering the hidden talent of self-taught artist Meriva Carpenter: a glimpse into her life as a miniature portrait painter in 19th century Homer, NY’

Miniature portrait painting in 19th century America was a popular form of art. Artists used various mediums to capture likenesses and emotions in small, detailed portraits. Despite the rise of photography, hand-painted miniatures continued to be valued for their personal touch and sentimental value.

Born in Connecticut in 1802, Meriva Carpenter lived in Homer with her husband Eli after their marriage in 1820. She was self-taught and apparently learned to paint miniatures at a young age as one of her self-portraits is said to be of her at age15. She painted many portraits, mostly of family members and was meticulous about identifying both the sitter and herself as well as the date the portrait was done, often including a lock of hair on the back.

During the 19th century, the demand for miniature portraits increased as more people sought to commemorate their loved ones. Despite the advent of photography, miniature portrait painting continued to thrive, as people valued the personal touch and sentimental value that only a hand-painted portrait could provide.

Carpenter’s work is highly collectable today and the Cortland County Historical Society is fortunate to have a number of her miniatures. Visit us at the Cortland County Historical Society and see an exhibit of her miniatures, along with an exciting new portrait of Meriva by local artist Molly Reagan.

for her “History Highlighted” series. It was made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
#MerivaCarpenter #miniatures #19thcenturyart #self-taughtartist #portraitpainting #CortlandCountyHistoricalSociety #HistoryHighlighted
#NewYorkStateCounciloftheArts
#artinspiration
#artistdiscovery #cortlandhistory #experiencecortland #cortlandny #cortlandcounty

Your opportunity to learn about the Most Valuable

Your opportunity to learn about the Most Valuable Resources available at CCHS for all your history sleuthing needs is less than a week away!

Make sure to reserve your spot by calling 607-756-6071 or emailing info@cortlandhistory.org.

Photo of the week! Football team, c.1915. The onl

Photo of the week!

Football team, c.1915. The only name written on the back is "Kirk" McKinney who based on research was Claude E. McKinney born in McLean in 1895 and graduated from Cortland High School in 1914 and the Cortland Normal School in 1917. After serving in WWI, "Kirk" returned to Cortland where he entered the insurance business.
While the photo was found in or Normal School files, a similar image from the same time period was labeled as the high school so it is unclear which school is represented here.

#cortlandcountyhistory #cortlandny #centralnyhistory #experiencecortland #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #history #historicalphotographs #historicalphotos #photography #football #vintagesports #sportshistory

Susan C. Waters was an itinerant portrait painter

Susan C. Waters was an itinerant portrait painter who traveled throughout Pennsylvania and southern New York in the mid-19th century. She was born in Binghamton, New York and raised in the Quaker community of Friendsville, Pennsylvania. For a period of time she traveled from town to town with her husband, offering her services to families who could not afford to commission a portrait from a more established painter. Her portraits often depicted individuals and families in formal poses, sometimes described as “primitive” or “quirky”.
Waters' work was a vital form of social documentation, capturing the likenesses of everyday people and preserving their stories for future generations. She was particularly known for her portraits of children, many of whom were depicted with animals, with whom she seemed to have a special affinity.
The Cortland County Historical Society has a painting attributed to Waters of the Bliss brothers painted in 1845, which is a great example of her work. The painting depicts two brothers, dressed in formal attire, standing side by side with a little dog by their side. Don't miss your chance to see the work of Susan C. Waters up close! Visit the Cortland County Historical Society to see the 1845 painting of the Bliss brothers attributed to her.
#SusanCWaters #ItinerantPainter #PortraitPainter #19thCenturyArt #PennsylvaniaArt #NewYorkArt #QuakerArtist #FamiliesPortrait #ChildrenPortrait #CortlandCountyHistoricalSociety #BlissBrothers #1845Painting #LightAndShadow #RealismArt #cortlandhistory #cortlandny #cortlandcounty #experiencecortland

Photo of the week! Gilson family children ride a

Photo of the week!

Gilson family children ride a snow slide toboggan at their home at 36 Woodruff Street in Cortland, date unknown.

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

Blast from the past! In March of 1957, members of

Blast from the past!

In March of 1957, members of the Harford Fire Department showed off their newly completed fire house with a new tank truck.
The building has since been expanded with an addition on the right-hand side of the structure shown here.

#experiencecortland #cortlandny #cortlandcountyhistory #cortlandcountyhistoricalsociety #history #historicalphotos #historicalphotographs #firestation #blastfromthepast

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