OCPL Local History & Genealogy

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OCPL Local History & Genealogy The Onondaga County Public Library is one of the few public libraries in the country to maintain a large genealogical collection.

The department offers a rare and treasured view of the people, places and history of Syracuse and Onondaga County NY

Before the ‘81 Viaduct’, there was the New York Central ‘Viaduct’, welcomed officially by Syracusans in the fall of 1935...
09/18/2026

Before the ‘81 Viaduct’, there was the New York Central ‘Viaduct’, welcomed officially by Syracusans in the fall of 1935 when a seven coach ‘excursion’ train carried 550 local dignitaries and ticket-holding citizens back and forth across the completed downtown portion of the elevation. Although the new route would not carry scheduled passenger trains for another year, the 1935 ‘preview’ gave some lucky riders a first look at the city from the elevated track. The excursion started at the new Erie Boulevard station and traveled east to the Midler Ave bridge before reversing back west to Liberty Street and returning to the station. In all, the project stretched from Solvay to Thompson Road, requiring 27 bridges and several embankments to completely raise the Central’s passenger tracks from city streets. Today much of Route 695 follows the same east-west path across the city center. Pearl Street is visible on the right and North Salina Street to the upper left in the top photo.

A map and a mystery – with a Syracuse connection. A fanciful map with a Syracuse connection and a provocative propositi...
09/02/2026

A map and a mystery – with a Syracuse connection. A fanciful map with a Syracuse connection and a provocative proposition recently sold at a New York City auction. The 1910 blueprint called for the ‘voluntary dissolution of the United States of America, the Dominion of Canada and Newfoundland and … the Supreme Court, Congress and Parliament …’ to create the Union Empire of North America, redrawing the continent into 12 divisions. The scheme included a rolling capitol that would travel to all twelve parts of the empire by railroad car. The creator of this vision was a “James Buchanan, 313 James St., Syracuse.” He sent his proposal to the English ambassador and various American leaders, touting the efficiency of a ‘single legislative body serving the union empire from Panama to Alaska.’ Who was this ‘James Buchanan’? Was he the transient, Irish born engineer enumerated on the 1910 Census in Syracuse with that name? Was ‘James Buchanan’ a pseudonym for a local minister or reformer? The mystery continues to the present.

Betty Grable was easily the center of attention, whether in G.I. barracks or on the stairway of a James Street mansion. ...
07/22/2026

Betty Grable was easily the center of attention, whether in G.I. barracks or on the stairway of a James Street mansion. Grable was the guest of honor at the Corinthian Club’s ‘Stars-at-Luncheon’ series in July 1970. The star of stage and screen was in Syracuse to perform in Famous Artists’ Playhouse version of “Born Yesterday” at the Henninger High School auditorium. Reviewers complimented Grable’s ‘fine performance,’ as her Billie Dawn transitioned from dumb blonde to scholar, and rated the production ‘all-over top drawer.’ Grable had an passing connection to Syracuse through her first husband, Jackie Coogan, child star and character actor probably most remembered for the Addams Family tv series and whose family were Syracuse natives. Gable passed away in 1973 at the age of 56.

In the summer of 1976 New York's Bicentennial "Festival Barge" worked its way across the waterways of the state to dock ...
07/01/2026

In the summer of 1976 New York's Bicentennial "Festival Barge" worked its way across the waterways of the state to dock at the S.U. boathouse at Long Branch. Launched from New York City harbor, the 260-foot barge held two decks of exhibits highlighting New York's role in the American Revolution. On-board attractions included staff in period costumes and a working replica of a Ben Franklin press printing souvenir colonial currency. The three-day Syracuse visit was a gala event with hourly musical entertainment ranging from the Bernie Schmidt Singers and the Syracuse Liederkranz Chorus to the Senior Citizens' Kitchen Band. The county sheriff's department provided an honor guard and free shuttles brought visitors from Clinton Square to Long Branch as daily attendance climbed to 10,000. The barge itself was a converted Reading Railroad car float used decades earlier to ferry freight cars across waterways around Philadelphia.

Northmen serenade a senator – at the state fairgrounds in June of 1976. The North Syracuse Central High School marching...
06/27/2026

Northmen serenade a senator – at the state fairgrounds in June of 1976. The North Syracuse Central High School marching won a national championship competition at the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival that April and received personal congratulations and a plaque from Senator and former Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey. Humphrey was in Syracuse as the guest speaker at a $125-a-ticket Democratic fundraiser held at the Art and Home Center. Band members James West, Sue Jewell and director Gregory Woodruff greeted Humphrey, who declared “I’ve seen a lot of marching bands in my time, and believe me, you deserve to be national champions.” Humphrey publicly withdrew his candidacy for the ’76 presidential nomination during his Syracuse visit.

The new Hillbrook Detention Home opened 50 years ago this month on a Sunday afternoon with a public open house. The $2....
06/13/2026

The new Hillbrook Detention Home opened 50 years ago this month on a Sunday afternoon with a public open house. The $2.3 million juvenile detention facility just off Velasko Road replaced the original Hillbrook built in 1953 and administered by the Onondaga County Children’s Court. The new building, with a brightly colored recreation area, wide hallways and large playground, more resembled a modern elementary school than a detention center according to reports of the day. The new one-story facility was air conditioned with windows of unbreakable glass rather than wire mesh. The old Hillbrook building later housed a sheriff’s office and county fire control center and is adjacent to the current Onondaga County 911 Center.

From deserter to D-Day hero? – One of strangest wartime “double life” stories came to national attention in the spring o...
06/05/2026

From deserter to D-Day hero? – One of strangest wartime “double life” stories came to national attention in the spring of 1947 when James Minker was arrested in Syracuse on a fi****ms charge. Seventeen-year-old Minker enlisted in the Army in 1939 and found himself assigned to garrison duty at West Point. Eager for combat duty, Pvt. Minker went AWOL in 1942 and enlisted with the paratroopers under the name of James H. Rowley. As Rowley, he landed in Normandy in the early hours of D-Day and was captured twice by the Germans, finally escaping after 11 months as a POW. He joined up with the Russian army before reuniting with the U.S. army in the last days of the war. “Rowley” received a presidential unit citation, two battle stars and an honorable discharge in 1945. However, Pvt. Minker, after his discovery, was still officially AWOL and sentenced to 2 years hard labor for desertion. With growing public support and the intervention of President Truman, Minker was released after serving four months of his sentence. He was given an honorable discharge in the summer of 1947 and reunited with his mother, sister and attorney. He died in Auburn in 1976.

The last week of May 1966 found Niagara-Mohawk and General Electric officials gathered at a two-day atomic power seminar...
05/28/2026

The last week of May 1966 found Niagara-Mohawk and General Electric officials gathered at a two-day atomic power seminar at the Sheraton Motor Inn on Electronics Parkway. On display was a scale model of the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Power Station being built in Oswego. Under construction since 1964, the facility was dedicated by Governor Rockefeller in October 1969 and went fully online later that year.

Valley Forge or Bust – the New York State party of the Bicentennial Wagon Train left Meacham Field in the Valley on a fr...
05/21/2026

Valley Forge or Bust – the New York State party of the Bicentennial Wagon Train left Meacham Field in the Valley on a freezing morning in May 1976. Each state received a Conestoga wagon for the trek, sponsored by the State of Pennsylvania, with the goal of reaching Valley Forge together on July 4th. Richard Menkins of Truxton Hill was the New York wagon master, preparing his draft horse Gina for the journey. Four other wagons, supplied by individuals, joined the train along with mounted outriders for the 350-mile trip. The wagons headed up Salina Street to Clinton Square before turning east on Erie Boulevard toward Dewitt, camping the second night in Oran. The New York group of 50 men, women and children successfully made the journey with a few modern concessions, keeping in touch with other wagons by CB radio, the “free wireless” of the 70’s.

Late April of 1966 found Randy Moreland putting the finishing touches on his Soap Box Derby entry for the July champions...
04/30/2026

Late April of 1966 found Randy Moreland putting the finishing touches on his Soap Box Derby entry for the July championship in Akron, Ohio. Randy was the 1965 winner of the local contest held on Geddes Street hill and sponsored by WHEN-TV and the Syracuse Jaycees. With Randy was Jaycee president John Estabrook. The Syracuse derby dates back to 1934 with the Syracuse Herald and area Chevrolet dealers as the original sponsors. Race venues moved over the years from East Fayette Street to South Crouse Ave, Schiller Park, Geddes Street and Burnet Park. Despite drawing crowds of 30,000 in its heyday, the local race had a 35-year hiatus before being revived in 2005. Derby racing was a family tradition for the Morelands, as Randy’s father Jack placed well in the 1935 Syracuse race, although with a very different car.

Address

447 S Salina Street
Syracuse, NY
13202

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:50pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:50pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:50pm
Thursday 9am - 4:50pm
Friday 9am - 4:50pm

Telephone

+13154351900

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