Madison County, NY Historian

10/21/2026

Starting tomorrow (October 22) evening the Cazenovia Preservation Foundation's 12th annual Walk Among the Spirits will tell the stories of former Caz residents with the theme "Chaos Along Chittenango Creek: Tales of Industry & Intrigue." See the article for details. https://loom.ly/gmbBGg8

This year’s Cazenovia Preservation Foundation Walk Among the Spirits will guide guests through Cazenovia’s former industrial heart along Chittenango Creek. Along the route, “spirits” from Cazenovia’s past will share stories

10/21/2026

A great reason to go visit the Earlville Opera House Arts Center this weekend!

https://loom.ly/Kloq4tc

Earlville Opera House will host paranormal investigations Oct. 23-24 and a Grateful Dead tribute concert Oct. 30. Find ticket and registration details.

10/20/2026

Did you know that the barn in this photo burned down twice in Georgetown or that an arsonist terrorized Cazenovia for several years? Learn about these and more one week from tonight (October 27) at 6:30 p.m. at the Town of Georgetown NY Town Hall. Come and learn how fires changed the development of Madison County!

10/19/2026

Last week I got to speak with Oneida Community Mansion House Director of Museums Tom Guiler and Canastota Public Library Director Bill Loveland at the Central Library Resource Council (CLRC) Annual Conference at Le Moyne College about the 2026 Historic Marker Challenge. While there we were also able to take a photo with Tom and Emily Stegner, Curator of Collections, of he Mansion House as they received the 2026 Library of the Year! We also grabbed a photo with Ariel Bero, Librarian of the Oneida Library (The Oneida Library won the award in 2023). The Oneida Community Mansion House (who still houses a substantial library on their grounds) once housed a massive library in the 19th century so that all members, both men and women had access to educational materials. Congrats on the great conference and to the Mansion House on their award and great work!

10/19/2026

🕯️WALK AMONG THE SPIRITS STARTS THIS THURSDAY! 🕯️

The wait is almost over! Join us Thursday, Friday, or Saturday for Walk Among the Spirits XII: Chaos Along Chittenango Creek—Tales of Industry & Intrigue.

Along the way, discover the fascinating—and sometimes unsettling—stories of the mills, industries, characters, and events that shaped Cazenovia’s history.

🗓️ October 22, 23 & 24 (rain date Oct 25)
⏰ 6:30–8 p.m. | Tours every 15 minutes
📍 Parking and check-in behind Cazenovia Public Library (100 Albany St)
🥾 1.5-mile roundtrip walk
🔦 Flashlight + good walking shoes recommended
🎟️ $17 adults | $10 seniors & students

TICKETS ARE LIMITED - BUY YOURS TODAY!
👉 cazpreservation.org/events

🏮 Keep the evening going after your walk! Head to the Seven Stone Steps, the downstairs pub at the Lincklaen House, and show your wristband for $2 off a specialty cocktail:
🔥 The Devil’s Poison — a cinnamon Old Fashioned
🍎 The Early Mule — an apple c***r wh***ey Mule

Three nights. One creek. Plenty of stories. Don't miss it!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS:

✦Apparition Sponsors
The Amos Family Foundation
FustCharles

✦Spirit Sponsors
Baird & Muffy Hansen

✦Ghost Sponsors
Schoolhouse Dog Grooming, Boarding, and Daycare
Todd Robichaud & Jody Guest

✦Event Partners
Cazenovia Public Library & Museum
Madison County, NY Historian
Lincklaen House

Caz Life Visit Madison County, NY Visit Syracuse Madison County, NY Historian Cazenovia Public Library & Museum Lincklaen House

10/15/2026

Our photo of the month comes from the Village of Cazenovia. Originally built as the Crawford Mower & Reaper Works by famed architect Archimedes Russell, it served a number of businesses over it's life. In 1895 the building was purchased by Eben Bently and he moved his shoe company to the location. Just a few months after the arrival of the company Bently skipped town stealing (by 2026 standards) hundreds of thousands of dollars of investor money never to be seen again. Over the years the building housed the Union Electric Company, the Cazenovia Diepress Company, the Grange League Federations and other small enterprises. The building was destroyed by fire in August of 2001. Only portions of the original foundation remain.

10/14/2026

This is your last chance to sign up for our screening of "The People of The Standing Stone: The Oneida Nation, The War of Independence" this coming Tuesday, October 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the Catherine Cummings Theatre in the Village of Cazenovia. The 25-minute film shares the crucial role that the Oneida Indian Nation played in assisting the Colonial Army during the American Revolution, including the Battle of Oriskany. The film, directed by Ric Burns and narrated by Kevin Costner, sheds light on a powerful story that has been overlooked for hundreds of years. Following the screening there will be a brief question and answer session. Advanced registration is required for this event as seating at each site is limited. To reserve your spot please visit: https://loom.ly/EjHZQRA

Join Us for a Special Movie Screening!

10/13/2026

Recently I sat in on a conversation with Dr. Jonathan Lothrop, Curator of Archaeology at the New York State Museum, Town of Sullivan Historian Mike Beardsley & Madison County Public Information officer Samantha Field on the Madison County NY Government Milk House Podcast. Dr. Lothrop and Mike have been part of a 14 year long series of archeological digs in and around Owlville Creek outside the Village of Canastota, NY. The work has led to discoveries of some of the earliest people to be in New York approximately 12,000 years ago and other interesting information about their lives and the creatures that used to roam around Central New York.

https://loom.ly/R35oySU

Information about the Madison County Milk House Podcast. Pull up a milk can and learn about local news, policies, and events happening in Madison County, NY.

10/04/2026

This is your last chance to sign up for our screening of "The People of The Standing Stone: The Oneida Nation, The War of Independence" this coming Thursday, October 8 at 6:00 p.m. at the Arts at the Palace. The 25-minute film shares the crucial role that the Oneida Indian Nation Nation played in assisting the Colonial Army during the American Revolution, including the Battle of Oriskany. The film, directed by Ric Burns and narrated by Kevin Costner, sheds light on a powerful story that has been overlooked for hundreds of years. Following the screening there will be a brief question and answer session. Advanced registration is required for this event as seating at each site is limited. To reserve your spot please visit: https://loom.ly/eTjSZSI

10/02/2026

Lesser Known Technologies That Helped The Allies Win the War
Historic Talk

Aviation Historian, James Coulthart, will be presenting this program on Friday October 9 at 6:00pm. Open to teens through adult.

Taken from research conducted about WW2, this is a tale of a wide variety of relatively obscure innovations and technologies which helped turn the tide toward victory in 1945. Covered in this presentation include: high octane aircraft fuel, variable pitch propellers, Quonset huts, proximity fuses, Marston pierced steel mats, Higgins landing craft, liberty and victory ships, microwave radar, large scale support mechanisms for keep Americans working on the nation’s assembly lines. Additional items will be covered.