The Corner
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Eight Square Schoolhouse, ca. 1850s - 1860s. Photo from the Collection of The History Center.
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New York State's (almost) One-of-a-Kind Schoolhouse!
The octagon shape of our Eight Square Schoolhouse, built in 1827 in Dryden, pre-dates the octagon house design craze proposed by Orson Fowler in the mid 1800's. In 1848 Fowler published A Home For All: or a New, Cheap, Convenient, and Superior Mode of Building, and the fad was born. A few thousand of these structures, which actually date back to ancient times, sprung up within a decade of Fowler's book, many of them in central New York. "The spherical is more beautiful than the angular," he wrote. Today the Eight Square Schoolhouse is the only brick, octagon schoolhouse in New York State, however, the Boquet School in Essex, New York is the only stone octagon school in the state and was also built around the same time as our eight square.
Carole West,
Director of Youth Education at The History Center in Tompkins County
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Bookstore & Gift Shop Highlights
*Items to be purchased in The History Center book store
Mention our newsletter and get 15% off from this new title!
"Suffrage Reconstructed: Gender, Race, and Voting Rights in the Civil War Era," by Laura E. Free
The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified on July 9, 1868, identified all legitimate voters as "male." In so doing, it added gender-specific language to the U.S. Constitution for the first time. Suffrage Reconstructed is the first book to consider how and why the amendment's authors made this decision. Vividly detailing congressional floor bickering and activist campaigning, Laura E. Free takes readers into the pre- and postwar fights over precisely who should have the right to vote. Free demonstrates that all men, black and white, were the ultimate victors of these fights, as gender became the single most important marker of voting rights during Reconstruction.
"Images of Rural Life: Photographs of Verne Morton"
Published by the DeWitt Historical Society in Tompkins County
The book presents 246 photographs, chosen from Verne Morton Collection, capturing in fine detail rural and small-town life during the first forty years of the twentieth century.
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Catt, Tubman and Hay. Drawing. Photo - Courtesy of Christine Nobles Heller.
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"Truth is the Only Safe Ground to Stand Upon" Portraits of Suffragists to Celebrate the Centennial of Women's Right to Vote in New York State
September 23rd - November 4th
Ithaca native Christine Nobles Heller draws suffragists to honor those who fought so hard for women's rights. In addition, she responds to this time of renewed threats to the fundamental human rights of women. The suffragists achieved the vote for women after 70 years of determination, courage, and perseverance. In her drawings for this show, Heller pays homage to the efforts of NY State suffragists to mark the 2017 centennial of Women's right to vote in New York State. On
Tuesday, September 19th, the artist Christine Nobles Heller invites the public to come to The History Center and witness Christine draw a mural, the center piece of the exhibition.
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Sons of Italy Crowning of Queen (popularity/beauty contest, 1928). Photo from the Collection of The History Center.
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Our Community
Italian-American Community Display
The History Center presents images and archival materials related to the Italian-American community in Tompkins County.
Italian immigrants have been settling in Tompkins County for over 100 years and have added immensely to the economic, civic, and cultural life of our area. Often from modest origins, Italian families frequently faced economic hardship and the prejudices of their new neighbors and co-workers as they became part of the life of the community. Through their experiences, good and bad, they retained a love of family, work, friends.
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Woodard School - District 7 - Last Day Picnic. Photo - Courtesy of the Town of Enfield Historian, Sue Thompson. |
Exploring Tompkins County: A Municipality Display Case
The Town of Enfield: Schools as a Center of Our Community
Through October, 2017
Exploring Tompkins County display is a collaboration between The History Center in Tompkins County and Tompkins County's municipal historians. This new exhibit shows how Enfield schools have been continuously bringing the community together. We thank Sue Thompson, Town of Enfield Historian, for
providing her knowledge and time to convey this unique exhibit.
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2nd Annual Party for the Park
Friday, September 15th, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM (at Stewart Park)
Join Wharton Studio Museum and Friends of Stewart Park to celebrate the ongoing revitalization of our lakefront gem at this evening benefit!
Musical entertainment provided by Ithaca College's Whalen School of Music featuring:
-The John White Jazz Trio featuring Hannah Martin (Hannah Martin, vocal; Matt Clauhs, sax/flute; John White, keyboard)
-Frank Campos, Trumpet
-Ithaca College Jazz Vocal Ensemble (John W. White, Director)
All proceeds from this event will benefit the revitalization of Stewart Park, our lakefront gem.
HistoryForge Data Entry Bee Party
Saturdays, 16th & 30th, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (at The History Center)
Come volunteer at our next transcription bee! Light refreshments will be served with lots of fun and an educational opportunity that will make Ithaca history come alive. Be sure to bring your laptop.
Sign up to volunteer here.
Eight Square Schoolhouse Clean Up Day
LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS!
Saturday, September 16th, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (at The Eight Square Schoolhouse, 1748 Hanshaw Road, Dryden, NY)
The Eight Square Schoolhouse and grounds are in need of a little 'TLC'! We will be painting, cleaning, repairing, pruning and doing yardwork in preparation for our Open House on Saturday, September 23rd. Coffee and Snacks provided! Please RSVP to sign up:
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| Photo from the Verne Morton Collection at The History Center. |
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''PRECIOUS POSSESSIONS"
Creative Writing Workshop with Irene Zahava
Saturday, September 16th, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (at The History Center)
"PRECIOUS POSSESSIONS" is designed to offer a safe, supportive, and stimulating environment for writing and sharing. The workshop is provided by Irene Zahava, the 2017 Tompkins County Poet Laureate.
We will use the objects we bring as the "spark" for our writing. Then we will share what we have written with one another. Registration list is now full. If you wish to be on the waiting list, please contact [email protected].
Latino Heritage Month en GRANDE
Saturday September 16,
1:00 PM to 6:00 PM (at BJM Playground Court St. Entrance)
Sunday September 17, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM (at Southside Community Center)
This year we honor 4 people in our community that represent there culture en ALTO Que viva Puerto Rico, Chile, El Salvador. There will be live bands, performance, kids crafts, food and fun. If you want to be part of the team or want to help at the festival, you can send Ana Ortiz an email at [email protected] or call at 607-793-0240. Co-Sponsored by the Multicultural Resource Center.
WE ARE ITHACA: A Celebration in Portraits
Various times, dates and locations.
WE ARE ITHACA is hosting a multi-faceted portrait project in
2017/2018 that uses the power of photography to engage diverse communities within our city in dialogue and celebration of our complex identity. At the heart of WE ARE ITHACA is the photographic portrait project carried out by Project Director/photographer Robyn Wishna. This is a project of the Community Arts Partnership made possible by a grant from the Park Foundation. Project rolls out with first portrait session this Saturday Sept. 16th - all are invited! For more info go to
www.weareithaca.org.
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Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902). Drawing. Photo - Courtesy of Christine Heller.
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New York State Suffragists: Public
Mural Drawing
Tuesday, September 19th, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (at The History Center)
As a part of the upcoming exhibition
"Truth is the Only Safe Ground to Stand Upon" Portraits of Suffragists to Celebrate the Centennial of Women's Right to Vote in NY State, artist Christine Nobles Heller, formerly of Ithaca, is inviting the public to visit The History Center on Tuesday, September 19th to see her draw a mural, a highlight of the exhibition.
Christine Nobles Heller has created both portraits and large murals that reflect her concern about human suffering and social inequality from her perspective as a feminist and an artist committed to social activism. Her work is a result of personal experiences and societal themes of loss, suffering and vulnerability.
Open House at the Eight Square Schoolhouse to Celebrate its 190th Birthday!
Saturday, September 23rd, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM (1748 Hanshaw Rd, off Route 13, Dryden, New York)
FREE for All Ages!
Learn about the history of 8-sided buildings from a local expert, try your hand at flintknapping (making stone tools) and flotation (an archaeological activity), and see archaeologists at work
up close and personal! Old fashioned games, activities, music, and more. Ice Cream generously donated by Purity!
Book Talk "The Very Greatest Victory"
with Karen Pastorello and Susan Goodier
Saturday, September 30, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM (at The History Center)
Drawing on their recently released book Women Will Vote, Susan Goodier and Karen Pastorello plan to discuss how women in New York State struggled for over six decades to win the right to vote. They will highlight the grassroots activism of rural, urban, African American, Jewish, immigrant, and native-born women who formed a loose coalition aimed at attaining full suffrage for women. Goodier and Pastorello argue that this unique coalition expended relentless energy and employed a variety of tactics to persuade male voters to actively support suffrage. This compelling narrative illuminates how the 1917 win in New York that Carrie Chapman Catt considered "the very greatest victory" relaunched suffrage as a national issue and changed the course of American history.
Before and after the talk, participants can explore the current exhibit "New York State Suffragists: Drawings and Lithographs Celebrating the 2017 Centennial of Women's Right to Vote in NY State" by the artist Christine Nobles Heller.
FIRST PEOPLES' FESTIVAL: A CELEBRATION OF INDIGENOUS CULTURE
Sunday, October 1, 11:00 AM - 5:30 PM (at DeWitt Park)
Featuring: Haudenosaunee Traditional Opening; Smoke Dance Competition; Cultural Demonstrations & Performances; Arts & Crafts Vendors and Food Vendors; Children's Activities.
For Information, contact:
Coordinated by: Multicultural Resource Center. Funded in part by the Tompkins County Tourism Program Community Celebrations Grant. Co-Sponsored by The History Center in Tompkins County.
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Picnic at Millers School House District 4. Photo from the Collection of The History Center.
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Talk "Town of Enfield: Schools as a Center of Our Community" with Sue Thompson
Tuesday, October 3, 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (at The History Center)
In conjunction with the International Teacher's Day week and the current Exploring Tompkins County: A Municipality Display Case exhibit series focused on "The Town of Enfield: Schools as a Center of Our Community," the author of the exhibit Susan Thompson, will give a 6:00 p.m. presentation.
Schools have always been the center of our communities. How are schools used besides educating our community in the everyday eight-to-three system. School buildings turned into housing, community events held in schools for public hearings, voting, community group meetings, athletic events, and festivals. How were and are your schools used for the community?
About the speaker:
Sue Thompson grew up in the Town of Danby, NY and moved to Enfield in 1974. Sue has been Enfield Town Historian since 1995. She maintains the historian's collection for the town and promotes the history of Enfield through newsletter articles, web history articles and book chapters.
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Matilda Joslyn Gage. Drawing. Photo - Courtesy of Christine Heller.
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First Friday Gallery Night:
Artist Talk with Christine Nobles Heller and a Preview of the Opera "Pushed Aside"
Friday, October 6, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM (The History Center)
In conjunction with First Friday Gallery Night and the new exhibition "Truth is the Only Safe Ground to Stand Upon" Portraits of Suffragists to Celebrate the Centennial of Women's Right to Vote in NY State, The History Center will feature a
6:00 p.m. presentation by the artist Christine Nobles Heller. After the talk, there will be a
preview of the opera "Pushed Aside" by Persis Parshall Vehar about Matilda Joslyn Gage, the forgotten suffragist. The Premiere of the opera will be held on January 21, 4 p.m. at Carrier Theater, Civic Center, Syracuse, NY.
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HistoryForge Map. Photo from www.TheHistoryCenter.net
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HistoryForge Day:
Connecting the Generations
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Fall Creek/DeWitt Park, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Henry St. John, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Southside, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Three houses in three neighborhoods in Ithaca, NY are chosen to share information about who lived there in 1910. Docents will have a series of questions to engage participants about the lives of the residents. Where did the children attend school, where did the adults work, where did they go to church? If they settled here from another place where did they come from? You will also learn about the buildings in which they lived. From the 1910 census we will have information about relationships, age, race, country of emigration, occupation, literacy, employment and other attributes. You will also learn about the neighborhoods and what was happening in the 1910-1920 decade.
This event is sponsored by M&T Bank.
Please register here: https://goo.gl/5b4Uup. Further information and directions will be sent to registrants. Learn more about the HistoryForge project on our website: www.thehistorycenter.net. For questions, contact Ksenia Ionova by phone 607-273-8284 Ext. 227 or by e-mail at [email protected].
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| Extended family and descendants at Snyder Hill Farm. Photo provided. |
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Snyder Hill Farm Tour
Saturday, October 14, 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM (at Snyder Hill Farm Living History Center)
The History Center in Tompkins County is inviting you to register for a tour of the Snyder Hill Farm, established in 1802.
The trove of historic buildings on Snyder Hill, named after first residents Jacob and Mary Snyder, tell the story of early European settlers establishing a vibrant community and economy. Visit the Snyder's pioneer farmstead, 217 years old, and learn how life evolved from the early settlement period to recent times as reflected in their farm's buildings and artifacts. See the original foundation of their early cabin and a 1806 English scribe rule swing barn, side-by-side with later buildings, including a carefully constructed Victorian farmhouse from 1867, a second barn built before the civil war and the ruins of a third barn. You will see family possessions, hear stories of family members' lives and learn more about other historic houses on Snyder Hill, the Snyder Hill Church and its cemetery. Hot cider and donuts provided!
Further information and directions will be sent to registrants.
Register here: https://goo.gl/u8ExhJ (registration list is limited to 30 spots).
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Local History in Media
Eight Square Schoolhouse Program on PEGASYS, Channel 13
Watch an interview with Carole West, Youth Education Director at The History Center, and Wendy Baker, Eight Square Schoolhouse Teacher, about the history and current programming of this 190 year old gem. Broadcasting schedule:
Tuesday, September 19th, 11:00 AM
Tuesday, September 19th, 6:00 PM
Saturday, September 23rd, 11:00 AM
Saturday, September 23rd, 6:00 PM
Friday, September 29th, 11:00 AM
Friday, September 29th, 6:00 PM
Saturday, October 7th, 11:00 AM
Saturday, October 7th, 6:00 PM
Download a free app AskPearl (https://askpearl.com/) to access the
Epic Ithacans section sponsored by The History Center in Tompkins County. This week,
Epic Ithacans features Margaret Bourke-White.
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Autographed Baseball
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Autographed Rock Salt Baseball. Photo from the Collection of The History Center.
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This Spalding baseball was used by the Cayuga Rock Salt Company team during their 1950 season and is signed by all twenty members of the team. The team achieved considerable success throughout its history. In 1930, the team's victory at the newspaper baseball championship of New York State inspired the Ithaca Journal to write, "their lively, fighting play has made them favorites of the fans." Matt Christopher, who went to work at Cayuga Rock Salt Company after graduating from Ludlowville High School, played on the team and remembers that it was "one of the best semi-pro teams in the state."
The Cayuga Salt Mine is situated six miles north of Ithaca where salt deposits range from 200 to 1,150 feet thick. These deposits were created by evaporating sea water from the inland oceans which occupied this region millions of years ago. The mine was opened in 1919 bye the Cayuga Rock Salt Company, a locally owned and operated corporation. In 1969 the mine was acquired by Cargill, Inc, a multinational company with headquarters in Minnesota.
The owner of this baseball, John W. Shannon, was the manager of the team and worked at Cayuga Rock Slat Company as an engineer before becoming vice president. His daughter, Margaret Shannon Hendrix, donated the baseball to the DeWitt Historical Society in 1991.
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