Rome Historical Society

The Cooper’s Trade (A Virtual Program)

February 16, 2021 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

A cooper is someone trained to make and repair wooden objects historically used to store dry and/or wet goods. These objects are made of carved wooden staves held together by wooden or metal hoops.

The Rome Historical Society will host The Cooper’s Trade, a virtual program set for Wednesday, February 17th. Bob Allers will discuss the techniques and tools he uses to construct buckets, pails, casks, tubs, and other hand-made wooden containers. [Read more…] about The Cooper’s Trade (A Virtual Program)

African American Voting Rights History Panel Set

February 24, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Rome Historical Society (RHS) is set to host to a panel discussion presented by Rome’s Afro-American Heritage Association (AAHA) on Wednesday, February 26th.

The topic of this discussion will be African Americans and the Vote which is the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s (ASALH) 2020 African American History Month theme. [Read more…] about African American Voting Rights History Panel Set

A History of Tube Radios Talk in Rome

January 12, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Rome Historical Society is set to present “A History of Tube Radios” by Phil Alerding from Totally Tube-ular on January 15 at 5:30 pm.

Phil will discuss the development of tube radios and its importance in American history including the use of tubes in military electronics, local developments by the USAF Research Lab and Rome Air Development Center such as radar, datalink systems and more.

1700s Mohawk Valley Holiday Traditions, Music Event

December 10, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Colonial America was a melting pot of people from varied nations and traditions. The Puritans of New England did not celebrate Christmas at all. The early German and English immigrants to the Mohawk Valley were more accustomed to celebrating the holiday. In combining elements from various cultures, America developed its own unique traditions.

The Rome Historical Society – Friends of the Fort and Fort Stanwix National Monument are set to host a look back at holiday music and winter traditions of the Mohawk Valley on December 21st, at 5:30 pm. [Read more…] about 1700s Mohawk Valley Holiday Traditions, Music Event

Trinkaus Holiday Lights Were Once A Tradition

December 8, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

For over 30 years light displays were a cornerstone of the holiday celebration at Trinkaus Manor in Oriskany. Starting in 1955 the Trinkaus brothers began their holiday tradition and added new features each year: angels, snowflakes, Santa’s village, elf workshops, a carousel, and more. So lavish were the displays, they could be seen by planes passing overhead.

The Trinkaus Manor restaurant could seat nearly 700 patrons and attracted people from across the country including celebrities and politicians. Tour buses were a regular sight at the Manor to see the elaborate decorations. Tragically, a fire destroyed Trinkaus Manor in April of 1992, but the Christmas lights and displays had been stored in a separate area and survived. [Read more…] about Trinkaus Holiday Lights Were Once A Tradition

Rome Memories Photo Collection Highlights

November 17, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The new book Rome Memories, A Photographic History of the Early Years (Rome Daily Sentinel, 2019) offers a glimpse into life in Rome, NY from the mid 1800s through the 1930s.

Rome Memories is a compilation of scanned images obtained from the public, and the collections of the Rome Historical Society and Oneida County History Center. [Read more…] about Rome Memories Photo Collection Highlights

Peter Leonard Being Feted At Rome Historical’s Annual Dinner

October 29, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Rome Historical Society Annual Dinner has been set for Saturday, November 9th at the Delta Lake Inn, 8524 Fish Hatchery Road in Rome, NY. Cocktail hour begins at 6 pm, with the Dinner and Program beginning at 7 pm.

At this year’s dinner the Society will award the Medal of the Order of 1777 to Peter Leonard. The Medal of the Order of 1777 is the Society’s highest award and given annually to the person who “in conduct of life and effort, exemplifies the highest charter purposes of the Society, the finest virtues of citizenship and the ever-reliant qualities of the true patriot. This person is as worthy as the unconquered defenders of Fort Stanwix were in their time and circumstances.” [Read more…] about Peter Leonard Being Feted At Rome Historical’s Annual Dinner

Rome Historical Raises Concerns Over Fort Bull Construction Project

October 14, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

What follows is a message sent to the media by Arthur L. Simmons III, Executive Director of the Rome Historical Society regarding construction at the site of Fort Bull.

Fort Bull was one of several British forts that secured the portage between the Mohawk River and Wood Creek. In 1756, French troops, supported by allied Native Americans, marched overland from Fort La Presentation (present day Ogdensburg) and attacked the British fort on the Oneida Carry. The French destroyed Fort Bull and killed or captured nearly 60 of the British garrison. [Read more…] about Rome Historical Raises Concerns Over Fort Bull Construction Project

Fort Bull Archaeological Survey Interim Results Presentation

September 25, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Rome Historical Society’s auditorium Archaeologists from Binghamton University’s Public Archaeology Facility (PAF) are set to present the interim results of their archaeological investigations of Fort Bull on Saturday, September 28 at 11 am.

As part of Archaeology Day at Fort Stanwix National Monument, PAF archaeologist Brian Grills, will give a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation on the ongoing archaeological research at the Society’s Fort Bull site. Following the presentation, the audience will be invited to see some of the latest archaeological finds which have been recently recovered from the battlefield. [Read more…] about Fort Bull Archaeological Survey Interim Results Presentation

Mohawk Valley Brewing History, Tasting, and Book Signing

September 4, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

AIn the 19th and early 20th century most towns of any size in the Mohawk Valley had their own local brewery. The Utica-Rome area has been home to well over 40 breweries since 1801. Two factors played a major role in the industry. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 significantly lowered transportation costs for brewing supplies and finished beer. Also, hop growing became a huge industry in Central New York during the second half of the 19th century.

These two factors resulted in booming commerce with New York and Pennsylvania generating 85% of the beer produced in the US in 1860. The great “social experiment” of Prohibition made the manufacture and sale of alcohol illegal and from 1920 through 1933 and the thriving industry was crippled, with only a handful of breweries surviving. [Read more…] about Mohawk Valley Brewing History, Tasting, and Book Signing