History

Greene

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A historical marker stands on the banks of the Chenango River, at the site where Stephen Ketchum built a log cabin in 1792. Having traveled from Saratoga County to the Chenango River valley, Ketchum settled on land purchased by the State from the Oneida and Tuscarora people. A party of French refugees soon joined Ketchum and a settlement was formed. Originally known as “Hornsby,” the town was later renamed “Greene,” in honor of Nathanael Greene, a Continental Army general in the Revolutionary War. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHqMJaVxs3g

Funding provided by a grant from Empire State Development.

History

Norwich

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Entering Norwich from the south on Route 12, a roadside historical marker indicates the spot where Avery Power first settled along the Chenango River in 1788. More settlers from Massachusetts and Connecticut quickly followed. They traveled from Albany along the Unadilla River, following marked trees to the Power farm. The area was original known as “Indian Fields”, but five years after Power’s arrival, the town of Norwich was formed – taking its name from Norwich, Connecticut. https://youtu.be/i-ocqGgK19Q

Funding provided by a grant from Empire State Development.

History

Oxford

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In 1788, Elijah Blackman settled on what would later be known as Cork Island in the Chenango River. Three years later, after a harrowing journey, Blackman’s two oldest sons and 11-year old adopted daughter Polly arrived. The owner of the land, Benjamin Hovey, arrived that same year and named the new settlement Oxford, after his hometown in Massachusetts. https://youtu.be/aXjoZ-c-bTw

Funding provided by a grant from Empire State Development. Links:
Path Through History: http://paththroughhistory.iloveny.com/
WSKG’s Path Through History: http://www.wskg.org/pth

Chenango County NY

Sarah Rosetta Wakeman

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The oldest of nine children, Sarah Wakeman was born in Chenango County in 1843. In 1862, using the name Lyons Wakeman, Sarah enlisted in the Union Army. During her time with the army, Sarah wrote to her family frequently. Her letters detailed the boredom of everyday camp life, the fears of never seeing her family again, and the hardships of combat

‘Uniquely New York’ is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Links:
Path Through History
WSKG’s Path Through History
Broome County Historical Society
Chenango County Historical Society

Photos Courtesy of:
Broome County Historical Society
Chenango County Historical Society
Library of Congress

History

Jedediah Strong Smith

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Jedediah Strong Smith was born in what is now Bainbridge New York in 1799. As a young boy he learned to hunt and fish in the forests of Upstate New York and Pennsylvania. However, Smith’s family found itself constantly on the move – following the steady flow of setters to the west. It was in the untamed west that Smith would become on of the nations greatest explorers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhFzvmwjlkY

‘Uniquely New York’ is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

History

David Maydole

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In 1845, David Maydole, invented a “adze eye” hammer and began producing them out of his small shop in Norwich. The unique design keep the striking head firmly attached to the handle and kept the two parts from separating. The hammer was an immediate sensation with workers and Maydole began taking orders from across the state. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn5D2wPhbG0

‘Uniquely New York’ is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Links:
Path Through History
WSKG’s Path Through History
Chenango County Historical Society

Photos Courtesy of:
Chenango County Historical Society
Library of Congress

History

Theodore Burr

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Theodore Burr, the cousin of vice president Aaron Burr, arrived in Oxford, New York in 1792. He was an engineer, inventor and the namesake of a bridge design that made covered bridges more stable and capable of supporting heavier loads. Burr’s design combined two different techniques, arch and truss, to create a new and durable type of structure. Sometime around 1804, Burr built the first “sizable bridge” crossing on the Hudson River, at Waterford, New York and is also credited with building the first stringer bridge across the Chenango River at Oxford. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVCzJnvipcQ

‘Uniquely New York’ is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Chenango County NY

Go-Won-Go Mohawk

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Born Carolina Mohawk on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in Western New York, at a young age Go-Won-Go moved with her family to Greene, NY. By all accounts, she was a terrific athlete and sportswoman who possessed masterful horsemanship skills. Go-won-go gained fame across the country while performing in the western shows of Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok. In addition, Go-Won-Go was also one of the first Native American actresses to perform on the American stage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRDREancxN4

‘Uniquely New York’ is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

History

Norwich, NY | #tbt

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Today’s throwback Thursday photograph is a shot of South Broad Street in Norwich, New York, circa 1900. Norwich is nestled in the Chenango River valley, and the first settlers arrived in the area during the late 1700s. In 1793, the town of Norwich was formed from parts of Union, in Broome County, and Jericho, now known as Bainbridge. Norwich became a city in 1914. Today, Norwich is home to a number of different attractions including the Northeast Classic Car Museum, the Chenango Arts Council, and the Chenango County Historical Society.

History

Oxford, NY | Town Spotlight | Harvest

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As the Chenango River snakes it way southward through the rolling hills of Upstate New York, it bisects the town of Oxford. Before the American Revolution, the fertile land around the river was home to the Oneida Indians. The land was ceded to the fledging United States Government after the war in the 1788 Treaty of Fort Schuyler (Stanwix). White settlers quickly moved into the region and Oxford was officially incorporated on January 19th, 1793. The town’s central location made it an ideal early trading center in the region.