Posts focused on the 19th century period.
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Geneva’s Lakefront: 1904 and Today
A 1904 map of Geneva's lakefront reveals the extent of change that has occurred in the built environment and residents' attitudes about it in 120 years. -
Fossenvue
A brief history of the summer camp Fossenvue on Seneca Lake. -
The Prouty Family Home
Discover how the Prouty-Chew House changed over the Prouty family's forty-year residence. -
The Battle of the Avenue B Railroad Crossing
When the Geneva village trustees went to war over a rail crossing. -
The Next Generation: The Prouty Family Legacy Part III
A chronicle of Phineas and Adelaide Prouty's children. -
Phin and Kit: The Prouty Family Legacy Part II
Take a peek into the early married life of Phineas Prouty Jr. and his wife Adelaide. -
Phineas Prouty Sr and His Family Legacy Part I
Phineas Prouty Sr. and his family spent 50 years living in the building we use as a museum. Discover how their story begins. -
19th-Century Corsets
In Part II of our series on corsets, we look at changes in 19th-century corsets and an example from the Geneva Historical Society collection. -
Brookside Cemetery
Brief history of Brookside Cemetery. -
Disasters on Land and Water
Danger on water and land plagued 19th-century Americans. -
Should I Stay or Should I Go: Elopement in the 19th Century
How the term elopement has changed -
“Modern” Heating: The Mattress Steam Radiator at Rose Hill Mansion
A chronicle of the mattress steam radiator at Rose Hill Mansion -
The Ice War Continueth, Part 2
Tensions in the ice harvesting community -
Geneva School Expansion and Reform
A review of the period of school expansion and reform in Geneva during the late 1800s. -
More Trick Than Treat: Halloween in 19th Century Geneva
Overview of how Genevans celebrated Halloween in the 1800s. -
St. Patrick’s Cemetery: A Story of Immigration in Geneva
Brief history of Irish and Italian immigration to Geneva. -
Greek Revival Architecture: The Basics
An introduction to Greek Revival Architecture. -
Early History of the Geneva Family YMCA
The beginning of the Geneva Family YMCA -
The Novelty of a Find
A box found in the Archives provides insight into village politics during the mid-1800s. -
Beer Brewing in Early Geneva
Find out more about beer brewing in early Geneva. -
Baseball, or Something Like It
The development of baseball in the United States during the 1800s. -
Come Out and Play: Sports in America Before 1860
Brief overview of sports in America before 1860 -
From Zoology to Metaphysics: College Courses in 19th and 20th Centuries
Overview of courses offered schools and colleges in Geneva during the 1800s and 1900s. -
Almanacks; Or Predicting the Future
Brief history of almanancs. -
What We Learned In School: 19th-Century Schoolwork
What was 19th-century schoolwork like? -
Storymaps
The Historical Society finds a new way to tell Geneva's stories. -
Nehemiah Denton
The story of Nehemiah Denton. -
Back to School
Overview of school buildings using photos and floor plans from "Report of [New York] State Superintendent of Public Instruction" (1897) including Cortland Street and Lewis Street Schools in Geneva, New York. -
After the Swans: The Plummers, 1890 – 1893
The Plummers lived at Rose Hill from 1890 to 1893 -
Meet the Parker Family
Brief biography of the Parker family including Ira, Stephen and Edgar Parker -
Mechanical Eye: Early History Motion Pictures
An early history of motion pictures -
The Irish in Geneva
On the hunt for Irish history in Geneva, New York -
Dr. Chase’s Third, Last and Complete Receipt Book and Household Physician
The Curator's latest find "Dr. Chase’s Third, Last and Complete Receipt Book and Household Physician. " -
A Genial, Good Hearted Man: Dan Deegan, Part 1
The first in series about business man and sportsman Dan Deegan. -
Church Home Hospital
Brief history of the Church Home Hospital -
Patent Medicine
Ads for patent medicine -
The Great Lunch Wagon Controversy of 1897
Debate in 1897 on whether Geneva should have a lunch wagon. -
Segregated Schools in Geneva’s Past
Many Americans are familiar with the segregated schools of the Jim Crow South, however, officially segregated schools existed in most 19th-century communities in the North, including Geneva. It took the concerted efforts of Geneva's African-American community to advocate for improved education and eventual integrated schools for their children. -
Dickens and the Christmas Pudding
Where did the Christmas pudding come from and why don't Americans eat it? -
Christmas Carol Unplugged
The stories behind "A Christmas Carol." -
Charles Dickens in the Geneva Newspapers
Charles Dickens in Geneva newspapers -
Inmate of Every Household
Charles Dickens as seen through local newspapers. -
Howard & Union Streets
A brief history of Howard and Union Streets -
Glenwood Cemetery
Brief history of Glenwood Cemetery -
Very Mysterious: The Fox Sisters and the Spiritualist Movement
Chronicling the Fox Sisters and the Spiritualist movement through local newspapers. -
Cordial and Nourishing: Early Wine History of the Finger Lakes
Using newspapers to trace the early history of wine in the Finger Lakes. -
Adobe Houses in Geneva
Overview of adobe houses in Geneva, New York. -
Superiority to Fear: Acrobat and Tightrope Walker Blondin
Accounts of Blondin crossing the Niagara Gorge from local newspapers -
As Modest on a Wheel as in a Drawing Room: Female Bicyclists in the 1890s
The reaction to female bicyclists in the 1890s through local newspapers -
Astounding The Crowd: Bicycling in Geneva
The introduction of bicycling in Geneva through local newspapers -
Why a woman’s work is never done!!
Discussion on how technology has changed women's work -
Belva Lockwood
Brief biography of Belva Lockwood. -
Free Schools for Geneva
Free public schools appeared in Geneva in the mid-19th century. -
Home Music: 19th Century Bands in Geneva
Chronicling 19th Century bands in Geneva, New York through newspapers. -
Founding of the Geneva School District
The Geneva City School District can trace its birth to 1839, the year that the village’s Districts No. 1 and No. 19 merged to form the state’s first union school district. By the 1830s, the community had a College, dozens of private schools, and two public schools for the basic instruction of children of all classes. Yet schooling in the antebellum period here and throughout More » -
A Hard Day’s Night: Nightlife Victorian Style
Before electricity, what did Victorian families do in the evenings? -
Ho! For California, Part 4
The journey of a local group of men to the California gold fields chronicled through the newspaper -
Ho! for California, Part 3
The Geneva Gazette chronicles the journey of a local group of men to the California gold fields. -
Ho! for California, Part 2
Part two of the Geneva Gazette's chronicle of a local group of men's journey to the California gold fields. -
Famous 19th-Century Musicians in Geneva
I have been researching music in Geneva for several years. If I found a newspaper article while searching for something else, I saved it. In this way I came across a number of unfamiliar names who performed in Geneva in the 19th century. The advertisements, previews, and reviews certainly made them sound important, but who were they? -
Ho! for California, Part 1
Reports of the California Gold Rush from the Geneva Gazette -
Briefly Out of Fashion’s Bondage
Since the dress reform movement of the 19th century has been studied and discussed at length. I will not re-tell that whole story. Instead, I will talk a little about the Bloomer costume and the Geneva area. A Bloomer dress (so named because Amelia Bloomer promoted the style in her magazine The Lily) was a dress much like the fashionable dress of the day, but More » -
Victorian Day
The Victorian Era basically corresponds with the reign of England’s Queen Victorian (1837 to 1901) and for the United States this was a period of change. -
Deaf Artist Francis Tuttle
Francis Marion Tuttle was a Geneva artist who lived from 1839 to 1911. He was well known for Seneca Lake views and portraits, and he also did some Biblical scenes. Instead of repeating Tuttle’s biography (for his biography visit dianrez.blogspot.com), I want to focus on one part of his life, namely, that he was deaf. His experiences bring up some interesting issues. -
Laughter, Shouts, Frolic, and Swimsuits
A while back I ran across a village ordinance printed in the Geneva Daily Gazette of July 2, 1852: "No person shall bathe in the waters of the Seneca Lake, the Canal, or Castle Creek, after the rising of the sun, and before eight o’clock in the evening, within the bounds of the corporation, under the penalty of one dollar for each offence [sic]. This More » -
Night Life Victorian Style
Before electricity, what did Victorian families do in the evenings? For some the answer was simple – they went to sleep. Others did a variety of activities by candlelight, oil lamp or gas light -
Lincoln’s Assassination as Seen in Geneva
One hundred fifty years ago this week actor John Wilkes Booth changed American history when he stepped into the Lincolns' booth at Ford's Theater and shot the president in the back of the head, the first man to assassinate a U.S. president. The assassination was an awful event that shook the nation just a week after Lee’s surrender overjoyed the North. -
Uncle Doctor
Robert Swan’s youngest brother Frederick wrote a history of the Swan family in the 1890s. In it, he talks about their Uncle Daniel, or, as they called him, “Uncle Doctor:” [H]e made choice of the profession of medicine, and studied with Dr. John Brooks, then the resident physician of Medford. . . . Early in his practice, his attention was directed to the system of More » -
Stay In the Sunshine While We May
The course of Lectures before the Young Men’s Association of Geneva, was inaugurated on Tuesday evening last by Chas. F. Brown, (Artemus Ward,) in the delivery of a humorous and characteristic production, denominated “the children in the wood.” Linden Hall was densely crowded by a highly appreciative audience, who appeared greatly to relish the eccentric drollery and humor of the entertainment. . . . From More » -
Rose Hill Turns 175!
When newly built, President Martin Van Buren visited Rose Hill Mansion 175 years ago. -
Currency, Finance and the Civil War
Banking in the early years of the American Republic was decentralized, inefficient and disorganized, leading to frequent panics and depressions. As in many other areas of national development, it was the Civil War which prompted radical change in the country’s financial system. -
Workers at Rose Hill Farm
As we saw last month, the Swans at Rose Hill relied on female workers to do much of the housework and childcare. Running the farm operations required male workers. -
Herman Ten Eyck Foster, Part 3
The final part in a series about Herman Ten Eyck Foster, who was a neighbor to Robert Swan. -
Domestic Service at Rose Hill
At Rose Hill in the mid-19th century, the Swans hired laborers for agricultural and domestic work. This post examines the female domestic servants at the house -
Herman Ten Eyck Foster Part 2
Part two in a series about Herman Ten Eyck Foster, who was a neighbor to Robert Swan. -
Meet the Neighbors: Herman Ten Eyck Foster, Part 1
Part one in a series about Herman Ten Eyck Foster, who was a neighbor to Robert Swan. -
The First Leg of the Journey Home
A member of the Johnston family's journey back to Scotland. -
The War of 1812: Who Cares?
A discussion on the importance of the War of 1812. -
Everything is Coming up Bloomers!
Elizabeth Smith Miller and the evolution of the bloomer outfit. -
Lighting at Rose Hill
Discussion of the early the electrical system at Rose Hill. -
Banking in Early Geneva
Overview of banking in early Geneva. -
History of Christmas
A brief history of the roots of American Christmas. -
The Seneca Chief
History of the steamboat, Seneca Chief -
Food Preservation: From Home to Factory
During the 19th century, Genevans went from preserving food at home in order to be able to eat to purchasing luxury preserved foods in stores. -
Croquet
A brief history of croquet -
The Louisa May Alcott of Geneva: Sarah Hopkins Bradford
Biography of author Sarah Hopkins Bradford. -
Diphtheria Epidemic
Chronicle of the 1878-1879 Geneva diphtheria epidemic. -
Neither shall there by any more pain
Discussion of the usage of anesthesia during childbirth in the mid-1800s. -
Crafts Then and Now: Godey’s Ladies Book
Chronicling women's handwork through 19th century national magazines and local newspapers. -
Pierce and Bickford
Brief biography of architects Joseph Pierce and Hiriam Bickford. -
Stain Removal, Now and Then
19th century stain removal tips -
Celebrating African-American Freedom
Geneva's African-American community hosted a number of emancipation celebrations in the 19th century to celebrate their freedoms while protesting slavery and racial inequality. -
Lighting the Scene
Development of gas and electrical lighting. -
Swine Driver and Pound Keeper for Geneva in 1852
Chronicling the problem of loose animals in Geneva, New York during the 1800s through newspapers and government records. -
126th New York At Gettysburg
The 126th New York Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg -
Sustainable Agriculture, c. 1860
Robert Swan's farming practice was what the modern observer could call sustainable. -
Engines and Silver Trumpets
Fire related issues as chronicled in the Village of Geneva board minutes during the early 1850s. -
Mark Twain Comes to Geneva
Mark Twain's visit to Geneva, New York in 1871. -
Robert Swan Becomes a Farmer
Robert Swan's transition from city dweller to farmer at Rose Hill. -
New York City Draft Riots
Robert Swan's reaction to the draft during the Civil War