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The Chew Family
A short biography of the Chew family in Geneva. -
Tale of Two Board Presidents: Dr. George and Marjorie Hucker
Brief biographies of Dr. George and Marjorie Hucker. -
McDonough Park
A brief history of McDonough Park. -
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. -
A National Reading Club Comes to Geneva
A short history of the Bay View Reading Circle in Geneva. -
The Community Response to the (Geneva) Princeton Plan
The community response to Geneva’s attempts to address racial imbalance in its schools. -
The (Geneva) Princeton Plan: 56 Years Later
A look back at Geneva’s attempts to address racial imbalance in its schools. -
Last Picture Show?
Memories of the seeing movies at the Smith Opera House, Cinema (originally the Regent Theater) and Geneva Movieplex. -
From Pre-Emption Park to Courtyard Apartments
A reflection on our November 2023 Community Conversation and housing in Geneva -
Geneva’s Early Woman Journalist: Mildred Jennings
The life and career of journalist Mildred Jennings, one of 20th-century Geneva's first woman journalists. -
Miniature Golf in the 1930s
A brief history Geneva’s miniature golf courses -
Pass the Ocean, Spin the Top: The Friendship Squares of Geneva
A brief look at the Friendship Squares of Geneva. -
Family Connection Through Printing
Family connections to Geneva through printing companies -
The Rest of the story: 1972 Geneva High School Student Walkout
A continuation of the Finger Lakes Times Looking Back article about the March 1972 Geneva High School (Geneva, New York) student walkout. -
The Inevitable Woman: Helen Moore Quigley
A brief biography of Helen Moore Quigley. -
Happy Birthday, City of Geneva
To mark the 125th anniversary of the city charter, an overview of how Geneva has changed as a municipality -
American Issues Forum
Overview of “Geneva, A City of Many Nations,” one of the panel discussions based on the American Issues Forum and held as part of the city's Bicentennial activities. -
Cracker Factory
The third and final post about 35 Lehigh Street in Geneva, New York. -
Got A Nickel?
Brief history of slot machines in Geneva. -
The Prouty-Chew House: From Family Home to Museum and Work Space
There were many changes involved in transforming the Prouty-Chew house from a house to a museum. -
The Willows Along Seneca Lake
A brief history of the Willows along Seneca Lake in Geneva. -
Over the River and Through the Woods: Loomis Wood
A history of the Loomis Woods. -
The Rite of Passage for Hobart Freshmen in the 20th Century
Overview of the social rules followed by Hobart College freshmen during the 20th century -
Listening and Learning
Overview of cassette tape transcription and audio reel digitization projects connected to oral histories in Historic Geneva’s collection. -
My Geneva Is … Then and Now
Photographs are important to documenting Geneva's stories. One example is the photographs for a lot on Lake Street. -
Seneca Lake Park: From City Park to State Park
A brief history of Seneca Lake State Park -
The Spanish Association of the Finger Lakes
Brief history of Spanish Association of the Finger Lakes in Geneva, New York. -
Music in Geneva: Jack Bullock
Brief biography of musician Jack Bullock. -
American Can Company in Geneva, 1901-1989
A brief history of the American Can Company in Geneva (1901-1989). -
Those Who Came Before Us
Overview of local historians who have chronicled and preserved Geneva's stories. -
The Lifelong Dream and Short Career of Bernice Gera
Brief bio of Bernice Gera, first woman to serve as an umpire in professional baseball -
Music in Geneva: Ken Petersen, Legendary Appleknocker
The story of Ken Petersen and the Appleknockers -
More Stories from St. Patrick’s Cemetery
Overview of some of the residents of St Patrick's Cemetery -
W.F. Humphrey Press on Pulteney Street
Brief history of W.F. Humphrey Press -
Temple Theatre and Regent Theater
Brief histories of the Temple Theatre and Regent Theater -
Lakeside Park
A brief history of Lakeside Park in Geneva. -
Ella Cripps: “Hobby and Occupation – Music”
Brief biography of Ella Cripps -
2020 Collection Reflections
Artifact donation highlights in 2020 -
On the Importance of City Directories
Brief history of city directories and the usefulness of directories in conducting research -
St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Part 1
Overview the history of St. Patrick's Cemetery and some of its residents -
The Ballot Box in New York State
Brief timeline of voting history in New York State -
Memories of Geneva Rollerdrome
A brief history and memories of the Geneva Rollerdrome. -
PB Oakley
Brief biography of photojournalist PB Oakley. -
Alcott Beardsley, Teacher and Musician
A brief biography of teacher and musician Alcott Beardsley -
Geneva’s Stories
A collection of the Historical Society's digital content that explores Geneva’s diverse stories. -
“Waiting Time”
"View waiting time as a gift of time." -
Meet Gerald and Viacita Fowler, Part 2
Viacita Folwer and her work in Geneva -
Meet Gerald and Viacita Fowler, Part 1
Gerald Folwer and his work at the Schine theatres in Geneva. -
“Likes to Draw Pictures:” Mary Flanigan Gauerke
Brief biography of cartoonist Mary Flanigan Gauerke. -
A Brief History of the T-Shirt
A history of the "plain white t-shirt." -
“A Friend of the Gutted Stick:” Francis “Babe” Kraus
Brief biography of Francis "Babe" Kraus. -
Geneva’s Stories: Geneva Rotary Club Celebrates 100 Years of Service
From student loans to summer camps to a local grant program, the Geneva Rotary Club has spent the past century serving the community. -
When You’re Shut Out of a Club…Start Your Own
A brief history of the College Club of Geneva. -
William Smith College Athletics, 1972 – Present
Part two of a brief history of William Smith College athletics -
William Smith College Athletics, 1908-1971
Brief history of William Smith College athletics. -
Modern Day Figure Skating in Geneva
Recollections on being a member of the Lake Country Figure Skating Club. -
Women’s Sports
Discussion on the impact of Title IX on young women and sports . -
Christmas in Geneva 50 Years Ago
Christmas shopping based on ads from the November 27, 1968 edition of the Geneva Times. -
1968: A Year of Change
1968, the year the Geneva Historical Society opened Rose Hill Mansion as a museum, was a year of momentous change. -
Curriculum Project Results in Student Mural
Geneva Middle School students create a mural recounting Geneva High School boycotts of the 1970s. -
Just a Piece of Wood?
A piece from a piano provides a glimpse into Geneva's past. -
Geneva 15 years ago
Reflections on living in Geneva. -
Geneva’s Stories: Urban Renewal in Geneva Part Two
Second part of a two-part series on the impact of 1960s Urban Renewal on Geneva, NY. -
Kids Today: The Generation Gap
In the 1960s, a new phrase came into use: the generation gap. Genevans, like older Americans across the country worried about its young people, their clothes, their manners, and their attitude. -
Geneva and the Civil Rights Movement
As we at the Geneva Historical Society look back at the 1960s this year, we cannot ignore the protest movements that sprung out of that decade, particularly the Civil Rights Movement. -
45s, B-sides, and Albums
Alice Askins wrote about live music in Geneva in the 1960s . As she pointed out, most groups played the hits of the day. If you wanted to hear the real thing, you bought the record. -
Oh, those 1960s Cars!
I am not a car buff. My vehicle doesn’t have to be sporty, exotic or sexy, but it just needs to get me from my home to my destination safely and comfortably. -
Let’s Go to the Movies!
When Genevans went to the Cinema Theatre, Seneca Drive-In Theatre or Geneva Theatre during the 1960s they could have seen a variety of movies. -
Playing What They Loved: Geneva’s Music Scene in the 1960s
Recently I talked with Geneva's Chuck Agonito about the rock and roll music scene in Geneva during in the 1960s. Since he was part of that scene, he is a wealth of information on the subject and has often written about it in his “Good Times” column for the Finger Lakes Times. -
The 1960s at Hobart & William Smith Colleges
A quick view of Hobart & William Smith Colleges during the tumultuous 1960s. -
Geneva’s Stories: Urban Renewal in Geneva
The first video in a monthly series of short Geneva history stories, beginning with Urban Renewal. -
Remembering the Days of the Neighborhood School
In 1960 I was 8 years old. Back then everyone attended the neighborhood elementary school, either public or parochial. -
Fund for Historic Geneva
After two essays about urban renewal, both government and private, it’s time to turn to historic preservation. -
Anything Goes: 1960s Clothing
The 1960s emphasized youth and openness. It was a time when many rebelled against established ways. This was expressed in clothing, and, since human culture is a melting pot, anti-fashion became fashionable. Here are a few of the trends of the decade. -
1960s – The Clothing We Wore
There were more changes in 1960’s styles than I can begin to talk about here. I was a relatively conservative dresser, in part because my folks exercised control over my choices and my friends were also pretty conservative so there was not much peer pressure with which to deal. Still I remember it as a time of change in styles, rebellion demonstrated through clothing….or sometimes More » -
Building A Better Geneva: Urban Renewal, Part II
After seven years of applying for Urban Renewal money, evaluating property conditions and values, and organizing the work, demolition began in March 1966. -
1960s Food: From Jello to Mastering French Cooking
Like much of what happened in the decade, 1960s food spanned extremes from French haute cuisine to Spaghetti-Os and back again. -
Innocent and Blithe: 1960s Fashion
Recently, a friend mentioned that he had asked a group of young people what came to their minds when they thought of the 1960s. “Hippies,” is what I thought, since I enjoy clothing, and hippies certainly had their own style. In this post, though, I want to talk about mainstream fashion. -
Headed to the Drive-in
I love being able to revisit the past and our fundraiser focused on the 1960s (being held in March 2016) is giving me a wonderful opportunity to review one of the most interesting decades I remember. -
Building A Better Geneva: Urban Renewal, Part I
For those of us of a certain age, urban renewal is the scapegoat for unpleasant change in our communities. “Why did they [always an unnamed “they”] tear down X, Y, and Z?” “Urban renewal.” While I sympathize with mourning the loss of what used to be, I wanted to find out what urban renewal really was, why communities embraced it, and who “they” were. -
1960s Student Unrest in Geneva
Very early on May 5, 1970, Ontario County Sheriffs arrested five Hobart students in a drug raid. The raid turned up hash pipes, pills and marijuana. One of the sheriffs was recognized by the students as “Tommy the Traveler” – a man who had been active on campus encouraging anti-war and anti-ROTC protests, and claiming to be a member of Students for a Democratic Society. -
Growing Up in the 1960s
The 1960s were a decade that encompassed some of the worst and best events of my young age. Born in 1952, the 1960s covered my life from the ages of 8 to 18. In that time I went from playing with toys to being interested in boys. -
Accidental History Topics
I’ve posted photos to the historical society’s Facebook page for two and a half years. Digging further into the collection to come up with fresh material, I found this photo of Castle Street -
Little Golden Books
My Little Golden Book memory were sparked by a recent traveling exhibit at the Rochester Memorial Art Gallery, Golden Legacy: 65 Years of Golden Books. During lectures that accompanied the exhibit, I discovered two things. First, Little Golden Books debuted during World War II. Second, illustrator Eloise Wilkin lived in Canandaigua. -
Grocery Shopping in Geneva 1957
Grocery shopping in Geneva in 1957.
Historic Geneva is a history museum in the Finger Lakes region of New York State which focuses on the history of Geneva, NY, historic architecture, genealogy, and the area's industry and agriculture. The Society maintains four historic 19th century properties, an archive and library, a museum and runs programs and events related to the history of Geneva and the Finger Lakes area.