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Tag: Downtown

Front view of the Centennial Building in the 1920s (Geneva, New York).

Commemorating a Milestone: The Centennial Building

A history of the Centennial building at 68 Castle Street.
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Geneva Mineral Springs

A brief history of Geneva Mineral Springs.
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old door Isenman's ice cream

Isenman’s Ice Cream

A brief history of Isenman’s Ice Cream.
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View down a street of commercial buildings, many with awnings and 1920s Model Ts parked on the street.

The Geneva Women’s Free Rest Room Association

Brief history of the Geneva Women’s Free Rest Room Association.
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family dollar parking lot looking across street

The Recent Past in Photos

In 2003 Historic Geneva gave disposable film cameras to fifth graders and asked them to take photos of their surroundings.
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A transparent map digitally imposed on a Google Earth satellite image of Geneva's lakefront.

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.
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1915 map north side Seneca Street. Irving Hall outlined in red.

Irving Hall

A brief history of Irving Hall located on Seneca Street.
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Logo for 125th anniversary of the Geneva's city charter

We Were Here In 1898: Buildings and Places

Overview of buildings and places around Geneva that existed in 1898 and are still here today
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Breuer Hotel seven men on sidewalk children on balcony

Hearing From You: The Breuer Hotel

Brief history of the Breuer Hotel.
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Women In Bakery Window

Food and Drinks Businesses in Downtown Geneva

Brief histories of downtown buildings in Geneva, that are currently bars and restaurants
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Exterior photograph of a one story restraunt

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.
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June 17, 1899 Headline from the Geneva Daily Times 8991899 June 17

A Victorian Murder Trial

Overview of the 1899 murder trial of Michael Houlihan
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multi story Brick Building

Hearing from You: William Holleran, Carpenter

Brief biography of carpenter William Holleran
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Two Story Building With Factory Circa 1935

W.F. Humphrey Press on Pulteney Street

Brief history of W.F. Humphrey Press
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Headlines from a newspaper article about Geneva's first labor dayper Article Labor Day In Geneva

Labor and Labor Day in Geneva

Early history of Geneva Federation of Labor.
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From Beyond Homepage

From Beyond: Geneva’s Unheard Voices (A Theatrical Walking Tour)

HWS Theatre and Historic Geneva present a theatrical walking tour that brings to life iconic African American figures from Geneva’s past.
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View of the rows of seats and the movie screen at Regent Theater

Temple Theatre and Regent Theater

Brief histories of the Temple Theatre and Regent Theater
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Postcard image of a car driving into a manicured lakeside park

Lakeside Park

A brief history of Lakeside Park in Geneva.
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A wagon with a downtown intersection and grist mill in the foreground

Mystery of the Mill

A brief history of the flour and grist mill on Castle Street
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Girls of various ages ice skating on an indoor ice skating rink

My Geneva Is …

For our archivist, her Geneva is cold Sunday mornings at the Geneva Rec Center
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Brick Building With Raised Steps And White Door

My Geneva Is….

For our curator his Geneva is Geneva History Museum and Lake Drum Brewing.
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A man and four women surrounded by baskets of food collected and organized by the Salvation Army

Salvation Army

Chronicle of the Salvation Army’s presence in Geneva.
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Vacation Inyour Own Backyard Tip•

Vacation In Your Own Backyard

Activities that can be done Geneva throughout the summer
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Orange Cat Sitting On Laptop Computer

Living in a Digital World

A public historian adjusts to working in the new "normal."
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large crowd standing outside a movie theater

Meet Gerald and Viacita Fowler, Part 1

Gerald Folwer and his work at the Schine theatres in Geneva.
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sketch of a woman

 “A Jewel of an Actress:” Emily Bancker in Geneva

Emily Bancker's performances at the Smith Opera House in the 1890s.
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Early History of the Geneva Family YMCA

The beginning of the Geneva Family YMCA
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Modern Day Figure Skating in Geneva

Recollections on being a member of the Lake Country Figure Skating Club.
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antique-pen-book-and-letters

Books and Reading

An appeal plea to read books, newspapers, or magazines in print or electronic format. 
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Christmas in Geneva 50 Years Ago

Christmas shopping based on ads from the November 27, 1968 edition of the Geneva Times.
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Welcome to Geneva: Enjoy Your Stay

Brief history of hotels in Geneva.
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A Genial, Good Hearted Man: Dan Deegan, Part 1

The first in series about business man and sportsman Dan Deegan.
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The Great Lunch Wagon Controversy of 1897

Debate in 1897 on whether Geneva should have a lunch wagon.
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Every Building Tells A Story: Retail Architecture, Part I

First in a series about retail architecture in downtown Geneva.
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A large open city lot with a group of about 20 men shoveling and moving dirt or placing playground equipment while a crowd of people watches.

Images from the Collection

Stories behind six images from our photo collection
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Classical Music in Geneva, Part II

The second in a series about classical music performances in Geneva.
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camille-urso-posed-with-her-violin

Classical Music in Geneva, Part 1

The first in a series about classical music performances in Geneva.
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The Last Music Store

Brief history of music stores in Geneva, New York
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Geneva 15 years ago

Reflections on living in Geneva.
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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?
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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.
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Geneva’s Stories: Urban Renewal in Geneva

The first video in a monthly series of short Geneva history stories, beginning with Urban Renewal.
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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.
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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.
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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
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A building facade featuring engaged ionic columns and a classical pediment that reads The Farmers and Merchants Bank.

Geneva Downtown Commercial Historic District

What is Geneva's Downtown Commercial Historic District and what does it mean for the city?
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Lift Up Thine Eyes: The Upper Floors of Downtown Geneva

Overview of downtown Architecture
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Looking Back on Chocolate Almond Coffee Cake and Department Stores

Brief history of J. W. Smith Dry Goods Co.
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Large brick building with a turret.

Geneva’s Armory: Form and Function

Overview of the history of Geneva's Armory building.
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Section of a map of Linden Street showing the buildings on it.

Linden Street

Geographically, Linden Street is the heart of downtown.
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Pierce and Bickford

Brief biography of architects Joseph Pierce and Hiriam Bickford.
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