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Irving Hall
A brief history of Irving Hall located on Seneca Street. -
A Tale of Two Williams
The connection between gunsmiths William Gardner (1793-1882) and William Billinghurst (1807-1880). -
New Acquisitions
Overview of the newest exhibit at the Geneva History Museum, New Acquisitions. -
Town and Gown at Historic Geneva, 2023
Overview of our relationship with Hobart and William Smith Colleges. -
Teaching Black History at Geneva High School
Experience of speaking to Geneva High School's African American Literature class about local African American history. -
Online Collections in the Public Domain
Overview of museums with online collections in the public domain. -
Hearing From You: The Breuer Hotel
Brief history of the Breuer Hotel. -
This Was Written By A Human
Musings on the latest technology and writing monthly blog articles. -
I’ll See You in My Dreams: 1920s Records and Record Players
Overview of record players and records sold in Geneva during the 1920s based on ads in the Geneva Daily Times. -
Cracker Factory
The third and final post about 35 Lehigh Street in Geneva, New York. -
Geneva Cutlery Company
The second in a series of posts about 35 Lehigh Street in Geneva, New York. Includes a brief history of the Geneva Cutlery Company -
The Geneva Shears Company
The first in a series of posts about 35 Lehigh Street in Geneva, New York. Includes a brief history of the Geneva Shears Company. -
Food and Drinks Businesses in Downtown Geneva
Brief histories of downtown buildings in Geneva, that are currently bars and restaurants -
The Pre-Emption Line, Part 4
The fourth and final article in a series about the Pre-Emption Line. -
The Pre-Emption Line, Part 3
The third article in a series about the Pre-Emption Line. -
The Pre-Emption Line, Part 2
The second article in a series about the Pre-Emption Line. -
The Pre-Emption Line, Part 1
The first in a series about the Pre-Emption Line. -
Music in Geneva: Jack Bullock
Brief biography of musician Jack Bullock. -
Music in Geneva: Ken Petersen, Legendary Appleknocker
The story of Ken Petersen and the Appleknockers -
Hearing from You: William Holleran, Carpenter
Brief biography of carpenter William Holleran -
2021 Collections Year in Review
Artifact donation highlights in 2021. -
Hearing from You: The Rest of the Story
Examples of how our online viewers recently helped to fill in the gaps for some of Geneva’s stories. -
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 -
Labor and Labor Day in Geneva
Early history of Geneva Federation of Labor. -
Off to College, Then and Now
A comparison of the admission process at Hobart College in 1839-1839 and 1911-1912 -
Twenty-first Century Collecting
Thoughts on collecting contemporary items. -
“Any New and Useful Improvement”
Geneva patent holders before 1900. -
Lifelong Learning
Overview of lifelong learning opportunities from around the community. -
Ella Cripps: “Hobby and Occupation – Music”
Brief biography of Ella Cripps -
Vocational Education Through the Years
A brief overview of vocational education. -
Historians at Home: John Marks
The first post in our "Historians at Home" series. -
DeSales High School: The Early Years
A look at the early history of DeSales High School -
2020 Collection Reflections
Artifact donation highlights in 2020 -
My Geneva Is….
For our curator his Geneva is Geneva History Museum and Lake Drum Brewing. -
St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Part 1
Overview the history of St. Patrick's Cemetery and some of its residents -
Memories of Geneva Rollerdrome
A brief history and memories of the Geneva Rollerdrome. -
Alcott Beardsley, Teacher and Musician
A brief biography of teacher and musician Alcott Beardsley -
What’s Next? Future Historic Preservation in Geneva
Discussion of future historic preservation in Geneva. -
Historic Preservation Month
Review of recent historic preservation projects in Geneva. -
Living in a Digital World
A public historian adjusts to working in the new "normal." -
“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 New Year’s Wish for More Artifacts
An appeal for artifacts. -
A Christmas Wish for More History
An appeal for photographs. -
“A Friend of the Gutted Stick:” Francis “Babe” Kraus
Brief biography of Francis "Babe" Kraus. -
Early History of the Geneva Family YMCA
The beginning of the Geneva Family YMCA -
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. -
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 -
Childhood Memories of Games and Sports
Local coaches Nan Demuth, Steve Muzzi, Carl Wenzel, Aliceann Wilber, and Mike Hanna share their earliest experiences with games and sports. -
The Landscapes of F.M. Tuttle
An examination of Francis Marion Tuttle's landscape paintings. -
Museum Acquires Two F.M. Tuttle Portraits
Recent additions to the Historical Society's collection help tell one family's connection to Geneva. -
Alice Seward and World War I, Part Three
The final part in a series about the World War I diary of Alice Seward -
Christmas in Geneva 50 Years Ago
Christmas shopping based on ads from the November 27, 1968 edition of the Geneva Times. -
Alice Seward and World War I, Part Two
Part two in a series about the World War I diary of Alice Seward -
Alice Seward and World War I, Part One
Part one is a series about the World War I diary of Alice Seward -
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. -
“The War Chest spilled over. Good for Geneva!”
The creation of the Geneva War Chest during WW I -
Dove’s Geneva Watercolors
A look at Arthur Dove’s watercolors created in Geneva from 1933 to 1938. -
Andrew Hubbs, American Red Ambulance Corps
World War I experience of Andrew Hubbs -
Geneva’s Gallant Sons
The Curator's latest find "Register of Geneva's Gallant Sons War of 1917-1919." -
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. " -
Church Home Hospital
Brief history of the Church Home Hospital -
Patent Medicine
Ads for patent medicine -
Every Building Tells a Story: Retail Architecture, Part II
Second in a series about retail architecture in Geneva. -
Every Building Tells A Story: Retail Architecture, Part I
First in a series about retail architecture in downtown Geneva. -
Charles Dickens in the Geneva Newspapers
Charles Dickens in Geneva newspapers -
Howard & Union Streets
A brief history of Howard and Union Streets -
Every Building Tells a Story: Brook and North Brook Streets
A brief history of Brook and North Brook Streets. -
Sherrill Street
A brief history of Sherrill Street. -
Surviving Houses on Hamilton Street
Hamilton Street has undergone the most change of any existing street in Geneva. -
‘Twas Always Thus: Record Cylinders
Brief history of early recorded music -
New: “Music in Geneva” Podcast
In our latest podcast David Brent Johnson, jazz director at WFIU public radio in Bloomington and musician Gap Mangione discuss jazz bassist Scott LaFaro. -
Images from the Collection
Stories behind six images from our photo collection -
New “Geneva Stories” Videos
The latest additions to our "Geneva Stories" video series -
Suffrage Songs
Overview of suffrage songs. -
Classical Music in Geneva, Part II
The second in a series about classical music performances in Geneva. -
Youth and Music in Geneva
Excerpts from the Historical Society's zine about youth and music in Geneva. -
New: “Music in the Key of Geneva” Video and Podcast
Latest additions to our "Geneva Stories" video series and "Music in the Key of Geneva" podcasts. -
Classical Music in Geneva, Part 1
The first in a series about classical music performances in Geneva. -
The Last Music Store
Brief history of music stores in Geneva, New York -
Just a Piece of Wood?
A piece from a piano provides a glimpse into Geneva's past. -
Geneva Stories: Music in Geneva, Part 1
The first in a series about music in Geneva. -
The Sounds of Music
Through National Jukebox, sample sound recordings can be found of various musicians who performed in Geneva in the early 1900s. -
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? -
Hidden Music in Geneva
Music is everywhere in Geneva for those with eyes to see. The digital marquee on Seneca Street, event flyers in many downtown store windows, and websites like www.thesmith.org. -
Banjos, Mandolins, and Glee
I have many favorite historical photos of Geneva, but the 1893 Hobart College Banjo & Glee Club is in my Top Ten. Those clothes, those haircuts, those instruments! As a player and fan of banjos and mandolins, I am interested in their popularity at that time. -
Music In Geneva
I have learned more as I work through the Historical Society archives, but there is much history not written down. We have an impressive list of village “firsts”: a hotel, a post office, a church, and a school. However, no one recorded the first person to bring a piano to town, or the name of the fiddler who played the first dance. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
Fund for Historic Geneva
After two essays about urban renewal, both government and private, it’s time to turn to historic preservation. -
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. -
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. -
Explaining the 1960s
Each year before college begins, Beloit College in Wisconsin puts out “The Mindset List” for the incoming freshman class. Originally compiled as a lark, it’s become a valuable tool for professors (and other adults) to understand an 18-year old’s perspective. -
When you move something, is it still the same?
I wrote in March about cleaning out the house in which I grew up. We needed to “de-clutter” it anyway to put it on the market so we did the bulk of the removal at the same time. All the dishes, books, cereal boxes, knick knacks, records, and “what is this and why did they save it?” left the house. It was a huge feat More » -
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
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.