Onondaga Historical Association

Celebrate #PresidentsDay & #SusanBAnthony Day with a deal on "Accidental President" by Jared Cohen and "Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony" by Penny Coleman! Get 25% off either book today and tomorrow (2/15-16)! Use code HOLIDAYS25 at checkout for discount. Go to shop.cnyhistory.org to shop!

A little President's Day history. After his death in 1799, George Washington's February 22nd birthday was treated by many as an unofficial day of remembrance. It was not until the 1870s that Senator Stephen Wallace Dorsey of Arkansas proposed it become a federal holiday. In 1879 President Rutherford B. Hayes signed it into law. In 1968, Congress adopted President's Day, to include a celebration of Lincoln's birthday (Feb. 12). Thus, the third Monday in February honors the bir...thdays of arguably the two most significant presidents in the nation's history. #history #presidents #presidentsday #washington #lincoln #OHA #OHAstories

Today we celebrate #SusanBAnthony Day to commemorate her birthday and the tireless efforts she poured into the Women's Suffrage movement during her lifetime. OHA currently has the National Women’s Suffrage Association Autograph Book from the Centennial Celebration in 1876 on display at our downtown museum. The NWSA was formed in 1869 after a split in the suffrage movement over the ratification of the 15th Amendment, giving African American men the right to vote. Anthony belie...ved the 15th Amendment was a deterrent to women’s suffrage, as it connected race, gender and voting rights for the first time in the Constitution. For more on this important inflection point in the movement http://www.susanbanthonybirthplace.com/racism.html On May 21st, 1919, the 19th Amendment, nicknamed the "Susan Anthony Amendment" was proposed by U.S. Representatives and chairman of the Suffrage Committee, granting that the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. The Amendment was passed with an overwhelming majority of 304 to 89 and certified in August, 1920. Although Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) did not live to see the culmination of her life-long work achieved, her efforts and contributions had been essential. Today we honor those who fought for women's right to vote and honor the brave and intrepid members of the suffrage movement #WomensSuffrage #SusanBAnthonyDay #CNY #CNYHistory #OHAStories #OHA

Happy #GalentinesDay! To celebrate we are honoring some of the many women suffrage advocates. Captured in this photo is Central New Yorker Matilda Joslyn Gage among some of the 19th Century's leading suffragists (via the Library of Congress): "International gathering of women suffrage advocates in Washington, D.C., 1888; several CNY luminaries represented. Susan B. Anthony, (2nd from left), Elizabeth Cady Stanton (4th from left) Matilda Joslyn Gage, on her right, and Baroness Alexandra Gripenberg (Finland)." How will you be spending your #GalentinesDay? #WomensRights #Suffrage #Syracuse #CNY #OHA #OHAStories #CNYHistory

Happy National Trivia Day! Are you a trivia fan? Love to stump your friends and family with your knowledge of random, obscure facts? Well, today is your day! Celebrate with one of OHA's three Salt City Trivia books and strike up a game of local trivia to gain those bragging rights!... Drop your favorite, cool random fact below (not limited to CNY factoids)

Looking for a #ValentinesDay dessert ideas to wow your partner? Look no further, we've got you covered! Purchase our "Something Chocolate" book by a local author for inspiration on what to make this Valentine's Day. You can order this book online and pick it up in store or get it shipped right to you! Click here to order: https://shop.cnyhistory.org//something-chocolate-reci/711... #SomethingChocolate #Dessert #Syracuse #CNY

JOIN US! Become an OHA Member today for as low as $25/year!! Learn more about member benefits and varying levels here, shop.cnyhistory.org/membership.

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Syracuse’s Marilyn Merrily Herr (92 years old) from the long-running children’s TV show Magic Toy Shop. The show aired locally for 27 years, from 1955 to 1982, on WHEN-TV. Marilyn, director of the station, played the character Merrily for the show’s entire run. With her Magic Music Box in hand, Merrily, and her co-host, Eddie Flum Num, Mr. Trolley, and the Play Lady, entertained kids for nearly 30 years ...on one of the country’s first children television programs. It was an instant hit from its debut in February, 1955. It captured the minds, hearts, and imaginations of all that tuned in, which spanned all age ranges. For almost 30 years, Marilyn made each of us feel special and, for that, she will always be remembered. Her kindness, her patience, her acceptance of all people is what will keep Marilyn in our hearts forever. Marilyn’s daughter, Corky Herr, asks for the community to Please keep Magic Toy Shop alive in your hearts. It was a smile that opened the door, the acts of kindness, and love. That is how we should treat each other. It is our humanity for others that makes us all special. OHA sends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Marilyn Herr. #CNYHistory #OHAStories #MagicToyShop

Rev. Jermain Wesley Loguen. The Underground Railroad King. After escaping slavery in the late 1830s, he made his way to Canada, Rochester, studied at the Onieda Institute, before settling in Syracuse in 1841. A teacher, preacher, organizer, orator, author, politician, bishop in the AME Zion Church, father and freedom fighter. From their home on East Genesee Street in Syracuse, he and his wife, Caroline, helped over 1,500 enslaved peoples to freedom on the Underground Railroad, making Syracuse the Great Central Depot. They also devoted their lives to uplifting Syracuse small, but growing, black population. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery. #BlackHistoryMonth

A little something Curator Bob found digging around our #Dietz Archive a few weeks back. What are your memories of Dietz? Ever get one for Christmas?

From everyone at the Onondaga Historical Association, have a safe and merry Christmas! #CNYHistory #OHAStories #MerryChristmas #HappyHolidays #ChristmasinSyr : Clinton Square Christmas tree, circa 1930s.

On Christmas Eve, 1913, Syracuse celebrated its first municipal Christmas tree lighting, in St. Mary’s Circle. Syracuse joined a growing list of cities to do so. Here in the Salt City, the task of finding, transporting, and erecting the tree fell to the Parks Department. Superintendent of Parks, David Campbell, consulted with Dr. William L. Bray, the former President the NYS School of Forestry (now ESF), which had just been re-established at , in 1911. Campbell and Dr. Bray ...visited one of the Forestry School’s preserves in Onondaga Valley to select the proper tree. The settled on a majestic fifty-foot hemlock. To transport the behemoth, the Parks Department built a special wagon. Traffic on Salina St. was closed down for several hours as the tree made its way into the city’s center on December 19th. A sizable crowd gathered in St. Mary’s Circle, including dozens of children, to watch the workmen-- lineman from the Syracuse Lighting Company--raise the tree into its special stand, using ropes and large poles. The Consumer League of Syracuse and the Herald-Rotary Club sponsored the event. The tree was lit with electric lights, donated from the Syracuse Lighting Company. The crowd of thousands that turned were treated to the ethereal sounds of a choir of 1,000 school children, the Cathedral Choir boys, and a large volunteer adult choir, all singing Christmas hymns from the stairs of the Cathedral and the County Courthouse. The evening was a sensational success, and the tradition has continued right up to today, evolving as our community and our technology has evolved. The tree moved to Clinton Square in 1932, to make way for the Columbus monument. In the 1960s, the date of the tree lighting was moved up to create more of a holiday season. 2018 marked the final year a real tree was used. In 2019, the city purchased a new four-story artificial tree, outfitted with thousands of LED lights. The very first municipal Christmas Tree, St. Mary’s Circle, 1913. See more

Have you heard the booms? Over the last few days Central New York has had a couple of meteors soaring through our skies. As rare are these occurrences may seem, a meteor penetrate the earth's atmosphere over the United States roughly once a month. OHA's collection actually houses one such meteor. Watch Curator of Collections, Tom Hunter, explain this rare, galactic item from our collection. It's truly out of this world.... https://fb.watch/2fHkL9AHnu/ Image source: New York Post

Another amazing Historical Mash Up by Michael John Heagerty and so appropriate for right before the holidays! Next time you go ice skating in Clinton Square, take a look around and think about all those who came before us and skated the Erie Canal in that same spot. Happy Holidays everyone!

Shortly before 8 a.m. PST on December 7, 1941, a beautiful Sunday morning, the air and naval forces of the Japanese Empire commenced a surprise attack on the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor. Six aircraft carriers launched hundreds of Japanese Mitsubishi Zero fighters and Nakajima B5N and Val bombers, which filled the bright blue Hawaiian sky. Their objective was to destroy the United States’ Pacific Fleet. Two hours later, the smoke billowing from the carnage could be seen fo...Continue reading

JOIN US! Become an OHA Member today for as low as $25/year!! Learn more about member benefits and varying levels here, shop.cnyhistory.org/membership.

Laura Hand among Onondaga Historical Association Medal Award honorees this year https://cnycentral.com//laura-hand-among-onondaga-historic

Come downtown and see the city's beautiful Christmas Tree in Clinton Square and visit our amazing gift gallery while you're here! You'll find unique gifts, and the only bookstore in Downtown. We're open late tonight, until 8! In the meantime, here's Curator Bob with a short history of our city's municipal Christmas Tree, from our good friends at Syracuse Parks and Rec. They've been in charge of the Tree since the very first one, back in 1913. Ho! Ho! Ho! #downtownsyracuse #shoplocal

Nixon Gear, Inc.’s 100th Anniversary Sheds Light on our Amazing Gear Manufacturing History Part II The Automobile Industry and Nixon Gear The auto industry’s success in the early 20th century had already prompted several gear companies to open in Syracuse by 1920. It was this burgeoning manufacturing environment that prompted George C. Nixon to join the ever expanding local gear manufacturing scene. On November 17, 1920, George Nixon founded Nixon Broach and Tool Company a...t 200 Oxford Street to sell general machining and special tooling. George and his wife, Kate Estelle Shahan Nixon, migrated to Syracuse from Detroit to establish their Syracuse company while he was still president of the Detroit company, Steel Treating Equipment Company. By March 1921, Nixon was advertising that his shop could grind auto cylinders, and then fit them with new pistons and rings. In 1924, Nixon began to manufacture gears and changed the business’ name to Nixon Gear and Machine Company. Nixon continued to advertise for experienced toolmakers and machinists in the classified section of the local newspapers throughout the 1920s. In the late 1960s, a major product shift occurred in the business machine segment of the gear manufacturing market with powdered metal and plastic gears replacing steel spur and helical gears. By the early 1970s, plastic parts and electronic components were quickly replacing metal gears. These changes forced the company to change its focus and develop new product and sales markets. #cnyhistory #OHAStories Stay tuned for Part III on November 3rd! Photo Captions: Help wanted Ads; The Nixon Gear and Machine Co., Inc. logo; interior of Nixon.

OHA had some special, mischievous little visitors the other night...

Find fun, unique, and educational gifts for all the kiddos on your holiday lists this year! To browse these items and more, go to shop.cnyhistory.org/for-kids!

In response to our Facebook post on November 25th and Curator Bob's article in the Post-Standard about the Thanksgiving disaster in Lakeland in 1943, we just received these amazing photos of the Vanetti home on State Fair Blvd. from Shelia Coon! Thank you to the Vanetti family and Shelia for sharing these spectacular before and after images.

Flaunt your best Typewriter City look this holiday season! Start your holiday shopping early this year and get that special person a one of a kind piece of Syracuse history. Each piece is unique & handmade from vintage typewriter keys. Get any typewriter jewelry for 25% off through the end of the month! Use code JEWEL25 at checkout.... https://shop.cnyhistory.org/shop/typewriter-jewelry/19

Halloween is only a week away. Brush up on your "Haunted Onondaga County" history! Get the book for 25% off this week with code HAUNT25 at checkout. https://shop.cnyhistory.org/pro/haunted-onondaga-county/289

Don't forget to sign up for this amazing lecture opportunity! Happening Monday Oct. 26th at 7pm! Go to shop.cnyhistory.org/events to register! Special thanks to Humanities New York for their gracious sponsorship

Nixon Gear, Inc.’s 100th Anniversary Sheds Light on our Amazing Gear Manufacturing History Part I Syracuse was Gear City! Nixon Gear, Inc. is celebrating its 100 year anniversary this year! ... In its manufacturing heyday in the early 20th century, Syracuse certainly deserved the moniker, "Gear City." At that time, Syracuse companies such as New Process Gear, Brown-Lipe Gear, Brown-Lipe-Chapin, Durston Gear, Diefendorf Gear, and Nixon Gear fabricated twenty five million gears annually, made $50 million, and employed thousands of local citizens. The breadth of finished products that utilized locally-made gears was incredibly diverse: bicycles, automobiles, trucks, printing presses, sewing machines, portable and industrial toolsthe list goes on and on. Gear companies located in Syracuse reputedly made about 90% of the automotive gears used in the United States. #cnyhistory #OHAStories https://www.facebook.com/gearmotions/ Stay tuned for Part II on October 27th! Photo Captions: New Process Gear building; Brown-Lipe Gear plant workers; Patent No. 821,248 May 22, 1906, C.E. Lipe and A.T. Brown, Changeable Gear; Brown, Lipe Chapin factory, c1940; early photo of the inside of Nixon Gear.

It's time for another OHA Giveaway!! Everyone who registers for OHA's first Virtual Ghostwalk, CNY Strange, will be entered in to win this goodie bag of Ghostwalk merch! How to enter:... Go to shop.cnyhistory.org/events Add a CNY Strange "ticket" to your cart (members add your discount code!) Purchase your "ticket" and you are entered! Prize Includes: Ghostwalk Magnet Empire Ghosts: NYS's Haunted Landmarks book One (1) Tan Ghostwalk T-shirt (sizes Small through X-Large available) Syracuse Salt City Sticker OHA Decal OHA Keychain Pack of Halloween Notecards Rules: - Qualifying entries are purchases made from 10/7 - 10/28 - Only one entry per person; cannot buy more than one "ticket" under the same name for multiple entries. - The winner will be announced on Thursday, Oct. 29th on OHA's Facebook page. - Prize will be pick up ONLY for those who are local. Any out of area winners will have their prize shipped. Contact us for inquiries.

Don't miss out on this chance to hear from Maxwell School Professor of History, Carol Faulkner, and OHA’s Curator of History, Bob Searing as they discuss Lucretia Mott and her role in the Women’s Right Convention in Seneca Falls. Can't attend the live Zoom event? Contact Alicia Madonna, [email protected]; 315-428-1864 x314, for information on to still partake.