New Hartford Historical Society

06/18/2026

Welcome to our 3rd Throwback Thursday post for June 2026. Today’s post and photos take us back nearly 150 years. Today we explore the “Glen” at Willowvale. It is off Oneida Street up into the rolling hills above Chadwicks. A tributary (one of many) known as Swift Brook, cascades down through the Glen and feeds the Sauquoit Creek.

Josiah Mosher arrived in the region in the late 1700’s and built a Tannery at the point where Swift Brook enters the Sauquoit Creek. Later, Amos Rogers would acquire the building and convert it to a machine shop. During his leisure time, Amos would forge trails through the Glen and also built retaining walls along the brook. This led to the locals to refer to the area as "Roger's Glen". The Glen became a popular spot for picnicking, hiking and bird watching. The shop was taken over by Amos’ son Oliver in 1837 and he would run it until it was destroyed by fire in 1866.

In 1881 the Utica-Willowvale Bleaching Company purchased the property. They dealt with several textile plants along the Sauquoit and the Bleachery needed water from Swift Brook in the bleaching process. During that first year, they erected a man-made reservoir. As increased production demanded more and more water, the company would erect a 2nd reservoir in 1890 and then a 3rd in 1905. During those same periods, picnic areas were expanded for employees and their families to enjoy. By now the area was referred to as the "Willowvale Glen".

In 1959 the property was deeded to Utica College of Syracuse University and many years the land was used for an “outdoor laboratory” for the study of nature, geology, conservation, etc. Today the tract is privately owned and serves as a wildlife preserve for the rehabilitation of injured animals in the care of the Woodhaven Wildlife Center.

We would again like to thank Scott and Lynne Dillenback who recently donated an extensive treasure trove of memorabilia in Memory of Lynne's parents Melville & Evelyn Edwards. Evelyn and Mel both grew up in Chadwicks and graduated from Chadwicks High School. Avid lovers of local history, Melville and Evelyn amassed this wonderful collection throughout their years together!

06/11/2026

Welcome to this week's installment of our Throwback Thursday series. Today's pics take us back to 1983 and the demolition of a bridge that once carried traffic over the Oneida Street train crossing.

For the better part of the 20th century, New York State Rout 8 ran through Chadwicks on the same path that is now called Oneida Street. (Over the years the road went by several names). Sometime around the 1960's, the "Sauquoit Valley" arterial was constructed. Its 4-lane divided highway stretched from NY Routes 5 and 12 to the area of Holman City Road in Sauquoit where it would switch to 2-lane. The new arterial "bypassed" the "city streets" reducing congestion. Because the road was heavily traveled and the railroad tracks that run parallel also saw much more use than we see today, the road went up and over the tracks to eliminate the need for a grade crossing.

Around 1982, the then 60+ years old bridge that carried the road over those tracks was showing serious signs of deterioration. Replacing the bridge was deemed too costly. Instead, the Town decided to remove the bridge and bring the roadway down to grade.

Many people who travel that roadway between Washington Mills and Chadwicks may not know the road once went above the trains. Today a few minutes delay waiting for a train to pass at that crossing may seem a nuisance but just imagine, the delay a detour of nearly 2 years must have felt like an eternity!

One final note: Today's information and much, much more, came to us via a scrapbook binder with wonderful post cards and newspaper clippings about not only Chadwicks but New Hartford as a whole. It was donated by Scott and Lynne Dillenback in Memory of Lynne's parents Melville & Evelyn Edwards. Evelyn and Mel both grew up in Chadwicks and graduated from Chadwicks High School. They shared love of local history and over the years collected many wonderful postcards and other memorabilia about Chadwicks and New Hartford. We are truly thankful for the kind and generous gift!

06/07/2026

Please read this post VERY carefully! We've just removed 9 separate profiles posting comments with this picture and tagging many of our faithful followers who've commented and/or liked several of our posts. This photo and the profiles that shared it are FRAUDS!!! They've been reported to META (for what good it does 🤬) Please disregard it and by all means DO NOT click on the accompanying links. Again, they are SCAMMERS!

It is sad that Social Media has become fraught with these types of scammers that prey on people, especially people that are supporting non-profits. It is even sadder that the platforms that are supposedly monitoring their content do very little when fake profiles and posts are brought to their attention.

Again, please ignore and report this photo if you see it again.

06/04/2026

Welcome to our 1st Throwback Thursday post for June 2026. Today's 1st photo takes us back 113 years ago and to the beginning of the New Hartford Citizens Band.

This photo, circa 1913, was taken on the Village Green. In the background, top left corner you can see the First Baptist Church and the top right corner is the New Hartford firehouse. On a side note, at least 10 of the band members pictured are, were or later became members of the New Hartford Volunteer Fire Department as well. We say "at least" because 2 more members ("Arlie" Beagle and "Eve" White) are possibly misprints from old newspapers. "Archie" Beagle was a volunteer fireman serving until October of 1917. "Evan" White also served the F.D. until July 1916. He would relocate to Syracuse in 1917 and his 1931 obituary stated he was a member of a "musician's union".

In 2013 the Citizen's Band would celebrate their 100th Anniversary. A fete in and of itself. At the helm of the band was Director Michael DiMeo. At that time, Mike was in his 37th year as "Leader of the Band". Like many of his predecessors, Mr. DiMeo also served as Band Director at New Hartford High School. 2026 marks his 50th year leading the New Hartford Citizen's Band! An amazing testament to a man that has dedicated his life to music. He was certainly worthy of his induction to the Oneida County History Center's "Living Legends" honor in 2025. https://oneidacountyhistory.org/news-hall-of-fame-2025

To honor the 100+ years of music provided by the NHCB and recognize Mr. DiMeo's 50th Anniversary as Director, the New Hartford Historical Society is pleased to sponsor this month's display case in the foyer of the New Hartford Library. Please stop by the library during the month of June to see our display. And thank you to two long time members of the Historical Society: Barbara Munde and Linda DeAmicis. They did much of the research back in 2013 when the band turned 100 and created most of the material you will see displayed.

06/02/2026

The New Hartford Citizens' Band is ready to start rehearsals for the 2026 Summer Concert Season.

Listed below are schedules for our rehearsals and concerts.

To our musicians: we look forward to seeing you at the rehearsals.
For everyone else - mark your calendars and get ready to enjoy a summer of great new music!

Please pass this information to anyone who might not use Facebook.

New Musicians are always welcome
If you are interested in playing with the Citizens’ Band this summer, please send a message to this page.

05/28/2026

Welcome to our last Throwback Thursday post for May 2026. Today's pic takes us back over a century and a half!

Back in 1871, the "Village" of New Hartford was barely a year old. This auction advertisement shows 20 lots offered on/between 3 streets: South Street, Pearl Street and First Street. Today, South Street is Oxford Road and First Street is Hartford Terrace.

05/21/2026

Welcome to our Throwback Thursday post for May 21, 2026. Today we once again turn the spotlight back on the "bicentennial" Senior class of New Hartford. And today the Votes are in!

Actually, the votes "were" in 50 years ago. The Class of 1976 is celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year and we celebrate their favorite pairs of the class. We cannot wait to see the comments and replies from your classmates about the results of the votes cast half a century ago. Enjoy!

05/14/2026

Welcome to our 2nd Throwback Thursday post for May 2026. Today is another "bittersweet" post as we say goodbye to a religious congregation that stood in the Village for almost 171 years!

Sadly, last month's Easter service at the First Baptist Church of New Hartford was also their final service.

Originally formed in May of 1855, they rented a vacant church on the corner of what is now Richardson Avenue and Genesee Street for the first year. In 1886, they would erect their own church on landed donated to them located on Genesee Street near what is now Campion Road. In 1885 they would purchase the property at the corner of Mill Street and South (now Oxford Road) Street. After moving the existing house (it would be used as the parsonage) they would erect the church they would worship in for the next 141 years.

On a side "trivia" note, Rev. Charles B. Capper, who was appointed Pastor in August of 1949, would also be elected as the 1st Chaplain of the New Hartford Vol. Fire Department in March of 1950. He would serve 2-1/2 years. Rev. Capper would leave in the fall of 1952 to take over the ministry of the Oakfield-Alabama Baptist Church outside of Batavia. He was succeeded by the Rev. Abram C. Brokaw.

05/09/2026

05/07/2026

Our Menu and Website:

The Busy Bee
4126 Oneida St New Hartford NY 13413
315-269-8122

www.thebusybeelandmark.com

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