Potsdam Public Museum and Archives

08/28/2026

Potsdam People

Here is a photograph of Doctor Sidney Pope Brown, former health officer and coroner of Potsdam.

Born on June 12, 1870 to Hiram and Angelina Pope Brown of New Berlin, NY, Sidney graduated from the Potsdam Normal School in 1891. He earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1894 and practiced medicine in Potsdam until his death. A brief interruption in his medical practice occurred when he served in the First World War from April 1918 to May 1919 and the Army of Occupation in Germany for another five months. Sidney would continue in the Army Reserve until 1932, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. For 24 years, he practiced medicine from an office at 38 Market St before purchasing the home at 82 Market St and continuing his practice from there. For the first few decades of his practice, Sidney made house calls by horse and buggy but quickly adopted the automobile when it came around. For 33 years he was the village health officer and for 19 years the coroner. He was the first president of the Potsdam Hospital Physicians staff, a member of the county medical society, a member of the American Legion, and a member of the Racket River Masonic Lodge for fifty years. Sidney married Ruby Welch in 1896 and the couple had two children. After Ruby’s death in 1926, he married Pauline Forrester in 1928. Sidney died on Aug 3, 1948 and is buried in Bayside Cemetery.

P0666-Dr. Sidney Pope Brown, in uniform, c. 1930

08/27/2026

National Petroleum Day

Petroleum is one of the most important resources in modern life. Without it, we wouldn’t have plastic, gasoline, kerosene, asphalt, oil, jet fuel, and so much more.

Potsdam residents have used just about every kind of petroleum product there is in daily life. Plastics and gasoline are used every day by nearly everyone. Gas stations, pavement, and automobiles remade the village landscape in the early 20th century and we haven’t gone back yet.

P2790-Albion Hotel Gas Pumps, c. early 20th century

08/26/2026

National Dog Day

Dogs have been one of humanity’s oldest companions. From the frozen years of the Ice Age to now, dogs have been faithful friends and protectors.

Potsdam residents have loved dogs since the first settlers arrived. Of the many ways people have honored their pets, a portrait like this one is unique. Created by Lucretia Romey, it depicts the canine friend of the Town House Restaurant owners, Spiros and Frances Neragin. What are some of the ways you’ve commemorated your canine companions?

Portrait of Neragin dog, c. 20th century

08/25/2026

This Day in Local History

On this day in 1915, the Unity Paper Mill began operations right here in the village.

The Unity Mill was constructed by the river at the end of Depot St and already had orders for over 3,000 tons of paper before any paper was even made. It was expected that the first rolls of paper from the new plant would be made by the evening. Unity Paper Mills, Inc took over the former space of the Potsdam Paper Mill and spent over $40,000 renovating the building. The mill owners intended to make quality book and letter paper.

Courier and Freeman, Aug 25, 1915

08/22/2026

08/21/2026

National Men’s Grooming Day

Men’s grooming standards have varied widely over the centuries. Sometimes, clean shaven faces were preferred over thickly haired ones.

Through much of the 19th and 20th centuries, clean shaven was the fashionable choice. To stay clean shaven was no simple task. You either had to visit a barber nearly every day or shave every morning. Whichever you chose, the process was roughly the same. Sharpen the razor, lather on the cream, and then shave. Most men would have had a set like this one as part of their daily grooming regimen. Of course, the straight razor would eventually be replaced by the safety razor.

08/20/2026

Then and Now

Here is a photograph of 3 Main St, which formerly housed The Mary Anne Shoppe.

The block housing the shop was constructed in the late 1800s but The Mary Anne Shoppe didn’t occupy the space until 1933. Started by Mary Clohosey and Anne Hourihan, the store sold women’s clothing from 1933 to 1950. The block would be torn down with its neighboring buildings as part of Urban Renewal in the 1970s.

P2608-The Mary Anne Shoppe, 3 Main St, c. mid-20th century

08/19/2026

National Photography Day

Photography is such a big part of our everyday lives, we might forget it was relatively new to most humans only a hundred years ago.

The bulk of the earliest photographs of Potsdam and its residents were taken in the 1860s. Towards the end of the 19th century, photography slowly grew more accessible to the average person. After 1900, photography grew into a burgeoning industry with camera models that were cheap and affordable for the average person. The next big improvement was the introduction of color photography, though it didn’t become widely popular until the 1970s. Nowadays, we have color photography right at the tips our fingers!

Polaroid “Big Shot” Portrait Camera, c. 1971-1973

08/18/2026

Congratulations to Will Murphy, a Museum Board member, on this achievement!

POTSDAM — William Murphy of Potsdam was among 14 educators nationwide selected by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to participate in its 2026-27 Museum Teacher Fellowship Program. …

08/18/2026

This Day in Local History

Reported on this day in 1937 were the excellent results of water quality tests conducted on the Village’s water works.

Performed by the State’s Health Department, the tests revealed that Potsdam’s drinking water contained a bacterial count of only 1 per cubic centimeter. This compared very favorably with milk, which health regulations at the time allowed a bacterial count of 5,000 per cubic centimeter. Likewise, all tests for harmful bacteria like B. coli were negative.

Courier and Freeman, Aug 18, 1937