Nunda Historical Society

Nunda Livingston Co New York

Meeting Information

The Nunda Historical Society usually meets on the second Wednesday of each month (September to June) at 7 PM. All meetings, except those noted, will be in the Historical Society Building at 24 Portage Street. Any Changes in location or time will be advertised. Note that all meeting places are handicapped accessible. The location and time of special events are noted when the event is advertised.

Program Calendar

2007 - 2008 PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Wednesday, Sept. 13: "Remembering Henry Clune - He Always had a Story" - Peter Clune. The son of the noted newspaper reporter and writer will share memories and stories of his father, the author of "The Genesee."

Saturday, Oct. 6 (9 am - 4 pm): 7th Annual Historical Society Yard Sale - The Sale of items other than clothing at the Society Building, 24 Portage Street.

Wednesday, Oct. 10: "Antique Quilt Trunk Show" by Karen Roll. Karen will be sharing her expertise and antique quilts with the audience as she explores the history of American quilting. Everyone is invited to bring their favorite antique quilt to share!

*Monday, October 15, 7 pm: Genesee Valley Dulcimer Club Concert - This new group, formed under the leadership of Tom Cook and instructed by Sue Hengelsburg, consists of from 12 to 20 members and is affiliated with the Nunda Historical Society. Rehearsals are held at the museum on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at 3:30 pm. Members are from Dansville, Perry, Warsaw, Mt. Morris, Leicester, and the immediate Nunda area. The club has extra dulcimers and welcomes new members to join in the fun.

November - December: Christmas Wreath Sale - Note the enclosed Wreath Order Blank or call 585-468-3879.. Wreaths will be available December 1.

Sunday, Nov. 11, 2:30pm: "Ira Ransom Weaver, I Love You." Leona Gelser Hawkins, a Nunda native, will present a program based upon the letters written by her Great Grandfather during the Civil War. The talk will also honor all Nunda area veterans, past and present.

Sunday Dec 2, 2007 - "200 Years and (Re)counting", a dramatic production written by Patricia Lewis Browne and based upon memorable Nunda events and folks, will be previewed at the Nunda Historical Society. Local performers take on different characters from Nunda's past as they tell their stories. Some stories made headlines in the "Nunda News", the local newspaper for over 100 years, others were not "fit to print" and rely on oral historians.

Come and experience Nunda's past in this most entertaining way and consider joinging the troupe of actors who will be performing the full production in March and July 2008 as part of the Town of Nunda Bicentennial Celebration. Performers of all ages are needed. Not that much of the text can be read and not memorized. The creation and performance of this dramatic production are being funded by the New York State Council on the Arts through a Community Arts Gran administered by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts and the Nunda Rotary Club.

Sat. & Sun., Dec. 7 & 8, 9:00 am - 7:30 pm: Christmas in Nunda-At the Museum. The Society and Bicentennial Committee will be selling books, coverlets, and Bicentennial items. Annual Bake Sale on the 8th from 9 - ?. (Donate baked goods and stop and buy.) Genesee Mountain Dulcimer Club Concert 2-4 pm on the 8th. Extra dulcimers available for folks to try during informal setting on afternoons of 7th & 8th. Information: call 468-5991 or 476-2354

Wednesday, Dec. 12: "Show & Tell" - Society members and guests share some of their favorite collectibles and provide one of our most popular programs. Recent Society acquisitions will be displayed and refreshments will be served.

*Sunday, Jan. 13, 2:30 pm: "Early 19th Century Fashion - Pre Civil War" - Susan W. Greene, a Visiting Fellow at Cornell University and a respected authority on the history of American Fashion, will present a program on American fashion in the early 19th century. The presentation will show what early Nunda residents would have worn, how garments were constructed, as well as provide insight into the development of American textiles.

Wednesday, Feb. 13: "The Union Block - Nunda's Shopping Center for 100 Years" - Tom Cook, Joan Schumaker, and Keshequa Students review how and why this grand five-bay commercial building came into existence, the coin toss to determine ownership, and the remarkable businesses that filled its spaces for close to 100 years.

Wednesday, Mar. 12: "Remembering the Arts in Nunda" - Tom Cook, Joan Schumaker, and Keshequa Students recall Nunda's many talented artists, including painters, photographers, actors, musicians, and authors, as well as their participation in Nunda's arts organizations/institutes. A special exhibit of paintings by local artists in planned, including many Rose Shave paintings not previously exhibited in Nunda.

Wednesday, April 9: "The History of Churches in the Vicinity of Nunda"- Hope DePuy and Sally Hall, authors of the 2007 Town of Nunda Bicentennial booklet on Nunda churches, will discuss the challenges they faced in creating this publication, the sources and research required, and some of the special content they elected to include.

Wednesday, May 14: Special Open House! See our Bicentennial Page for information!

Saturday, May 31, --2 pm at GAR Memorial Hall: " Johnny Carter: Nunda's Horatio Alger Story" - Joan Schumaker presents a power point program tracing the life of an Irish orphan boy who grew up in Nunda and became a: gifted scholar, Civil War hero, family man, oil magnate, and philanthropist. He never forgot Nunda, and in 1906 he remembered his fellow soldiers from this area by building the magnificent GAR Memorial Hall on the corner of State and Second Streets.

Wednesday, June 11, 6 pm: Society Picnic at Kiwanis Park. Bring a dish-to-pass and your table service. Special entertainment is being planned. Watch for details.

Friday, July 4th 10 AM : Dedication of the Revolutionary War Plot in Oakwood Cemetery. Watch for details.

July 12-19: Town of Nunda Bicentennial Homecoming Week - Partial Listing of Events
Saturday, 12th: Food, Games & Grand Parade
Sunday, 13th: Victorian Picnic/Music at Oakwood Cemetery 1 to 4 PM
Tuesday, 15th: Walking Tours of Village/Open House at Local Businesses
Wednesday, 16th: Village Park Gazebo Concert*
Thursday, 17th: Book Signing by Local Authors & Refreshments - Bell Memorial Library
Friday, 18th: " Old Time" Baseball Games
Saturday, 19th: Homecoming Luncheon (Alumni/Reunionists) with Special Nunda Dramatic Production*

Wednesday, Sept. 10: "History of Nunda Schools" - Society Members will discuss education in "Early Nunda" and information in a new Town of Nunda Bicentennial publication on Nunda schools. The Nunda Literary Institute, Nunda Academy, and other early educational opportunities available to Nunda's youth will be discussed. A power point program will be used to show some of the education buildings used over the years.

Wednesday, Oct. 8: "Doctoring in Nunda" - Another Town of Nunda Bicentennial publication in the making traces Nunda's many practitioners of medicine and related professions. Did you know Phrenology was popular here and that there was once a Women's Medical Institute in Nunda? The Family Pharmacy, formerly Byrnes Pharmacy for 70 years, is in an 1830's building that has always housed a pharmacy. Join us for more interesting facts on Nunda's medical past.

Weds & Thurs. Oct. 22-23rd, "Nunda History Days - A Celebration of Nunda's Rich History" * Enjoy demonstrations, exhibits, tours, and speakers, including walking tours of Oakwood Cemetery and Nunda's historical village square. Cushing's Battery A, a group of Civil War re-enactors, will "encamp" on the Museum grounds and demonstrate many aspects of Civil War life. A variety of presentations and demonstrations on architecture, knitting, crocheting, cemetery symbolism, and childhood games are planned. Missy Clark, of Barkertown Sutlers, will provide spinning and weaving demonstrations and other local artists and craftspeople will be invited to participate. The Genesee Valley Mountain Dulcimer Club will perform.

Wednesday, Nov. 12: "On the Home Front - Nunda during World War I & II" - What was happening in Nunda during these years to help with the war effort? What organizations formed, who was involved and how effective were they? Did you know that Nunda's Foote Manufacturing Company worked around the clock (three shifts) producing concrete pavers to create air fields for the allies during WWII and received special US Government recognition for their efforts? Come and learn how Nunda reacted during these war years.

Wednesday, Dec. 10: "Show & Tell" - Society members and guests share some of their favorite collectibles and provide one of our most popular programs. Recent Society acquisitions are displayed and refreshments will be served.

* Funding assistance requested through a New York State Council on the Arts Community Arts Grant administered by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts