The Nunda Historical Society, featuring the Nunda Museum and the Rose Shave Gallery, is open 10 am - noon on Tuesdays and from 2 - 4 pm on the first and third Sundays in March through November, and at other times by appointment: call (585) 465-0971 or 490-3302. Historical programs, offered monthly March through December, are usually the second Wednesday of the month but may also be scheduled on some Sundays. Programs are held at the NHS Building at 24 Portage Street, Nunda unless noted in the description. Please check the schedule below for specific times and locations.
All events are free and open to the public unless indicated. The NHS building is wheelchair accessible. This schedule is subject to change, please check back often and also see our Facebook page.
2023 Nunda Historical Society Programs and Activities
- Sunday, March 4, 2-4 PM NHS Open House See our Tuscarora Memories exhibit, tour the Nunda Museum and Rose M. Shave Gallery, and learn about our new building project! Light Refreshments.
- *Wednesday, March 8, 7 PM; Rink Mania in the Genesee County by Jane Oakes.
Did you enjoy roller skating growing up? Jane, in her newest presentation, will take us back to the 1870s and 1880s when the new craze swept the Nation and our area. Learn about our regional rinks and where you could go to see a one legged man of roller skates do flips!
- Sunday, April 2, 2-4 PM Nunda Museum and Rose Shave Gallery is open. Stop by for free tours or for help with your local history questions!
- *Tuesday, April 11, 4 - 5:30 PM; Fun With Fiber Arts by Linda Franke.
Fiber artist Linda Franke will present a hands on program for kids and adults demonstrating some tradition methods of make fiber items, including carding, combing and spinning wool with a drop spindle. There will also be a power point presentation and demonstration of other types of fibers and their uses. Linda will be presenting at the Dalton Primary School during the day and then is scheduled to set up at the NHS building at 4 PM.
- Sunday, April 16, 2-4 PM Nunda Museum and Rose Shave Gallery is open. SPECIAL PRESENTATION at 3PM: The History of Nunda's Rancheros and Phantom Revival Drum and Bugle Corps by Ray Feller and Tom Byrnes. Ray and Tom will be sharing memories along with photographs and video of these two popular Nunda drum and bugle corps. The presentation can be seen live at the Museum or online through zoom. (To see the zoom presentation, please register by sending an email to nhs@frontier.com We will send you the link and password for the program.) The presentation will also be recorded and will appear on our youtube channel Nunda History.) This is the first of two parts, with a follow up panel discussion is planned for later in the year.
- Sunday, May 7, 2-4 PM Nunda Museum and Rose Shave Gallery is open. Stop by for free tours or for help with your local history questions!
- Wednesday, May 10, 7 PM; The Evolution of Assistance at the Livingston County Poorhouse by Livingston County Historian Holly Watson. The institution known as the Livingston County Poorhouse and later the County Home strove to provide care to Livingston County residents from the 1820s through the 1960s. During this time, the Poorhouse evolved along with perspectives on care of people experiencing loss, poverty, and mental illness. The program will trace these changes and what life in the Poorhouse might have been like, concluding with a discussion on recent preservation initiatives for the former buildings and the remaining Poorhouse cemeteries.
- Sunday, May 21, 1:30 PM. Gretchen Murry Sepik as "Erie Canal Sal"! Free and Open to the public.

- Sunday, May 21, 3pm. Nunda Historical Society Annual Meeting. Email nhs@frontier.com for the links and password for the zoom meeting.You will also be able to attend in person.
- Be sure to stop at the NHS Booth at this year's Nunda Fun Days! Dates and times to be announced!
- * Sunday, June 4, 2:30 pm; The Nunda Historical Society is sponsoring Dennis James with his latest historical music obscurity, The Child's Toy Piano Transitions to the Concert Stage. His popularized lecture-demonstrations have delighted Nunda music and history fans since 2013. This year, James brings his fascination for miniature keyed instruments into a direct focus on the Toy Piano. These instruments, initially marketed towards children in the 19th century, made a surprising transition into the professional music performance sphere in the 20th century. They currently are enjoying unprecedented popularity as concert instruments with an ever-growing body of repertoire. Original compositions specifically composed for miniature pianos by such composers as Beethoven, John Cage, Yang Tiersen, and others, are interspersed throughout the program. This projected image-illustrated presentation has been prepared for a general audience with a balanced content of music, scientific, cultural and historical information and is being hosted by the Trinity Church of Nunda, 25 East Street.This program is free, open to the public, and handicapped accessible. Please join us.
- Wednesday, June 14, 6 PM; Nunda Historical Society holds its 40th Birthday Party! Watch for details!
- Saturday, July 8; 10am to 5 pm Visit the NHS Museum & Rose Shave Gallery as part of Nunda Americana Day. NHS activities will include storytelling sessions and a historical talk by the Onondaga, Perry Ground, a 1760s era Seneca camp, a history walk, afternoon history wagon tours and more! Watch for the full schedule on our Facebook page and website!
- Thursday, July 20: 8:45 am - 6:30 pm; NHS Summer Bus Tour to Hammondsport, postponed several times since July 2020, will take place this summer. We tour the Finger Lakes Boat Museum (former home of Taylor wines) and enjoy a catered lunch by one of the area's best chefs at the museum's elegant Taylor Room. Other options for the day include: a tour of Keuka Lake on the recently restored Pat II, a visit to the Curtis Museum, shopping in the village, or just relaxing by the lake. Watch for details and plan to join us.
- August 19, 9 AM - 2 PM; NHS Annual Yard & Bake Sale This is one of our most important fundraisers. Visit to look for that special treasure to take home and don't forget to try the delicious baked goods. Thanks to all who make donations and those who come to shop!
- Wednesday, September 13, 7 PM; Remembering Nunda Area Businesses Part VII Part of a Series of talks by local residents sharing memories of businesses that are no longer found in Nunda. NHS member Joan Schumaker will present The Foote Company: Nunda on the World Stage. The Foote company built the manufacturing complex now occupied by Seating Inc. on North State Street.
- Wednesday, October 11, 7 PM - Remembering the Erie Railroad by William Burt.
The presentation will consist of about 150 images illustrating the history of the Erie Railroad from the Nunda town line near Rosses Crossing westward to Portage Bridge and Mudville. PLEASE NOTE: This presentation will be held at the G.A.R. Hall (American Legion Post) on State Street in Dalton.
- *Wednesday, November 8, 7 PM; - The War of 1812 in Western New York by Ford Best
Historical re-enactor Ford Best will present the story of America's Second War for Independence and examine the conflicts impact on Nunda and other early settlements of Western New York. Uniforms and other period items will be on display.
- December 9, 12 - 5 PM; Christmas in Nunda - Visit the Museum for local history programs, Nunda videos, special exhibits, and activities. The new 2024 Nunda Historical Society Calendar and other history gifts will be available!
- Wednesday, December 20, 7 PM. NHS Christmas Meeting. Watch for detail!
* These projects are made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of The Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts.
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