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Happening in the Neighborhood
Convenient Services in Allegany County
Houghton University librarians David and Doyin are offering research consultation via Zoom, advertised right on the home page of the library website and quick to schedule. On Instagram, they've advertised a new scanner students can use in the library.
Glass Art, LEGOs, and Awards in Steuben County
Corning Museum of Glass has some terrific programs coming up, including Eagle's Journey with Raven: a lecture by Preston Singletary tomorrow evening at 6:30 pm. Singletary is a glass artist who blends contemporary glass techniques with Northwest Coast Indigenous art, and the results are just beautiful. If you're able to see the lecture in person, make sure to stop by the CMOG gift shop, because it's gorgeous glass gourd season. CMOG is hosting the Southern Tier's first Brick Con (ie. LEGOs) October 25-26, which looks like a blast. At SUNY Corning, the library used Pawz the mascot to help advertise library services in a TikTok-like video at the beginning of the semester. Southern Tier Library System just hosted their 65th annual meeting of the membership and gave out many well-deserved awards to their members.
Tours of All Kinds in Chemung County
Make sure to attend our Annual Meeting so you can check out the Smithsonian traveling exhibit, Voices and Votes, on display at the Chemung County Historical Society. CCHS is hosting a lecture about Mark Twain and religious liberalism on October 30 by author Dwayne Eutsey. And of course, they're hosting their incredibly popular ghost walks. Sign up soon, because they sell out fast! Chemung County Library District has just unveiled their Otocast history tour of Elmira, created in partnership with CCHS. The Otocast app (free for users) provides GPS-guided audio narration and images. Elmira College's Gannett-Tripp Library has recently hosted an art display about the Constitution and its amendments, created by art students at the college.
Murder Tales and Geography Lessons in Yates County
"Dare to uncover what lurks in the archives!" is the tagline for Yates County History Center's upcoming "Murder and Mayhem: The Twilight Zone" tours, which is irresistible marketing! Their annual meeting and dinner will be held on November 6 at Wagner Restaurant, with guest speaker Rick Bates to talk about the geography of the Finger Lakes Region (a topic appropriate for many readers here).
On the Towpath in Schuyler County
Schuyler County Historical Society is planning events this weekend for the Path Through History, focusing on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal. They'll have their Boats, Floats, Rails & Trails scavenger hunt open to visitors this weekend. SCHS is also hosting an online auction through the 19th.
History Crowdsourcing and Queen Catharine in Seneca County
Interlaken Public Library is working on their five-year plan and working with the Interlaken Historical Society on a comprehensive village history survey that includes the collection of personal recollections and historic photos. Edith B. Ford Memorial Library in Ovid is hosting a fun program October 10 where participants will paint cute ghosts on thrifted paintings! Seneca Falls Historical Society is running a raffle, $5 per ticket, for a $300 set of lottery tickets. They'll pick the winner at the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Luncheon on November 8, where they'll also pay tribute to Queen Catharine Montour. Register for this great event by October 24.
Bridges and Bombers in Tompkins County
Tompkins County Public Library's enormous book sale begins this weekend and runs through the end of the month. TCPL is also hosting a series of fantastic-looking lectures about the constitution and history. In Newfield this weekend, the historical society is participating in the Covered Bridge Fall Festival. Tonight (October 9) at 7 pm, visit the Dryden Village Hall to learn about Freeville's WWII bomber as told by his nephew, Robert Steele of Dryden. Historic Ithaca is running their annual cemetery tours at $5 per person. Olin Library of Cornell University has just unveiled their new renovations, completed over the summer. You can read a description of the changes and see photos here.
Open Houses, Tours and Birthday Parties in Cayuga County
The Aurora Ledyard Historical Society is participating in the Path Through History weekend and will open up the Patrick Tavern from 1 to 4 pm this Saturday and Sunday. Wells College alumni should definitely check that exhibit out! The Canal Society of NYS is advertising the Erie Canal's 200th Birthday Party, to be held in Fairport on October 26th. The Cayuga Museum is offering their annual tours of the historic Fort Hill Cemetery (where Harriet Tubman is buried) on Sundays this month. Tickets are $25. They're also hosting a Rocky Horror Picture Show fundraiser the week before Halloween! The Seward House Museum is offering their annual Haunted History Tours, with costumes and stories focused on downtown Auburn. And wrapping it all together, Seymour Library recently hosted SHM's Walker Goodemoote, who spoke about how the Erie Canal shaped William Seward - and you can watch the lecture here.
Parties and Book Sales in Cortland County
A sparkling night awaits you at the Cortland County Historical Society's centennial soiree on October 25! Over the course of the month, CCHS is offering six days of book sale fundraising. Their photo scavenger hunt is still underway, and they have two more Lunch & Learn talks in October at their new space at 9 Grace Street.
Couture, Haudenosaunee Dance, and Haunted History in Chenango County
Chenango County Historical Society is also participating in the Path Through History weekend, supported by a grant from the Racial Justice and Equity Fund through the Community Foundation for South Central New York. Their Museums & More events will feature the Homer Couture Fashion Show (named for bead worker Mary Homer) and the Haudenosaunee Singers & Dancers besides many other fun activities. CCHS has an upcoming haunted history tour with Pride Paranormal NY, a very cool partnership, and on November 1, they'll host National Author's Day at SUNY Morrisville's Norwich campus.
Sustainability, Research, and Ghost Hunting in Broome County
Congratulations to Neyda Gilman, who was just appointed as a SUNY Sustainability Faculty Fellow! She'll extend the work she's been doing for years by incorporating climate and sustainability topics into existing courses. BU Libraries recently hosted an ACRL RoadShows workshop and showed off the new renovations at Bartle Library. BU Librarians have just announced the library research projects for the Spring 2026 semester. Students can apply this month to participate in one of these projects overseen by librarians to earn valuable skills, publication experience, and a $2,000 award. Stop in Vestal on October 14th to learn about ghost hunting at the George F. Johnson Memorial Library.
Auctions, Plans and Tigers in Otsego County
The Greater Oneonta Historical Society is planning its 19th Annual Benefit Auction on November 14 in their newly renovated third-floor ballroom! Admission is free and there will be a cash bar available. Huntington Memorial Library is working on their 2026-2030 Long-Range Plan and are looking for input.
You have to make time for a trip to Cooperstown this month, because Fenimore Art Museum has an exhibit with accompanying programs all about Calvin and Hobbes! The Swart-Wilcox House Museum's annual meeting has been moved to October 26th at 1 pm, to be held at the SWHM. Their most recent newsletter also noted the local America250 committee in Oneonta, which is planning a July 4th parade next year and coordinated events with the SWHM's barn dedication.
Sawmills, Tourism, and Awards in Delaware County
Hanford Mills Museum is preparing to close up for the season in the next few weeks, so try to get over to East Meredith, where they'll demonstrate the hydro powered sawmill! HMM is hosting a plein air workshop this weekend for all skill levels. The Delaware County Economic Development Agency creates a nice roundup each weekend featuring local events, and it's great to see libraries and museums on the list. Local tourism people love to work with cultural heritage organizations, so make sure you connect with yours! Delaware County Historical Association is still accepting nominations for their annual Awards of Merit, which they'll present at their annual meeting on November 2.
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