Hello and Welcome to the blog site of the Boonville Historical Club, a women’s club founded in Boonville, New York, in 1900. See more about our history on the “Club History” page (click the tab above).
The Boonville Historical Club is a member of the Northern New York Federation of Women’s Clubs, Inc., District 4. We are not a historical society, but we are a member of the Oneida County Historians Association.
Members during a program about the history of measurement. Left to right, Nancy Trainor, Linda Marcy, Glenyce Trainor, Evelyn Wagoner, Jeanne Cerro, Patty Bellinger.
According to its constitution, the Boonville Historical Club’s purpose is “mutual and civic improvement, study of history, and topics of general interest.” Monthly programs are usually presented by a member or a knowledgeable speaker on a topic of interest to the club. Sometimes the programs are open to the public.
Member Marie Richards talks about her experiences working at the Pentagon.
Regular meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. (unless otherwise announced), beginning in October and ending in June. Previously, meetings have been held at the Dodge-Pratt-Northam Art and Community Center, Schuyler Street; at the town and village offices on Route 12; and occasionally at a member’s home. When we created this blog, during the 2009-2010 season, most meetings were held at Trinity Episcopal Church fellowship hall, 151 Ford Street. For the 2010-2011 season, we moved our meeting place to the Presbyterian Church fellowship hall.
Club members Melanie Fitzgerald, Daphne Larrabee, Judy Routson, and Peg Sawyer joined the Oneida County Historians for a tour of the renovated Stanley Theatre in Utica in April 2008.
There is no meeting in January or when the meeting date falls on a legal holiday or school is not in session (this includes Adirondack Central School snow days).
Officers of the club are a president, a vice-president, a recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, a treasurer, and a historian (click on the 2010-2011 Program tab above for a list of current officers).
We started this blog during the 2009-2010 season to call attention to our theme, “Freedom is Not Free,” and to create awareness of our “Adopt A Platoon” participation. The monthly programs were related to this theme. In addition to presentations by local authors and historians, past programs have included the history of old bottles, global warming, ghost catchers, state governors, the Battle of Gettysburg, herbs, women on stamps, tombstones, weather, and cookbooks, as well as musical programs. One of these included a bluegrass history and concert. Members respond to roll call by naming something related to the evening’s program.
Member Glenyce Trainor chats with local author Irene Uttendorfsky following Irene’s program about writing a book.
For membership information, please click on the Membership tab above.
Black River Canal President Ed Fynmore tells club members about his favorite project.
Note: The Boonville Historical Club retains no genealogical records. If you’re looking for genealogical information or additional history of Boonville, please contact the town/village historian, Mr. James Pitcher, 159 Schuyler Street, Boonville, NY 13309, or email jamespitcher@gmail.com. or call (315) 942-2184. You might also want to contact the Oneida County Historical Society in Utica, at (315) 735-3642 or see the link to their website in the sidebar.
judyroutson
Boonville Historical Club 
I have recently become interested in geneology and my initial “target” is my maternal great, great grandparents, Johann and Agnes Stortz Fehr. They emigrated from Baden, Germany ,traveling from Harve to New York in January ,1848. They settled in Hawkinsville and Ava Corners and are buried in St. John’s Cemetary in Hawkinsville.
Within the next week or two I’ll travel (from Syracuse) to visit the cemetary , the local (Utica) Mormon Family History Center and the Oneida County Historical Society. I would like to research as much information as possible about the Fehr family and the Hawkinsville/Ava Corners area with an emphasis on the topographical, economic,etc. climate in the 1800s. If you could give me some research guidance, it would be most appreciated. In anticipation, I thank you.
Don Kompf
Syracuse
Hi Don – I’m happy to hear you’re a fellow genealogist!
However, as I’m sure you noticed on this page, the Boonville Historical Club is not a Historical Society, so we can’t help with genealogy research. Sorry I’m not a native Boonvillian, so know nothing of the Fehr family. Your best bet would be to contact the town and village historian, James Pitcher. His contact information is shown here.
You’re wise to visit the places you mentioned, but I’d also recommend stopping at the Erwin Library in Boonville, where you’ll find lots of books and other information on various historical aspects. Not sure what the summer hours are, so it’s best to call ahead (942-4834). A good book to check out would be “Boonville and Its Neighbors” by Tharrett Gilbert Best.
And plan to spend at least several hours at the excellent Boonville Black River Canal Museum (see link on our homepage here) for a look at the area’s economic climate of the 1800s. The Black River Canal was an important part of the local history, and in fact much of its growth is attributed to the canal. The museum is loaded with photos and lots of interesting information. There are also two relatively new local history books for sale there, which I highly recommend. “Black River Canal” by Ed Fynmore and Harney Corwin is mainly concerned with the canal, of course. “Around Boonville” by Harney Corwin is an excellent source of general informaiton about Boonville and vicinity.
You might also want to plan a visit to the Dodge-Pratt-Northam Art and Community Center, next to Erwin Library. It was once a private mansion that was restored and is now open for touring. I think it’s open Wed-Sat, 10 to 3, but best call ahead at 942-5133.
Have you checked with the local Chamber of Commerce? Not sure they have anything that can help, but you might try (link alsoo on the main page).
Hope this has given you some ideas. Good luck with your research! Personally, I find there is nothing more fascinating or rewarding than family history, and I’m addicted.
Thanks for contacting us.
Judy Routson
Don – Forgot to mention, that if you have specific dates, i.e., wedding, deaths, etc., the library has old copies of the Boonville Herald on microfiche that you can view. But, if you don’t have any idea of a date, it takes forever to scan the pages! Old obits can be very valuable and they’re so interesting.
Judy
Last summer I was showing a friend from Clifton Park the book that president Grant was suppose to have signed when he stayed at the Hulbert House. After a lot of research we could find nothing to verify that event. Furthermore if the date that that we noted was Dec. 10th 1870 then we have proof to the contrary. Does anyone have anything that explains his so called stay in Boonville?
You might enjoy my blog entry regarding my brief stop in Boonville last week. Would have like to have longer to wander about but time was short and weather wasn’t the greatest.
http://www.megapixeltravel.com/2011/04/boonville-ny/
Ron Hay
Hi Ron – I’ve just quickly checked out your website. The Boonville photos are absolutely beautiful! I’ll mention your site in my next post – which I should do soon. Thanks for letting us know of your venture. I’ll investigate it a little more when I have some extra time. Thanks again! Judy Routson
I would like to know what the oldest church in Boonville (1820) was and where it was located.
I would like information on the Union Loom Company and the people who established it. I now have two Union 36 looms and would like more information on it. Thank you