Things to do, places to eat, shows to see, places to stay in Madison County, NY      

  On Friday, July 24, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., the Oneida Community Mansion House will host a discussion and book-signing by author Anthony Wonderley of At the Font of the Marvelous: Exploring Oral Narrative and Mythic Imagery of the Iroquois and Their Neighbors. 

Published by Syracuse University Press, the book is about Native American folktales and myths throughout the Northeast region, how such stories preserve voices of a bygone day, and why they are important for understanding life and religion in the past.  Grouping the tales around shared themes, the book analyzes topics ranging from cannibal giants to cultural heroes, and from legends of local places to myths of human origins.

Anthony Wonderley (Ph.D., Cornell University) is Curator of Collections and Interpretation at the Oneida Community Mansion House.  Recently named a Fellow of the New York State Archaeological Association, Wonderley wrote another book issued by Syracuse University Press, Oneida Iroquois Folklore, Myth, and History: New York Oral Narrative from the Notes of H. E. Allen and Others.  His articles on archaeology, folklore, and history appear in such journals as American Antiquity, American Communal Societies Quarterly, Journal of Anthropological Research, New York History, Northeastern Anthropology, and Ontario Archaeology. 

The Oneida Community Mansion House was the home of the 19th century utopian Oneida Community (1848-1880).  Today, the 93,000 square living museum houses residential apartments, overnight lodging, Zabroso Restaurant, and banquet and meeting space.  The Oneida Community Mansion House is located at 170 Kenwood Ave., Oneida, NY.  For information call 315-363-0745 or visit www.oneidacommunity.org.

  The Oneida Community Mansion House (OCMH) invites the public to attend the opening of “Pictorialist Photographs of Harold Noyes, 1890s” on Sat., July 25 at 4 p.m.
The exhibit curated by OCMH curator of collections and interpretation, Anthony Wonderley, features more than 25 black-and-white creative, humorous, and technically perfect works by Noyes.  The majority are in strikingly enlarged format and many on view for the first time in a century.  This show, made possible by a grant from the Gorman Foundation, inaugurates a new exhibit space in which the extensive photographic holdings of the OCMH can be shared with the public.
 Noyes was a practitioner of Pictorialism (ca 1890-1910), an international vanguard movement devoted to establishing photography as a high art on a par with painting.  While many Pictorialists relied on blurry tones for artistic effect, Noyes believed the essence of artistry lay in careful composition of the image.  Working out of a studio in the Mansion House during the 1890s, he created a series of staged photo works showing local youngsters and scenes of rural life.  These photographs won awards in American and Canadian photography contests.
Noyes (1862-1918) studied art and design in Germany in the late 1880s.  In later years, he worked for the Oneida Community, Ltd. in the die-sinker (Niagara Falls) and design (Sherrill) departments.  He and his wife, Emma, died in Oneida during the worldwide epidemic of Spanish Influenza.
The Oneida Community Mansion House was the home of the 19th century utopian Oneida Community (1848-1880).  Today, the 93,000 square living museum houses residential apartments, overnight lodging, Zabroso Restaurant, and banquet and meeting space.  The Oneida Community Mansion House is located at 170 Kenwood Ave., Oneida, NY.  For information call 315-363-0745 or visit www.oneidacommunity.org.

The Madison County Historical Society announces the opening of the 2009 exhibition, “Madison County Underground: Cemeteries & Gerrit Smith.” On May 31 from 1-3 pm, the Madison County Historical Society will mark the opening of the exhibit by hosting a presentation and book-signing event featuring the authors of Guide to Madison County Cemeteries 2nd Edition and Practical Dreamer.
Cemeteries are outdoor museums that tell the history of an area’s development. Gravestones and monuments provide an opportunity to learn about individuals who have made important contributions to a community. Gerrit Smith was a nationally known abolitionist and philanthropist from Smithfield. Samuel Gage of DeRuyter was the President of the Village of DeRuyter, and Niles Higinbotham of Oneida was President of the Oneida Valley National Bank, a bank he created in his family’s home in 1851. These men are a few of Madison County’s notable residents featured in the exhibition and presentation.
Anita M. Ingalls, Charles E. Page, Sandra B. Wilsey, Charles E. Page III, and Faye PageLackey wrote Guide to Madison County Cemeteries, 2nd Edition. Author and publisher, Anita Ingalls of Florida, provided the inspiration and technical expertise for the creation of the guide. She and Charles E. Page co-edited the first edition of the guide, which was published in 2006.  Charles traveled throughout the county identifying cemetery locations, and has written the driving directions featured in the guide. The revised guide with its special interest articles and hundreds of photographs involved the efforts of three additional authors. Charles’ son, Charles E. Page III of Morrisville, located many of the cemeteries indexed in the guide – including 65 within the Town of Brookfield, and gathered GPS readings for all of Madison County’s known cemeteries.  Charles’ daughter, Fay Page Lackey of Boonville, designed the title page and assisted her brother with the GPS readings.  Sandy Wilsey, a retired Oneida City School District social studies teacher, contributed many photographs and information about some long forgotten burial grounds.
The Madison County Historical Society’s new exhibition and program: “Madison County Underground: Cemeteries and Gerrit Smith” is free of charge and the public is cordially invited to attend. The program will commence at 1 pm with a presentation by Sandra B. Wilsey speaking on behalf of the cemetery guide authors, followed by Norman K. Dann’s discussion about his book on Gerrit Smith. The exhibit room will open at 2 pm. There will be an opportunity to purchase books in the gift shop and request author signatures. Refreshments will be served. For more information call 315-363-4136, or 315-361-9735, or stop by the Madison County Historical Society at 435 Main Street in Oneida.

If you have ever wanted to see the Oneida Community Mansion House, once home to the 19th century utopian Oneida Community; Sun., May 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. presents a perfect opportunity. 
At the Mansion House annual Open House and Bake Sale, visitors may explore exhibits and tour period rooms for free and at their own pace throughout the 93,000 square foot building.  On exhibit: “The Braidings of Jessie Catherine Kinsley”; an Orientation Exhibit; and “Art of the Oneida Community and its Children”.  Period rooms include the Big Hall, described as “an embodiment of our life and faith” by founder John Humphrey Noyes, with its exquisite trompe l’oeil ceiling; the Upper Sitting Room that most defined their idea of home; the Community Library where lifelong education was encouraged and more than 100 newspapers, magazines, and journal subscribed; and the Vestibule and its cabinet of curiosities.   Tour guides stationed in the period rooms are available to answer questions about the Oneida Community and their Mansion House, a National Historic Landmark. 
            Melanie Zimmer, storyteller, will be in the Lounge -- also the locale of the Bake Sale -- from 2:30 to 3 p.m. and 3:30 to 4 p.m. to entertain young visitors.  
The Oneida Community Mansion House was the home of the 19th century utopian Oneida Community (1848-1880).  Today, the 93,000 square living museum houses residential apartments, overnight lodging, Zabroso Restaurant, and banquet and meeting space.  The Oneida Community Mansion House is located at 170 Kenwood Ave., Oneida, NY.  For information call 315-363-0745 or visit www.oneidacommunity.org.

 High Tide of the Spirit, an elegant dinner and fine arts auction on March 7 at the Oneida Community Mansion House promises to be the event of the season, according to Executive Director Patricia A. Hoffman.

“This is the first time we have done this type of event and the response from artists and area businesses has been tremendous,” Hoffman says, attributing it to the efforts of the planning committee.  Committee members are Kate and Greg Owens, Kelly Rose, Kipp Hicks, Sarah Spitzer, Gwen Smith, Maria Skinner, Jonathan Pawlika, Jeff Garner, Giles Wayland-Smith and Lisa Marshall.

Keith Rifenburg from Marquis Auctions will auction original works from artists all over the country with watercolors, acrylics, various types of prints, photographs, textiles, jewelry, and pottery all represented.  Some of the more unusual items in the auction include a highly collectable Grenfell weaving, a Ukrainian egg, a hand-carved wooden stool from Colombia, South America, and a pen and ink illustration of the winning bidder’s house with accompanying note cards.

“We are taking absentee bids so anyone interested should check out the Events section of our website, www.oneidacommunity.org,” Hoffman says. The listings are being updated daily as items are donated, she added.

Tickets to High Tide of the Spirit are $50 per person and include hors d’oeuvres and dinner from Zabroso Restaurant and both live and silent auctions.  The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m.  For information and reservations (seating is limited), or to advertise in the auction catalogue call 315-363-0745. 

The Oneida Community Mansion House was the home of the 19th century utopian Oneida Community (1848-1880).  Today, the 93,000 square foot brick building houses a living museum, residential apartments, overnight lodging, Zabroso Restaurant, and banquet and meeting space.  The Oneida Community Mansion House is located at 170 Kenwood Ave., Oneida, NY.  For information call 315-363-0745 or visit www.oneidacommunity.org.

Agritourism takes center stage in Madison County this weekend with cider, corn mazes, pumpkin chucking catapults and corn cannons.  The weather sure feels like fall and this weekend will be the perfect opportunity to celebrate the best season in Central New York.  There are several great agritourism events this weekend and some other fun ideas to pass the time.  Don't forget to check out all the great October events when planning you weekend.
1. Get lost in the Stratocaster Corn Maze (pictured) at Golub's Our Farm.  The Golub family has been working hard all summer to create their unique maze and grow their awesome pumpkins.  They are open weekends from 1-5 at their farm on Peth Road in Manlius. 
2. Learn how to shoot a corn cannon at Wolf Oak Acres near Oneida. Their fall weekend festivals continue this weekend. 
3. There is nothing better in my opinon than aged New York State Cheddar along with a slice of apple crisp.  Wash it all down with a glass of ice cold cider.  The Harvest Moon Cider Mill at Critz Farms will be pressing cider all weekend long, so stop in a pick up a gallon. 
4. It's the largest and creepiest attraction in Central New York.  Creepy Camp opens on Friday for the Halloween season.  This is not for the faint of heart!  Creepy Camp can be found along Route 13 between Chittenango and Cazenovia.
5. Lorenzo State Historic Site hosts the Rippleton School House Community Day on Sunday.  Join 1880s schoolmarm Mattie Buckland as she opens her classroom during “Community Day” from 1 to 4 p.m.,The day’s festivities will include live music, square dancing, old-fashioned games, the creation of historic toys such as thaumotropes and wizzers, decorating pumpkins, wagon rides, a side saddle demonstration and cider and donuts. The Rippleton Schoolhouse is located at Lorenzo State Historic Site, south of the village of Cazenovia along Route 13.

By Sydney L. Loftus , Executive Director, Madison County Historical Society
Travel with the Madison County Historical Society on a guided Hop Heritage and Cuisine Tour around Madison County on Sunday, Sept. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations to book your seat must be made by Sept. 5. Stops along the way include sites related to the 19th century hop industry in Madison County from a beautifully well-preserved 1867 limestone English oast house, to a double pyramidal hop kiln, to dormitories that once housed hop pickers, to Foothill Hops, an active hop yard. Light fare and craft brew will be served at the stops at area restaurants. Participating restaurants are: Blue Barbecue of Chittenango who is pairing with Brown's Brewing of Troy; Meyers Chocolates of Oneida who is pairing with Ommegang Brewery of Cooperstown; and Nirchi's Italian Grill of Cazenovia who is pairing with Middle Ages of Syracuse. Butternuts Brewery of Garratsville will also be making an appearance at one of the kiln stops on the tour with a savory beer can chicken recipe.
The tour also includes sites in Bouckville from James D. Coolidge's hop yard and gravesite to his son, James E. Coolidge's home- present location of the Ye Olde Landmark Tavern. James D. Coolidge is credited for introducing hops commercially to New York State in 1808. In the fall of 1816, he transported a load of hops to the New York City market. Thus, earning his place in Madison County and New York State history. Nearby counties saw how lucrative hops were becoming for Madison County farmers that they followed suit. By 1880, Madison, Otsego, and Oneida Counties were producing over 80 percent of the nation's hops.
Other sites viewed will be those newly identified by the Cultural Resource Survey of Hop Heritage Sites in Madison County, a project funded by Preserve New York, a grant program of the Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts. A report on the survey with many photos of sites will be give at 10 a.m. during the 13th Madison County Hop Fest on Saturday, Sept. 13.
The 13th Annual Madison County Hop Fest has expanded to a weekend long event commencing Friday, Sept. 12 through Sept. 14. On Friday, Sept. 12, join them at the Ye Olde Landmark Tavern for a paired brew dinner with Cooperstown Brewing. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at the restaurant, or at the historical society, or online at www.mchs1900.org. Reservations must be made by Sept. 5. On Saturday, Sept. 13, join them on the society's grounds at 435 Main St. in Oneida for Taste of Hops: a food and brew pairing from noon to 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 advance, $20 at the door if available, only 200 will be sold. Saturday's activities continue under the Brew Sampling Tent from 2:30-5:30 p.m. where participants can sample various styles of craft brew for over 20 breweries. Tickets for the brew sampling are $25 advance, $30 at the door. Advance brew tickets can be purchased at Arnie's Produce/Kraig's Kegs in Sherrill, Roger's Market in Hamilton, the historical society, or online at www.mchs1900.org. The Hop Fest opens at 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with day-long presentations on hop culture, a raffle, hopshop, and home brewer demonstrations. At 2 p.m. join them for the crowning of the Madison County Hop King, Dan Mitchell, owner of Ithaca Beer Co.
For more information about the 13th Annual Madison County Hop Fest and purchasing tickets, please contact the Madison County Historical Society, 435 Main St., Oneida, NY 13421, 315. 363.4136, 315.361.9735, email history@mchs1900.org, or visit website at www.mchs1900.org. All proceeds from the Hop Fest support the educational programming at the Madison County Historical Society. The Madison County Hop Fest is a 21-year and older event. Admission is charged only for the brew dinner, brew sampling, restaurant and brew pairing, and the hop heritage and cuisine tour.