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.

 
 

The first weekend in May, Where did April go anyhow?  Well, inside or out, there is plenty to do across Madison County this weekend.  Cannon Park in Cazenovia is again hosting the Cazenovia Farmer's Market, and while you won't find fresh produce there, you will find a nice variety of plants, local products and more.  It is open all day Saturday now until the end of October.   Here are four more "Best Bets" for this weekend:
1. Spring Migration Nature Art Festival @ the Great Swamp Conservancy-- The 10th Annual  Festival will feature acclaimed wildlife artists, environmental and conservation displays, wagon rides, live animal demonstrations, tours, games, live musical entertainment, food and more! Admission is $3 with children 12 and under $1.
2. Taste of Kenwood --An architectural walking tour of Theodore H. Skinner and Ward Wellington Ward homes in Kenwood as well as the exterior and grounds of the Mansion House. It’s scheduled for Saturday, 3 to 5 p.m. followed by hors d’oeuvres, music, and a silent auction in the Mansion House Lounge.
3. An Evening with Groucho -- A comedy filled with the best Groucho one-liners, anecdotes and songs including “Lydia, the Tattooed Lady.” Frank Ferrante ad-libs his way throughout the performance in grand Groucho style.  Presented by The Palace Theater, 19 Utica St. Hamilton.
4. Neil Simon's Plaza Suite -- Performed at the Rusty Rail Party House on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday and Saturday shows starts with dinner at 7pm and the show at 8:30. The Sunday dinner begins at 1 with the show at 2:30. The show is a three act comedy and dinner consists of a large buffet with a wide variety of choices. Dinner theater tickets at $29 for adults and $27 for seniors. Tickets for the show only are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students.

 
 

May 11th is Mother’s Day, and Madison County is a great place to show your mom how much you love her.  The Brae Loch Inn in Cazenovia will be serving up their famous buffet from 10:30 until 5pm.  For the 38th year Ye Olde Landmark Tavern will be the place in Bouckville to take mom as they will serve their full dinner menu from noon until 8pm.  If Italian is your mother’s favorite food, try Grimaldi’s in Canastota.  They will be serving from Noon until 6 and every mother will get a rose.  Of course reservation are recommended.

There are restaurants all over the county offering specials on Mother's Day.  Offering a wonderful view of Oneida Lake, Fisher Bay Restaurant in Bridgeport has breakfast and dinner specials, including their prime rib and shrimp or prime rib and scallops.  Zabroso, which is located inside the Oneida Community Mansion House is offering seatings at noon and 2:30.    The Colgate Inn has a fabulous menu planned for mom and they are taking reservations from 9am to 2pm.  If you haven't been to the Poolville Country Store lately now is you chance as they will be serving brunch from 10:30 to 1 and then a nice dinner from 5 until 9 on Mother's Day!

So you now have no excuse not to find a wonderful place to take mom for dinner on May 11th.


 
 

If you have ever wondered about some of the fantastic architecture in the Kenwood section of Oneida, the Mansion House has a great event for you.   On May 3 from 3 to 5 p.m. "A Taste of Kenwood," Architectural Walking Tour will  feature homes by Theodore H. Skinner and Ward Wellington Ward followed by hors d'oeuvres, silent auction and live music, $35/person.  Advanced tickets are required and can be ordered by calling the Mansion House at 315-363-0745.

 
 

Post Standard reporter Glenn Coin has a nice profile of the Oneida Community Mansion House today on Syracuse.com.  The Mansion House is one of Madison County's historical treasurers and with the addition of the Zabrosso restaurant and wi-fi in the hotel rooms, they are making some major changes.  Check them out for yourself this winter with this getaway special:

Relax in one of eight spacious guest rooms in a National Historic Landmark, once the home of one of the longest lasting of the 19th century utopian communities. All rooms have cable television and wireless internet service. Your stay includes a $75 coupon for a three-course dinner with coffee at the newly opened Zabroso Restaurant in the Community’s original dining room (bar, tax, and gratuity not included), breakfast, and a museum tour. If your stay concludes on Sunday, you may additionally purchase a $25 coupon for Sunday brunch at Zabroso.   Double occupancy Pricing: $159