Darwin R Barker Historical Museum

Big things are happening here at the Barker Museum this week! There has been a lot of rearranging in our exhibit space in preparation for new exhibits. Although it is still a work in progress, here is a sneak peak at our brand new featured exhibit about Commander William B. Cushing, our hometown hero of the Civil War!

It is finally election day in the United States. For anyone closely following the presidential campaign, you may have heard about the candidates conducting whistle-stop tours recently to rally their supporters and win over undecided voters. The term refers to the 19th century tradition of candidates traveling by train, speaking briefly at a railroad station--often without even stepping off the locomotive--and moving on to the next campaign stop. The Fredonia Censor record...s several whistle-stop tours in past presidential campaigns stopping in nearby cities. Pictured is the local news story about Adlai Stevenson’s stop at Dunkirk in 1952. His opponent, Dwight Eisenhower, ended up carrying Chautauqua and every other county in his home state of New York. Ike’s running mate, Richard Nixon, stopped in Jamestown’s station. As you hear the election results tonight, just remember this piece of 1950s political humor plucked from the article: the three great parties in the United States are Republican, Democrat, and cocktail.

Last Saturday we celebrated our final Farmers Market pop-up for the year with pumpkin decorating and a Halloween-themed selection of photos from over a century ago. We also served hot cider thanks to Paul's Rocket Stoves, who donated the supplies and loaned us one of their portable stoves for the last three chilly Saturdays! On Halloween Day we saw a steady stream of trick-or-treaters at our Main Street door. Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers who made the 199-year-old house look as haunted as possible.

A recent article in the Buffalo Spree highlights the drinking fountain in Barker Commons erected by the WCTU, the surprising fact that it is one of five similar memorials in Western New York, and a brief history of each fountain.

Douglass Houghton (1809-1845) is a notable Fredonian and the son of Judge Jacob and Lydia Houghton. In 1829, Douglass received an education at the Rensselaer School where he studied geology. In 1830, Douglass was selected to accompany Henry Rowe Schoolcraft on an expedition of Lake Superior. On the expedition, he served as a physician-naturalist and spent his time collecting botanical specimens, investigating copper deposits, and providing medical care to Indian tribes that h...e encountered. His career advanced through the following years, with his experiences culminating in him becoming Michigan’s first state geologist. Unfortunately, Douglass’ life was cut short on October 13, 1845, when on an expedition on Lake Superior his boat capsized in stormy weather, drowning him and two companions. He is buried in Detroit, where served two terms as mayor. Douglass and the rest of his family are memorialized at Houghton Park in Fredonia, NY. The city of Houghton in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is named after Douglass. Pictured is an 1843 letter written by Douglass Houghton expressing pride in his brother Jacob for continuing his studies. - Catherine Oag, Intern. See more

Does this man look familiar? While you may think it’s the well-known actor and producer Adrien Brody, it’s not, it’s Leroy Winchester of Fredonia! Born on November 9, 1873, Leroy worked odd jobs in Stockton, Brocton, and Dunkirk before relocating his family to Fredonia and opening a watch repair and jewelry store on 32 W Main St in Fredonia. Today, the location of his store is at the entrance to West Alley beside Ellicottville Brewing Company. A well-known businessman in the community, Leroy owned and operated his store for 50 years until it burned down in December 1957. He passed away two years later on September 20, 1959. -Catherine Oag, Intern.

The Nineteenth Amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920, and this year we celebrate the centennial anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. This was a great victory for women after years of fighting for suffrage, but it would be several decades before women of all races were granted the right to vote in the United States. In Fredonia, women rallied together to fight for their rights earlier. Prior to the suffrage movement was the temperance movement. In December 1873,... the first rumbles of the Women’s Christian Temperance Movement were felt when women gathered and visited all the saloons in town to implore them to stop selling alcohol. The Taylor House Hotel, Smeizer & Hewes, Maynard’s Drug Store, and I.F. Harrison’s Hotel in Fredonia were all visited on that first day by the W.C.T.U. The W.C.T.U. started as a small local movement, and grew into a much larger movement that advocated for prohibition. These women were pioneers who stood up for what they believed in and fought bravely to bring it to fruition. Beginning in the 1890s, Chautauqua County distinguished itself as home to the largest county organization in the United States dedicated to women’s suffrage. Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, and countless other women rallied in Chautauqua County in support of women’s suffrage. Elizabeth Cady Stanton gave a lecture at the Fredonia Normal School in 1870. Lily Dale and Chautauqua Institution became hotspots for meetings, rallies, support, and the spread of ideas. This is merely a brief introduction to our area’s rich history of temperance and suffrage, but I encourage you to learn more. We owe so much to these brave suffragettes, not just those from our hometown but around the United States. - Catherine Oag, Intern.

Long before the first pioneers settled in Fredonia, Native Americans occupied the land for centuries. The Iroquois peoples, specifically the Seneca, lived mostly south of Routes 5&20 to remain safe from warpaths along the Great Lakes. Culturally, the Iroquois were mound builders, meaning they constructed many earthen mounds for religious, ceremonial, burial, and elite residential purposes. Time and modernity have worn down these ancient mounds, but some can still be no...ticed in places such as Sheridan, Sinclairville, Cassadaga Lakes, and Gerry. A further example is Fort Hill, near Fredonia, which received its name from an ancient entrenchment with traces of a large pit in front of it. Further proof of these earthen formations is the discovery of human bones from burial rituals at many of these sites. The legacy of mound builders is mostly of their earthen formations, but it is important to note their other achievements. They excelled in copper work and stone carvings, grew and smoked tobacco, and were probably the first large-scale farmers in the region. - Catherine Oag, Intern. See more

The sweet scent surrounding the village reminds us of our location in the heart of New York's grape belt. Local emphasis on agriculture combined with a lively civic culture to produce the nation’s first Grange, which lobbied for the interests of farmers starting in 1868. Join us this Saturday from 9:00-1:00 to see our photos and artifacts related to Grange No. 1 at the Farmers Market!

Following the end of WWII, the SUNY Fredonia campus became home to many veterans who decided to pursue a college degree. To accommodate these new students, the college built barracks, very similar to the ones that would have housed them during the war. Although they are no longer standing, these barracks were built along Central Ave, on the field next to President’s Drive and in front of Fenton Hall. -Catherine Oag, Intern.

Fredonia’s W. Main Street, facing west toward the Canadaway Creek bridge and Sunset Hill, circa 1900. The stucco tavern on the left stood from 1829-1977 when it was replaced by the Fire Department building. On right, the creek-powered grist mill is visible. This street was unpaved until 1901.

Postcard based on a 1946 photo of the Barker Library. At this time the Library's Historical Room was located in the parlor, and would not grow into the Museum or occupy the entire building until the Library was moved into the extension on 7 Day Street in 1984.

This Saturday we will be offering demonstrations and instruction in the art of quilling! Michele Starwalt teaches classes on this paper-based decorative art, and she will be sharing her knowledge with visitors this Saturday from 9:00-12:30 at the Fredonia Farmers Market on Church Street. Additionally, our pop-up display this weekend will highlight examples from our extensive Fredonian postcard collection. Reminder that we have moved from the 7 Day Street lawn into the center of the Farmers Market and will set up there each Saturday through Halloween!

This week we are highlighting the Cushing brothers of Fredonia, who distinguished themselves in the line of duty during the American Civil War. Alonzo, William, and Howard Cushing grew up in Fredonia, NY and went on to earn well-deserved renown for their service to the United States. Alonzo Cushing was present at the Battle of Gettysburg as Commander of Battery A, 4th U.S Artillery. On the third day of the battle, Alonzo’s actions were nothing but heroic as he continued to c...Continue reading

Our weekend pop-up event has relocated to the Fredonia Farmers Market on Church St! Join us there from 9:00-1:00 this Saturday as we showcase antique games, books, and photos from classrooms past. The resumption of school makes one reflect on the people who shaped our understanding of the world. Did your favorite teacher influence your career path?