Ilion Free Public Library

The craft kits are available! They will be outside until 6:45 or until they are gone. We hope you enjoy the craft! Just a reminder that craft kits will no longer include a paintbrush. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Take a look at this photo of the 1923 graduating class of Ilion High School! There is no yearbook for this year, but this picture shows individual portraits along with a group photo. Names are given at the bottom of each portrait with several very familiar in Ilion today. Are you related to any of these graduates? The valedictorian was Dorothy White (last student, lower right) and the salutatorian was class secretary, Elizabeth Beckwith (first row at the top, fifth from the r...ight). Sadly, one senior in this photo was the victim of a 1929 tragedy that shocked the entire village. Louis Corbin, second row, third from the right, was shot and killed by his mother on June 12, 1929 in their home at 373 Otsego Street. Jennie Heiland Corbin had been mentally ill following a car accident in 1926 that left her in constant pain. After spending time at the Utica State Hospital for evaluation, she returned home only to see her condition worsen. Louis was also suffering from mental illness after he suffered a nervous breakdown, which adversely affected his mother who feared for her son’s future due to the nature of his condition. At 5am on that fateful day in June, Jennie shot Louis and then turned the gun on herself in what the Utica Daily Press called a Double Tragedy. She was pronounced dead at the house, but according to the Daily Press, Louis was rushed to the hospital where he later died. Any questions? Email them to [email protected]. #ilionfpl #ilionny#ilionhistory#throwbackthursday#tbt See more

Before Ilion’s first swimming pool was built in the 1920s near the entrance to the Gorge, swim meets were held at the lift bridge as shown this 1912 photo. Huge crowds gathered to watch swimmers dive from the bridge into the canal. One would think it would be dangerous to dive into this canal because the waterway was not that deep, even though the depth had been increased from 4 to 7 feet. Despite the breach of safety diving recommendations, which is typically 9 feet, the mee...ts were held and the swimmers dove right into the canal. In the background, you can see a business with the name Powers above the entrance. This is not the once popular Powers News, but a wine/liquor store. Powers News was in operation at the time and was in the process of moving or had just recently moved into the new building that was built to the right of the bridge. Today, the view of this photo would be looking south at the All Valley Smiles, Woolner Eye Care, and Dr. May Building, with the bridge crossing the fire station driveway. Email any questions to [email protected]. #ilionfpl #ilionny#ilionhistory#throwbackthursday#tbt See more

The craft kits are available! They will be outside until 6:45 or until they are gone. Enjoy your polar bears! (The paint is washable paint so no stains!)

The library will open at 1:00 today.The library will open at 1:00 today.

The library will be closed 12/24 & 12/25 and 12/31 & 1/1. Happy Holidays!The library will be closed 12/24 & 12/25 and 12/31 & 1/1. Happy Holidays!

Did you know this house on Elm Street opposite Gordon Place is 200 years old? The date of the photo is c. 1970. Originally built by John Ingersoll between 1810 and 1821, few families have owned this house in the two centuries it has existed. Ingersoll moved here from the Sauquoit area in the early 1800s and built the house along with a distillery where he made fine wines. These wines were sold at the well known Checkerboard Tavern before Ilion became an incorporated village w...here 269 E. State Street is today. The house stayed in the Ingersoll family until the late 1800s when Charles and Sarah Gordon bought it near the turn of the century around 1898. The Gordons would be the owners for the next eighty one years. If you went to Ilion High School throughout the 1940s and 1950s you all remember a history teacher, Ruth Gordon, that lived in this house. On Halloween, it was exciting to go trick-r-treating at her house because she handed out cans of soda. Wow! Unfortunately, she passed away in 1979, but will always be remembered as Goosey Gordon to many long-time residents. Since 1979, the Reed and Cerini families have been the only owners of this historic house. If you have any questions, email them to [email protected]. #ilionfpl #ilionny#ilionhistory#throwbackthursday#tbt See more

Update: the craft kits are all gone. Thank you to everyone who picked them up! This week’s craft kits are available outside! They will be outside until 6:45 or until they are gone. The craft will be to decorate your very own ornament! The link below will include some great ideas for inspiration! We hope you enjoy the craft and create some awesome ornaments! https://pin.it/6kAKd42

See what's new this week at the Ilion Free Public Library at: *** http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&p=4021-476 *** There are one new bestseller, seven new movies, six new children's books, and three other new books.... The new bestseller this week is "Moonflower Murders: A Novel." The new movies this week include "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation [Blu-ray]," "Elf [Blu-ray]," and "The Polar Express [Blu-ray]."

We will put leftover craft kits outside today until 3:45 or until they are gone! Reminder: this will be the last craft kit until the first week of January.

In response to COVID challenges, all PK-12 students will move to virtual learning beginning Monday, Dec. 14. Please visit the link below for more information and to watch a video from Mr. Rich explaining the decision.

The craft kits are outside! They will be outside until 6:45 or until they are gone. There are four crafts in each kit and the pictures are inside the bag. There are multiple crafts because this will be the last craft kit of 2020. We will resume the craft kits on our regular Thursdays on the first week of January. We hope you enjoy the crafts and have a safe and happy holiday season!

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