EARLVILLE – Honoring the role played by the Village of Earlville during the grand opening of the Chenango Canal in the 19th Century, the village’s Quincy Square Museum has been granted a special place on New York’s brand new “Path Through History” initiative.
The “Path Through History,” unveiled last month by Governor Andrew Cuomo, is a road map tying historically and culturally significant sites throughout New York together in an effort to promote tourism and surge economic development. The Cuomo Administration is allocating $1 million in funding to get the project off the ground. Additionally, a proposal is on the table to install new road signs along major highways and the New York State Thruway to advertise these historical landmarks.
While no official sites were marked in Chenango County in this new initiative, the Chenango Canal had a huge impact on the entire region, explained Rose Wellman, historian for the Quincy Square Museum and local expert on the canal. “It’s so important because it’s what brought things in and out of the area,” she said, citing the economic impact it had throughout the county.
To have the canal shown in the statewide spotlight is an honor for the museum, the village and the heritage of surrounding communities.”It’s a great mention,” she said, recalling the museum’s role in similar local initiatives in the past. “And if you have a good historical society, it makes a lot of difference.”
Vice President of the Quincy Square Board Michael Kicinski agreed, noting the significance of teaching the canal’s history to locals, particularly youths. “So often, school can be boring for a lot of students. Local history and being able to see where important things happen make it more interesting ... Having a canal near our property makes it more alive,” he said. “There’s so much in just a little area. We have so much even now, in 1.1 square miles of the village.”
Although the history of the canal is what may draw people to Quincy Square, Wellman said the museum has plenty more to showcase. From the Earlville Opera House and the village fire department (that knocked down two blazes at the historical landmark since its construction in 1892), to a rich heritage of manufacturing in the village and agriculture in the surrounding farmland, the museum offers different monthly programs and updates its displays on a regular basis to show off the best of Earlville, she added.
“If you have a place like this, you have to change your displays,” said Wellman. She added that for many local residents, the change is what keeps them returning to the museum. “Things have changed a lot since I’ve been here,” she added, noting her long-standing involvement with the organization. “People here have been generous to donate items to us because they know we will take care of them and we know the history behind them.”
In addition to the history of New York’s canals and transportation highlighted in the “Path Through History,” stops along the way call attention to the state’s historic landmarks for: arts and culture; civil rights; colonial history; innovation and commerce; Native Americans; natural history; the American Revolution; sports history; U.S. Presidents; War of 1812; and women’s rights.