Past Events

Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 9:30am-3:45pm

Journey through Chenango: "Land of the Oneidas"
Walking Tour of Historic Sites

Starts at 5797 Nichols Pond Road, Canastota, NY 13032

Join us for an exciting day walking tour/field trip of important historic places!
We will travel/carpool separately and meet at four different sites at predetermined times to explore and discuss their historical significance. These sites illustrate the events of “Land of the Oneidas” and “Drums along the Mohawk,” to be discussed in the optional book study, and will allow us to learn about the role of the Oneida Nation as allies in the Revolutionary War and to appreciate the geographical proximity of these historic sites. Lunch is on your own, either picnic or purchase food at local venues.

Highlights:

9:30 AM Nichols Pond, 5797 Nichols Pond Road, Fenner, NY: This is the site of an ancient Oneida Village.
11:00 AM Fort Stanwix, 112 East Park St., Rome, NY: The Oneida Nation will be on site with a variety of activities, crafts and food.
2:10 PM The Oneida Carry, 519 West Liberty St., Rome, NY: This sacred place was one of the most sought-after pieces of real estate on the entire frontier because whoever controlled it controlled the water passage from the Hudson River to Lake Ontario and beyond. Lots of blood spilled over this critical place of portage.
2:45 PM Oriskany Battlefield, 7801 State Rte. 69, Oriskany, NY: The Oriskany Battlefield, one of the bloodiest and most significant battles of the Revolutionary war where Oneidas and Americans fought together against the British, Tories, and Senecas.

This program is open to anyone who would like to explore this important history. You don’t have to be registered for the reading program/book study to attend. A few more sets of free books are available for folks who still wish to join our discussion on Saturday, October 12 from 1:00- 3:00pm at the Chenango County Historical Museum in Norwich, New York. We are blessed to live within a short driving distance of some of the most important historic places that played critical roles in the development of the United States. Seeing the places described in the books will infuse the words with present energy and fire the imagination.

For more information, contact Michael Foor-Pessin at (315) 653-7811 or foorpessin@gmail.com

July 8th, 11th, August 12th and 15th 2024, from 9:00am to 3:00 pm.

Introduction to "Weaving on a Barn Loom"

at The Otselic Valley Grange Hall, 130 County Road 13A, across from the Otselic Valley Central School

The Otselic Valley Fishing & Heritage Association is proud to announce that Kathryn Wojciechowski will be conducting a class entitled "Introduction to Weaving on a Barn Loom", at The Old School Wool and Weaving Center located in South Otselic.

Four hands-on opportunities for beginners to learn the basics of weaving on a pre-warped vintage loom. By the end of the class, learn how to create a beautiful and functional rag rug to take home. Each 1-day class is limited to 5 students.

Cost: A $25 non-refundable reservation fee. Advance reservations are suggested in order to secure a space in one of the classes.

Register and Information: email Kathryn at earlyamericantextiletools@yahoo.com

Sunday, August 4th, 2024 at 2pm-4pm

Local History Program at North Pitcher Community Center/Church

Chenango County Historian Henry Drexler will present a program on Abandoned Barns and Farmland in Chenango County. Free, handmade refreshments from Fox Trail Farm will be served.

Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 at 4pm-8pm

Journey through Chenango: "Land of the Oneidas"

45 Rexford Street Norwich, NY 13815

Join us for an exciting evening with author Daniel Koch at the Chenango County Historical Society Museum in Norwich!

This is the first event in a series organized by the Otselic Valley Fishing and Heritage Association, in collaboration with C.S. Miller Books and the Chenango County Historical Society, generously funded by the Roger Follett Foundation. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with history and literature!

Please only RSVP if you plan to commit to the two session series, which includes a second book, "Drums Along the Mohawk"

Click here to reserve your spot now on eventbrite and get your free book!

Highlights:

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Enjoy guided tours of the Haudenosaunee exhibition and other informative programming.
5:30 PM: Be among the first 40 attendees to RSVP and receive a free copy of Daniel Koch's book Land of the Oneidas: Central New York State and the Creation of America, from Prehistory to the Present (2023).
6:00 PM: Listen to a fascinating talk by Daniel Koch about his book, focusing on the crucial role the Oneida Nation played in our region.
Book Signing: Have your copy signed by the author after his presentation.
Food Truck will be on-site.

About the Book:
Land of the Oneidas presents the history of central New York State from the Ice Age to the present day. The central part of New York State, the homeland of the Oneida Haudenosaunee people, has shaped American history. This book tells the story of the land and the people who made their homes there, examining the region's impact on the making of America, from its strategic importance in the Revolution and Early Republic to its symbolic significance today.

Author Bio:
Daniel Koch is Headmaster of Loughborough Grammar School in England and author of Ralph Waldo Emerson in Europe: Class, Race, and Revolution in the Making of an American Thinker.

For more information, contact Michael Foor-Pessin at (315) 653-7811 or foorpessin@gmail.com

Sunday, July 28th, 2024 at 2pm-4pm

Musical Program at Georgetown Town Park

Music by the Smyrna Citizens Band. The Band has been bringing music to the Village of Smyrna for over 100 years, presenting a 6-week concert series each summer. The band has included multiple generations of players, with grandparents, parents, and children playing side-by-side, thus proving that making music is a lifetime activity. Refreshments will be provided by the Georgetown Fire Department. The Madison County Emergency Management team, including the rescue helicopter, will be on site to educate the public about its services.

Sunday, July 14th, 2024 at 2pm-4pm

Musical Program at North Pitcher Community Center/Church

John Kirk and Trish Miller will perform at the North Pitcher Church on State Hwy. 26. John is the primary vocalist and instrumental wizard on fiddle, mandolin & more, while Trish plays banjo, guitar and provides fancy footwork with percussive dance steps. Together, this married couple uses old time music as the basis for their repertoire, but also mix in some originals, Celtic, early country songs, humorous selections and Appalachian clog dancing. Food will be for sale by Kandi's Kitchen.

Shedding More Light on an American Tragedy: Grace Brown’s Story Reimagined

This program is possible as a result of a grant from The Roger W. Follett Foundation. We appreciate their commitment to Chenango County and its citizens.

Presenters: Jack Sherman and Michael Foor-Pessin

Day: This event concluded in May 2022.
Place: The United Methodist Church in South Otselic
Time: 6:15pm to 7:00pm Special Performance by The Vestal Mountain Dulcimer Players, 7:00pm-9:30pm Grace Brown Program
Registration: Email Mike Foor-Pessin at foorpessin@gmail.com

Session One:

This event concluded in May 2022.

Copies of Craig Branson’s “Murder in the Adirondacks: An American Tragedy Revisited,” 2nd edition and Jennifer Donnelly’s “A Northern Light” will be distributed to folks who have already preregistered beginning at 6:00 pm. The actual program will begin at 7:00 pm.

1. Introductions of presenters.
2. Jack Sherman will introduce “Murder in the Adirondacks.”
3. Mike Foor-Pessin will introduce “A Northern Light.”
4. Break—Refreshments will be provided by folks from the Otselic Valley Fishing and Heritage Association.
5. Jack Sherman will introduce the documentary film “A North Woods Elegy: Incident at Big Moose Lake.”
6. Question and Answer Session. Get busy reading!!!!

Session Two:

This event concluded in May 2022.

1. Jack Sherman will facilitate a discussion on “Murder in the Adirondacks.”
2. Mike Foor-Pessin will facilitate a discussion on “A Northern Light.”
3. Break—Refreshments.
4. Watch the film “An American Tragedy,” directed by Josef von Sternberg.
5. Final Question and Answer session.

Special Performance by The Vestal Mountain Dulcimer Players:

This event concluded in May 2022.

The Vestal Mountain Dulcimer Players, formed in 2010, includes members with a wide variety of musical background and talent, some with a few years to over 30 years experience. We play a large assortment of music including Celtic, Irish, old time music, folk, hymns and country. As a community service organization, we perform at local churches, nursing homes, community care centers, and have participated in larger community events such as Broome County Art Walk, Binghamton Porchfest, and the Roberson Museum's “Home for the Holidays”.

To learn more about the mountain dulcimer or if you are interested in learning to play, look us up on Facebook: Vestal Mountain Dulcimer Players.

Related media from 2021's Online Event

“My Dear Chester”: this play presents Grace’s ten final letters before her tragic trip to the Adirondacks and the sensational trial that follows her murder.

“The Silencing of Maude Wright”: Narrated presentation by Michael Foor-Pessin (copyrighted material).

Biography of Mike Foor-Pessin

Throughout forty years of teaching English at Otselic Valley Central School and thirty years as an English adjunct at Morrisville State College, the Norwich Branch, Michael Foor-Pessin has utilized the tragedy of Grace Brown’s murder to not only delve into the complexity of the Brown-Gillette case, but, more importantly, to examine the alarming cycles of teen pregnancy and violence against women that are far too common in Chenango County.

In April, 2006, he and his students organized a symposium at the Norwich campus entitled “The Grace Brown Murder Authors’ Retrospective.” Guest presenters were Jennifer Donnelly, Craig Brandon, and Joe Brownell. Jennifer Donnelly, author of “A Northern Light,” joined Foor-Pessin’s students the following day to discuss her novel and the challenges of writing effective historical fiction.

Years later, in May of 2021, Foor-Pessin completed original research about another Otselic resident, Maude Wright, who, like Grace Brown, had her life cut short because of her pregnancy and an intolerant society. “Inmate #819: The Silencing of Maude Wright” was new research that was initiated by his students’ investigation in the spring semester of 2006. Also in the spring of 2021, he teamed up with playwright/director Jack Sherman to produce the short film “My Dear Chester” for the Otselic Valley Fishing and Heritage Association. The film starred Otselic Valley graduating senior Morgan Smith and concentrated on Grace’s final love letters to Chester. Both “My Dear Chester” and “Inmate #819” are available to be viewed on the Otselic Valley Fishing and Heritage website by going to ovfish.org.

Finally, his most recent endeavor was made possible by a grant from the Roger W. Follett Foundation. Their generous money has allowed him and Jack Sherman to conduct a two session literacy program that once again sheds light on this famous case.

Biography of Jack Sherman

Jack Sherman has studied and lectured on the Chester Gillette-Grace Brown case for over forty years. He has written two plays based on the case: “The People vs. Chester Gillette”, and “My Dear Chester”, both produced by the Herkimer Historical Society and Ilion Little Theater. With Craig Brandon, he edited “The Prison Diary of Chester Gillette”, published in 2007 by the Couper Press at Hamilton College.

In 2011, he consulted on and appeared in “A North Woods Elegy: Incident at Big Moose Lake”, a documentary film by Derek Taylor on the Gillette-Brown case. He consulted with Craig Brandon during the preparation of the revised edition of “Murder in the Adirondacks”, published by North Country Books in 2016. Most recently, in 2021, he directed “My Dear Chester”, a short film based upon his play, produced by the Otselic Valley Fishing and Heritage Association.

Additional Virtual Tours and Videos

A Finger Lakes Trail walkthrough with Peg Fuller.

A South Otselic historic homes tour with original art and narration by town historian and artist Mike Sheridan.

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Past Events