The Nunda Historical Society, featuring the Nunda Museum and the Rose Shave Gallery, is open 10 am - noon on Tuesdays and from 2 - 4 pm on the first and third Sundays in March through November, and at other times by appointment: call (585) 465-0971 or 490-3302. Historical programs, offered monthly March through December, are usually the second Wednesday of the month but may also be scheduled on some Sundays. Programs are held at the NHS Building at 24 Portage Street, Nunda unless noted in the description. Please check the schedule below for specific times and locations. All events are free and open to the public unless indicated. The NHS building is wheelchair accessible. This schedule is subject to change, please check back often and also see our Facebook page.

Sunday, March 3,  2-4 PM; Stop by the NHS Museum and Rose Shave Gallery during our first Sunday hours of the year! We have some new exhibits as well as our old favorites. Remember that we will be open the first and third Sundays of the month now through November!

 

Wednesday, March 13, 7 PM; Ran Away With the Circus! by Jane Oakes.  Oh, the excitement of seeing a poster announcing that a circus was coming to your town! Many a young person dreamed of running away with the circus, and some from our area even did. New York State has many interesting connections with American circus history. From Yankee Robinson, who gave the Ringling Brothers their start, to P.T. Barnum's Ossian Giant, you'll meet some New Yorkers who followed the lure of the sawdust circle.

 

Wednesday, April 10,  7 PM; Women as Family Documentarians, from the Family Bible to Home Movies by Corinne Elsie Hooker. Corinne will be sharing her research and findings on the role women played in documenting their families, communities, and themselves over time with a focus on the home movies they took in the mid 20th century. The program will include some digitized movies from the 1950s and 60s. Local residents are encouraged to share their own family home movies made before 1980 for possible inclusion in the program and to be entered into the NHS archives. If you do have some, please contact us!

 

Wednesday, May 8, 7 PM; Camp 23; The CCC at Big Bend in Letchworth Park. By Tom Cook . In the spring of 1933 the first of four Civilian Conservation Camps in Letchworth Park was established on the Genesee River at Big Bend. NHS member Tom Cook will share the history of the camp and examine the important relationship between Camp 23 and the Towns of Nunda and Portage. The daily life and work projects of the Big Bend Camp will also be discussed. The talk will feature CCC photographs from our Roy Gath Collection and material from the archives at Letchworth Park. The program will include information on how families can research and share their own CCC connections.

  

Sunday, May 19, 2pm; Nunda Annual Meeting will be held in our Nunda Museum area. Members are invited to attend in person or join us via Zoom. The meeting will include a brief review of Society activities and achievements over the past year and a look forward into 2025. Annual election of board members will also take place. Watch for details as to accessing the zoom meeting. Email nhs@frontier.com for the links and password for the zoom meeting.You will also be able to attend in person.

  

Friday, May 31 - Saturday June 1; Be sure to stop at the NHS Booth at this year's Nunda Fun Days!

 

Wednesday, June 12  NHS Annual History Tour and Picnic!  From  4:30- 6:30 PM join us for a members only history tour of two of Nunda's historic homes, the Dickinson/Galton House on Mill Street and the DePuy/Small House on Church Street. Meet at the NHS Building at 4:30 and we will carpool to the houses. We will return to the building at 6:30 for refreshments. No cost, but reservations are necessary.  Email nhs@frontier.com or call 585-465-0971 by June 10th. If you are not a member and would to participate - you can join for $10 individual or $15 family membership! At 7pm enjoy the history and music presented by singer and storyteller Don Dwyer as he presents his new program The Music of the Women of the Civil War. This program is free and open to the public.  

 

Saturday, July 6; 10 am to 5 pm; Visit the NHS Museum & Rose Shave Gallery as part of Nunda Americana Day. NHS activities will include a morning history walk, Native American presentors, afternoon history wagon tours and more! You will find our latest schedule in our News Room!

 

August 17, 9 AM - 2 PM;   NHS Annual Yard & Bake Sale This is one of our most important fundraisers. Stop by to look for that special treasure to take home along with some delicious baked goods. Thanks to all who make donations and those who come to shop!

 

Wednesday, September 11, 7 PM; The Mindset and Background of the Erie Canal  by Craig Braack.  Former Allegany County Historian Craig Braack will explore the origins of the great 19th century engineering projects in New York State with a focus on the famous Erie Canal and our local Genesee Valley Canal. Those who are familiar with Craig knows the enthusiasm and insight he brings to his topics and this program will not disappoint as he examines the can do spirit that made the projects possible and the lessons they hold for our modern day.

  

Sunday, September 15 ; 2 to 4 pm; Join us as we host a special openhouse at the NHS building at 24 Portage Street. Come and see our new addition! Light refreshments and a special family scavenger hunt!

 

Wednesday, October 9, 7PM: The Perry Gang, Ossian Train Robbers by William D. Burt. The Perry Gang rampaged through western New York from 1905 to 1929, robbing trains at gunpoint, looting moving freight cars, breaking into cars sitting in yards, and blowing safes in railroad stations. Though they started out in Niagara Falls and haunted the New York Central Falls Road and Hojack, some of their most memorable heists were on the Erie between Hornell and Portage and the Lackawanna between Atlanta and Wayland. The burglary that sent Bert Perry to state prison in 1929 was at the Pittsburgh, Shawmut & Northern station in Birdsall.

 

*Sunday, October 27,  2 PM; We Were There, Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times. by The Geriactors.   This theatre troupe who call themselves mature actors will be presenting a series of short true plays about the effect of wars from the Napoleonic Wars to WWII on ordinary people, leavened with songs. The Geriactors have been performing at Rochester area venues for over 20 years including local colleges, festivals, and nonprofit organizations. Please note the change in the date and time of this program.

 

Friday, November 1,  1 PM;  Dr. Paquette, a renowned historian and author, will discuss his newest book, "Mayflower Fullers in Nunda, New York: Joshua Fuller and His Descendants, 1833-1932." This detailed work focuses on the Fuller, Adams, and Carter genealogies, along with other prominent families of the Nunda area, such as the Guy, Warren, Goldthwaite, Chittenden, Tabor, and Carrier families. This 290 page illustrated book will be available and a special price of $20 at the presentation. This is a unique opportunity to engage with a distinguished historian and learn more about the Nunda areas rich heritage. Dr. Paquettes talk will also provide insights on unlocking your own family or community history.   All are welcome!

 

*Saturday, November 2 , 4 PM - 6 PM ;  NHS Members and Donors are invited to the Dedication of the New NHS Addition.  Ribbon Cutting at 4 PM followed by short program and tour of the new areas. 

 

*Sunday, November 24, 2:30 PM; DENNIS JAMES PROGRAM  Music in Miniature THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO SUNDAY, APRIL 27TH. Watch for details in our upcoming 2025 program schedule to be published in January.. 

 

Saturday, December 7, 10AM - 5PM;  Be sure to stop by the Nunda Historical Society during this year's Christmas in Nunda Celebration! Enjoy our traditional Christmas decorations, our special holiday displays and shop for local history gifts. Watch for details!

 

Tuesday, December 17th ,  10 AM - Noon; Everyone is invited to join our Tuesday morning volunteer crew as we hold our annual Chistmas party!  Watch for details!

 

*These programs are made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with support of The Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and Administered by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts.  

 

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