Historical Lectures Available from Onondaga Historical Association
DENNIS CONNORS' LECTURES, OHA'S CURATOR OF HISTORY:
1. AN ACCOMODATING LEGACY: THE HISTORY OF HOTELS IN DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE
Ever since Henry Bogardus built his tavern on the northwest corner of Salina and Genesee streets in 1806, the area comprising downtown has provided lodging for travelers. Whether journeying by stagecoach, packet boat, railroad car, automobile or jet, there have been a staggering variety of establishments catering to Syracuse’s guests. Explore how these and other forces in American life shaped the hotel heritage of Syracuse. (60 minutes – 35mm Slide Presentation)
2. THE CIVIL WAR BATTLE THAT SAVED WASHINGTON: AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF AN ONONDAGA COUNTY REGIMENT
In 1864, when General Grant thought he had Lee’s troops pinned down around Richmond, Southern forces launched a bold move against Washington that almost succeeded in capturing the Union capital. This talk explains the dramatic events of July 1864 and the key role played by the 122nd NY Volunteers, a regiment composed mostly of Onondaga County men. (60 minutes - 35mm Slide Presentation)
3. CLINTON SQUARE: THE STORY OF SYRACUSE’S CIVIC SOUL
A visit to Syracuse most famous urban plaza, using its buildings, past and present to relate the role that it has played in the commercial, civic and transportation history of our community. (25 minute - 35mm Slide Presentation)
4. COMMUNICATION WITH THE ENEMY: THE REMARKABLE CIVIL WAR CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN A SYRACUSE ABOLITIONIST AND A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER
Among the nearly one million documents in the OHA archives are two 1864 letters exchanged between two men who never met. In each, the writers try to passionately convince the other to understand their very opposite positions in a war that has torn apart their nation. Learn about the powerful insights into our past that original documents can provide. (30 minute – PowerPoint Presentation)
5. ECHOES OF OUR PAST: THE HISTORIC LANDSCAPES OF SYRACUSE’S CEMETERIES
A visual tour to the various burial grounds and graveyards in Syracuse with an explanation of how they developed and what they reflect about our past. (60 minute – 35mm Slide Presentation)
6. ELECTRONICS PARK: THE STORY OF SYRACUSE’S INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC ENGINE
The local economy made a major shift following World War II into the dynamic field of electronics, spearheaded by General Electric’s cutting edge facility in the Town of Salina. This program examines how Electronics Park came to be and the historical legacy that it still retains. (25 minute – 35mm Slide Presentation)
7. FROM BUFFALO BILL TO BACH: A HISTORY OF CULTURAL ACTIVITY IN SYRACUSE
A chronological exploration of how and where past Syracusans experienced the various entertainment options available to them, from refined performances to populist amusements. (60 minute – 35mm Slide Presentation)
8. GEORGE BARNARD: SYRACUSE’ PHOTOGRAPHIC PIONEER
The life of 19th century photographer George Barnard who captured some of the earliest photographic images of Central New York and then documented national events like the Civil War and the 1871 Chicago Fire. (60 minute – 35mm Slide Presentation)
9. SYRACUSE AND THE ERIE CANAL
A personal exploration of the city’s long term relationship with the canal, even after it was filled, with an examination of the handful of its remnants that still can be discovered inside the city. (45 minute 35mm Slide Presentation)
10. SPRINGS, LAKES & RESERVOIRS: THE HISTORY OF SYRACUSE’S WATER SYSTEM
Syracuse’s water supply was not always drawn from the crystal clear depth of Skaneateles Lake. Before that 1890s project, the community struggled with a variety of sources. Probe the story of Syracuse’s various attempts to develop a safe and dependable water system and how that was important to the health, safety and economy of an American city. (45 minute - 35mm Slide Presentation)
11. SYRACUSE CHINA RIDES THE RAILS: REFLECTIONS ON THE GRAND ERA OF RAILROAD PASSENGER TRAINS
For nearly a century, locally produced Syracuse China was used on most of America’s passenger train service. The style, appearance and even shape of the plates often reflected the trends in American railroad history. This talk looks at various examples of Syracuse’s railroad era china and the stories they tell about the experiences of America’s famous trains. (40 minute – PowerPoint Presentation)
12. SKIRMISHING SITES: THE BOISTEROUS SAGA OF BUILDING ONONDAGA COUNTY’S FOUR COURTHOUSES.
The program will explore the various sites that were used over the decades to house Onondaga County government. The actual locations are directly reflective of the community’s growth as the courthouse moved from locations influenced by turnpike construction, salt manufacturing, canal building and finally, the City Beautiful Movement of the early 20th century. Along the way, there were intense civic rivalries that had to be faced, conspiring land speculators, shrewd politicians, conniving salt boilers, and secretive arsonists. It is also the story of changing architectural styles, historic preservation battles and visionary citizens. (60 minute – 35mm Slide Presentation)
13. BOTTOMS UP: A SHORT HISTORY OF THE BREWING INDUSTRY IN SYRACUSE
Beer has been made in the Syracuse area as early as the 1790s. This program reviews its local history, ties to various ethnic neighborhoods, struggles with the Temperance Movement and the Depression, and its revival in the late 20th century with both local brewpubs and national industrial giants. (30 minutes – 35mm Slide Presentation)
14. THE STORY OF LT. BENJAMIN PORTER OF SKANEATELES: CIVIL WAR NAVAL HERO
Porter never lived to see his 21st birthday, but his exploits during the Civil War were remarkable. This program explores the life of this 19th century hero, whose life-size figure now graces the permanent exhibit to Onondaga County veterans in the War Memorial. (60 minutes – 35mm Slide Presentation)
15. THE PUBLIC TRANSIT HERITAGE OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
A look at how public transportation modes have evolved over time from stagecoaches to CENTRO, with an exploration of how these various conveyances and systems impacted the physical growth of Syracuse. (30 minute – PowerPoint Presentation)
16. THE STORY OF PIERCEFIELD: SOLVAY’S HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD
Explore this neighborhood, which once overlooked the vast industrial works of the Solvay Process Company. It was originally developed in the late teens early 1920s, as a tract for large homes owned by the officers of the Solvay Process Company. It included the grand mansion of the Hazard Family, financiers of Solvay Process, on an estate known as Upland Farm. Discover the original homes that still survive, and even traces of the Upland estate. (30 minute - PowerPoint Presentation)
17. JOHN CROUSE AND HIS MARVELOUS BUILDING
Perhaps the most popular and visible building at Syracuse University, aside from the Carrier Dome, is the stunning landmark known as Crouse College. This program tells the story behind the building, how it came to be built and some of the eccentricities of the family that donated it. (30 minute – PowerPoint Presentation)
18. GUSTAV STICKLEY AND SYRACUSE ARTS & CRAFTS LEGACY
This program explores the great traditions that developed early in the 20th century that made Syracuse a center for the national Arts & Crafts Movement. The lecture reviews the story of Gustav Stickley, but also touches on the contributions of local architect Ward Wellington Ward, stained glass craftsman Henry Keck and the artists at Syracuse China.
(30 minute – PowerPoint Presentation)
19. ABOLITIONIST TRIBULATIONS AND CELEBRATIONS: THE AFTERMATH OF THE JERRY RESCUE
Many people have heard about the bold rescue of a fugitive slave from the hands of federal marshals that took place in Syracuse on October 1, 1851. But for much of the story, that event was only the beginning. The aftermath involved arrests, trials, secret journeys, protests against the rescuers plus provocative anniversary celebrations that shocked local officials. Learn the whole story of the Jerry Rescue with this program.
(30 minute – PowerPoint Presentation)
20. ROUTE 81: A BRIEF HISTORY AND HOW TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS HAVE LONG-RANGING IMPACTS ON OUR COMMUNITY
A controversial topic today involves the future of Interstate 81 through Syracuse. This program investigates how it came to be built in the first place and explores how other transportation corridors of the past, such as railroads and canals, had long-term impacts on the shape of our community. (20 minute – PowerPoint Presentation
21. THE POLITICS AND AESTHETICS OF ELEVATING TRAINS IN SYRACUSE
During the first three decades of the 20th century, perhaps no planning decision proved more vexing to Syracuse city officials than how to deal with having not one, but two major railroad lines running through the heart of their downtown at grade level. This program reviews the great debate that dominated Syracuse citizens during the early 20th century and how the city eventually succeeded of removing the trains from its streets, a 100-year old condition that had made Syracuse a nationwide vaudeville joke.
(30 minute – PowerPoint Presentation)
22. YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE A CARGO OF SALT WILL LEAD YOU: DANIEL DOBBINS, SALT TRADER, AND THE WAR OF 1812 ON LAKE ERIE
The story of how a captain on the Great Lakes, with his ship named after the salt-making community of Salina, was captured by the British, escaped and helped Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry win the Battle of Lake Erie.
(35 minute – Power Point Presentation)
ARRANGEMENTS
The above programs are all illustrated lectures presented by Onondaga Historical Association’s (OHA) Curator of History, Dennis Connors. Those that are indicated as 35mm Slide Presentations require presentation in a facility/room where light levels can be controlled. OHA can provide the projector, for either the 35mm slide or PowerPoint presentations, but it is expected that the host organization will be able to offer a projection screen or white-colored wall that is suitable for projection.
SCHEDULING
Programs can be scheduled by contacting OHA’s Curator of History at 428-1864, ext. 310 or by e-mail at Dennis.Connors@cnyhistory.org. A minimum of three weeks advance notice is requested.
FEES
OHA is a private, not-for-profit organization that must raise the majority of its operating budget through private support and earned income. Therefore, there is a fee for these programs. If the presentation is scheduled for Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., the fee is $125 per lecture. If the presentation is scheduled in the evening or on weekends, the fee is $175 per lecture.
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