This Day In New York History

There are a lot places to find information on New York history. Plenty of organizations do a great job telling in depth stories about specific battles, famous people, and even small town tales. All of that history comes with important dates in our past.

This page is an evolving attempt to try and capture the important dates in the Empire State’s past. The database includes historic events, births, and deaths that took place on this day in history. Each one in some way directly relates to Upstate.

This database is a work in progress and is updated regularly with historic dates. Some will be wide reaching and recognizable across Upstate. Others will be noteworthy only to those who live right in the region.

Regardless of the relation, all of the dates and events included in this database have had an impact in some way to the history of Upstate New York.

Today’s Events

1775 Albany County is again partitioned, and 60 square miles are given to Charlotte County. They in turn exchanged that land with a like parcel in Cumberland County.

1805 The men of Wells and Lake Pleasant meet at the home of Moses Craig to officially form Wells, New York--the first official town in Hamilton County.

1813 The town of Gates in Monroe County is officially incorporated.

1825 John Samuel Rowell, a noted agricultural inventor and pioneer manufacturer, is born in Springwater, New York (Livingston County).

1846 The current borders between Allegany and Wyoming County are established when Allegany loses 120 square miles to Wyoming, reducing the size of Allegany County to 1,140 square miles.

1885 F.S. Mifier purchases the Monthly Advertiser newspaper in Canaseraga, New York, Allegany County.

1905 Harry C. Bunnell of Westport files a patent for a chair design given to him by his friend Thomas Lee. The chair was successfully patented on July 18, though it would soon change slightly and become the Adirondack Chair.

1977 News 10 WHEC reports on a plan to fill in Lake Ontario to cure the region's weather woes. [video]  

2004 After a nearly six-week trek from the manufacturer in Perth, Australia, the Spirit of Rochester I (aka "Fast Ferry") arrives at a port in New York City where the hull is damaged while docking.

Looking for more? You’ll find a whole bunch of Upstate history in the facts section.

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Whether it’s the closing an iconic restaurant, the birth of a well known Upstater, or a news event that made waves, it’s an important piece of our past. It may seem inconsequential, but preserving the past is an integral part of our local storytelling.

If you have a piece of history related to New York that you feel should be included, please submit using this contact form.