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

1857 James R. Beckwith, and American farmer, politician and businessman in Wisconsin, is born in Elmira, Chemung County.

1905 Patent #794,777 is given to Harry C. Bunnell of Westport for a chair design by his friend Thomas Lee. The Bunnell Chair would soon become popular and change slightly in its design to become known as the Adirondack Chair.

1930 Eastman Kodak Company is added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, where it is listed until 2004.

2018 In honor of Billy Joel's 100th show played in Madison Square Garden on this date, Governor Andrew Cuomo declares this to be "Billy Joel Day" in New York State.

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.