welcome

SLCHA is a member of the St Lawrence International Partnership, a group of museums along the St Lawrence River in the US and Canada. Visit their website to request a SLIP Passport, which offers discounts at the museums.

The Silas Wright House Museum is accreditated by the American Association of Museums

This website is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, A State Agency

Books Wanted for SLCHA's Used Book Bonanza

This young man is all set for summer reading. Are you? Don't miss the St Lawrence County Historical Association's Used Book Bonanza! The Used Book Bonanza will be held in the front yard (and inside) the historical association's home, the Silas Wright House, during St Lawrence County Dairy Festival Weekend. The Used Book Bonanza will be open Friday, June 1st, noon – 8 pm and Saturday, June 2nd, 10 am – 4 pm. Bring books to the St Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright House, 3 East Main Street, during regular open hours, Tuesday through Saturday noon to 4 pm, Friday noon to 8 pm. More information

Julia Crane's Legacy

Julia Crane believed that with proper training, the graduates of Potsdams Normal School would be able to teach music as well as they could teach reading or history to their students. Crane is the topic of Dr Caron Collins' Brown Bag Lunch Messengers of Music: The Legacy of Julia E Crane.  This Brown Bag Lunch program will be held at noon, Thursday, May 17 at the St Lawrence County Historical Association. Bring your own lunch and enjoy a beverage and dessert provided by SLCHA. More information

Grasse River Camp Photos Added to Rushton Exhibit

After the Rushton Race Weekend, photographs of camps upstream on the Grasse River from the late 19th and early 20th centuries have been added to an exhibit on J Henry Rushton at the St Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright House. Four aerial photographs of the Village of Canton from 1939 to the 1960s are also on display. Pictured here is Camp Gilmore in 1880, a popular spot for many Canton citizens. George Gilmore was in the furniture and undertaking business, located on Hodskin Street in Canton. (From the collection of the St Lawrence County Historical Association). More Information

Downtown Village of Canton Reconstruction

NYSDOT is progressing the design of a highway project on US Route 11 through the Village of Canton in St Lawrence County. The 1.0 mile project begins at the intersection of Route 68 and continues north to the intersection with Stiles Avenue. The objectives of the project are to improve pavement conditions and storm drainage, to correct existing and emerging operational problems and safety related deficiencies, as well as to improve pedestrian and bicycle access.

Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2012, to be completed in Fall 2013. We will remain open during Main Street / Route 11 reconstruction. Parking will continue to be avaliable behind Silas Wright House and can be accessed from Court Street.

Civil War Sesquicentennial

150 years ago this month:

• May 4, 1862 - Yorktown, Virginia, occupied by Union
• May 5, 1862 - Battle of Williamsburg (Virginia)
• May 7, 1862 - 92nd NY - 7 miles from Yorktown, 2 miles from Rebel Batteries; General Palmer's Brigade consists of 92nd, 93rd, 98th 81st and 85th NY Regiments
• May 7, 1862 - Captain Anderson acting as regimental Commander although he is ranked by Major Hall. (Hiram Anderson received commission as Lt Col. 04-14, 1862 with rank from 03-13, 1862)
• May 7, 1862 - 1000 men detailed by General McClellan to fight tomorrow , not to bring on a battle just to send out a "flyer"
• May 7, 1862 - 16th and 18th Regiments with General Franklin near West Point will have the first brush with the enemy.
• May 7, 1862 - Through 05-8: 16th NY at Battle of West Point supported Ayers Battery with four companies acting as skirmishers. 6 killed, Captain N M Curtis wounded and 10 others wounded. 92nd engaged and at front but no casualties.
• May 8, 1862 - Battle of McDowell (West Virginia)
• May 8, 1862 - through May 30: 92nd NY marching up the Peninsula with army. Expecting that Governor Morgan would appoint Captain Lewis Hunt the next Colonel (Commissioned and mustered in regiment May 24, 1862)
• May 10, 1862 - Norfolk, Virginia, occupied by Union; battle of Plum Bend (Tennessee)
• May 13, 1862 - 60th NY Lt Col William Goodrich promoted to Colonel
• May 13, 1862 - Most of 60th Regiment moved to Harpers Ferry, VA (4 companies stayed on Railroad duty for a couple weeks commanded by Major E.C. James)
• May 15, 1862 - Battle of Drewry's Bluff (Virginia)
• May 23, 1862 - Battle of Front Royal (Virginia)
• May 25, 1862 - Battle of lst Winchester (Virginia)
• May 30, 1862 - Corinth, Mississippi, taken by Union
• May 31, 1862 - Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks (Virginia) (to June 1st)
• May 31, 1862 - Battle of Fair Oaks (Seven Pines) 92nd in Casey's Division, Palmers Brigade.
• May 31, 1862 - 92nd NY heavily engaged lost 16 killed and 4 officers wounded including Col Hunt , 57 men wounded with 28 men missing.
• May 31, 1862 - 98th NY lost 11 men killed, 3 officers and 31 men wounded, 26 men missing

Events in bold are St Lawrence County events