Pictured are Library Director Norm Parry and New Woodstock Regional Historical Society Kathleen Weimar unveiling historic roadside marker. (Photo by Jerry Weimar)
(New Woodstock NY – Oct. 2013) The New Woodstock Regional Historical Society was awarded grants to install historical markers on two properties in the Hamlet of New Woodstock. A dedication ceremony and reception were held on the sites Sunday, Oct. 20.
The William G. Pomeroy Foundation has been providing grants for Historic Roadside Markers since 2006, and has funded over 80 markers primarily in Central New York. As of 2013, the program was expanded to cover all of New York State. Grants are awarded to municipalities and 501.c.3 not-for-profit organizations. The markers are the traditional blue with gold lettering. In 2014, the age range has been expanded to 1740 – 1900.
The Town of Cazenovia has many historic properties worthy of special recognition with historic markers. The criteria for the grant in 2013 stipulated an age range of 1790 – 1850, and required that documentation be copies of original documents (no secondary sources). Town Historian, Sara Chevako, and the New Woodstock Regional Historical Society selected two properties which were particularly noteworthy – the former Jonathan Smith Tavern and the former Methodist-Episcopal Church.
Jonathan Smith was one of the pioneer settlers of the area, having purchased in 1793 150 acres that included all the property on the south side of Route 13 in New Woodstock. About 1805, Smith built a substantial tavern on the road that was to become part of the Hamilton-Skaneateles Turnpike. The tavern was a local gathering place and also served as the first post office as well as a voting location in the early days. The structure is largely intact from the day it was built and is very likely the oldest continuously occupied building in the hamlet. The historic marker is placed in the front lawn to be visible from the road.
A quarter-mile east of the Smith Tavern, a group of citizens incorporated the First Methodist Episcopal Society on Sept. 7, 1835. Trustees included Jonathan M. Smith, a nephew of the tavern owner. Property was purchased on June 13, 1836, and construction began shortly thereafter. However, it took a long time to complete the work. Records of the Female Benevolent Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of New Woodstock document that the building was occupied by 1841.
By the 1990s, the congregations of the two churches in New Woodstock had begun meeting jointly, and it was finally determined to sell the Methodist building. During this same period, the New Woodstock Free Library had completely outgrown its facility, and was considering the purchase of land on which to build. In August 1995, the Library purchased the church building. It was the perfect adaptive re-use of the building, and it has been restored and enlarged since then.
The historic marker has been placed at the front corner of the building.
We would like to acknowledge with gratitude the following:
*Nancy Maliwesky and Paula Miller of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for their encouragement and support
*Matthew Urtz, Madison County Historian, who found several of the documents
*Charles Lewis, owner of the Smith Tavern, who did considerable research on the 200-year history of his property
*Norm Parry, New Woodstock Free Library Librarian, who located some of the church and library documents
*Many others, who searched out and copied documents and assisted in the research and compilation