The “Haudenosaunee Singers & Dancers” will return for the third annual “Museums & More!” Day, part of the Path Through History commemoration to be held at  the Chenango County Historical Society on Oct. 11. Festivities also include the Homer Couture Fashion Show, the debut of the  Lyon Brook Trestle Bridge model,  and activities to celebrate the  “International Day of the Girl Child.” (Photo from CCHS)

NORWICH – Thanks to generous support from the Racial Justice and Equity Fund through the Community Foundation for South Central New York, the Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) will again host offerings for the semi-annual statewide commemorations known as Path Through History weekend.

In collaboration with the Friends of the Museum District’s annual “Museums & More!” Day, CCHS will host special programming from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 11. 

A highlight of the day will be the Homer Couture Fashion Show, featuring Mary Homer of Beading Wolves, a fourth-generation bead worker. The first Indigenous fashion designer to show collections during  New York City Fashion Week, Homer brings her blend of modern flare and Haudenosaunee-style inspired beadwork to Chenango County, connecting her work to these traditional Oneida homelands. 

The day also features the debut of the Lyon Brook Trestle Bridge, a scale model (where each quarter inch equals one foot of actual distance) researched and hand-crafted by architect Jim Johnson. A retired SUNY Delhi professor, Johnson has overseen dozens of industry projects. A current resident of Oxford, he is an active member of the Central New York Green Building Council and Southern Tier Building Officials.

Guests can also celebrate “International Day of the Girl Child” with the Zonta Club of Chenango County by participating in its “Computer Coding Couture” workshop. Learn more about how dressing a doll could be the pathway to a career in a STEM field. Gail Merian will share her collections and research during the “History of North American Dolls.” Other interactive workshops include “It Takes A Village” with artist and author Suzanne Bloom, and “Corn Husk Dolls” with the Shako:wi Cultural Center.

Annual festival favorites, the “Haudenosaunee Singers & Dancers” return with interactive music and movement. Festivities also include heritage toy making with the Purple Mums, Wooly Wonders’ Fiber Arts demonstrations, and  atl atl  (indigenous spear) throwing facilitated by Birchwood Archaeology. Experience “Life on ‘The Lillie’” with the Chenango Canal Association and “Liberty Has A County” with the Otselic Valley Fishing & Heritage Association. The Chenango Valley Amateur Radio Association again hosts a special event station, and  The Haudenosaunee Confederacy  exhibit—courtesy of the Matilda Jocelyn Gage Center—will be on display.

“We are tremendously grateful to the Racial Justice and Equity Fund and all of our community partners for making this year’s festival possible,” said Jessica Moquin, CCHS executive director. “Guests will be able to immerse themselves in local heritage, brought to life through amazing performances, inspiring presentations, and engaging workshops. What better way to share and celebrate community culture than through these interactive experiences?”

In 2021, the Friends of the Museum District began improvements along Rexford Street in Norwich, resulting in significant revitalization of the neighborhood. “Museums & More!” Day is a celebration of the Museum District and the community, offering a wide range of family-friendly activities in and around the museums on Rexford Street.

During  Path Through History weekends, special events are held to highlight historically and culturally significant sites, offering new perspectives on New York state’s heritage. While there is no charge for  “Museums & More!” Day activities at  CCHS, the organization welcomes contributions to support future operations. Visit  www.ChenangoHistorical.org  for more details about this and other programs.

First established in 1939, CCHS is the area’s premier heritage museum dedicated to celebrating local culture—its unique traditions and noteworthy stories.  Programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional funding for “Trains, Tractors & Traditions” has been provided by the Otis Thompson Foundation and the Roger Follett Foundation.  CCHS is also a proud partner of Bloomberg Connects, an app that allows visitors to enhance their exhibit experience through audio clips, videos, and more. Download this free digital museum guide via the Apple Store or Google Play, and visit  ChenangoHistorical.org  for more details about this and other museum programs.

The mission of the Chenango County Historical Society is to explore the culture of Chenango County through preservation and presentation of our local heritage.

- Information from the Chenango County Historical Society