Walking Tour

Start walking along Main St. in Oneonta, NY at the foot of the railroad viaduct, and you will see these buildings along the way! Please Note this site is under construction!

Railroad Viaduct

Until the viaduct opened in August of 1904, traffic on Main Street was regularly interrupted by trains. According to city historian Mark Simonson, twelve passenger trains a day passed through Oneonta at one time. (Simonson, "A Century of Passenger Trains") The last D&H passenger train left Oneonta on January 24, 1963. (O'Connor, pg.53) Main St. itself began as a footpath used by Native Americans, and was perhaps a foot wide (O'Connor, pg. 50). The bridge over the Susquehanna leading to where the viaduct stands was originally a covered bridge, built as a crossing for the new Franklin Turnpike in 1835. It was replaced by an iron bridge in 1888. (O'Connor, pg. 57)

The Armory

Another example of Romanesque architecture, the Armory was built in 1904. Its predecessor, built in 1885, was remarkably inexpensive, but had severe structural problems. City Historian Mark Simonson notes that in the 1900's, the Armory was a setting for charity concerts, balls and dancing classes. By the 1960's, it was the home court for the Oneonta High School Basketball Team. From the 1920's to the 1970's, the Annual Police Benevolent Association Ball was held there, featuring entertainers like Glenn Miller and Guy Lombardo. (Simonson, "Armory Always Center of Community").

Red's Filling Station

Built in 1925, this building once served as a Coca Cola bottling plant.

The D&H Railway Station

Built in 1892 the D&H Railway Station is a fine example of Romanesque architecture. According to Slawson and Schull in Oneonta Landmarks The Delaware and Hudson Railway company "at one time kept a greenhouse and flowers were presented to each lady passenger" (Slawson and Schull, Oneonta Landmarks, pg. 11).

Bresee's

The aluminum facade was added in 1959. It covers the facades of two turn of the century buildings. Frank H. Bresee opened his Oneonta store in

Bissell Block

Home of Greater Oneonta Historical Society, the oldest brick commercial building in town,(?) built in 1866.

Hotel Oneonta

Built on the site of the old Central Hotel which burned in 1910,the Hotel Oneonta featured a "billiard parlor and bowling allies in the basement, and a ballroom on the top floor". (O'Connor, pg. 75) Note the lions looking down on Main Street.

Municipal Building

Built in 1906, "the clock tower was added as a bicentennial project and is a replica of one which stood on an adjacent landmark in the Westcott Building, destroyed in 1969". (Schull, pg. 186)

The Old Post Office

The Old Post Office was built in 1915, and served as the post office until 1967.

Wilber Bank

Wilber Bank Building was built in 1929. Wilber Bank opened in Milford and moved to Oneonta in 1873. It was chartered as Wilber National Bank in 1874. Its original home burned in 1906.

Wilber Mansion

Wilber Mansion was built by George I. Wilber, whose father was the founder of Wilber National Bank. It was built in 1875, and, like the Masonic Temple on Main Street, extensively renovated in the 1890's to the "high victorian style".

Masonic Temple

The House that is now the Masonic Temple was built by David Yager in 1867. It was later the home of George W. Fairchild, who remodeled it in the "high victorian" style, adding a round tower on the outside, and a ballroom and mahogany library on the inside. Fairchild was a United States Congressman who was involved with International Business Machine Corporation in its early days. The house is the birthplace of his son, Sherman Fairchild, inventor of the Fairchild Aerial Camera. The Masons bought the house in 1929.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

O'Connor, David Old Otsego County in Postcards Molly Yes Press New Berlin, New York 1982.

Schull, Diantha Dow Landmarks of Otsego County Syracuse University Press Syracuse New York 1980.

Simonson, Mark "Armory Always the Center of Community" The Daily Star, May 17 and 18, 2003 (Backtracking Scrapbook 50b New York State History Room, Huntington Memorial Library.

Simonson, Mark "A Century of Passenger Trains" The Daily Star, March 24, 2003. (Backtracking Scrapbook 50b New York State History Room, Huntington Memorial Library.

Slawson, Alma F. and Schull, Diantha Dow Oneonta Landmarks Mid State Recreational Publications Laurens, New York 1973. "Grips" Valley Gazette" Albany, NY; December 1896 Vol. 1 No. 12 (Historical Souvenir Series No. 3) Oneonta and Vicinity.

With Thanks to the Staff of the New York State History Room at Huntington Memorial Library

Railroad Viaduct Until the viaduct opened in August of 1904, traffic on Main Street was regularly interrupted by trains. According to city historian Mark Simonson, twelve passenger trains a day passed through Oneonta at one time. (Simonson, "A Century of Passenger Trains") The last D&H passenger train left Oneonta on January 24, 1963. (O'Connor, pg.53) Main St. itself began as a footpath used by Native Americans, and was perhaps a foot wide (O'Connor, pg. 50). The bridge over the Susquehanna leading to where the viaduct stands was originally a covered bridge, built as a crossing for the new Franklin Turnpike in 1835. It was replaced by an iron bridge in 1888. (O'Connor, pg. 57)
The Armory Another example of Romanesque architecture, the Armory was built in 1904. Its predecessor, built in 1885, was remarkably inexpensive, but had severe structural problems. City Historian Mark Simonson notes that in the 1900's, the Armory was a setting for charity concerts, balls and dancing classes. By the 1960's, it was the home court for the Oneonta High School Basketball Team. From the 1920's to the 1970's, the Annual Police Benevolent Association Ball was held there, featuring entertainers like Glenn Miller and Guy Lombardo. (Simonson, "Armory Always Center of Community").
Red's Filling Station Built in 1925, this building once served as a Coca Cola bottling plant.
The D&H Railway Station Built in 1892 the D&H Railway Station is a fine example of Romanesque architecture. According to Slawson and Schull in Oneonta Landmarks The Delaware and Hudson Railway company "at one time kept a greenhouse and flowers were presented to each lady passenger" (Slawson and Schull, Oneonta Landmarks, pg. 11).
Bresee's The aluminum facade was added in 1959. It covers the facades of two turn of the century buildings. Frank H. Bresee opened his Oneonta store in
Bissell Block Home of Greater Oneonta Historical Society, the oldest brick commercial building in town,(?) built in 1866.
Hotel Oneonta Built on the site of the old Central Hotel which burned in 1910,the Hotel Oneonta featured a "billiard parlor and bowling allies in the basement, and a ballroom on the top floor". (O'Connor, pg. 75) Note the lions looking down on Main Street.
Municipal Building Built in 1906, "the clock tower was added as a bicentennial project and is a replica of one which stood on an adjacent landmark in the Westcott Building, destroyed in 1969". (Schull, pg. 186)
The Old Post Office The Old Post Office was built in 1915, and served as the post office until 1967.
Wilber Bank Wilber Bank Building was built in 1929. Wilber Bank opened in Milford and moved to Oneonta in 1873. It was chartered as Wilber National Bank in 1874. Its original home burned in 1906.
Wilber Mansion Wilber Mansion was built by George I. Wilber, whose father was the founder of Wilber National Bank. It was built in 1875, and, like the Masonic Temple on Main Street, extensively renovated in the 1890's to the "high victorian style".
Masonic Temple The House that is now the Masonic Temple was built by David Yager in 1867. It was later the home of George W. Fairchild, who remodeled it in the "high victorian" style, adding a round tower on the outside, and a ballroom and mahogany library on the inside. Fairchild was a United States Congressman who was involved with International Business Machine Corporation in its early days. The house is the birthplace of his son, Sherman Fairchild, inventor of the Fairchild Aerial Camera. The Masons bought the house in 1929.