Cincinnatus Area Heritage Society

09/05/2026

9/4. They arrived. They tore into the rotten upper door decor. They built a long section that they moved up the ladder and fitted into place. And yes, we gave the shrubs a haircut while they were working.

Our thanks to Ricky Yale and John Byroads for making Heritage Hall as stately as it must have been back in 1832.

09/02/2026

08/30/2026

September has that feeling of a fresh start, of time starting over again. Apples go to c***r, children go to school, books open, things are written, the world is studied.
Our point: Local businesses stay put. They remain what they've been...there for us.

08/30/2026

How intent the learners. Today (8/29) each person spent half an hour with local weaver Megan Ludgate. If you'd like to take a turn, call the Kellogg Free Library or 607-863-3856 or 607-745-5473. We'll find a time for you.

Next month/September the library and CAHS will be presenting two classes in wool hooking. Call the library or one of the above two numbers to register. (The first class is filling fast.)

08/29/2026

Fait accompli. The wall has been rebuilt, adding a certain old world charm to CAHS's museums. And the leftover cobbles (from the 1920 wall) form a border near one of ADA's ponds.

08/27/2026

And as yesterday (8/26) unfolded, we were further elated to find a photo of John Quincy Perry (1838-1899), one of the early owners of what came to be known as the Bennett Hotel. The oldest part of our deed search shows that John's wife, Marcella/Marcelia Perry sold the hotel to Augustus Bennett in 1889, ten years before John's death. (In the 1880 census John's occupation is listed as "hotel keeper.") Never did we expect to see a photograph of young John Quincy Perry. What a find for CAHS and our many followers.

08/27/2026

Once again we are enormously grateful to John Sheerar for saving, years ago, a large collection of glass plates, plates that he turned over to CCS science teacher Moe Seager. Moe died in 2022, and his son and daughter took it upon themselves to load up the collection and make a trip to Cincinnatus, unloading the many heavy boxes at Heritage Hall. As we slowly make our way through the collection, we are sometimes amazed. Yesterday (8/26) was one of those days.

We already had the young version of Alice Holmes (in the gold-colored frame), and we'd already seen the older version of Alice Holmes Barnes. But now we have the side view of what appears to be a newly married Alice Barnes. (The plate has "Mrs. Barnes" written at the top.)

Our gratitude extends beyond John Sheerar and Moe Seager (and his family). It's CAHS board member Jim Button who painstakingly makes his way through the boxes, sending us images that we can share with our followers.

NOTE: Alice, her husband (Dr. Nelson Barnes) and their daughter Anna lived in the 1876 home that we currently call "Alice's Dowry for the Arts"/ADA. The home was presented to Alice as a wedding gift from her father Peleg Holmes (who lived next door, in the house where Bill and Kelli Fuller live today). Alice was born in 1841, and she died in 1926.

08/27/2026

Now here's a photograph of the town's ear of corn that we've not seen before. And here's a brief history on the subject: The first ear had its origin in George and Sharon Pryor's barn in 1995. A second larger ear was built in 2004-2005.

Taking a look at the back end of the car on the left, do you think this is the 1995 ear or the 2004-2005 ear? Also take note of the bird sitting on top of the ear.