The Scriba Historian

06/22/2026

Oswego County Fair Heritage Building
July 1 - 5
Featuring
Miss Lagoe's
Art Students

06/22/2026

The Historic House on the Hill-Scriba's Freedom House

Snippet #3

It was in that year, 1853, that Mr. and Mrs. Robinson relocated to a different farm in Scriba, which included a home partially constructed of stone by an Irish stone mason. It is speculated that Mr. Robinson built the wooden addition to this house, as he was a carpenter by trade. The stone portion of the house still stands. Mr. Robinson and his wife Anna were “quite possibly” involved in the abolitionist movement and have been reputed to have aided in the Underground Railroad. (This house has not been identified as being involved in the Underground Railroad.)
Mr. Robinson and Elizabeth Benton were married on June 16, 1882. Mr. Robinson built this new home, reportedly for his second wife. On the corner of City Line Road and State Route 104, the historic house still stands.
Judith Wellman, of the Oswego County Freedom Trail Project, offered this information in her listing of possible Underground Railroad sites: Mr. Robinson, Af. Am-” first house over the city line on the East Oneida Street State Highway between Oswego and New Haven”, Scheulke 10.
This home is listed on the Town of Scriba’s Historical House listing. The original construction date of this historic home is around 1860, according to Oswego County records. The chain of deeds establishing dates and owners is being researched as of this writing, but what is known is that Thomas Robinson built this house and lived there with his wife, Elizabeth. The next owner is a widow that Mr. Krul worked for, then Frank Krul’s Uncle, then a Krul sister-in-law in 1965, then Frank Krul’s father, then Frank Krul, 1976-2023, and lastly, Mr. Rich Burritt of Locavore@Burritt’s, LLC.
This historic house is at risk of being destroyed. This historian, representatives from the Town of Scriba, and the Scriba Historical Society have conferred together with Mr. Burritt in determining a course for this house preservation. Under the current circumstances, it is not feasible to relocate this house. We are grateful to Mr. Burritt, who continues to contemplate the preservation of this unique, historic piece of Scriba architecture and culture.

Laurie Ann Marrano-Johnson
Town of Scriba Historian

06/20/2026

Getting ready to take this show on the road!

With Miss Lagoe's classes wrapping up, this exhibit makes its final appearance in celebration of AMERICA 250.

Stop by the Oswego County Fair to see your town display.

Oswego County Fair Oswego History Records Center Scriba Historical Society

06/19/2026

June 19, 2026

This is Jubilee Day, the day freedom from slavery is celebrated!

"Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S."

The Emancipation Act
Issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared that all enslaved people in Confederate territory were permanently free. It fundamentally transformed the Civil War from a conflict to preserve the Union into a moral crusade to abolish slavery. It only applied to states in active rebellion against the Union. It did not free slaves in border states including Texas where the Union Army was not well represented.

"On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas. He informed the enslaved African Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. This momentous occasion has been celebrated as Juneteenth -- a combination of June and 19 -- for over 150 years."

- From the National Museum of African American History & Culture

06/19/2026

Well, friends, here’s a photograph we unearthed that absolutely shows some of your parents or grandparents. This photograph is of the St Mary’s School 8th grade graduation, June 1937. The second post is the names listed on the back of the photograph.

The Scriba Historian
Heritage Foundation of Oswego County
Richardson-Bates House Museum
Mexico NY Historical Society
Pulaski Historical Society

06/17/2026

06/14/2026

June 14, 2026

The Historic House on the Hill- Scriba’s Freedom House
(The Robinson/Krull House)

Snippet #2

It was in the Bicentennial celebration year of 1976 that Frank Krul moved into this Scriba historic home, built by an early settler, the only African American man listed in the 1850 town census. His name? Thomas Robinson. Mr. Robinson was born to an enslaved African American woman and was the son of a white slave owner. The year was 1810.

With the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1820, many enslaved people were forced to leave the United States and flee to Canada. Thomas Robinson and his mother traveled north and settled in the Kingston, Ontario area. Apprenticed to a black carpenter, a young Mr. Robinson acquired great skill in this trade. According to the records reports, Thomas made a very good living from farming and land acquisition as well. It was in Canada that Mr. Robinson married Anna McCoy, a Scottish immigrant, and brought two of his six children with him when he traveled back to the United States.

The family moved to the town of Scriba in Oswego County in the late 1830’s and purchased a farm on County Route 57, within half a mile of what would become the city of Oswego.

Fondly called the father of Riverside Cemetery, Thomas farmed the land on County Route 57 and sold it to a private group that formed the Riverside Cemetery Association of Scriba in 1853. This sale consisted of the land purchase of 140 acres of the Robinson farm for $5600.

I continue to gather bits and pieces of information, and as I do, I will share them with you. Thanks for traveling this road with me.

The work continues, the adventure does not end and the discovery of new information is the reward!

06/14/2026

Today on Flag Day, June 14, 2026, the Town of Scriba shines brighter with the completion of one of its America 250 Projects, illuminating community pride with newly installed flag poles and lighting.

As the nation celebrates this patriotic milestone, we're thrilled to unveil the beautifully lit flags located in important town locations.

Be sure to check out the flag and lighting installations in landscapes of: North Scriba Union Cemetery, Peck's Cemetery, Hillside Cemetery, Scriba Town Park, Town of Scriba Water and Builds and Grounds Building, Town of Scriba Municipal Building, and Veteran's Memorial Park.

06/14/2026

🖼: Poster from the 140th anniversary of flag day (Willard and Dorothy Straight Collection/Library of Congress)

06/10/2026