Question: The question this week is a simple one. What does this photo have to do with the activity that has been taking place around the village in recent weeks?
Last week’s answer: Did anyone find the answer to last week’s photo? By going to the 1902 microfilm of the Gazette, it was not too hard to come up with the event. Information about it showed up on May 29, July 17 and 24, during the planning stages.
The jackpot was hit with the featured article on July 31:
“A SUCCESSFUL CONVENTION
A LARGE CROWD ATTRACTED TO BALDWINSVILLE
BY THE VOLUNTEER FIREMEN.
BUSINESS SESSIONS HELD ON TUESDAY; BANQUET IN THE EVENING
GRAND PARADE WEDNESDAY MORNING – WINNERS
OF THE PRIZE CONTESTS.”
The article states that this was the fourth annual convention of the Onondaga County volunteer Firemen’s Association. It says that the village was fully decorated to welcome the firemen. The decorations even included an arch placed on Canal Street just west of the crosswalk in front of the village hall and was brilliantly illuminated during the evenings of the convention. The arch was 30 feet wide and 25 feet high and decorated with the national colors and emblems. The soldiers’ monument and village hall were also trimmed.
The business sessions of the convention were transacted on Tuesday. At the close of the sessions an adjournment was made to the village hall where a substantial banquet was given the visiting delegates by the citizens of Baldwinsville, Landlord Hatfield being the caterer. A number of speeches were given after dinner with the most noted being given by Congressman M.E. Driscoll.
On Wednesday, it was time for fun. Many visitors came by trolley. The article states that the principal streets of the village were thronged throughout the day. The parade of more than 1,000 marchers started at noon. It was formed at the north end of Bridge Street. The route was extensive: Bridge Street to Canal, to Salina, to Tabor, to Lock, to Canal to Virginia, to Elizabeth, to Oswego, to Oneida, to North, to Genesee, to Canal, to Bridge, to Syracuse, to Grove, to Canton, to Tappan, to Seneca, to Downer, to Syracuse and back to Bridge Street. It goes on to say what groups were involved.
In the afternoon there were several competitions with prizes. The Prize Drill took place on Canal Street between the village hall and the post office [Seneca Hotel]; Hose Race took place west of the sash and blind factory on Canal Street to the hydrant in front of the Wormuth block — the first prize for that one was a big one: $150. A Hook and Ladder race was held on the same course as the hose race; a Water fight was held on the river bridge; a 100 yard dash for firemen only — the winner getting a box of 10-cent cigars; and a five-mile bicycle race.
The photo shows Canal Street facing east or in today’s language East Genesee Street! The building on the left still exists, currently housing a physical therapy office. The next building was the Shea building, now the location of Baldwinsville Liquor. The tall one with the flags was the Wormuth block and as far as the eye can see the rest is Morris Machine Works [today the Baldwinsville Public Library is located at the far back].
In case you don’t know Canal Street (named for the Baldwin Canal) ran from just west of the village hall to the intersection of Salina Street. It has been renamed to Genesee Street. Bridge Street ran from the river bridge north to the intersection with Elizabeth Street getting its name for the Baldwin Canal and the Seneca River bridges.
Contact Editor Sarah Hall at [email protected] or leave a message at 434-8889 ext. 310 with your guess by 5 p.m. Friday (please leave the information in the message; we are not generally able to return calls regarding History Mystery responses). If you are the first person to correctly identify an element in the photo, your name and guess will appear in next week’s Messenger, along with another History Mystery feature. History Mystery is a joint project of the Museum at the Shacksboro Schoolhouse and the Baldwinsville Public Library.
