CLAY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

The Clay Historical Association was the brainstorm of Jim Gulnac, Director of Recreation and Human Resource for the Town of Clay.  It held it's first meeting on April 10th, 1974, with a mission of educating people on the history of the culture and residents of Town of Clay.  In recent years the Town of Clay assigned 2.8 acres of land on Route 31, west of the railroad tracks in the hamlet of Clay to be the Clay Historical Park.  This parcel of land that is the Clay Historical Park holds the some of the Town's Historical Buildings.  It is the Association's responsibility to promote and present programs in the buildings in the Town of Clay's Park

The old Cigarville Railroad Station houses the museum that provides visitors with a view of life during the early years in the Town of Clay.  In addition to the railroad station, there is the Sellen-Weller barn that dates back to 1840, a replica of one of the first log cabins to be built in Clay and in May 2005, we had the Grand Opening of the new 'Welcome' Center, which houses the rest rooms, a gift shop, soon to be kitchen and an assembly room with a platform stage for recreational and CMA society programming.

Activities are held through-out the year for visitors to see the buildings open.  Group tours are also available at the park through-out the year.  Many cub scout groups go through to earn merit badges.  School groups are shown through to learn early American History.

The Clay Historical Association owns the old School House of District #5 (pictured below) on the corner of Grange Road and VanHoesen Road.  This now serves as our Association's home office.  This building is available for renting to small groups.

With the responsibilities of preserving the past for the future, we are always looking for new members to join the Association.  Meetings are on the fourth Monday of the each month at 6:30 PM.  Programs of historical interest are presented to members and guests.  The membership fee is $5.00 per person each year.

Application: Mail to Clay Historical Association, c/o Carl Lepinske, 4894 Grange Road, Clay, NY 13041:

Name (s): _________________________________________________

Address (complete): ________________________________________________

Phone #: ________________________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________

Program information is listed below and updated as new programs are added.

Pictured Old #5 School at 8591 VanHoesen Road, Clay, NY.  Home of the Clay Historical Association home office.

For further information regarding the Clay Historical Association, you may contact: John Wheeler, President – 315-695-6202, Mary Benschoten, Vice-President-315-652-1482 or Joanna Snow, Secretary- 315-695-6392.

Town of Clay Co-Historians: Dorothy Heller-315-695-2540 and Harold Baker-315-699-5197.

Email: Historian@townofclay.org.

   ~THE CLAY HISTORICAL PARK~

The Park is located at 4939 Route 31, Clay, NY, behind the Immanuel Lutheran Church. It is located on the west side of the railroad tracks. It currently has the Cigarville Railroad Station, the Hamlin Log Cabin, the Weller Barn, and a new Welcome Center.

PARK IS OPEN ON SUNDAYS FROM 1:00-4:00 PM THRU SEPTEMBER FOR TOURS OF THE BUILDINGS.

 2007 Clay Historical Association Calendar  

September 22nd, 2007-Saturday-FALL FESTIVAL-Clay Historic Park.  There will be Demonstrations: "Old Time Musket", Weaving, Soap Making, Sauerkraut Making, Log Cabin, Rummage Sale and More.  "Antique" Tractors and Trucks will be on Display.  The Buildings will be open for Tours, along with Food, Crafts and a Bake Sale!  There will also be a Chicken BBQ and Pie Sale by Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church next door! 

October 6th-Saturday-Soap making class at 9:00 AM-Noon at School House.  Fee: $10.00.  Call Inez Baker at 699-5197 to register.

October 22nd-Monday-Ken Sweet will appear at the School House with a program on Erie Canal at 6:30 PM.

Nov. 26th-Monday-Meeting at School House at 6:30 PM.

Dec. 2nd-Sunday-CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE beginning at 4:00 PM with the TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY at 6:30 PM, held at Town of Clay Historical Park, which will include Choral Groups, Hot Chocolate, Crafts, Bake Sale, Games and a special appearance by SANTA who will be stopping at the Park....and more!

The Clay Historical Park buildings can also be seen by appointment.  

Pictured the Cigarville Train Station Museum.

LOCAL HISTORY LESSON:

The Town of Clay was originally a part of the Town of Cicero.  On April 16, 1827 the western portion of Cicero became the Town of Clay.  

Prior to that time the first white settler, Patrick McGee, in the town had taken up residence in what is known as Three River Point.  Three River Point is located in the north western corner of the town where the Oneida River, The Seneca River, and Oswego River.

This area had often been used by the great councils of the Iroquois Confederacy, and here the great chiefs addressed the braves of the Hurons, Adirondacks and Abenaquis.  The French and English met with the Chiefs, orators and diplomats, equal to themselves to discuss the pertinent issues of the day.

Patrick McGee first saw Three River Point in 1780 as a prisoner of the British.  He said that he selected the site while tied to a tree during the Revolutionary War.  They had stopped there to camp on the way to Canada.  He was charmed by the beauty of the area and was determined to return.

After the war he came back to the place he remembered and built a log cabin in 1793.  He spent the rest of his life and was buried on the spot.

By 1810 when DeWitt Clinton passed through the area looking for the best location for the proposed canal there was a house that served meals and provided lodging.

In 1815 Mary Eno had a store and hotel that supplied traveler for years.  Both camping and permanent residents settled in the area and in 1852 a post office was established with Joseph Warren Williams named as the first Post Master.

Fred Barnum established Barnum's Hotel in 1889 which became a popular attractions for people from all over Central New York.  People came by all modes of transportation including boat, horse and carriage, train and for ten cents fare, they could make a round trip on board the steamer "Bessie Lang" between Phoenix and Three Rivers.

After many owners and changes to the building's use and prohibition and the depression the building became the "Three Rivers Inn".  With "Dom" Bruno as the manager it became the popular entertainment center, which featured well-known artists of stage, screen and radio fame.  On December 19th, 1973, the Three Rivers Inn burned.

Since that time little activity has been happening in the Three River Point area.  Last year the Town of Clay gained access to the property and is currently planning to develop it for more park and recreation area along the point.