Photo of original Swart-Wilcox barn. (Provided by Fanny Southard)
The Swart-Wilcox Barn Committee met on Monday, October 3 to discuss the possibility of a barn for the Swart-Wilcox House Museum complex. There had been a barn on the property from the 1790s until 1968. At that time it was burned down by the City as a fire-fighting exercise.
It is now felt that a barn would help tell the story of the early settlers, who were mainly farmers. Several factors have contributed to thoughts of a barn for the Swart-Wilcox farm property.
Finding an appropriate old barn, or building a new barn with the old floor plan, is the first decision.
Baker Barn in Richfield Springs, built 1882. (Photo by Cliff Oram Photography)
The Swart-Wilcox House, the oldest in Oneonta, is looking for a 19th-century English barn to replace the original one destroyed by fire in 1968.
Upstate New York is rural. Its towns, villages, and cities are spread out and difficult to reach. There are fields and forests and lakes. For most of its over-200-year history agriculture has been, and still might be, the main industry. Upstate New York is beautiful, bucolic, serene, clear, compelling. Rolling hills encircle cool lakes; fields interrupt clumps of forest. Farmhouses, barns, and outbuildings reveal their uses by their shapes and locations. Barns, in fact, are the distinctive feature of our part of the state. Early farms had multiple crops and livestock—wheat, oats, rye; sheep, cows, pigs, chickens—which called for multiple buildings: horse barns, ox barns, hay barns, chicken houses, workshops, corn cribs, granaries, wagon sheds, and the like. The farms resembled villages.
THEATER – 2 & 7:30 p.m. Enjoy performance of broadway hit ‘Love Letter’ by A. R. Gurney about 2 characters reading their notes, letters, and cards detailing 50 years of their hope, ambitions, dreams, disappointments, victories, defeats, and more that have passed between them during their separated lives. Presented by the Klinkhart Hall Arts Center at the The Roseboro Hotel Ballroom, 210 Main Street, Sharon Springs. Visit klinkharthall.org/product/love-letters/
SUMMER SUNDAYS – 1 – 3 p.m. Local history presentation ‘America 250: Connecting Local Communities and Teachers’ by Aaron Sorensen. Free, open to the public. Bring your own mask, folding chair. Handicapped accessible. Held on the front lawn at The Swart Wilcox Museum, Wilcox Ave., Oneonta. 607-287-7011 or visit swartwilcoxhouse.wordpress.com/summer-schedule/
SUMMER SUNDAYS – 1 – 3 p.m. Favorite local author, Chuck D’Imperio, returns to share stories from his books on the charms of Upstate New York. Masks required. Bring your own lawn chair. Front lawn, Swart Wilcox House Museum, Oneonta. Visit swartwilcoxhouse.wordpress.com/2021-summer-sunday-series/
RENAISSANCE FAIR – 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Dress in you medieval/renaissance best and come out for performances by Celtic step dancers, The Happy Haggs, as well as vendors, crafters, and games for all ages at this years annual Ren Faire. Admission, $5. Windfall Dutch Barn, 2009 Clinton Rd., Cherry Valley. 518-774-0134 or visit www.windfalldutchbarn.com
COMMUNITY CONCERT – 3 p.m. Bring out the kids (and their teddy’s) for free concert ‘Teddy Goes On a Trip,’ held in memory of Marilyn Roper, principal flutist and band president from 2001 to her death in October 2020. Program will include ‘The Children’s March,’ ‘Pixar Movie Magic,’ ‘Cartoon Symphony,’ more. Under the Pavilion, Wilber Park, Oneonta. 607-376-7485 or visit www.facebook.com/oneontacommunityconcertband/
OTSEGO COUNTY FAIR – 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Come out for the Final of the 6 best days of summer featuring livestock shows, rides, games, food, Demolition Derby, Chainsaw art auction, ice cream social, open western show, much more. Otsego County Fairgrounds, 469 Mill St., Morris. 607-263-5289 or visit www.otsegocountyfair.org
STRING QUARTET – 6 p.m. Bring a chair, blankets, and a picnic and enjoy a wonderful evening with the Fenimore String Quartet performing works by Haydn, Dvorak, & Tchaikovsky. Presented by Cherry Valley Artworks. Tuscarora, 2238 Co. Rt. 50, Cherry Valley. 607-264-3080 or visit www.facebook.com/cherryvalleyartworks/
BASEBALL – Noon. Virtual Voices of the Game to honor Hall of Fame 2020 inductee Derek Jeter. Learn more about how the Yankees 5 world series titles with Jeter as the shortstop in every season. Jeter will be joined by fellow Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera, Joe Torre reflecting on their teams and the moments that shaped a dynasty. Visit baseballhall.org/events/virtual-legends-of-the-game-Ted-Simmons?date=0 for details.
SUNDAY SERIES – 1 – 3 p.m. Learn about Ned Buntline with Karen Cuccinello. Hailing from Stamford, Ned Buntline was a fascinating figure whose many occupations inculded author, soldier, patriot, temperance lecturer, tavern customer, and was also husband to many. Learn the history at The Swart-Wilcox House Musuem, Wilcox Ave., Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/SwartWilcoxHouseMuseum/ for schedule updates.
LANDSCAPE & GARDENS – 1 – 4 p.m. Fun self-guided tour around scenic Bovina-Andes-Roscoe area to view how others have beautified the landscape through their gardens. Cost, $23 day-of to support West Kortright Center. Visit westkc.org/eventbrite-event/2020-landscape-garden-tour/
SUNDAY SERIES – 1 – 3 p.m. Share your old & new quilts with Debby Clough and the Susquehanna Valley Quilters. Swart-Wilcox House Museum, Wilcox Ave., Oneonta. 607-287-7011 or visit swartwilcoxhouse.wordpress.com/summer-sunday-series/
EXHIBIT RECEPTION – 2 – 4 p.m. Celebrate exhibit “The Oneonta ‘49ers” about Oneonta storekeeper Collis Huntington who left to open a branch store and find his fortune in California, accompanied by 5 other Oneontans. Oneonta History Center, 183 Main St., Oneonta. 607-432-0960 or visit www.oneontahistory.org/upcomingevents.htm
