Page 17 - 2024 Cortland Travel Guide

HISTORY
YOUR UNCONVENTIONAL ADVENTURE STARTS HERE!

Q uirky, whacky and occasionally spooky, the Cortland Curiosities Strange & Forgotten History Trail is your ultimate guide

to exploring the bizarre side of Cortland County. Explore the county’s weird and magical past and get to know our larger-than-life

historical characters along fascinating stops that will take you through all things unusual in our little corner of New York. Plan your
strange trip back in time at cortlandcuriosities.com or get social @cortlandcuriosities. Stay curious, travelers!

New York Central College Cemetery

While the tremendous history of New York Central College in McGraw could never be forgotten, its tiny student
cemetery nearly was. Despite the progressive college’s initial success, in 1860, plagued by growing social and
political opposition and a smallpox outbreak, the college would succumb to bankruptcy and close. Over time its
small student cemetery was swallowed by the surrounding forest. Rediscovered by a curious history teacher
more than 100 years later, the New York Central College Cemetery now hosts a self-guided walking tour, where
you too can discover its history in this nearly forgotten cemetery.
Curiosity piqued?
Check out the Boneyards & Burial Grounds Trail to unearth forgotten burial grounds, reckless murders and
villains who inspire goosebumps.

Mysterious Mask

The Suggett House Museum at the Cortland County Historical Society is brimming with
Visit the
Cortland County’s history on display. But what do you do when an artifact’s history is a
Cortland
mystery? Carved from a solid block of wood by Charles Torrey of McGraw (1867-1951),
Curiosities
this curious mask was donated to the historical society in 1976 by Mrs. Mary Torrey. The website!
following year it was loaned to Colgate University’s Parker Galley for a temporary exhibit before returning to the
archives. When the current historians rediscovered this unusual artifact, it was quickly discovered why it might have
remained in storage for so long. No matter where you are in the room, its hollow eyes seem to follow you. Remi-
niscent of a death mask, its inspiration or even the date of creation is unknown. Did Mary Torrey donate the mask,
simply to be rid of this haunting visage?
Curiosity piqued?
Check out the Whodunit in Homer Trail to try your hand at solving a more than 100-year-old cold case.

Memorial Boulder

It’s not often you discover a massive boulder serving as a gravestone in a cemetery. However, Cortland Rural
Cemetery is, in itself, most unusual. In 2015, the 150-year-old cemetery officially became an open-air museum
with the installation of a “cemetrail”, a self-guided 20-stop tour covering the history, geology and art within this
44-acre burial ground. One of our favorite stops is the colossal boulder, honoring the Jewett family. Thisstyle
of marker became popular within the naturalist movement in the Victorian Era. Arising from the romantic
movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, naturalists were drawn to the outdoors, collecting rare plant
specimens, rocks and minerals and taxidermy. It is believed that this raw, unpolished boulder reflects that movement.
Curiosity piqued?
Explore the Legends & Lore Trail and discover the tales of those who refused to rest in peace.

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