Page 19 - 2024 Cortland Travel Guide

HISTORY
Happened

History Here

Join us on a journey through famous faces, iconic buildings and historic gems
that have shaped this vibrant county into what it is today.

and the opera’s stage. The library’s hidden
gem lies in its stunning stained-glass
windows, visible only at night or during
special events.

INSIDERS TIP | The historic opera house is open to
the public during the 1890 Union Fair and CNY Maple
Fest, for the bi-annual book sale
MCGRAW
The former “Corset City”
with a waist-slimming history!
P.H. McGraw & Son kicked off
the corset craze in the 1880s
until the Warner Bros.
stepped in with a healthier
alternative. This paved the
way for subsequent companies like the
McGraw Corset Company and the Empire
CINCINNATUS Corset Company, who cinched their way
One of the original six towns of Cortland up to international fame with innovative
styles such as “Never Rust,” “Sorosis” and
County, Cincinnatus was the birthplace
of Adelaide Hawley Cumming, the first “Reduzyou.”
Betty Crocker. Alice’s Dowry for the INSIDERS TIP | Visit McGraw Box Brewing Co., once
Arts documents the town’s history and home to The McGraw Box Co., known for crafting
displays resorted antique items curated by corset packaging
the Cincinnatus Area Heritage Society. VILLAGE OF HOMER
Don’t miss the 1820s streetlight that hung TRUXTON
Explore Homer beyond its charming
at the four corners of the town. In Truxton, baseball
facade to uncover its fascinating ties to
INSIDERS TIP | The small town hosts the annual buffs can uncover
Abraham Lincoln. Dive into its history
G-Bar-T Rodeo with live music at the Rodeo Grounds. history tied to
to uncover how locals influenced the
(5703 Rt. 23) the legendary
legacy of the 16th president, from Francis
manager, John
CITY OF Bicknell Carpenter’s iconic artwork to
CORTLAND William Osborn Stoddard’s pivotal role McGraw. Standing
Cortland’s musical as a presidential secretary and Eli DeVoe at 5-foot-7, this fiery
legacy shines with thwarting an assassination plot. Irishman revolutionized the game with
his spirited tactics and led the New York
Ronnie James Dio,
INSIDERS TIP | Pick up a copy of Lincoln’s Gift from Giants to glory as a player-manager. In
a hometown hero
Homer, New York: “A Painter, an Editor, and a
turned global rock 1938, the “Greatest Sporting Event in the
Detective,” written by municipal historian, Martin
icon. From his humble History of Cortland County” unfolded, as
Sweeney at Bev & Co.
beginnings at Cortland High to legendary over 8,000 fans witnessed the Truxton
Giants take on MLB powerhouse New
status with Black Sabbath and more, his VILLAGE OF MARATHON
legacy is immortalized not just in music, York Giants at McGraw Field (which still
Downtown Marathon boasts the impres-
but also on the local map, with a street stands today).
sive Peck Memorial Library, a 2.5-story
named after the legendary metal singer – INSIDERS TIP | Visit John McGraw’s Monument,
landmark from the 1890s. The eclectic
“Dio Way.” which stands tall today on the very sandlot where
late Victorian architecture originally
McGraw’s baseball journey began. (3674 NY-13 in
INSIDERS TIP | Dio Day, celebrated annually at Night housed a library, bank and opera house.
Truxton)
Owls on July 10, is the official hometown tribute Explore remnants like the bank’s vault
concert dedicated to honoring Ronnie James Dio. 19