Little Falls and Herkimer House 8-26

We are in Little Falls NY

Little Falls was first settled around 1723. The need to portage around the falls promoted a trading location on the site of the future city, allowing it to be the first settlement in the town. The small settlement here was destroyed by the Indians and Tories in June, 1782, and the place was not resettled until 1790 and was known at times as "Rockton" and "Rock City." Little Falls was incorporated as a village in 1811, and reincorporated in 1827. The City of Little Falls was chartered in 1895.

The Western Inland Canal (early attempt of the Erie Canal) was constructed in 1792 and helped the local economy. The Erie Canal, completed in 1825, passes through the city. Lock 17 of the New York State Erie Canal replaced the 3 locks of the original 1825 Erie Canal and until recent years was the highest lift lock in the world at 40.5 feet (12.3 m) in height.

Little Falls was a major cheese center in the third quarter of the 19th Century

Our spot on the wall is great and we had a very restful night last night. To day we walked down to the Canal shopping area for a great lunch and Ice Cream at Old Sals. This afternoon the Dock master Chris drove us to the Herkimer House and then to get a few provisions.  

Georgian-style mansion that was the home to courageous Revolutionary War hero, General Nicholas Herkimer. He completed construction of his mansion about 1764 in the Mohawk Valley frontier. General Herkimer's place in history was assured in 1777. Herkimer was en route to help defend Fort Stanwix when he and his men were ambushed by British-allied Loyalists and Iroquois at Oriskany. Although seriously wounded in the leg, Herkimer kept command during the fierce combat. After the battle, Herkimer was carried home and his leg was amputated 10 days later. Infection had already spread and hours later, when Herkimer died reading from his Bible, he was immediately regarded a martyr to the cause of American freedom, and his home became a shrine. Visitors to Herkimer Home today will marvel at the grandness of this Georgian-style mansion that once stood on the colonial frontier. The unspoiled landscape, including the Herkimer family burial ground, is remarkably unchanged from that of the 18th century.

Rotary park Harbor

this said it is a "red neck truck"

original lock and key on the house

family dining room was an open area that also acted as a family
room

this is believed to be from General Herkimer's house

the chest and chair also are original possessions of the Herkimer family

this was made by Elizabeth Herkimer a niece of the general 

the dark block is a tea brick the larger clamp like instrument
on the table is a real sugar tong, not the tiny one that we think
of today

this was a guest bedroom

dutch doors were for keeping farm animals out of the house

making cloth for clothing was an important part of the chores. Even
young boys and men were taught to knit
see additional pictures in next blog