Livingston County Historical Society and Museum

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Livingston County Historical Society and Museum

Embracing the history of Livingston County one artifact at a time!

04/24/2026

"Pulling the Thread: A Clara Barton Story."

Join Glenn McClure and guests as they explore themes and history that are shaping his new folk music opera based on Barton's time in Livingston County recovering from PTSD and the creation of the American Red Cross.

📍April 27, 2026 at 7:00 pm at Livingston County Museum

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Rochester Area Community Foundation, and Dansville ArtWorks.

04/07/2026

🚂Come learn about the Perry Gang, April 19 at 1:30 PM!🚂

They rampaged through western NY from 1905 to 1929, robbing trains at gunpoint, looting moving freight cars, breaking into cars sitting in yards, and blowing safes in railroad stations. Presented by William Burt.

Light refreshments will be provided and additional parking is at the church!

🎟️This event is free but please register beforehand, tickets can be found at https://www.livingstoncountyhistoricalsociety.com/event-tickets/perry-gang

03/13/2026

Helen M. Pratt Esq. (1906–2000) was a pioneering attorney and civic leader whose influence shaped Dansville and Livingston County for more than six decades. A graduate of Albany Law School, she was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1928 and became the first woman lawyer in Livingston County.

Helen joined her father’s law practice in Dansville, quickly earning respect for her professionalism and dedication. Her leadership extended beyond the courtroom as she served as Village Attorney, President of the Livingston County Bar Association, and Chair of its Committee on Legal Ethics. In 1976, she was selected to serve in the U.S. Electoral College. Her commitment to community service included work with the American Red Cross and local hospitals, and she was inducted into the Dansville Central School District’s Wall of Pride. Helen M. Pratt remains a lasting symbol of perseverance, service, and local history.

Come visit us to see more artifacts like these!

03/05/2026

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 is coming up! - 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟑, 𝟔:𝟑𝟎𝐩𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦!

Doors open at 6:30 PM and trivia begins at 7:00 PM.
$25 per person, with teams of up to six players.
Cash prizes for the winning team.

Table snacks will be provided, and guests are welcome to bring their beverage of choice.

There is still time to signup on our website: https://www.livingstoncountyhistoricalsociety.com/our-events

02/19/2026

Intern Valerie Pastore helps to vacuum the case of a Civil War era cornet!

02/18/2026

Winter on the Ice, Circa 1800

This artifact came to the museum as a donation by Shirle E. Downs of Dalton. The skates were used by her aunt, Harriet Babcock Fugal.

This remarkable pair of early iron ice skates, which dates to the early 1800s, is an example of winter fun during a time when frozen rivers and mill ponds served as winter highways and gathering places. Hand-forged by local blacksmiths and strapped over everyday boots with leather and iron buckles, these skates predate modern steel blades and fixed boots. Their flat iron runners and raised heel stops reflect a practical design used for transportation, recreation, and social skating long before figure skating existed. Common throughout New England and upstate New York, skates like these connect us directly to everyday winter life in the early American Republic—when skill, balance, and momentum carried skaters across the ice.

02/04/2026

✨ You’re gonna want to save this post ✨

Big things are happening at the Livingston County Museum in the first half of 2026, mark your calendars now 👇

📅 2/8 Doing Family History in Livingston County

📅 3/13 Trivia Night – LCHS Fundraiser, help us meet our goal!

📅 4/19 The Perry Gang: Ossian Train Robbers

📅 5/4 In Our Backyard Series – Part 3

💬 Which one are you most excited for? Let us know below! For more information and continued updates stay alert on our events page: https://www.livingstoncountyhistoricalsociety.com/our-events

01/29/2026

📝TWO UPCOMING EVENTS FOR LCHS!

𝐃𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 - 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟖, 𝟏:𝟑𝟎𝐩𝐦
County Historian Holly Watson will cover the resources and services that the Livingston County Historian's Office offers, as well as FAQs about local research, including property history and interpreting maps. Bring any questions!

𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 - 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟑, 𝟔:𝟑𝟎𝐩𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦

Start thinking of your six person team and join us for a Quiz Night with a Livingston County focus. To date, we have raised 1.2 million dollars to our Start thinking of your up to six person team and join us for a Trivia Night with a Livingston County focus.

$25 per person. Table snacks provided. Bring your own beverages. Proceeds support the upcoming building project.

To date, we have raised 1.2 million dollars to our goal of 1.7 million. Help us reach our goal while having fun.

Mark your calendar, and come join us to learn about our home and support our cause!

01/13/2026

ICE HARVESTING ON CONESUS LAKE.🧊

Harvesting is a year long activity in our area. For this museum exhibit, warm weather harvest tools are displayed along with the winter harvesting of ice on Conesus lake. Prior to electric refrigeration, after World War II, homes had ice boxes which were large wooden cabinets fitted with shelves, metal trays and drainage systems that held large blocks of ice. Food could also be stored in ice houses, small exterior structures insulated with sawdust year around. Ice blocks were also stored in insulated warehouses and transported to locations in the spring and summer months. The Conesus Lake Ice Co. Lakeville's largest ice company would wait for thick, safe ice, then mark the surface into a grid of “cakes”. The ice saw was used to cut blocks, then picks and chisels were used to pry them apart. The blocks were positioned for movement with ice tongs and a pike pole, then hauled by sled to storage or loading points. This industry could employ large crews—“as many as 100 men” in a season.

These tools are part of our Farm to Table exhibit on display and we have many more photos and information available at the museum. Although closed for the season, we do open by appointment if you are interested.

12/10/2025

Imagine being a young child waking up on Christmas to this beauty. 🚲

This mid-19th (1815-1870) century children’s velocipede reflects the craftsmanship of rural blacksmiths and wheelwright shops common in Western and Central New York. Hand-forged iron curves, thin wrought spokes, and a simple bolted seat show it was individually built rather than factory-produced. Likely it was made by a local carriage maker skilled in forming sleigh runners and wagon parts. Used as an early riding toy before pedals became standard, it represents a transitional stage between hobby horses and true bicycles. Pieces like this are now rare survivors that illustrate ingenuity, artisan metalwork, and the early beginnings of childhood mobility.

Address

30 Center Street
Geneseo, NY
14454

Telephone

+15852439147

Website

http://www.livingstoncountyhistoricalsociety.com/

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