Freeville reveals railroad junction historic marker

Freeville recently revealed a recognition that highlights an important part of the village’s history.

Freeville officials unveiled the village’s first-ever historic marker. Funded by the Syracuse-based William G. Pomeroy Foundation, the marker “commemorates the railroad junction that spurred Freeville’s rapid growth” in the late 1800s and made the village “an important regional rail hub” for close to 100 years, said Freeville Board of Trustees member David Fogel.

“It’s wonderful to see our small village receive this recognition of our railroad heritage,” said Freeville historian Kristen Olson. “Freeville played a big part in local railroad history, and the marker helps to make that story known to a wider audience.”

According to the Pomeroy Foundation website, Freeville served as a “regional rail hub” from 1870 to around 1976.

Noted on the Pomeroy Foundation’s website, for decades “at least four trains would be at the Freeville junction twice a day, each train looking to exchange passengers, baggage, or freight, and then get cleared for departure. The traffic from the railroad junction aided the growth and development of Freeville and in 1887, voters of the village made the decision to incorporate.”

Fogel noted that when the village considered applying for a historic marker, they received encouragement from the Pomeroy Foundation.

The tracks for the two Lehigh Valley Railroad lines that crossed in the village were almost 50 years ago, Fogel said, noting that the Pomeroy Foundation doesn’t typically approve applications for markers commemorating structures that no longer exist.

Fogel said, however, that Freeville’s Station Park, which showcases the history of railroads in the village, was enough to “justify the funding of a marker” at the site. 

The Station Park project was completed last year. It is a history-themed pocket park and bus stop located on a village-owned parcel within the old Lehigh Valley Railroad right-of-way, which is at the intersection of Route 38 and Factory Street.

“It was a real pleasure to work with the Pomeroy Foundation staff,” Fogel said. “They were especially helpful with the drafting of the marker text. For example, they suggested that we cite Freeville’s incorporation as a village in 1887 and even tracked down the proof of that date for us.”

Fogel, who was the master of ceremonies for the historic marker unveiling on Sept. 30, said the ceremony also “sort of” served as a dedication to Station Park. Fogel added that the ceremony was “a great success.”

“It was extremely gratifying for me to finally see Station Park completed after nearly a decade of planning and construction,” Fogel said. “That the park itself played such a key role in the success of our application for a NYS historic marker, which now stands so proudly in front of the park, is icing on the cake.”

Fogel mentioned that with Station Park’s guidance for informing Freeville residents about the village’s “rich rail-roading history,” the historic marker will “further lend that legacy much-appreciated visibility.”

“Both Station Park and the new historic marker are the culmination of the vision of [David] Fogel,” Olson said.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Fogel said that Danny Armitage, a railroad historian who was raised in Freeville, witnessed the final years of the railroads in the village. Armitage presented an old Lehigh Valley Railroad freight station sign to Freeville officials. Fogel added that Armitage “rescued the sign” when the station was being torn down in the late 1970s.

“The sign will soon be mounted in a place of honor in the village hall,” Fogel said.

Due to the village’s “multifaceted history,” Olson said that Freeville could have opportunities for more historic markers in the future.

“Towards the west end of Main Street, what was known as the ‘Lower Four Corners’ at Mill and Johnson Streets was the heart of the village in the pre-railroad era, when Freeville developed as a mill and postal hamlet,” Olson said. “On the east side of the village, the George Junior Republic has had far reaching significance from its founding in in the 1890s as the ‘Freeville Fresh Air School,’ providing a summertime educational experience for disadvantaged city children. The birthplace of William ‘Daddy’ George on Asbury Road in Lansing has a historic marker, and it would make sense for there to be one at what is now the William George Agency as well. 

“Also, the Spiritualist Association just off Cook Street drew many visitors to their grounds around the turn of the 20th century and are still an active community today.”

Information on the William G. Pomeroy Foundation can be found here.

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Dryden recreation seeks assistance with haunted house event

The Town of Dryden Recreation Department is seeking assistance with its annual haunted house event “Asylum: Will You Survive?” on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28 at the Dryden Fire Hall at 26 North St. in the village.

Dryden recreation is seeking adult scare actors and volunteers to set up the haunted house. People interested in volunteering can email Jason Rossow at wyrmdragn@gmail.com or Marty Conger at recreation@dryden.ny.us.

Freeville files annual financial report

The village of Freeville announced that the financial report ending May 31, 2023 was filed with the New York State Comptroller’s office.

The report is available to view on the village’s website or at the village hall on 5 Factory St. from 8 to 11 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.

For information, contact the village office at 607-844-8301.

Yoga for Life held every Wednesday in Freeville

Village of Freeville resident Michelle Dardia is hosting a Yoga for Life session every Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Freeville United Methodist Church at 37 Main St. 

The drop-in fee for the session is $10. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Some experience is helpful but not required, as the sessions are committed to being accessible.

Variations and modifications are offered, and extra mats and blocks will be available at each session. 

For information or questions, contact Dardia at dollysdaughter@hotmail.com or 607-279-4785.