05/20/2026
Hi Folks,
Here's an exciting opportunity to learn about Addison via a walking tour, starting at the parking lot next to the 7-11 on Main Street, Addison, on June 5, 2026 at 4:00 p.m, hosted by none other than Kirk House of the Steuben County Historical Society.
No cost or RSVP--tour to begin promptly at 4:00 p.m.
Note: If it looks like rain during that time, we'll let you know if there's a new date.
See details below from Kirk, about what you'll see and discuss.
Notes for a historic walking tour of ADDISON By Kirk House, Steuben County Historical Society (2019)
CENTRAL SCHOOL (Colwell Street) The oldest part of the Central School was built in 1929. In early days, of course, there were one-room schools. An early Addisonian obtained two young slaves from his brother... who won them, along with their mother, in a card game (!). The man wanted to send the boys to the local school, but the community refused. He called a meeting to remind them all that slavery was ending in New York, and that the two youngsters would have to make their own way in the world, and that that meant they had to go to school. And if they DIDN'T go to school, he would personally tear the schoolhouse down stick by stick, and throw it all in the river. The children went to school, and the schoolhouse stood.
VALERIO PARK AND VALERIO PARKWAY Mr. Valerio loved children, and he paved the street and the sidewalk in 1929-30 so that the children would not have to walk to the new school in mud. The community held a big celebration to thank him. The small space is now a center of community events, including summertime Music in the Park.
VETERANS OF ALL WARS MEMORIAL Now that our country is 245 years old, and has been at war for a good deal of that time, communities are increasingly resorting to this approach.
LIBRARY/YMCA (6 South Street) The library was originally built (1889) as the YMCA. “Y” was big in those days, especially in industrial towns and railroad towns. It provided the young man with whole-some environment and activities. It's now the public library, one of 18 in Steuben County and 49 region-wide.
Addison's library was incorporated in 1840! It was in the village hall during 1907-1923, and has been here ever since. Notice the theme of VERTICALITY or PERPENDICULARITY in Addison!
OLD VILLAGE HALL MEMORIAL PARK (intersection of South Street and Tuscaroroa Street) It’s a small space, but it held a pretty good-sized village hall! Like the “Y”, the village hall emphasized verticality or perpendicularity. They ran out of money part-way through, and had to get underwriting from the Odd Fellows lodge, in exchange for giving them use of the third floor. It was completed 1907.
Unfortunately, the second floor became THE place to shoot pictures of Main Street -- much like 1 Liberty Street in Bath became THE place to photograph the courthouse! Because of that, many photos show essentially the same view!
Note: photo of downtown Addison, courtesy of the Steuben County Historical Society
