Darwin R Barker Historical Museum

04/11/2026

Today!

04/10/2026

The Memorial Urn in Houghton Park was dedicated to Douglass Houghton (1809-1845). A doctor, teacher, scientist, and mayor of Detroit, he attended the Fredonia Academy in his youth and later documented the vast copper mines in Michigan’s upper peninsula. Copper from those mines provides the foundation of the urn.

Join us on Saturday, April 11th at Noon for a lecture from author Deborah Frontiera as she discusses her new book about Douglass Houghton.

Photo by Bob Gregory, 1963.

03/21/2026

Upcoming author talk will discuss local and regional history. The topic is Douglass Houghton, a fascinating figure and the namesake of SUNY Fredonia's Houghton Hall.

03/14/2026

The Fredonia Bicentennial Quilt is now on display at the Barker Museum. It depicts village landmarks in magnificent detail. Over 70 local quilters collaborated to create this quilt in 1976.

03/07/2026

Local history lecture at the Fredonia Opera House -- County Historian Norm Carlson will present research on Chautauqua County's connections with the American Revolution!

Eliakim Garfield's notebook, which he kept from 1771-1797, came with his son John when he moved to Busti, NY in 1820. In it is Eliakim's account of 'the shot heard round the world' that started the Revolutionary War. It reads: “This Day April ye 19th 1775 the Kings troops Come to Concord and being their maid very unwelcom Returned home with greate speade and much Loss.” It resides now in the Fenton History Center.

This and many more Chautauqua County connections to the war will be discussed Thursday, March 12 at 7PM at CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY & AMERICA'S 250TH with Norm Carlson - part of Here & There: Chautauqua County History, Travelers, and Memories.

This event is free to the public, donations are always welcome.

02/20/2026

Eliza Whipple Pratt (1827-1914), Preceptress at the Fredonia Academy.

Ann Elizabeth Whipple, better known as Eliza, was born July 23rd, 1827, in Oneida, New York. She was the oldest of five children and attended school at the Maplewood institute in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, graduating in 1849. In 1854, Eliza became the Preceptress of the Women’s Department at the Fredonia Academy. In addition to this role she also became a teacher of French and an assistant to Mr. Daniel Johnson Pratt, the president of the Academy who had started the position the same year. The following year she would acquire the role of teacher of Metaphysical Science, and on August first, she would get married to D.J. Pratt, though neither of their families would be able to attend the wedding. During her time at the Academy, Eliza established herself as a beloved member of the Fredonia community. Loved by students and faculty, she engaged in numerous social groups including the Fredonia Ladies Aid Society which she was president of.
By 1864, both Eliza and her husband had retired from their positions in the Academy, and soon moved to Albany, New York. On September 12, 1884, D.J. Pratt passed away in Albany at age 57. Eliza and Daniel had three children together, as well as one adopted daughter. Their only son, Louis Whipple Pratt, was born in Fredonia, and moved to Tacoma, Washington, where his mother would stay with him beginning in 1905. Despite living with her son in Washington, Eliza still traveled quite a lot. She would often have long stays revisiting Fredonia, Albany, and Brooklyn, New York where one of her daughters lived. On one such visit to Fredonia in 1912, she stayed with her adopted daughter, Mrs. J.K. Starr, for seven weeks. At that time, a reception was held for her where she met with around twenty former Academy students in the “Historical room” of the Barker Library, all with wonderful things to say about her. A birthday picnic was also hosted for her the same day. On January 19, 1914, Whipple passed away in Tacoma, Washington at 86 years old in her son Louis’ care, loved not only in Fredonia, but across the state, living a fulfilling and well-traveled life. -Riley O., Intern

02/19/2026

Aerial view of the Fredonia Normal School, c. 1950. Central Ave is visible is the distance and the Barker Street School stands in the foreground.

01/27/2026

We’ve all heard the new words and phrases the youth use nowadays, words like “rizz” and “goated,” but have you ever heard the word “skizzeringtum”? The word served as the title of the Fredonia Normal School yearbook in 1914 where the students claim “There is scarcely a person in Fredonia or in the vicinity of Fredonia who is not more or less familiar with the word … meaning, as you all know, ‘Abounding in Surplus Energy.’” Like many slang words used today, skizzeringtum seemingly entered the vocabulary of students out of nowhere in September of 1913, with faculty of the school having to ask students for the definition! The word wasn’t just popular in the Fredonia area though, taking on different spellings such as “spizzerinctum” the term would reach as far as Texas! Today the word spizzerinctum can not be found in every physical dictionary, though it can be found on the Merriam-Webster online dictionary with the definition “the will to succeed: vim, energy, ambition” and an etymology referring to a possible connection to “spizarinctum cash” or “specie,” a type of money in the form of coin.
Skizzeringtum may not be the go-to slang for kids today, but the constantly evolving vocabulary of the youth is something kids from every decade have in common. If you want to learn more about the old Fredonia Normal School, stay on the lookout for the Barker Museum’s upcoming exhibit all about the 2026 Bicentennial!
-Riley O., Collections Intern

Photo: 1914 Fredonia Normal School students

12/24/2025

The Barker Museum will be closed on Dec. 26, 27, and 30.

12/23/2025

Today we share some sad news about the passing of our volunteer, Wayne Leamer. He will be missed by all at the Barker!

The Chautauqua County Genealogical Society is deeply saddened by the loss of Wayne Leamer, a dedicated researcher, volunteer, and friend, who passed away unexpectedly on Monday, December 8, 2025 at his home in Ashville, New York, at the age of 75.

Wayne was born May 22, 1950 and lived his early years in Ripley. He worked in construction in his youth and later operated an electronic repair shop near Lakewood. Wayne was an essential member of the Chautauqua County Genealogical Society, serving as the editor of the newsletter, Chautauqua Genealogist, for 19 years, longer than anyone in the position. Wayne also served as the Membership Chairman and was the consistent representative of the CCGS, showcasing our publications at various annual events and festivals. For the last year and a half, Wayne was also a weekly volunteer at the Chautauqua County Historian’s office. He could often be found conducting research at local libraries, clerks’ offices, the Fenton History Center in Jamestown, and the Barker Library and Museum in Fredonia.

Wayne was dedicated to his numerous projects that involved researching, indexing, digitization, and compilation of genealogical data. Recent projects include an expanded edition of the CCGS publication A Guide to Chautauqua County, New York Cemeteries and Burial Sites. Wayne was also industriously collecting and processing 21st-century obituaries, undertaking extensive downloading and scanning efforts to make these records accessible to genealogical researchers. In addition, he carefully verified newspaper availability, recognizing that database coverage cannot be assumed to include every issue. These efforts represent only a portion of the many projects to which he devoted his time and effort.

Wayne’s long consistent participation extending over the terms of numerous presidents and other society officers imparted a consistency and reliability to the image and the reality of the society that were a major part of its enviable reputation among genealogists. Wayne’s contributions will be irreplaceable. He will be deeply missed by his many friends and fellow researchers.

12/05/2025

We've heard a rumor that Santa will be reading at the Barker Library from 12:30-1PM tomorrow during Miracle on Main Street!

The Darwin R. Barker Historical Museum will be making Christmas crafts for Miracle on Main Street tomorrow, December 6, from 1:00 to 2:30! Crafts will include holiday card making, angel necklaces, and Victorian tree decorations! Come see the exhibit decorated for the holidays, and while you’re waiting, have a look at a Christmas advertisement for the Fredonia Ford location featured in the Fredonia Censor on December 22, 1949. -Riley O., Intern.

11/13/2025

Save the pennies!

…And put them into your Citizens Trust Company penny bank!

Produced by the Burns Company located on Broadway in 1908, and sold to regional banks. This metal cowbell-shaped deposit box stored spare change, which could be deposited at a guaranteed interest rate of 3%. The kicker? The bank had the only key.

Here is a coincidence for you: this penny bank was donated yesterday–the same day the penny stopped being minted.