Please get your tickets now, as they will not be available at the door. We need a final count by Dec 21, 2025 for dinner and dancing!

Holiday 2025 – FayetteHistory.com

On November 6, 2025, at the Stone Church, Dr. Dale Freier delivered an engaging lecture on the early history of Bearytown (present hamlet of Fayette) which is at the center of Seneca County. He explained that Bearytown was named after Henry Beary, renowned for his charisma and remarkable ability to bring together the early settlers of the area. Under Beary’s influence, Bearytown grew into a central gathering place for the county. Dr. Freier highlighted how Bearytown became known for its community life, influenced by three prominent figures—Henry Beary, Charles Hoskins, and Rev. Diedrich Willers, its three taverns/hotels—the Upper, Lower, and Central Taverns, and its three churches—the Stone Church, the Methodist Church, and the Lutheran Church. In his talk, Dr. Freier spoke about Bearytown being at the heart of Seneca County and the place where differing factions could agree to meet and work towards a unified future for the county.

You can watch his lecture through this link here on Facebook at the: Fayette Historical Society page

Please click on the first page below to download the whole newsletter

On November 6th at the Stone Church @ 6:30pm: Join the Fayette Historical Society for an informative program on the history of “Bearytown,” the early name for the hamlet of Fayette.

Join us on Thursday September 25th at 6:30pm at the Town of Fayette Office Building for our Annual Meeting and Elections.

We’ll provide an overview of this year’s events and hold elections for new officers for the coming year. All current members are encouraged to attend and participate!

The Fayette Historical Society was delighted to participate in Rose Hill Historical Mansion’s Family Day on Aug 9th, 2025. Our members gave a hands-on demonstration of butter churning and shared the fun of old-fashioned clay marbles. Rose Hill welcomed 150 visitors!

In case you missed it!: Here is the YouTube video link, courtesy of the Finger Lakes Christadelphians: https://youtu.be/Byw8l3FeRnM

This is a talk by Dr. Dale Freier that you don’t want to miss! This Friday July 18th

Join the Fayette Historical Society for our upcoming local history program Canoga 1922: Big Things in a Little Place! on Friday, July 18, 2025 at 7 pm in the hamlet of Canoga. Led by Dr Dale Freier Jr we will explore the surprising events that unfolded in the early 1900’s that led the struggling community and congregation at the former Canoga Presbyterian Church to be named one of the 40 most successful country churches in America in 1922. This is a heartwarming story of local determination and community renewal. The program will be held at the circa 1830 Canoga church building now the home of the Finger Lakes Christadelphians located at 3589 Route 89, Canoga, NY 13148. The event is free and open to the public thanks to generous support from the Nelson B Delavan Foundation. Refreshments will be served immediately following the program.