Jefferson County Historical Society MuseumWelcome to the Jefferson County Historical Society

The Jefferson County Historical Society, founded in 1886, is the primary organization in Jefferson County, New York that collects artifacts, books, and documents that reflect the entire history of the county, including every geographical area and every chronological period. We preserve the history that makes Jefferson County a special place to live, work, and visit. Originally housed in the Flower Memorial Library, today the Society is located in the beautiful 19th century Paddock Mansion.
Learn about the Society, its Board and Staff.


Featured Events and News

Society Calendar updated May 4, 2012.


Historical Society 500

The Historical Society in conjunction with The Watertown Daily Times kicked off the Historical Society 500 on 1 May. We are looking for 500 people to give $50 each to preserve local history for our children. Half of the income received will help pay for needed repairs to our five historic buildings and half will pay some of the bills to sustain the JCHS through these touch economic times.

Please help us in preserving our history for future generations. Full details of this campaign are available here >> Historical Society 500.

Generations Enjoy a Mother’s Day Tea

Mother's Day TeaThe Jefferson County Historical Society held a “Mother’s Day Tea” on Saturday, May 5th. It filled the Paddock Museum main exhibit gallery with generations of daughters, sons, mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. Each enjoyed making Mother’s Day cards and having tea poured from Mrs. Paddock silver tea set from the 1800’s. Volunteers donated and served sandwiches and fresh baked sweet treats, which brought satisfied smiles to children of all ages. One family of four generations was among the guests who came to enjoy the Mother’s Day Tea at the Jefferson County Historical Society on May 5th. In the photo they include from left to right: Birdella Catlin; Shy Leigh Gushlaw and Ayden – 11 months and Lisa Fitz Patrick.

Guests were given a personal tour of the Paddock Mansion, Pink One-room Schoolhouse and Log Cabin. Program organizers Boni Shafer and Trinity Rajch gave each child a gift bag and the adults a “Tea Wallet” created by Trin when saying farewell. All were reminded about the “Father’s Day Workshop” scheduled by the JCHS for Saturday, June 16th.


Travel News

Day-Trip to Skaneateles & Auburn

The Jefferson County Historical Society is planning a day-trip on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 to Skaneateles and Auburn, NY. The itinerary will include:

  • Matinee admission to see the musical "Cabaret at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn.
  • A guided tour of the Skaneateles Historical Society/Creamery.
  • Time for shopping in the lovely boutiques in skaneateles.
  • Lunch at the Historic Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles.

The cost of the trip is $119 for JCHS members and $139 for non-members. Full payment is due when reservations area made with a June 13th deadline. For reservations or additional information, please contact the Museum at (315) 782-3491 or Joan White at (315) 788-4726.

Exhibit Highlights


Lincoln is back!

President LincolnThe conservation work on our two Abraham Lincoln documents that were displayed in last February’s Presidential Papers exhibit is complete. In celebration, the museum unveiled the two newly restored documents in our Gems exhibit. Thank you again to our sponsors for helping to preserve this important part of American history.

A special thank you to all who contributed to the conservation fund, especially Timeless Frames , Robert Kimball, MD & Beth Linderman, Dr. Andrew Crossley Family, and the Daughters of the American Revolution who awarded the museum a matching grant to help cover the conservation costs. Thank you all for your generous support.

Fire Fighting in the North Country

Fire Fighting ExhibitThe Fire Fighting in the North Country exhibit opened in August and will be on display until January of 2012. The exhibit recounts the history of firefighting efforts in Watertown, from the incorporation of the city in 1816 to the present day. The exhibit details little known facts like mandatory volunteer service by all male citizens of Watertown, epic Watertown fires, and a section detailing the fire department’s cart horses. Artifacts on display include a nearly complete Gamewell fire system and objects from the Watertown, Carthage, West Carthage, Three Mile Bay and Town of Hounsfield Fire Departments.

Gems...

#The JCHS kicked off the New Year with a new exhibit. Simply called Gems, the exhibit features rarely seen objects in our collection. The exhibit will also feature a space devoted to new accessions - a select number of recent donations that have been accepted into the museum’s collection. Updated quarterly, this exhibit is sure to keep you surprised.

The Gems exhibit has been infused with new objects. Highlights include a Knights Templar sword unearthed in Evans Mills in 1923, a letter from Thomas Jefferson, an original 1791 survey map of Macomb’s purchase - 4 million acres that originally encompassed all of St Lawrence, Jefferson, Franklin, and Lewis Counties as well as portion of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. The crown of the exhibit is a beautiful wedding quilt made in 1853 in Gouverneur, NY. This installation of the Gems exhibit will be on display until the end of July.



Our Partners

Slack Chemical Co. Clarence Henry Coach NNY Community Foundation Walker Associates
Slack Chemical Co. Clarence Henry Coach, LLC Northern New York
Community Foundation, Inc.		 Walker Associates
Jefferson County, NY City of Watertown, NY NY State Council on the Arts Westtelcom
Jefferson County, NY City of Watertown, NY New York State
Council on the Arts		 Hosting by Westelcom