Published: July 10, 2009 12:00 am      

'Summer Sundays' programs to begin

The Swart-Wilcox House Museum will kick off its seventh annual Summer Sundays schedule with a program on the history of Emmons Farm on Sunday.

The Swart-Wilcox House, the oldest surviving home in the city, invites visitors and residents to come to these presentations. Programs are held every Sunday from 1 to 3 at the house, which is on Wilcox Avenue across from Riverside School. All events are free and open to the public, with tours and light refreshments available.

The house has recently received donations of many objects from the estate of former resident Raymond Beecher. The historic items came from his wife's family, the Dimmicks, who lived on Church Street and had invented a well-known kidney and bladder remedy cure.

For more information, call Tina Morris at 432-0665 or Debby Clough at 432-8417. The Summer Sundays schedule is as follows:

Sunday: Catherine Bellino and Anita Armbrister will present "Emmons Farms _ A New Look at Old Gardens." Bellino, a Master Gardener, has lived at Emmons Farms for more than 37 years and has continued its long history of gardens. Armbrister, also a Master Gardener, is the gardener at The Farmers' Museum. They will discuss the history of the gardens and its premier gardener, Onni Keto. Audience members will be shown images of Emmons Gardens of the past.

July 19: Landin Van Buren, Joe Rizzo and Judy Johnson MacLachlan will present "Oneonta's Little Grocery Stores." Three longtime area residents will lead a group discussion about the little grocery stores that were here long before the supermarkets. Those who attend will have the opportunity to share their own stories.

July 26: Al Bullard will present "Hop To It!" Bullard will discuss the history of the local area's hop industry, which was a significant part of the local economy in the 19th century. Bullard will show slides and share hop-related artifacts, using the house's hop vines as examples.

Aug. 2: Lynn Bissell will present "$$$$$$$," a program on the history of money.

Aug. 9: Ellie Stromberg will present "Goin' to Pot!" Stromberg, a longtime potter whose wares can be seen at The Artisans' Guild, will display her work and discuss her creations. The Swart-Wilcox House's collection of old stoneware will be on display.

Aug. 16: Mark Simonson will present "Old Oneonta Schools." Simonson will talk about the Old Plains School, River Street School, Mitchell Street School, East End School and Center Street School, inviting former pupils or neighbors to share their photos and memories of these schools.

Aug. 23: Theresa O'Brien will present "Felting." O'Brien will demonstrate this fiber art, and welcomes those in attendnace to bring felted items to share.

Aug. 30: Ernie Mahlke will present "The Old Trolleys of Oneonta," a discussion on this bygone mode of public transportation.