Yesterdays #AtoZChallenge

History is a part of all of our lives.  Without learning about our Yesterdays, we can not fully understand the forces at work in our todays.

I'd like you to come with me for some peeks into New York State Yesterdays.  I have to warn you in advance, some of these pay tribute to painful parts of our history.  I'll try to keep them towards the end in case you would rather consider the beauty portions of history. 

Let's start with some historic buildings.

It's always nice looking in the interior of historic buildings.  I was given permission, in 2015, to take some pictures of the interior of the old Binghamton City Hall, which, at the time, was converted into a hotel.  It has since closed, and I've lost track of what is happening to the property.  The building was built in 1897.

A detail from the front doors of that building.

The home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our only four term President, who guided us through World War II.  This is his childhood home, where he also lived part of his adult life with his mother.

Oswego Armory in Oswego, New York, built in 1906.  This is currently occupied by a YMCA.

Oswego Public Library, built circa 1855.

Yesterday, spouse and I visited Owego, New York, a town about 16 miles to the west of Binghamton and decided to take a short walk to admire spring flowers.  On our walk, we ran across this historic sign.

The house it belonged to is on the right, and I felt comfortable taking its picture as it is now a commercial property.

You don't often pass the house of a Presidential candidate on a casual walk, especially a woman who ran for President before women had the right to vote in New York State.

But then, admiring a magnolia in bloom, I saw this historical sign.  The original sign dates from 1932 and commemorates the burning of the original Owego (Owegea) Native American village burned August 19, 1779 by troops commanded by Colonial General James Clinton.  You can read more about that campaign here.

Here is another historical marker related to that event, erected in 1927. I will note here that there are other historical markers related to that campaign, where other Native American villages were burned.  Another burned village, Chugnut, lay where spouse and I sometimes walk for exercise on an extension of the Vestal Rail Trail. 

History - it can be beautiful, but it also can be painful.  We need to learn from our Yesterdays, though, so we know the mistakes we must avoid - and the successes we need to repeat.

"Y" day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme:  New York State.