ARCHITECTURAL STYLES OF CLINTON/KIRKLAND HOMES
The Historical Society welcomed Kirkland Town Historian, Richard Williams to their October 2024 Meeting. Dick shared his presentation detailing the various styles of 19th century architecture found throughout the Town of Kirkland, including Queen Anne, Italianate Villa and Gothic Revival. During his discussion, he highlighted Sears Modern Homes, which were kit homes that debuted in Sears Catalogs in 1908. They were sold by mail order and included the blueprint and all materials to build the house. When Dick said that there are at least five Sears “Kit homes” in the Kirkland/Clinton area, member Sharlene Machold said that her mother’s home on White Street in Clark Mills is a Sears kit home.
REVEREND URBAN NEWMAN
The November 2024 Historical Society meeting featured our own member & trustee, Theresa Newman McFadden presenting the life story of her uncle, Urban Newman. Urban was a WW I veteran, who despite losing his leg, was a very active man. He was the minister of the Walesville Baptist Church, continued to work the family farm, served as the Westmoreland Town Supervisor and Chairman of the Oneida County Legislators, was instrumental in starting the Westmoreland Post Office (where he later served as the longest running Postmaster) and was a co-founder of the Oneida County Airport.
Theresa shared pictures, newspaper articles, and a photo of the Pomeroy historical marker that she worked so hard to have placed at the Newman Homestead, site of his home and farm at 7537 South St.