Stays and petticoats, chemisettes and spencer jackets—discover what it took for a lady to be fashionable in the year of Newstead’s beginning! Living historian and dressmaker, Anneliese Meck will describe all the details while getting dressed in a historical reproduction of an 1823 ensemble, complete with the proper undergarments, day dress, and accessories.

Don Shonn will continue a discussion of local land titles that will highlight the battle of the Tonawanda Senecas to avoid removal to the west and to preserve their ancestral land. Don is a long- time member of the NHS, former Village attorney, and real estate lawyer.

Our Newest Exhibit “Fashions from the Collection” features a nostalgic nod to the past as living historian and dressmake Anneliese Meck opens the season with a small presentation on fashion history .  This exhibit will be on view for the 2024 season.

Learn about the historic journey of the Whiting Door Manufacturing Company. From the humble beginnings  of a father and two sons staring a local business—with grit and determinaion—that later burned to the ground to its current place as the world’s leading manufacturer of doors in the tractor trailer industry.  Speakers are Marybeth Whiting and Alexandria […]

The Akron/Newstead area has an extensive history staring in 1834 with the Medina and Darien horse-drawn railway. Followed by the NY Central “Peanut” branch in 1853, and finally the NY West Shore and Buffalo gauge quarry railroads. Join us for a power point presentation hosted by railroad historians, Bob Andrycha and Bob Scheib.

Explore the history of a third and fourth generation farm which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Find out the background of this local farm that now has global recognition as “A Great Place to Work”. Presented by Jeannette Kreher Heberling.

On July 4th the Knight-Sutton Museum (123 Main St.) will be open from 10-4 pm. There is no admission charge and everyone is welcome.  Our annual pie sale will take place in front of the museum from 9am till all the pies are sold. Please stop by and choose a delicious pie for your holiday. […]

This program will take the audience from the first ideas  of a canal to the building and the problems faced. The role of DeWitt Clinton will be stressed and how the canal changed America. Greg Kinal, retired history teacher from Pembroke High School, will entertain and enlighten the audience with his presentation.

The stories, myths, and controversies surrounding our two-term president and his Buffalo-born wife, Frances Folsom Cleveland, abound to this day in historical circles. Bren T. Price, Sr.,  Buffalo Presidential Center Trustee and Explore Buffalo Master Docent will share  some of his findings and ask you to share yours. Some of them are quite controversial.

Don Shonn, Terry Abrams, and Paul Winney will share another installment on challenges the Senecas faced after the treaties. The previous two programs were well received so please join the discussion and learn about the preservation of their ancestral land.

For the Christmas season we will be open for" Light Up Akron" with an expanded version of our fashion exhibit so if you have seen it before or have not seen it all please stop in. It has been added to and updated. There is a trolley that will shuttle you back and forth between […]

Saturday, December 14th, the Octagon will be open from 6pm - 8pm. Suggested donation is $5 for adults. We will have family-friendly beverages and cookies in the canning kitchen, and a tree lighting ceremony throughout the evening.  Once again, the Christmas Trolley with Jim and Lynn Asmus as hosts will take visitors back and forth […]