The Wells, NY Historical Society, Inc. is a Corporation under Section 402 of the NY Not-for-Profit Corporation Law. The Corporation is also recognized as a 501(c) (3) by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

The Purpose of the Wells Historical Society, Inc. is:

Discovering, procuring, and preserving whatever may relate to the natural, civil, social, cultural, and literary history of the Town of Wells, Hamilton County, New York, and to establish and maintain a collection of historical artifacts, records, photographs, and objects relating thereto.

Board Members (2024)

Pat Unterborn, President and Museum Curator

Jim Schmieder, Recording Secretary

Shannon Kralovic, Public Relations Officer

Alice Megargle, Treasurer

Membership and Meetings

Anyone can become a member of the Wells Historical Society with a due of $10, which is payable on a yearly basis from October 1st-September 1st.

Membership cards will be available at all regular meetings.

 

Meetings are held March through October on the 3rd Monday of each month at the Wells Meal Site For Seniors on 105 Buttermilk Hill Rd. in Wells at 1:30 PM.

1800 - Moses Craig Homestead.

1860 - North Wells. Covered bridge over the Sacandaga.

Circa 1870s - Hiram Babcock (L) with James Burdow (R). This photo was taken when Wells was originally referred to as Wellstown, which extended from the lumber mill to the Methodist Church. The remainder of the town was referred to as Middle Wells, coloquially known as Pickleville, which ran from the Methodist Church to the beach, and contained most of the local businesses.

1881-Early 1900 - South Wells.

1886-1922 - Hotel Cochrane. The Hotel was torn down in 1929. In its place today stands the Wells Municipal Building and Virginia Hosley Free Library.

1895-1897 - Frank Stanyon served as Town Clerk. Here, Frank and his family sit outside the Town Clerk's Office.

1924-1925 - A beautiful winter's day in Wells. Pictured is the Cochrane Hotel (1886-1929). The Hamilton County Bank was built on the property in 1929. 

1950s - A winter wonderland on Main Street.

1966 - Ski Club at Silver Bells.

Undated - Jim Abbott uses an increment borer to take samples of the rings of a black ash tree for weaver strips used to make pack baskets. 

End-of-Year Financial Report

2023