Johnstown Historical Society
About us
Johnstown, New York is a small upstate community of approximately 8,000 residents with a long, long history. Within its boundaries are the Fulton County Courthouse, reputed to be the oldest still operating, courthouse in our nation. It is the birthplace of suffragette, Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The original Fort Johnstown still stands. The Fort has served as the Fulton County Jail and is now the Fulton County Planning Department building. The iron bars are still on the windows and a canon still stands at the ready.
Sir William Johnson, for whom the city is named, came to the area in 1738 from his native Ireland. In 1762 Sir William began the building of Johnson Hall in John’s Town. (That’s the way it was spelled). This was the beginning of the first settlement of any significance in the area. And so the story begins. . .
In 1981 Dr. Robert Morris Palmer, Fulton County Historian, directed the compilation of a booklet entitled “Historical Fulton County, New York.” The booklet describes Sir William’s rise to power and historical significance in the area. The booklet is among the more than 3,000 documents, books, maps and manuscripts preserved by the Johnstown Historical Society.
The Johnstown Historical Society is 130 years old. It began as an idea when eleven civic-minded citizens realized that Johnstown possessed a unique and precious historical heritage and that there was no repository for receiving and preserving artifacts.
Today, the Johnstown Historical Society is a small but dedicated group of individuals who work to preserve three buildings, the artifacts in those buildings, and the documents in its library. It is a daunting task. The Society needs to reach out to the community for its support and assistance. Please read on to learn more about the properties and the mission and vison of the Society.
Our Mission
The discovery, collection, preservation and display of historical data, buildings and items relating to the history of the Johnstown, New York area.
Our Vision
- To preserve and restore the Drumm House, the James Burk Inn and the Johnstown Museum.
- To open all buildings to the public to foster an appreciation of our past.
- To inventory all artifacts and create displays that will demonstrate to current and future generations how their ancestors lived and worked
- To catalog all historical documents to enable and encourage historical research.