McGraw’s local history can be explored through specific local topics: a library founded in 1906, collections on the history of the Village, two distinct cemeteries, and the history of corset companies. There is also a clear geographic reference: the Village lies in a narrow valley that runs east from Cortland.

Library and Historical Collections

The Lamont Memorial Free Library was established in 1906 at 5 Main Street in McGraw, New York, and has been housed in Daniel S. Lamont’s childhood home since its founding. Its address, founding year, and connection to the childhood home give the library’s history a specific local and personal context. The McGraw Historical Society’s Local History Room is located behind the library. This distinguishes the library’s history from the room’s local context, even though the two places are geographically connected.

The McGraw Historical Society’s collection includes furniture, photographs, news articles, scrapbooks, photo albums, postcards, and books about the Village and its residents. Its range brings together objects and visual and written keepsakes, with the place and its residents at the center. A special collection focuses on New York Central College. The Society thus offers both a broad view of local history and a clearly defined special topic.

Cemeteries and Local Business History

The Old Baptist Cemetery was the first community cemetery in McGrawville, now McGraw. The New York Central College Cemetery offers a self-guided tour of its history; check local visiting arrangements before your visit. The two cemeteries represent different historical themes: the Old Baptist Cemetery is associated with the first community cemetery, while the New York Central College Cemetery offers a tour focused on cemetery history.

The local corset industry can also be placed in historical context. P.H. McGraw & Son ushered in the corset boom in the 1880s; the McGraw Corset Company was one of the later businesses to follow P.H. McGraw & Son. McGraw Box Brewing has a different, much later business history: it opened in McGraw in June 2022. These different company names and dates belong side by side without being conflated into a single business.

Historic District and Location

McGraw’s Main Street Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Alongside individual institutions and historical topics, this named district is another distinct point of reference in the Village’s history.

The Village of McGraw lies in a narrow valley running east from Cortland and is about half a mile wide. Its approximate width and direction provide a specific geographic reference. Together with the local collections, cemetery-related topics, and business histories, this offers a picture that reflects both the Village’s location and various aspects of its past.

Explore more destinations: Cortland, Marathon.

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