Wanakena Historical Association
Celebrating the History of the Clifton-Fine Area
2025 Season Theme "Mapping Place"
Events & Exhibits
Each year the Wanakena Historical Association plans a series of Events and Exhibits exploring a broad theme designed to prompt a deeper understanding of Clifton-Fine area history, and engage visitors in the area’s rich cultural heritage. This year, "Mapping Place" is the theme, and both our Rotating Exhibit and our Summer Special Programing focus on how the way we "define" the map of our community, changes the way we "see" and understand our community.
2025 Summer Event Calendar
June
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14th - 25th Anniversary Concert - "60s Folk Fest"
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Saturday, 3-5pm, Z-Park, Wanakena, NY
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Grub available at the Counter Culture Cafe
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21st & 22nd (Opening Weekend!) - History Center open 11am-4pm
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"Mapping Place: Small Businesses Build Community"
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28th & 29th - History Center open 11am-4pm
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WHA Summer Special Programming Event
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Sunday, 29th, 1pm - Listen to guest Speaker, Walt Todd's presentation "History of Clifton-Fine Small Businesses"
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"Winter in July" - recap of Winter Tales program from Adirondack WhiteOut Weekend.
July
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4th - WHA 4th of July Bake Sale & Hot Dog Stand at Z-Park before and after the parade, History Center open after the parade until 4pm
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5th & 6th - History Center open 11am-4pm
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WHA Summer Special Programming Event
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Sunday, 6th, 11am-4pm - "Strong Women of Clifton-Fine" Pop-up Exhibit
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12th & 13th - History Center open 11am-4pm
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WHA Summer Special Programming Event
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Sunday, 13th, 1pm - Two Towns Story Project "Story Sharing" Pop-up Event
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19 & 20th - History Center open 11am-4pm
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WHA Summer Special Programming Event
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Sunday, 20th, 11am-4pm - "Mapping Nature" walk - (details coming soon)
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26 & 27th - History Center open 11am-4pm
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WHA Summer Special Programming Event
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Sunday, 27th, 11am-4pm - "Winter in July" Pop-up Exhibit
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August
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2nd & 3rd - History Center open 11am-4pm
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WHA Summer Special Programming Event
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Sunday, 3rd, 1pm - Two Towns Story Project "Story Sharing" Pop-up Event (Theme: Ranger School Stories)
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9th & 10th - History Center open 11am-4pm
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WHA Summer Special Programming Event
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Sunday, 10th, 1pm - "Mapping Family Roots" Pop-up Event with Mark Fridén, Town of Fine Historian
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16th & 17th - History Center open 11am-4pm
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WHA Summer Special Programming Event
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Sunday, 17th, 1pm - "A Sewing Machine's Journey: How Mrs. Olson's Redeye Singer Came Home" Pop-up Exhibit
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23rd & 24th - History Center open 11am-4pm
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WHA Summer Special Programming Event
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Wanakena Historic House Tour (pilot version, details to be confirmed)
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29th, 30th & 31st - (Labor Day Weekend) History Center open Friday, Saturday & Sunday 11am-4pm
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29th & 30th (Fri. & Sat.) - Quilt Fest 2025 "Quilts As Maps"
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Highlights from Quilt Fest 2024.
September
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6th & 7th - History Center open 11am-4pm
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13th & 14th - History Center open 11am-4pm
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20th & 21st - History Center open 11am-4pm
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27th 7 28th - History Center open 11am-4pm
October
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4th & 5th - History Center open 11am-4pm
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11th & 12th (Columbus Day) Closing Weekend - History Center open 11am-4pm
2025 Rotating Exhibit
Small businesses are the heart and soul of a community. Their vital role in local landscape and heritage connects people through shared experiences, memories, and sense of place. See displays about small businesses that supported and shaped the character of Clifton-Fine.
For example, did you know:
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A tannery in the village of Fine began operating in about 1872 and was the first real industry in the area.
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Entrepreneur, Winifred Backus, ran a horse-drawn coach ride service called the “Star Lake Bus” from about 1897 to 1906.
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Former NFL football player, Alfred Sheard, owned “Shag’s” general store, in CranberryLake.
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Early area stores sold a variety of goods and services. For example, Frank Kelly’s Oswegatchie store sold leather horse harnesses, bicycles, and auto supplies.
Join the WHA for a Summer Special Programming Event Sunday, June 29th at 1pm. Listen to guest speaker Walt Todd's presentation "History of Clifton-Fine Small Businesses." Walt is a long time local businessman and an avid collector of local small business artifacts and memorabilia.
Looking for more background information?
Read Adirondack Almanac's July 2024 interview with Walt Todd.
"Mapping Place: Small Businesses Build Community"
Walt Todd, Star Lake, NY business owner and collector of small business artifacts and memorabilia.
