Oneida County History Center

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Experience "Many Tales to Tell," a
unique musical program exploring the profound impact of Irish music on the
American Civil War and its lasting legacy on American traditions. The event
will take place on Saturday, May 9, at 2:00 p.m. at Oneida County History
Center, and invites the community to a foot-tapping journey through history
that connects the past to the present through the universal language of music.<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Presented by veteran musician Bill Fahy and
featuring talented fiddler Zach Hirst, the program weaves together stories and
songs to illustrate how Irish melodies boosted soldier morale and provided a
commentary on the hardships of war. Attendees will discover how these rhythms
and storytelling styles evolved from campfire tunes into enduring American
ballads.<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">&nbsp;Fahy, a traditional musician with over 30 years
of experience, developed this program through extensive research into soldiers'
diaries, letters, and historical newspapers. He is known for his mastery of the
guitar, banjo, and mandolin. Joining him is Zach Hirst, a versatile fiddler
whose credits include performances with the Syracuse Symphony and regional
groups like Craobh Dugan O’Looney.









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Local Event: “Many Tales to Tell” - Irish Music in the Civil War

Oneida County

Utica

New York

“Many Tales to Tell” - Irish Music in the Civil...

Experience "Many Tales to Tell," a
unique musical program exploring the profound impact of Irish music on the
American Civil...

“Many Tales to Tell” - Irish Music in the Civil War

"Mulberry mania" was a wild speculative bubble in the 1830s driven by the dream of establishing a multi-million-dollar silk industry in the United States.In Oneida County—Sauquoit, Whitestown, and New Hartford—farmers hoped to grow silk as a moral alternative to cotton produced by enslaved people. Alecia Pendasulo shares the fascinating story of this ambitious, short-lived initiative.

Local Event: Mulberry Mania: Silk Production in Oneida County with Alecia Pendasulo

Mulberry Mania: Silk Production in Oneida...

"Mulberry mania" was a wild speculative bubble in the 1830s driven by the dream of establishing a multi-million-dollar silk...

Mulberry Mania: Silk Production in Oneida County with Alecia Pendasulo

Join Oneida County History Center for its 21st annual telethon presented by Bank of Utica! Watch the live event on WUTR-TV or CNYHomepage.com on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 5:00- 8:00 p.m. Call 315-735-3642 to pledge your support. Join, renew, or donate to help preserve local history.
The evening celebrates local history and the community partnerships that make implementing the History Center's mission possible and is hosted by longtime emcee Joe Kelly and History Center Executive Director Rebecca McLain. Sentinel Media Company’s Morgan Mielnicki will host the star board, and special guests from the community will appear throughout the event. The 2026 goal is to raise $50,000 to support the organization’s mission to preserve and share central New York history for present and future generations.

Local Event: Title: 21st Annual History Center Telethon presented by Bank of Utica

Title: 21st Annual History Center Telethon...

Join Oneida County History Center for its 21st annual telethon presented by Bank of Utica! Watch the live event on WUTR-TV or...

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Please confirm event details with the organizers before attending

Saturday, May 9

Saturday, May 16

Wednesday, May 20