OWASCO CHAPTER

Chapter History

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution was founded October 11, 1890, with the objectives of Historic Preservation, Promotion of Education, and Patriotism. The Owasco Chapter NSDAR was organized in Auburn, New York, on April 28, 1897, by the late Mrs. Julia Porter Osborne, who was at that time a member of the Irondequoit Chapter of Rochester, NY. On the third of February preceding the formal organization, Mrs. Osborne entertained, at her home on South Street, fourteen ladies who were eligible to membership. Those ladies, together with others, became the charter members whose names are inscribed on the charter as follows:

Mrs. Katherine VanVechton Huntington
Miss Frances VanVechton
Miss Jennie M. Cox
Mrs. Frances Goodrich Underwood Anderson
Mrs. Marion Isabelle Mosher
Miss Helen Fairchild Smith
Mrs. Amarilla Beardsley Sartwell
Miss Anna Armstrong
Mrs. Florence Snow Lee
Mrs. Louise Morgan Zabriskie
Mrs. Isabelle Leas McCarthy
Miss Agnes Sartwell Beardsley
Miss Mary Snow
Miss Josephine Knapp
Mrs. Jessie Knapp Gates
Mrs. Caroline Beardsley Woodruff
Miss Ruth Miriam Osborne
Mrs. Malcolm Moffatt Knapp
Miss Edith Lewis Booth
Mrs. Julia Porter Osborne

Five names were suggested as suitable for naming the new chapter: Cayuga, Ensenore, Logan, Owasco, and DWasco. These were all Indian names, our locality being rich in Indian history and tradition. The choice fell upon Owasco, the dialect variation of the Oneida tribe of the Iroquois nation. The name signifies a crossing place consisting of large stepping stones, bridged by large pieces of bark.

In 1905 Owasco Chapter placed a bronze tablet on the Federal Building (former Post Office) honoring the Revolutionary War soldiers and sailors buried in Cayuga County. The visit of General LaFayette was honored with a bronze tablet on the Smith and Pearson Building (former Western Exchange Tavern). For the Bicentennial of George Washington (1732-1932), a bronze tablet was placed on the Washington Elm at Hoopes Park. Funds were contributed for the a tablet placed on the Court House in memory of Harriet Tubman. Dogwood trees were planted at the Seward House to celebrate 200 years of the Constitution and at the Faatz-Crofut Home to honor Earth Day. The chapter pioneered in raising money to provide the first visiting nurse in the city of Auburn, contributed to restoration of the Owasco Dutch Reformed Church (some founders were Revolutionary War patriots), contributed to a Military History Exhibit at Cayuga Museum, and in 1976 sponsored the Col. John L. Hardenbergh Society Children of the American Revolution. Official flags that have flown over the Capitol in Washington, DC have been presented to several organizations locally. Recently a Grave Marking Ceremony was held at the Sherwood Cemetery for Edward Robinson, a Revolutionary Patriot. Interest from endowments supports DAR owned and supported schools. Current committee activity includes Project Patriot, Women's Issues, Literacy Challenge, Community Service Awards, Conservation, Service for Veterans, Good Citizen, and The Flag of the United States. At the present time we have 55 members and 1 associate.