All photos by Kathe Harrington
Oxford is a small village with a rich history in the heart of Chenango County. The village is built along the Chenango River.
The former Chenango Canal (1834-1878) once passed through the village here, connecting the community to Utica and Binghamton. It is now Canal Street (Route12).
The 1894 First National Bank of Oxford building , now Oxford Town Hall, anchors the village and is one of more than 200 buildings included the Oxford Village Historic District.
In the center of the village you'll find Lafayette Park. The park is busy with community events such as the holiday tree lighting, farmers market, and concerts in the 1875 Greek Revival band stand. There is a cast iron fountain in the center which was given to the village in 1884. The Oxford Garden Club maintains the plantings and flowers around the fountain.
Historic buildings make up the center of the Oxford Village business district, at the intersection of North and South Canal and Main Street.
Members of the Oxford class of 1968 enjoy monthly gatherings. Here they're having lunch Hoppie's Restaurant and Ice Cream. When they started school, there was just one school building; K-12 Oxford Academy.
The Oxford Academy and Central School District was chartered in 1794! The school system currently has a student enrollment of 760 students in grades UPK-12. Pictured is the Oxford Academy Middle School, in Fort Hill Park.
Theodore Burr, famed bridge builder, built his family home here in1809, on the site of an ancient Indian Fort. In 1900 the building was donated to the Village of Oxford for use as a library, and today is used as The Oxford Memorial Library and Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Resource Center.
The Washington Park pagoda was built in 1875 at a cost of $80.00. It was restored in 1991, by the Oxford Historical Society and Oxford revitalization project. The original Oxford Academy was near this location. The green is surrounded by beautiful historic homes.
The 1875 William H. Van Wagenen house on Albany Street, faces Washington Park.
Exceptional detailing on this Albany Street home.
Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, constructed in 1857 of local bluestone, is the only nonresidential building surrounding Washington Park.
The 1823 Congregational Church, on East State Street, is the oldest standing in the village.
Theodore Burr built Oxford's first bridge in 1802, and patented the Burr Truss Arch bridge. The Burr Truss is one of the most widespread timber bridge designs that can still be seen in covered bridges today.
Ted Walters was enjoying a walk in the village on a nice spring day. He keeps treats in his pocket for dogs he meets along the way! Ted loves the history and beauty of Oxford, and especially likes to kayak on the river.
Ben, Stephen and Dillon all volunteer with the Village of Oxford Fire Department.
This railroad shanty was discovered on an an owner's inherited property, and was then donated to the Oxford Historical Society. They arranged to have it painstakingly restored, and placed on village property near the Merchant Street railroad crossing, across from the former depot.
The Oxford Historical Society is located in the former train depot, on Depot Street.
The Jonathan Baldwin House (1794), is one of the oldest houses in the village. In 1939 it was moved from its original site to accommodate the new Post Office.
The Oxford Post Office, on South Washington Street, was built in1939-40. It is located within the Oxford Village Historic District.
The post office interior features a 1941 mural by Mordi Gassner titled "Family Reunion on Clark Island, Spring 1791." Post offices built in the 1930s during Roosevelt's New Deal were decorated with murals to provide relief from the devastating effects of the depression. The project provided work for artists, as well as making the art truly accessible, to be enjoyed by anyone.
Beautiful home on South Washington Avenue, with the high school grounds behind it.
The intrictate details really stand out on this village home.
Historic pillared home on South Washington Street.
I found the cutest barber shop on Canal Street: Village Barber.
Owner John Hadac said heâd been an electrician all his life, and it was pretty hard on the body, so at 48 he decided to go to barber school! His shop is filled with vintage pieces and memorabilia.
Riverview cemetery on County Road 32 overlooks the village of Oxford and surrounding hills.
The New York State Veterans' home at Oxford serves Veterans from Central and Southern Tier regions of New York. It opened in 1897 serving 24 residents, and today has 242 beds in 6 different "neighborhoods" including a memory care unit. Kathe Harrington for NYup
About 8 miles northwest of the village you'll find Bowman State Park -a 967 acre retreat. There is a sandy lakefront with several picnic areas nearby, 150 campsites and 8 cabins. There are over 13 miles of scenic trails for hiking as well as marked snowmobile and cross-country trails for winter recreation.
The Chenango River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River. It is approximately 90 miles long and runs alongside the Village of Oxford. This view is from the Main Street bridge. The river adds beauty and so many recreational opportunites for village residents.
READ MORE
See more "A Day In" series in Upstate NY below.
A day in Holland Patent: Photo essay of people, places in Upstate NY village
A day in Plattsburgh: Photo essay of people, places in Upstate NY city
A day in Sherrill: Photo essay of people, places in Upstate NY
Ad Choices