Write a commentThe Heritage Foundation of Oswego County and Oswego City Historian, Mark Slosek have announced that a ceremony to unveil and dedicate a historic marker for the Oswego Market House / Old City Hall will take place on Thursday, October 5th at 4:00 p.m. on the riverside of the Market House building.
A brief presentation will be made by Historian Mark Slosek along with comments by distinguished guests including the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and local elected officials. The public is cordially invited to attend this dedication ceremony and those planning to attend are requested to assemble at the northeast corner of the Market House on West Linear Park.
The Oswego Market House construction began in 1836 and was completed in 1837. The building was erected on Block 26 which was then known as “Market Block 26.” This Block had been designated and reserved for a public market in the original survey map of the village of Oswego. The plan for the building was based on a “Federalist” design done by noted architect Phillip Hooker for the Albany Market Building which was located on South Pearl St.
When completed in 1837, the U.S. Post Office, U.S. Customs House, Oswego Village offices and Oswego’s first jail were placed in the Market House. On the riverside a porch surrounded the ground floor and stalls were leased to merchants on an annual basis. The Oswego Guards, organized in 1838, used the third floor both as a drill hall and for their annual ball. In 1844, a Fire House addition on the south side of the building was completed.
In 1848, the village of Oswego was incorporated as a city and the Market House became Oswego’s first city hall. In 1852, the National Liberty Party held its national convention in the Market House. The Oswego-Syracuse Railroad purchased the property in 1864. After the railroad left the site, it was used by a variety of businesses, including the Ontario Telephone Company, Parsons Ship Chandlery, a local radio station, and a tailor shop. The Oswego Market House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 20th, 1974.
Most recently, the Market House was home to Old City Hall, a popular destination for food, drink, and live music. In September of 2022, the building was acquired by local entrepreneur, Ed Alberts, who has developed an extensive plan to renovate the structure into a restaurant and microbrewery as well as upscale apartments on the second and third floors.
The historic marker was awarded by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation through its Historic Roadside Marker Grant Program after extensive research was completed to demonstrate that the inscription is historically accurate. The Foundation established the Historic Marker Program in 2006 because Bill and Sandra Pomeroy felt that the history of our towns and villages is important to preserve. They also believe it serves to educate the public and fill a need gap, as New York stopped funding roadside markers in 1939.
