Did you know that from the first settlers here in the early 1800's, this was called Manlius Station? It is told that in 1895 Dr. Arthur B. Rood (a physician in town in the late l800's until l914) was tired of having his mail ending up in Manlius, Manlius Center, North Manlius, Manlius Four Corners, and the Town of Manlius, that he decided a name change was the answer and was instrumental in the renaming of our village, Minoa.

The Village of Minoa was incorporated on January 12, 1913. Women were not allowed to vote until 1920, when the 19th amendment was passed that gave the women the right to vote. Thanks to a group of Minoa women who knew that a woman could vote in a village election, if she owned property within the limits of the area, they banned together and voted "for" and Minoa was incorporated that year. To show their strength a little further, they refused to prepare the usual Election Day dinner for the men, much to the dismay of the men. On February 13, 1913 the Village held its first election. By 1923 Minoa had a population of slightly over 1,000 people and has grown to over 3,300 residents.

If you are interested in learning more about the Village of Minoa, the Village Office offers the following historical items for sale:

• "Here’s to Old Minoa" – a booklet written by Noel Hotchkiss based on the early settling of Minoa from the beginning of the area up to 1967. Cost: $5.00
• "Postcards of Minoa" – a CD with over seventy-five (75) pictures of Minoa from the collection of Norma Jenner. Cost: $10.00
• "Minoa Chronicles" – a newsletter relating to the history of the Village of Minoa that is printed three times a year and a subscription is available for $6.00 per year. If you are interested in previous editions, they can be purchased for $1.00 each.

If you are interested you can either call the Village Office at (315) 656-3100 and leave your request, or call Norma Jenner at (315) 656-9227. If you would like to receive a subscription, which will be mailed to you, the cost is now $6.00 for three issues. Please make your check payable to Minoa Historical Society and mark the envelope to the attention of Norma Jenner, Minoa Historical Society, 240 N. Main Street, Minoa, NY 13116.

DID YOU KNOW MINOA HAS AN HISTORICAL SOCIETY?

For twenty (20) years we have been collecting any information or documentation of our past. If you have anything at all of interest to the history of our village, we would be very appreciative if you would let us borrow it to have a copy made for our files, or if you rather, have a copy made and we will reimburse you. Unless mementos as well as the history are documented NOW there will be no history of our village for future residents.

We are interested in scrapbooks, genealogical records of Minoa residents, yearbooks of Minoa Graded and High School, mementos of any society, or group ever present here in town, business, organization or group located in Minoa, pictures of Minoa (both present and years ago), buildings and folks who are no longer here, news-worthy items, advertising, and just about anything connected with our fair village. We also would like to have any records of present day happenings that would be history in years to come. Remember, history is a never-ending project.

Have you seen the large display case in the new Municipal Building that is to acquaint you with things of history, both local and distant? If you have anything of interest to a Minoan, or would like to see if a particular subject would make a desirable display, please do not hesitate to contact Norma Jenner at (315) 656-9227 or by email: nhj2@twcny.rr.com