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Hardenbergh's Corners is Founded
Hardenbergh's Corners was founded by John L. Hardenbergh during the post-Revolutionary period of settlement. He settled in the Owasco River area with two African American slaves and his infant daughter. The exact month and day are unknown for this event. -
Renamed to Auburn
When Hardenbergh's Corners became the county seat, it was renamed to Auburn. The exact month and day are unknown for this event. -
Hardenbergh Passes Away
The founder of Hardenbergh's Corners, which will become Auburn, passes away in 1806 and is buried in the North Street Cemetary. -
Auburn becomes a village
Auburn officially becomes listed as an incorporated village in 1815. The exact month and day are unknown for this event. -
Auburn Correctional Facility
The authorization of erecting a prison was passed in auburn on April 12, 1816. This prison would come to be known as the Auburn Correctional Facility, which is famous for its "Auburn Method" of prisonry (allowing prisoners to work for money), and is the first prison to use the electric chair. It still is in use today and provides many Auburn citizens jobs. -
Period: to
Population Panic
Over the course of fifteen years, Auburn's population boomed, going from 2233 residents to a whopping 5363. This started a small panic, as room was running out in the city. Thus began an industrial boom, where many houses anf jobs popped up in rapid succession to combat the rising population. The exact months and days for this event are unknown. -
Seward's House
Although spending most of his time in Washington D.C., Seward's home was located in Auburn, and was considered to be home to the senator ever since his marriage in 1824 until his death. The exact day/month for this event are unknown. -
Erie Canal is Opened
The Erie Canal is open to the public, and allowed factories at the time to ship goods either north or south at an inexpensive rate. -
The City of Auburn
Auburn is officially upgraded from a town into a city as its population increases dramatically! The exact month and day are unknown for this event. -
Fort Hill Established
Fort Hill Cemetary was incorporated on May 15, 1851, under the then-name of "Trustees of the Fort Hill Cemetery Association of Auburn". Over the course of a year, it became dedicated officially on July 7, 1852. Its first burial belonged to no other than John Leonard Hardenbergh, the founder of Auburn itself! -
Harriet Tubman's Home
Harriet Tubman relocated to Auburn and was sold property in the city by William Seward, who was a U.S. Senator at the time. The action of selling property to an African American was illegal at the time, and thus the transaction was discreet. This would eventually be known as the Harriet Tubman house, where she would hide slaves away in hopes of freeing them one day. The exact month and day for this transaction is unknown. -
First Electric Chair Execution
As mentioned earlier, Auburn Correctional Facility was the first home of the electric chair, and its first execution happened in 1890. William Kemmler was the chair's first victim, having been convicted of murder. -
1891 and Beyond
Thus we cover the beginning and early years of Auburn, New York. Over time, there are other features that cropped up around the city, such as the Auburn Community College, the Library, etc. that continued to shape the small city's history to this very day. Auburn is known as "History's Hometown" due to its rich heritage and prestige, featuring William Seward and Harriet Tubman, the prison and more.
