History and Stories of Cambridge NY
Photos, stories, and presentations about Cambridge's past & present
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I love my hometown. I love the old photos and postcards, but what I really like are the stories. My dad was an historian. I'm not. I am a raconteur. I try to be as historically accurate as possible, but as my wife will tell you, I never let facts get in the way of a good story.
In addition to collecting, organizing, and sharing the past, I also try to record the present. My hope is that 100 years from now, someone will say "Thanks, Ken Gottry, for showing me what Cambridge was like in the 2000s" the same way I thank people who did the same around 1900.
When you see a set of small images that indicates a photo album. Click on any photo to drill down.
All content on the web site is accessed by the menu. You can now also do text search. If you have any questions or comments, please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Enjoy, Ken 15-Sep-2016
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2022 Sidewalk Audit Results
In 2020 Cambridge was selected as one of ten communities nationwide to participate in the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) program. A Community Action Plan was developed during week-long workshops with 150+ residents and local, state, and national organizations.
A key action item was a comprehensive sidewalk audit to identify where there needs to be sidewalks installed, repaired, or improved for better access to community assets. This includes the new Community Forest, Woodlands Cemetery, community gardens, trails, and pocket parks, complementing and building on Main Street redevelopment projects.
In 2021, 25 residents used the AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit to review the 19 miles of sidewalk areas within the village. Six miles have concrete, 3 miles have slate, and 10 miles have no sidewalk.
We evaluated the condition and width of the sidewalk as well as the street crossing, curbs, and boundaries. The audit also included driver behavior, safety, comfort, and appeal. Each section was scored from 1-4 (4=best) across nine categories.
The results of the sidewalk audit are available online. Besides the scorecards there is a bicycle video tour of all the sidewalks
Online documents and videos
2021 Cambridge Fire Department History
At the 2020 village elections, Cambridge residents approved a 25-year $3.7M bond issue to build a new firehouse on Gilbert Street (Route 313).. Ground was broken on 17-Jul-2021
To raise money for the Firehouse Fund, I am writing a book on the history of the fire department.
On 22-Sep-2021, I gave a presentation at the Cambridge Historical Society covering a small portion of that history
Cambridge Fire Department
In this presentation Ken Gottry will trace the history of the Cambridge Fire Department from its creation in 1866 to the groundbreaking in Jul-2021 of its new firehouse. It will cover the multiple small fire companies throughout the East End and West End and their unification into a single entity in 1931. Ken will talk about the trucks, the people, and the buildings associated with the organization that for 155 years have helped keep our community safe.
Here are the slides from that presentation
2020 Cambridge Fire Department Photos
At the village elections on Wednesday March 18, residents will be asked to approve a 25-year $3.7M bond issue to build a new firehouse on Gilbert Street (Route 313).
Expand this artcile to see photos of the members of the CFD
Cambridge Firehouse Burns March 1950
In March 2020 the village voters will be presented with a bond issue to fund a new firehouse on Gilbert Street. I thought it appropriate to look back at the last time we were asked to help those who help us.
Fires play a major role in our history. In March 1866 the West End burned which led to the formation of our fire department. In August 1947, the Old School burned which led to the current CCS. In March 1950, the firehouse burned which led to our current Municipal Building.
