Walk and Talk

Walk and Talk is a public program for adults that will take place on July 21, 2023 at 10 a.m. Participants should meet in front of the Ogdensburg Public Library at 312 Washington Street before the start time. Walk and Talk will feature historic homes and buildings and prominent people who resided on Washington Street and will end at the Bishop’s residence. This area is part of the Library Park National Historic District and was also the home of many prominent citizens, including Mayor John Hannan and Mayor Edgar Newell. The goal of this program is to educate both tourists and Ogdensburg natives about the significance of a historic street in Ogdensburg-Washington Street.

The program will make use of QR technology to make this part of our local history more accessible. QR (or Quick Response) codes are a machine-readable code consisting of an array of black and white squares, used for storing URL’s or other information readable on smart phones, laptop computers or ipads. Signs will be posted on the street with QR Codes.Short informational videos, interactive photographs, and podcasts created by the city historian will be linked to each code, so program attendees will be able to access the history of each building by using their smartphones. This tour will be accessible online as well.

Walk and Talk is part of a series called Take a Walk Through History which focuses on the rich history of Ogdensburg, New York. Created by the city historian, this tour route connects Washington Street with the Library Park National Historic District. A donation of $5.00 is suggested with all proceeds benefiting the Ogdensburg History Museum. Future tours will include this district and surrounding streets.

Walk and Talk is made possible through the generosity of the Northern New York Community Foundation and the Sweetgrass Foundation.