February 5 – May 24, 2025
Industry has been a significant part of the Auburn area since its colonized settlement and founding in 1789. That same year, John Hardenbergh established his grist mill. Grist mills are where grains would be ground down to produce flour and other products. Quickly, Auburn began to grow around this mill. As a part of this growth, the Auburn Prison was founded in 1817. Soon after, contract prison labor was instituted, which allowed companies to have their products produced by the prisoners for a fraction of the cost of that it would be to hire other workers. Both the prison and the companies could profit from this system; it was a way for the inmates themselves to ‘pay’ for their incarceration costs. This cheap labor, along with the water power that the Owasco River provided, were two of the main aspects that attracted industries to develop in Auburn.
In this exhibit, explore the history of the people who made Auburn in to an industrial titan, and the manufacturing footprint that continues in our community today.
Stories from the Factory Floor
Community members who worked in one of Auburn’s major industries, or had family who did, share stories about their careers in these recollections. These oral history summaries are read by Museum staff. You can listen to each record here, or scan the QR codes on this panel when you visit the exhibition.
