EAST OTTO — The East Otto Historical Museum, housed in the town’s oldest building built in 1834, will be open from 1–3 p.m. every Sunday during July, August and September.

Appointments for other days can be arranged by calling (716) 257-0654.

The Cattaraugus County historian believes the museum to be the oldest building in Cattaraugus County, built pre-Civil War and pre–East Otto’s founding. The town broke away from the Town of Otto and became incorporated in 1854.

The museum building was originally built as a Baptist Church east of town. Later, it was moved to the “Corners,” which is now considered the center of town. A larger church replaced it, and the town purchased and moved the building to its present location. It became the town’s first Town Hall.

In 1972, after the town hall relocated to its present location on East Otto Springville Road, the East Otto Historical Group was permitted to use the older building as a museum. The museum is located next to the fire hall at 8982 Reed Hill Road.

Items in the museum tell the story of people and businesses that once were part of East Otto.  See baskets, milk pans and cheese boxes made in town. Look through books tracing births, marriages and deaths. Other displays include a tandem bike, butter churn, apple press, pump organ, small farm tools, kitchen items, wooden voting booths, family scrapbooks and much more.

Someone recently said, “People don’t care today about history the way our parents and grandparents did.” For that reason, it is more and more important to keep it.