Oneida County History Center to Explore “Mulberry Mania”
The Rise and Fall of the Local Silk Industry
Speaker Alecia Pendasulo
Discover a forgotten chapter of local history during “Mulberry Mania,” a special presentation by Alecia Pendasulo on Saturday, May 16, at 2:00 p.m. at Oneida County History Center.
A speculative bubble known as “Mulberry Mania” swept across the United States in the 1830’s. Driven by the dream of establishing a multi-million-dollar domestic silk industry, farmers and investors bet heavily on the cultivation of mulberry trees. In Oneida County, specifically in Sauquoit, Whitestown, and New Hartford, this movement was fueled by more than just profit. Local farmers embraced silk production as a moral alternative to cotton, seeking a viable industry that did not rely on the labor of enslaved people.
Speaker Alecia Pendasulo will share the fascinating story of this ambitious, short-lived initiative, exploring how the craze took hold in the Mohawk Valley and why the dream of a local silk empire eventually unraveled.
About the Oneida County History Center:
Located at 1608 Genesee Street, Utica, NY, Oneida County History Center is a private 501(c) (3) not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to preserving the history, heritage, and culture of the Greater Mohawk Valley for present and future generations. Free for History Center members, $5.00 suggested admission for non-members. Please contact the History Center at 315-735-3642 or visit oneidacountyhistory.org for additional information.
