"Oneonta's diverse ethnic community settled on nearby streets in the early 1900s. They created thriving recreational spaces, clubs, and businesses."
- Greater Oneonta Historical Society
The Sixth Ward began as an immigrant community and was home to many of Oneonta's railroad workers. The neighborhood thrived as a self-sufficient community with its own shops, schools, and businesses.
Located halfway between Albany and Binghamton, Oneonta was an ideal location for the railroad. In the late 1800s, the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad built the largest roundhouse in the world to service and store locomotives in Oneonta. It was later leased by the Deleware and Hudson Railroad.
A&S contracted H.A. Fonda to design a housing settlement for the railroad workers nearby. Fonda Avenue was created to connect River Street and Chestnut Street, where the homes were built. The railroad paid for the workers to build their homes, but retained ownership of them. Lacking resources, the neighborhood struggled with gambling and alcohol addiction, and by 1913 the city asked the state Health Department to condemn the neighborhood, which would leave all of the residents with no place to live.
Luckily, a successful dairy farmer on River Street, William Bailey offered to purchase the homes at $75 a piece and move the houses. He offered a deal to the residents if they could dig their own foundations. About half of them were able to get their homes back.
In the winter of 1913-1914, two dozen homes were moved to the 6th Ward using skids and a steamroller.
The homes were moved to Fonda Ave , Van Woert, West Broadway, Miller, River, Boyslton, and Duane. Of the 24 houses that were transported, 22 still remain and are home to 6th Ward residents today.
(Read more about the history of these homes in the book "The Box Car Settlement: Oneonta's Lost Neighborhood" by Jim Loudon.)
In the late 19th century, much of Oneonta's immigrant community settled in the 6th Ward, making it a vibrant and culturally diverse community. By the early 1900s, almost half of Oneonta's Italian, Russian, Polish, and Lebanese residents lived in the neighborhood.
In July 2025, a historical marker was unveiled to honor the ward's rich history.
The historical marker, located in front of the Oneonta Boys and Girls Club, says "The Sixth Ward. Oneonta's diverse ethnic community settled on nearby streets in the early 1900s. They recreated thriving recreational spaces, clubs, and businesses. Greater Oneonta Historical Society"
Some of the sponsors included: the Future for Oneonta Foundation, the Sixth Ward Athletic Club, and the Oneonta Boys and Girls Club.