In 1791, the Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote
the poem "flow gently, Sweet Afton" about
a pastoral river in his native country. It
was 1857 when the Village of South Bainbridge
took its new name from that very poem.
Located half-way between Oneonta and Binghamton,
the Susquehanna River flows gently by the
Town of Afton. Settled in 1792, the area is
rich in history. In 1827, the Mormon Church
founder Joseph Smith and Emma Hale were married
at the Tarble homestead, now known as the
Mormon House.
Located on Main Street, the Afton Museum preserves
and shares the history of this historic community.
The museum, located in what was once a quaint
house and barn, is now filled with exhibits
focused on Native American Indian artifacts,
Civil War items, farming equipment and much
more. The museum also houses a number of artifacts
associated with Joseph Smith, including a
mantle piece from the old Mormon House.
Here in Afton, where the Susquehanna "flows
gently" and local history comes alive is another
important stop on New York's Path Through
History.
