Did You Know?
- Waterloo, New York was officially recognized by Congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966 as the Birthplace of Memorial Day.
- The first community-wide Memorial Day observance in Waterloo was held on May 5, 1866, when residents decorated graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers and patriotic displays.
- Waterloo was once home to the H.C.S. Motor Car Company, makers of the famous Waterloo “Woodie” station wagons (with distinctive wooden body construction and wood-paneled appearance) that became iconic American vehicles during the early automotive era.
- Oak Island, a scenic waterfront destination offering canal views and recreation, hosted a "prize fight" between Jacob Sands (a Civil War veteran) and Henry "Pompey Smash" Douglass (who, at age 50, was 30 years older than his opponent). The two men fought to a draw in a bout that reportedly lasted all day.
