Three Bears Historic Marker Dedication Ceremony
May 31, 2026
Vision: The vision for the Friends of the Three Bears is to fully utilize the Seneca County Courthouse Complex buildings and become the heart of the community for fine arts and education, and as a hub of tourism for the Finger Lakes Region. Mission: The mission of the Friends of the Three Bears is to preserve the buildings known as the (historic Seneca County) Courthouse Complex, implement art, music and other educational programs/events and provide historical building tours and area information to visitors. The Friends will accomplish this through fundraising and community outreach.
Hello Friends,
Since 2003, the Friends of the Three Bears have worked tirelessly to preserve, restore, and utilize the historic Seneca County Courthouse Complex, also known as The Three Bears. Originally built in 1845 and 1860, the buildings stand in the village of Ovid, now serving as a community center for arts, culture, concerts, activities, and tourism.
Join us on Sunday, May 31 from 1:00-4:00 pm to celebrate the installation of a New York State Historic Marker sponsored by the Pomeroy Foundation. The fully-funded marker highlights the significance of Ovid’s half-shire designation. In addition, the Friends will celebrate the completion of the cupola restoration on Papa Bear, which is now an accessible building. Join us in honoring the dedicated people in Seneca County who contributed time, effort, and resources to making these restorations possible.
Enjoy live music, refreshments, ice cream from Cayuga Creamery, children’s activities, and wine tastings from Hosmer, Thirsty Owl, and Boundary Breaks Wineries.
As warmer weather is approaching and summer is on the horizon, we look forward to providing a community get-together where we can celebrate the achievements of the Friends and the comradery of the community.
The event will take place rain or shine May 31 from 1:00-4:00pm on the lawn of the Three Bears, 7175 Main Street, Ovid.
Please email threebearsovid@gmail.com if you have any questions about this event. We are also planning several exciting events for the summer. Please keep an eye out for additional emails with more details.
