Seneca Falls residents to vote on dissolving village famous for women's rights, inspiring movie

A century later, the village found notoriety as the likely inspiration for Bedford Falls in the holiday classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

The village has been there, connected to the Erie Canal, for almost 180 years. Italian and Irish immigrants came because there was work. They stayed to raise their families, who stayed to raise their families.

The village’s 6,629 residents live elbow-to-elbow. They know each other’s business. And now they are pitted against each other in the village’s battle to live or die.

On March 16, its voters will decide whether the village should be absorbed into the town of Seneca Falls. It is one of the largest New York villages to try to dissolve. Four others — its residents weary of paying taxes to the village, the town, the county and the state — will cast similar votes that day.

Another 20 are pondering the idea, using a state law that starting April 1 makes it easier to kill a layer of government.