ONEONTA — An Oneonta girl’s interest in a house nearly 190 years older than she is helped her win a history award from the Greater Oneonta Historical Society.

Rosa Quinones, 9, received the Sally Mullen Local History Award for a project she did on the Swart-Wilcox House.

The house, built in 1807, is the oldest surviving structure in the city of Oneonta.

"I’ve gone there since I was 5," Rosa said. "I already knew a lot about the house.

"People can learn a lot from the house," she said Monday from her home on Oneonta’s Burnside Avenue.

Although Rosa said she knew about the house before starting the project, "There was a lot about the house I didn’t know."

One of the things Rosa learned, she said, was that Henry Wilcox’s name was on the deed to her parents’ house. Wilcox owned 41 acres of land, including the land where her parents’ house is. "It’s kind of exciting," Rosa said.

The project was hard work, but it was all worth it, she said.

Because Rosa is homeschooled, it was easier to do the project, said her mother, Patti Quinones.

Trips to Cooperstown and other places to research the project were field trips, Quinones said.

"We were able to up and go when we wanted," she said.

The project included a written report and display. For the display, Rosa said, she colored maps of the land around the house.

This is the first year the historical society has given the award, Helen Rees said, adding that it will be given out every year.

Rees is chairwoman of the education committee of the historical society. She was also a colleague and friend of Mullen, who died in January 2004.

Mullen was a past president of the historical society.

"Sally was particularly involved with the kids," Rees said Monday. "She was involved in so many things that challenged children to be creative and do a little extra."

When Mullen died, Rees said, money was given in her honor to the historical society.

Although some of that money went to the history center on Main Street, the society wanted to do something else, Rees said.

"We wanted to do something to honor Sally that would be something more than bricks and mortar, that would be something to live on," Rees said.

From that, the Sally Mullen Local History Award was born. The award is geared toward fourth- and fifth-graders, Rees said.

"It was our hope that something in the community would spark their interests," she said.

"We were delighted," Rees said of the projects. "They told great stories."

Rosa received a $100 prize for her project, which will be on display at the center at 183 Main St. later this year.

Rosa said she will probably save the money from the prize.

Ben Gollin, who just completed the fourth grade at Valleyview School, won second place for a project on the Oneonta Fair.

Breanna Jump, who also recently finished the fourth grade at Valleyview, won third place for a project on the fair.