Local historians from throughout Genesee County were in County Building #2 today for the official ribbon cutting on the History Department's new home. Cutting the ribbon above are Legislator Esther Leadley and Legislature Chairwoman Mary Pat Hancock while County Historian Sue Conklin looks on.
Previously: Big task complete, history department settles into new digs at County Building #2
I couldn't make it to the marker dedication for the East Boundary of the Holland Land Purchase at Four Corners in Stafford on Friday. Sue Conklin sent along this photo and the press release below.
On Friday, November 8th 2013 a historical marker commemorating the Eastern Boundary of the Holland Land Purchase was dedicated in Stafford at the intersection of routes 5 and 237. More than 20 people attended the dedication ceremony, which included a brief reading of the history of the survey and a gun salute provided by the War of 1812 militia.
Following the dedication the Stafford Historical Society served cider and donuts and several people toured their award-winning museum.
Prior to the dedication a survey using original links and transit was conducted by:
This survey revealed the location of the marker and the actual boundary line is over by 83 links. Had the marker been installed in the actual location, it would be in the center of the intersection of Route 237, something the Department of Transportation would have forbidden. The Town of Stafford graciously provided the Genesee County History Department with an alternative spot.
Welcoming Remarks / Mary Pat Hancock Genesee County Legislator:
"Genesee County included not only the Holland Land Purchase, but many other smaller land tracts. The County had six land companies with the Holland Land Purchase being the largest. It included two-thirds of the county lands and was located west of the Transit Line. The other smaller companies were located east of the Transit Line and include one third of the county lands. The other land tract companies were the Connecticut, Triangle, Phelps & Gorham, Craigie and the 40,000 Acre.
"When the Holland Purchase was made, the land was in Ontario County, with the county seat in Canandaigua. On March 30, 1802, Genesee County was formed with the county seat in Batavia. As populations grew, eight other Western New York counties were carved from the original Genesee County.
"The eastern boundary of the 3.3-million acre Holland Land Purchase bisects the old State Road, now known as Route 5, in the Town of Stafford. This boundary runs from the State of Pennsylvania north to Lake Ontario. The Holland Land Purchase extends west from this line to Lake Erie and the Niagara River.
"Today we honor the Holland Land Purchase and commemorate their Eastern Boundary."
For generations, the Richmond name dominated civic life in Batavia.
Dean Richmond was one of the most successful businessmen of his generation -- from the time he inherited his father's salt works company when he was 15 until his death in 1866. Mary Richmond continued and grew her husband's business empire and served on numerous local boards and committees. Their daughter carried on the tradition of local involvement and leadership.
But by the mid-part of the 20th Century, the Richmond family had dispersed to other parts of the country, but still, the Richmond name looms large in Batavia.
There is, of course, the Richmond Memorial Library, and the Richmond Mausoleum in the Batavia Cemetery.
But sadly, the once grand Richmond Mansion -- actually built in 1839 by Col. William Davis -- was torn down by a short-sighted City Schools board in 1970. All that's left is a wrought iron fence surrounding a parking lot owned by St. Joseph's.
Now, at least, there is a historical marker on the site to commemorate the location of the mansion.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by two generations of Richmonds, Harold Richmond, above, with his sons Kyle and Alex with his wife Cheryl.
Harold Richmond said it's quite an honor to see his great-great-grandfather remembered and honored in Batavia.
"It's great that the family gets recognized," said Richmond, a resident of New Jersey. "The Richmonds aren't really any different from anybody else today. We don't have anybody of note in the family that I know of, but the fact that the city has maintained the history and recognized the contributions of Dean Richmond and his wife and his daughter is just amazing."
As for the destruction of the Richmond Mansion -- which local preservationists tend to think of a huge loss to the community -- Richmond was forgiving.
"Maintaining that mansion in the 1970s, with that orphanage going away, that's a huge financial burden on a community," Richmond said. "It doesn't shock or surprise me that they had to make that choice. It was probably a good financial choice at that time. It's sad that it couldn't have been sustained as a museum or Masonic lodge or something like that, but it's understandable."
Harold Richmond pointing to the crypt of his great-grandfather with his son Alex inside the Richmond Mausoleum.
The Richmonds, Harold, Kyle, Cheryl and Alex, with Sharon Burkel inside the Richmond Mausoleum.
Press release:
On Friday, Nov. 8th at 11 a.m. a dedication of an historic marker for the former Richmond Mansion will be held at the Richmond Memorial Library. The Mansion, built in the 1830s by Col. William Davis and enlarged by Dean and Mary Richmond in the 1850s, stood in the parking lot that now serves St. Joseph’s Church and the Richmond Memorial Library. For many years after the death of the Richmonds, it housed the Children’s Home. The structure was torn down in 1970.
Dean Richmond amassed a fortune in Great Lakes shipping. He was instrumental in the creation of the New York Central Railroad and served as the railroad’s second president. Dean Richmond was also instrumental in bringing the State School for the Blind to Batavia, which is why the street running in the front of the School is named Richmond Avenue. The Richmond Memorial Library was a gift to the community from Mary Richmond in memory of a son who died in early adulthood.
The historic marker is being placed at the foot of the walkway between the parking lot and the Library. It has been funded by a $1,050 grant to the City by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation of Syracuse.
Attending the dedication ceremony will be Harold Richmond III of New Jersey, the great-great-grandson of Dean and Mary Richmond. Also in attendance will be a representative of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. City Historian Larry D. Barnes will lead the dedication.
Later in the day, historic markers funded by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation will also be dedicated in Stafford and at the former county home in Bethany.
To the untrained eye, the 11 objects found in Darien last week look just like a handful of rocks, but archeologists have determined they are prehistoric artifacts. They're also a wrinkle in the county's plan to build a 21st Century emergency communications system.
The artifacts were found at the site of a planned communications tower near the Darien Fire Hall.
The county's contractor hired an Atlanta-based archeological firm to do a test dig on the site, which uncovered the artifacts.
The artifacts have not been dated nor their origin determined. They're just obviously very, very old.
Contrary to rumor, Undersheriff William Sheron said, the site is not an "Indian burial ground."
A report has been sent to the state's Office of Archeology and the county expects to receive instructions on what to do next.
Sheron noted that when Tops built a new distribution center off Genesee Street, an Indian burial ground was found and the project was delayed six months so the remains and artifacts could be properly secured.
In other words, Sheron said, the artifacts found in Darien do not necessarily mean the site can't be used for a communications tower.
The county is building three new towers as part of the $10.8 million communications upgrade project. While the county must complete phase one of the project -- under a federal mandate -- by February, the towers are all planned for phase two of the project, which isn't scheduled for completion until next summer.
While the Sheriff's Office would like to stay on schedule, Sheron said officials recognize the find in Darien could delay construction of that tower.
"We hope it doesn't get delayed, but if there are issues that need to be addressed, we'll address them and meet whatever requirements we need to meet," Sheron said. "If it becomes cost prohibitive, we'll look for another site."
Previously:
Photographer John Spaulding stopped by the antique truck show at the Stafford Fire Hall this weekend and then sent us a few of his pictures.
One of Genesee County's grandest of the old barns collapsed today.
A good portion of the yellow barn next to the Stafford Fire Hall on Main Road, Stafford, simply gave way about 1:45 p.m.
Stafford Fire Chief Bill Plaisted said residents heard a lot of creaking coming from the old barn -- probably built in the 1830s -- all this morning.
Firefighters used a thermal-imaging camera to ensure nobody was trapped in the structure.
Plaisted said the barn was likely headed for demolition soon anyway. The owner wanted to donate it to the department for a controlled burn for firefighting practice, but Plaisted said before that could happen, workers would have been required to remove the shingles from the roof.
"Looking at it now, that wouldn't have been safe," Plaisted said.
He also recalled a local resident telling him how years ago there was a basketball court on the second floor. From the second floor to the ceiling, it was so high, he said, that nobody could throw a ball from the floor up into the rafters. That's how big the barn was.
In April 2010, I took a photo of the barn (bottom photo in this post) that proved pretty popular. UMMC purchased a large canvas print of the photograph to hang in its new surgical wing (the print has since been moved to another part of the hospital). To view a larger online version (or to purchase a print of the picture, click here).
Jeff Ficher, the new assistant director at the Holland Land Office Museum, leads children participating in HLOM's Summer Heroes program in singing a Civil War Era song.
The eight-day program is just wrapping up its first week with a focus on the Underground Railroad.
The program is being led by Anne Marie Starowitz.
It was a lot of work, says Sue Conklin, county historian, for facilities management staff to move all of the county's archives and historical documents from the old firehouse on West Main Street to County Building #2.
The staff moved:
Plus staff had to disassemble and reassemble 21 bookcases, 23-foot-long newspaper shelving and all of the shelving for the county archives.
The whole move took more than two weeks.
"Now that the relocation has been completed the county historian is happy to report that all items made the move, nothing was damaged or lost," Conklin said. "Somehow facilities management managed to move on sunny, dry days, too. It was a great effort and the result is one the county will benefit from for generations."
The move gives the history department a little more space and gets irreplaceable documents out of the flood plane.
The department is responsible for storing all of the county's critical documents, from court cases to financial documents, with state-mandated document retention policies -- depending on the document -- from seven to 80 years.
At the rate documents come in, Conklin anticipates running out of space in about seven years.
The new layout -- in space once ocupied by the BOCES nursing program -- allows for easier access and better display of the county's archival records than the old location. The research library has more space and makes it easier for researchers -- including those in wheelchairs -- to move around.
Mrs. Richmond hosted a tea party at the Holland Land Office Museum today and dozens of local women attended.
Awards were given for the best hats.
Above, Dona LaValle, who won the award for best hat and ensemble.
Below, Anne Barone, most original, and Maryanne Arena, most elegant.
Tom Rivers is publishing a series of stories for OrleansHub.com about grand buildings in Western New York that were built with Medina sandstone.
Today: The beautiful building at 14 West Main Street that was once the Sheriff's Office and is now home to Genesee Justice and connected to the jail.
Local history was on display at GCC today with history groups from Genesee County's villages, towns and museums gathering in the college's forum.
Visitors could see displays on history, view artifacts, buy books and gift items and learn directly from the people who know the most what our predecessors did in Western New York.
As part of the event, War of 1812 reenactors, the Genesee County Militia, Kellogg Company, offered lectures and demonstrations on what military life was back 100 years ago.
In the early 1900s, then-Governor Al Smith created the civic position of local historians. New York is the only state to declare preservation and dissemination of local history to be a public purpose. (source)
You wouldn't want to be called a "scalawag," but if you were a Batavia resident in the early 19th Century and didn't pay your debts, that's exactly how a local merchant might label you, and the local newspaper would print the charge, no less.
An amateur word sleuth uncovered the origins of "scalawag" recently, and according to a piece in the Boston Globe, the rather uncomplimentary word was likely invented right here in Batavia.
Nathaniel Sharpe, a 22-year-old genealogist from Bathgate, ND, was researching one of his ancestors, one John W. Putman.
He found a reference to Putnam in the March 8, 1836, issue of Batavia’s Republican Advocate.
Putnam was called a "skallewagg" for leaving town without paying his debts.
The spelling was curious and Sharpe wondered if "skallewagg" might mean the same as current spelling "scalawag."
It does, and prior to Sharpe's discovery, the earliest known print reference to the word was in 1848.
The Oxford English Dictionary said the word had Western New York origins.
With more research, Sharpe was able to determine that the possible originator of the word was James Brisbane (a famous surname in Batavia and journalism history).
The entire story is fascinating. Click here to read it.
Genesee County Federation of Historical Agencies
History Open House - April 6th at GCC 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Every half hour there will be a live presentation which includes music and fashion show (War of 1812 and Civil War uniforms). These are free, family friendly presentations. Following the presentations, representatives will be present to answer questions and show artifacts. Tables will be set up in the forum with displays and artifacts.
Door prizes will be awarded every 15 minutes!
Historical presentations and information as follows:
Presentations
10 a.m. GCC Glee Club “Here Comes Treble” (Welcoming)
10:30 a.m. GCC – Civil War Initiative by Derek Maxfield
11 a.m. Tonawanda Reservation Mini History by Terry Abrams
11:30 a.m. Ely Parker by Holland Purchase Historical Society
NOON Peace Garden
1 p.m. Military Historical Outfit review – War of 1812 & Civil War
1:30 p.m. Kellogg Company, Genesee County Militia – Militia in 1812
2 p.m. Genesee Area Genealogists – Tracing Your Family History
2:30 p.m. Stafford Historical Society – Red Ware
We recevied the following message from across the pond ... Brian Slater is looking to reconnect with family members separated by time, generations and immigration.
In the summer of 1967 I stayed in Batavia at the home of my great aunt and uncle, Beatrice and Hernbt Jermy, a photo of which I took of all their family.
I am very keen to make reestablish contact with any members of the family across the ocean from their original country of England where they all came in 1913/1914 from a village called Horning in Norfolk.
Their four children were Charles, Arthur, Alice and Vera all in the photograph with their children. The girl in the brown dress was Donna and her brother in the white shirt Jimmy, children of Harry and Vera, rear left, who lived not far from Watkins Glen.
If any of your readers can cast a light I shall be most grateful as I am the last generation who can bridge the family divide across the Atlantic Ocean.
Brian Slater
brian@inter-culture.com
When I stopped by the Peace Garden today, I found a TV crew there looking over an old book.
The book was found in an old house in East Pembroke that is being renovated, stuck under floorboards in the attic along with some coins from the 1830s and paperwork from the 1930s, according to Larry Abarie.
The book is well known to historians, but editions with all the pages are reportedly hard to find. This copy appears to have all of its pages.
Interestingly, you can read the book -- which was an anti-slavery tract, but advocated returning former slaves to Africa -- online.
Dave McKinley's report for WGRZ is online here.
Jeff Donahue, director of the Holland Land Office Museum, stands with a big flag that once flew on the flagship of Rear Admiral Ralph Chandler, who was born in Batavia in 1829 and died in Hong Kong in 1889.
Chandler, a ship commander in the Civil War, was Asiatic Squadron commander from 1886 until his death.
The flag is on loan to the museum by Ralph Chandler Parker III. It measures 13' 11" on the hoist and 25' on the fly.
To fit it in the case, four people wearing archival gloves spread it out on sheets on the floor and then folded it, and folded it, and folded it, until it fit.
"It would have been beautiful if we could have displayed it at its full dimensions," Donahue said. "Unfortunately, we just don't have the space to do that."
Chandler was married to Cornelia Redfield and they had five children together.
One of the first pictures I ever took in Genesee County was of this once productive food processing plant on Old Ford Road, Elba.
All I had then was a Casio point-and-shoot camera.
Every once in a while I think I should go back and try again and when I drove past the old facility today thought I'd give it another try.
The original post prompted a lengthy comment from June Rowcliffe, who explained the history of the building going back to the 19th Century (the tower was built in the 1920s).
A screenplay by local author Bill Kauffman has been turned into a major motion picture and today the official trailer was released by the studio.
"Copperhead," set in Civil War-era Upstate New York, deals with the wars effects on people far removed from the battlefields.
The film opens nationally in theaters June 28.
The subject matter of the film -- a seldom portrayed aspect of Civil War America -- may be well-timed following the box office and critical success of the movie "Lincoln."
Copperhead stars Billy Campbell, Peter Fonda, Augustus Prew and Angus Macfadyen and is directed by Ronald F. Maxwell. The screenplay is an adaptation of a novel by Harold Frederic. Frederic, of Utica, wrote "The Copperhead" in 1893.
Kauffman, born in Batavia and a resident of Elba, is the author of "Dispatches from the Muckdog Gazette" and eight other books.
Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St., Batavia. Mark Osterman, Photographic Process Historian at the George Eastman House, will talk about photography during the Civil War era. His talk will include a Power Point presentation and a display of a 19th century camera. This program is presented in conjunction with A Tale for Three Counties 2013.
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