Holland Land Office Museum

Press release:

The Holland Land Office is excited to present a whole new year full of fun, entertaining and educational programs and events.  

On Saturday, Jan. 11th, the Saturday Morning Children’s Program will be making dry snow globes. There will be a little discussion about the history of how the Snow Globe came to be and maybe even a short story before the kids get to make their own.

If children would like to bring a small figure, animal or car to include they are welcome. This program is open for children 5-12 and runs from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. The cost for this program is $5 per child or $4 per member.

On Thursday, Jan. 16th, it's History Trivia Night. January’s theme is “Prohibition” to honor the 1920s. So brush up on your Prohibition knowledge and round up your friends and stop in! Trivia starts at 7 p.m. and costs $3 per person or $2 per member.

On Wednesday, Jan. 22nd, the Museum welcomes Patrick Weissend as the first of the 2020 Guest Speaker Series, in to talk about the settlement of Western New York. The talk will start at 7 p.m. at the museum and will cost $3 per person or $2 per museum member.  

Lastly, on Thursday, Jan. 23rd, we will be kicking off our Java with Joe “E” monthly discussions with Greg Van Dussen talking about his latest book “Circuit Rider Devotions.” As always this event is free to anyone who would like to participate and coffee, tea, hot cocoa and pastries will be available. The discussion will start at 9 a.m.

Press release:

"THANK YOU!" to all those who helped us make this year’s Wonderland Of Trees a success!

Thank you to our sponsors, Tompkins Bank of Castile, Student Transportation of America, Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel, Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C. and City of Batavia Firemen's Benevolent Association.

Also a big thank you to those organizations who came in and decorated a tree, or display:

• GCC Alpha Epsilon Gamma
• GCC Education Club
• Tompkins Bank of Castile
• Student Transportation of America
• Gary Harkness
• Anne Marie Starowitz
• Robin Weinstein
• St. Joseph Catholic Church
• Friends of the Batavia Peace Garden
• Zonta Club of Batavia-Gen. Co.
• Arc of Genesee/Orleans
• Speak Up Toastmasters
• Community Action of Orleans and Genesee
• HomeCare and Hospice
• Museum Quilt Guilds
• City of Batavia Historic Preservation Committee
• Sheep Homeschool Group
• Stafford Historical Society
• Godfrey's Pond
• Mercy Flight/ EMS
• Batavia Business & Professional Womens Club Inc.

Rob Thompson discusses Western New York's most notorious crimes, the Linden murders at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Holland Land Office Museum.

Thompson, author of 16 books including "The Linden Murders...Solved," and "Twisted Tree-Final Word on the Linden Murders," will provide details of the crimes, the victims and the suspects. The discussion will be followed by a question and answer session as well as a book signing.

Thompson will also discuss his newest book "Swinging in the Rain," which is about the crimes committed within Genesee County that resulted in the death penalty.

Admission is $3 for non-HLOM members and $2 for members.

Video: Thompson discussing "Swinging in the Rain."

Submitted photo and press release:

City of Batavia Historian Larry Barnes (above, right) and Holland Land Office Museum Executive Director Ryan Duffy (pictured left) announce the publication of an amended version of the "History of the City of Batavia" written in 1993 by Ruth M. McEvoy.

The original book, published 26 years ago, has long been out of print, but continues to be in demand among local residents. Barnes and Duffy decided to address this situation by working with Michael Hodgins of Hodgins Printing Co. to scan a surviving original copy and then print another 200 books for sale to the public.

These copies are now available at the Holland Land Office Museum bookstore.

The reprinting of McEvoy’s book provided an opportunity to correct errors in the original publication. To this end, Barnes identified 50 instances where errors had crept into McEvoy’s otherwise excellent book. Three additional pages are inserted into the amended edition for the purpose of pointing out the appropriate corrections.

McEvoy was the Batavia city historian from 1971 to 1985. She was also director of the Richmond Memorial Library for eight years in addition to serving as a member of many community organizations including the Holland Purchase Historical Society. McEvoy, now deceased, was named a “Fabulous Female” by the YWCA in 2003.

Barnes views McEvoy’s book, his own "History of Batavia: 1801 to 2015" (available online through the City’s website), and his Batavia Revisited (published by Acadia Press) as the three publications which together provide the most comprehensive history of the city. According to Barnes, each in its own unique manner complements the other two books in a way that readers should find especially satisfying.

Submitted photo and press release:

We are ready for our 18^th annual Wonderland of Trees Kickoff! Baskets at the Holland Land Office Museum are nestled all snug in their places, so come on down today or tomorrow during business hours if you want a sneak peek and to get your choices in early!

Not only do we have close to 40 gift baskets for our raffle, but we also have a beautiful tree to win  -- decorated by the lovely "Anything Your Heart Desires" florist. If you would rather, try your luck at winning cash grab, or a couple of tickets for our 50/50 raffle instead.  

The kickoff starts tomorrow (Nov. 22) at 6 p.m. and will continue until 8:30. There will be delicious hors d’oeuvres provided by the D & R Depot throughout the night to enjoy while you listen to music performed by voice students of Sound Foundation Voice Studio as well as a flute ensemble from Batavia Middle School.  

Tickets for the kickoff are $15 per person, $10 per member or $5 per child under 12. They can be purchased online here, by calling (585) 343-4727, or stopping at the Museum, located at 131 W. Main St. in Batavia.

Tickets for the basket raffle are $2 per ticket, 10 tickets for $10 or 25 tickets for $20.  

Tickets for the 50/50 raffle are $1 per ticket or five tickets for $4.  

At the kickoff, we will be holding a silent auction for a couple of the bigger items so make sure you don’t miss out.  

Winners will be pulled at 8:15 p.m. at the kickoff but you don’t have to be present to win.

What a great way to start the holidays with food and entertainment for the whole family!

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is hosting its 18^th annual Wonderland of Trees, sponsored in part this year by Tompkins Bank of Castile.This year’s Kickoff Gala will take place at the museum Friday, Nov. 22^nd.

The event will start at 6 p.m. and is family friendly and great for all ages.  

Each year, hundreds of visitors come to the museum between November and January to view nearly 50 trees, festive pictures, and holiday displays decorated by local businesses and organizations. 

There will be musical performances by voice students from Sound Foundations Voice Studio and a Flute Ensemble from Batavia Middle School.

After-dinner snacks will be provided by D & R Depot.

Tickets are $15 per person, $10 for museum members and $5 for children under 12.

This year tickets are available for purchase online as well as by calling (585) 343-4727 or stopping in Tuesday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The two cannons that have sat on the front porch of the Holland Land Office Museum for more than a century have been removed and transported to Altoona, Pa., for a $20,000 period-accurate restoration.

The Museum is paying $10,000 for the restoration and is seeking public donations of $10,000 in a campaign called, "Ready, Aim, Donate."

Press release:

Back and expanded by popular demand, please join the Holland Land Office Museum for a Westside Ghost Walk on three Fridays in October.

The walks led by Connie Boyd will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 11, 18, and 25.

Take a walk on the Westside and hear tales of murders, hangings, grave robbing, ghosts and other eerie happenings from Batavia's past.

Hear stories of Joseph Ellicott, E. N. Rowell and other famous and infamous Batavians.

Admission is $10 and reservations are required.

Tours are limited to 25 people each. The tour begins and ends at the museum and is approximately one-and-a-half to two hours in length.

For tickets or more information, please call (585) 343-4727, email at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com, or stop by at 131 W. Main St., Batavia.

(Also, be sure to check out the Old Batavia Cemetery's Guided Ghost Walk on Saturday, Oct. 26; must RSVP by calling the Batavia Cemetery Association at (585) 943-5662.)

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum will be holding its next edition of History Trivia Night at 7 o'clock on Thursday, Sept. 12^th. The topic of September’s trivia will be the history of the Erie Canal.

The trivia night will be held at a special location this month, at GO ART!, located at 201 E. Main St., which has offered to host the event. Their Tavern 2.o.1 will also be open for players to enjoy an adult beverage. Admission is $3 per person or $2 for museum members.

On Saturday, Sept. 14^th, the next edition of the Holland Land Office Museum’s Saturday Morning Kids Program will be taking place. From 10 a.m. to noon, the kids will be making their own Native American style drums and dream catchers. The program is open to children ages 7-12. Admission is $5 per child, and $4 for museum members.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to present the next presenter in its Guest Speaker Series. On Wednesday, Sept. 18^that 7 p.m., Cindy Amrhein will be presenting “Native American Land Rights in Upstate New York.” She is the Wyoming County Historian and the author of several books including one of the same title as the presentation, copies of which will be available for sale. Admission is $3 per person or $2 for museum members.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce its Seventh Annual Senior Bus Trip on Wednesday, Sept. 18^th. This year the trip will be to the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora. The trip will include a tour of the campus, lunch at the Roycroft Inn, and shopping in Downtown East Aurora, including Vidler’s 5 & 10. The bus will be departing at 9 a.m. and returning at 5 p.m. at the museum. Tickets are $60 per person or $55 for museum members. The trip is made possible by the Muriel H. Marshall Fund.

The Holland Land Office Museum is also proud to announce its first-ever Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Fundraiser. It will be held at the Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, 6492 Main St., Stafford, on Saturday, Sept. 28^th. The “Mystery of William Morgan” will be performed by WNY Improv Inc., and will give the audience a chance to be their own detectives in this “Who Done It?” style mystery. Guests will be treated to a choice of one of four entrees during the night from the renowned Red Osier menu. A cash bar will also be available. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the performance and dinner beginning at 6. Tickets to the event are $50 per person.

To RSVP for any of the upcoming events or for more information please call the museum at 585-343-4727 or email at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce on Friday, Oct. 4^th, the official unveiling of two new paintings by artist Anthony E. Terrell.

He is a Batavia native now residing in New York City, and a 1967 graduate of Batavia High School.

The two paintings “Listening to Couperin” ("artist & wife enjoying") and “Big Horned Sheep Jumping Fence of Time” are recent works of Terrell's, which were graciously donated to the museum to further promote and expand the collection of works by local artists.

The unveiling will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4^th, at the museum.

Refreshments and food will be provided for all in attendance to enjoy. The museum will also be fully open to experience all of the wonderful exhibits on display.

In place of a formal admission, the museum is asking for a small donation. Please RSVP for the event by contacting the museum at 585-343-4727 or by email at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum will be hosting its Seventh Annual Senior Bus Trip on Wednesday, Sept. 18th. This year's trip will be traveling to the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora.

The trip will include a two-hour tour of the campus, going through many of the buildings not always open to the general public.

After the tour we will be eating lunch at the beautiful Roycroft Inn, with a choice of entrees: lemon rosemary chicken, garden penne, or salmon.

There will also be time afterward for exploring of Downtown East Aurora, where everyone can enjoy the wonderful shopping opportunities including the famous Vidler’s 5 & 10. It bills itself as the "largest 5 & 10 cent variety store in the world" -- over 75,000 items spread through four buildings on two floors.

The bus will be leaving at 9 a.m. from the museum and returning at 5 p.m. Tickets are $60 per person ($55 for HLOM museum members). Must be 60 years of age or older to purchase tickets for this event.

For more information please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

The event is made possible by the Muriel H. Marshall Fund.

Press release:

Back and expanded by popular demand, please join the Holland Land Office Museum for a Westside Ghost Walk on three Fridays in October.

The walks led by Connie Boyd will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 11^th, 18^th, and 25^th.

Take a walk on the Westside and hear tales of murders, hangings, grave robbing, ghosts and other eerie happenings from Batavia's past. Hear stories of Joseph Ellicott, E. N. Rowell and other famous and infamous Batavians.

Admission is $10 and reservations are required with purchase.

Tours are limited to 25 people each.

The tour begins and ends at the museum and will last approximately one-and-a-half to two hours in length.

For more spooky fun from Batavia’s past, please visit the Batavia Cemetery’s Ghost Walk on Saturday, Oct. 26^th.

For tickets or more information, please call (585) 343-4727, email at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com, or stop by at 131 W. Main St. Batavia.

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to present its first Murder Mystery Dinner Theater fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 28. An original mystery written for HLOM, it is based on the 19th century local crime of the century, the disappearance of William Morgan.

Will you outsmart the suspects and determine what happened to him and "who dun it"?

The mystery is a live performance at Red Osier Landmark Restaurant in Stafford, with considerable interaction between the suspects and the audience with an extensive comedic touch put on by WNY Improv Inc.

WNY Improv Inc. is a group of eclectic and talented performers from throughout Western New York with extensive experience in acting and improvisation. WNY Improv has performed on stage, in films, on cruise ships, at festivals and many other venues in New York, the City of Toronto in Ontario Province, Canada, and Pennsylvania.

Doors opening at 5:30 p.m., performance beginning at 6, and dinner served by 6:30.

Each ticket will get you a choice of four different entrees for your meal: prime rib, chicken French, blackened salmon, or veggie lasagna, all include sides, salad, and dessert. Cash bar will also be available.

Tickets are $50 per person. They can be purchased by contacting the museum at 585-343-4727, hollandlandoffice@gmail.com, or stopping by 131 W. Main St. Batavia. Please have entree choice ready when buying tickets.