Cobblestone Museum showcased artisan trades during open house
Photos by Tom Rivers
GAINES – George Borrelli, a blacksmith, shapes steal during a blacksmith demonstration on Saturday at the Cobblestone Museum as part of the annual open house when all 10 buildings were open with docents and artisans.
Matt Holland also demonstrated the art of blacksmithing on Saturday. There were about 200 at the Cobblestone Museum campus for the event.
The blacksmith shop used to be operated by Joseph Vagg. The original shop burned down in 1921 but was rebuilt in 1922 with the help of many local farmers who were served by Vagg.
The museum offered free admission for the public to take a step back in time at the annual fall open house.
Sue Bonafini, the museum’s assistant director, wore a Victorian dress for the open house. She is shown with Orly the Ox, the Orleans County bicentennial mascot, in front of the Cobblestone Universalist Church, which was built in 1834. The church hosted a concert on Saturday from Jaclyn Renee Warren and Lauralynne Davis, both flutists and pianists.
LeRoy Neeper of Medina shows people an International Harvester Model M 6-horsepower engine from 1922. The machine is in the Blacksmith Shop. An engine was used to power a pulley system for lathes, two table saws, a drill press, joiner and bandsaw.
Doug Farley, the museum director, has a fresh batch of hot dogs ready. The museum served lunch with hot dogs, corn on the cob, potatoes, a chicken barbecue plate and brownies.
Tom Zangerle was on site and did a plein air oil painting of a bench by the print shop and an outhouse in back.
Other skilled artisans who will be demonstrating their crafts included a basket weaver, lace makers and tatters, quilters, a rug braider, a silversmith and spinners.
David Damico of LeRoy led demonstrations inside the print shop, which was built in 1875. It used to be in Medina, but was moved to the museum grounds on Route 98 in Gaines in the late 1977.
The shop at the Cobblestone Museum has two printing presses from the late 1800s, and several cases of type.
Georgia Thomas of Medina also showed people how to turn cream into butter. People had to shake the cream for about 10 minutes before it made a lump of butter. There are butter churns at the Farmers Hall of the Museum, including one powered by a dog.
Judith Bromley of East Aurora also answered questions in the Harness Shop. She is a qualified master saddle fitter with the Registered Society of Master Saddlers UK. She is familiar with the shoemaking process and artifacts displayed in the Harness Shop.
