Holley celebrates 175th anniversary of village with new flag, logo
Retiring historian Marsha DeFilipps also feted during event outside old high school
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – The Village of Holley celebrated its 175th anniversary on Wednesday, and debuted a new flag and logo. Former mayors, from left, Kevin Lynch, Dan Schiavone and John Kenney hold the new flag, which highlights the old Holley High School and the Holley Waterfalls.
The flag and a new logo were designed by A.J. Gere of Lake Country Media.
Holley Mayor Mark Bower unveils the new logo which makes the waterfalls a focal point.
In back are Murray Town Supervisor Gerry Rightmyer, Murray-Holley Historical Society President Dan Mawn and Holley Historian Raymond Santoro.
Tracy Yokel of Cookie Tre’s Sugar Sensations made these cookies with the new flag and logo for the Village of Holley.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley presented a proclamation in honor of Holley 175th anniversary.
The Holley community traces its roots trace back to an early settlement around 1812 when the hamlet of Saltport took the name of Holley in honor of Myron Holley, a principal promoter and commissioner of the Erie Canal.
Holley flourished as a canal and railroad trading center serving the surrounding agricultural communities, according to the proclamation.
Hawley noted that Holley’s Public Square is recognized on the National Register of District Places, and there are several popular attractions include Holley Canal Park and the Holley Waterfalls.
The village population totaled 1,754 people in 2020 census.
Dan Mawn, president of the Murray-Holley Historical Society, announced the resource room at the local museum will be named in honor of Marsha DiFilipps who served at the Holley and Murray historian since 1979. She has recently retired.
DeFilipps has been very active in the Historical Society. She was influential in establishing the Murray-Holley Historical Society Museum in the old train depot and has led multiple talks and workshops and helped many residents trace their own familial roots.
The depot was constructed in 1907. It was moved in 1988 to Geddes Street Extension and was turned into a museum about local history.
One of the signature accomplishments during her term as historian was her creation of an index of personal names in Landmarks of Orleans County. To do this, DeFilipps spent many months combing through and extracting every name mentioned in Isaac Signor’s 1894 publication, developing a permanent record of history.
“She just loves history and she loves Holley,” Mawn said.
Murray Town Supervisor Gerry Rightmyer and new Town Historian Debbie Wood praise DeFilipps for her long tenure as the local historian. DeFilipps was unable to attend the event on Wednesday.
“We’re so grateful for her time, effort and knowledge base,” Rightmyer said. “It will be sorely missed.”
Assemblyman Hawley also presented a citation in acknowledgement of DeFilipps’ career and contributions as the Holley and Murray historian.
The ceremony was held in front of the old Holley High School, which has been transformed into the village offices and 41 apartments for senior citizens.
Home Leasing in Rochester spearheaded the $17 million project which was complete in 2020. The site is known as the Holley Gardens.
The school originally opened 1931 and closed after 1975. Mayor Bower was in the last graduating class at the school.
It building was vacant for more than two decades.
Bower said the school, right in the middle of the village, remains a focal point and source of pride.
“It’s impossible to separate Holley’s history from the school,” he said.
The village also brought back the original plaque from when the school opened in 1931. That plaque had been in the current school on Lynch Road. But school officials gave the plaque back to the village with the old school’s reopening as apartments and village offices.
Mayor Bower said the plaque is heavy. Village officials decided to have it displayed on Medina Sandstone outside the front entrance of the building. The mayor said he appreciates that the Town of Sweden donated the stone which was in a town park.
Unveiling the plaque include, from left, Ray Santoro, Dan Mawn, Sal DeLuca and Mayor Mark Bower.
The plaque lists Board of Education members from 1931 including President Nevill Cole, and members Lewis Munger, Michael Noon, Bertrand Geyo, Louis Buongiorne, and W.T. Broekhuizen.
The plaque also lists Holley clerk Laura Fuller, district superintendent Anna Potter and principal Roswell Marshall. The architect for the school was Carl C. Ade with M. Iuppa & Maggio Co. serving as the contractors.
Holley DPW employees Mike Church, left, and Ryan Johnson get the new Holley flag ready to be raised for the first time.
The Holley flag is shown high on the flag pole, just below the American flag.
