First building was demolished in 1893, and second fell into disrepair and was razed in 1969

The first Presbyterian Church in Knowlesville was constructed in 1832, and then demolished in 1893 when a new building was erected.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian 

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 11

“Like all things earthly, passing away,

“The old brick church may no longer stay,

“Though dear to our hearts as our childhood home,

“Within its walls we may no longer come.

“Now lingering near the old church ground,

“We hear the busy workmen’s sound

“And see the fragments here and there

“Of what was once our house of prayer”

These lines, composed by Mrs. I.O. Root in 1893 concerning the demolition of the first Presbyterian Church building in Knowlesville, still resonate. They capture that acute feeling of loss that is felt when a church closes and remind us that nothing is permanent.

The early settlers in this area, having first built their homes, soon turned their attention to providing a place of worship. On August 27, 1817, the following eleven people convened at the Oak Orchard schoolhouse and formed the First Religious Society of the Town of Ridgeway: Orange Wells, Leonard Dresser, Daniel Gates, Elizabeth Whipple, Mary Ann Taylor, Lois Robbins and Sarah Lawrence, Dr. William White, Archy B. Lawrence, Martha Marsh and Anna Sheldon.

At that time the township comprised the present townships of Ridgeway, Barre, Shelby, Yates, Carlton and Gaines, all but four of the present towns which had not yet been named.

At first, the Society affiliated with the Congregationalists, but in 1820 resolved unanimously to unite with the Presbytery of Rochester. For the first fifteen years, meetings were held in homes, schoolhouses and barns.

The Holland Land Company provided a tract of one hundred acres to the first organized religious society in a township. The new trustees secured this “Gospel lot.”

With the completion of the Erie Canal, a settlement grew in the area later named Knowlesville. In 1831, the Society voted to accept a piece of land from John Aldrich and to purchase as much as was necessary for the site of a church building from John Vedder at the rate of $50 per half-acre.

A Federal style brick building was erected at a cost of $3,500. William Knowles provided half of the cost. The building was dedicated in 1832 and remodeled in 1861. It was demolished in 1893. A second brick church was built on the same site at a cost of $12,000. The Gospel Lot was sold at that time, and the proceeds were used for construction costs.

The second Knowlesville Presbyterian Church building, constructed in 1893, was demolished in 1969.

The “New Brick Church,” Victorian Romanesque in style, was dedicated in 1894. It flourished for many years, but closed in 1964, due to declining attendance. The parish was dissolved, and the physical assets were turned over to the Rochester Presbytery. The church building was demolished in 1969 as it had fallen into disrepair.

Today, a vacant lot remains on the north side of the street where the church was once located but its presence is still remembered by the street name: Presbyterian Street.

Advertisement from the Directory of Orleans County, 1903

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian 

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 8

Poland China? Ayrshire? Rambouillet? Are these familiar names?

They would have been recognizable to many Orleans County residents over one hundred years ago. Poland China swine, Ayrshire cattle, Rambouillet sheep were some of the many different breeds raised in the county according to the Directory of Orleans County, 1903.

This amazing publication (click here) is accessible online courtesy of the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County and is well worth downloading and perusing.

This Directory lists the residents of the county and their occupations, an ambitious undertaking. It was one of several such directories compiled by the George Hanford Company of Elmira, NY. So many aspects of social change are obvious when glancing through the pages.

Today’s column was prompted by the two-page listing of Livestock Breeders and Dealers in the Business section. Even a portion of the list illustrates the variety of livestock being raised at that time:

From the Directory of Orleans County, 1903

The list totals sixty breeders and dealers, some handled more than one breed. As we examine the variety of breeds represented, we are inferring that the prevalence of breeders for any one breed equated roughly with the breed’s popularity.

Cattle

Jersey cattle were first bred in the British Channel Islands and introduced to the U.S. in the 1850s.

It appears that Orleans County farmers favored Jersey cattle, with eight breeders listed. Jersey cows are small and noted for producing milk with a high butter-fat content. Ayrshire cattle, who also produce high-quality milk, were also raised, with just one breeder listed.

Two beef-producing breeds, Durham Shorthorns and Herefords were represented with two Shorthorn breeders and one Hereford breeder listed.

Sheep

Shropshire sheep are medium sized with dark faces and feet.

Raising sheep was a significant element of the farm economy in 1903.  In the Town of Barre alone, fifty-nine farmers listed sheep among their holdings. A quick tally of the number of sheep in Barre came to 2,500.

Shropshire sheep were the most prevalent in the County in the early 1900s. Of the sixty breeders listed, ten bred Shropshire sheep. Several other breeds were also raised: Cheviot, Delaine Merino, Dorset, Merino, Oxforddown, Rambouillet, Southdown, Tunis, and Yorkshiredown. The Shropshire flocks were raised for meat, as were the Cheviots and Dorsets. Delaine Merino, Merino, and Rambouillet sheep were bred for wool.

Merino sheep yield very fine soft wool.

Pigs

A colorful variety of pigs were raised, the Chester Whites being the most prevalent. Originating from Chester County, Pa., these white pigs with droopy ears produced a high-quality meat. Seven livestock owners handled this breed.

The reddish-brown Duroc-Jersey pigs which were noted for producing very flavorful pork were raised, as was the distinctive Berkshire pig, which is black with a white snout.

Several farmers raised the quaintly named Poland China pig, the oldest American swine breed. Related to the Berkshire pig, the Poland China pig is also black but distinguished by its white face and feet and a white tip at the end of the tail.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian 

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 6

JEDDO – This headline which appeared in the July 29, 1926, Niagara Gazette caught our attention. According to the article, George Prudom of Jeddo felt unwell and thought he was having an attack of rheumatism.

Dr. Thurman of Lyndonville was called, he suspected lockjaw, but Mr. Prudom could not recall having received a scratch of any kind that might have caused the infection.

Dr.  Russell, a specialist from Buffalo, was consulted. He agreed with the lockjaw diagnosis and prescribed a lockjaw serum treatment which was effective and after a week, Mr. Prudom was able to open his jaws slightly. He recovered fully after some time.

Upon reflection, the only incident that Mr. Prudom could recall was that a short time previously, he had been handling a heavy piece of hemlock timber which had fallen on his foot. At the time, the injury was slight, and Mr. Prudom paid no attention to it. He surmised that the infection may have been caused by a scratch from a hemlock splinter.

However, hemlock trees are not poisonous, so Mr. Prudom’s lockjaw was not caused directly by the hemlock log but was most likely the result of an infection caused by tetanus spores entering through a cut or scratch occasioned by the fall of the log onto his foot.

Hemlock trees are native to this area and were growing in abundance when the first settlers came here. They used hemlock splints for the roofs of their log cabins. Lacking furniture, they made comfortable beds from hemlock boughs laid on the floor and covered with blankets.

When laying the first roads from Ridge Road to the lake, Jeremiah Brown, the first Commissioner of Highways in the Town of Ridgeway wrote: “We would lay a road, following the lines between lots to the lake, keeping us busy all day. At night, we would make a fire, cut some hemlock boughs for bed and sleep soundly all night.”

There is a plant known as poison hemlock which is highly toxic to humans and animals. It contains coniine, an alkaloid capable of inducing paralysis. Hemlock trees and the poison hemlock plant are unrelated, they share a name because their leaves emit a similar odor. The roots of this plant were an ingredient in witches’ brew in Shakespeare’s Macbeth: “Root of hemlock, digg’d in the dark”

Hemlocks are large pyramid-shaped evergreen trees which resemble Christmas trees. They can attain a height of 60 – 70 feet. There must once have been a significant stand of hemlocks on the road which was named Hemlock Ridge Road which runs east-west through the Towns of Shelby and Barre. Some hemlocks may still be seen along the road. Hemlock trees may also be found in Mt. Albion Cemetery.

Historian urges community to embrace for painted Ox statues for county’s bicentennial celebration

Orly the Ox was featured in the Nov. 30 Medina of Parade of Lights. It was the debut of Orly in his mascot costume. The vest includes the names of Orleans County towns, villages and hamlets. The statue was propped up on a trailer for the parade. The County Bicentennial Committee would like to see more of the statues painted to celebrate the county’s 200th anniversary.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, Number 5

ALBION – Hoag Library patrons may very well wonder if they are experiencing auditory hallucinations.

“Did I just hear a moo?”

Yes, Orly the Ox is temporarily “Ox in Residence” at Hoag. He emits a hearty “Moo” from time to time. Owned by Cornell Cooperative Extension, Orly is the first ox in Orleans County’s bicentennial herd. Scenes depicting his role in agriculture were created by artist Stacey Kirby Steward.

Orly’s “ambassador” is a nimble two-legged character with a winning personality. Orly in costume has proved to be very popular. He has recently made appearances at the Canal Culvert and and at various businesses throughout the county.

Charged with honoring the county’s 200th year since its political formation, the Bicentennial Committee chose the ox as its mascot, since oxen were indispensable to the early settlers. The ox also represents the importance of agriculture to the county and honors all of those who labor in the fields.

‘Slow, steady, strong and sure-footed, oxen were more suited to the rough terrain than horses. They could pull heavier loads than horses, and they could pull steadily for longer periods of time.’

The settlers who moved here in the early 1800s provided detailed written accounts of their journeys here and of their experiences as they tried to wrest arable land from deep woods. They used oxen to haul their wagons westward, an arduous trip which took from three to five weeks. Slow, steady, strong and sure-footed, oxen were more suited to the rough terrain than horses. They could pull heavier loads than horses, and they could pull steadily for longer periods of time.

Oxen are castrated male cattle, four years old, who have been trained to work. They can weigh up to 2,600 pounds, depending on weight. “Oxen” refers to more than one ox. A “yoke of oxen” refers to working pair, connected by a wooden beam (the yoke) on their necks, which allows them to pull together

The following are but a few references to oxen from first-person accounts published in the Pioneer History of Orleans County by Arad Thomas, 1871:

David Matson raised the first log-house in Clarendon in 1814. He sold the horses which he brought into the country, having no use for them in the forest. He bought oxen which drew the logs for the first shanty.

Nathaniel Brown came to Kendall with three yoke of oxen and wagon.

Adin Manley arrived in Kendall in 1815. The following fall he returned to Massachusetts and married. In February 1816, he set out with three yoke of oxen and a covered wagon, for his new home in Kendall. Unfortunately, that was the “year of no summer”:

“We had three yoke of oxen and nothing for them to eat, this was the worst of all. We turned them into the woods and cut browse for them, but the poor cattle suffered much.”

As the woods were cleared, oxen hauled logs and pulled the stubborn tree stumps out of the ground. Oxen were used in Orleans County for quite some time. As late as 1871, the Orleans County Agricultural Society Fair held in Albion included a category for Working Oxen, one for the Best Pair of Working Oxen and one for the Best String of Ten Yoke of Oxen.

The Bicentennial Committee encourages businesses and community organizations to participate in the “Oxen of Orleans County” Public Art project. We hope to populate Orleans County with an artistic & historic ox trail. Several are already on order!

Details are available on the Orleans County Tourism Page. Click here for more information.

Orly the Ox will be out highlighting people, places and things in Orleans County this year. Orly recently stopped by Canalside Tattoo Company in Medina where he got some ink from owner Shawn Ramsey. It was actually a sticker. To request a visit from Orly the mascot, click here for more information.

Orly also was hyped for the Buffalo Bills playoff games. Here he is wearing a Josh Allen jersey. Orly’s adventures can be followed on the Orleans County Tourism’s social media.

‘Our county was very unhealthy until 1828.’ – Jeremiah Brown, pioneer in Ridgeway

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, Number 4

“About the first of the next September (1816), myself and my wife and one child were taken sick, and until December following, we suffered everything but Death. Often during that time while myself and my wife were confined to our beds, our children were crying for food and neither of us had strength sufficient to enable us to get to the cupboard to help them.” (Jeremiah Brown, Ridgeway)

This account describes an illness encountered by the early settlers of Orleans County, they referred to it as “a fever and ague “(sounds like “ay-goo”). It was a miserable, debilitating condition which affected everybody, even the strongest person. It persisted for months and was recurrent.

“Our children, then four in number, had their full share of fever and ague. It was painful to see the little ones draw up to the fire while suffering the chill, then see them retire to their beds, tormented by the raging thirst and fever following the chills, while their mother could do little for them, except to supply their frequent requests for water.” (Asa Sanford, Barre)

In Albion, Lansing Bailey was sorely afflicted: his wife and brother died of the fever and ague in August 1813. After his wife’s funeral, some friends who lived on the Ridge took the children home with them. Bailey returned to his “desolate house to spend one of the loneliest nights I ever knew.”

The illness was thought to be part of the acclimating process, or “a penalty to Nature.” It occurred “whenever an opening was made in the forest; or the earth was turned over for the first time to the hot rays of the summer sun.”

Asa Sanford ascribed it to “clearing trees and building dams.” In 1817, Henry McCall and Robert Perry built a dam and mills at Sandy Creek to serve the twenty families living there. The dam raised the water to cover eighteen to twenty acres.

“The water killed the timber, and a terrible sickness followed among the inhabitants, about one quarter of whom died in one season. The well persons were not numerous enough to take care of the sick and bury the dead, and settlers from other neighborhoods came there and helped the needy ones. The mill dam was taken down and the sickness disappeared.”

We now understand that this was a malarial-type illness, caused by the mosquitoes who thrived in those water-logged areas. Those who had access to a doctor were prescribed “quinine and the blue pill” but that many people “just let it work itself off the natural way.” Adin Manly mentioned that some early Kendall residents drank whiskey to keep off the fever and ague.

Dr. White, who attended Lansing Bailey told Bailey that he could prescribe something that would stop it, but that he would be well advised not to take it. Bailey said that he would take it on his own responsibility. Dr. White gave him arsenic, Bailey took it.

“It stopped the ague, but I did not get well for a long time.”

Jeremiah Brown observed that “our county was very unhealthy until 1828.”

Asa Sanford recalled that “as the county was cleared up and the lowlands drained of their surface water, the people suffered less from ague.”

(Source: Pioneer History of Orleans County, Arad Thomas, 1872)

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, Number 3

This is a sketch of the first courthouse building in Albion as it appeared in 1840. (Landmarks of Orleans County)

Dewitt Clinton was Governor of New York State, serving the first year of his second term of office, when the 48th Legislative Session passed the Act which formed Orleans as a “separate and distinct county of the state of New York”, on April 15, 1825.

Law and order were primary concerns of this Act. It specified that two terms of the “court of common pleas and general sessions of the peace” were to be held in Gaines. Commissioners appointed by the act were instructed to locate a site for a courthouse and jail before the second Monday in June 1825. An election for sheriff, clerk and coroners was to be held on the second Tuesday of May 1825.

The first case was held in Gaines on October 13, 1825, at the Mansion House, a hotel owned by Selah Bronson. Samuel Miner was charged with assault and battery and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

The first courthouse in the county was built in Albion in 1827 on land donated by Nehemiah Ingersoll. Ingersoll is credited with naming the county and with strategizing the selection of Albion as the county seat in 1826. Located on the site of the current County Jail, the courthouse was a brick building with a white cupola and pillars. The County Clerk’s office was on the first floor, while the jail was in the basement.

At that time, the Free and Accepted Masons were an influential fraternal organization. Many of the early settlers were members and they established lodges shortly after they took up residence, in Ridgeway and Gaines.

In 1826, William Morgan, a disenchanted mason originally from Canada, threatened to publish a book exposing details of the Freemasons closely guarded secret rites. This caused a great furor and added to dissension which had already been brewing among members.

After several incidents, Morgan was arrested and jailed in Canandaigua. His release was organized by Masonic members, on condition that he return to Canada. Following his release, he was immediately escorted to a waiting carriage which then transported him north to Rochester and west along Route 104 to Niagara Falls and freedom in Canada. In all, this hurried journey required three carriage changes, five drivers, seven teams of horses and many assistants.

After some time, it became apparent that William Morgan was missing. He was never seen again after that carriage ride, nor was his body ever found. Speculation was rampant, an investigation was ordered. A total of twenty Grand Jury investigations and fifteen trials ensued.

Two of the trials took place in Albion. The first case against Avery Downer, a teacher from Gaines, was dismissed. The second case, against Elihu Mather, lasted ten days, and was held in November 1829. Hon. Addison Gardiner, Circuit Judge of the 8th Circuit presided.

Mather was charged with conspiracy to kidnap and abduct William Morgan. Detailed accounts of the trial were reported by the Orleans Telegraph and published in newspapers throughout the state, in Canada and in Vermont. (Click here to see historic newspapers in New York State. )

The counsel for the defendant, William H. Adams, addressed the jury for four hours. He did not deny that Mather drove the carriage but argued that he did so innocently, without knowing that any illegal act was contemplated. He argued that there was no proof that Morgan was in the carriage and if he was, there was no proof that he was held by force. The jury returned a verdict of “Not Guilty”.

Several of the others accused were found guilty of kidnapping Morgan, but nobody was charged with his murder, all of which further fueled anti-Masonic sentiment and led to the formation of the Anti-Masonic Party in 1831.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, Number 2

This genial looking gentleman, Nehemiah Ingersoll, 1788-1868 is credited with the naming of Orleans County.

ALBION – Imagine that you are a new settler in this area. What would you name the town you live in, or this county?

We take the place names where we live for granted, but two hundred years ago these names were purposefully selected and had resonance for the people who lived here.

We can see why the early settlers were so conscious of their role in history – not only did they purchase the land, stake their claims here with hard labor and make the land productive, but they also had the opportunity to name the land.

On September 14, 1824, a petition was presented to “the Honorable, the Representative of Genesee County” requesting the creation of this county from the north part of Genesee County. The petition refers to the new county as “Adams,” referring to John Quincy Adams, a leading Presidential candidate at the time.

Naturally, the supporters of his opponent, Andrew Jackson, protested and wanted the county to be named “Jackson.” We can well relate to this dilemma.

Nehemiah Ingersoll is credited with championing the name “Orleans” as a compromise, though one source credits Oran Follett, a Genesee County legislator, with this honor. “Orleans” could be construed as an honor to the Duc D’Orleans – or, more likely, a compliment to General Jackson on his victory against the British in New Orleans in 1815.

Incidentally, John Quincy Adams was elected President in 1825, Andrew Jackson won the following Presidential election in 1829.

By the time the name of the county came to be selected, several naming rights decisions had already been made. Eight of the ten towns had been formed and named:

1803 – Town of Murray: named for John Murray, a large landowner in the area.

1812 – Town of Ridgeway: named for Ridge Road

1816 – Town of Gaines: named for General Edmund Gaines who defended the area in the War of 1812

1818  – Town of Barre: named by Judge John Lee (Lee Rd.) for his birthplace, Barre, Massachusetts.

1818 – Town of Shelby: named for Gov. Isaac Shelby, a Revolutionary war soldier.

1821 – Town of Clarendon: originally named Farwell’s Mills for Eldredge Farwell, an early settler, named for Clarendon Vt., hometown of Farwell’s wife.

1822 – Town of Carlton: at first named Oak Orchard, it was changed to Carlton in 1825, for Governor Guy Carlton of Quebec.

1822 – Town of Yates: originally called Northton, the name was changed in 1823 to honor Hon. Joseph C. Yates, Governor of New York State.

The towns formed following the formation of the county were:

1837 – Town of Kendall: named for Amos Kendall, Postmaster General of the United States.

1875 – Town of Albion: set off from the town of Barre and named for Albion, the county seat.

Basically, the names selected were chosen to honor a hometown, a prominent businessman or an elected politician.

Just as a matter of speculation, which name would you prefer: Adams County, Jackson County or Orleans County? Would the selection of either Adams or Jackson have changed the course of history here?

Pioneer residents contended with heavy forest, sickness, war and brutal winter cold

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, Number 1

The remarkable photograph above, taken on June 19th, 1869, shows the hardy pioneers who settled Orleans County.

The records of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the Pioneer Association held at the Orleans County Courthouse in Albion on that date noted that Mr. George P. Hopkins, photograph artist of Albion, invited the members to have a group photo taken. The invitation was accepted, the meeting adjourned until 1:30 in the afternoon to afford time to take the picture and then get dinner.

On April 15, 2025, Orleans County will mark 200 years since its political formation.

As we have seen in previous columns, this area has been inhabited from time immemorial. Following a convoluted series of land transactions, by 1800 what we now refer to as Orleans County was owned by the Holland Land Company (the land west of Transit Road) and by the Pulteney Estate (the land east of Transit Road).

Attracted by the generous terms promised by the Holland Land Company for the purchase of fertile land, young men set forth with high hopes. According to the Pioneer History of Orleans County, the first settlement of white men in Orleans County was made in 1803 in the Town of Carlton by William and James Walsworth who came from Canada. James settled by the mouth of the Oak Orchard Creek, while William settled by the mouth of Johnson’s Creek.

Conditions were vastly different in Orleans County two hundred years ago:

“A dense and heavy forest of hard, huge trees covered the land…Pestilential fevers racked the nerves and prostrated the vigor…War was declared in 1812…then came the memorable cold season of 1816.”

In the aforementioned Pioneer History of Orleans County (PHOC), we are fortunate to have an excellent record – mostly first-hand – of the experiences of the first settlers of this area. Conscious of their achievements and their place in history, these early pioneer settlers formed the Pioneer Association of Orleans County which had its first meeting at the courthouse in Albion on September 10, 1859.

Article VII of their Constitution specified that “It shall be the duty of each member of the association to furnish in a form suitable for preservation, such facts and incidents in his early pioneer life, and in relation to the first settlements of this country, as he may deem of sufficient interest to be preserved.” They wanted to have their stories recognized and indeed their stories are heartfelt, poignant and captivating.

These accounts formed the basis for the book Pioneer History of Orleans County by Arad Thomas, which was published in Albion in 1871, required reading for any person interested in local history, always available from your local library.

These photos show original Pioneer History record books and a title page from one volume.

The records of the Pioneer Association were meticulously maintained in three volumes. One volume contains the meeting Minutes from 1859-1905, the others contain transcriptions of the firsthand accounts submitted by the settlers. These unique volumes were in the possession of the University of Rochester for many years but were acquired by local history collector Tom Taber at a sale. The Orleans County Legislature approved the acquisition of the volumes by the Orleans County Dept. of History in 2021 with funding from the Orleans County Bicentennial Fund.

Much has changed in 200 years, yet 200 years is but a blink in time. Anniversaries cause us to pause and reflect on changes and accomplishments, and hopefully to draw on the experiences of the past to inform the future.

Now there’s a dog with an attitude! “Sloat’s Dog” presents a regal and commanding pose.  (Scott B. Dunlap Collection)

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 4, Number 40

SHELBY – It is the holiday season! We have been dealing with serious photographs all year long, stern looking men and somber women, buildings and street scenes galore. Time for some lighter fare!

Our submissions today are from the Scott B. Dunlap collection which we have previously used for postmortem and Powerline project photographs.

Born in 1898, Scott B. Dunlap of Dunlap Road in Shelby was a fourth-generation member of the family for whom the road is named. Armed with his new Kodak camera, Scott, who graduated from Medina High School in 1905, took unposed, relaxed photographs of family, friends and animals.

Most likely without intending to, he compiled a precious chronicle of life in rural America in the early 1900s, in those years just before automobiles replaced the horse and buggy. In 2008, Scott B. Dunlap, Jr. donated this collection of over two hundred of his father’s glass plate negatives to the Medina Historical Society.

“Sloat’s Dog” with his snout in the air, cannot but make one smile. It appears that Sloat had another dog, an equally well-fed and imperious canine.

“Sloat’s Dog” #2 (Scott B. Dunlap collection)

According to the 1900 Census, Francis Sloat, a farmer, and his wife, Mary (Dutton), lived in Shelby. Sloat later moved to Corfu, died in 1921 and is buried in Millville Cemetery.

“Dunk’s children” (Scott B. Dunlap collection)

What a visual treasure! The horse is old and calm, the girls are dressed up for the occasion, in matching dresses and hats. The younger girl, on the left, is clutching part of the horse’s mane in her hand.

“Dunk” was Frank Dunkelberger, a farmer in Shelby. The 1900 Census lists his age as 30, his daughters Ruth and Rhea were 6 and 4 at the time of the Census.

“Remson’s children” (Scott B. Dunlap collection)

Upon investigation, these children with the white cat and a sheep may be Seth Ransom’s grandchildren, rather than Remson’s children, as labeled: Theron, Anita and J. Lawrence Caleb who lived on Southwoods Road in Shelby.

“Boy with two dogs” (Scott B. Dunlap collection)

Our last selection (it was difficult to choose) is of this young man, armed with a hunting rifle and two dogs. We were taken by the unsettling expression of the seated dog.

In addition to providing some levity, these photographs contain a treasure trove of attendant details which we can now zoom over and enlarge. Naturally, we relish the challenge of finding additional information on the subjects. Armed with the most basic descriptors “Sloat’s Dog” or “Remson’s Children” we were able to locate information in the Orleans County Genweb site and the New Century Atlas of Niagara and Orleans Counties, 1913.

https://orleans.nygenweb.net

https://www.historicmapworks.com/Atlas/US/7112/Orleans+County+1913/

Loungewear, Landauer’s of Albion Christmas catalog, 1967

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 4, Number 39

ALBION – We associate the colors red and green with Christmas: Santa’s red suit, green Christmas trees, red berries on holly.

At first glance, the color scheme of this Landauer’s Christmas catalog appears jarring. But realizing that the catalog is from 1967 explains the teal, magenta and mustard colors. At the time, Landauer’s was the main department store in Albion.

This catalog lists items of clothing sold and worn just 63 years ago, still remembered (and owned?) by some, no doubt. But in terms of fashions, fabrics, colors and descriptions, this clothing might as well be from the crinoline era.

The clothing items shown above were listed as suitable “For Partying or Lounging” and, it is interesting to note that the colors are more seasonal than those shown on the cover.

The first item on the left, 2B, is a Lounger culotte of 80% Arnel® triacetate, 20% nylon. Three quarter sleeves. Styled by Lazy U. Washable. Colors: orange or lime $23.

Landauer’s Christmas catalog, 1967

Item 2C: Floral patterned quilt duster of Honan acetate crepe. Kodel® polyester fiberfill. Blue or gold. $16

Item 2D:  A long robe version of Item 2C

Item 2E:  Luxuriant “Radiant Fleece” duster of 80% Arnel Triacetate and 20% nylon with the look of velour. Front panel with embroidered grosgrain ribbon, concealed gripper closing. Colors: Tangerine, Kelly green, desert rose. $16

The colors are vibrant, the styles are non-restrictive, and the fabric is easy-care synthetic. Production of natural fabrics had declined during World War II due to the focus on the war effort. Synthetic fibers were developed in the 1950s to meet an increased demand for fabric. Tired of rationing and shortages, consumers were eager to buy new clothes. The new fabrics were popular as they were easy to wash, wrinkle-free, durable and affordable.

Of the fabrics listed in the above descriptions, Arnel® was a trademarked synthetic triacetate fabric developed in 1954 by the Celanese Corporation of America. It ceased production in 1984, due to increased toxicity standards for production and competition from newer polyesters.

Kodel® polyester was developed in 1958 by Eastman Chemical, a subsidiary of the Eastman Kodak Company. It felt like cotton but was more durable and less expensive to produce.

Ladies fashion also included Orlon® acrylic knits, “Fairfield She Shells”, cardigans and sweaters in vibrant colors – canary, lemonette, coquette pink, fresh grass and sprite green.

Men’s clothing, Launder’s of Albion catalog, 1967

With the heading “Handsome New Ideas for His World”, several pages feature coats and jackets for men and boys.

Item 22B: The fabulous Koratron® zip-out three season coat, lined with 100% Acrilon® acrylic tone tipped pile. Colors: black, navy, olive or British tan. $30.00

Koratron® was developed in 1956 by Joseph Koret who was working on creating a permanent crease product for men’s trousers. When coated with resin and baked at 325 degrees, the fabric permanently adopted creases as designed, while the remainder of the fabric remained wrinkle resistant.

The men’s dress shirts were made of Dacron® polyester and were “Sanforized®”, a pre-shrinking process developed by Sanford Cluett in 1930 that reduced shrinking after washing. Sport shirts were made from Ban-Lon® texturized nylon “that simply never needs ironing.”

Consumers in the 1960s embraced the convenience and versatility of clothing made from synthetic materials. The wash-and-wear, no-iron properties revolutionized laundry day. Sixty-three years later, we are more aware of the downside of the synthetic revolution  and it’s detrimental effects on the environment.