By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans – Vol. 2, No. 31

Sharon Kerridge

Sharon Kerridge, who was recognized as a Legendary Local of Orleans County in 2011, passed away at her home in Ocala, Florida on July 14, 2022. The listing of Legendary Locals was compiled by Hollis Canham and Andrew Canham.

Though her name may be unfamiliar, Sharon was a true unsung heroine, a pioneer in the field of online genealogy research. She devoted countless hours behind the scenes to input, verify and organize cemetery listings for the Orleans County GenWeb site.

Sharon’s interest in cemetery records began in the early 1990s, when she was assisting her sister, Donna, on a family research project which involved diligently deciphering headstones in the Town of Gaines and Town of Carlton cemeteries. Her interest coincided with the advent of online technology.

The USGenWeb project was established in 1996 by a group of genealogists who wished to provide free online resources for research. Online access to cemetery records and census information fueled a huge interest in family research.

The Orleans County GenWeb site went online in June 1997 and soon was the envy of many researchers from other areas who did not have access to such a resource. It was maintained by unheralded volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to input content and update information. Sharon was involved from the beginning and continued in her role as coordinator even after her move to Florida.

“In the early days, Sharon spent many hours photographing headstones,” said her sister, Donna Miller Gordon. “She devoted countless hours to working on the website, it was her passion. She did not look for accolades or acknowledgement. She had a good heart and felt empathy for the families of those whose information she was entering, particularly for the families of those who died at a young age.”

The homepage at www.orleans.nygenweb.net is familiar to any person who has searched for information on deceased Orleans County residents. It is a portal to an absolute treasure trove of information: census records from 1830 – 1930, military records, family histories.

It also provides access to cemetery listings for Orleans County cemeteries – pure gold for any family researcher. As an added bonus, the site does not require registration, login or passwords.

Using information supplied by cemetery staff and local funeral homes, Sharon continued to update the cemetery listings until shortly before her death. Colleague, Jim Friday, has indicated that the site will be continued. We very much hope so.

‘Inter-species nursing’ is well documented

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans – Vol. 2, No. 30

“WOMAN NURSES CAT ON PLANE”

This headline caused a minor media sensation recently and elicited reactions of incredulity and derision. But perhaps we should not condemn quite so quickly.

Lansing Bailey was one of Orleans County’s early settlers. In 1811, he bought land “lying one mile west of where Albion now stands” from the Holland Land Company. He moved to the area in 1812. The following incident occurred shortly thereafter. It is included in the Arad Thomas book Pioneer History of Orleans County which was published in 1871.

“When we went to the Five Corners to fetch our kettle, while the snow crust was hard on our return, our dog barked earnestly at a large hollow tree that had fallen down. On looking into the hollow, we saw two eyes, but could not tell what animal it was within. My brother went after an ax and gun, while I watched the hole.

“After filling the hollow with sticks, we cut several holes in the log, to ascertain the character of the animal. Soon, however, she passed one of the holes and we knew it was a bear. We then removed the sticks and put in the dog. The bear seized the dog, and my brother reached in and pulled the dog out. The bear presented her head at the hole, and I killed her with the ax.

“On searching the log, we found a cub, which we took home with us. It could not bite but would try.

“A Mrs. Adams, who had recently lost a babe, took it and nursed it, until it got to be quite a bear, and rather harsh in its manners.”

The concept of “inter-species nursing” has indeed been documented. This photograph is from the Library of Congress collection. It appeared in the 1921 book Wild Brother: Strangest of True Stories from the North Woods by William Lyman Underwood which describes how the wife of a logging camp cook in Northern Maine nursed an orphaned newborn bear cub along with her own daughter in the early 1900’s.

“Mr. Underwood took this picture of Ursula and Bruno and me with my consent and I am glad to have him use it in his book. Bruno’s Foster Mother”

Bruno, as the bear was named, thrived and lived for many years. We hope the cat that was nursed on the plane does too.

Dr. Charles E. Fairman will be featured at tours of Lynhaven Cemetery on Aug. 19, Aug. 21

Illustration from the Historical Album of Orleans County, 1879.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans, Vol. 2, No. 29

LYNDONVILLE – Several fine Italianate houses grace Main Street in Lyndonville. Our illustration, which is contained in the Historical Album of Orleans County, 1879, depicts one, the home at 55 South Main Street. The house was owned by Dr. J.D. Warren in the 1870s and subsequently by his daughter Louise and her husband, Dr. Charles E. Fairman, until his death in 1934.

Charles E. Fairman gained renown as a young man as the youngest graduate of the Yates Academy, where both of his parents were teachers. Subsequently, he was the youngest person to receive a degree from the University of Rochester. Having earned his medical degree at Shurtleff College, Illinois, in 1887, he returned to Lyndonville where he practiced medicine for many years, using as his office the distinctive small building to the north of the main house.

Active in village affairs, he was elected first President of the Village in 1903. The first meeting of the newly incorporated Village of Lyndonville was held in his office in 1903.

His true passion was mycology, the study of fungi. He specialized in the study of Pyrenomycetes and was recognized as an expert on the topic. He amassed a collection of over 23,000 fungi and published articles in many journals. He collected specimens for the New York Botanical Garden and for the Herbarium at Cornell University.

Dr. Fairman is buried at Lynhaven Cemetery. He is one of the many cemetery “residents” who will be mentioned on the upcoming tour of Lynhaven Cemetery, which will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 19 and Sunday, August 21.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans – Vol. 2, No. 27

MILLVILLE – Can you identify the building shown in this 1915 postcard?

It is in Western Orleans, on a main route. We tend to pass it by (at the legal speed limit of 40 mph, of course), intent on getting to somewhere else.

At one time it was the hub of this rural hamlet, strategically located at a crossroads. Sturdily built of local limestone, it still stands at the intersection, basically unchanged, apart from the front porch which is now concrete.

The T.O. Castle & Son Mercantile operated in the Town of Shelby hamlet of Millville from 1849 to 1933. Located at the intersection of Maple Ridge Road and the East Shelby Road, it served the surrounding rural community as well as the staff and students of the nearby Millville Academy.

Though fortunate in its location, it seems that the character and personality of its owner, T.O. Castle, played a part in its success. We do not have a photograph of this enterprising gentleman, but we can glean a good deal of information about him from various sources.

T.O. (Thomas Oliver) Castle was born in Parma, Monroe County on April 2, 1826, the son of Jehiel and Nancy (Willey) Castle. He taught school for two years. In 1846 he moved to Shelby Center in Orleans County. He worked at the store owned by his uncle, Reuben S. Castle. He then worked in Buffalo for two years as a supervisor of salesmen at the George M. Sweeney store.

According to the U.S. Army Mexican War Enlistments Records 1847-49, he had hazel eyes, sandy hair and was 5’6” tall. He married Mary Timmerman, daughter of Catherine Timmerman, in December of 1850.

The store’s signs and advertising refer to 1849 as the year of establishment, though the deed recording the purchase of the property is dated March 20, 1851. It is interesting to note that the property transfer was made to Mary Ann Castle.

T.O. Castle was Postmaster from 1853 to 1857 and later from 1878 to 1897. He was a Justice of the Peace and served as a Justice of Sessions. He was secretary of the Board of the Millville Cemetery Association. He was on the fundraising committee for rebuilding the Congregational Church.

According to the 1862 IRS Tax Assessment List, he is listed as a Retail Dealer. He owned one horse and carriage. In 1866, his carriage was valued at $80. He also owned a melodeon valued at $125 and a gold watch valued at $100.

At that time, the Medina newspapers published local news items from the surrounding towns. T.O. Castle’s business, community and personal activities were frequently mentioned in the reports from Millville:

• “T.O. Castle visited his daughter, Kittie, living in Syracuse.” – Medina Tribune, Feb. 26, 1874
• “T.O. Castle has threshed forty-one bushels and a half of wheat to the acre, being ahead of his neighbor Homer Sherwood one- and one-half bushels.” – Medina Tribune, Aug. 6, 1877
• “T.O. Castle nominated as Justice of Sessions at the Democratic Convention held at Albion.” –Medina Tribune, Oct. 18, 1877
• “T.O. Castle served on the Refreshments Committee of the Arrangements for the Re-Union of the 28th Regiment.” – Medina Tribune, May 13, 1880
• “T.O. Castle has been remodeling his store on the inside, having repapered it, ceiling, and all, put in new shelves, and is now painting all of it which is a great improvement. He has also given notice to those who have been hanging around that it must be stopped.” – Medina Register, Feb. 18, 1892
• “Pneumonia is prevalent in the county. The family of T.O. Castle has been especially stricken. Two members, Mrs. Castle and her mother, succumbed within twenty-four hours.” – Buffalo Morning Express, Feb. 6, 1897
• “T.O. Castle suffering from severe attack of arthritis.” – Medina Tribune, July 30, 1903.

His obituary in the Medina Daily Journal of March 30, 1910, noted that “he was widely known and esteemed.” Following his death, the store was taken over by his son, George D., who operated the store until his death at the age of 81 in 1933.

Daniel Hurley, the present owner, has a genuine enthusiasm for this building and its past. He hopes to restore it to the point where people will want to stop and enter rather than just speed on by.

‘For desserts, there are many things, but beware of articles that will not bear traveling without looking dejected and sullen. Candied fruits with macaroons, sponge or pound cakes are about the most agreeable of all the sweets which are adapted to journeys.’

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans, Vol. 2, No. 25

This menu is from “Queen of the Household” – a popular household guide published in 1891.

A Summer Picnic! It sounds so carefree and restful. However, arranging a summer picnic in the 1890s was far from carefree or restful by our standards.

A copy of “Queen of the Household”, a popular household guidebook by Mrs. E.M. Ellsworth published in 1891, was recently donated to the Orleans County Dept. of History.  It includes the following directives on picnics:

On location:

There should be a stream or spring of pure water, materials for a fire, shade intermingled with sunshine, and a reasonable freedom from tormenting insect life.

On clothing:

A woolen dress that is not too heavy nor yet too new, or a cotton one that is not too thin, with short trim skirts, solid easy shoes that have a friendliness with the feet because of prolonged intimacy with them, pretty, but not too fine or thin stockings, a hat with a broad brim, a large sun-shade, at least two fresh handkerchiefs, some pins and needle and thread, easy gloves with ample wrists, a jacket to wear when returning home.

On equipment:

Two or three hammocks, a few folding camp chairs, a rug to spread on the ground, two or three books that have brief, bright poems in them. Forget not the napkins, forks, spoons, and the luncheon cloth. Also carry tumblers, plates, salt, pepper, sugar and a bottle of cream or can of condensed milk. Cups with handles, but no saucers, are desirable for tea or coffee.

On food:

Supply at least double the quantity which would be served at home for the same number of people and then be sure to add a little more.

When the appetite is appeased at mid-day, it frequently renews its strength and comes back again around 4’o’clock in the afternoon and is as exacting as if it had not been appeased for a whole week.

The best and most convenient of all out of door edibles is the sandwich. The best of all sandwiches are made ready when they are wanted. To make sandwiches that leave none but pleasant memories, always grind the meat or chop it up to very near a pulp when cold. Make a thick mayonnaise and mix it with the meat until it is about the consistency of marmalade. Store or carry in a covered dish or closed jar.

For desserts, there are many things, but beware of articles that will not bear traveling without looking dejected and sullen. Candied fruits with macaroons, sponge or pound cakes are about the most agreeable of all the sweets which are adapted to journeys.

For drinking, tea that has been made, seasoned while hot and then bottled directly is delicious, as is coffee.

If ice must be carried, select a clear, solid piece, and wrap it in a heavy flannel. Carry an ice pick with it, so that it may be broken up when needed, with as little waste as possible.

Despite the effort involved in organizing this picnic, Mrs. Ellsworth advised the housekeeper or housemother to arrange a picnic once a week during the summer, to escape the burdens of the formalities and paraphernalia that consumed their energy every day of their lives.

Enjoying the advantages of portable coolers, ice that does not require an icepick, paper plates, store-bought mayonnaise, not to mention less restrictive clothing, we should certainly take her advice. Pass the bottled tea please!

Kendall location by lake hosted bare-fisted boxing, ‘rum-running’

Postcard view of the quiet beach at Troutburg in Kendall.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans, Vol. 2, No. 24

KENDALL – The Lure of the Illicit!

The Troutburg beach area, in the northeast corner of the Town of Kendall, was a popular destination for city-dwellers seeking relief from the heat of the summer months. The factors which contributed to its popularity as a summer resort: quiet secluded cove, rural area, proximity to transportation, also made it an attractive location for more nefarious activities.

Bare-fisted prizefighting was an illegal but popular sport in New York State from the pre-Civil War days until 1920 when the Walker Act legalized professional boxing.

On the night of August 23, 1885, two steamers carrying a contingent of fight enthusiasts, left the Port of Rochester and set out for Oak Orchard to attend a fight between Patrick Slattery of Rochester and William Baker of Buffalo.

However, when they arrived at Oak Orchard there was no sign of activity. Acting on a tip-off, Sheriff Howard of Albion had arrested both men. They were arraigned in Albion on a charge of conspiracy to engage in a prize fight but were released on $400 bail.

Undaunted, the organizers regrouped and soon set off aboard another steamer with the two hundred or so men who had each paid $5 to see this fight. Their new destination was Troutburg, where a tent had been hastily erected at Cady Grove. The fighters stepped into the ring at 4:48 p.m. that afternoon and the fight began. It lasted six rounds. Slattery was declared the winner on a controversial decision. Once the fight was over, the crowd quickly scattered.

Baker and Slattery were later arrested, fined $500 each and sentenced to a year in the Monroe penitentiary by Judge Morgan. Their counsel, Mr. Chamberlain, requested clemency and said that the men had been “tools in the hands of others.”

During Prohibition, “rum-running” was a regular activity along the mostly isolated south shore of Lake Ontario as enterprising men sought to profit from quenching the thirst of their clients. Boats laden with Canadian beer slipped in and out undetected, under cover of darkness.

Six Men Held in Two Liquor Hauls: Troopers Find Goods Reported Landed at Troutburg

This headline, which appeared in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle of July 7, 1924, summarized the events which unfolded after Troop A State Police in Batavia received word of the landing of a boat in Troutburg. The boat had been unloaded and had left by the time the State Police arrived, but they 2,000 cases of Canadian ale valued at $40,000, hidden in a barn in a farm in Morton. Two trucks loaded with ale, which were about to be driven to Rochester, were also seized. Four Rochester men were arrested in connection with this haul. They were held at the Genesee County Jail in Batavia on charges of transporting intoxicating liquor.

Another dramatic event occurred in Troutburg later that summer. The Democrat and Chronicle reported that in August, two musicians who were employed for the summer at the Ontario Hotel left one Sunday afternoon with two 17-year-old girls from Brockport. A search was quickly organized, a reward of $200 was offered. The four were located in Detroit a week later. The two musicians were charged with corrupting the morals of minors. “Friends of the girls expressed the belief that they had eloped with the musicians while their mothers claimed they were abducted.”

Why not take a drive to Troutburg and savor the history in the air?

This quiet beach scene in Troutburg was once the site of much activity.