By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 10

KUCKVILLE – A visual puzzle!

The scene shown in this photograph from the late 1890’s does not resemble the Kuckville you are familiar with as you breeze through on Route 18, unaware that you are even crossing a creek, and, unless you are driving north on Lakeside Road, perhaps even unaware of the hamlet.

The barn and bridge shown in the photograph no longer exist, and the area is wooded now, but the bridge abutments are still visible. Writing in 1981, Betsy Hoffman, a former Town of Carlton Historian, explained the changes:

“Prior to 1933, the road now known as Church Street came into the hamlet of Kuckville from the west, continued on to the east across the old bridge with the Kuck estate on the left and Joe Nicholson’s house on the right sitting on what is now the middle of what now is Route 18. The house was moved from that position to where Townsends store is now. The store as we know it in 1981 is part of the old Joe Nicholson house”

Detail of Kuckville from the 1913 Atlas of Niagara and Monroe counties which shows the original road configuration.

The Medina Daily Journal of March 27, 1930 noted that “Work has begun on the bridge at Kuckville.” The new road bypassed the hamlet. Identified on maps as the Roosevelt Highway and the Great Lakes Seaway trail, the road is locally referred to as “Route 18.” The “old” bridge across Johnson Creek was dismantled in the 1940s.

Hoffman’s notes continue with details on “who lived where” that delight residents and their descendants, fodder for after-dinner discussions and ramblings:

“Prior to 1933, Kuckville remained much the same as it did in years previous with John Cann’ s store setting next to the church on the northwest corner of the road. To the south of Cann’s  store set the coopershop…To the west was a large building that stored the barrels, and west of that was Howard Miller’s garage which set next to his house which is now owned by Jack Szyikowski”

Local history at its finest. Should any readers be interested in these specific accounts, please contact me at Catherine.cooper@orleanscountyny.gov.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian 

“Illuminating Orleans” – Vol. 5, No. 9

MEDINA – A friend came upon this intriguing A.J. Richards photograph of a group of ladies this week and rescued it from the ignominy of a Lockport thrift store bin. Not only is the photo in good condition but wonder of wonders – the names are clearly written on the reverse!

However, the date, nature of the group, and the occasion were lacking. Naturally the challenge was accepted!

Judging by the clothing, the period appears to be late 1920’s. The ladies are wearing decorative collar sashes, so they are obviously members of a group or club. The clue in determining the date and subject of the photograph turned out to be the words “District Deputy” which follow Bessie Gaze’s name on the reverse. A search of the New York State Historic Newspapers unearthed the following paragraph in the Medina Daily Journal of May 20, 1927:

“The Welcome Rebekah Lodge of Medina was highly honored at a New York State Rebekah assembly held at Buffalo this week by having one of its members appointed to a state office.

Mrs. Jessie Breitbeck, past District Deputy, was installed as assembly conductor.

Mrs. Bessie Gaze also received her appointment as District Deputy, President of the Orleans District.”

The Daughters of Rebekah, generally referred to as the Rebekahs, was founded in 1851 by then U.S. Vice-President, Schuyler Colfax. It is the women’s group associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.). The Odd Fellows originated in England in the 1700’s as a mutual aid society to assist smaller tradesmen (“odd fellows”) and their families when in need.

The name “Rebekah” honors the biblical character who offered hospitality to a humble stranger.

The group’s stated objectives were to “aid in the establishment and maintenance of Homes for aged and indigent Odd Fellows and their wives, the care, education, and support of orphans of deceased Odd Fellows and deceased sisters of the Rebekah degree” as well as to cultivate social relations among these groups.

The Medina Welcome Rebekah Lodge, No. 146 was instituted on Feb. 6, 1895, by Charles M. Morgan, Grand Master. At that time the membership boasted 38 “brothers” and 32 “sisters”. The I.O.O.F. Lodge rooms were in the Downs & Kearney Block, 108 West Center St., Medina.

Armed with Medina directories from 1908 and 1941, and using the online Orleans genweb site, we pieced together the following information about the ladies in the photo:

• Lina Blood was the wife of Seldon P. Blood, a feed store owner. They lived at 208 West Oak Orchard St., Medina. Lina died in 1949 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery.
• Ida Boyce was the wife of Charles W. Boyce, a manager at the N.L.& O. Power Company. They lived at 618 West Center St., Medina. Ida died in 1989 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery,
• Vernita Boyce was the wife of Clarence H. Boyce, an electrical contractor. They lived at 224 Highland Ave., Medina. Vernita died in 1971 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery.
• Jessie Breitbeck was the wife of Fred C. Breitbeck, a foundry worker. They lived at 1031 Gwinn St., Medina. Jessie died in 1983 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery.
• Alice Brown was the wife of William N. Brown, a Post Office carrier. They lived at 305 Park Ave., Medina. Alice died in 1950 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery.
• Harriett Bulmore was the wife of Fred Bulmore who owned the Synthetic Granite Vault Co. which was located at 514 Erie St., Medina. The couple resided at 117 Frank St. Harriett died in 1953 and is buried in West Ridgeway Cemetery.
• Ethel Croach was the wife of Arthur W. Croach, a rural delivery mail carrier. They lived at 110 Elizabeth St., Medina. Ethel is buried in West Ridgeway Cemetery.
• Bessie Gaze was the wife of W. Henry Gaze, a foundry worker. They lived at 207 William St., Medina. Bessie died in 1937 and is buried in West Ridgeway Cemetery.
• May E. Montgomery, a linotype operator at the Daily Journal, lived at 210 William St., Medina. She died in 1955 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery.
• Addie Servoss was the wife of Burt L. Servoss. She died in 1938 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery.
• Georgianna Strouse was the widow of Harvey Strouse. She lived at 409 South Academy St., Medina. She was a seamstress at the Robert H. Newell Shirt Factory for many years, died in 1970 and is buried in Millville Cemetery.

Our thanks to Todd Belfield for rescuing this photo which provides a glimpse into the past.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 7

Local historians love to hear the phrases “We found these in the attic” or “We found these in the barn.”

Many charming Valentine’s Day cards from the 1920s were discovered in the attic of a home near Kenyonville Road and were donated by Duane and Pat Payne of Medina. One cannot but marvel at the fact that they survived critters, weather and time.

“Ephemera” is the term used to describe paper items that have short-term usefulness – receipts, bills, cards etc. We can appreciate why these cards were not thrown out, they have a lasting visual appeal and no doubt they held a sentimental value for the person who put them aside.

According to the Greeting Card Association, Valentine’s Day is second to Christmas as the most popular holiday for people to send greeting cards. The city of Worcester, Mass. became, by chance, the center for the printing of commercial Valentine cards after Esther Howland was inspired by European lace-layered cards in the 1840s. She used her father’s printing business to create her own multi-layered card creations and developed a very successful business.

The cards in this donated collection were produced by the Whitney Valentine Company, also located in Worcester, Mass. In the late 19th century, George C. Whitney purchased Howland’s firm as well as other Valentine card companies. He developed mass-produced greeting cards which were very popular.

Valentine postcards from the Payne collection.

Valentine’s Day postcards were also popular and just required a 1-cent stamp. The design and verse were on the front, message and mailing address on the back. The sender’s message could be read by everybody. The handwritten message on one postcard written by Joyce and sent to Ronald reads “If you think a lot of a person, why isn’t Valentines Day a good time to say so?”

But where could you purchase cards to mail to your Valentine? Stationery supplies were sold at drugstores. The 1903 Directory of Orleans County lists the following suppliers under the heading Stationery:

BISHOP, FRANCIS M. – Public Square, Holley

CENTRAL DRUG STORE – Main St, Albion

MILLENER, WILLIAM S.  – Public Square, Holley

WRIGHT & ROSS – Main St., Lyndonville

Generally, the images and greetings were polite, this one is a little saucier.

Do you save cards? If you read this column, chances are you do! Why not put some aside in an attic or barn to tantalize future generations?