“Overlooked Orleans” – Volume 3, Issue 39

MEDINA – Taken sometime around 1913, this image shows the building occupied by William J. Gallagher’s transfer company on North Main Street in Medina. Situated out front is a wagon owned by Gibbons & Stone, a local dealer in pianos and organs. A man stands in the entryway to the building and a pile of wheels and axels are piled up on the front corner. A fleet of wagons are parked out front to the right of the building’s main door and the Erie Canal is visible in the background.

Originally opened by George Hall as “Dime Delivery,” William Gallagher purchased this business in 1906 and quickly began the process of expanding and developing the outfit. Prior to his entry into the moving industry, Gallagher spent two years working as a rural mail carrier out of the Medina Post Office.

Shortly after this photograph was taken, William Gallagher’s Moving Vans outfit outgrew its current space and eventually relocated to a site on Orient and East Center streets. It was around this time that he introduced a motor truck to his fleet of vehicles, becoming one of the first in Western New York to do so.

By 1921 Gallagher’s business was one of the largest of its kind in this region. A fleet of fourteen wagons with 28 horses and one auto-truck provided service to residents of Medina. Specialists in moving household furniture, employees were efficient in the packing, crating, wrapping, and preparation of goods for shipment by railroad. Gallagher arranged for items to be shipped to other destinations where comparable firms would complete the process of delivering and unpacking the goods. The padded and covered wagons allowed the business to safely ship items as far out as Buffalo and Rochester while providing hourly delivery services for many businesses in the Medina area.

Gallagher’s business interests did not cease with his trucking company. In 1921, he partnered with Charles Ingersoll in a construction business that earned numerous contracts for highway work in the Orleans County area. Dissolving the partnership and continuing on his own, he was responsible for constructing over 300 miles of highway throughout Western New York including Niagara Falls Boulevard, Brockport-Spencerport Road, segments of Rt. 18, Rt. 5 from Westfield to Erie, PA, and all of the cement streets in Medina. His largest feat came with the completion of the Rt. 18 bridge over the Oak Orchard Creek. As the previous contractor failed to complete the project due to quicksand in the creek bed, Gallagher completed the 400-foot structure, one of the largest single span bridges in the region.

Most residents of Medina recognize the Gallagher name from the large barn that still stands on Gravel Road near Boxwood Cemetery. Purchasing this farm in the mid-1920s, Gallagher took an interest in livestock and specialized in breeding Guernsey cattle and Belgian horses.

He was held in high esteem throughout Medina, serving with the 3rd New York Infantry (later Co. F 108th) during the Spanish American War, serving as village trustee, and assisting in the organization of the Medina Trust Company. Gallagher later provided an old residence at the corner of Orient and East Center streets to Lincoln Post 1483 V.F.W. as a meeting house.

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“Overlooked Orleans” – Volume 3, Issue 38

CARLTON – This photograph, taken in the summer of 1922, shows the construction of the bridge over Marsh Creek at “The Bridges” in Carlton. Originally known as “Two Bridges,” the span over Marsh Creek predates 1861 when a committee was put in place to explore the replacement of the bridge.

On November 29, 1861, Almanzor Hutchinson reported that $800 was available to replace the bridge over Marsh Creek and upon the motion of Mr. Abell, Daniel Howe was placed in charge of overseeing the replacement. The following day, for a reason unbeknownst to this historian, the Board of Supervisors released Daniel Howe from his responsibilities and authorized David Fuller to oversee the work.

The bridge faithfully served the community for nearly 44 years when the town of Carlton determined that the structure was in dire need of repairs. This 128-foot-long, 18.5-foot-wide span with a 16.5-foot-wide concrete surface was completed in August of 1922. The final cost to complete the bridge totaled $12,000, roughly $2,000 under budget.

The project was supervised by Carlton Highway Superintendent L. Waldo Callard, who was presented a generous gift of $100 in gold for completion of his responsibilities. William Wigley, a resident of the town for over 40 years, offered an address and presented the gift to Callard.

The opening of the bridge was a celebrated event throughout the community. Bernard Ryan was slated to address the crowds that gathered while a parade led residents across the bridge. Local newspapers reported that a wedding was to take place on the bridge as well, all before the day’s activities concluded with Carlton’s baseball championship between Waterport and Kent.

This image, looking south, shows the incomplete deck of the new span while three men work, a gentleman sits to observe the others working. It appears as though a child has sat down to observe the work as well; a man is laboring on the south side of the creek with steam equipment.

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Photo courtesy of Dick Pilon

ALBION – Dick Pilon, who is retired from the grocery business in Albion, shared this photo of members of the 1955 Albion football team.

Pilon dropped off this photo at the Orleans Hub and Lake Country Pennysaver, 170 North Main St., Albion. (Homecoming Week will be celebrated at the school Sept. 18-23.)

Pictured include, from left, bottom row: John Burroughs; Philip (Fred) Ciarico, Lawrence Atwell, Wallace (Wally) Dale, Matteo (Matt) Pecorella, David (Splash) Spierdowis and William (Billy) Narburgh. Back row: Richard (Dick) Pilon, Eugene (Unis) Ulianelli, Charles (Charlie) Derwick and David (Sip) Saeva.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

SHELBY – The Orleans County Heritage Festival held a kick off celebration on Friday at Forrestel Farm with music by City Fiddle in Buffalo. Many of the attendees square dancing.

City Fiddle includes, from left: Phil Banasczak on mandolin, his wife Gretchen in back playing fiddle and singing, Margaret Matthews in front as the caller, and Tim Pitcher playing the guitar.

The Heritage Festival includes many events this weekend and on Sept. 16-17. Organizers are trying to highlight the many historic sites in the county, while providing experiential learning.

JJ Heideman of BAD-AsH-BBQ served up pulled pork and other food that was popular with the crowd.

Attendees of the festival receive a commemorative button.

Derek Maxfield, one of the festival coordinators, presents Lynne Menz, the county’s tourism coordinator, with a special recognition award for her “outstanding effort” in preserving and promoting Orleans County heritage.

“She has been an indispensable person in our group of coordinators,” said Maxfield, a GCC history professor.

Maxfield is dressed as a major general from the Civil War named John Henry Martindale of Batavia.

Phil Banasczak plays the mandolin while some of the attendees squared danced at Forrestel.

The farm is a historic site, with the main house built in 1825. Mary Herbert, a fifth-generation owner of the site, gave tours of the farm.

Some of the attendees give square dancing a try at Forrestel.

Jim Simon, dean of the GCC campus centers in Albion and Medina, welcomes people to the Heritage Festival. He also helped park cars and direct traffic at Forrestel.

This weekend’s events include:

• “Ancestors, Legends & Lore” today at GCC in Albion, 456 West Ave., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a focus on Victorian Spiritualism with a lecture, display, and a parlor séance, as well as a genealogy workshop.

• There will be a guided WWII Victory Garden from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Cornell Cooperative Ext./4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville. Master Gardeners have created a WWII Victory Garden similar to those utilized by US civilians during WWII. They have grown varieties common during that era and will hand out copies of authentic Cornell Cooperative Extension 1942 informational Victory Garden leaflets.

• On Sunday from 7 p.m to 8:30 p.m. at the Hoag Library in Albion, County Historian Matt Ballard will discuss the service of WWI veterans of Orleans County. At 8 p.m., Company F Memorial Creative Director Lynne Menz and Sculptor Brian Porter will provide an update on the progress on the Company F bronze statue in Medina.

To see the full schedule of events, including participating museums and historic sites, click here.

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“Overlooked Orleans” – Volume 3, Issue 37

ALBION – This photograph taken in the 1920s shows the Lone Star Inn as it appeared on Gaines Basin Road. Located on the old Thurston Farm, this property was located across from the current Orleans County Correctional Facility on 130 acres adjacent to the Howard farm.

In 1923 Lewis E. Sands established the Lone Star Inn, a “quaint homestead with glass enclosed verandas, set on a knoll a few hundred yards off the Million Dollar Highway.” Directions to the property instructed visitors to turn “at the cobblestone schoolhouse,” the old Loveland School since demolished near the intersection of Rt. 31 and Gaines Basin Road. The restaurant quickly earned a reputation as a destination for high quality meals in Orleans County.

In November of 1930, Sands was operating a bakery out of the building in addition to the restaurant and inn during the summer months. While working in the kitchen, Lewis heard a faint crackling sound coming from the garage and after further investigation, was greeted by flames and smoke upon opening the door. He fetched his helper, Walter Waters, and the two men were quickly flushed out into the near-zero temperatures without adequate clothing to keep them warm.

The Albion Fire Department responded to the blaze, but found it difficult to contain the fire due to a lack of water. Newspapers reported that Sheriff Lawrence Higley was the first official at the scene, entering the building periodically to rescue various pieces of furniture. It was expected that the fire would cost Sands nearly $3,500 in personal loss in addition to the over $15,000 in damage to the property. Although several other fires occurred within the vicinity, leading residents to suspect a fire-bug was to blame, Sands admitted that the electrical wiring in the garage was shoddy at best and likely the cause of the fire.

For many years, Lewis Sands was regarded as the “Bean King,” cornering the bean market in this region until his business collapsed around 1924. His business interests had amassed debt nearing the $1,000,000 mark, which resulted in charges of grand larceny and forgery being brought against him on several occasions. Although his personal secretary, Grace Gerkes, was convicted of forgery and sentenced to time at Auburn Prison, Sands was acquitted of charges on two occasions.

Despite his poor luck in business, Sands was well respected within the community as a charter member of the Albion Rotary Club, often volunteering the use of his personal car to take crippled children to out-of-town clinics. While tending to his greenhouses in Rochester, he suffered a massive heart attack and died shortly after on January 23, 1942.

His son, Harold Sands, who took over operation of the Lone Star Inn when his father fled Albion in the face of bankruptcy, was killed in an altercation at Benn’s Grill on Winton Road in Rochester on October 11, 1942. After engaging a semi-pro football player named Pierson Thompson in a heated argument over clothing, Harold invited Pierson outside to settle the disagreement. Thompson obliged and struck Sands once in the head, fracturing his skull and killing him.

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“Overlooked Orleans” – Volume 3, Issue 36

A quiet drive through the French countryside reveals the sprawling fields of golden wheat and green stalks of corn, the wind rushing through the hedgerows, and faint sounds of cattle. The openness of the landscape is broken up by the occasional town that contains century-old homes, churches, and schools, with the irregular modern buildings that house every amenity needed for the local community.

After passing eastward through the small village of Bony, one is greeted by an immense marble structure that displays the French phrase “Morts pour la patrie,” or “To those who died for their country.”

The Somme American Cemetery, situated on 14.3 acres of rolling countryside in the Picardie region, is the final resting place for over 1,800 men who died during the assault on the Hindenburg Line on September 29, 1918. The cemetery was peaceful while a small crew of caretakers meticulously aerated the grass amidst the rows of marble crosses. Despite the significance of the battle during which these men were killed, the last visitors to the cemetery came in April of 2017 when I visited in early July.

A beautiful marble chapel looms over the cemetery, the massive marble altar inside contains the inscription “Thou o Lord has granted them eternal rest.” The four sections of grave plots are surrounded by flowering plants and trees, while most notable are the beds of polyanthus roses that adorn the area near the flagpole at the center of the cemetery.

On this hallowed ground rests 138 unidentified soldiers, whose graves are marked by stones reading “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.” Not secluded in their own area, these brave souls rest among their fellow soldiers who rest in graves marked by Latin Crosses and Stars of David.

Among the graves are all familiar names, such as PFC Albert Beary, who left his young wife a widow after their marriage took place less than one year earlier. In an adjoining section rests Pvt. Jesse Brooks, whose life was cut short after volunteering for a reconnaissance mission near St. Quentin on October 14, 1918.

Yet far away from his fellow soldiers from Orleans County lies the body of Cpl. James P. Clark who courageously led his men after all other officers were either killed or wounded. Nearly twenty minutes after assuming command of his unit, he was gunned down by machine gun fire. The courage and tenacity exhibited by Clark on September 29, 1918 earned him the Distinguished Service Cross, prominently noted upon his marble cross.

This beautiful burial ground stands upon the same ground that these men sacrificed their lives upon. Overlooking the small village of Bony, it serves as a reminder that some men never reached their final objective. This sacred ground is overpowered by other monuments such as the massive Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, a memorial that stands like a fortress in the French countryside, calling to memory the names of over 72,000 British and South African men who died in 1915 and 1918. Yet its quaint beauty is to be appreciated, a true representation of honor to our fallen soldiers who sacrificed so much nearly 100 years ago.

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