By Bill Lattin, retired Orleans County Historian
EAGLE HARBOR – This photo was taken in May 1959 at the two-room District Schoolhouse in Eagle Harbor. It was the last district school to operate in Orleans County.
Mrs. Mary Long, the teacher, stands in the back of one of the classrooms while 16 of her students work on a lesson.
By Bill Lattin, retired Orleans County Historian
ALBION – In this picture from the early 1950s, an unidentified woman at left talks about a work of art with Albion art teachers. They are, left to right: Mary Poland, Doreen Sundell and Geraldine Larwood.
By Bill Lattin, Orleans County Historian
MEDINA – Can our readers recognize this fine red brick residence in a photo from the 1930s? The house remains today, although without the awnings and screened-in porch.
Our clue is in the lower right corner. Note the old-fashioned cast-iron road signs, and notice what they state: “Niagara Falls †’ 41, Lockport †’ 18, Gasport †’ 11, Middleport †’ 5, 45 † Rochester, 20 † Holley, 11 † Albion.”
The road signs could only have been in one place. Our answer is: East Center Street at the head of State Street diagonally across from State Street Park in Medina. You know, where all the Christmas decorations are displayed.
By Bill Lattin, retired Orleans County Historian
KENDALL – In this picture from the early 1900s, we get a view of the Nelson Stevens Furniture Store in Kendall.
Some of the visible merchandise includes: mattresses, rocking chairs, a Morris chair, a roll-top desk, coil springs for beds, framed pictures, chinaware, and even rubber boots. The store was illuminated with acetylene gas lights from the ceiling.
ALBION – When the Erie Canal opened each spring, former Gov. Mario Cuomo visited a different canal community annually for a kick-off ceremony to start the canal season. In 1990, Cuomo picked Albion for the canal opening ceremony.
Cuomo, the governor from 1983 to 1994, died on Thursday at age 82.
When he was in Albion, local artist Arthur Barnes presented artwork to the governor of a scene in Eagle Harbor. Cuomo told Barnes that the scene from Orleans County would go in the Governor’s Mansion, where there is a scene from each of the state’s 62 counties hanging on the walls.
“Being suspicious of politicians I had my doubts,” Barnes posted on Facebook on Saturday. “But on a visit to the mansion my friend Bob Waters checked into it. Sure enough, it was there. It hung there until Cuomo left office. When the new governor came in it was taken down and kindly returned to me.”
Barnes would meet Mario Cuomo’s son Andrew years later. Barnes gave the younger Cuomo the artwork and asked that he give it back to Mario Cuomo.
“Not sure where my ink drawing titled ‘Spring Time on the Erie Canal’ is now,” Barnes said. “I’m hope it’s being appreciated somewhere.”
By Bill Lattin, retired Orleans County Historian
ALBION – This is a trick photo. It was taken in the Albion studio of R. Pollo Stillman around 1895. What appears to be two men in the picture is actually the same man. He is just dressed differently.
To the right he is holding a reversed lettered sign that states: “The Devil American.” Over the table at which he is seated is a sign on the wall stating, “This is my busy day.”
File Photo – Bill Lattin leads a tour about downtown Medina this summer, one of the many events where he helped residents better understand the past and the county’s heritage. Lattin retired on Dec. 31 as county historian.
Editorial
ALBION – It was another day of horrible winter weather last Feb. 27. With blowing snow, fierce winds and freezing temperatures, I figured it would be a small group at a lecture by Bill Lattin. He was scheduled to talk about Mount Albion Cemetery and a Civil War memorial – the 68-foot-high tower in the cemetery – as part of GCC’s Civil War lecture series.
I went to show some support for Lattin. I really didn’t think too many people would brave the elements for his talk.
The bad weather didn’t deter the crowd. All of the seats were taken and many stood for an hour to hear Lattin talk about the cemetery and the Victorian attitudes towards death expressed in the gravestones. (Another dedicated group braved nasty weather about a year ago when Lattin led a tour of stained-glass windows at churches in Albion.)
Lattin has developed a following in his 36 years as Orleans County historian. He frequently gives lectures and talks around the county, leading tours of cemeteries, addressing service clubs and other organizations. He has proven a draw, telling stories of the county’s past, often mixing in humor and respect for residents from generations ago.
We live in an era when many people don’t know the names of their neighbors. Lattin is far the opposite. He can look at a picture from the 1940s and name the local residents, sharing anecdotes about local folks from long ago.
Local dignitaries including former Congressman John LaFalce (center) gather in 1977 for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Ward House at the Cobblestone Museum in Childs. Bill Lattin, right, was the long-time curator and director of the museum and helped save several sites at Cobblestone Museum. The museum is a National Historic Landmark, the only location in the county with that designation.
Lattin retired on Dec. 31 as county historian, a role he served in for 36 years. A former Albion art teacher, Lattin also led the Cobblestone Museum for more than three decades, served on the Gaines Town Board, and has been active at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church.
He has been a regular contributor to the Orleans Hub, providing us with photos and write-ups in the “Vintage Orleans” feature. For 35 years he wrote a weekly historical column for The Journal-Register in Medina. (He has given Orleans Hub additional photos that we will publish early in 2015.)
He has been available to help residents with numerous historic preservation and appreciation projects, whether erecting historical markers, researching ancestors or working with students on projects.
Lattin has worked with Albion High School students on the annual Albion Ghost Walk at Mount Albion Cemetery. He provides some background on prominent and sometimes obscure residents in the cemetery. The students will put the person from the past in the own words during a dramatic presentation at the cemetery.
The Ghost Walk typically includes about 50 students. About 500 people attend the annual Ghost Walk, which shows the community’s appreciation for history.
File photo by Tom Rivers – In this photo from last year’s Ghost Walk, student Chey-Rain Eagle depicts Elizabeth Proctor, the third wife of John Proctor. He is considered the “Paul Revere of Gaines” for riding his horse and alerting residents all the way to Lewiston that the British were coming.
In 2011, Lattin worked with Albion Middle School students in an impressive preservation effort. Lattin visited seventh graders in the 2010-11 school year and talked to their class about the former Alms “Poor” House, the precursor to the county nursing home on Route 31. The nursing home replaced the Alms house in 1960. Lattin told them why Countyhouse Road was called “Countyhouse.”
Some of the residents at the Alms House were buried in a cemetery on West Countyhouse Road in Albion. That cemetery in a wooded area became overgrown with brush and small trees.
The students wanted the residents to have a proper burial place. They worked with Lattin and the County Highway Department to research the site, find 66 head stones and clean up the property. It was rededicated in June 2011.
The poor house served many immigrants Irish, English, Dutch, Scottish and others and no doubt was a home for hard-luck Civil War veterans, Lattin said during the dedication ceremony.
He thanked the students for showing high qualities of citizenship, for wanting to recognize some long-forgotten residents. Lattin said those residents were also doting fathers and mothers, and contributing community members. But their families may not have had money to bury them in Mount Albion or another local cemetery.
Lattin’s best legacy may be empowering residents, including many students, to understand the past and to care more deeply about the community’s residents, including those who paved the way for the current generation.
If you love your community, you should know about its history. Lattin has been a dedicated teacher.
By Bill Lattin, retired Orleans County Historian
ALBION – In this photo from the early 1920s we see the Rose Wood class of the Albion First United Methodist Church.
Mrs. A.W. Woods is seated in front, second from the left. She was the revered teacher of this group for many years.
The picture was taken on the Courthouse front steps. Note in the left rear background the memorial bronze tablet recognizing the World War dead from this area. It was later mounted in the Sheret Post No. 35 American Legion building.
By Bill Lattin, Orleans County Historian
This past November the Albion Lions Club celebrated its 90th anniversary. Several of the founding members are seen in this picture, which was taken of them during a trip to Long Beach, Long Island in May 1927.
Those in the photo include: George Houghton, Clarence Wendell, Dr. Arthur Elson, Vernon Sprague, Ray Fuller, Scott Clark, Harold Frank, Leon Humphrey, Dr. George Doolittle, Jake Landauer, Al Kleindienst, “Red” Roberts, George Smith, Ray Gilette, Fred Wolfe, Allan Briggs, Ralph Vick, Ed Chapman and Leon Grinnell.
By Bill Lattin, Orleans County Historian
MURRAY – In this picture from June 1940 we see the Daily-Vacation Bible School, which was held in Brockville.
It was conducted by Mrs. Carl Bergerson, standing at far left. She was assisted by several Albion pastors. Front row: Jean Jackson, Robert Monacelli, Maralee Juliano, Susan Lauretani, Betty Ann D’Amico, Laura Jane Biaselli and Harold Christopher.
Second row: Nickolas Monacelli, Louis Biaselli, Louise Bower, Florence Nenni, Florence Biaselli and William Buell, Jr.
Third row: Joseph Valentine, Daniel Fiorito, Vincent Biaselli, William Biaselli, Arlene Fiarito, Jack Piedmont, Vernie Nenni and Wilma Vandetta.
Back row: Michael Christopher, E. Clark, Marjorie Moore, Glenn Brown, Vernice Buell and Jane Wolfrom.
By Bill Lattin, Orleans County Historian
MEDINA – In this tin-type photo from the 1890s, we see James H. Gray and E. Searles from Medina. Gray is on the left with ice tongs holding a small cake of natural ice.
These two men may have worked for an ice company and are shown delivering their product, which could have easily been harvested from Oak Orchard Creek in colder weather.
By Bill Lattin, Orleans County Historian
ALBION – In this color postcard published around 60 years ago we see Charles Howard as Santa by his sleigh in the stable at Christmas Park.
The message printed on the obverse side is as follows: “Santa’s bag and sleigh all packed with wonderful presents for good girls and boys as he starts out on his annual trip. Which package is which, only he knows, but try and guess which one is yours at Christmas Park.”
Editor’s Note: Howard started a Santa Claus School in Albion at the corner of Phipps Road and Route 31. Howard started the school after noticing many Santas didn’t have training, and didn’t always interact with children well or meet a standard for dress. He established decorum for Santas and his Santa Claus suits became popular.
The school, now in Midland, Mich., still bears Howard’s name. He ran it until his death in 1966.
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
ALBION – Both of these photos from 1905 show the Albion Baseball Club and field. This athletic field and grandstand was located on Caroline Street near Ingersoll Street backing up to the Erie Canal.
The team members were: H. Kilborn, first base; J. Craffey, second base and Captain; Frank VanStone, third base; Ralph Vick, short stop; Herbert Reed, left field; Homer Brown, center field; Walter Radley, right field; Robert Clark, pitcher; and Pete Galarneau, catcher.
The club mascot was Arnold Donovan, the young boy standing in front. Note the chicken-wire screen on the grandstand to protect spectators. Clark’s popcorn and peanut stand shows to the far left in the lower picture.
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
ALBION – These six girls from Albion High School posed for this varsity cheerleader picture in the fall of 1960.
From left: Duann Juliana, Marilyn Mack, Sharon Pawlaczyk, Sandra Lascell, Ivylene Phillips (note the number 61 on her jacket), and Judy Nesbitt.
By Bill Lattin, Orleans County Historian
WATERPORT – This snapshot was taken in September 1963 at the dedication of the water treatment plant on the Wilson Road in the Town of Carlton.
Using the old Albion bandstand for a stage, we see Mayor John D. Robinson giving a speech. A number of dignitaries are seated behind him including Assemblyman Alonzo Waters of Medina in the light-colored coat.
