By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
MEDINA – In our photo we are looking at the storefront of the Landauer Brothers in Medina.
The picture was taken in 1902 when Samuel, Jesse and Louis Landauer owned dry goods stores in both Albion and Medina.
This store was located at 445 Main St. and reflects the Bent’s Opera House from across the street in the upper portion of the right-hand window.
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
MEDINA – This 1890s Queen Anne style house was located on East Center Street in Medina.
For many years it was the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Adelbert J. Richards. He was for decades the leading professional photographer in Medina. A.J. Richards lived from 1868 to 1949.
In the early 1970s this house and one west of it were torn down for a super market, leaving the Richards’ house site for a parking lot.
The present business located there is an Ace Hardware. A Jubillee grocery store was at the site prior to the Ace Hardware.
By Bill Lattin, Orleans County Historian
ALBION – In this photo from the early 1940s, we see men from Orleans County leaving for service in World War II.
The picture was taken from the second floor porch of the Orleans Hotel on East Bank Street in Albion.
Note the old trucks down the street while “charter” buses wait for the men to board.
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
ALBION – “The Knave Hearts” was performed by these Albion youngsters, circa 1921-1922.
Seated on the floor is Jean Brodie. First row, from left: Kirke Hart, Katherine Hanley Bott, Marjorie Reed Mahoney, Bill Curtis and Margaret Dunshee Landfear.
Back row, from left: Edmund C.R. Lasher (Tweedle Dee), Jack Burbank (Tweedle Dum), LaMont McNall, Russ Scharping, Pricilla Bronson, Charles Owens, Marcia Brown Hart and Albert Mason.
The fantastic costumes would indicate it was an outstanding production.
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
ALBION – The Dye Hose firemen sat for this group photo June of 1884. In the background off Platt Street is the Albion Village Hall and Fire Department.
First row, from left: Wm Taylor, C. Dunning, P.W. Collins, secretary Warner Thompson, assistant foreman W. Stockton, E. Warner, E. Woods, F. Gould and M. Davis.
Second row: steward B. Butler, M. McLean, treasurer G. Shourds, J. Lewis, J. Bunn, John Bordwell, F. Taylor, J.C. Wilcox, J. Bradley, C.B. Lattin, B. Thurston and C. Higley.
Note the uniforms all have “DH” monograms embossed on them.
By Bill Lattin, Orleans County Historian
In this picture taken in April of 1943, we see Eugene Mahoney and Theresa Peck. He was the chairman and she was the secretary for the Red Cross War Fund Drive in Albion.
They are adding up the totals, which exceeded the quota of $14,500 by $1,150.51. Notice she is using the Burroughs adding machine with roll of paper. This looks pretty antiquated compared to today’s calculators.
When the Erie Canal was carved through Orleans County, Irish immigrants supplied much of the brawn to get the job done.
The Irish also worked in many of the local sandstone quarries, and one Irishman, John Ryan, opened the first commercial Medina sandstone quarry in 1837. There is a historical marker just north of Route 63 in Medina near the lift bridge that notes Ryan’s achievement. Later I will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by lifting a pint in memory of Mr. Ryan.
The Irish also founded the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Medina in the 1830s and in 1904 they built one of the great buildings in Orleans County – St. Mary’s Church. That church in December was named one of the six inaugural inductees to the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame.
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
MEDINA – In this post card shot of Medina High School from around 1910 we see students leaving for the day.
The school was built in 1897 at a cost of $10,000 using Medina sandstone. In 1921, while classes were in session, the school was moved just a short distance farther west on South Academy Street.
That’s when a new high school facing east as the end of Pearl Street was built, using brick. The old sandstone school was used as an elementary building from 1923 to 1955 and later as the district offices.
In February 1967, a fire destroyed the interior and in the fall of 1967 the building was torn down to expand the parking lot.
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
This photo shows the first Orleans County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, which was created in 1918.
Bottom row, from left: Francis Hanlon, Chas. Porter, president; and Thomas Mack.
Top row: Ora Lee, Journal Salisbury, Frank Broadwell, G.E. Snyder, and L.J. Steel, first Orleans County Farm Bureau agent.
Offices were located in the Waterman Building on Main Street in Albion, then in a house on Platt Street and later in a house next to the Albion Post Office. Both the Waterman Building and the Platt Street house have been destroyed.
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
KENDALL – The information on the back of this picture notes: “Kendall School H.N. Stevens 2nd in right row, Early 1920s.”
The pupils posed with their hands all folded in the middle of the desk tops. Notice the cast iron sides of these desks.
The teacher stands in the back while one student is given the privilege to pose by the blackboard. George Washington’s picture was ever present in classrooms years ago as we see over the bulletin board.
These kids didn’t have computers but at least they could write in cursive in third or fourth grade.
