Many relics unearthed from former Swan Library

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – This plaque was given to the Village of Albion on its 150th anniversary in 1978 by Macy’s in honor of Charlie Howard, the founder of a Santa Claus School. He also was the Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade from 1948 to 1965.

This plaque was unearthed in the former Swan Library. Volunteers and library staff have been working to clear out the building since last month.

The library is renting a storage unit on East Avenue for some of the itemsremoved from the former library. Some things have been moved to the Hoag Library, and others may be made available to the Cobblestone Museum, Orleans County Genealogical Society and Orleans County Historian’s Office, said Kevin Doherty, the library board president.

In addition to the plaque from Macy’s, Doherty said staff and volunteers discovered posters from World War I, a banner with insignias from the volunteer fire companies from about 1900, and “all kinds of stuff.”

The building should be emptied of keepsakes by Friday. The library is set to close on the building on March 23. Holley resident Chad Fabry is buying it for $53,000.

He would like to make the building available for professional offices. He intends to make the main meeting room in the library available as a community meeting space.