New book highlights Holley and Clarendon in the 1800s

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 12 June 2017 at 10:58 am

Photos by Kristina Gabalski: Author Roy Bubb and Clarendon Historian Melissa Ierlan greet residents of the Clarendon/Holley/Murray community at the meeting room at the Holley Community Free Library on Sunday afternoon. They gathered to hear Bubb discuss his new book, The Family Scrapbook, an Era in Clarendon and Holley-Murray History.

HOLLEY – Roy Bubb, a Clarendon native who taught at the College at Brockport for 25 years, felt inspired to write a book after receiving a scrapbook compiled by a member of the Berry/Partridge family during the 19th century.

Bubb realized the newspaper clippings and family notations in the scrapbook told the story of the founding and development of the Holley/Clarendon community.

Although it is not a comprehensive history of Holley/Clarendon/Murray, Bubb said he believes it is the first time such historical information from the era covered has been documented.

Books are available for $25 at the Holley Community Free Library, the Clarendon Town Hall, and from the Holley-Murray Historical Society.

Bubb knew descendants of the families included in the scrapbook and his experiences with them are included in the book.  He believes the scrapbook was compiled by Helen Berry and is significant, because it shows which local events she lived through were important to her.

The hardcover book includes a family tree of the John Berry family (John arrived in the area in 1837); five chapters which include historical information on Holley, Holley public schools and Academy, The David Partridge Family, Beechwood Park at Troutburg-on-the-Lake (where many Holley and Brockport residents spent the summer), the Baptist Church of Holley, and entrepreneur John Downs; an epilogue; an appendix which includes a basic timeline and additional information regarding people included in the scrapbook; a second appendix with photographs showing the Holley community then and now; a bibliography; endnotes and an index.  The book contains many historic photographs.

Bubb also signed copies of the book during the event.  He said many old friends and classmates attended, as well as former students from the College at Brockport.

Budd is donating all proceeds from the sale of the book to the Holley Community Free Library, the Clarendon Historical Society and the Holley-Murray Historical Society.

“You’ve got to learn to give,” Bubb observes.  “I love to give, you get so much more in return.”

Holley Community Free Library Director Sandra Shaw said it was wonderful to have so many people attend the event, including seniors.  “It’s always a joy for the library to have local authors in to speak and share their accomplishments,” she said.

Clarendon Historian Melissa Ierlan said families grew out of connections between the Holley-Murray and Clarendon communities. As the Erie Canal helped the area to grow, some chose to settle in Clarendon and farm, others chose to live closer to the canal itself.  Ireland says Bubb’s book is important because it shows what events were important to residents who lived in the community during the era of 1837-1907.

Artifacts from the Berry and Partridge families is on display in the glass case at the Holley Community Library.  The actual scrapbook can be seen on the right side of the top shelf.

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