By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
CARLTON – In this photo from 1937 we see the Route 18 bridge under construction over the Oak Orchard River in the town of Carlton.
The photographer pointed his lens looking directly east up to the incline when it was still all farmland.
This bridge changed the name of the community from “Two Bridges” to “The Bridges.”
Photos by Tom Rivers – Sue Holmes became the owner of the Crooked Door, a tavern at the corner of East State and Brown streets, on April 3. Joe Martillotta, right, and his wife Debbie did extensive renovations of the site and opened Jan. 31, 2011.
ALBION – When Joe Martillotta retired from teaching social studies at Albion in 2009, he pursued a dream of owning a restaurant and bar.
Martillotta bought the former Club 469 on East State Street. It took 16 months to renovate the building along the Erie Canal. Joe and his wife Debbie opened the Crooked Door Tavern on Jan. 31, 2011.
The business employs 17 people, and draws customers from Orleans, Monroe, Genesee, Niagara and Erie counties. Mr. Martillotta worked 110 hours a week that first year in business. The second year he was down to 90 hours a week and then 80 hours weekly the past year.
Martillotta says he has put his heart and soul in the business. He planned to own and operate it for at least five years, but a health scare in December 2012 convinced him the Crooked Door was consuming too much of his life. He has recovered and is fine now.
“It was a wake-up call,” he said.
He and his wife Debbie decided to put the business on the market. They looked for the right fit in a new owner.
Sue (Schafer) Holmes bought the Crooked Door on April 3 after several months of transition. Holmes grew up down the street from the tavern. She remembers it when it was an Italian neighborhood bar.
Sue Holmes said she likes the excitement in the restaurant business and the chance to connect with so many people. Crooked Door is located at 469 East State St.
“I remember the old 469,” she said. “I can’t believe what Joe and Debbie have done to the place. It’s absolutely beautiful.”
Holmes worked as a software engineer for Xerox until the company sold its research and development, and laid her off in December 2012. A Hamlin resident, she set out looking to own a business.
A business broker mentioned the Crooked Door was for sale and Holmes was thrilled to reconnect with her hometown. She had never worked in the restaurant business after a career in a corporate setting.
“I like the excitement and the atmosphere,” she said. “It’s fun touching base with so many people.”
Martillotta also is remaining at the restaurant during a transition time. On Sunday he was the bartender. He is willing to help out where needed.
“I’m thrilled I get to stick around,” Martillotta said. “We’re thrilled to have an Albionite come home to run this. The Crooked Door is in good hands.”
Martillotta is happy to have more time for his family, including grandchildren. On Friday, he and his wife were both off and they saw a show at Shea’s in Buffalo.
Crooked Door is located along the Erie Canal. Sue Holmes bought the business from Joe Martillotta and his wife Debbie. The staff of 17 employees will remain largely unchanged.
He feels at home at the Crooked Door, and he said he has made many friends since the restaurant opened. He praised Holmes for keeping the staff of 17 largely intact. There is one new chef.
Holmes was won over by the “excellent food and service” at the Crooked Door. The staff prepares almost everything from scratch.
“It’s real food,” she said. “It’s not pre-made and frozen.”
Holmes has reconnected with many of her former classmates and friends in the past few months, while meeting many new people.
“It’s a great place and Albion needs this,” Holmes said.
For more on the Crooked Door, visit www.thecrookeddoor.com.
Photos by Sue Cook – Michael Fahey stands with his Gary Fisher bicycle. He has had four total bikes since he took up riding. He has also owned a French racer, a Trek 730 Hybrid and a Giant. Fahey estimates he carries about 70 pounds of gear with him on his bike when he going for a long ride.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
HOLLEY – Holley resident Michael Fahey began his journey during hard times. When his wife of 27 years, Ruth, was diagnosed with breast cancer, Fahey took up cycling as a hobby. He also served as her caregiver.
In 1995, Ruth passed away at age 48. Fahey has used cycling since then to raise money for cancer research. He said he has raised “thousands” for the cause.
Fahey started cycling in the early ’90s. He said he was a little overweight at the time.
“My wife was a nurse practitioner. She said ‘You need a physical. You haven’t had one since you left the service.’ So I had one and they thought I had a problem with my heart,” Fahey said. “So the cardiologist said ‘You need to lose weight and exercise. So I started walking, and I got up to 10 miles, but it just took too long. So I bought this cheap road bike from Toys ’R Us and rode that for a while. Then my brother came to visit from Chicago and left his bike, a French racer, and I rode that and that’s how it all got started.”
Ruth supported Fahey’s efforts to exercise through bicycling. “In the last six months before she passed away, that’s where I did my riding.”
Fahey’s rides, in America and foreign countries, were for raising breast cancer research money.
“The fundraising was done in the United States through talks, advertisements, word of mouth,” he said. “When I finished the United States, 3,000 miles in 38 days, I said what the heck, let’s do the rest of the world.” That was in 1996.
“I would just get a map of the countries I wanted to go to and plot out my trip, and I always tried to find a community that I was stopping in that had a youth hostel in it.”
In his worldwide journey, he has met with some misfortunes, including lost bikes and luggage. His Trek bicycle that he took to Ireland and England, didn’t fare so well when it was brought home.
“That lasted for one year and the Canadian airlines crushed it on the way back from England,” Fahey said. “I’ve been very fortunate. All my problems with bicycles and transportation has been on the return. I’ve had my bicycle lost for awhile going over, but not damaged.”
Hi daughter Shari cycled across the United States with him. She got out of bicycling, but then she got back into doing triathlons. His other two daughters, Kathy and Shannon, are not into the sport, but support Fahey.
Fahey has ridden on six out of the seven continents. In 2013, he followed a route known as The Way of St. James, which stretches from Paris, France to Santiago, Spain. It was a well-traveled Christian pilgrimage from medieval times that follows the route of St. James bones to their burial in Spain.
Fahey calls this his ‘bragging jacket.’ There are patches all over it from the countries he has been to and embroidered with the dates of when he was there.
Fahey’s favorite country to travel through was China. The people were more than willing to help a stranger.
“I was in China three times to get across and the Chinese people in the countryside were so good to me. If I broke down, the village would come out to try and help.”
The Chinese gave Fahey fresh water as he rode out along his trip through the country.
“If I ran out of water, all I needed to do was stop some place and say ‘water’ to people,” Fahey said. “I ran out of water on my first day. The first time, I was passing a construction utility truck. They were parked there taking a break. I said ‘water’ and they filled up everything I had with water. The next time, I ran out of water again and a motorcycle club came by and I said something about being short of water. They all go and get their water and they filled my water up.”
Fahey continues to ride and focuses his talks and fundraising locally for now, though he is planning to move out of the area soon.
On Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Geneseo United Methodist Church in Geneseo, he will be giving a free talk put on by Geneseo Young at Heart. It is open to the public and Fahey plans to focus mostly on talking about cycling and his journey. However, he says he will also talk about his wife because she was the inspiration for him to make these trips and perform fundraising efforts.
Fahey has also written a book. The first chapter focuses on his wife. The rest of the book is about his bicycling. The book is titled “Biking to Save My Soul: America, Ireland, and England.” It is $15 and $1 of each purchase will go to the American Cancer Society. To order a book from Amazon, click here. To buy directly from Fahey, e-mail PROSRV95@gmail.com.
By Nola Goodrich-Kresse, Public Health Educator for the Orleans County Health Department
You want to do what is best for your children. You know about the importance of car seats, baby gates and other ways to keep them safe. But, did you know that one of the best ways to protect your children is to make sure they have all of their vaccinations?
Immunizations can save your child’s life. Because of advances in medical science, your child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children, have been eliminated completely and others are close to being a thing of the past – primarily due to safe and effective vaccines.
One example of the great impact that vaccines can have is the elimination of polio in the United States. Polio was once America’s most-feared disease, causing death and paralysis across the country, but today, thanks to vaccination, there are no reports of polio in the United States.
Vaccination is very safe and effective. Vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and healthcare professionals.
Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of injection but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent.
Serious side effects following vaccination, such as severe allergic reaction, are very rare. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.
Immunization protects others you care about. Children in the U.S. still get vaccine-preventable diseases. In fact, we have seen a return of measles and whooping cough (pertussis) over the past few years.
From January through July 2013, more than 11,000 cases of whooping cough were reported, with cases in every state. Last year was a record year, with over 41,000 cases reported, the most since 1955.
There were also 18 deaths reported in 2012, most of which were among babies younger than 3 months old. Unfortunately, some babies are too young to be completely vaccinated and some people may not be able to receive certain vaccinations due to severe allergies, weakened immune systems from conditions like leukemia, or other reasons.
To help keep them safe, it is important that you and your children who are able to get vaccinated are fully immunized. This not only protects your family, but also helps prevent the spread of these diseases to your friends and loved ones.
Immunizations can save your family time and money. A child with a vaccine-preventable disease can be denied attendance at schools or daycare facilities. Some vaccine-preventable diseases can result in prolonged disabilities and can take a financial toll because of lost time at work, medical bills or long-term disability care.
In contrast, getting vaccinated against these diseases is a good investment and usually covered by insurance. The Vaccines for Children program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children from low-income families.
To find out more about the VFC program, click here and ask your child’s health care professional or call your local health department.
Immunization protects future generations. Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago. For example, smallpox vaccination wiped out that disease worldwide.
Your children don’t have to get smallpox shots anymore because the disease no longer exists. By vaccinating children against rubella (German measles), the risk that pregnant women will pass this virus on to their fetus (developing baby) or newborn has been dramatically decreased, and birth defects associated with that virus no longer are seen in the United States.
If we continue vaccinating now, and vaccinating completely, parents in the future may be able to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future.
Press release, New York State Police
SHELBY – The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, conducting a Cold Case investigation, has announced that an unidentified female body found in the Town of Shelby October 1983 has been identified as a Florida woman.
The body, which was found by a hunter several feet off the shoulder of State Route 63, was in a severely decomposed state and believed to have been there for several months.
The victim has been identified as Shari Lynne Ball. She was reported missing by her family in June 1983 to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. Shari told her family that she was going to New York State to begin a modeling career. She made contact with a friend a day or two after she left Florida from a truck stop in Ashland, Va., but was never heard from again after that.
At the time of discovery, there was no identification near the body and no identifying characteristics on the body. The New York State Police has worked tirelessly for the last 30 years in trying to positively identify this person following every lead that came in. The cause of death is listed as “Undetermined.” However, police believe foul play may be involved.
In October 2013, there was a break in the ongoing Cold Case. The State Police BCI in conjunction with the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office and with the assistance of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, requested a court order for the exhumation of the body from the cemetery in Albion, in order to obtain DNA for further analysis and entry into the National DNA Database.
Ultimately the DNA was processed and entered for comparison by the Chief Medical Examiners Office in New York City. A Database match was made to a family member who had entered their DNA several years ago in hopes of some day finding their loved one.
At the time of her disappearance Shari Lynne Ball was reported as being 20 years old, white female, 5’ 04”, 100 pounds, hazel eyes and blonde hair. She was also known to use the name of Timmerman.
The New York State Police is working with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and is asking that anyone who knew Shari Ball, or anyone who may be able to provide any information about her, to contact them at 585-344-6210.
Press release, Sheriff Scott Hess
ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess is pleased to report on another successful Prescription Drug Take-Back Event, which was held this past Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Here in Orleans County, a total of 406 pounds of unused prescription medications was collected. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, residents in the eight counties of Western New York surrendered 11,255 pounds of unused prescription medications during the four-hour collection period.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is proud to participate in this event, held twice during each year, in collaboration with the DEA, the Orleans County Health Department, and the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse.
The next event will be held this fall.
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
WEST BARRE – A child watches as August Rhodey of West Barre nails a horseshoe to a horse’s hoof.
This picture from around 100 years ago shows his blacksmith shop in the background. Horse shoeing and repairing were the most common things a blacksmith did at the time this picture was taken.
ALBION – Frederick Miller planned to use a psychiatric defense, that he was subjected to emotional abuse by his live-in girlfriend.
Miller, 62, is accused of killing Rachel Miller on March 4, 2013. Mr. Miller allegedly bludgeoned and stabbed Rachel Miller several times. He has been charged with second-degree murder.
But today in court Miller refused to meet with a psychiatrist. Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said he has been forced to preclude expert psychiatric testimony because Miller is refusing to cooperate.
Miller’s attorney, Robert King of Rochester, said in court today he will no longer pursue the psychiatric defense.
Punch set 10 a.m. on May 12 at the start of the trial. It has twice been delayed, first when Miller switched attorneys and then when King filed paperwork for the psychiatric defense.
“It would be a lot easier for everyone if you just cooperate,” Punch told Miller.
Miller met with Dr. John Amos, a psychiatrist form Rochester, but Punch said Miller wouldn’t discuss any details of the alleged crime. Punch said Amos would be available to meet again Tuesday or Wednesday this week for an evaluation, but Miller wouldn’t agree to it.
“He’s refused to cooperate with a psychiatrist assigned to the task,” Punch said in court. “It’s creating quite a mess.”
In setting May 12 for the start of the trial, Punch said there won’t be any plea deals entertained by the court.
The Millers allegedly had a fight on March 4 at a home they shared on Oak Orchard River Road. Rachel Miller was 53 when she died as a result of blunt force trauma combined with multiple stab wounds, according to an autopsy.
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
An itinerant photographer took this picture of an apiarist showing off his beehives during the first decade of the 20th Century.
A one-room schoolhouse shows in the background. A telephone pole may also be seen directly behind the beekeeper.
It is believed the picture was taken in either the Town of Barre or Town of Clarendon.
A glass negative was used for this image. Note the wooden boxes of combed honey on either side of the beekeeper along with the bee smoker device in front.
Photos by Sue Cook – General Grant of the Union army (left of kneeling man) poses with soldiers by the campfire. Grant is wearing his combat attire which is much simpler than his dress uniform. The photograph is sepia tone to emulate the style of photography from the period. Tintypes were common because they were sturdier than glass plates and were quick to develop. The soldiers in the photograph are from the 28th and 104th NY Volunteer Infantries, as well as the 9th NY Volunteer Cavalry Company B.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
MEDINA – Throughout Saturday, guests at the Medina GCC campus were invited to participate in the Civil War encampment. All over the surrounding field, soldiers set up camps and even a sutler popped up selling Victorian era clothing. The campus provided space for visitors to hear about the time period and to ask questions.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Marshall of the 21st Georgia (Scott Hoffmeier of Rochester), left, and General James P. Longstreet of the 21st Mississippi (Ken Miller of Ontario, Canada) pose for a portrait after their success in Saturday’s mock battle. When asked how they captured the win, Longstreet quoted General Robert E. Lee. “We will prevail.”
Miller said he started out enjoying all periods of history as a member of a history roundtable. He found that he greatly enjoyed learning about Victorian times and enjoyed participating in Civil War events. He feels his influence stems from his childhood.
“My grandma bought me little plastic soldiers. John Wayne probably influenced me, too,” Miller said.
Abraham Lincoln came to the encampment after appearing in the parade. Lincoln is portrayed by David Kreutz of Lancaster, who became a member of the Association of Lincoln Presenters in 1996.
Soldiers were more than happy to be approached by visitors and asked questions. Many soldiers are very well versed in the Civil War and have purchased or hand made their own uniforms. Most uniforms are correct all the way down to the woolen socks.
Vaughn Weston spent the weekend as Colonel Madison of the Louisiana Light Artillery. He poses with one of the cannons he fired on the battlefield.
Weston was very enthusiastic about participating. “I’ve been doing this since 1961 when I was 9 years old,” he said. “What got me interested was that they came out with bubblegum packs with these gory Civil War cards.”
The cards showed soldiers in uniform, but also images of the wounded and dead. He said the cards were very similar to baseball cards that most other kids preferred.
To add more realism to the event, the soldiers also are welcomed to camp out in their pup tents overnight. Despite the cold, wet weather, many stayed the night and reported that they were dry and well rested after sleeping between wool blankets.
Private Max Todd from Geneseo, a member of the 28th Volunteer Infantry, rests in his tent and eats lunch. Among his possessions are his rifle, canteen and ammunition bag.
After being asked why there was a random pin with a looped end stuck in his cap, Todd explained that it was called a nipple pin and was used for cleaning the portion of the gun that the wing-tip firing cap rests on.
“Everything serves a purpose,” Todd said. No matter how small the item, everything the troops brought to battle was important in some way, even if it doesn’t seem obvious.
“There’s always so much to learn,” he said.
From left: Rudy Coumont, Kim Fontana and Sue Cifaldi play the fife. Ken Barlow is playing the drum. The group played songs for the crowd including Yankee Doodle and the Rogue’s March.
“Bugles supplanted the fife and drum,” lamented Barlow. “A bugle could be played on horseback with one hand.”
Barlow says that fife and drum players are becoming very rare, and even bugles are being phased out by played back digital recordings.
Encampment Coordinator Derek Maxfield, left, asks questions to Bill Kauffman, the screenplay writer of the film “Copperhead.” Kauffman lives in Elba.
In the evening, the campus screened the film “Copperhead,” directed by Ron Maxwell. The film follows the story of upstate New York farmer Abner Beech and his family during the war. Beech wanted to remain a pacifist and was harassed by his neighbors for his choice.
At the end of the Q&A with Kauffman, Liz Guthrie, an employee of a Webster high school, stood up to share her appreciation of the film.
“For high school students today, it seems to enhance their experience,” she said. “Students are using these films to learn about history.”
She applauded Maxwell’s other films for providing students with different insights of the Civil War.
Sunday’s events will include the battle at 2 p.m. Also scheduled are demonstrations and talks including field medicine, candle making, mortuary arts, music, meetings with the generals and more. The camps are also open to the public who can walk among the tents, meet the soldiers and see them in a realistic camp setting.
Photos by Tom Rivers – Ken Miller of Niagara on the Lake in Canada portrays Gen. James Longstreet, a commander in Northern Virginia under director of Robert E. Lee, who called Longstreet “Old War Horse.”
For the past three days Ken Miller of Niagara on the Lake in Canada transformed in General James Longstreet. Miller was one of the most popular re-enactors at the Civil War Encampment at Medina.
He traveled down Main Street by carriage in a parade on Saturday. He also joined other generals in meeting customers at Medina diners.
Miller brewed coffee over an open fire at his camp site at the Medina GCC Campus. He welcomed conversation.
Miller can talk the finer points of combat in the Civil War. But he prefers to talk about Canada’s role in the war. Canadians had about 60,000 men in the war, including 11,500 in the Confederacy.
“Most people don’t know that,” Miller said.
He goes to about dozen Civil War Encampments each year. Many are in Canada. He is happy to cross the border and join events in the States.
“I like to teach and promote Canada’s involvement,” Miller said.
Ray Ball of West Seneca wears a slouch hat and portrays J.C. Duane, who served in the U.S. Engineers. ‘The insignia of the Engineers was a source of pride,” he said.
The Civil War soldiers traveled in huge processionals, sometimes 13 miles long with supplies, weapons and the infantry. And they were often crossing the wilderness.
The U.S. Engineers were invaluable, and they were tasked with building bridges, barracks and forts – “bridges especially,” said Ray Ball, who portrays J.C. Duane, an engineer in the war.
“It’s our job to put together bridges – very fast,” he said.
Ball is a history teacher at West Seneca. He served with the engineers in the Army about three decades ago. Many of the leading officers and generals, such as Robert E. Lee, were engineers.
“The engineers were guarded,” Duane said. “They saw very little combat.”
Duane marvels at how the engineers would use raw timber to build sturdy supports, especially for cannons that weighed 19,000 pounds.
Lyne Lain and her husband Harry are Confederate soldiers in the 21st Georgia.
Lyne Lain and her husband Harry Lain are in their second season traveling to encampments as Confederate soldiers. Lyne portrayed a soldier she called “Len.”
She slept in tents on chilly nights in Medina as part of this weekend’s encampment. She and her husband and their son Bill left the comforts of home to join about 100 other re-enactors in Medina.
“It doesn’t bother me, sleeping in a tent,” she said. “I enjoy these events because you meet a lot of neat people.”
Mrs. Lain cooks over an open fire and shuns modern technology, at least for a weekend.
“I’m an avid hunter,” she said. “I enjoy being a part of it.”
She and her husband own a cider mill in Canisteo in Steuben County. They also have a logging business and a dairy farm.
The Lains also host their own Civil War Encampment. This year it’s June 7-8, overlooking the Canisteo Valley.
They came to Medina for the weekend to support the encampment and welcome re-enactors and the public to their event: “The Battle at Lain’s Mill.”
“If you don’t celebrate other people’s events, they won’t come to yours,” Mr. Lain said.
David Kreutz has been an Abraham Lincoln presenter since 1996. He is retired from General Motors, where he worked in production, drove a forklift and “did a little bit of everything.”
David Kreutz of Lancaster draws a crowd at Civil War re-enactments. No one is more recognizable. Kreutz has been an Abraham Lincoln presenter since 1996. He is one if 186 in the country in the Association of Lincoln Presenters.
He has attended many national events and met presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
“Other than Christ, Lincoln is the most famous person,” Kreutz said. “You have instant recognition.”
Kreutz is tall like Lincoln and enjoys mingling with the crowd. On Saturday morning in Medina he visited six restaurants. He also posed for pictures in the Bent’s Opera House, which was built during the Civil War.
He rode in carriage during a parade with a re-enactor portraying General Grant.
“That was a thrill,” Kreutz said.
Photos by Sue Cook – The Confederate States of America fire on the Union soldiers. Troops only fired at the orders of their superior officers.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
MEDINA – The Genesee Community College campus in Medina roared with canon fire and gunshots as the Civil War re-enactors took to the battlefield this afternoon. The two sides of the battle included soldiers from the Confederacy and the Union taking up arms in a fight over state rights.
Many of the soldiers were from out of the area, and were invited to participate by locals. All those participating wore period correct uniforms.
Jay Black of Batavia invited Paul Harbaugh from Erie, Pa. Harbaugh was a lieutenant for the day on the Confederate side of the battle.
“I’ve been interested in the Civil War since I was six years old,” Harbaugh said. In grade school, he recalls the teacher telling the other students that any questions they had about the Civil War should be directed to Harbaugh, their fellow classmate.
General Grant (center in front of flag) was the first Lieutenant General since George Washington. The rank of a three-star general was revived by Lincoln and Congress.
Before the battle began, General Grant, portrayed by Ed Brodbeck of Cheektowaga, said that he was uncertain of how the battle for the day would go, but was very hopeful the Union would win the day’s fight.
“I don’t know the scenario yet. One day the rebel forces will win, one day the Union forces will win.”
He said this keeps it interesting for spectators to not know what type of battle they are about to witness and not know the result ahead of time.
In the mock battle, some of the soldiers acted as if they were wounded. Many men fell to the ground screaming, while others simply dropped on the spot. This young man called out to his friend for help, but ultimately was unable to survive the battle.
The Union soldiers wore blue. The Confederates had gray uniforms near the start of the war, but when Union forces cut off their supplies from English ships, they had to use what was available to them. Many of the uniforms are brown because women making the uniforms would use dyes made from tree barks, and would end up with variations.
Those who were injured on the battlefield were brought to the medics on stretchers if they were unable to walk under their own power. Major Legrande Capers of the 21st Georgia (portrayed by Dr. Spencer Annabel) provides medical help to Private Nelson Drake.
When asked how they know if they are supposed to be injured in the battle, Drake said, “The commander says ‘We gotta take some hits.’ Also, if you’re out of powder, or caps or just tired.”
Annabel said that most people think of Civil War doctors as being more like butchers, but this perception is wrong. “By the third year of the war, 95 percent of wounded soldiers lived to go home.”
Annabel explained how the Civil War affected warfare for later generations. Casualties in the war were 90 percent the cause of minie balls, the name for bullets despite their cone shapes, while only 10 percent were caused by artillery fire. This caused warfare to move soldiers into trenches to avoid rifle fire.
Dr. Annabel’s daughter Megan also participated by dressing up as a civilian. She is pictured here with Thomas Angelo. A well-known story involves civilians watching the Battle of Manassas near Washington, D.C. Though most civilians were out of harms way, picnicking roughly 5 miles away after their seven-hour carriage ride to the site, some men moved closer to the action. They had received old news from the front lines that the Union was winning, but upon moving closer were trapped in the confusion and panic of the retreating Union troops.
The battle at the GCC campus raged on for about an hour until finally the Union soldiers were overtaken by the Confederates. The battle was won as the Confederates raced across the enemy lines. The Union flag was handed off to the last two remaining Union soldiers who were told to take it and run.
At the battle’s end, a Union soldier played Taps for the fallen and the Union soldiers fired a salute.
Despite the result of today’s battle, Sunday’s fight at 2 p.m. may be different. A whole new scenario will play out and the two sides will fight one more time. The battle will conclude the encampment for the weekend.
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Several groups are out today picking up trash and doing other beautification efforts along the Erie Canal in Orleans County, part of a state-wide effort to clean the towpath and canal.
The top photo shows Guy Eaton, left, and Pete Crandall of the Sons of the American Legion in Medina. They are spreading mulch by the Glenwood Avenue lift bridge next to the Legion.
Gary Hill, another Son of the Legion, picks up garbage by the canal. His son Dan also helped with the effort. The Sons are collecting trash along the Towpath at the Glenwood Avenue Bridge to the Bates Road boat launch.
Photo by Tom Rivers – Ryan Earl, a friend of Paulie Lauricella, is pictured with Paulie’s father Paul Lauricella during a celebration and benefit for Paulie today at the Lyndonville fire hall.
LYNDONVILLE – “Love.” That’s how Ryan Earl describes one of his best friends, Paulie Lauricella.
“Paulie had a very big impact on everybody,” Earl said.
Lauricella was 24 when he died on Jan. 15. He was on his way to work as a machinist at Brunner in Medina when he hit black ice at 6:30 a.m. on East Yates Center Road, lost control of his vehicle and then hit a tree.
The community responded with a vigil on Jan. 19 in his honor. Paulie’s family has received home-cooked meals from community members and many cards expressing condolences. Today, from 1 to 5 p.m. Earl organized a celebration and benefit in honor of Lauricella at the fire hall.
Proceeds will go towards an etching on his mausoleum in Lynhaven Cemetery. Earl and Paulie’s father, Paul Lauricella, also would like to establish a scholarship in honor of Paulie. The scholarship would go to a graduating senior who loved his or her classmates the most, who was a loyal friend, Earl said.
“People don’t get commended for being righteous,” Earl said.
During low times in his life, Earl said he could always count on acceptance and encouragement from Paulie.
“He had a very big impact on everybody,” Earl said. “I wouldn’t be the husband or father I am today without him.”
Paulie’s death has been difficult on his friends and family. Paul Lauricella worked with his son in a business where they bought vintage vehicles that were beyond restoration and sold off the parts. Paulie was good at negotiating, at buying the vehicles and then working with buyers interested in parts.
“He could talk to anybody,” his father said.
Paulie and Paul Lauricella are pictured last summer with a 1940 Buick Special. The father and son worked together buying vintage vehicles. The younger Lauricella also was a machinist at Brunner in Medina.
Paulie is the youngest of Lauricella’s four children. Paulie would bring dinner to his parents on Friday nights and would then watch wrestling with his father.
Mr. Lauricella would hear from the parents of Paulie’s friends about how he would always shake hands with the fathers and hug the mothers. Paulie was sought out for advice by his many friends.
“He was an amazing kid and I miss him terribly,” Mr. Lauricella said. “He was friends with everybody. He accepted everybody and that’s why people loved him.”
Mr. Lauricella is vice chairman of the Orleans County Conservative Party. He had been a frequent presence at local government meetings, especially the County Legislature. Lauricella would rail against government spending and often was critical of the local officials.
He received cards from all seven legislators after his son died, and some made memorial donations to the library in honor of his son. Other community members have reached out to him and his family, and Lauricella thanked them all for their support.
“This has completely changed my outlook how people will rally around you,” Mr. Lauricella said. “My son would always say you need to ‘Pay it forward’ down the road and I intend to. I understand how all humanity hurts when something like this happens.”
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Medina community is hosting a Civil War Encampment this weekend. This morning many of the Civil War re-enactors marched down Main Street and headed to Boxwood Cemetery for a memorial service.
Excelsior Brigade Fife and Drum from Rochester marched in the parade. The group will be in concert from noon to 1 p.m. today at GCC in Medina.
The GCC campus on Route 31A is offering many workshops and educational programs today and on Sunday. There will be mock battles on both days at 2 p.m.
To see the full schedule of events, visit https://civilwaratgcc.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/cw-medina-encampment-program-2014-final-final.pdf.
The Medina community hosted the Encampment for the first time a year ago. GCC is holding the events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
The generals ride in a carriage down Main Street during the parade. Generals Robert E. Lee, Ulysses Grant and James Longstreet are at the Encampment this weekend. There is also a re-enactor portraying Abraham Lincoln.
