By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
ALBION – In this post card view from around 1910 we see the Lewis E. Sands Company.
Sands was known as “The Bean King.” His produce business was located north of the railroad tracks at West Academy Street in Albion.
Here we notice a box car which is probably about to be loaded with sacks of beans off the horse drawn wagon.
A number of employees appear to be posing from the windows of the building.
Photos by Tom Rivers
For the third July 5th in a row, the Tonawanda Indian Baptist Church in Basom is treating the Albion community to free food, music and later a fireworks show at Bullard Park. The fireworks will go off at dusk, likely between 9:30 and 10 p.m.
In the top photo, Erc Mileham grills hamburgers for the crowd. Mileham is a member at High Point Community Church in Corfu, a sister church of Tonawanda Indian. That church is looking to start a new congregation in Albion that will be called Northpoint Community Church.
Justine Bidell of Tonawanda Indian Baptist Church is making cotton candy in a trailer. The candy was given away for free at Bullard Park.
Guy Scribner of Medina holds his 2-year-old daughter Nakendia after she had her face painted. She has a snowman on her cheek.
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Sometimes it’s hard to just pick one picture. Last night around midnight I picked pictures from the Lyndonville fireworks. I liked the ones with the reflection over the Johnson Creek pond in front of the school, but I only used one from those, wanting to get other angles and scenes.
After looking through the reflection pictures this afternoon, I think a lot of them are worth sharing. So here are some more.
We do sell prints of Hub photos. Click here for more information.
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Jason Karr was out fishing late this morning on the Erie Canal in Albion. Karr said he already caught a small-mouth bass near the Brown Street bridge.
Today is forecast to be sunny with a high near 79. The bottom photo shows Sandy Creek after it passes underneath the canal heading north.
The Orleans County 4-H Clover was out celebrating the holiday. The 4-H Fair runs from July 21-26 in Knowlesville.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
LYNDONVILLE – The Village of Lyndonville was packed today when everyone chose their spots to watch the parade.
Before the event began, the bandstand had parents and kids gather in the center of the road to dance to the hokey pokey and YMCA.
Uncle Sam started the parade down Main Street, waving to the crowd as he passed.
Veterans were recognized with massive applause as they followed Uncle Sam. Many observers stood up to show respect.
Members of Dance Theater in Medina joined in the parade.
One of Gia Arnold’s daughters enjoys the ride in the parade. Her mother is running for State Senate against George Maziarz.
The Gates Keystone Club Police Pipes and Drums band played drums and bagpipes. The band was founded to honor their fallen. The band attends many community festivals and events each year.
The Oak Orchard Kids Krusade promoted their Vacation Bible School program “Take the Plunge!” by spraying the crowd with water.
Treble in the Streets, a band of Lyndonville alumni, sang the national anthem when they reached the announcer’s bandstand.
Hamlin Dog Control and the Hamlin Dog Shelter encouraged everyone to adopt a pet to love and save a life. The heart on the back reads “Dogs leave paw prints on our hearts.”
The Lyndonville Tigers school band marches down Main Street. Many students were showing their patriotic pride through red, white and blue accessories.
Tonight the band “Happy Ending” will play in the Lyndonville High School parking lot on Housel Avenue from 7 p.m. until the firework display at 10 p.m.
File photo by Tom Rivers – A couple snuggles on a slide at Bullard Park while fireworks go off last July 5. Northpoint Community Church, which is looking to start a new church in Albion, will have food, music and fireworks at Bullard Park from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.
ALBION – A church will pay for a fireworks show, serve free food and provide live music on Saturday at Bullard Park.
This will be the third straight year the Tonawanda Indian Baptist Church in Basom is treating the Albion community to a July 5 bash at Bullard Park. The church is looking to start a new church, Northpoint Community Church, in Albion.
“We’re just here to help the community come together,” said Robert Dean, pastor of the Tonawanda church.
The church is “very close” to opening in Albion, Dean said. Tonawanda also helped start a church in Corfu, the High Point Community Church. The churches are affiliated with the Southern Baptists.
A group from Mississippi was in Albion about a week ago leading block parties in parks and neighborhoods, and also performing “acts of kindness,” Dean said. They cleaned up yards, worked with Community Action and fixed stairs for elderly residents.
Tonawanda Indian has felt connected to Albion going back two decades, Dean said. Some of the congregation’s members have been from Albion.
The church will be serving hamburgers, cotton candy and performing music from its praise band. Dean said the group welcomes volunteers and contributions to help with the big event on Saturday which runs from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Albion village officials have tried to spread the word about the event. Residents the past two years have said they were impressed by the activities and fireworks show, but many didn’t know it was going on.
The village has a sign by Bullard, informing motorists of the fireworks show on Saturday. The village also has taken out ads to promote the event and other activities this summer in Albion.
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Lyndonville Marching Band performs in today’s parade.
The Lyndonville Marching Band
LYNDONVILLE – The village of Lyndonville is full of patriotic pep today as the community hosts its 42nd annual Fourth of July celebration.
The event will be capped off with fireworks at 10 p.m. from the school campus.
At noon a parade started down Platten Road before emerging to big crowds of people on Main Street.
A 1950 Farmall was among several tractors in today’s parade.
The Oak Orchard Assembly of God on Ridge Road in Medina had a float in the parade called “Kids Krusade.” It promoted the church’s upcoming Vacation Bible School.
Orleans County Chief Coroner Scott Schmidt waves from a vintage hearse he drove in the parade.
Ray Bates and other veterans are escorted down Platten Road in the parade.
Gia Arnold, a State Senate candidate from Holley, walks in the parade and handed out information to people along the route.
Rachael Tabelski pushes her son Adrian in a group that included State Sen. George Maziarz, County Legislator Don Allport and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
Boy Scouts and one of their leaders also joined in the parade procession.
Robbi Hess
By Robbi Hess
Humans know, understand and usually love the brilliant light displays and thunderous “booms” that go along with the July 4 festivities. Our pets, however, do not. Just as recent thunderstorms have sent my poodle scurrying to my side to press her face into my leg, fireworks displays have the same effect.
For many pets, storms and fireworks can lead to fear, anxiety, running away and even biting incidents. When you consider that many animal rescues – according to the Human Society of the United States – report July 4 as one of the biggest incidences of the year when they are overrun with dogs who ran away from their owners during a fireworks display, you can see the need for additional caution.
Here are five steps you can take to ensure your pets’ safety:
1. Leave her home. But, don’t leave her home if she is noise-phobic. You may need to curtail your plans to care for your pet. Do not take your pets with you to parades or fireworks displays. They will not appreciate you bringing them to a spot where they will not only be surrounded by strangers, but subjected to the brilliant lights and thunderous booms. If you have to take your pet out of doors to answer the call of nature, make sure he is securely tethered – no off leash romps during storms or fireworks, please.
2. If you’re staying home with your pet, find a safe spot to sit with him. If your pet doesn’t have a go-to space, take him with you into a room that is the furthest away from the noise of the fireworks. Spend time in a cool, air conditioned room, run a fan, turn on a television and ride out the event.
3. Don’t give into the impulse of coddling your pet. Because our pets intuitively read our emotions, this is one of the worst things you can do. Stay calm and your pet will pick up on those cues and calm down.
4. There are products on the market such as herbal calming remedies or even “gentle wrap” jackets which apply gentle pressure and help reduce a dog’s anxiety. The gentle wraps – such as a Thundershirt – can eliminate the need for medication, but you get your pet accustomed to this prior to actually needing it.
5. Cats can become as agitated by the fireworks or storms as your dogs. Make sure if you have outdoor cats that they are somewhere secure during both storms and fireworks. If they are indoors, keep them with you in a cool, quiet area of the house until the excitement has passed.
If you have a houseful of people and aren’t certain how your pet will react to the loud noises, it may be best to excuse yourself and your pet as a way to calm her down and prevent any biting incidents.
Editor’s note: Robbi Hess, a former journalist, will be a new regular columnist for the Orleans Hub. She has lived in Orleans County for more than 20 years.
Hess is a long-time blogger, copywriter and two-year breast cancer survivor. She writes and speaks about topics ranging from time management to Baby Boomer issues to articles of interest to solopreneurs as well as pet-related topics. She lives in Albion with her family, her diva poodle, a husky-lab mix, a bearded dragon and four rescue cats. You can see more about her by clicking here.)
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
The noted Civil War photographer, Mathew Brady, took this picture at Camp Cameron in Washington, D.C. during 1861.
The men are identified from left as Pt. Samuel Sherman, F.E.T. Cotter, William H. Gibson, Captain William H. Smith, Pt. R.P. Gibson and William H. Lent.
Captain Smith of the 151st Infantry was a volunteer from Gaines.
In this tent scene we note a sign on the tent which states, in part: “Crow’s Nest!”
A cook stove with stove pipe shows to the left rear of the picture.
ALBION – Nine farms in two watersheds will share $204,812 in matching grants to plant cover crops after the main crop has been harvested. The cover crops will reduce soil erosion and improve soil health, likely boosting farmers’ yields, said Dennis Kirby, manager for the Orleans County Soil & Water Conservation District.
Soil & Water was awarded the grant and will distribute the funding over three years to two farmers in the Johnson Creek Watershed and seven farms in the Sandy Creek Watershed.
Johnson Creek Watershed is in the towns of Carlton, Yates, Ridgeway and Shelby. The Sandy Creek Watershed is mostly on the eastern end of the county and the town of Albion.
The grant to Orleans was part of $13.8 million in state grants approved for more than 200 farmers in 32 counties.
“Investing in our farms will help keep our agricultural industry competitive while maintaining the high standards of agricultural products that the Empire State is known for,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “By enhancing conservation methods, we are ensuring the continued economic success of our farms as well as the protection of our natural resources. These grants will not only have an immediate effect on our agricultural sector but will also make New York a cleaner, greener, more sustainable state for future generations.”
The grant in Orleans will help pay for the costs of planting cover crops after farmers harvest corn, vegetables or other cash crops, Kirby said.
“By keeping a living crop growing on the land as long as possible, the soil biology is improved, helping the next cash crop to grow and yield better,” he said. “The growing cover helps storm water soak into the soil, rather than run off taking sediment and nutrients with it.”
Cover crops also recycle nutrients left from the cash crop, making them available for the next crop. The cover crop will often help suppress weed growth and diseases, while encouraging beneficial insect habitat, Kirby said.
“This will result in reduced pesticide use in the future,” he said.
Soil and Water obtained a similar grant last year for nine farms in the Oak Orchard Watershed in the towns of Barre, Albion, Ridgeway, Gaines and Carlton.
