By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2013 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A Brockport man was sentenced on Monday to six years in state prison for possession of a weapon and attempted burglary.
Mitchell Hamlin, 21, was charged with third-degree attempted burglary after allegedly breaking into several cars in Clarendon on Aug. 9. A second felony offender, he was sentenced to four years in state prison for the burglary crimes.
His more serious crime allegedly occurred Feb. 22 when he was carrying a loaded handgun without a license. He was stopped in the town of Barre and had the gun in his pants. Orleans County Court Judge James Punch sentenced Hamlin to six years in prison for weapons charge, which runs concurrently with the attempted burglary sentence.
“Before you kill somebody I’m going to have to lock you up for a while,” Punch told Hamlin during the sentencing.
Hamlin has recently completed his GED. He said he wants to be a productive member of society.
“I’d like to apologize to the victims,” Hamlin told the court. “I realize what I did was wrong.”
Assistant District Attorney Susan Howard asked for a long sentence for Hamlin.
“It’s obvious, your honor, that’s he’s dangerous,” Howard told Punch. “He’s violent.”
Punch said Hamlin has a “toxic combination of crimes with drugs, weapons and other crimes, including this burglary.”
CRFS, in expansion mode, could hire many of the employees
Press Release, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s office
ALBION – U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on Monday and urged the bank’s leader to give priority to Albion workers for 150 Chase jobs in Rochester and also help connect Albion workers with local employers such as Claims Recovery Financial Services.
Chase announced on Thursday it would close its Albion mortgage servicing facility that has 413 employees. The site will shut down in September.
Claims Recovery is a fast-growing post-foreclosure claim recovery firm in Orleans County that is eager to hire. CRFS now employs 550 workers in Albion and Medina and is looking to fill 178 openings. The company has plans to further expand and increase employment.
“Last week’s unexpected announcement that JP Morgan will close its Albion facility has hit the community like a ton of bricks,” Schumer said. “I was blindsided by the announcement, and upset that we were not given more of an opportunity to address the issues ahead of time. But the workers there need our help and we need to be proactive in finding Albion employees new work.”
Chase says the decision is final. Schumer has been working to help reduce the impact of impending job losses in Albion by identifying new work opportunities for the Albion employees.
Schumer spoke by phone this weekend with CRFS CEO Jodi Gaines. Schumer said that much of the employees’ skills at Chase in Albion can translate to the work done at CRFS. He wants Chase to coordinate with CRFS and other local companies in Western New York in terms of timing, severance and other important factors in order to find work for the Chase employees.
“I believe that CRFS is one of our best bets to get these soon-to-be displaced workers new employment opportunity,” Schumer said. “Connecting with this fast-growing local employer and others in Western New York is the very least JP Morgan can do to help reduce job losses in Albion.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Ross Gaylord is pulling back from some village duties
Photo by Tom Rivers – Village Trustee Ross Gaylord attended his final meeting as a village trustee tonight. He was praised by his fellow board members for a half century of service to the community. Trustee David Dill is at right.
HOLLEY – He has been a volunteer in the Holley Fire Department for 52 years. He has served on the Village Planning Board for nine years and logged 13 years on the Village Board.
Ross Gaylord has been a committed community member. Tonight he attended his last meeting as a village trustee. Gaylord isn’t seeking re-election. (Four candidates are running for two positions during the June 18 election.)
“It’s been fun over the years, but it’s time to relax,” Gaylord told his fellow board members just before the meeting was adjourned.
Mayor John Kenney made a point of thanking Gaylord for a long record of community service. The mayor said Gaylord has been a mentor and a resource, with lots of knowledge about the village.
Gaylord would also attend county and state meetings “on his own dime,” to be a more effective trustee, Kenney said.
Gaylord, 76, is a retired printer. The former Holley fire chief said he is most pleased the Village Board was able to convince Jerome Pawlak to open the Save-A-Lot grocery store last year. That filled a void in the community. Jubilee closed in 2006, leaving Holley without a grocery store.
“That was major,” Gaylord said about Save-A-Lot coming to town.
Gaylord said he won’t entirely stay away from the Village Office.
“I’ll probably stop in once in a while,” he told the board.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2013 at 12:00 am
DA waiting on blood tests in Carlton murder
ALBION The public defender will represent Dennis Buehler, a Kendall resident who is accused of shooting his wife and setting his house on fire on March 4.
Buehler allegedly shot his wife with a shotgun during an argument. His wife, Linda Buehler, ran from the house, which Buehler then allegedly set on fire. The Buehlers’ house at 923 Peter Smith Rd. was destroyed by the fire.
His wife survived the gunshot wound to her shoulder. Buehler, 64, has been charged of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree arson.
Mrs. Buehler has filed for divorce, which has frozen Buehler’s assets. He can’t hire an attorney so Orleans County Court Judge James Punch assigned Public Defender Sanford Church to the job on Monday. Buehler can still hire his own attorney if he can work out paying for one.
Buehler is scheduled to reappear in County Court on July 1.
In another high-profile case, Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone said it will take about six more weeks for results to come back on blood tests in a Carlton murder on March 4.
Cardone is waiting for results from blood samples at the scene and two blood trails. Frederick Miller, 61, has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly bludgeoning and stabbing his live-in girlfriend Rachel Miller.
She was found dead about 150 yards east of Miller’s house on Oak Orchard River Road by an Albion Central School bus driver.
The Niagara County Forensics Lab is doing the blood analysis for the Orleans County DA.
The two crimes both occurred the same day. Cardone said he is working to have both cases ready to go to trial in the fall.
Miller is scheduled to reappear in County Court on July 8.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Medina S & L president believes bank has been critical in Main Street renaissance, other local projects
Photos by Tom Rivers – Tim Moriarty has been president of the Medina Savings and Loan the past 17 years.
Medina Savings and Loan has been in business for 125 years. It was the only bank in Orleans County to survive the Great Depression. It has stayed locally owned and locally focused in an era on bank consolidations.
Tim Moriarty, 58, grew up in Medina, and worked for Ernst and Winney in Charlotte, N.C., and banks in Rochester (Security Trust and Rochester Community Savings Bank) before returning to his hometown. He has been president of the Savings and Loan for 17 years.
The bank has 15 employees with most of them working out of the bank’s main office on Maple Ridge Road, next to Tops. In 2006, the Medina S & L opened a second office in the Albion Wal-Mart Supercenter.
Moriarty is active in the community as a member of the Medina Lion’s Club, the Medina Sandstone Society and the Shelridge Country Club. He is a past president of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce and coached Little League for 11 years.
He talked about the bank and is career during an interview last Wednesday at the S & L.
Question: You mentioned you worked at Security Trust and the Rochester Community Savings Bank. Did we have more banks back in the 1980s?
Answer: Yes. I tell people a little story. I used to bowl in a banker’s league when I was in Rochester. There were 16 teams represented by 12 different banks. Not one of those banks exists today. Rochester Savings, Community Savings, Monroe Savings, Columbia Savings, First Federal Savings, First National Central Trust, Lincoln First, Security Trust – They’re all gone.
‘We don’t loan outside our area. We’re here for projects that make economic sense to help build a better community.’
Question: It seems like there continues to be a buying spree, if you look at First Niagara.
Answer: They’re a little different. First Niagara bought to buy, to get big and not for value. That’s the difference.
Question: How unusual is it to have a local Savings and Loan these days?
Answer: It’s less and less in New York. In the country most of the banks are still small community banks. I’m not sure why New York has been getting hit harder than the other states.
Question: Is the small community bank a better model than the bigger banks?
Answer: I think there is a need for both. You need big banks for large commercial customers. But the problem with the big banks is they have a lot of activities that have nothing to do with banking and that puts them at risk of failing like in 2008 and ’09.
The reason it’s an issue is you have FDIC insurance on their deposits. If they fail it puts a major hurt on that.
If you look at community banks, I can go up and down Main Street and you’d be shocked at the projects we’ve done. Right now we’re helping the United Methodist Church get the old Apple Grove done. I can go all over Medina and see the different projects we’ve done. The bigger banks are not interested. We’re small for them.
The big banks just take the deposits and siphon it out of the community. And then they invest it in Hong Kong and their growth areas like Singapore. That’s where they want to focus their attention. They’re siphoning out the money.
In a community bank we reloan it in the community to help with growth in the community and improving the community. We don’t loan outside our area. We’re here for projects that make economic sense to help build a better community.
Question: I really hadn’t thought about that, that a bank has played a part in Medina Main Street revival the past 10 years. People need to borrow money to make some of these projects happen.
Answer: We’ve done a lot of the projects up and down Main Street.
The Medina Savings and Loan was the lone Orleans County bank to survive the Great Depression.
Question: Has the Albion site in Wal-Mart resulted in projects in the Albion area?
Answer: We don’t seem to get the people coming in there for requests like we’d like to. We’re there to do it, but it’s been a little bit more difficult getting that connection. There hasn’t been as many projects as in Medina.
Question: Why did you open the site in Albion?
Answer: We’re trying to broaden our base. We’ve helped a number of small businesses in Albion and Medina. We’d like to see more loan demand in Albion.
Question: People perceive Orleans as being a struggling county. But you might see it differently, working with some of the innovators.
Answer: Retail Medina has done a lot better than a lot of small towns. I wonder if it’s just far enough from the malls that people will think local first before they go out. I like to think that we’re a part of it. There are projects that I know that got done where people initially went to other bigger banks and we ended up doing them and helped make it a better community.
Question: You were the only bank to survive the Great Depression in Orleans County. Why do you think the Medina Savings and Loan has endured all these years?
Answer: It’s a risk business. You have to manage risk.
Question: Has the banking business got harder during your career?
Answer: Oh, definitely. There are a lot more regulations regarding everything, from lending to taking deposits. We can’t take a double-endorsed check anymore. People get mad at us, but we have regulations. We have to know the customer to make sure you’re not a terrorist or a money launderer.
There are many, many ways they have regulated the business.
The other factor: This current economic environment. Anytime you don’t let market forces determine market prices, you create a bubble. You create a distortion. That’s what’s going on right now with the Fed. You’re creating a bubble.
Question: Is that the low-interest rates?
Answer: They force the rates down with their buying program. They’re not letting them be priced according to the risk and what the market should bear.
‘There are projects that I know that got done where people initially went to other bigger banks and we ended up doing them and helped make it a better community.’
Question: It seems that would make it hard for the banks to make money?
Answer: It is. It’s tough on the smaller banks. We rely on taking in money and making loans, earning a differential, managing the credit risk, and managing the interest rate risk.
A lot of the community banks don’t have all of the big brokerage firms, investment banking firms and those other activities where they generate a lot of fees – the credit card business. Some of the smaller banks have got into insurance. There are thousands of smaller community banks like us that haven’t gotten into insurance. We’ve stuck to core banking.
Question: People may wonder if Medina Savings and Loan has been approached by a bigger bank as part of one of these buying sprees?
Answer: We’re not a stock-owned institution. Our ownership is more closely associated to the concept of a credit union. Someone can’t just come in and buy us up. There’s no stock. It’s really a cross between a credit union and the stock-owned banks. The charter was established originally to spur home ownership and savings. That’s why it’s called savings and loan.
Question: So you’re not going to go buy up other places either?
HOLLEY – The Holley Canal Park was peaceful this evening, perfect for a stroll. The park is located off East Avenue. It includes docks, a gazebo, picnic tables, grills and camping spots for tents.
Trails at the park lead to a playground, fishing spots and the waterfalls.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – The P.Raising Kids Child Care Center celebrated the re-opening of its playground with several improvements to the area at the Medina United Methodist Church. Julianne McGrath, director of the P.Raising Kids, stands at left with children and staff involved in the program during a ribbon-cutting on Friday.
The playground includes new equipment for children.
MEDINA – New equipment. A smoother sidewalk. Safety improvements. The new playground next to the Medina United Methodist Church opened on Friday and immediately was embraced by children.
The church runs the P.Raising Child Care Center, serving about 40 kids on Mondays through Fridays.
Their playground has been off limits because of old equipment and glass shards that were discovered on the ground. The church replaced the dirt and base for the playground, installed new equipment, expanded the fenced-in area, and changed the sidewalk so it no longer has a step. That makes the site handicapped accessible.
“Before there were a lot of issues,” said Tony Hipes, the church pastor. “It was old and falling apart.”
The improvements cost about $3,000. The Medina Area Association of Churches chipped in $1,500. The MAAC wants to support the P.Raising program, which was started about four years ago.
“They are serving community children,” said Sue Metzo, the MAAC president and a member of the Presbyterian Church. “They are doing something that is very important in this community. Anytime there are churches doing things in the community, we try to help in any way that we can.”
The United Methodist Church also is working to renovate the former Apple Grove Inn down the road on West Center Street.
“We’re in full construction mode,” Hipes said.
He hopes the congregation can move into the building in late summer or early fall. After the move to the Apple Grove, the P.Raising program will continue to be run out of the existing church at 222 West Center St.
Nathan Brabon, 4, of Medina finds the smooth sidewalk good for riding a tricycle.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Orleans community declared winner over Cape Hatteras, NC
Photo by Tom Rivers – An angler tries his luck at Point Breeze last month. Point Breeze was declared “Ultimate Fishing Town” by the World Fishing Network today.
POINT BREEZE – It appeared to be a big fish that got away, the title as “Ultimate Fishing Town.”
Point Breeze seemed to be the runner-up to Cape Hatteras, NC. When a three-week on-line voting contest ended May 24, Cape Hatteras led fishing communities with 47,147 votes. Point Breeze was next with 32,053 votes.
But the World Fishing Network declared Point Breeze the winner today, after the WFN reviewed the votes for Cape Hatteras and tried to authenticate them. Apparently those votes didn’t hold up.
Point Breeze can proudly proclaim itself as the overall winner of the contest. The community won an earlier regional competition. That netted the community $3,500 to promote its fishery. The prize money has now swelled to $25,000, plus lots of free publicity.
“That’s $25,000 that can be used for anything fishing related,” said Mike Waterhouse, the county’s sportsfishing promotion coordinator.
He praised Point Breeze fans for voting in the contest. The votes kept coming for Point Breeze even when it appeared Cape Hatteras had an insurmountable lead.
Point Breeze businesses say the competition unified the community to promote a fishery well known for brown trout, salmon, steelhead and cohoes.
The community built a new lighthouse at Point Breeze about three years ago.
“We are a small fishing town elated to win the title of Ultimate Fishing Town,” Point Breeze resident and town nominator Sharon Narburgh told the WFN. “We have a unique small town with many needs for our fishery and are thankful to our residents and anglers for their diligence in voting.”
WFN representatives, including Ultimate Fishing Town host Mariko Izumi, are expected to be in Point Breeze on June 26 to celebrate with the community and produce a video about the great fishing at Point Breeze.
WFN says it is the leading entertainment destination and digital resource for anglers throughout North America. Today it also declared Port Colborne in Ontario as the “Ultimate Fishing Town” in Canada. Last year, Olcott won the U.S. title.
There were 700 towns in the U.S. and Canada that received nominations and were eligible to advance in the contest. Participants were asked to nominate where he or she believes is the best place to fish. Town walls were then populated with videos, photos and written comments to promote the community’s candidacy and reinforce why the town is deserving of Ultimate Fishing Town honors.
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Port Colborne and Point Breeze, winners of WFN’s Ultimate Fishing Town for 2013, and commend the regional and affiliate winners, too,” said Pam Stinson, senior director of marketing for World Fishing Network. “The accomplishment of being named Ultimate Fishing Town demonstrates pride, passion and enthusiasm from start to finish, and it wouldn’t be possible without the commitment and dedication of all those who participated.”
ALBION – The Albion Police Department participated in the “Buckle Up New York Campaign” from May 20 to June 2 and arrested 65 people for not wearing seatbelts.
The Police Department was awarded a $779 grant from the New York State Governors Traffic Safety Committee to participate in this state-wide initiative.
Albion officers issued 138 tickets for various vehicle and traffic law violations during the 14-day enforcement wave. Besides the 65 seatbelt violations, officers issued 13 speeding tickets (six in the school zone), 10 uninspected motor vehicles, five unlicensed operators, six aggravated unlicensed operator in the third degree, one ticket for facilitating unlicensed operator in the third degree, four for operating without insurance, one for reckless driving, two for operating with registration suspended/revoked, and five for talking on cellphone while driving.
Police Chief Roland Nenni III said the department also made arrests for driving while intoxicated and for driving while ability impaired by drugs/marijuana.
The Albion Police Department hosted two multi-agency road checks during the campaign period with assistance from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
During the road checks, which were conducted on North Main Street and South Main Street, officers issued a total of 26 uniform traffic tickets. One motorist was arrested during the road checks for DWAI by drugs/marijuana and unlawful possession of marijuana.
The main factors that cause fatalities in motor vehicle accidents continues to be speeding, not wearing seatbelts and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, Nenni said.
“The safety of our streets continues to be the number one goal of the Albion Police Department,” he said. “We will continue to strive to make our community safe.”
Sandstone Society marks bank’s milestone anniversary
Photos courtesy of Dave Miller – Medina Savings and Loan celebrated its 125th anniversary on Saturday. As part of the celebration, the Medina Sandstone Society unveiled a sandstone plaque by the bank’s front door. Pictured, from left: Medina S & L President Tim Moriarty, Sandstone Society President Bob Waters, and Charles Slack, chairman of the board for the bank.
The plaque celebrates the bank’s longevity as a local institution.
MEDINA – The Medina Savings and Loan marked its 125th anniversary on Saturday during a customer appreciation day at the bank on Maple Ridge Road.
The bank has been critical to growth of the community for more than a century, providing capital for businesses to open and expand, and residents to purchase homes.
Medina S & L was the only bank in Orleans County to survive the Great Depression. In 2006, the bank opened a second location in the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Albion.
The Medina Sandstone Society unveiled a plaque by the front door, praising the bank for “providing a rock solid foundation for community growth since 1888.”
Provided photo – The student staff for the 2013-14 Medina Mustang Band are pictured after Friday’s awards banquet.
Press Release
Medina Mustang Band Boosters
MEDINA – The Medina Mustang Marching Band honored band members on Friday during a banquet. In addition to honoring students, the band and Mustangs Boosters honored Larry Meyer with the “Harry L. Dinkle Band Booster Award.”
Instructional staff were recognized including Roxanne Morgan (Twirlers), Jeanette Sheliga (Drill, marching instructor and instrument repair), Katie Toub (Assistant Band Director and Pit instructor), Jeff Pask (Percussion instructor), Diana Baker and Lindsey Little (Colorguard Instructors), Vinnie Monacelli (Visual Design and Colorguard instructor), Kristen Costa (Colorguard Design and instructor), Jerry Kelsey and Joe Organisciak (Music Arrangers), Joe Guadagnino and Brian King (Percussion instructors).
Band members were recognized for their achievements.The NYSFB Conference Scholarship was given to Maggie Laszewski. The Mustang Band Booster Memorial Scholarship was given to Matt Stanton, while the Mustang Band Booster Service Scholarship was presented to Rene Miller.
Medina’s Winterguard, Dance Team and Twirlers were recognized for their first place standing at the Gorham pageant.
Once again Medina students participated in NYSSMA solo festival in April 2013 in Penfield. The elementary school sent 22 students, the middle school sent 32 and there were 35 from the high school. Overall these students received scores ranging from Excellent, Outstanding, A-, A, A+ and two students, Jimmy Jo Soha and Cameron Morgan received perfect scores of 100.
Outstanding Band Member awards were given in three categories. Outstanding Rookie to T. Kiebala, M. Johnson, B. Zakes and J. James. Most Improved went to J. Phillips, M. Bellan, J. Houseman and C. Donley. Most Valuable went to Z. Roeseler, C. Gardner, C. Morgan and C. Doherty.
Director’s Awards were given to James Wisniewski and Emma Fox by Mrs. Pritchard and to Tyler Soha and Kelsi LaSpada by Mr. Steele.
The Alfred Hartway Drum Major Award was presented to Drum Major MaggieLaszewski, and Matt Stanton and Zach Roeseler, both assistant drum majors.
The Joseph C. McCain Award was given to Adam Wengryzcki (a junior) and Maggie Laszewski (a senior).
Students were also recognized for perfect attendance and service. Graduating Seniors were given their medallions.
Another highlight of the evening was the announcement of the 2013-2014 student staff:
Drum Major – Cameron Morgan; Assistant DM – Matt Prawel and Jenna Brien; Flute Section leader – Samantha Wendling; Clarinet SL – Shannon Allen; Saxophone SL – Jenna Brien; Mellophone SL – Kelsey Evoy; Trumpet SL – Marc Vanderlaan; Low Brass SL – Barry Rogenmoser; Pit SL – Hannah Pask.
Band Managers – Adam Wengryzcki, Cody Taylor, Jon Carlo Gonzalez, Tessa White and Emilee Austin; Attendance officer – Julie Brien; Uniform Manager – Addison Zavitz and Andrea Toussaint; Secretary/Librarian – Bailey Allen and Tristan Sanders; Colorguard managers – Victoria Rice and Krystal Kerstetter; Colorguard Captain – Melissa Oosterling and Head of Percussion – James Soha.
The Fall Field Show for 2013 will be “The Pursuit of Gold” about the Olympics. Work begins immediately as the students learn their music before Band Camp in August. Fundraisers also begin this summer with 4-H Parking in July, and Car Wash and Chicken BBQ in August.
Press release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department
CARLTON – A 25-year-old Lyndonville woman died today in an accident at the routes 98 and 18 Y intersection.
Jessica Artica was traveling north when she stopped at the Y intersection in a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban. She then proceeded to cross into the path of an eastbound 1985 Peterbuilt dump truck operated by John Bush, 56, of Waterport. The truck is owned by Lynn-Ette and Son Farms of Kent.
Artica was pronounced dead at the scene by Orleans County Coroner Joe Fuller. Bush was not injured in the accident.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred at 10:49 a.m. It appears that speed and alcohol were not a factor in the accident, Chief Deputy Thomas Drennan said. There were no tickets issued to Bush.
The Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by Carlton FD, Albion FD, Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance and New York State Police DOT Inspectors.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 June 2013 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Two Medina men were sentenced today to five years probation, 150 hours of community service and joint restitution for setting a house on fire last September.
Edward Schneider, 21, and Christopher Swan, 21, were charged with third-degree arson after a vacant house was set on fire last Sept. 12. The building at 11228 Ridge Rd. in the town of Ridgeway was owned by Schneider’s mother, Antoinette Schneider. She had insurance on the house.
The two also were charged with second-degree assault, a Class D Felony, because a firefighter was injured while fighting the fire.
“This was a foolish, bad decision you guys made,” Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said during the sentencing. “You could have killed someone by your actions.”
The two men are long-time friends. Punch ordered that they have no contact with each other. They also have to share a $484 restitution bill.
The judge told them to seek and maintain gainful employment. Their wages will be garnished until the restitution is paid.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Cobblestone Society Museum has been awarded a matching grant to survey the roof and tower of the Cobblestone Universalist Church, a building from 1834 that is part of the museum near the intersection of routes 98 and 104.
GAINES – The most prominent building in the Cobblestone Society Museum, the Universalist Church from 1834, needs roof and tower repairs.
The museum has received a matching $1,000 “Sacred Sites Grant” from the New York Landmarks Conservancy. The grant will go towards a survey to determine the repairs needed for the roof and tower.
The church is used for a variety of historical programs, services and weddings every year.
“Preserving this unique piece of cobblestone heritage is vital for future generations to enjoy,” said Deborah Brundage, the museum’s director. “The Cobblestone Society wishes to thank The New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Program for their support in this endeavor.”
The eight-building museum was established in 1960 to preserve the oldest cobblestone church in North America and to collect and disseminate information on cobblestone masonry construction.
In 1993, the U.S. Department of the Interior declared the collection of buildings a National Historic Landmark, the only historic site in Orleans County with this designation.
A cobblestone house from 1836, which was once owned by the famous publisher Horace Greeley, is next to the church.These two buildings are furnished to show how they would have been used in the 1880s. A few buildings east on 104 sits a one-room cobblestone schoolhouse from 1849.
The museum also includes four wooden buildings on Route 98, just north of 104. They include a blacksmith shop, print shop, harness shop and an exhibit hall of 19th century farming tools. A brick house from 1836 also serves as a resource center on the 1,200 cobblestone buildings in North America.
The museum opens its season June 23 and runs until Sept. 1. It’s open every day but Monday during the summer. For more information on the museum, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Albion Women’s Select Choir includes Maria Ostafew, front right.
Steven Stauss, right, and other members of the Albion Men’s Select Choir give an enthusiastic performance of a romantic song.
Gary Simboli plays the keyboards and directs the Albion Men’s and Women’s Select Choir.
ALBION – The Theatre on Main Street production on Saturday resulted in a treasure trove of images. I shared some after the show last night, but here are some more.
A stage with professional sound and lighting was set up on West Bank Street for the three-hour show.
John Martin, “Zilch Fletcher,” of Medina shared a few folksy songs.
Albion residents Dorothy and Milt Boyer, center, react to a funny line from one of Martin’s songs.
Performers from Lisa’s Dance Boutique on Holley were among the acts in the three-hour show.
A group of four dancers from Dance Reflections by Miss Heather perform during Theatre on Main Street.
