Nominees sought for Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 July 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – The former railroad depot, now used as senior citizen center in Medina, is an example of Medina Sandstone’s use for commercial structures during the region’s booming industrial era in the early 1900s.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Canandaigua is one of many fine examples of well-maintained and massive church buildings made from Medina Sandstone.

MEDINA – The Medina Sandstone Society, which is working to establish a Hall of Fame to celebrate sandstone structures, welcomes the public’s help in picking buildings for the site. The Hall of Fame committee will take nominees until July 20.

The first group in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame needs to “be a special class,” stunning examples of buildings made from the local stone, said Jim Hancock, a member of the committee working to establish the HOF.

The committee welcomes nominees from all over the state, and even beyond NY’s borders. Hancock said the committee, which also includes David Miller and John Slack, wants a list of nominees. The group will then go make site visits.

He is hopeful the first class will be inducted with a ceremony in October. The Hall of Fame will likely be in a temporary location for its infancy. Hancock would like to see the site move to a more permanent site at some point. Neither a temporary or long-term site has been picked.

The Sandstone Society is looking for structures that fall into four classes: churches, homes, public buildings or ornamental (architectural). The criteria by which these nominees will be judged by the selection committee includes age, beauty, architectural uniqueness and longevity.

“We can consider nominees from Medina and from out of the area because Medina Sandstone has been used world-wide,” Hancock said.

Hancock expects there to be four to six inductees in the first class. Each member of the Class of 2013 will receive a plaque from the Sandstone Society signifying its acceptance into the Hall of Fame. Another plaque with a picture will be placed in the local Hall of Fame. The Sandstone Society wants to make this an annual event.

Nominations, with a brief description, should be sent to Jim Hancock at hancock_jim@verizon.net. He will share them to the Selection Committee. Nominators should include their contact information.