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ALBION – The Class of 2019 unveiled a memorial bench on Saturday in honor of their classmate, Brennan Moody, who died in a car accident on June 18.

Class President Mckenna Boyer and Treasurer Kirk Ellison sit on the bench that is outside the high school between the band and chorus rooms. Brennan was very active in the school’s music programs and spent a lot of time in both the band and chorus rooms.

The bench includes lyrics from song, “No One Is Alone” from Into the Woods. Brennan played the role of the prince in that show o the Albion stage last spring.

“Brennan was a musician and a performer,” Boyer said at the bench’s unveiling. “But most of all he was a wonderful friend. He had a way of quietly – or not so quietly – reaching out when people needed him most. We wanted the bench to share his love of music but also to share a little bit about his character.”

Boyer said school officials helped to find the “perfect bench.” She thanked Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent; Gary Simboli, high school vocal teacher and musical director; and Diane Stirk, the deputy tax collector for their help with the bench.

“We hope this bench will be enjoyed by students and the community for years to come,” Boyer said.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Angie Wolfe makes a scarecrow with her son Caleb, and friend Brynn Dugan during the Albion Fall Festival on Saturday.

The Albion Merchants Association organized the event, which included many craft and food venders, and family activities.

Community members made 34 scarecrows that will be displayed in the downtown, with possibly more in the works.

This scarecrow of a cowgirl will be up this month. This is the fourth annual scarecrow contest. People can vote for their favorite scarecrows. Ballots are at Krantz Furniture and the Downtown Browsery. Votes will be accepted until Oct. 18. The winning scarecrows will be announced during Beggars’ Night on Oct. 25, when candy will be given out in the downtown.

Laura Lechner, left, and her son, Gavin O’Brocta, of Albion make a scarecrow with help from Kim Remley, who helped to organize the scarecrow station.

April Henchen of Albion made this scarecrow of “Mr. Bones.”

Jason Jones of Albion works hard at making the scarecrow, “Anna Crew.”

More scarecrows are welcome for the downtown display. Contact Village Trustee Stan Farone if you have a scarecrow to enter in the contest. His number is (585) 590-1021.

Kendall and Medina also had scarecrow festivals on Saturday.

A balloon artist was busy during the Fall Festival.

Liz Groat, president of the Downtown Browsery, peers through the cutout of a pumpkin outside the Browsery, which had wine-tasting for adults and games available for children.

Arnold’s Auto Parts hosted a classic car show.

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ALBION – The Village Board voted Friday to pursue funding from the state’s “Charge Ready NY” program to add four charging ports for electric vehicles in the downtown.

The village is seeking state funding for one charging station with two ports at the Main Street parking lot, just north of the Presbyterian Church, and another charging station with two ports across from the Village Hall in the parking lot on East Bank Street.

The state is offering incentives up to $4,000 per port or $8,000 for a dual station. Albion will be seeking $16,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. NYSERDA set aside $5 million to encourage electric charging stations across the state. There is currently $1.5 million remaining in that fund. (Click here for more information.)

The Albion Betterment Committee has encouraged the village to add the charging stations. The ABC believes the stations will be a draw for the downtown for people with electric vehicles. The ABC expects to see the electric vehicles become more popular in the coming years.

The $16,000 allowed for the four ports is expected to cover the costs of the charging stations, wiring, meters, and charging units. The village will need to bid the project out.

There is an additional annual cost of $250 for each of the four ports for software costs or $1,000 annually.

The village needs to commit to keeping the charging stations for at least five years as part of the application, said Gary Katsanis, the deputy mayor.

Albion may also partner with National Grid in hosting events promoting charging stations. That could include “Ride and Drive” events where electric car manufacturers bring in vehicles for people to do test drives.

“It seems like a good project to bring attention to the downtown,” Katsanis said about the charging stations.

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Either swans, eagles or hawks will be painted flying over canal

Courtesy of Hoag Library: This design by artist Stacey Kirby Steward shows swans flying over the Erie Canal.

This design features a hawk over the local landscape.

ALBION – Hoag Library wants to hear from the public on the best avian creature to feature in a mural in the main meeting room.

An anonymous donor is covering the cost to have artist Stacey Kirby Steward paint the mural. It will feature either swans, hawks or eagles flying over the Erie Canal.

Hoag Library welcomes the public to vote for a design. Voting must be done in person at the library until Monday, Oct. 7.

The mural will be above the kitchenette in the Curtis Meeting Room. This is the second art project at the library by Kirby Steward, an Albion native who lives in Spencerport. She designed the stained-glass window with swans.

Last year, she finished a 24-foot-long mural of Santa Claus in a sleigh over downtown Albion. She also painted murals inside the lyceum for the Catholic Church in Albion.

She has done several large-scale public art projects between Middleport and Greece, often with themes about the Erie Canal.

Once the voting results are tallied, the library’s board of trustees will consider the next steps in the process.

Kirby Steward also proposed a design with eagles up high over the local canal.

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Meeting on Oct. 17 about project that will close bridge in 2022-2023 for major repairs

Photo by Tom Rivers: Cyclists are pictured on July 8 by the Main Street lift bridge as part of the annual Cycle the Erie Canal trip.

ALBION – The Main Street lift bridge in Albion is slated for $15 million in repairs and construction work beginning in 2022, with the project keeping the bridge closed for 18 months until 2023.

The state Department of Transportation will discuss the project during a public information meeting on Oct. 17 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Hoag Library, 134 South Main St.

The bridge was originally built in 1914. It typically closes a few days each year for short-term repairs. It is one of 16 lift bridges on the Erie Canal, and one of seven in Orleans County.

The DOT said the work includes installing high-strength galvanized steel to replace the steel floor  system and select truss members.

Updates will also be made to the mechanical and electrical components of the lifting mechanisms. The lift tower will also be rehabilitated.

In addition, the bridge railing and guide rail on the bridge approaches will be improved and bridge will be repainted.

The DOT will have the project done the same time contractors work on the lift bridge on Route 19 in Brockport.

“Due to the unique work required, there are cost savings associated with combining lift bridge rehabilitations,” the DOT said in an advisory.

The DOT anticipates the design for the Albion bridge will be completed in June 2021, with construction expected in 2022 and 2023.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Olivia Miller, an Albion High School student, portrays the wife of C. Royce Sawyer, a 30-year member of the Dye Hose Company (Albion Fire Department).

As fire chief, he worked to have the entire company motorized. Albion was the 2nd department in the state to become motorized, after New York City. He was also the county treasurer and was commissioned during World War I, and served as the finance officer of Camp Sheridan in Alabama.

Albion High School students portrayed 16 people at the cemetery in 11th annual Ghost Walk. After heavy rain in late afternoon, the downpour stopped just in time for the Ghost Walk. There were 56 students involved in the event, with others serving as guides, in the tech crew, and with singing along the route.

The event is coordinated by Susan Starkweather Miller, and teacher Gary Simboli and Mike Thaine. Many of the attendees have attended all of the Ghost Walks at the cemetery.

Ashleigh Mowatt portrays Mary Signor, wife of Isaac Signor, who served as district attorney and judge in Orleans County. He also wrote the book, Landmarks of Orleans County, which remains an importance resource for historians. He helped establish the Swan Library and taught immigrant quarry workers to read and write. Albion Central School continues to give out an annual Signor Prize to recognize students for their rhetorical work.

Jeffrey Brown is David Jones of Kendall, who developed the very popular “Delusion” mouse trap, which topped 2 million sales in 1878. Jeffrey is holding a Delusion mouse trap on loan by retired County Historian Bill Lattin.

Zoe Cusson is the wife of Sidney Eddy who was in the ambulance corps during World War I. He was stationed in France and was an ambulance driver, putting himself and his Model T in danger as he transported the wounded from the front lines to hospital.

Emily Mergler portrays Anna Dann Mason who was Susan B. Anthony’s housekeeper and personal secretary. Mergler is wearing the sash, “Votes for Women,” that was popular with suffragettes.

Mason was married in Anthony’s parlor and the famous women’s rights leader was her maid of honor. Mason’s husband, Gilbert Mason, lived in Albion. Mason was a new person to be featured on the Ghost Walk.

Other new characters included George Bullard (played by Ryan Krenning), a former NYS Assemblyman who donated 24 acres of land to the Village of Albion it what is known as Bullard Park; and Hank Porter (portrayed by McKenzie Olmstead), an Albion graduate, worked for Walt Disney and created illustrations for the full length film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

Porter also updated the image of Donald Duck, was responsible for the “Disney” design, and sketched numerous emblems and insignias for all military branches to be used on war planes, tanks, and ships. It built comradery and identity with the troops.

Molly Wadhams portrays Emma Hunt who was working as a housekeeper when she was murdered in 1894 by William Lake, a farmhand who confessed to the crime. He was the seventh person to executed by the electric chair at Auburn State Prison. Zachary Kilner portrayed Sheriff John Rice, who put together a posse to apprehend Lake, who was on the lam.

Olivia Morrison plays Sarah Harling, who took in Robert Capstick, a down and out Civil War soldier. He gave her his prized possession, a George Washington button, for taking him in and nursing him back to health when he was so destitute. Harling holds the actual button, which was on loan from Bill Lattin, the retired county historian.

Emma Tower is Alice Wilson who was killed by her husband in 1887, who was having an affair with a much younger woman. George Wilson was the only man executed in Orleans County. He was hanged outside the courthouse in 1888.

Chase Froman portrays Charles Howard, who opened a Santa Claus School in 1937 and ran it until his death in 1966. Howard also opened Christmas Park which included many attractions and a toy shop. He was the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa and a consultant on the movie, Miracle on 34th Street.

Gina Fox plays the mother of Charles Nelson Brown, a professional baseball player who suffered from severe depression. Fox, in her role as Brown’s mother, regrets her son took his own life in 1910.

Myleigh Miller portrayed Virginia Sheret, and told the story of brothers James, Andrew and Eugene Sheret as their Company F broke through the Hindenberg Line. Two of her brothers paid the ultimate price for their efforts. The Legion Post in Albion is named for them.

Sophia Zambito highlighted the Barnum brothers – Eugene and William – and their service in WWII. She portrayed their gold star mother, Florence.

Casey Starkweather portrayed Emma Ingersoll who donated the water fountain and bench to Mount Albion Cemetery.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Militello Concrete in Buffalo has been at Bullard Park today pouring concrete for the splash pad. This employee is sealing the concrete this afternoon.

Construction on the Bullard Park improvements started in May. The $800,000 project includes a splash park, amphitheater, utility building with bathrooms and a pavilion.

The village is doing about $800,000 worth of upgrades at the park. The village in December 2016 was awarded a $499,605 state grant for Bullard projects.

The village also received $97,500 from the county and $45,000 from the town of Albion, money that was through a revolving-loan fund that needed to be spent for handicapped accessibility at the park. Those funds will be used for sidewalks to the amphitheater and splash pad, to make them accessible to people in a wheelchair.

The new splash pad is next to the amphitheater. The new facilities will open to the community next year.

The Albion DPW is providing $166,370 of in-kind services as part of Albion’s local share for the state grant. The DPW took down a pavilion and storage building last fall to make way for the new utility building. The DPW also ran a new sewer line across Route 31 near the Bullard entrance. That sewer line will service the park.

The DPW also ran 600 feet of waterline for the splash pad and utility building, several feet of sewer line, and will be doing the electric service for the amphitheater.

Village crews also hauled stone from Barre Stone Products and moved the concrete sections of the retaining wall for the amphitheater.

Titan, a construction company from Gasport, is the general contractor on the project and is expected to soon build the utility building, which will include bathrooms, controls for the splash pad and the pavilion.

Next year, a walking trail that is about ¾-mile will be constructed by the perimeter of the park. The new path will be trail base, similar to the canal towpath, said Gary Katsanis, Albion’s deputy mayor.

“All the pieces are coming together,” Katsanis said today.

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Photos courtesy of Hoag Library

ALBION – Hoag Library announced today that is has the pen used in 1867 to sign the bail bond for Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy.

The pen was given to Rufus Bullock, the governor of Georgia and an Albion native. Davis was captured in Georgia on May 10, 1865. He was taken to Fort Monroe, Virginia. Although he was accused of treason and plotting in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, he was never brought to trial.

After two years in prison, he was released and lived out the rest of his life in relative peace in Biloxi, Mississippi, at the Beauvoir plantation. He died in 1889.

The clerk of a U.S. Circuit Court in Virginia gave the pen to Bullock.

Dee Robinson, a reference librarian Hoag Library, will discuss the pen and how it can into the library’s possession during her monthly “Tea with Dee” historical talk. That will be next Tuesday, Oct. 1., at noon.

Robinson said today the quill still has some ink on the tip.

The pen has been in the library’s possession, likely for over a century. It was listed in an inventory of items, but Robinson said she didn’t see it until April. She wanted to research the history behind the pen before going public about it.

The pen was among many items in the library’s archive that were moved from the former Swan Library to the new Hoag Library in 2012.

Robinson has been going through the archives – many boxes and file folders.

Hoag Library also has the box for the pen used to sign Jefferson Davis’s bail bond.

Impeachment parchment

The pen was donated to the library by Bullock, who died in 1907. He gave the library another prized artifact from the post-Civil War.

When Bullock was governor, he was given an impeachment notice signed by the 126 members of House of Representatives who voted Feb. 24, 1868, to impeach Andrew Johnson for “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Bullock moved back to Albion in his later years and gave the impeachment notice to Swan Library in 1903. The library had only been open for three years at that point. Bullock died at age 73 on April 27, 1907, and is buried near the tower at Mount Albion Cemetery.

For a century that document sat in the attic at Swan Library. Librarians were aware of that piece of history and kept it safe.

But when the community was looking to build a library, Swan leaders thought the impeachment notice might fetch a big dollar and could help get the new building built. Some speculated the document might be worth a million dollars or more.

Library leaders at the time sent a photo of the impeachment parchment and a description to Sotheby’s, the famous international auction house. Its assessment of the document: about $15,000 to $25,000 – a nice sum but library leaders decided it wasn’t a difference maker for the library.

George Washington letter

The pen joins other interesting artifacts in the library’s archives. That includes a letter from George Washington written in May 1784, about five years before he started serving as the first president of the United States. Robinson found the letter in April when she was looking through the archives.

The letter from Washington was written to Jacob Morris, thanking him for taking care of a gift package sent to Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He led American troops in several battles, including Yorktown.

The letter acknowledges correspondence from Morris in regard to the package of Lafayette, and Washington offers to pay the cost of the delivery, and also extends his compliments to Mrs. Morris. Jacob Morris was the son of Lewis Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence.

The Journal-Register in Medina on April 19, 1967 wrote about the letter from Washington, which was being put on display briefly at Swan Library. The Journal-Register reported then that a family in Westchester County owned the letter for about 90 years. Thomas Bell then owned it and presented it to Noah Davis, a justice for the State Supreme Court who was from Albion. (Davis was the judge in the trial that brought down New York City Tammany Hall ringmaster William M. “Boss” Tweed. Judge Davis presided over Tweed’s trials on charges of conspiracy, perjury and larceny.)

After his death, Davis’s wife sent the letter to Emma Swan, the founder of the library with her husband William. Mrs. Swan gave the letter to the library. According the JR article, the letter’s authenticity was established by the Historical Society of New York City and by the Astor Library.

The article from 1967 reports the Washington letter is ordinarily kept in bank vault and only seen by a few people.

While The Journal-Register wrote about the Washington letter, Robinson said today she hasn’t found any previous coverage of the pen used to sign Davis’s bail bond.

Susan B. Anthony letter

Robinson was searching through library files in March and found a 1903 letter from Susan B. Anthony, written to the then Swan Library. (The new Hoag Library opened in July 2012.)

Anthony, the women’s rights activist, was a pivotal leader for women’s suffrage. She wrote to the library to encourage Swan to buy four volumes of the History of Woman Suffrage and also two volumes about the life and work of Susan B. Anthony.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The True Value Family Hardware store in downtown Albion has many posters nailed to the side delivery door. Those posters highlight concerts and other performances in the community during the 1950s.

Fred Miller, owner of the store the past 33 years, has kept the posters up. They have become a little tattered over the years from the being pelted with wind and snow when Miller needs to open the door.

He never considered removing them. He likes the old posters and other metal signs and mementoes from generations ago.

Miller is closing the hardware store. He expects it will be open about two more weeks.

This poster advertises a musical “Rotary in Farce” by the Albion Rotary Club on Feb. 15-16, 1956. The Rotary Club used to do musicals as a fundraiser for the Rotary Community Fund.

This poster advertises a Christmas concert by the Albion Community Chorus on Dec. 22, 1954. The concert benefitted the Orleans County Cancer Fund.

This poster advertises the Fly-In Breakfast at Pine Hill Airport. The breakfast was $2.50 on Oct. 1, 1978. That event still continues and has been going on for more than 50 years.

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