HOLLEY – The recent award-winning rehabilitation of the former Holley High School has been in the news. This postcard from the Orleans County Department of History collection shows the original High School building. (The building that was just rehabbed for $17 million was built in 1930 and 1931. The last class graduated from the school in 1975.)
In 1848, Hiram Frisbee donated a site on Wright Street for the construction of a school. It was operated as a private school for three years and then incorporated as the Holley Academy in 1850.
In 1868, the Academy’s financial problems and an increase in the number of students led to the formation of a Union Free District. An addition to the two-story brick building was completed in 1882 and a remodeling project was undertaken in 1896. The school was formally renamed Holley High School in 1898. It was demolished in 1930 to make way for a new high school.
The Orleans County History Department collection also includes several early Holley High School Alumni programs which indicate that a strong school spirit pervaded, including this program from 1907.
The Fifth Annual Alumni Banquet held at the Village Hall on June 22, 1905 included a formal program of Toasts.
The Banquet menu featured Cold tongue, Egg Croquettes, Cream sauce, Saratoga chips, White and brown bread sandwiches, Olives, Pickles, Coffee, Neapolitan ice cream, Assorted cakes, Salted almonds and Bon bons.
The program concluded with the school song, sung to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 February 2021 at 9:18 am
State paying 75% of project to reinforce wall, upgrade lighting and doors
File photo by Tom Rivers: Sandra Shaw, director of the Community Free Library in Holley, holds a puppet at the library’s puppet theatre in this photo from February 2016. The library will be upgrading a wall, lighting and the front doors at the site.
HOLLEY – The Community Free Library will be upgrading the site at 86 Public Square with a $100,000 project.
The public library has been approved for a $75,000 state library construction grant, said Sandra Shaw, director of the Community Free library.
That will pay 75 percent of the cost to reinforce a wall in 110-year-old building, replace lighting and put in two sets of handicapped accessible doors, one for the front entrance and the other inside the foyer. The library will pay the other 25 percent of the expense.
The wall that will get needed attention is on the back side of the children’s library. A contractor, Tower Construction of Albion, will be excavating, digging a trench and then replacing some of the brick in the wall that had disintegrated, Shaw said.
Tower will rebuild part of the wall, reinforce it and put on waterproofing sealant.
The two sets of doors will be enabled with push buttons. They will make it easier for people in wheelchairs, walkers or who have children in strollers, Shaw said.
“We want to do anything we can to help our patrons get in and out of the building,” she said.
Jedamski Electric will replace the electric fixtures and put in energy-efficient LED lights. Shaw said that will reduce the library’s ongoing electricity costs.
She expects the electric work will be started in about two months and the work on the exterior wall getting started in late spring or summer.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The former Holley High School is pictured on Nov. 10 after developers spent two years in a major overhaul of the property, turning it into 41 apartments for senior citizens and the village offices.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2021 at 1:49 pm
HOLLEY – The stunning rehabilitation of the former Holley High School, a $17 million project that created 41 apartments and the village offices, has won a statewide preservation award.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the recognition this afternoon for the Holley Gardens, which is the name of the repurposed school.
Home Leasing and Edgemere Development teamed up on the project, which won the award for Excellence in Historic Building Rehabilitation.
The school was originally constructed in 1930 and 1931. It was last used as a school in 1975. A manufacturing used a portion of the building before going bankrupt in the mid-1990s. The building then sat vacant for more than two decades, and was frequently targeted by vandals.
Here is how the building looked in May 2018. Contractors removed the trees coming out of the façade, and put back columns in the front, among the many extensive upgrades.
Cuomo, in announcing the award, praised the developers for the “dramatic rehabilitation of the building” that has created 41 affordable housing units for seniors and new office and meeting space for the village government.
Home Leasing and Edgemere utilized both the state Historic Tax Credit and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit programs to assist with the adaptive reuse.
The Holley school was one of 11 honorees announced today by the governor.
“The 2020 New York State Historic Preservation Awards help bolster efforts to keep New York’s storied history protected and accessible to all,” Governor Cuomo said. “These historic projects demonstrate the diversity of lived New York experiences since our state’s founding. New York is thankful to the dedicated stewards of each site, who provide invaluable support by devoting countless hours to the protection of historic sites for all to learn from and enjoy.”
A worker cleans in the stairwell at the former Holley High School on April 1, 2020. Crews were slowed last spring and summer due to restrictions on the size of work crews in the Covid-19 pandemic. The original railings were saved as part of the construction project.
This group from the community tours the school on Oct. 18, 2019 while it was under construction.
Here is how the hallways looked in April 2020 after most of the work was done. The old lockers were included as a decorative touch and to connect to the building’s original use.
Home Leasing turned former classrooms and offices into 41 apartments. Most of those are about 700 to 800 square feet. Many of the apartments include the old chalkboards, which many of the residents use to jot down notes.
Community members in October 2019 tour the auditorium space, which proved a challenge to convert into a meeting room and the village offices. Besides converting the auditorium into offices and meeting space for the Village of Holley, the Home Leasing needed to abate hazardous materials, refurbish and replace windows, repair and replace the roof, and reconfigure some of the interior walls. Two new elevators also were installed as well as new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and sprinkler systems, new water, sewer, electric and gas services, fire alarms and an intercom system.
The main meeting room is pictured in late August, after the village relocated its offices to the space. Home Leasing was able to refurbish about 70 seats from the old auditorium. There are also about 40 seats up in the balcony that are for display and aren’t available to the public.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 January 2021 at 11:36 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Rick Cary, the deputy fire chief for the Murray Joint Fire District, speaks to Holley prekindergarten students on Wednesday when he gave them a virtual tour of the Holley fire house on Thomas Street. Kevin Dann is filming the session, which should be available on the fire department’s website and Facebook page.
Holley and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray firefighters usually do a fire prevention program in-person at the school in October. That was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. The school district also alternates days for students to be in school to reduce the student population, with others fully remote only.
“We still want to send a message about fire prevention,” Cary said about making the video. “This is a trial. Hopefully it worked.”
The firefighters plan to make another video about kitchen safety.
Holley and FHM, which on Jan. 1 began operating as the Murray Joint Fire District, want to stress fire prevention to younger students and also familiarize them with firefighters and their equipment.
Sparky the firedog joined the tour and stressed the ABC’s of fire prevention. (A is for Alarms that let you know there’s a fire in your home. B is for Beep, Beep, Beep the sound a smoke alarm makes. C is for Calm, as in calmly get outside when the smoke alarm sounds.) Click here for more on the ABC’s.
The video shows life in the fire house, and shows Ron Meiers cooking in the kitchen. Cary said the firefighters wanted to show they are regular people.
This group put on their turnout gear. Cary, speaking in the video, told the students they don’t need to be afraid if the see firefighters show up and their homes wearing the thick coats, boats and masks.
Some of these firefighters include Andrew Cary, Justin McMillion and Michael Snell.
Cary talked about some of fire trucks at the Holley fire house. The driver put on the lights and turned on the siren.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2021 at 2:42 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Local firefighters are shown at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday, responding to a fire at 9 Wright St. in the Village of Holley.
Press Release, Rick Cary, deputy fire chief at Murray Joint Fire District
HOLLEY – The Murray Joint Fire District responded for the report of a house fire at 4:54 p.m. on Wednesday at Wright Street in the Village of Holley.
Upon arrival of the fire crews, they found smoke coming from the second story and roof area. The house on Route 31 is utilized for seasonal employees for the local farming community and was vacant at the time of the fire.
The fire was contained to the second story and attic of the structure. Due to the cold weather several mutual aid companies from both Orleans and Monroe counties were called either to the scene or to back fill the Murray fire house.
No injuries were reported during the incident and the fire was determined to be accidental by the Orleans County Fire Investigation Team.
Firefighters credit the on-duty crew of “Engine 372” for the quick response and initial knock down of the fire. Engine 372 is a group of volunteer firefighters that gather at Murray station on Wednesdays to assist all department with additional manpower if needed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 January 2021 at 12:22 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: John Heise gives Holley’s commencement address on June 28, 2014. He was heavily involved with the school district the past 40 years.
HOLLEY – The Holley Board of Education last week gave its approval for a new scholarship in memory of John Heise, who was a long-time school administrator who later served more than a decade on the Board of Education.
Heise, 73, passed away on December 23, 2020. He was fully involved in the community.
“John Heise’s contributions to the Holley Central School District are immeasurable,” said Brian Bartalo, the district superintendent. “From the time he spent here as an administrator starting as the Elementary Principal in 1981, right up until this school year as the vice president of the Board of Education, John’s given so much to the Holley School District and community.”
In addition to serving on the Holley Board of Education, Heise was president of the Holley Rotary Club and a former district governor for Rotary. He also was previously a member of the Holley Village Board and a trustee for the Community Free Library.
He attended numerous school and community events, and liked to brag about Holley students on social media.
The district didn’t set parameters for the scholarship. Heise’s family will work out the details for the selection criteria and the amount of the scholarship. The first scholarship in memory of Heise is expected to be awarded in June at graduation.
“John was a consistent champion for the students of Holley,” Bartalo said. “He was a fixture at all school events from concerts and plays to athletic events and award ceremonies. Through John’s work with the Holley Rotary, he helped many students over the years with scholarships and assistance with whatever was needed, many times, right out of his own pocket. Mr. Heise always wanted the best for the district. He loved and worked on many committees to improve the school system. He also was also Holley’s representative on the Monroe2-Orleans BOCES Board of Education, where he served for well over a decade. John’s generosity and dedication to the students of Holley left a legacy that will never be forgotten.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 January 2021 at 4:11 pm
Projects includes 237 in Murray over canal and 31 in Ridgeway over railroad
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, announced plans the state is working to finalize plans for bridge deck maintenance on two bridges in Orleans County.
One of the projects includes the bridge on Route 237 over the Erie Canal in the town of Murray. The work will be completed either this year or in 2022 depending on public safety factors and contractor resource availability, Hawley said.
The bridge will need to be closed for six weeks as maintenance work takes place, at which point a detour will be established directing motorists to use NY-31, NY-387 and NY-104.
“This maintenance work will help insure this bridge continues to safely serve our community for decades to come, and I am grateful to everybody at the Department of Transportation involved in making this much-needed project a reality,” Hawley said.
The DOT also is planning maintenance work on the bridge deck of the Route 31 bridge over the Falls Road Railroad in the town of Ridgeway, near the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. The work will be completed either this year or in 2022 depending on public safety factors and contractor resource availability, Hawley said.
The bridge will need to be closed for six weeks as maintenance work takes place, at which point a detour will be established directing motorists to use NY-63, NY-31A, and NY-98 . Both lanes of traffic near the bridge will be open during the annual Orleans County 4-H Fair at the end of July.
“I am glad to see that this project will be able to move forward in the near future without disrupting the annual Orleans County 4-H Fair,” Hawley said. “This maintenance work will keep this bridge safe and operational for years to come, and I’m grateful to everyone at the Department of Transportation involved in planning this important project.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 January 2021 at 8:19 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Valerie O’Hara (right), president of Pike Stained Glass, and Chris Grooms set a repaired stained glass window into place at the Holley Presbyterian Church today.
Pike Stained Glass Studios of Rochester was hired to repair two sections of the “Come Unto Me” window, a centerpiece of the church.
The window is believed to have been installed in 1907 when the sanctuary was built. The window is dedicated in memory of George and Sarah Garfield, who were residents of Holley in the late 19th century. The picture of Jesus is based on the “Come Unto Me” painting by Heinrich Hoffman.
Valerie O’Hara sets the window in place. Pike Stained Glass Studios needed to replace broken pieces of the two windows and create a new frame with rebar. The two windows had bulged and there were broken sections of glass.
Pike made new pieces of glass that needed to be painted and reset. The company put in new lead to hold the glass pieces together and created a new frame. Pike also cleaned the larger window depicting Jesus.
The church in 2019 celebrated its 200th anniversary in Holley. Tom Gardner, the church pastor, said the congregation values the stained glass window. It was about a $25,000 project.
“We looked very close at it and we could see it had problems,” Gardner said about the window. “The congregation wanted it to be right and be here for future generations.”
The church this year also expects to complete a $40,000 project on part of the roof.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 January 2021 at 7:10 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Don Welch, a member of the Holley Presbyterian Church, was among the volunteers out this morning, putting away the cutouts of a Nativity scene that were in front of the church on Route 31.
Fred Roeck, left, and Glenn Maxon detach the cutouts from stakes that held them up. The cutouts were then put in the basement and will be out again for the Christmas season in 2021.
Ron Meiers was among the volunteers who took care of the task this morning.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2020 at 8:40 pm
George Bower and John Heise both made a lasting impact and delighted in small-town life
HOLLEY – The Holley community has lost two of its most dedicated leaders with the recent deaths of former County Legislator George Bower and John Heise, a retired Holley school administrator who remained active on the Board of Education and the Rotary Club.
Photos by Tom Rivers: George Bower is pictured in December 2013 at Holley Public Square after a breakfast at Sam’s Diner. He and his wife Sandy raised their four children in Holley and all remained in the community as adults.
Both enjoyed life in a small town and attended numerous school events and community activities.
Bower was at Sam’s Diner almost every morning where he relished being one of the guys. He didn’t want to talk about county business or politics. Instead, it was updates on the grandkids and the Holley sports teams.
Bower passed away at age 83 last week. He had a long career at Kodak and 45 years of local public service, with 21 years as a Murray town justice and 24 years on the County Legislature, including a term as the chairman and six years as vice chairman.
“We remember George as a very dedicated family man,” Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said in leading a moment of silence for Bower during last week’s Legislature meeting. “He also was very involved in the community.”
Heise worked as a Holley school principal. He waited two years after he retired before joining the Holley Board of Education. He was the board president for 9 years. He served on the Library Board and the Village Board. He was Holley’s representative on the board for the Monroe II-Orleans BOCES.
“I know it’s a cliché but I want to give back to the community because the community has been good to me,” Heise told me in an interview in 2013. “It’s a good little community. We love it here.”
John Heise gives Holley’s commencement address on June 28, 2014. He was heavily involved with the school district the past 40 years.
Heise was very active with the Holley Rotary Club and the Rotary District 7090, which includes about 70 Rotary clubs in Western New York and Ontario, Canada. He was district governor in 2011-12. He led Rotary’s youth exchange programs and brought many foreign exchange students to Holley. He delighted in taking them to sites around Western New York, and attended many of their school events as a doting supporter.
Heise passed away on Wednesday at age 73.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the loss of an extraordinarily beloved, irreplaceable member of our Rotary Club and a pillar in the Holley community, Mr. John Heise,” The Holley Rotary Club posted on Facebook today. “John was a selfless soul, always ready to help and give whatever the goal. He was a leader and a friend to all of us. He touched so many lives both here and abroad over the decades and personified the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self,” enriching everyone he came across with a spirit of joy and enlightenment.”
Bower was often outspoken on the County Legislature, willing to cast a lone nay vote. He opposed the effort to sell the county nursing home, for example.
Bower say the nursing home as a source of pride. He often stopped by and visited with residents, especially on the major holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
When the county completed a $10 million expansion and renovation of the nursing home in 2007, Bower proudly led tours of the site.
Bower made friends with the residents, many who seldom were visited because their families are out of town. He offered encouraging words to the staff, who Bower said do the hardest jobs in the county, with the least appreciation.
“I think the workers are special,” Bower told me in an interview back in January 2006. “I understand what they do day in and day out. They make the nursing home the best asset in the county.”
George Bower, left, and Carson Bailey walk through The Villages of Orleans after a $10 million addition and renovation project was complete in 2007. Bower was proud of the nursing home when it was owned by the county.
Bower enjoyed the community, whether the annual bocce tournament at St. Rocco’s Italian Festival the Sunday before Labor Day, snowmobiling on local trails or attending the many sporting events for his grandchildren – Holley soccer, basketball, baseball or softball games.
Bower was proud of his kids. His late son, Ed, worked at Kodak and was a Murray Town Board member for more than 20 years. Randy was a dispatcher before being elected Orleans County sheriff. Mike owns the Erie Way Tree Farm in Clarendon with his wife Jill. Bower’s daughter Lisa Logsdon has run a popular dance studio in the Public Square, Lisa’s Dance Boutique, for more than 40 years.
Bower lived in the Holley area all of his life. He grew up in the Erie Canal hamlet of Brockville, only a few miles from Holley. His wife Sandy grew up nearby in Hulberton. They were married 62 years.
He resisted moving closer to the city for his job at Kodak. Bower worked 48 years for Kodak, starting as a draftsman and working his way up to head of patent researching, a job that took him to Washington, D.C. monthly for more than 25 years. He went to D.C. to the U.S. Patent Office to check patents. He would make sure other companies weren’t infringing on Kodak, and vice versa.
Bower told me in previous interviews that as the town justice he abhorred fines, preferring to assign community service. If teen-ager was in trouble, Bower scheduled appointments were the teens had to meet with him and prove they were doing their homework. But court got busier near the end of Bower’s tenure, and he didn’t have the time to work with some of the troubled teens.
“The job wasn’t as rewarding,” he said.
With the Legislature he quickly found his niche. First off he pushed to start a work crew were welfare recipients would build sidewalks and do other public works for local municipalities. Rather than sitting at home and “wasting time,” Bower said they people on the crews were learning work skills. The program drew attention to the county from throughout the state.
Bower in previous interviews also was pleased with the development of the Holley Business Park, where Holley’s low-cost village electricity was a draw for companies.
Provided photo: John Heise took Milla Steenholdt, Holley’s exchange student from Greenland, to Niagara Falls last year. Milla was at Holley for the 2019-2020 school year. Heise welcomed many of the exchange students at Holley, and took them to many of the popular sites in Western New York, as well as attending many of their athletic events and activities at Holley.
John Heise enjoyed life in Holley, and frequently posted on Facebook about how proud he was of students at Holley Central School. He shared his photos from athletic games, school musicals, concerts and other events.
His daughter, school social worker Samantha Zelent, leads the Interact Cub, which is affiliated with Rotary. Those students tackle numerous community service projects throughout the year and Heise loved to talk them up on Facebook.
Heise was one of Holley’s most enthusiastic cheerleaders, and one of its most dedicated workers.
Heise and his wife Sandy, a retired Albion teacher, were married more than 50 years. Besides Samantha, they have a son, Kevin. The family lived on North Main Street. Heise loved to read the New York Times and a novel from his porch. He often posted book reviews on Facebook, or his thoughts on a news article. He shared his feelings on the emotional roller-coaster ride as a Buffalo Bills fans in recent years.
He came to Holley after 11 years in the Rochester City School District. He was first hired at Holley Elementary School principal and then went to the high school as principal. He ended his career as the district’s Director of Special Education, retiring in 2002.
Heise in his role as Board of Education president congratulated and handed diplomas to about 1,000 students in a decade. He was picked to give the Holley commencement address on June 28, 2014.
“No matter what your path, you have an opportunity to reinvent yourself,” Heise told the graduates. “Keep what is good, get rid of what is not, and move forward. There will always be new skills to learn. Listen to others. Choose your friends wisely. Anything you achieve will come from hard work.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2020 at 6:22 pm
MURRAY – The community can offer input on a proposed comprehensive plan for guiding the town’s land use, and policies and actions for zoning regulations and capital investments.
There will be a 7 p.m. meeting on Monday through Zoom where the community can learn about the plan and offer feedback. Click here for a link to the meeting. The meeting ID is 861 2115 5436, with the passcode, 172412.
An Advisory Committee appointed by the Murray Town Board has been working on preparing the comprehensive plan with assistance from LaBella Associates. Click here to see a draft of the proposed 130-page plan.
The document includes descriptions of existing conditions, analysis of issues, and recommended actions to advance the town’s goals. The plan will help the town publicize its agricultural, natural, historic and scenic assets for beneficial development of compatible businesses and homes.
The plan addresses the following topics:
Land Use
Historic Resources
Population and Housing
Recreational Resources
Economic Vitality
Utilities
Agriculture & Farmland
Transportation
Natural Resources
Public & Community Services
A representative from LaBella Associates will summarize the findings and recommendations and facilitate public comment during the meeting on Monday. The session will be recorded for viewing later.
Following the presentation, those in attendance will be invited to comment. Written comments will be accepted through December 18. Comments can be sent to the Town Clerk via e-mail at clerk@townofmurray.org or by mail to:
Town Clerk, Town of Murray
3840 Fancher Road
Holley, NY 14470
Please call Cindy Oliver, Town Clerk, at (585) 638-6570 with any questions.
Provided photo: Josmar Hernandez (second from left), is pictured with his teacher Crystal Gurney, Weson, Animal Control Officer Airel Ambrose, and Undersheriff Mike Mele.
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office
HOLLEY – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Animal shelter received a large donation from a Holley Elementary student.
Josmar Hernandez, a sixth-grader, has been collecting donations for the past three weeks from staff and students in Holley to give to the Orleans County Animal Shelter.
Josmar’s love for animals, especially dogs, prompted him to start collecting items that the shelter could use. Over 300 items including dog and cat food, toys, bedding, and cat litter are just some of the items that were collected.
Josmar wanted to come to the shelter to visit the animals but due to Covid-19 that currently isn’t allowed.
Undersheriff Michael Mele and Animal Control Officer Airel Ambrose along with friendly dog Weson visited Josmar at the school.
All items donated will be used at the shelter to make the animals have a happy stay while they are waiting to be adopted to a loving family.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 17 November 2020 at 9:33 am
Many volunteers, community members contribute to friendly environment
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Debbie Rothmund, coordinator of the Eastern Orleans Community Center, and volunteers Rachael Escobar and Hunter Rife get desserts ready for lunch at the Holley Center.
HOLLEY – Whether providing free holiday food boxes or a free lunch, or just offering a place for friendly conversation, the Eastern Orleans Community Center is a vibrant program of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.
The center, led by coordinator Debbie Rothmund, provides a variety of services to the community, including an emergency food pantry, daily meals, free holiday food baskets, free clothing, family development/case management services, public access to computers with internet and more.
With all this, many of the people who visit the center, like a woman named Patti, come every day for the socialization.
“And the food is always good,” she said.
The Eastern Orleans Community Center partners with several local agencies to fight poverty and hunger on the eastern end of the county. These include FEMA Pro, St. Vincent de Paul from Rochester, Food Link and The Salvation Army.
National Honor Society students from Holley High School volunteered to put boxes together last week at the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley. The boxes were packed with food for Thanksgiving dinner for families in the Holley area.
Annette Finch, director of emergency services at Community Action, praised the cooperation from local organizations and people, such as the National Honor Society members at Holley High School. Last week they came to the center to fold boxes and help give out 60 Thanksgiving food boxes.
“We do it every year,” said high school senior Julia Buck.
Senior Kasey DeFrank said she likes to do it to help the community.
Rod Skehan, local treasurer for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, said they have been involved for 40 years. They had always done some drive at Thanksgiving at their church, but with change in the laws, they now partner with the Community Center to provide Thanksgiving dinner to needy families.
“Through donations to our society, we are able to purchase turkeys, milk and bread to distribute to the families,” he said. “We utilize the Honor Society to tie it in with the community.”
Julie Tranello, standing, a volunteer at the Eastern Orleans Community Center, talks with center coordinator Debbie Rothmund in the dining room.
Finch said it is amazing what Rothmund does at the center. They average 750 meals a month, serving daily at 11:30 a.m. They play bingo on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
“Through the pandemic shutdown, we never stopped,” Rothmund said. “We did take-outs instead.”
Rothmund, who has been at the Community Center for almost 20 years, also makes regular phone calls to the shut-ins to make sure they are alright.
The food pantry serves 60 families a month and food distributions benefit 600 households annually.
Patty’s Boutique next door provides free clothing, all of which is donated, to anyone. Volunteer Julie Tranello works at the boutique. The Center’s affiliation with The Salvation Army helps people facing eviction, utility shutoffs or needing prescriptions.
Carol Pietrzykowski, seated, new fiscal director at Community Action, enjoys lunch at the Eastern Orleans Community Center. Talking to her, from left, are Community Action’s director of emergency services, Annette Finch, and volunteers Maria Fernandez and Kerri Glover from Maison Albion.
The center is always looking for volunteers, such as Kerri Glover, new owner of Maison Albion (formerly the Pillars) on County House Road in Albion, and her venue coordinator Maria Fernandez. Kerri, her husband Cole and son Benjamin, 12, visited the center last week, where Kerri volunteered to help serve lunch.
After purchasing the Pillars, the Glovers were looking for a non-profit agency to support, and she learned about Community Action. After meeting with Finch, she asked where she could volunteer. Maison Albion is planning a grand opening celebration on Dec. 12 and will be doing a fundraiser for Community Action at that event, which will be in-person and virtual.
The Eastern Orleans Community Center welcomes all residents. Finch’s invitation is to “Stop by, meet our friendly staff, get answers to your questions, have a cup of coffee, play a game of cards or bingo or just have fun.”
The Center is located at 75 Public Square in Holley.
Annette Finch, left, director of emergency services at Community Action, opens a pizza for lunch at the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley. Looking on is center coordinator Debbie Rothmund. Hunter Rife, at right, comes every day to volunteer.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The former Holley High School received $17 million in renovations. The building was last used as a school in 1975. After two years of construction, Home Leasing has the building fully occupied with 41 apartments and the Holley village offices.
Posted 10 November 2020 at 7:19 pm
Building sees dramatic renovation with 41 apartments, Holley village offices
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the completion of a $17 million substantial rehabilitation of the historic former Holley High School in the village of Holley in Orleans County. Now known as Holley Gardens, the building offers 41 affordable homes for seniors with public meeting space and offices for use by the village of Holley.
“As New York builds back better, we are steadfast in our commitment to providing safe and affordable housing to our vulnerable populations,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Holley Gardens housing builds upon our strategic investments in communities across the state and in the Finger Lakes region and will provide 41 affordable homes for New York’s seniors. We have a responsibility to protect and support our seniors and new developments like Holley Gardens will provide crucial housing opportunities to those who need it most.”
“Every New Yorker deserves the warmth and security of a roof over their heads and supportive services they need,” Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said. “This $17 million project included a significant rehabilitation of a vacant high school that will provide over 41 affordable homes for our older New Yorkers, including supportive services for individuals with physical disabilities. New York is committed to investing in projects like these to help ensure fairness and enhanced quality of life while continuing to build back better, stronger and more inclusive for the future.”
Governor Cuomo’s commitment to strengthening communities and growing the Finger Lakes economy is reflected in “Finger Lakes Forward,” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. Since 2011, HCR has invested over $639 million in the Finger Lakes Region that has created or preserved nearly 7,700 homes.
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, front center, cut the ribbon for the project at a celebration this afternoon. Front row, from left, include Ed Morgan, representing Satte Sen. Rob Ortt; Nelson Leenhouts, Chairman of Home Leasing and Home Leasing Construction; Wayne Goodman, executive director of the Landmark Society of WNY; State Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul; County Legislator John DeFilipps ( a member of the Holley Class of 1975, the last to graduate from the old school); former Holley Mayor Brian Sorochty; and current Mayor Kevin Lynch, also a member of Holley’s Class of 1975. Back row: Charlie Oster, development manager for Edgemere Development; George DeRue, Home Leasing’s vice president of historical preservation and construction manager for the project; Bret Garwood, CEO of Home Leasing; Connie Nenni, Holley village trustee; John Kenney, former Holley mayor; Kim Russell, Home Leasing attorney.
Originally constructed in 1931, the three-story Neo-Classical brick building served as the village’s high school until the mid-1970s. It sat unused in the decades since closing. After careful rehabilitation, including the preservation of original architectural details, Holley Gardens now offers 41 affordable apartments for New Yorkers aged 55 and up.
The school’s original auditorium was kept largely intact to be used as a public meeting space for the village’s board meetings and other public forums. The area beneath the balcony was renovated to house the village’s administrative offices.
Building amenities for residents include a community room, Energy Star appliances, air conditioning, and laundry facilities, along with outdoor space. Located in the heart of the Holley’s downtown, Holley Gardens is within walking distance to the village’s library, restaurants, churches, and retail.
Seven of the apartments will be available for households where at least one member is a person with a physical disability who will have access to supportive services provided by Independent Living of Genesee Region. The developer is Home Leasing in partnership with Edgemere Development.
State financing for the $17 million development includes federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated a total of $6.8 million in equity and $4.1 million in subsidy from HCR. The project received federal and state Historic Tax Credits that generated $6.4 million in equity allocated by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Empire State Development provided $1 million through the Restore NY program and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority provided $41,000.
HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Holley Gardens serves a dual purpose of providing 41 much-needed affordable homes for older New Yorkers and rehabilitating a historic building in the heart of the village. The state’s investment to carefully preserve the historic architecture will breathe new life into Holley’s historic district, create a more walkable and active streetscape for the building’s residents, and show that the Finger Lakes economy is reopen for business and moving forward.”
State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “It is rewarding to see a historic landmark in the village get new life as affordable housing for senior citizens. The project is the first time the Historic Tax Credit program has been used in the village of Holley, which now joins communities across the state in successfully transforming underutilized buildings to create much-needed housing and business opportunities, and preserve local heritage.”
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul attended today’s ribbon-cutting celebration. She said the project shows the state is committed to bringing resources to small towns.
Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and CEO & Commissioner-designate Eric Gertler said, “Holley Gardens is a prime example of New York State’s creative approach to community development through our Restore NY program. By transforming a long-vacant school into a vibrant residential development for seniors, this public-private partnership revitalized an underutilized local facility to serve the current needs of the Holley community.”
Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt said, “Holley Gardens will be a wonderful addition to the Village of Holley and for our senior residents who are seeking a new, yet affordable, place to call home. By renovating the already existing Holley High School, New York State and private partners have found a way to reutilize the Village of Holley’s landmarks for community residents. I am proud to have worked with tremendous local officials to secure state funding and make this project a reality.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley said, “Holley Gardens is another example of the creativity, hard work, and dedication that the people of Western New York have. With this development, the opportunity to give more of our senior citizens comfortable, affordable housing in the village of Holley shows yet another way our communities continue to give back and support each other. I look forward to seeing the complex be filled, and seeing the wonderful life our neighbors can bring to it.”
Mayor Kevin Lynch said, “In a five-year period, the old high school has been transformed into senior housing and new space for the village offices and public meetings. This is a great change for the village of Holley. Thanks to Home Leasing, Edgemere Development and everyone who worked to make this project a reality.”
Chairperson Orleans County Legislature Lynne M. Johnson said, “Thanks to the hard work and commitment of so many, Holley Gardens is the first adaptive reuse to offer affordable senior homes, municipal offices and communal space for the benefit of all who live and work in Orleans County. The spectacular redevelopment of the former high school is the finest example of public and private partners working together to sustainably preserve and enhance smaller communities with historical assets.”
CEO of Home Leasing Bret Garwood said, “We are thrilled to be part of the transformation of the long abandoned historic Holley High School into Holley Gardens. With this project, we are helping to address the critical need for affordable housing for seniors and are part of creating a vibrant village. I am grateful to all our partners including New York State Homes and Community Renewal, the Village of Holley, and Edgemere Development, who have offered their expertise and dedication throughout the entire process.”
Founder of Edgemere Development John Oster said, “Many thought there was no hope or use for this beautiful former school. The completion of this successful project was due to the willpower and collaboration of Edgemere, Home Leasing, the Village of Holley and County of Orleans, NYS Homes and Community Renewal, Key Bank, and our other public and private partners. Holley Gardens is now a welcoming home for our seniors and critical Village offices.”
Executive Director of The Landmark Society of Western New York Wayne Goodman said, “This impressive and collaborative project converted a problematic liability into a true community asset, and by doing so, saved an irreplaceable historic building that has played such a formative role in Holley’s past. With the end result providing quality housing and enhancing Holley’s commercial district, this project is a prime example of how historic preservation elevates our communities across New York.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 October 2020 at 6:43 pm
Photos courtesy of Melissa Ierlan
HOLLEY – This new historical marker was installed today at 35 South Main Street. It notes the site was once a “Safe House” and the home of Chauncey Robinson, who lived from 1792-1866.
Robinson was an Orleans County pioneer and an abolitionist. He sheltered escaped slaves at this site as part of the Underground Railroad.
The sign was funded by Roy Bubb, James Robinson, the Orleans County Historical Association and the Orleans County Historian’s Department under Matt Ballard.
The other side of the marker notes the location is the “Brainerd Home,” which was built by Col. Ezra Brainard, inventor of Brained Truss Bridge. He was a contractor on the Erie Canal who built the Sandy Creek embankment in Holley.
Local historians have long suspected there were houses in Orleans County on the Underground Railroad, which was a secret network of trails and homes. But there wasn’t documentation to back it up, until Clarendon Historian Melissa Ierlan found a letter from Robinson’s grandson.
In the lengthy letter, the grandson details visiting his grandfather, who took him up to the second floor of the back side of the house. The grandfather pulled back a curtain, and there was a group of escaped slaves on beds.
More research showed that Robinson was in fact an outspoken abolitionist,.
This is the second historical marker in Orleans County about African-American history. Medina in April 2015 unveiled a marker on Main Street in recognition of two speeches delivered in the community by Frederick Douglass, a leading abolitionist.
The Holley marker highlights a local resident advocating for escaped slaves.
The Holley marker is two-sided with one side highlighting Robinson and the Underground Railroad, and the other side noting the work of Ezra Brainard, who built Robinson’s home and oversaw construction of the canal embankment over Sandy Creek.
