Lyndonville/Yates

Historian highlights newspaper that served Lyndonville community from 1907 to 1962

Posted 3 April 2022 at 9:00 am

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans – Vol. 2, No. 13

LYNDONVILLE – We continue our exploration of the history of the Town of Yates in anticipation of the upcoming Bicentennial celebrations.

Charles R. Burnette, a Civil War veteran, and experienced printer from Ulster County, considered that the Town of Yates would provide a suitable market for his newspaper and printing business.

The first issue of the Lyndonville Enterprise, a weekly newspaper, consisted of four pages, was published on September 5, 1907, in the upper floor of a rented building on the corner of Riverside Street and Main Street. Just eight months later, a disastrous fire on May 18, 1908, caused by a gasoline explosion in the basement, destroyed the building and printing equipment. Mr. Burnette and his wife, who were at work in the building at the time, narrowly escaped with their lives.

Undaunted, the Burnettes continued, and printed from temporary locations until they established a permanent location on Riverside Street. Charles Burnette passed away in 1922, his wife Susan continued the Enterprise with the assistance of Mr. Leonard Reingruber. Joseph Giampapa, who came to Lyndonville from Passaic, N.J. operated the paper for fifteen years and it ceased publication in 1962.

The Lyndonville Enterprise, which was the official town and village paper, provides a historical record of a rural community in an era of change, with a wealth of information for local and social historians as well as for genealogists. The newspaper was the “social medium” of its time, its focus on local news assured its popularity. The tone was straightforward and civil: political and religious controversies were avoided, improvements were encouraged.

The Orleans County Historian’s Dept. has access to several issues of the paper, including the April 5, 1923, issue, almost one hundred years ago. Local news was strategically featured on the front and back pages of this eight-page issue. Subscription rates were: $2 for 12 months, $1 for 6 months and 50 cents per issue. The masthead also noted that the population of Orleans County was 33,341, and the population of Lyndonville and Yates was 1,040.

The Village – Vicinity – Variety section was the focus of the front page. Items of interest from the April 5, 1923, edition include:

• The bill for closing the season on black, grey and fox squirrels was passed and signed by Gov. Smith on March 12.

• Orleans County supervisors have purchased two stone quarries, one in Murray and the other near Knowlesville, from which to take stone for constructing county highways.

• Lyndonville Fire Company elected the following officers: Edward Barry, President; John Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer; Frank Conley, Chief Engineer; Edward Barry, foreman of the Hose Company; E.M. Hill, foreman of the Hook and Ladder Company; Neil Toms, foreman of the chemicals.

This advertisement was included in April 5, 1923 edition of the Lyndonville Enterprise.

• The wedding of Miss Hester Ives to Frank Hill of Albion took place at the home of the bride’s parents at high noon, March 31, Rev. H.G. Stacey officiating. Prenuptial events included a variety shower, a crystal shower, a kitchen shower, and a grocery shower.

• The dates for the Lyndonville Redpath Chautauqua are June 18-23

• The Lyndonville Grange plans to discuss “Apples” at their April 7 meeting.

• A long Personal Pointers column detailed the main social news of the day: who visited whom, who came home for Easter, who was sick, who was recovering.

• Church Notes listed dates and times of services for the forthcoming Sunday, as well as sermon and discussion topics:

“The Christian Motive in Recreation” – Topic of discussion for the Epworth League of the Methodist Episcopal Church meeting.

“Our Unfinished Knowledge” – Topic of the morning worship service at the Presbyterian Church

“Post-Easter Beatitudes of Faith” – Yates Baptist Church Sunday sermon topic.

A report of a meeting of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Church, noted that Miss Grace Leslie of Albion, who was scheduled to sail to China in August, gave an interesting talk and was given a reception and shower.
A side column dealt with Special Notices which were also local.

Items Wanted: Home sewing, 25 Plymouth Rock hens.

For Sale: Goose eggs and Toulouse ganders, a few cords hard slab wood, a one-horse spring wagon and heavy single harness, a good 8-year-old cow due in April, my house and lot at Yates Center.

Wanted: Men, both American and foreign, for steady work, nine to ten hours during the day, twelve hours at night at The Carborundum Company, Niagara Falls.

Milk: Customers, please take notice: Starting Sunday April 1, your milk will be delivered earlier. Put the bottles out the night before. Cows tested and free from tuberculosis. Price: quarts 10 cents, pint: 6 cents.

• The last page of the Enterprise included reports of social happenings from the rural areas had submitted by correspondents. Items of note included:

West Lyndonville: Floyd Amos has moved on to Frank Wards’ s farm at Oak-Orchard-on-the Ridge.

George Dunham and family have moved onto the Mrs. Flower farm on the Lyndonville Road.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Manley and family have moved onto the Frank Waring farm and Herbert Rouse has moved onto Frank Lott’s farm.

• The inside pages, 2-7 contained a variety of articles pertaining to national and state issues, including:

A summary of the week’s operations on the New York Stock Market, an article on Army Air Services Forest Patrol and its role in fire prevention, an article on the negative reaction to steam power and railways in the early 1600’s in England: A meeting of ministers in Manchester denounced the railway as being contrary to the law of God and predicted that it would prevent cows from grazing, hens from laying and cause pregnant women to have premature births, horses would be useless, hay and oats unsaleable, country inns would be ruined, boilers would burst and blow passengers sky high.

• There were many local advertisements as well as several from Rochester businesses. A serialized fiction offering, in this instance: Val of Paradise, provided some light entertainment to round out the fare.

Medina, Lyndonville won’t continue shared programs, including musical and soccer

Photo by Tom Rivers: Elizabeth Whipple of Lyndonville, right, is Cinderella and Danielle Schmidt of Medina is the Fairy Godmother during Lyndonville and Medina’s production of Cinderella last week in Lyndonville. The school districts have had a shared high school musical program for about a decade but that arrangement will end after this school year.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 1 April 2022 at 5:49 pm

MEDINA – In an announcement this week, the Medina School District Board of Education has decided to discontinue shared programs with the Lyndonville School District.

Medina superintendent Mark Kruzynski said the two schools first combined for musicals and football during a recession in 2011-12.

“Lyndonville was looking to participate in football, and Medina had already cut musicals out of the budget,” said Kruzynski, who was high school principal at the time. “We discussed combining with Lyndonville for musicals and football.”

That arrangement would eventually extend to boys and girls soccer and swimming, and track for a time.

Lyndonville joined with Barker and Roy-Hart for football the past two seasons.

The main reason for going on their own now is because Medina has renovated the high school auditorium, with staging, sound system and lighting.

“We want to bring the musicals back into our district,” Kruzynski said. “It’s been a great relationship all along.”

He said going forward each school will do their own production.

“The cooperation has been great, but it’s time to move forward,” Kruzynski said. “We have a new teacher anxious to do musicals.”

Sharon Smith, interim superintendent of Lyndonville Central School, agreed the relationship has been very good and mutually beneficial.

“We are grateful for the partnership,” Smith said. “It’s been wonderful working with our neighbors, but Lyndonville will now move forward with our boys and girls soccer programs and musicals.”

She said she was advised of Medina’s decision ahead of time and is working with another neighbor for girls soccer.

“We are also looking forward to continuing a spectacular musical program in Lyndonville under the leadership of Jennifer Trupo, Kelly Follman, Eric Villalta and Dan Dragula,” Smith said.

She said students will continue to do community events together.

“This will all be good,” Smith said.

Business owners adapted to survive during past 2 years of pandemic

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 29 March 2022 at 8:29 am

‘The last 2 years have been an overall story about how the community came together to get through a challenging time.’

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Brody Hoffmeister, owner of Rudy’s Restaurant in Medina, shows a picture on his phone of the tables set up in the parking lot for dining during the pandemic.

Two years ago near the middle of March, life became a standstill. The pandemic not only inconvenienced the entire population and afflicted many, it wreaked havoc on businesses, forcing some to shut down and others to adapt to remain in service.

In Medina, when the pandemic hit Brody Hoffmeister, 25, had just taken over the family restaurant, Rudy’s, after his mother Kelly Russo passed away.

“I was just starting to move forward,” Hoffmeister said. “I didn’t have a plan, but I knew what worked.”

At the time, Rudy’s employed 25 people. Now they are down to 10.

“The pandemic changed the game,” he said. “It’s pretty hard to move forward in a world where everything is against you.”

Rudy’s closed on March 21, 2020.

With the help of his brother, sister, wife, dad and his girlfriend and five or six employees, Rudy’s re-opened April 1 with shorter hours and a downscaled staff.

Hoffmeister came in at 5 a.m. to unload trucks, stock the steam table and set up for the day before manning the grill. The restaurant was open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for takeout only.

“I used all the analytics Mom left me,” Hoffmeister said. “I figured where I could cut corners, but if it wasn’t for my family, I’d never have survived.”

Next, Hoffmeister, who had been planning to redo the restaurant in retro similar to when his grandparents were there, set up the tables in the parking lot and rented parking space at the former Moose building.

“This was personal to me,” he said. “I was not only fighting for my business, but for all the childhood memories of growing up here. There were days I wanted to give up. This has been a humbling thing.”

Hoffmeister said they lost a lot of customers, but persevered. He got an economic disaster loan to buy food.

“That’s what saved me,” he said.

Then they started to offer Door Dash, a third-party company which delivers the food.

“I cook and package it and they deliver if for a percent of the cost,” he said.

On Friday nights Hoffmeister said they used to go through 150 pounds of fish, but during the pandemic, the number dropped to 70 pounds.

“We were at 50 percent of capacity, but we kept going,” he said.

On June 11, 2020, they re-opened for indoor dining at 50 percent capacity.

It wasn’t until May 2021 Rudy’s was able to open at full capacity, and then with shorter hours and less employees. Visit our website.

The Shirt Factory Café across the street from Rudy’s was on a high, having just won the Best Bloody Mary at the Riverfront in Buffalo, when everything went down, said Alix Gilman, who owns the Shirt Factory with husband Scott Robinson.

“It was such a turbulent time for the whole community. Advisories and mandates changed by the moment,” Gilman said. “No one knew if and when we would reopen.”

Robinson said Double Dips Ice Cream had just received their opening supply of ice cream and were going to be stuck with it, so the Shirt Factory stepped in and bought that ice cream.

“We went online to offer takeouts and immediately added their ice cream to our menu,” Gilman said. “We soon got rid of their pints, saving them from a loss. There was not a business in this town that wasn’t supportive.”

The biggest issue for the Shirt Factory was when they could reopen on a limited basis, they were so small they couldn’t provide spaced-out seating.

Jaye Sullivan from Blissett’s in Medina shows some of the gowns in her shop. While weddings were called off during the pandemic, prom dresses still sold, she said.

“There was no way we could open and had to stay completely closed,” Gilman said. “Scott and I both had other jobs and we couldn’t leave the responsibility to employees. It was such a divisive time.”

Their bar was able to be open in summer, but it would more than a year before they could reopen like normal.

Blissett’s Specialty Shop on Main Street in Medina closed completely for two months, then reopened on June 1, 2020. It was uncertain how much business a shop would do which sold wedding and prom dresses, when proms and bigger weddings were canceled.

No one knew everything would be closed, said Blissett’s owner Jaye Sullivan.

When she closed the day after St. Patrick’s Day, she thought it would be for a couple of weeks or maybe a month.

“So I didn’t panic,” she said.

People still got married in small ceremonies and although there were no proms, they still ordered prom dresses.

At first there were no shipping problems. Sullivan said the prom companies ordered fabric in March to cut for the following year. Anyone trying to buy a prom dress that following March found slim buying, she said, but bridal companies just kept making gowns.

“Last year was one of the busiest for wedding gowns in five years,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan opened for appointments only and posted merchandise online. She said people would order online, pay for it by credit card and then she would bag the order and set it in the doorway for them to pick up. Now she does all her formal wear by appointment only.

Furniture and appliance dealers soon felt the impact of the pandemic.

Frenchy Downey, who runs Frenchy’s TV and Appliances on Ridge Road in Albion, said this was the most difficult and challenging time since he went into business in 1964.

“I got down to only five appliances in my store,” Downey said. “People were calling me from out of state looking for appliances. It was two and a half months before I could get a thing, and now I can’t get parts.”

He said the situation is really serious, and he has never seen prices go up as fast as they are now.

“It used to be the companies who made appliances also made the parts, and then they started outsourcing them,” Downey said. “They found parts could be made cheaper in other countries, but when the pandemic hit, they couldn’t ship them. Now they are shipping them and there’s no labor to unload them, so they sit on a boat in the harbor.”

Downey recently took apart a range and found parts made in five different countries.

“The whole business is coming to a ‘whoa,’ and I don’t see it improving,” he said.

Amy Sidari, owner of Gotta Dance Studio and the Cabaret at Studio B in Albion, stands in her newly remodeled studio nearing the end of the pandemic’s restrictions.

When the order to close was issued, Amy Sidari of Gotta Dance and the Cabaret at Studio B in Albion thought it would be for one to two weeks.

“I never imagined it would be October 2020 before I could open back up,” she said.

In the meantime, she began posting games, puzzles and dances online for her students to keep active and connected.

Then she opened a chat room for parents and children. In June 2020, when she still couldn’t hold classes or recitals in her studio, Sidari planned a recital on the front lawn of her home. Parents parked in around the lawn and watched from their cars. She spray painted lines on the grass to keep students separated as they danced.

“I just wanted to do something for fun and get the kids moving,” Sidari said.

When she was allowed to open on a limited basis, Sidari devised a program at her studio where she divided a room into compartments each family could share and do exercises. She invited in speakers from various areas, such as exercise, makeup techniques, art lessons and journalism to educate her students in small groups.

As she was able to slowly ease into the theater scene, she planned small cabaret sessions for 15 guests.

Now finally able to return to normal, Sidari is operating out of three studios, but she keeps classes small and still insists on using sanitizer.

Marc Shurz

The pandemic hit the medical field particularly hard.

“The last two years have been an overall story about how the community came together to get through a challenging time,” said Marc Shurtz, CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health. “Area businesses donated food, personal protective equipment, N95 masks and more to our team at the hospital, while front line workers fought through fear to provide care back to the community.

“There were many difficult decisions that needed to be made over that period, but limiting visitation was and is one of the hardest. While we’ll continue to focus on the health and well-being of our team, patients and the community, we’re also looking forward to the day we can put all of these limitations aside.”

“Providing ease and comfort to the community was our priority, and we did so by conducting more than 30,000 Covid-19 tests over the last two years,” said Nikki Helsdon, practice manager of the Albion Healthcare Center.”

Albion altered operations by adapting to Covid-19, Helsdon said.

“We met demands while also making sure we provided comfort to our patients and the community,” she said. “We installed a drive-thru shed to avoid possible exposure to the public. Our employees bravely conducted the testing through all kinds of weather and shortage of staffing, due to the pandemic. The public was able to schedule over the phone, drive up, get swabbed and results were called to them within the hour.”

Helsdon said their workload changed significantly, due to high demand of calls, tests and state reporting, not including scanning and charting.

“We are happy to say we made it through over 30,000 tests and will be there for the public at any time they may need us,” she said. “As overall numbers have continued their steady decline, we’ve been able to place more focus on everyone’s overall health and wellness.”

Yates Academy was thriving center of learning in Lyndonville

Posted 27 March 2022 at 4:17 pm

In 47 years school served more than 2,000 students

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans – Vol. 2, No. 12

Photo of bell from Yates Academy courtesy of the Lyndonville Central School District.

YATES – The sonorous sounds of this brass bell sounded out across the quiet countryside of the Town of Yates, summoning boisterous students to the renowned Yates Academy, or sounding the end of class.

Now housed in the entrance hall of the Lyndonville Elementary School, it is a tangible reminder of that once thriving seat of learning which was located north of the village of Lyndonville, on the west side of Route 63.

In the early 1800s, district schools offered grade school education. Secondary level education was provided by privately owned, fee-paying schools, known as academies.

The first Academy in the county was established in Gaines in 1827. Subsequently, academies were established in Albion, Millville, Medina and Holley.

Peter Saxe, a merchant originally from Vermont, is credited with the establishment of the Yates Academy in the Town of Yates. He assembled a Board of Trustees, solicited subscriptions, and laid the plans for the building which was constructed in 1841 of locally hewn wood.

The Yates Academy was incorporated by the New York State Board of Regents in August of 1842. Members of the first Board of Trustees included: Peter Saxe, Thomas Jewett, Richard Barry, James Parmelee, John L. Lewis, B.H. Gilbert, Gen. Grosvenor Daniels, James Lum, Chester Brost, Joel Parsons, Warren Chase and Joseph Cady.

The school proved popular from the beginning. Enrollment the first year was 161 – 81 female students and 80 male. By the fourth year, enrollment had reached 338.

Most students were from Orleans or neighboring counties, but there were also some from Vermont, New York City, Michigan and Canada. They were housed in a nearby boarding-house which was run by the teachers. Some students boarded with local families with boarding cost $1.25 to $1.50 per week.

Postcard images of the Yates Academy

The academic year consisted of three terms of 14 weeks each. Tuition costs varied from $3 to $6, depending on the courses taken. Courses such as music, oil painting, etc. cost extra.

The Academy’s library housed some 500 books and the science laboratory was well equipped.

It was an ambitious undertaking. The logistics of providing food, fuel and furnishings for staff and students must have been a challenge. In addition, the staff were responsible for the physical and moral welfare of the students.

Tuition rates from the 1853 Academy catalog

The teachers were suitably accomplished. Prof. Charles Fairman taught ancient languages, mathematics and German. His wife taught modern languages, English, drawing and painting. Algernon Shattuck of Medina, who wrote textbooks on the Spencerian form of handwriting, instructed students in that then highly regarded skill.

Students were prepared for college or for becoming teachers. The Academy’s philosophy was that the purpose of education was not the storage of facts, but the development of one’s power of reasoning. “Composition” and “Declamation” – essay writing and public speaking were emphasized. Students were encouraged to be aware of their future roles as responsible citizens. Many pursued successful careers as lawyers and politicians.

One can imagine that the addition of over one hundred lively teenage secondary school students must have greatly enlivened the surrounding rural area. Students would have been visible each day as they walked to and from school and on Sundays as they attended obligatory religious services. There would have been a flurry of horses and buggies at the beginning and ending of each term when students were dropped off or picked up.

The Union School Act of 1853 signaled the beginning of the end for the private academies. The legislation allowed the formation of locally funded school districts comprised of several elementary schools and one high school, thus students could attend a public local high school.

Enrollment at the Yates Academy declined and it closed in 1889, having provided an excellent standard of education for 47 years to over two thousand students.

The building stood abandoned for several years. It was dismantled in 1916 and all but the pillars and roof were transported by rail to Johnson City in Broome County and used in the construction of a dormitory at the Practical Bible Training School.

Textbooks used at the Yates Academy

According to an article in the Johnston City Record of Feb. 26, Rev. S.S. Lewis, then pastor of the Yates Baptist Church, was a past pupil of the Bible School. He informed John A. Davis, President of the Bible School of the Academy building and its illustrious past.

Under the terms of the deed, the school building reverted to the original owners when it was no longer used. The heirs, Mrs. Mary P. Davison and Miss Elmira Davison, readily consented to allowing the school to be dismantled and reused for this purpose.

“The timbers were in a fine state of preservation, all the framing being massive and put together with pins. Few nails were used in the structure and for that reason little harm was done to the timbers in dismantling it.”

The Bible Training School has since expanded, it is now known as Davis College. Its website indicates that new and modern facilities have replaced the original buildings.

Legislators authorize emergency replacement to Townline Road culvert, but could take months

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 March 2022 at 7:33 am

YATES – The Orleans County Legislature has authorized an emergency replacement of the culvert on Yates-Carlton Townline Road over Johnson Creek.

The culvert suffered a structural failure on Feb. 20 due to high water flow in the creek. The culvert – a corrugated pipe – already was rotted on the bottom, said John Papponetti, the county’s DPW commissioner and engineer.

The fast-moving water pushed the pipe, and caused a shoulder to collapse. That instability has now spread to near the center line of the road, Papponetti said.

He wants the culvert to be replaced with precast concrete. There is currently a shortage of materials which could keep that section of the road closed for a few months. Or there is a chance the county could locate an available precast concrete culvert the right size.

“There is no set schedule,” Papponetti told county legislators on Wednesday. “We’re getting the survey work done to properly size the culvert.”

The emergency designation from the Legislature allows Papponetti and county officials “to procure all materials, labor and equipment necessary to complete the work in an expedited manner.”

Jacobs meets with locals officials and touts broadband funding for Orleans

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 March 2022 at 12:33 pm

Congressman decries Biden leadership on many issues

Photo by Tom Rivers: Congressman Chris Jacobs speaks Tuesday evening during the Orleans County Association of Municipalities meeting at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.

LYNDONVILLE – Congressman Chris Jacobs praised Orleans and Niagara officials for doing the groundwork in identifying broadband internet gaps and pricing out the cost to bring the service. He was able to secure $3,877,500 in broadband funding.

That money was approved as part of $1.5 trillion omnibus package approved by the House of Representatives on March 10.

The two counties have worked about a decade to bring high-speed internet to rural areas in the two counties.

“This was an easy one because of the all the work Orleans and Niagara did,” Jacobs said on Tuesday while speaking at the monthly meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities.

The two counties initially were going to use federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for the project, which totaled about $8 million in the two counties.

Orleans on July 28, 2021 accepted a $3,608,435 bid to make high-speed internet available for the current 1,351 address points that can’t connect to the service.

But with the money from Jacobs in the omnibus bill, Orleans and Niagara can use more of their ARPA funds for other purposes.

Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, said the Orleans share of the $3,877,500 will free up ARPA money that will instead go to upgrading infrastructure – roads and bridges – in the county. She is waiting to see the Orleans breakdown of the $3,877,500, but it is expected to be close to half of the funds.

“He’s been a huge supporter of Orleans County,” Johnson said about Jacobs. “We can’t have done (broadband) without federal money.”

The funding in the omnibus bill also included $379,432 for the Cornell Cooperative Extension to develop an Ag/Tech Community Response & Learning Center in Orleans County. That project will be at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Jacobs said the program will help bring up a new generation of farmers who need to tech-savvy in growing crops and caring for animals.

“Getting students engaged in agriculture at a young age in critically important,” he said.

Jacobs also noted his recent appointment to the House Education and Labor Committee. He also is a member of the Agriculture and Ways and Means committees.

Jacobs, during his message to the Orleans officials, faulted the President Biden Administration for a crisis at the Southern border, a crisis with energy, an inflation crisis and a crime crisis.

“If I could use one word to describe the Biden Administration it’s crisis,” Jacobs said.

Lyndonville and Medina students performing Cinderella

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 March 2022 at 9:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Elizabeth Whipple stars as Cinderella and Amir Huzair as Prince Christopher in Lyndonville and Medina’s production of Cinderella.

Shows are 7 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Stroyan Auditorium at Lyndonville Central School, 77 Housel Ave. Tickets are available at the door or online by clicking here.

Jennifer Trupo, director of the musical, said she is pleased the students can perform without masks and in front of a live audience.

The cast includes many younger students and there are many iconic female roles.

“It’s a family-friendly show that will be very attractive to audiences especially after all the junk of the past two years,” Trupo said.

Danielle Schmidt is the Fairy Godmother who transforms Cinderella into an elegant young lady for the Prince’s ball.

Schmidt, a senior at Medina, is grateful for the chance to be performing on stage for a live audience. Last year’s show, Little Women, was taped and released online. The musical two years ago, Mama Mia, was cancelled due to Covid restrictions.

“We’re so excited to be back in front of a live audience,” Schmidt said.

Elizabeth Whipple sings “In My Own Little Corner” with four mice, a dove and a cat. The mice are played by Elaina Bitsas, Madelyn Elliott, Safia Scott and Kaylin Mickey. Hannah Marker is Charles the Cat, and Ava Blount is the Dove.

Whipple, a sophomore from Lyndonville, said she feels fortunate to be in the show with a dedicated cast and crew. There are 31 students, grades 7 through 12, in the show.

She said it has been thrilling with the recent rehearsals in costumes and with the pit orchestra.

“It’s so exciting to be back on stage,” she said.

Elaina Huntington, center, plays the Stepmother who is shown with her two daughters. Emani Fuentes is Joy, left, who snorts when she laughs and Annabelle Follman is Grace, who is often itching her arms. All three are mean to Cinderella and don’t want her going to the ball.

The prince’s parents conspire to throw him a ball where he must dance with every woman. They want him married. Henry Rigerman is King Maximillan and Seagan Majchrzak is Queen Constantina.

Greyson Romano is Lionel and announces that the royal highness is giving a ball which delights the crowd.

The cast dances in anticipation of the royal ball.

Food distribution in Lyndonville moved from March 25 to April 1

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 March 2022 at 2:40 pm

LYNDONVILLE – A food distribution scheduled for March 25 at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church has been moved to April 1.

Martha Mitchell, the church pastor, said the distribution will start at about 8 a.m. in the church parking lot.

People just show up and get the food delivered by Foodlink. The church has been hosting the events for several years, Mitchell said.

Town of Yates, celebrating 200th anniversary this year, was originally Town of Northton

Posted 20 March 2022 at 8:25 am

This 1860 map of the Town of Yates shows a robust settlement had developed in the first fifty years.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans – Vol. 2, No. 11

YATES – A Bicentennial Committee in Yates is hard at work organizing family-friendly events in July, August, and September of this year, in celebration of the 200^thanniversary of the formation of the Town of Yates.

Genesee County originally included Orleans County. This large tract of land was subdivided on June 8, 1812, with the formation of the Town of Ridgeway which then comprised the entire area of Orleans County included in the Holland Land Purchase. As the population grew, separate towns began to be formed or “set off.”

The Town of Yates was set off on April 17, 1822. Because of its geographical position, the town was originally called Northton, but this was changed in 1823 in honor of the Governor Joseph C. Yates, the eighth Governor of New York. Yates County was also named in his honor. (Were the same naming practices in vogue today, a newly formed town might be named the Town of Hochul.)

The Town of Yates has an area of 22,559 ½ acres. In 1812, it was heavily wooded with whitewood, beech, birch, oak, maple, and hemlock trees, many of which were over 100 feet high. In the book Landmarks of Orleans County, Isaac Signor refers to a huge white oak tree, which when cut, was drawn to Oak Orchard by fourteen yoke of oxen.

George Houseman of was the first permanent settler. He came from Jefferson County in 1809 and settled three miles east of what later became Lyndonville.

Preserved Greenman purchased 600 acres from the Holland Land Company between 1810 and 1812 and settled his two sons Daniel and Enos and daughter Chloe. Mr. Greenman’s brother, William B. and his two sons, Joseph B. and Stephen settled in the same vicinity. The area was known as Greenman’s Settlement. Though there are no longer Greenman’s locally, the memory of their presence is continued with the road named for them.

Other settlers before 1820 were: Robert Simpson, Nathan Skellinger, Comfort Joy, Zaccheus Swift, Lemuel Downs, Stephen Austin, Truman Austin, Daniel Stockwell, Rodney Clark, Amos Spencer, Samuel Whipple, Thomas Handy, Stephen Johnson, Thomas Stafford, Elisha Gilbert, Jacob Winegar, Isiah Lewis, Josiah Campbell, Samuel Wickham, Jeremiah Irons, Moses Wheeler, Benjamin Drake, Abner Balcom, Zenus Conger, Isaac Hurd, Harvey Clark and Horace Goold.

The Pioneer History of Orleans County, New York, by Arad Thomas, 1871 includes first-hand accounts of those early years. Horace Goold recalled:

“During the first season, we were sometimes short of food, especially meat, but some of the boys would kill a wild animal, and we were not very particular what name it bore, as hunger had driven us “to esteem nothing unclean but to receive it with thanksgiving.”

Samuel Tappan realized early on that farming was not his specialty:

“My fruit trees would fall down, and my forest trees would stand up; my crops were light, but my bill were heavy.”

He opened a tavern in Yates Center instead of farming was later appointed Postmaster and Justice. He married four times and had nineteen children.

Should you wish to read about the history of the Town of Yates in anticipation of the Bicentennial, the following publications are available at your favorite library:

Landmarks of Orleans County, New York by Hon. Isaac Signor, 1894
Historical Album of Orleans County, New York, 1879
A History of the Town of Yates in Orleans County by Carol Dates Gardepe and Janice Dates Register, 1976.
Also, the Town of Yates website includes a fine collection of photographs.

Our photograph from the Orleans County Dept. of History collection depicts the Fourth Annual Flower Carnival which was held in Lyndonville on August 2 and 3, 1910, under the direction of the Copia Society of the Methodist Church.

According to the Lyndonville Enterprise, the weekly newspaper:

“The parade surpassed any previous efforts and included many unique and handsomely decorated vehicles which were admired and cheered by the throng of spectators.

“Uncle Sam” was represented by E.M. Hill, who was accorded praise for being so suitable a figure for the occasion. The Lyndonville Hose Company, No. 1, with twenty-six men headed by the steam fire engine “White Elephant” drawn by four horses made an imposing appearance, while the Pioneer Drum Corps furnished music.

The float, conveying veterans of the S. and P. Gilbert Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, was prominent. It displayed a banner bearing the inscription:

“A few that made it possible for the many to enjoy”

Big turnout today for eyeglass clinic in Lyndonville

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 March 2022 at 12:36 pm

Some turned away after 250 show up, with many arriving early

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – The White Birth Golf Course hosted a pop-up eyeglass clinic today and 250 people filled the site not long after doors officially opened at 10 a.m. About 100 people arrived by 9:30.

The Lyndonville Lions Club organized the first-time community eyeglass clinic in the county. Lions Club members from Medina and the Leos Club at Lyndonville Central School also assisted.

A team of eye specialists – state-licensed doctors of ophthalmology and optometry – are on site to determine the correct prescription glasses for each individual.

Hundreds of eyeglass frames were on display for people to pick from. The frames and lens were all available for free.

Meghan Gapa, seated in white shirt, was among the people who were getting their eyes checked and seeking a new pair of glasses. Gapa, 30, said she doesn’t have the extra money for an eye exam or new glasses.

“I think it’s awesome they’re giving so many people a chance and they don’t have to drive far.”

Gapa showed up an hour early at 9 a.m. and there was already a line out the door.

The Lions Club urged people unable to be seen at today’s clinic to go to the next one on May 14 in Niagara Falls.

An eye specialist checks these glasses.

Darren Wilson, Lyndonville Lions Club president, said it was overwhelming to see the turnout. He wants to make the popup clinic an annual event in Orleans County. He apologized that not everyone was able to be seen today. About 100 people had to be turned back by noon due to the big crowd.

Joe Shiah, a member of the Kenmore Lions Club, checks these glasses. Shiah is a key leader in the Lions Club pop-up eye clinics in Western New York.

Harold Suhr, a Lyndonville Lion and owner of the White Birch, reached out to Shiah about bringing the clinic to Lyndonville.

Nicole Spohr, a Lyndonville Lion, takes information from David Schwert of Medina before he gets his eyes checks.

Schwert said it has been at least two years since he went to the eye doctor.

“I think it’s just wonderful that they are doing this for the community,” Schwert said.

Mark Gordon, an optometrist from Kenmore, does an eye exam. He was among the volunteers at the clinic today.

Duane Snyder, a member of the Olcott Lions Club and an optometrist, does an eye exam.

The eye specialists were expecting about 50 people for the clinic and were amazed by the turnout, said Bruce Schmidt, a Lyndonville Lions Club member.

These signs advertise the eye clinic at the White Birch.

Lions in Lyndonville ready for today’s eyeglass pop-up clinic

Staff Reports Posted 19 March 2022 at 8:08 am

Photo courtesy of Darren Wilson

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club are ready for today’s pop-up eye clinic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the White Birch Golf Club, 1515 North Lyndonville Rd.

The clinic is open to everyone in Orleans County and surrounding areas. Free prescription eyeglasses – both lenses and frames – are available and no appointment is needed.

The clinic will be staffed by a team of state-licensed doctors of ophthalmology and optometry who will determine the correct prescription glasses for each individual. The clinic is available for everyone ages 5 and older. Those under 18 will require the presence of a parent or guardian.

After testing, the eyeglass lenses will be sent out for grinding and insertion into the chosen eyeglass frames. When the glasses are ready, people will be contacted by a Lyndonville Lions Club member that they are ready to be picked up.

Lyndonville Lions Club hosts eye clinic on Saturday with free glasses

Posted 18 March 2022 at 9:54 am

Press Release, Lyndonville Lions Club

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club wishes to remind everyone in Orleans and surrounding counties that they will be hosting a one-day-only pop-up eye clinic this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the White Birch Golf Club, 1515 North Lyndonville Rd.

The purpose of this clinic is to provide free prescription eyeglasses – both lenses and frames – to everyone who attends. The clinic is open to everyone. No appointment is needed – simply show up. And, except for name, address and phone number, no other information or identification is required.

The clinic is staffed by a team of NY State licensed doctors of ophthalmology and optometry who will determine the correct prescription glasses for each individual. You will then have a wide selection of several hundred pairs of frames available to choose from – both in children and adult sizes – and optometrists will assist in proper measuring and fitting of your chosen frames. The frames are in as-new condition. Again at no charge.

If you, someone you know, a family member, your child or grandchild may be in need of glasses – or if your current glasses are damaged or your current prescription lenses are dated – this is the perfect opportunity to get better vision at no cost.

The clinic is available for everyone ages 5 and older. Those under 18 will require the presence of a parent or guardian. After testing, the eyeglass lenses will be sent out for grinding and insertion into your chosen eyeglass frames. When your eyeglasses are ready, you will be contacted by a Lyndonville Lions Club member that they are ready to be picked up. No gimmicks or strings attached.

The Lyndonville Lions are proud to host this extraordinary event. We remind everyone that this clinic will only be held for one day this year in Orleans County. The clinic will not return again until next year.

“The Lions historical mission centered around sight and vision,” said Darren Wilson, the club president. “Thus, this eye clinic provides our Lyndonville Lions an opportunity to return to our roots and that original core focus.”

Eyeglass clinic planned for March 19 in Lyndonville with free glasses available

Posted 3 March 2022 at 10:31 am

Provided photos: This photo shows an eyeglass clinic run by a Lions Club. The Lyndonville Lions will be hosting an eyeglass clinic on March 19 at the White Birch Golf Club.

Press Release, Lyndonville Lions Club

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club will be hosting a one-day-only pop-up eyeglass clinic on Saturday, March 19. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the White Birch Golf Club, 1515 North Lyndonville Rd.

It will be held on a first-come-first-served basis and early attendance is encouraged. Ample parking is available for both vehicles and buggies.

This event will be staffed by New York State licensed doctors of ophthalmology and optometry. The purpose of the eyeglass clinic is to provide free eyeglass frames with prescription lenses to anyone who attends – children, ages 5-and-older, and adults are all welcome.

Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No appointment is necessary and, except for basic contact information (name, address, phone number) no other information or identification will be asked for or required.

“I appreciate that a lot of folks will be skeptical of an offer for free prescription eyeglasses,” shares Lyndonville Lions President Darren Wilson. “But this is for real. No gimmicks and it really is free.”

There will be several hundred eyeglass frames to choose from and all frames have been professionally sanitized and presented in as-new condition. Optometrists will be on hand for professional fitting and adjustment of frames.

Licensed doctors of ophthalmology will determine proper prescription lenses for each individual which will then be sent out for grinding and insertion into your chosen eyeglass frames.

“Out of respect for our local eye care professionals, our clinic will only be held for this one day this year in all of Orleans County,” Wilson said. “It’s a one-shot deal.”

The Lyndonville Lions Club also recently welcomed its newest member, Renee Hungerford, shown here during her induction ceremony and flanked by her Lions Club sponsor, Bruce Schmidt (center) and current president, Darren Wilson. Hungerford is executive director of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

Lyndonville district seeks nominations for educators, staff member of the year

Posted 2 March 2022 at 1:46 pm

Press Release, Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – Do you know of a Lyndonville educator or staff member who is exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and has inspired you or your child? If so, please consider nominating them for Lyndonville Central School’s 2022 Educator or Staff Member of the Year.

Lyndonville will be selecting two educators for Educator of the Year, one from elementary (PreK -6) and another from secondary (grades 7-12).

The district will also select one Staff Member of the Year. The nominated educators/staff members must meet eligibility requirements outlined in the nomination packet that can be found on the district’s website.

Winners will be announced during the June 2022 Lyndonville Board of Education meeting. The winning educators will each receive a $1,000 district grant and the winning staff member a $500 district grant.

The grant may be used for any educational initiative or project within the recipient’s school, classroom, program or department. All will receive a plaque commemorating their achievement.

Deadline for nomination submission is March 18, 2022. For eligibility requirements, criteria, timelines and the nomination form, click here.

Yates resident displaced from home after fire Saturday morning on Breeze Road

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 February 2022 at 8:04 am

YATES – A Yates resident is displaced from his home after a fire Saturday morning 1371 Breeze Rd.

The fire started in the chimney and caused an estimated $75,000 in damage, said Lyndonville Fire Chief Mike Heideman.

Dwayne Stauffer was the lone resident at the house. He is currently staying with family. No one was injured.

Lyndonville was assisted by several nearby fire departments in getting the fire out. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at about 6:20 a.m.