By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 21 January 2025 at 9:15 am
Plaque for Jack Cielewich will be restored noting Medina’s last blacksmith shop in the Canal Basin
Provided photos: This was the blacksmith shop owned by the late John “Jack” Cielewich, the last blacksmith in Orleans County, before it was demolished in 1979. Jack’s grandson Scott Cielewich of Florida has agreed to pay for restoration of the plaque.
Editor’s Note: The following story will run in three parts, highlighting the career of Medina’s last blacksmith, John “Jack” Cielewich; his son, the late Don Cielewich, who became top executive for Marine Trust, was a B-17 pilot and POW in World War II; his son Scott’s journey to retrace his father’s last mission in Europe; and efforts to restore a historic plaque in the Canal Basin paying tribute to Don’s father, Jack Cielewich.
MEDINA – A Medina native who recently reached out to Mayor Marguerite Sherman about restoring a historic plaque paying tribute to his grandfather has brought back a lifetime of memories for the family and friends.
Scott Cielewich, who lives in Florida, is the son of the late Don and Ruth Cielewich, both Medina natives. Don was the son of John Cielewich, a well-known and much-loved Medina businessman, who ran a blacksmith shop in the Canal Basin.
This story was brought to light by Chris Busch, the Godson of Don Cielewich, and whose parents were lifelong friends of Don and Ruth.
Busch was in junior high school when he became acquainted with John “Jack” Cielewich. He and his friend Randy Holbrook wandered into the blacksmith shop one day after school. By then, Jack had stopped blacksmithing, but would craft an occasional piece out of iron, and his craftsmanship fascinated the young boys.
Jack had created an antique shop there by then, and had a lot of military items, which captured Busch’s eye. He and Randy visited the shop almost every day. The interests fostered there resulted in Busch beginning to collect memorabilia from both World War I and II.
The plaque will be refurbished. It highlights the last blacksmith shop in Orleans County.
Jack had served in World War I and the stories he told Busch and Holbrook kept them wide-eyed and rapt with fascination, Busch said. Jack was drafted in April 1918 and served as a lanyard man on a French 75mm gun with the 308 Battalion Field Artillery. He spent 122 straight days on the front and participated in many of the great actions of the war. He endured gas attacks and constant shelling.
“We absolutely loved him,” Busch said.
John “Jack” Cielewich was the son of William Cielewich, who immigrated in 1889 from Poland, where he had been a blacksmith for 63 years. Jack began as a blacksmith in 1922, and bought the business from his father in 1946, when they built the shop in the basin. He retired from blacksmithing in 1956 and began buying and selling antiques and collectibles.
On Aug. 2, 1979, an editorial in the Medina Daily Journal paid tribute to the blacksmith shop’s final day.
It read, “It took only an hour or so to reduce it to kindling wood and cart it away, but with it went centuries of an industry that once was one of Medina’s most needed and frequented.
“The former Cielewich blacksmith shop became the victim of the bulldozer and the debris was carted away to make room for additional parking space in the canal basin area. It was the last reminder of a half dozen or more ‘smithy’ establishments that were a flourishing necessity back in the horse and buggy days.
“The small building on Mill Alley was donated to the village by Don Cielewich, son of the last of the ‘smithies’ in Medina. The late Jack Cielewich, who in his later years forsook the anvil to pursue his hobby of antique collecting, was the last of the family to be identified with the profession.”
This story continues with Scott’s offer to pay for restoration of John’s deteriorated historic marker in the canal basin.
Because of his connection to the family, Busch, who is president of Orleans Renaissance Group, told the mayor ORG would coordinate the restoration of Jack’s plaque.
“It’s in pretty rough shape,” Busch said. “Once it has been fully refurbished, we will hold off on reinstalling it in the basin until the New York Forward grant work unfolds. We’ll then make a determination as to how and where we might display it in a more suitable manner.”
Busch reached out to Scott to let him know he would be overseeing the restoration.
“During the e-mail exchange, I told Scott I had watched ‘Masters of the Air,’ and while watching the combat scenes, I thought emotionally about Don’s experience. Our dads were both World War II pilots. It was then Scott shared with me his journey to retrace his father’s flight and capture.”
Regarding Don, Busch said Jack once told him the conditions in the POW camp were desperate.
“He recounted one story where the guards would receive potatoes, boil water and pour it over them, then give the water to the prisoners as their ‘potato soup,’ and eat the potatoes themselves,” Busch said.
Don made a name for himself in the banking world and rose to a prestigious position with Marine Trust. Starting as a mail clerk in 1947 at Medina’s Marine office, he retired in 1987 as president and chief executive of Marine’s Delaware Bank. He won numerous awards in Delaware and in 2009 was named to Medina High School’s Alumni Hall of Fame. Wherever he lived throughout his life, he was a pillar of his community.
It was Don’s service in World War II and Scott’s desire to retrace his father’s military experience which the next two parts of this series will highlight.
In addition to Don’s military service, Jamie’s father was a B-24 pilot in World War II. Before his death, Scott said a B-24 was touring the country and came to Florida. They wanted to take her father for a ride, but he declined.
“I just can’t do it,” he told them. “I still have nightmares about those planes.”
Like Jamie’s dad, Don never talked about the war.
“I heard bits and pieces when I was young, but I just thought my dad went to war,” Scott said. “I was always in awe of him. He died of a heart attack at the age of 67, and I wish I could have had more time with him.”
Note from Ginny Kropf: As a Medina native, I knew Don and in 2011, I wrote a column about him, after receiving a letter from Robert Emens of Batavia, who had saved a clipping of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle dated Sept. 30, 1946, in which there was a lengthy article about Don and a letter he received from the German who befriended him when his plane went down.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 January 2025 at 7:39 pm
Declaration mobilizes resources as snow and extreme cold hit WNY, northern NY
Photo by Tom Rivers: The bronze statue of Santa on Main Street in Albion is partially covered in snow this morning after several inches fell overnight and this morning.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency for 12 counties, including Orleans, which have been impacted by a lake-effect snow storm.
Extreme cold and up to three feet of snow are forecast to hit some of the areas, although the total in Orleans is about 4 to 8 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Orleans is under a cold weather advisory from 7 p.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday with bitterly cold wind chills expected as low as 15 to 20 below zero.
Hochul said the state of emergency declaration allows the state to coordinate and share resources with local governments affected by the snowstorm. The State Department of Transportation will be available to provide assistance to municipalities in excess of existing shared service agreements, Hochul said in a news release.
The declaration includes Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego and Oneida counties, as well as contiguous counties.
“As lake effect snow falls across several areas of our state, I’m declaring a state of emergency for these areas to ensure state resources are available to assist local communities as we work together to keep New Yorkers safe throughout the duration of the storm,” Governor Hochul said. “We also continue to deal with extreme cold which poses an extraordinary risk to anyone who is exposed to the elements or is unable to adequately heat their home, and I encourage all New Yorkers to monitor their local forecast and take precautions to keep themselves and their families safe.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 January 2025 at 1:44 pm
Albion, Clarendon, Kendall and Murray among responding departments
Photo courtesy of Brockport Fire District: Firefighters battle a fire last Tuesday evening at the Morgan-Manning House on Main Street in Brockport.
BROCKPORT – The Brockport Fire District is thanking a big response from surrounding fire departments for their assistance at the Morgan-Manning House last Tuesday evening and night.
Leaders of the Morgan-Manning House say they are optimistic the building and many of the artifacts can be saved. Shrink wrap has been installed on the collapsed portion of the roof on the south side of the historic mansion.
Mayor Margaret Blackman issued this statement last week after the fire: “We grieve with all of Brockport and the larger community for the fire that severely damaged our magnificent Morgan Manning House on the night of January 14th.
“It felt like so many personal memories of events at the House and on its grounds went up in the smoke. Yet we have much to be thankful for—beginning with the Morgan Manning board members who spotted and reported the fire, the numerous fire companies that answered the call and stayed for hours, the pizzas, food and drinks donated by local restaurants to feed the fire crews, Brockport Police who monitored foot and vehicle traffic in the area, our Village Building inspectors/fire marshals who determined that the building was still structurally sound, and the many government officials and citizens who shared their thoughts in person and writing on the tragedy and offered to help.
“Brockport is resilient, Brockport is determined; the Village stands ready to assist the Morgan Manning in its recovery.”
Brockport firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 6:54 p.m. on Jan. 14 with report of smoke coming from the structure.
Fire companies from Spencerport, Murray, Bergen, Churchville, Chili, LeRoy, Gates, North Greece, Kendall, Albion, Clarendon, Hilton, and Hamlin-Morton-Walker were summoned as additional alarms were declared during the course of the fire.
Christopher Martin, the Brockport Fire District public information officer, detailed the firefighting efforts in the following news release:
Brockport firefighters were summoned to 151 Main Street: the Morgan-Manning House, a historic landmark in the Village of Brockport for a report of smoke in the structure. On arrival a light smoke condition was reported with smoke coming from the north side of the home.
At 18:54 hours District Fire Chief Tim Smith declared a working fire while they continued to investigate the source of the smoke they were dealing with. Hand lines were pulled from Pumper 233 and laid into the basement and first floor. Utilizing the National Incident Command System (NIMS), Chief Smith (2C-13) established command with Deputy Chief Adam Leggett (2C-23) supervising operations and establishing divisions while Assistant Chief Scott Wainwright (2C-33) managed personnel accountability.
The basement division located a small fire in the basement which they were able to knock down with the lines pulled into the structure. As they were attacking the fire in the basement, the first-floor division was reporting heavy fire which they extinguished with their hand line.
Crews were ordered to the second floor to continue to search for extension and were inhibited in their efforts by the fire hidden beyond their reach within the walls. Not long after, the first-floor division reported a partial collapse of a section of the second floor down to the first floor.
Firefighting crews were then ordered from the second floor in the interest of firefighter safety. The tactic to extinguish shifted to a defensive attack utilizing the ground and aerial ladders which allowed them to attack part of the fire from the front porch roof through the windows.
Due to the floor collapse and the inability to access the fire within the walls, fire quickly spread to the attic and broke out on the second floor.
Part of the shift in the operational tactics led to utilizing elevated Master Streams from Brockport’s Quint 230, Spencerport’s Quint 2910, and Hilton’s Quint 260. 2910 was repositioned due to their proximity to the South side roof and chimney due to a concern over a possible collapse which did occur a short while later. Gates Quint 4510 was requested to position on the Northwest corner of the roof tasked with opening up the attic and extinguishing any hotspots found there.
All crews were released from the scene and returned to their home quarters prior to 12:46 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
“Our heartfelt thanks go out to our neighboring departments that contributed to extinguishing this blaze, and provided standby apparatus while the rest of us were tied up fighting the fire,” Martin said. “In addition, we would like to extend our most sincere appreciation to the Brockport Police Department, the Village of Brockport Department of Public Works, Monroe Ambulance, Brockport Ambulance Corps, Monroe County Fire Bureau, Regional Transit Service (RTS), Nativity BVM Church, and all the local businesses that provided food and beverages for our personnel.”
The Brockport Police Department provided security for the structure overnight. Martin said Monroe County Fire Bureau Fire Investigation Team returned later Wednesday morning to continue its investigation. Results of the investigation have not yet been released, Martin said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 January 2025 at 9:03 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The large Santa in front of the Downtown Browsery on Main Street in Albion is covered in snow, except for the eye after heavy snow this morning.
The area is under a lake effect snow warning until 4 p.m. with 4 to 8 inches of snow expected, with the greatest amounts north of Ridge Road, the National Weather Service said.
Today is forecast for a high of 16 with a wind chill as low as minus 5 degrees.
Jason Tarnowski, pastor of the Albion Free Methodist Church (Community of Hope), clears the sidewalk at the church with a snow blower at about 8 this morning.
Main Street has several inches of snow this morning.
Here is how the street looked at 5:15 p.m. on Sunday before the snow last night and this morning.
This is a sketch of the first courthouse building in Albion as it appeared in 1840. (Landmarks of Orleans County)
Dewitt Clinton was Governor of New York State, serving the first year of his second term of office, when the 48th Legislative Session passed the Act which formed Orleans as a “separate and distinct county of the state of New York”, on April 15, 1825.
Law and order were primary concerns of this Act. It specified that two terms of the “court of common pleas and general sessions of the peace” were to be held in Gaines. Commissioners appointed by the act were instructed to locate a site for a courthouse and jail before the second Monday in June 1825. An election for sheriff, clerk and coroners was to be held on the second Tuesday of May 1825.
The first case was held in Gaines on October 13, 1825, at the Mansion House, a hotel owned by Selah Bronson. Samuel Miner was charged with assault and battery and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
The first courthouse in the county was built in Albion in 1827 on land donated by Nehemiah Ingersoll. Ingersoll is credited with naming the county and with strategizing the selection of Albion as the county seat in 1826. Located on the site of the current County Jail, the courthouse was a brick building with a white cupola and pillars. The County Clerk’s office was on the first floor, while the jail was in the basement.
At that time, the Free and Accepted Masons were an influential fraternal organization. Many of the early settlers were members and they established lodges shortly after they took up residence, in Ridgeway and Gaines.
In 1826, William Morgan, a disenchanted mason originally from Canada, threatened to publish a book exposing details of the Freemasons closely guarded secret rites. This caused a great furor and added to dissension which had already been brewing among members.
After several incidents, Morgan was arrested and jailed in Canandaigua. His release was organized by Masonic members, on condition that he return to Canada. Following his release, he was immediately escorted to a waiting carriage which then transported him north to Rochester and west along Route 104 to Niagara Falls and freedom in Canada. In all, this hurried journey required three carriage changes, five drivers, seven teams of horses and many assistants.
After some time, it became apparent that William Morgan was missing. He was never seen again after that carriage ride, nor was his body ever found. Speculation was rampant, an investigation was ordered. A total of twenty Grand Jury investigations and fifteen trials ensued.
Two of the trials took place in Albion. The first case against Avery Downer, a teacher from Gaines, was dismissed. The second case, against Elihu Mather, lasted ten days, and was held in November 1829. Hon. Addison Gardiner, Circuit Judge of the 8th Circuit presided.
Mather was charged with conspiracy to kidnap and abduct William Morgan. Detailed accounts of the trial were reported by the Orleans Telegraph and published in newspapers throughout the state, in Canada and in Vermont. (Click here to see historic newspapers in New York State. )
The counsel for the defendant, William H. Adams, addressed the jury for four hours. He did not deny that Mather drove the carriage but argued that he did so innocently, without knowing that any illegal act was contemplated. He argued that there was no proof that Morgan was in the carriage and if he was, there was no proof that he was held by force. The jury returned a verdict of “Not Guilty”.
Several of the others accused were found guilty of kidnapping Morgan, but nobody was charged with his murder, all of which further fueled anti-Masonic sentiment and led to the formation of the Anti-Masonic Party in 1831.
New Yorkers capped at deducting up to $10,000 per year in state and local taxes
Press Release, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Democratic members of the New York congressional delegation urged President-elect Trump to permanently remove the cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction and put more money in the pockets of everyday New Yorkers.
Removing the SALT deduction cap would allow New Yorkers who itemize when filing federal taxes to fully deduct certain taxes paid to state and local governments, including property, income, and sales taxes.
“Republicans created this problem, and it is now their responsibility to fix it and restore the full SALT deduction,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This would change the lives of hardworking New Yorkers who have been robbed. A full SALT deduction would ensure that families have more money in their pockets, get much-needed tax relief, and are once again treated fairly. President-elect Trump has an opportunity to reach across the aisle while also working within his own party to make an impact by eliminating an unfair and economically prohibitive policy.”
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) capped the SALT deduction at $10,000 per year, negatively impacting New Yorkers’ pockets. According to the State of New York the SALT deduction cap has cost New Yorkers as much as $12 billion every year since it took effect in 2018.
“Eliminating the SALT cap is not just about fairness; it’s an economic imperative to support middle-class families, bolster local municipalities, and safeguard vital services like public safety and emergency response,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “As Dean of the New York House Delegation, I am proud to join my New York Democrat colleagues in calling for the full elimination of the SALT deduction cap in any tax-related legislation brought to the House floor.”
Gillibrand pointed to the following additional reasons for why reinstating the full SALT deduction will have positive benefits for New Yorkers:
New Yorkers already subsidize other states by paying nearly $20 billion more in taxes than we receive back from the federal government;
The SALT deduction cap resulted in double taxation by imposing federal taxes on the income used to pay state and local taxes above $10,000;
The cap on the deduction encourages wealthier people to move to other states and leaves middle- and lower-income taxpayers holding the bag to pay for school, police and other essential state and local tax burdens.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 January 2025 at 9:06 am
Orleans could see 4 to 8 inches of snow by Monday afternoon
The sun sets in Lyndonville on Friday in this photo by Mike Zeliff.
The area will be in deep freeze most of this week, starting today when temperatures are forecast for a high of 20 degrees with an overnight low of 10.
The National Weather Service has also issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Orleans, Niagara and Monroe counties with 4 to 8 inches of snow expected from 10 p.m. today through 4 p.m. on Monday.
“Lake effect snow will fall in relatively narrow bands,” the Weather Service said. “If traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibilities.”
Monday, which is Martin Luther King Day, the high will be near 14 and an overnight low of 4 degrees, the Weather Service said.
Tuesday is forecast for a high of 12 with an overnight low of around 0, followed by a high of 12 on Wednesday with an overnight low of 5.
Thursday it will be back in the 20s with a high near 23 and overnight low of 17, followed by a high of 27 on Friday and 30 on Saturday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 January 2025 at 7:10 pm
Stitched blocks in honor of all 10 towns will be done for bicentennial celebration on April 15
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Kathryn DeMarco works on a quilt block celebrating “Family” as part of a bicentennial quilt created by volunteers from the Town & Country Quilt Shop at 10 East Bank St. in Albion.
Demarco also made and sewed the block for “Kendall” where she lives. A group of volunteers met today to sew blocks for all 10 towns in the county. There also are spaces for three other blocks and the group decided to have those dedicated to Farming, Faith and Family.
Carrie Standish of Albion sewed the block for Albion. She works as a secretary at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES and said she was happy to be part of making the quilt for the county’s bicentennial.
“To be involved in something so special and unique is an honor,” Standish said.
This shows the pattern for the quilt, which will be 70 inches by 70 inches when it is complete. The quilters are working to have the project done by an April 15 bicentennial celebration being planned at the Orleans County Courthouse.
There will be a border on top saying Orleans County, and a border on the bottom saying 1825 to 2025.
The quilt is expected to be on display at several sites in the county this year.
Tara Thom, owner of the Town & Country Quilt Shop, is show at the quilt shop with the volunteers in back. Thom opened the quilt shop in 2017.
She discussed the bicentennial quilt with County Historian Catherine Cooper. The design has been in the works for about nine months. Today was an exciting day for the quilters with many of the blocks sewn together.
“We’re all from Orleans County and we wanted to help celebrate the bicentennial and highlight our pastime,” Thom said about the quilters.
The quilting team today included Thom of Gaines, Kathyrn DeMarco of Kendall, Sue Landis of Barre, Carrie Standish of Albion, Brenda Radzinski of Gaines, Gayle Ashbery of Carlton and Catherine Hooker of Middleport who is a Medina native.
Catherine Hooker said they wanted a quilt that looked like one from 1825, with some modern elements. The design is like one from 200 years ago, she said, but they used machine embroidering for the town names and the years they were established.
The different blocks will be connected with star patterns. The quilters will use appliqué for the Orleans County name, and the years 1825 to 2025.
“We wanted it to look historic and present,” said Hooker, who is retired as an operations manager from the FMC Corporation in Middleport.
She is pleased with how the quilt is coming together.
“It’s been a wonderful experience and it’s a way of giving back,” she said. “It’s working with other people, and it brings joy to see what we can accomplish as a group.”
Sue Landis works on the quilt block for Clarendon. She also sewed the block for Barre. Landis has been an avid quilter since she retired as a Spanish teacher from Albion Central School in 2017.
Kathryn DeMarco places the “Family” block on the quilt. She said the three “F” blocks of farming, family and faith highlight three enduring cornerstones of the community.
DeMarco also was a key player in the quilt block patterns that have been displayed on many Kendall barns.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 January 2025 at 10:31 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – These kids are delighted at watching Elena, a hula hoop performer, on Friday night when Billy Martin’s Cole All Star Circus came to Medina Wise Middle School Gym.
Billy Martin welcomes a crowd of 400 to the Medina gym on Friday evening. A second show was added later because there were so many people waiting to get in.
Martin, an Olean native, is in his 48th year in the circus business. The circus performs in about 150 schools each year. It started the season on Jan. 11 in Lyons.
An enthusiastic crowd filled the gym at Wise Middle School.
The group performed in Albion on Thursday and Medina on Friday. They will be back in Orleans County later next week. They will be in Holley on Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the elementary school gym, and then Kendall on Jan. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at jr.-sr. high school gym.
Elena Aristov dazzled the crowd with the hula hoops are the first act in the circus.
Elena Aristov performs with light up hula hoops. The circus had dramatic lighting during the performance.
Kaya Bloom of Medina gets an inflatable Spider Man for her son, Chancellor, 4.
These aerial performers were up high in blacklight outfits.
This performer juggled and balanced many plates during his routine.
Brylee Holloway, 8, of Medina is delighted with the face painting by Elena Aristov.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 18 January 2025 at 8:48 am
Neal Keirn relished ‘dream job’ past 18 years, especially train excursions for Medina Railroad Museum
Photo by Brody George, conductor: Neal Keirn of Middleport waves from the engine as he passes the Medina Railroad Museum on Friday, his last day as engineer before retirement. He began his dream job exactly 18 years earlier on Jan. 17, 2007.
MIDDLEPORT – Neal Keirn began his dream job with the Falls Road Railroad on Jan. 17, 2007.
On Friday, exactly 18 years to the day, he climbed into engine #2035 for the last time.
Keirn has had a passionate infatuation with the railroad since he was a little boy, growing up across from the tracks in Middleport.
“As a kid I hung around the railroad,” Keirn said. “I’d be watching them switch cars and the engineer would let me climb in the engine with him. I got the idea that would be a fun thing to do.”
As he grew older and reached his teens, he began to understand how the railroad worked and about becoming an engineer.
“But in the mid ’70s, Penn Central had gone bankrupt, four other railroads that served the area went bankrupt and the other railroads weren’t hiring,” he said. “Conrail was the major railroad, made up of seven bankrupt railroads.”
Realizing a career on the railroad didn’t look promising, Keirn went to work for Middleport Lumber (Rhinehart’s).
“I was happy working there,” he said. “I eventually delivered coal for them. I ended up there for 20 years.”
When GVT took over the Falls Road line, Keirn got to know the guys through Rhinehart’s, he said. When the train would be switching cars for Barden Homes, Keirn would go out and talk to them.
Engineer Neal Keirn is shown at the controls of Engine 2035 last summer when he was featured on WKBW Channel 7 by feature reporter Mike Randall, shown here blowing the whistle as they went through Medina.
A couple of years later, Keirn met the general manager of the railroad, Matthew Ronski, who said he wanted to see Keirn.
“How would you like to come and work for the railroad,” he asked Keirn.
Keirn’s reply was, “Let me think about it,’” followed by an immediate, “yes.”
About two weeks later, Keirn was at the engine house in Lockport when he was told there was going to be a big increase in traffic on the Falls Road Railroad, which goes from Lockport through Orleans County to Brockport.
“We are going to need more help,” the manager told Keirn. “Get your training going.”
Keirn started his engineer’s training and received his license when he turned 40.
A short time later, Keirn learned what the increase in traffic was when the announcement came out that Western New York Energy was building an ethanol plant in Medina. That would end up requiring as many as 65 grain cars brought in and out every week and a half. Tropicana’s expansion in Brockport now requires 15 to 18 tank cars in and out every week. More business resulted when Helena Chemical relocated to Allis Road, just east of Medina.
“When I first started, we ran on Falls Road two days a week, now we’re running three days,” Keirn said. “The other days, we are in Batavia. The way it sounds, more business is coming for Falls Road.”
He has loved nearly every minute of his job, especially being engineer for Medina Railroad Museum’s excursions. Praise from Rick Henn, Museum board member and head conductor on train excursions, has meant the world to Keirn, he said.
“I tried very hard to do a good job, starting slowly and stopping smoothly with all the young passengers,” Keirn said. “It was very rewarding to hear I was doing my best.”
“We can always tell when you’re running the train,” Henn once told Keirn.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: The sign on the front of the locomotive signals Neal Keirn’s last day as engineer on the Falls Road Railroad, before he begins retirement.
For 10 years, Keirn has trained locomotive engineers and numerous conductors, in which he took a lot of pride, he said.
The only downside to his job has been four incidents at grade crossings, Keirn said, none of which were his fault. Two occurred on Hulberton Road; another was when a woman skidded onto the tracks in Batavia on a snowy day; and another last June when a truck stalled on the tracks on Fancher Road. Fortunately, none of the incidents resulted in any serious injuries.
Keirn is married to the former Roberta “Gilly” Blount of Medina and they have two daughters.
Keirn turned 67 last July and he began to think about retiring at the end of the year.
“I was exploring my retirement options when the representative from the railroad’s retirement fund asked me how firm I was on that date,” Keirn said. “He told me if I stayed into 2025, it would mean more in my retirement.”
That’s when he realized if he stayed until Jan. 17, he would have completed exactly 18 years on the job.
He has lots of things planned for his retirement, not least of all is working on his model trains. His wife does all sorts of crafts and he helps her when she needs something built. In September they are planning a family wedding in San Diego.
“I’ve enjoyed what I accomplished with the railroad and I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” Keirn said.
On Friday, one of his daughter’s made him a sign for the front of his engine, which read, “Last Run, Engineer Neal Keirn, 1/17/2025.”
He had a special whistle which he blew, along with the traditional warning blasts at each crossing along the way. In Medina, he slowed the train and waved out the window to well-wishers who came out to give him one final goodbye wave.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 January 2025 at 9:22 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – It was the biggest crowd yet this season for the Finally Fridays! Concerts at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.
More than 200 people attended this evening’s concert by the rock and roll band Stanton.
Dillon Hirsch sings with the band this evening. He is filling in for the band’s usual singer, Greg Stanton. Mike Zelazny is playing the guitar at right.
The Stanton band playing cover tunes from Doobie Brothers, Tom Petty, Tragically Hip, the Byrds, Joe Cocker, Traveling Wilburys, Barry McGuire, J.J. Cale, America, Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, the Who, Beatles, Steppenwolf, Roy Orbison, Kiss, Rolling Stones, Monkees, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad Company, Marshall Tucker Band, Van Morrison and John Mellencamp.
The band includes Dillon Hirsch on vocals (usually Greg Stanton), Matt Stanton on bass (back left), Frank Sarchia on drums, Rick Braham of guitar (lower left) and Mike Zelanzy on guitar (lower right).
This group worked together on a puzzle while listening to the music.
Finally Fridays! is a free musical series during the winter months of January and February.
The series started in January 2002. Concerts start at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m.
The series kicked off with Creek Bend on Jan. 3, followed by 2nd Time Around on Jan. 10.
