HOLLEY/CLARENDON – Mathematical problem: A cow yields 7 gallons of milk daily. It takes about ten pounds or 1.25 gallons of cow’s milk to make a pound of cheese.
How many cows will be needed to supply milk for a cheese factory manufacturing 1,000 pounds of cheese daily?
Though Central New York emerged as the center of cheesemaking in New York state, two small facilities in eastern Orleans manufactured popular cheese in the early 1900s.
In a 1952 article, Ray Tuttle, a columnist with the Holley Standard, traced the cheese-making tradition in Holley back to the descendants of immigrants from Somerset County in southeast England, the “home” of cheddar cheese. George Tuttle, Ray’s grandfather, was one such descendant. Ray wrote that his grandfather, George, made the first local cheddar at his farm on Telegraph Road, north of Holley. About 1897, George began making cheese in Clarendon, on the Fourth Section Road.
The Holley Cheese Factory was established in 1892. Elmer Tuttle, Ray’s father was a cheesemaker there, as was F.W. “Fred” Church who was also the general manager. The facility, which also produced butter, quickly doubled its output but could not keep pace with the demand.
In 1905, the factory produced 114,289 pounds of cheese which sold for an average of 12.03 cents per pound, for a total of $13,757.17.
Ad in the Brockport Republican, May 1906
George H. “Herb” Keople, a Cattaraugus County cheesemaker, was appointed manager of the Holley Cheese Company in 1912. Three years later he built the Clarendon Brand Cheese factory on Hulberton Road.
The Holley plant closed – a newspaper article in 1917 mentioned that seven guardsmen from Tonawanda were headquartered at the “old Holley Cheese Factory.” Their duty was to guard the canal embankment between the two bridges at Holley.
This cheese factory was located on Hulberton Road in Clarendon.
During peak season – May and June – the Clarendon facility produced 1,000 pounds of cheddar cheese daily. Driving a Chevy truck, Herb Keople picked up milk from the local small dairy farmers. He would make about thirty stops, in the Clarendon and Barre areas. He employed several cheesemakers at the plant: brothers Tracy and Eddie Smith and Alfred Davis.
Only whole milk was used and at that time it would have been unpasteurized. Once produced, the cheese was placed on curing shelves – three weeks for a new cheese and up to six months for cheese with a stronger flavor. It was sold in wooden boxes which contained 35 lbs. of cheese. Clarendon cheese was very popular and was shipped throughout the country. By all accounts, it had a distinctive “tang” or “zest” which was attributed to the limestone prevalent in the Clarendon water. Milk is 87% water.
Celebrating the factory’s 25th anniversary in 1940, Mr. Keople noted that Clarendon Brand Cheese was one of the few remaining independently operated cheese factories in New York State. However, it could not compete with market forces. Larger cheese manufacturers offered to pay the farmer more per gallon, so Clarendon Brand Cheese lost its raw material and closed in 1944.
Democrat & Chronicle advertisement, 1943.
Answer to question at top: The milk yield from 180 cows would be needed to produce 1,000 pounds of cheese.
Photo and information courtesy of Medina Band Boosters
HILTON – The Medina Mustang Band competed for the first time this season when they traveled to Hilton on Saturday. Nine bands performed in competition on a beautiful fall day.
The Medina band was led onto the field by drum major Makenzie McGrath and they performed their show, “Reflections.” Medina is in the SS1 class and they came in 2nd place with a score of 72.65 while East Irondequoit came in 1st with 78.25.
In LS3 class Hilton earned 1st place with 66.35; in LS2, Orchard Park earned 1st place at 74.65; in the National class, Victor was 1st with 76.15.
Medina’s next performance is Saturday, Sept. 21, which is their home show at Veterans’ Memorial Park when 10 field show bands will perform in competition. It’s a great opportunity to see the Medina band and not have to travel far. The gates open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 September 2024 at 8:04 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Marie Snyder, president of the Albion Lions Club, is presented a proclamation from Assemblyman Steve Hawley on Friday in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Albion Lions Club.
The Lions celebrated a century of service to the community on Friday during a banquet at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.
Snyder joined the club three years ago, and started as president in July. The Lions meet the second and fourth Tuesdays each month at the Masonic Lodge on Platt Street.
“I like the camaraderie and being able to do things for the community,” Snyder said.
The club and some of the dignitaries stand for the Lions Toast: “Not above you, Noth beneath you, But with you.”
The club welcomed its members for the 100th anniversary celebration, as well as Lions Club members from Kendall, Lyndonville, Medina, Clarendon, Gates Greece, Brockport, Syracuse and Downtown Rochester. (The Lions Club in Syracuse is also celebrating its 100th anniversary.)
The Albion Lions Club officers currently include Marie Snyder, president; Barb Navarra, vice president; Mary Janet Sahukar, secretary; Lloyd Wright, treasurer; and Ben Lennox, the tail twister.
Other members include Ron Albertson, Ocie Bennett, Christine Buongiorne, Lynn Burgess, Dan Conrad, Kelly Conrad, Kevin Howard, Gary Katsanis, David Mitchell, Kristen Ostrander, Dan Parker, June Persia, Bill Robinson, Dr. Satya Sahukar, Dennis Smith, Henry Smith Jr. and Jake Stinson.
The banquet included a observance for members who recently passed away, including John Keding, Robert Galbreath, Rev. Wilfred Moss, Ben Jones and Jonathan Doherty.
A table displays Lions Club artifacts and name badges for members from many decades ago. There were also photo albums highlighting club activities through the years.
The club remains busy with projects in Albion, including an annual spring clean-up, Mother’s Day rose sale, annual geranium sale near Memorial Day, Strawberry Festival sausage booth, Rock the Park sausage booth, John A. Keding memorial cookout to support scholarship in his name, eye screening at elementary school done with Medina Lions Club, used eye glass and hearing aid collection (drop boxes at Hoag Library and Five Star Bank), various scholarships and award to graduating students at Albion, support disaster relief, hunger relief in the community, others in need in Albion, and Lions Camp Badger in Tompkins County.
Melanie Adams, a member of the Clarendon Lions Club and a former district governor, said the Albion Lions Club has always been welcoming to her.
She praised the club for helping to spearhead the upgrades at Bullard Park in Albion, a park “that has blossomed into an amazing showcase.”
The Lions Club also works on other community projects and fundraisers throughout the year.
“Where there is a need, there is a Lion,” she said.
Jim Hancock, president of Medina Lions Club, congratulated the Albion club on its 100th. The Medina Lions started in 1935.
The head table leads in singing, “Hail, Hail, the Lions are Here. Don’t you hear them roaring?”
Lloyd Wright, at left, has been a member of the club for 23 years. He visited the club after being invited by long-time member Dan Parker. Wright said he had more free time in his retirement and is glad he become a Lion.
“I enjoy helping people out and giving back to the community,” he said.
Aubrey Gannon holds the first place poster she created for the Lions Club’s 100th anniversary. Some Albion art students worked on the posters last June.
Erin Weese, left, holds a poster that was in third place. Isabella Gray created the second place poster at right.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 September 2024 at 8:47 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Village of Holley Mayor Mark Bower welcomes a group of local residents who are 90 and older to a recognition program on Friday afternoon. A section of the Public Square was closed to traffic while the residents were honored with proclamations for their many years of contributing to the community.
Bower is joined at the podium by Murray Town Supervisor Gerald Rightmyer and Clarendon Town Supervisor Richard Moy.
Holley recognized residents 90 and older about two years ago. This time the service was expanded to include the towns of Murray and Clarendon.
The honorees include:
Village of Holley – William Billotti, Lydia Fallato, Duane Prince and Louis Sevor.
Town of Murray – Theodore Foote, Theodore Jenney, Sudsan Hurd Machamer, Mary Ann Spychalski, Vivian Ward and Amy Zazzara.
Town of Clarendon – Rose Caley, Margaret Dobrowsky, Connie Gaines, Jack Kemp, Phyllis Keyes, Maxwell MacLean, Beverly McKinney, Gene Pickett, Ethel Robinson, Lawrence Snider and Norma Thom.
The residents gathered in the Community Free Library for a reception following the outdoor program. Many of the honorees have been friends for decades.
They were also presented with booklets made by Holley elementary students and paper boutonniere flowers.
Mayor Mark Bower said he and the two town supervisors wanted to recognize the residents for reaching an “amazing milestone of being 90 or older.”
He praised the group for “a wealth of knowledge, wisdom and life experiences.”
Bill Billotti, one of the honorees, is presented a proclamation from Murray Town Supervisor Gerry Rightmyer.
Billotti is now 90 and continues to run an antique business in the Public Square. Billotti appreciated the recognition for the 90 and older residents.
He said his secret to reaching 90: ‘it’s good living and don’t take everyday for granted. It’s a cliché, but every day is a gift.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 14 September 2024 at 7:57 am
MEDINA – Orleans County Republicans supporting Donald Trump have opened a Republican headquarters in the Medina Theater on Main Street.
The idea was that of Bob Sanderson of Medina, who said it is a revival of historic events which used to take place at election times, when political parties rented a store to promote their political party and used it as a gathering place for socializing.
Bob Sanderson and Bill Blount are outside the Republican Resource Center at the Medina Theater.
Sanderson is assisted by 15 volunteers, including Kris Nudd and her mother-in-law, Jan Nudd, John and Ellie Kage, Nancy Clary, Larry Calabro and Bill Blount.
“This is the first time we’ve done anything like this,” Sanderson said. “We’ve already registered three first-time voters. We all have a vote, but we can do so much more than that,” he said, explaining why he got the idea to open a Republican Resource Center. “We should show pride in our election system.”
In the short time they’ve been open, Sanderson said they already sold 60 yard signs for Trump.
In addition to signs, they have hats, buttons, decals, pens, flags, apparel and, of course, lots of information on their candidate and why they believe he is the best choice for president.
Clary said she is behind Trump because the opponents are spreading misleading information.
John Kage said he supports Trump because he knows what the former president brings to table, based on his record.
Kris Nudd said under the current administration has put the homeland and world at risk.
“We need someone strong, like Trump,” she said. “We lived in Germany for three years and we were scared to come back here. It’s terrifying to think about four more years of this administration.”
Her husband Jim served in the military and worked for the government for 40 years before retiring as a command chief sergeant in the Air Force and returning to Medina in January.
Clary said it’s obvious what the best choice is to run our country.
“Our first leaders were not politicians – they were businessmen,” she said. “That is who was meant to run our country.”
Sanderson said they are planning a pizza party from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday for all volunteers. People can stop and meet Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and district attorney candidate Susan Howard.
A party is planned at the Republican Resource Center on election night.
BASOM – With a warm, sunny weekend ahead, consider a visit to Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge now to experience bird migration, natural abundance, and wildlife activity.
Various shorebirds are already heading through the area, providing special sightings. Route 63, which connects the refuge’s Orleans and Genesee county sides, re-opened this afternoon. The refuge’s visitor center will be open Saturday until 4 p.m., with representatives available to lend binoculars and field guides, and answer questions.
For woodpeckers, warblers, nuthatches and brown creepers, walk the Kanyoo Trail located off of Lewiston Road. The Kanyoo Trail is a short loop hike of just over 1 mile that takes visitors through forest and marsh habitats. A bumper crop of fallen acorns is attracting red squirrels. The damper, milder weather is starting to bring colorful mushrooms and fungi to fallen logs and mossy hollows. The woods are full of berries and wild grapes, attracting a variety of wildlife. Please be aware that foraging for human food is not permitted at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. At this time of year, most warblers have molted out of their showy summer breeding plumage, so they are notoriously difficult to identify, but it can be a fun challenge. Along the boardwalk through the marsh, keep an eye out for swimming muskrats and look for painted turtles basking in the late summer sun.
For wading birds, ducks, shorebirds, egrets, and sandhill cranes, try the Feeder Road Trail. This trail comes off of the Kayoo Trail parking lot on Lewiston Road. Walk along the wall of the red building to come out along Kumpf Marsh. The marsh water level is low, and the remaining pool of shallow water and surrounding mud flats are a good place to observe greater and lesser yellowlegs, least sandpipers, and winged rarities as migration season often brings unexpected visitors like the glossy ibis recently seen at this location. Canada geese are starting to arrive in large numbers, with mallards, blue-winged teals, and a scattering of other duck species paddling in the pool.
Resident bald eagles, common gallinules, black-crowned night herons, and other water loving birds can be seen from Cayuga Overlook without additional walking. The overlook parking area is on Lewiston Road.
For fields of beautiful purple, gold, and pink wildflowers, warblers, various sparrow species, and migrating monarch butterflies, hike the Visitors’ Center Trail at 1101 Casey Rd., Basom. This one-mile loop trail, starting at the right of the building, is fully graveled and is an easy walk. The pine grove at the back of the trail can be a good place to see warblers. Check out the floating bridge for a closer look at the marsh, where visitors may see belted kingfishers hunting, and huge flocks of red-winged blackbirds swirling up from the cattails as they group together and prepare to migrate south. The newly-installed benches along this path are a nice place to have a picnic lunch, and you can stop at the visitor center to see the educational displays, use the bathroom, and visit the Flyway Nature Store.
Long-billed dowitchers were recently seen at Center Marsh, along Sour Springs Road. Water levels are low, making it a good place to see herons, egrets and shorebirds. For bird watching from your car, be sure to stop at nearby Ringneck Overlook for a beautiful Orleans County marsh vista.
Gray catbirds, cedar waxwings and other fruit eaters are flocking to the berry bushes along Swallow Hollow nature trail off Knowlesville Road on the eastern edge of the refuge. Local birders have reported a huge variety of migratory warblers at this trail over the past few weeks This is also a reliable spot to see flocks of rusty blackbirds in late fall foraging in wet leaf litter. Deer are common along this trail, and it is a wonderful place to look for thrushes and other songbirds. Swallow Hollow’s 1.3- mile loop winds through forest and marsh and includes a long section of elevated boardwalk. Listening for calling chickadees can be a good way to locate the mostly silent warblers at this time of year, since they often flock together to forage.
The 2.5 mile out-and-back Onondaga Nature trail is another good place to look for warblers and is an especially nice spot to observe mushrooms and to enjoy the fall foliage.
Come visit the trails and overlooks of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge for your own seasonal adventure! The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset.
The visitor center is located at 1101 Casey Road between route 77 and Route 63. For more information, hours, trail maps, directions and upcoming events see the refuge website (www.fws.gov/refuge/iroquois), or the Facebook page, Iroquois Observations.
The Class of 1974 gathers for a group photo at the Archery Club on Saturday. Front row, from left: Richard Saeva, John Gavenda, Gay Demos, Wanda Riley, Kim Wright Pritt, Sandy Sanders Flugel, Willie Riley, Donna Celmer Woolston, Michele Johnson DiCureia, Sherry Lanning Wheatley. 2nd row: Helen Furmanski Miles, Mary Louise DiGerolamo, Rodney Woolston, Alan Monacelli, Laurie Tully, Helen Markle Shetler, Janet Palacios Hausner, Deb Engle Martillotta, Renee Schoonover Colonna, Sue Forder Polisoto, Sue Hamilton Ries, Sue Salchak Fetzner, Stephen DePeters. 3rd row: Tom Behage, Jim Kirby, Jim Spanton, John Borello, Dan Marek, Joel Allen, Charlie Breuilly, John Pickett, Nancy Weits Horth, Becky Allen Prophet, Linda Hickein Roberts, Tony Navarra, Jim Passarell, Ray Flugel, Peter Southcott. Not pictured, but attended: Gasper Pecorella, Margaret Coville Swan, and Cynthia Taber
Photos and information courtesy of Kim Pritt
WATERPORT – The Albion Central School Class of 1974 celebrated their 50th Class Reunion the weekend of September 9-10.
The class gathered for a Meet ‘n Greet at the Tavern on the Ridge on Friday evening and the reunion was held at the St. Mary’s Archery Club in Waterport on Saturday.
Seventy-three attended the reunion, including 41 classmates. Guests of honor of the class were four former teachers: Mr. Rick Bovenzi – Science, Mr. Mark Chamberlain – Science, Mr. Dick Contant – Business, and Mr. Bill Lattin – Art.
Sadly, the Class of ’74 has lost 32 classmates since graduation. A memorial table with an empty chair was displayed to honor their memory. “Those that touch our lives, stay in our heart forever!”
These retired teachers stopped by the reunion. From left include Mark Chamberlain, Bill Lattin, Rick Bovenzi and Dick Contant.
The Reunion Planning Team, from left, includes: Sue Salchak Fetzner, Nancy Weits Horth, Helen Markle Shetler, John Gavenda, Charlie Breuilly, Deb Engle Martillotta, Kim Wright Pritt, John Borello, Sandy Sanders Flugel, Sherry Lanning Wheatley, Becky Allen Prophet, Laurie Tully and Linda Hickein Roberts. Not pictured is Marilyn Wright Kilborn.
Two class photos were taken. One was missing three classmates and the second then had three different classmates not pictured.
Pictured in front, from left: Gay Demos and Rich Saeva.
2nd Row – John Gavenda, Sue Forder Polisoto, Kim Wright Pritt, Becky Allen Prophet, Sherry Lanning Wheatley, Renee Schoonover Colonna, Donna Celmer Woolston, Rodney Woolston, Stephen DePeters, Margaret Coville Swan and Willie Riley.
3rd Row – Sue Salchak Fetzner, Helen Furmanski Miles, Helen Markle Shetler, Mary Louise DiGerolamo, Michele Johnson DiCureia, Deb Engle Martillotta, Janet Palacios Hausner, Sandy Sanders Flugel, Wanda Riley, Linda Hickein Roberts, Tony Navarra, John Borello, Dan Marek.
4th Row – Jim Spanton, Nancy Weits Horth, Tom Behage, Charlie Breuilly, Laurie Tully, John Pickett, Joel Allen, Allen Monacelli, Gasper Pecorella, Ray Flugel, Jim Kirby, Peter Southcott
Not pictured, but attended: Gasper Pecorella, Margaret Coville Swan and Cynthia Taber.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 September 2024 at 9:43 am
Photos courtesy of Emily Cebula: (Joe Baschnagel of Lockport, left, is Pipe Major with Celtic Spirit Pipe Band, which performed outside at the Yates Community Library on Aug. 26. Mary Metz, right, of Clarence Center, is fiddler. (Right) Celtic Spirit’s unique sound and adaptability to many musical genres is due to its varied instrumentation. Sandra Lewis, right, of Somerset, is keyboardist and vocalist. She is also the assistant clerk for the Village of Lyndonville.
LYNDONVILLE – After weather forced the cancellation of a concert twice this summer by the Barker Community Band, Library Director Emily Cebula hopes the third time is the charm.
The Barker band is scheduled to perform at 6 p.m. on Monday outside the Yates Community Library. The Concert on the Lawn series started on July 2 and about 650 people have attended the nine events.
The concerts have been funded by the NYS Council on the Arts with a grant administered by Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.
The concerts have been on the back lawn of the library, overlooking Johnson Creek.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 13 September 2024 at 9:20 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Gary Pask of Middleport waits for his wife Diane, who is getting information on Orleans Community Health’s first Resource Fair on Thursday afternoon.
MEDINA – The first Resource Fair sponsored by Orleans Community Health was a resounding success, according to Scott Robinson, director Marketing, Community and Outreach.
“We were slammed with people,” said Lori Condo, assistant controller, who helped register people in the front lobby. “We are so excited at the turnout.”
In addition to testing options in Imaging/Radiology and Laboratory departments, there were free services, information on billing and vendors from throughout the county providing health-related facts on their services.
The Lumps and Bumps Clinic with Dr. Devon Huff was one of the most popular features.
“The clinic was full most of the time,” Robinson said.
(Left) Vendors from service organizations in Orleans County lined the hallways of Orleans Community Health for the organization’s first Resource Fair. (Right) Kim Gray, chief nursing officer and director of Surgical Services at Medina Memorial Hospital, compares notes with surgeon Dr. Devon Huff, who held a Lumps and Bumps Clinic during the hospital’s first Resource Fair. The clinic was one of the most popular features of the afternoon.
Vendors included U Connect Care, Orleans County Mental Health, Office for the Aging, Child and Family Services, Walsh Duffield (Medicare information), Hospice of Orleans County, M-Power Insurance Agency (Medicare information) and Cornell Cooperative Extension.
“This event is pretty cool,” said Sarah Martin, a nutritionist at Cooperative Extension, who handed out recipe cards with healthy recipes.
Other vendors handed out pens, candy, hand sanitizer informational cards on which to log prescriptions.
One couple who came to check out the fair was Gary and Diane Pask of Middleport.
“We local people are blessed with a good health facility and we wanted to see what they have in case we ever need it,” Gary said.
“We’re just being aware, checking out what is available,” Diane said.
“We had been talking about doing another Resource Fair in the spring, and this one was so successful, we may do it again next fall,” Robinson said. ‘We are very happy to be helping the community.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 September 2024 at 8:19 am
ROYALTON – Two construction workers were taken to the hospital after getting hit by a car on Thursday afternoon, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office said.
A driver of a 2013 Chrysler sedan, 59-year-old Darrin Moreland of Middleport, was westbound on State Road at 2:28 p.m. when the vehicle moved to the north road shoulder. The sedan then struck a water tanker truck where it was parked, unoccupied, on the road shoulder, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The sedan continued down the right side of the water tanker truck and then hit a construction worker, 24-year-old Zackary Brown of Newfane, who was seated on the grass next to the truck. The sedan then made contact with a pump trailer that was parked on the grass north of the truck.
A second construction worker, 23-year-old Sheldon Gardner of Little Genesee, who was standing on the trailer was knocked down onto the floorboard of the trailer. The sedan came to rest between the water tanker truck and the pump trailer, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
The driver of the sedan wasn’t injured. Brown, the construction worker who was seated in the grass, was flown by Mercy Flight to ECMC for treatment for neck and back pain.
Gardner, the other construction worker on the trailer, was taken by ambulance to ECMC for similar complaints of pain.
An investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office is continuing.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 September 2024 at 8:00 pm
Photo by Donn Pollard/ Office of Governor: Kathy Hochul speaks today in New York City at a recognition ceremony to honor the bravery and dedication of New York State’s defense forces. She praised the New York National Guard. Later during a news conference she shared she will be having procedure on Friday to remove a form of skin cancer from her nose.
Gov. Kathy Hochul shared today that she has a form of skin cancer on her nose, and will have a procedure on Friday morning.
Hochul said her doctor discovered a Basal cell carcinoma during a routine checkup. She told reporters today it is just a “tiny, tiny speck on her nose.”
Hochul said she would return to work right away with a bandage on her nose following the procedure.
She urged New Yorkers to get regular health check-ups.
State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt posted a message on social media, wishing good health for the governor.
“On behalf of our New York State Senate Republicans Conference I am sending our combined prayers and well wishes to Governor Kathy Hochul for a fast and total recovery,” Ortt said. “I join her in encouraging New Yorkers to maintain regular check ups to catch any abnormalities.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 September 2024 at 4:12 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Some of the worship participants for the First Presbyterian Church of Albion’s 200th anniversary service on Sunday are pictured just before the start of the service at 11 a.m.
From left include Leigh Hamilton; Amanda Krenning-Muoio; elder Mindy Shaffer, moderator with the Presbytery of the Genesee Valley; Jim Vanbrederode, a bagpiper; The Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church; and the Rev. Mary Jane and Gary Saunders, pastors emeritus.
The church celebrated the bicentennial on Sunday and was happy to welcome back former long-time pastors, Gary and Mary Saunders. They have since retired after serving a church in Bowling Green, Ohio.
From left in front include Amanda Krenning-Muoio, Leigh Hamilton, Mary Jane Saunders, Gary Saunders, Kaylin Gannon and Sue Thaine. Elder Mindy Shaffer, moderator with the Presbytery of the Genesee Valley, is in back at podium and brought greetings and congratulations from the Presbytery.
The Rev. Susan Thaine and her husband Mike Thaine dance while the Batavia Swings Band performs on Saturday during a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.
The Rev. Thaine, an Albion native, has led the church the past six years.
Dan Klinczar and the Batavia Swing Band played for two hours, despite some drizzly weather and cool temperatures. They started with music by Gerswin, then “New York, New York,” and “Moonlight Serenade.”
The community was welcome to enjoy the music and a dance floor outside the church. East State Street was closed to traffic from Main to Park streets for the celebration.
The church wanted to have a catered dinner on the street, but the meal was moved inside due to the weather.
39 Problems catered a meal inside the church in the fellowship hall. The church choir often goes to the 39 Problems restaurant after rehearsals on Wednesday evening.
The dessert on Saturday included a cupcake with two candles. There were 100 cupcakes and the 200 candles represented the church’s first two centuries. The cupcakes were made by Andrea Muoio.
The Rev. Susan Thaine, center, presents Gary and Mary Jane Saunders with certificates and the honorary titles of pastors emeritus. The Saunders were leaders in the church for 24 years and raised their three sons in Albion. They moved to Albion in 1985.
“It’s a profound privilege to have a little recognition and be with you all tonight,” the Rev. Gary Saunders told the group.
Kevin Gardner, an elder in the church, shared about the first 200 years of the church. The congregation started with 16 people and they built a church that has served the community for two centuries and counting.
Initially the congregation met in homes in 1824. Those 16 people were part of the Congregational Church in Barre and withdrew to start the new church in Albion.
The Presbyterians built a church on Main Street in 1830, a building they quickly outgrew. Christ Episcopal Church has used that structure for more than 150 years.
The Presbyterians built a brick church on East State, and then an even bigger building made of Medina Sandstone that opened in 1874. That church, with a 175-foot-high spire, is the tallest building in Orleans County.
Jim Vanbrederode plays the bagpipes during a procession into the church on Sunday.
The Rev. Susan Thaine shared a sermon, “God is Not Done Yet.” She said the church is celebrating the first 200 years of the Presbyterian congregation in Albion, with eyes on the future.
HOLLEY/CLARENDON – Mathematical problem: A cow yields 7 gallons of milk daily. It takes about ten pounds or 1.25 gallons of cow’s milk to make a pound of cheese.
BASOM – With a warm, sunny weekend ahead, consider a visit to Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge now to experience bird migration, natural abundance, and wildlife activity.
