Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Seneca Chief welcomed visitors at Medina’s Canal Basin on Monday evening. The boat is a reproduction of the original 73-foot-long Seneca Chief boat that opened the Erie Canal in 1825. It was the first boat to travel the canal from Buffalo to New York City.

The boat was constructed over nearly four years by volunteers at the Buffalo Maritime Center. Next year for the Erie Canal’s bicentennial, the Seneca Chief will travel the entire canal as a tribute to the original boat that carried Gov. DeWitt Clinton across the canal.

The Seneca Chief is doing a test run from Aug. 9 to Aug. 18 of that epic trip, going from Buffalo to Rochester and then back again. The Seneca Chief will be back in Medina on Friday with tours of the boat from 4 to 7 p.m.

Roger Allen, a master boat builder with the Buffalo Maritime Center, welcomes visitors to the boat when it was stopped in Medina on Monday evening. The boat will be open for tours in Brockport today from 4 to 7 p.m. at Harvester Park at 49 State St.

Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman thanks the Buffalo Maritime Center for including Medina in the stops for the Seneca Chief.

Brian Trzeciak, executive director of the Buffalo Maritime Center, said the organization wants to highlight the Erie Canal’s role in the state, while sharing stories and techniques of traditional boatbuilding.

“We love this town,” Trzeciak said after being introduced by Sherman.

The journey so far is going very well, with the boat being pushed by the tug CL Churchill.

“This is a wondrous moment for us,” Trzeciak said.

Visitors check out the inside of the Seneca Chief.

The Maritime Center said the boat’s keel, frames, and other structural timbers were made of white oak. The keelson was a single 60-foot-long piece of reclaimed Douglas Fir.

The center says this about the wood in the boat:

“The planking consisted of two layers of 1-inch-thick cypress with a waterproof dynel cloth set in epoxy between the layers. The outer layer of planking was caulked with cotton in the traditional manner. This combination of modern and traditional planking methods was designed to help the boat stay watertight even if it spent winters out of the water.

“All of the bolts used in the backbone structure were forged in the BMC’s own machine shop by a crew of volunteers. This crew also produced several specialized tools and hardware needed to build the boat.”

Tools on display include a crooked knife in front. This indigenous woodworking knife is held with the finger up and thumb out with the blade facing the user. The knife shapes the wood parts of bark canoe and helps prepare the spruce roots for lashing.

There are informational displays about the Erie Canal, Gov. DeWitt Clinton, the Seneca Nation of Indians.

Visitors can try paddle shaping in one of the activities led by the Buffalo Maritime Center.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State has paid over $2 billion in bonuses to more than 800,000 health care workers statewide through the Health Care Worker Bonus Program. The program was launched by Governor Hochul in 2022 and provided bonuses of up to $3,000 for eligible health care workers across New York.

“Health care workers deliver for New Yorkers every day – and that’s why we’re delivering for them,” Governor Hochul said. “Our powerful investments are putting money back in workers’ pockets and helping to grow our health care workforce to provide the highest quality care for New Yorkers.”

New York’s Health Care Worker Bonus Program issued payments to workers who provide hands-on and patient-facing health care services. Workers receiving payments through this program must have an annualized base salary (excluding any bonuses or overtime pay) of $125,000 or less and can be full-time or part-time.

Bonuses payments were determined by specific “vesting periods,” or the number of hours worked during a consecutive six-month period between October 1, 2021, through March 31, 2024. Qualified employees received up to a maximum of $3,000 in total bonus payments over two vesting periods.

By putting more money in the pockets of working New Yorkers, Governor Hochul is continuing her ongoing efforts to address the cost of living – including recent announcements of supplemental child tax credit payments and increased access to child care assistance for working families.

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Health care workers are the backbone of our health care infrastructure, and they are the frontline workers who go above and beyond to provide hands-on care and medical services. Through Gov. Hochul’s Health Care Worker Bonus Program we acknowledge our health care workers’ unwavering dedication to the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

BARRE – Barre town officials and community members this evening celebrated a new playground at the town park on Route 98.

Willow Duell in red and Liberty Klein in yellow cut the ribbon during the celebration. At left is Barre Town Councilman Dave Waters with Town Supervisor Sean Pogue, second from right. Dale Brooks, the town highway superintendent, is in back at right.

Pogue said many in the town contributed to the effort that has been years in the making.

He thanked the Barre Betterment Committee for raising money for the project, including securing a $35,000 grant from the AES Corporation, which is developing a 200-megawatt solar facility in Barre and Shelby. AES is also doing a smaller solar project and is nearly done with construction on Route 98, not far from the town park.

Pogue said the Betterment Committee has been “the driving force” behind the project. The Betterment Committee purchased six new playground pieces at a deep discount for $31,500. That came from the AES money, with the remaining $3,500 to go towards topsoil and seeding near the playground.

The town also was able to keep three pieces of playground equipment – swings, a caterpillar climbing apparatus and a slide – and move them to the new spot in the park.

Town Supervisor Sean Pogue, center in back, thanks many contributors who have helped make the new playground a reality.

Pogue also commended AES for its contribution, and Barre Stone Products and Keeler Construction for supplying some materials and also donating towards new electric at the park.

Jason Foote, the town park director, also secured grants from Apex Clean Energy to move the project along and buy some of the materials.

Titan Development in Gasport assembled and installed the new playground and three older units, as well as providing expertise in the layout.

Dale Brooks, the highway superintendent, and the other highway workers did the site work, collaborated with Titan Development, and are putting the finishing touches on the site, Pogue said.

The town supervisor also commended RTO/Ambient for providing free WiFi at the park. Look for Barre Park and “guest” on the WiFi signal.

Pogue said the Town Board wants to do more at the site in the future, with a goal for restrooms.

The project thus far has cost in the $60,000 to $70,000 range with grants and donations covering most of the expense. The town spent $16,000 from its budget to hire Titan and that came from the federal ARPA funds, Pogue said.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Town of Albion Highway Department has added more signage to draw attention to the underpass on Butts Road.

The signage warns to not have tall trucks go under the bridge and orange flags to draw more attention on previous signs. Together they should alert drivers to an underpass that is struck about three times a year, said Mike Neidert, the town highway superintendent.

The highway department added the new signs and orange flags north and south of the underpass, which has a clearance of 7 feet, 2 inches.

There is another underpass on a railroad bridge not far away on Keitel Road with an 8-foot, 6-inch clearance. Neidert thinks some drivers may confuse the two leading to some of the accidents and scrapes on Butts Road.

The town spent about $1,200 to try to reduce the accidents with the underpass.

‘This is what inspired the many renditions of what might be considered an expression of beauty today – tattoos, androgyny, piercings or embracing of individuality.’ – Pat Greene

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (left) Artist Patricia Greene hangs a picture she painted of Jared Thurber in her exhibit titled “Images of Beauty,” which is hanging at Hometown Fitness Center, 119 Pearl St., Medina. (Right) Patricia Greene received a GO Art! Ripple grant for her exhibit. Here she holds a painting titled “Fabulous in Faux Fur,” which inspired her to do an androgynous exhibit.

MEDINA – The decision to do a painting of a person posing for a previous painting by Franz Von Stuck, a German artist from the early 20th century, inspired local artist Patricia Green to apply for a Ripple grant from GO Art! and create an androgynous exhibit.

The painting she copied was a female, but Greene chose to use a male model for her pose.

“This is what inspired the many renditions of what might be considered an expression of beauty today – tattoos, androgyny, piercings or embracing of individuality,” she said.

She remembered Jared Thurber with his piercing and ear gauge and asked if he would allow her to paint him. He agreed.

“Images of Beauty” is a look at modern day images of physical beauty and adornment, Greene explained. “My intention was to explore contemporary variations of what is considered ‘beautiful’. Body image has evolved dramatically in recent decades.

“Physicality, body alterations via surgical enhancement, tattooing, piercing and expressions of femininity and masculinity are all practices that have been in flux in recent times. Without judgment, but rather to document, I have drawn correlations to past images of beauty found in fine art and unearthed history.”

Greene continued to say while some individuals have chosen to alter their bodies, others have embraced their individuality – whether through grey hair or their physique.

“I find these dichotomies intriguing,” she said.

Greene approached Hometown Wellness Center at 119 Pearl St., asking to hang her exhibit there.

“Pam Eaton is proprietor and enthusiastically hosted the show,” Greene said. “’Images of Beauty’ was paired with the fitness venue to correlate with the theme.”

The exhibit is hung mostly in the cycle room and is available for viewing during various fitness sessions until the end of August.

“The New Odalisque” is a painting artist Patricia Greene reworked from a painting by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, depicting a woman who is embracing her gray hair.

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Joint Fire District has been awarded $115,000 in federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced today.

Nearby to Orleans County, the Rapids Volunteer Fire Company in Lockport also was awarded $16,728, and Wolcottsville Fire Department in Akron was approved for $109,235.

The grants are part $2,476,058.74 in federal funding for fire departments across Upstate New York. The money will be used to provide protective gear, training, and supplies to emergency personnel across 34 fire departments.

 “Every day, brave firefighters risk their lives on the frontlines to protect communities across Upstate NY, from Latham to Lockport,” Schumer said in a press reelase. “This nearly $2.5 million federal investment means better training, protective gear, and equipment that our firefighters need to keep themselves and New Yorkers safe. I stood with firefighters across Upstate New York to push for the reauthorization of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program and I’m grateful that, as a result, the AFG Program is continuing to deliver results.”

“New York firefighters work tirelessly to protect our communities,” Gillibrand said. “This federal funding will provide them with the necessary equipment, training, and resources to keep them safe as they respond to emergency situations. I will continue fighting for New York fire departments and working to ensure they are well-equipped for both their safety and that of our communities.”

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health has announced its upcoming Resource Fair/Open House at Medina Memorial Hospital.

Scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 12, the event is a significant expansion of the Wellness Fair held in September 2022, offering a wider range of services, activities and opportunities for community engagement, according to Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach.

This year’s event will again feature the popular opportunity to schedule procedures with the Imaging/Radiology and Laboratory departments. In addition, Orleans Community Health will introduce new offerings, including a Bumps and Bruises Clinic hosted by the OCH Surgery Clinic, guided tours of the hospital, assistance with signing up for patient portal and a host of other significant and engaging activities, Robinson said.

Procedures by the Imaging/Radiology and Laboratory departments can be scheduled online by clicking here.

Tests with Imaging/Radiology are $10 each. They include US aorta screening (looking for aneurysms of the main vessel), US carotid screening (looking for occlusions which can lead to stroke) and ABI (arterial) screening (looks for peripheral vascular disease).

Tests with the Laboratory are $10 each or all three for $25. They include hemoglobin A1c, PSA (prostate specific antigen) and the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).

Robinson emphasized the importance of the event, saying, “This is an opportunity to open our doors wide to the community and invite them in to see everything that is offered. Especially for individuals who haven’t needed medical services recently, the guided tours are a great opportunity to see the advancements being made.”

In addition to the many resources provided by Orleans Community Health, local organizations that serve the community’s needs are invited to participate by setting informational tables throughout the hospital.

“We’re welcoming those organizations to also attend and set up information tables throughout our halls,” Robinson said.

For more information or to express interest in attending, contact Robinson at srobinson@medinamemorial.org.

Provided officials: Several local elected officials joined Oak Orchard Health leaders on Thursday in celebrating the opening of the expanded behavioral health program in Albion.

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

ALBION – It’s official. The Behavioral Health Program for Children and Adolescents is growing at the Oak Orchard Health Wellness Center in Albion and the Brockport Health Center.

Oak Orchard has always treated children (as well as adults) but there has been a growing need for a counseling specialty for young kids ages 2-21. With that in mind, Oak Orchard Health hired additional therapists with pediatric expertise and a psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Dr. Michael Scharf (left), Psychiatrist-in-Chief at the University of Rochester Medical Center, joins Dr. James Goetz, retired as former Chief of Pediatrics at Oak Orchard Health.

“We are thrilled to utilize the Wellness Center to enhance the lives of children and their families,” said Karen Kinter, CEO of Oak Orchard Health. “This ribbon-cutting ceremony symbolizes the expansion of our program and the community’s needs. We eagerly anticipate helping many children here and at all our health centers.”

This program started with a seed of an idea from Dr. James Goetz, retired as former chief of pediatrics at Oak Orchard Health after 45 years, said Robin Govanlu, Chief of Behavioral Health at OOH.

“Of course, OOH could not have done it alone,” Govanlu said. “We have served as a lead agency for many years on the Western Monroe County Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Coalition, which includes important community partners such as The University of Rochester Strong Pediatric Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, Rochester Regional Health, SUNY Brockport, and the Brockport Central School District. Thank you to everyone who made this program a reality.”

Dr. Michael Scharf, Psychiatrist-in-Chief at URMC Golisano Children’s Hospital and Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, is a key partner with this coalition.

“I met Dr. Goetz many years ago when I was still a trainee at the University of Rochester Medical Center,” Scharf said. “He sought out behavioral health services and training to serve the children in this region. This was before the pandemic, and it has continued to get worse. Back then not a single child psychiatrist was available from the site of Rochester General Hospital to Batavia. This group came together to solve this problem and to be centered in ‘community.’ There can be no health without mental health. You can’t support children’s health without supporting families. You can’t support families without supporting the community. And that’s what Oak Orchard Health is here to do.”

The ribbon cutting was attended by many local and state leaders. Assemblyman Steve Hawley was present along with JW Cook from Governor Hochul’s office, Bernard Alexander represented Senator Charles Schumer, Congressman Joe Morelle sent a proclamation, Skip Draper represented NY State Senator Robert Ortt. Lynne Johnson, Chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, and Marie Mongeon, VP Police for CHCANYS, also were at the event. Many spoke of the importance of bringing behavioral health services to the children in the region.

For more information or to make an appointment contact Oak Orchard Health at (585) 589-5613. or visit our website at www.OakOrchardHealth.org.

9 churches, 65 volunteers joined in hosting event

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Jovannie Canales, associate pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship, speaks from the amphitheater stage on Saturday during Family Fun Day at Bullard Park. Harvest and eight other churches put on the event with a Christian message and also many free activities and food.

Canales is joined on the stage by his wife Melisa, left, and Faith Smith, director of the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen at Harvest.

Jovannie and Melisa Canales used to be the pastors at the Oasis Church in Medina, which started Family Fun Day. That church has merged with Harvest Christian Fellowship.

There were six Family Fun Days in Medina at Butts Park before the change to Albion on Saturday.

Jovannie Canales said eight people were baptized on Saturday, and 202 people made commitments or rededications to be Christians as followers of Jesus Christ.

These children use sling shots to fire away at Goliath, a giant, in one of the activities. There were several bounce houses and other games.

About 900 people attended Family Fun Day which used to be held at Butts Park in Medina. This year it shifted to Bullard in Albion.

Volunteers cooked 1,000 hot dogs which were given away for free. Charlie Broadway of the Risen Café, left, works the grill and is joined by John Austin.

There were 65 volunteers for the event on Saturday from nine different churches.

Several local agency leaders spoke at the event about services they provide in the community.

Alaina Fleming, who works for the county’s Office of Child and Family Services in the Department of Social Services, encouraged people to consider being foster families. She also spoke about the Safe Harbour program which tries to educate children and the community about the dangers of human trafficking. Fleming also shared about the youth court program with peers providing accountability for minor delinquent acts.

Faith Carini-Graves of Hillside Family of Agencies works as a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Hillside Family of Agencies. She said Hillside works across the state with youths and families that have experienced trauma and helps them to overcome challenges.

Sharon Sugar, office manager at Care Net of Greater Orleans, shares about the services offered at Care Net including pregnancy testing, education and limited ultrasounds. Besides pregnancy testing and support, Care Net also offers STI testing and parenting classes for both males and females.

Care Net gives out material aid such as diapers, wipes, blankets and clothing up to size 24 months, when available. The center also recently opened an art gallery.

WATERPORT – The Oak Orchard Lighthouse’s annual fundraiser is called “Keep the Light On” for good reason.

“People don’t realize what it costs to keep the lighthouse going,” said Peg Wiley, who was recognized at the fundraiser Saturday night as the founding member of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Board.

Chris Manaseri, president of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse board, shows Peg Wiley a plaque which will be hung in the lighthouse commemorating her vision in founding the original Lighthouse Board and initiating fundraising to build the lighthouse.

She explained they have ongoing expenses, including $2,500 a year for liability insurance, an electric bill and the cost of special oil paint which is ordered from Denmark and applied every few years.

The fundraiser Saturday night featured guest speaker Roy Widrig, New York Sea Grant Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist for the Great Lakes region. In introducing him, Museum board member Dave Giacherio said Widrig had previously given a talk to the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association, and was very well received.

Widrig provides assistance and educational outreach on issues associated with coastal erosion, shoreline erosion management and engineering and coastal flooding and mitigation. He spent some time this past week looking at the shore line of Lake Ontario in Orleans County.

“A lot of what I do involves the geologic processes which created our shoreline today,” Widrig said. “It took 10,000 to 30,000 years for glaciers to form and come down to carve out these lakes.”

He explained ice jams on several rivers resulted in sediment being deposited on shores, thus making the lake smaller than it originally was.

“This is happening in other parts of the world right now,” he said.

He showed videos of different ways to slow erosion on the shoreline, such as willow trees and strategically placed slabs of rock. He said Lake Ontario’s shore line is slowly sinking a couple of inches every year, and while it is not possible to slow the process, it is not all bad.

Following Widrig’s presentation, Chris Manaseri, president of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum board, introduced Larry Albanese, who was one of the original members of the lighthouse board and serves today as its vice president. He also introduced Diane Blanchard, another original board member, who currently is board treasurer.

A slide show highlighting Peg Wiley’s involvement with the Oak Orchard Lighthouse declared her the “Oak Orchard Warrior.”

“Diane is the glue that held us all together,” Albanese said. “If it wasn’t for her and several others like her, there would be no lighthouse today.”

Wiley, who Manaseri called “the mover and shaker behind the lighthouse,” took the stage next to remember board members lost, including the very first member, Marge Sage, and Cheryl Staines, Diana Jeffords, Mike Masters and Dick Anderson. Dick’s wife Donna was also very supportive of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse, as were the late Gene and Joey Haines.

“Gene and Joey gave us the use of their beautiful cottage for our fundraisers, and never charged us a thing,” Wiley said.

Roy Widrig, New York Sea Grant Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist for the Great Lakes region, was guest speaker at the Oak Orchard Lighthouse fundraiser Saturday night at Carlton United Methodist Church on Archibald Road in Waterport.

Also part of Wiley’s tribute was a video compiled by Cheryl Giacherio, documenting Wiley’s involvement as the lighthouse took shape, from an idea to a structure.

Construction on the lighthouse began in March 2010 and was completed by early summer. Since then, thousands of visitors have signed the log book from all over the world, including New Zealand, Turkey, Germany, Alaska, Ireland, Canada and all the states in the Union.

After the first dessert buffet fundraiser last year was a sellout, another was planned this year, with addition of a new feature – an inaugural photo contest.

Winners were announced at the end of Saturday’s program, with Tom Rivers placing first for his photo of the lighthouse during the Aurora Borealis in May, Robyn Ottaviano second, and Claire Squicciarini, granddaughter of the late Dick Anderson, third.

The meeting included a gallery of entries in the inaugural lighthouse photo contest. The top three photos at left, from top to bottom, include the first, second and third place winners.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Diane Blanchard also was an original member of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse board and its secretary. Here she stands next to a 1/6 scale replica of the lighthouse built by Gregg Squicciarini, son-in-law of original board member, the late Dick Anderson. (Right) Larry Albanese, an original member of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse board, tells about Peg Wiley’s efforts in forming the board and being the catalyst to build the lighthouse.

Group based in Rochester places 2nd at championship in Indianapolis

Provided photos: Pictured from left to right in front row – Kara Brown (Colorguard Instructor), Melissa Jaeger (Colorguard Instructor), Kaela Grosslinger (alumnus), Tiffany Organisciak (Front Ensemble Instructor) and Kyla Leno-Denise (Assistant Director). Back row: Tim Moshier (Drill Designer), Molly Jaeger (Colorguard Instructor), Matthew Jaeger (Director), Riley Tompkins (Student), Raymond Jones (Visual Instructor), Michael Denise (Battery Percussion Instructor), Joey Organisciak (Music Composer/Arranger).

Press Release, White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps

Two students from Orleans County competed with the White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps of Rochester for championship competition in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Two students from Orleans County are in the White Sabers, including Riley Tompkins if Medina, left, and Jason Anstey of Albion.

Jason Anstey is a recent graduate of Albion, and Riley Tompkins is entering his senior year at Medina. Jason played trumpet and Riley was in the drumline on Tenors.

Both won awards at the banquet. Riley Tompkins won an award for most improved in the drumline and Jason Anstey won Best Rookie for visual.

Kaela Groslinger, a graduate of Medina, also participated in the competition as a member of the Colorguard.

The Corps placed 2nd in their class and received awards for High Brass and General Effect at Indianapolis. The White Sabers are a drum corps that rehearse and compete on weekends during the spring and summer.

They traveled all around New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania for competitions and shows before competing at the first Drum Corp International all age class world championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Many staff members from the Medina Mustang Marching Band instruct the White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps including Matthew Jaeger, Kyla Leno-Denise, Melissa Jaeger, Kara Brown, Molly Jaeger, Tiffany Organisciak, Michael Denise, Raymond Jones, Tim Moshier, and Joey Organisciak.

Provided photo: Hail hit Gaines this afternoon around 2:30 p.m. with the storm headed east.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Orleans County at 2:27 and is in effect until 3:15 p.m.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo said the storm will hit Orleans and northwestern Monroe counties, bringing 60 mile—per-hor winds and quarter-size hail.

“Hail damage to vehicles is expected,” the Weather Service said. “Expect wind damage to roofs, siding and trees.”

By Adrienne Kirby, Town of Gaines Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 4, Number 24

Editor’s Note: The following address was presented at the by Adrienne Lattin, Town of Gaines Historian, at the Cobblestone Society & Museum 52nd Patriotic Program, held on July 7th. For most of 19th century, the hamlet of Childs was known as Fair Haven.

GAINES – Not everybody has loved the patriotic anthem, “God Bless America.” Folk singer Woody Guthrie thought it was downright smarmy.

But, given that the whole United States Congress spontaneously sung it on the steps of the Capitol in the wake of 9/11, it’s fair to say that it has made a deep impression on the American psyche. Today, I wanted to use a few lines from this well-known song as a lens with which to more closely examine both patriotism and the life of one of Gaines’ most notable pioneers, John Proctor.

We typically think of patriotism using symbols common to the entire nation: the flag, the bald eagle, the Statue of Liberty, Mt. Rushmore. These symbols remind us of our history, and they remind us of those ideals that we consider to be distinctly American.

Patriotism is commonly defined as love of one’s country. Early on in “God Bless America,” we find the phrase, “land that I love.” I would posit that one cannot love one’s country unless one also loves a particular locale within that country.

John Proctor, 1787-1868

In other words, love of country is preceded by love of a specific, and much smaller region. Born just a few years after the War of Independence, John Proctor arrived here in 1810 at the age of 23. Two years later, he brought his new bride, Polly, to this crossroads to establish a life together. I think it is safe to say that John had a love of his birthplace, as he made a number of trips back to Massachusetts for visits. But greater still was his love for his home in western New York. He lived here for nearly sixty years.

The anthem continues, “stand beside her.” To stand beside someone or something can mean protecting it; military images are frequently used to symbolize patriotism. But it can also mean to stay faithful when life becomes difficult. John Proctor’s life illustrates both meanings.

Shortly after John had settled in with Polly to make their home, the War of 1812 started. His entry in the book “Pioneers of Orleans County” noted that during the war, a number of other settlers fled the country for fear of the British and Indians. In 1813, he was requested in the middle of the night to quickly alert inhabitants east of here that the British were coming and to take up arms, earning him the moniker of the “Paul Revere of the Ridge.”

He was chosen because he was the only one in the vicinity who owned a horse. He and a group of men that he rounded up during his ride went to a “place called Hardscrabble, near Lewiston” to perform what he called a “sort of garrison duty” for two weeks. Later in the year, he went to Buffalo to help defend against British attacks from Fort Erie, where he experienced some battle. Several men in his company were killed, while John noted that “several bullets passed through my clothes, and one grazed my finger.”

John stood ready to rally support against British troops during the war, and he stood here in Gaines for decades amidst great personal loss. As a historian investigating people who died long before living memory, and with limited resources at my disposal, I sometimes have to infer what people were like both by the things they did based on the records we have, but also sometimes by what they did not do.

John Proctor suffered a great deal of personal tragedy. In the early 1820s, he and Polly endured the loss of two children who never made it past toddlerhood. Both Polly and a two-year-old daughter died within two months of each other during an epidemic in 1828.

In the early days of Gaines, many died from what they referred to as “ague,” or what we would call malaria. Deaths from diseases that we now have vaccines for were all too common.

Clarissa Proctor’s monument is shown at Mt. Albion Cemetery. The family monument may be seen behind it. The headstones are for John, his wives and children.

John’s second wife passed away a few months after the birth of his fifth child. Complications in childbirth were also a common cause of death. His daughter Clarissa made it to adulthood and was even married, but she passed away at age 28. John erected a substantial monument in Mt. Albion for his beloved daughter in 1860.

And in 1866, John laid to rest his third wife. After so much grief, a person in his position might have chosen to look to the greener fields of Michigan for a new start. In fact, many individuals and families from Gaines chose to move west over the course of the 1800s. But despite the heartache, he stayed, and his presence must have provided this community a sense of continuity.

The next line in the anthem states, “and guide her.” In the early years of the 19th century, western New York was a place of opportunity, and like many others at the time, John was an entrepreneur, wheeling and dealing in real estate. In this, he was highly successful, and was one of the wealthiest men in Gaines for as long as he lived. Early on, he served in a number of different town offices. He was involved in the formation of the bank and other businesses in Gaines, and held mortgages for poor settlers who were unable to secure bank loans.

At one point, John Proctor owned nearly all the land that can be seen from the crossroads just outside these doors. It is no wonder that in the first half of the 19th century, this place was known as “Proctor’s Corners.” He was wealthy enough, and had enough influence to have made certain that “Proctor’s Corners” would be put on the map. He instead chose to name this hamlet “Fair Haven,” an inviting, welcoming name. One that suggests pleasant respite.

Over time, he sold pieces of land to different buyers, and the hamlet grew, not into a bustling town or village, but into a place where all of one’s basic needs could be met, materially, socially and spiritually. The general store and blacksmith supplied all the material needs that early settlers could not provide on their own. The tavern on the northwest corner was a place to connect with both neighbors and travelers, and was a source of news. And finally, there was the church in which we now sit. John Proctor both funded the construction of this church, and held the mortgage for the first church in Gaines. He fondly remembered, “For many years our religious worship was held in common together, with no denominational distinctions.”

John Proctor was a patriot, not only because he loved this land and did his part in the War of 1812, but he was community oriented. Business-wise, he had an eye as to what would build the area up, and not just for his own gain. As a pioneer, he understood that he and his neighbors were all in it together. He wrote, “Our associations in our wilderness home undergoing fatigue and hardships together, sharing alike in gratitude for every success, and in sympathy for every adversity, bound the early settlers together as a band of brothers.”

As the last line in the song states, John did all he could to make his “Home sweet home” the best it could be for everyone. May we follow his example.

Press Release, Orleans County Historical Association

ALBION – The proposed tour of the Orleans County Alms “Poor” House Cemetery today has generated a great deal of interest. Due to space and location constraints, the following parking arrangements are recommended:

“Vehicles displaying handicapped stickers may be parked adjacent to the cemetery,” said Tim Archer, who will be conducting the tour. “All other vehicles should be parked by the Civil Defense building. The cemetery is a short walk away – three tenths of a mile approximately. I would advise people to arrive early and to bring lawn chairs.”

A van will be available, courtesy of Weed Man, to convey some walkers to the cemetery, which is located at 14064 County House Road in Albion.

The tour, which is organized by the Orleans County Historical Association, will begin at 6 p.m.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A ministry continues that was started by the late Angela English, who filled purses with personal care kits and offered to pray with people.

Eddie and Rose English, Angela’s parents, on Saturday were joined by friends in making 87 purses available for free. They were at the courthouse lawn for about six hours, giving away the purses and praying with people.

Eddie and Rose are leaders of The Lord’s House, a church in Waterport.

Angela was 37 when she passed away on Oct. 19, 2020. She was diagnosed with cancer on Dec. 27, 2019. Angela started the “Purses with a Purpose” ministry in 2018. She would give purses with toiletries to women in the Albion community.

There were 87 purses available on Saturday. They were filled with soaps, lotions, conditioners, a mirror and earrings. The purses also included messages from Angela’s children, Omar and Olivia Peterson, and information on the HPV vaccine that can help prevent cervical cancer.

Yolanda Rice, center in back, and Evelyn Brady pray with a group of young people.

Rose English said many in the community helped to acquire the purses and fill them, especially the women’s ministry group at the Oak Orchard Assembly of God in Medina.