By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 23 January 2024 at 6:29 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Erica Wanecski of Medina, a history buff and avid volunteer, holds a child’s shoe a local resident found in his barn. She plans to show it at the January meeting of the Medina Historical Society, which annually is “Show and Tell” night. The meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. Monday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.
MEDINA – The January meeting of the Medina Historical Society is one which always creates a lot of interest.
The first meeting of each new year is “Show and Tell.”
“People always bring the most interesting things,” said Georgia Thomas, a board member of the Historical Society. “You never know what you’re going to see.”
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. on Monday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, and the public is invited to attend.
Erica Wanecski is also a member and is going to show an old child’s shoe which a Medina man found in his father’s barn. When a friend heard about the find, she was alarmed and said if he found it in the wall, it should be returned there immediately. She said it was a well-known superstition that people hid things in the walls for good luck, and if they were removed, it would bring bad luck.
Orleans County Historian Catherine Cooper said she had never heard of the superstition, but wasn’t surprised there was one.
She said people believed in all kinds of superstitions, such as it was bad luck to remove something from an Indian site or a burial site.
Hub contributor Ginny Kropf decided to do some research online and found, indeed, hiding shoes in a wall was a superstition dating back to the 1500s in the United Kingdom. She will share the story at Monday’s meeting.
Thomas said she is looking forward to the meeting to see what people bring. In the past, she recalls when Dave Schwert brought in a medical kit belonging to his father, who was a doctor. Another man who hunts with a muzzle loader has talked about his experiences on several occasions. Others have brought in memorabilia from when Fisher-Price was in town, and before that, H.J. Heinz Co.
“We’ve seen old kitchen utensils, button hooks, blacksmithing tools, postcards and old clothing,” Thomas said. “Craig Lacy once brought in an old map. It was all very interesting to think people used these things in yesteryear, and today nobody knows what they are.”
The Historical Society is closed during the winter months. They meet the last Monday of every month, except June, July and August. Special arrangements can be made to visit the museum by calling Thomas at (585) 798-3429.
Thomas suggested people log on to the Historical Society’s website to read their quarterly newsletter, The Bugle. Dave Miller is editor and anyone can contribute interesting facts about Medina. Thomas said there is a lot of interesting information about the canal, as it gets ready to celebrate its 200th anniversary next year.
Historical Society president Reinhard Rogowski invites anyone who is not a member to consider joining the museum. Dues are $15 for an individual or $20 for a family.
“It’s very reasonable and it helps us to keep the building open,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 January 2024 at 5:19 pm
Photo from Assemblyman Hawley’s Office: Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) attends a press conference Monday in Albany on education spending in the state budget.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley is speaking out against reductions in state aid for rural school districts.
In Orleans County, two of the five public schools would see overall cuts in state funding, based on the governor’s executive budget released last week.
Lyndonville and Kendall both are proposed for cuts in total state aid – Lyndonville by about $30,000 and Kendall by over $300,000.
Albion is proposed for a slight increase at $160,000, while Medina and Holley would each get about $1 million more.
Hawley and some of his Assembly colleagues held a news conference on Monday in the state capitol. Hawley said Gov. Hochul has not kept her promise to local school districts that they would not see a decrease in their foundation aid funding from the previous year.
“It’s ridiculous our schools should have to take a back seat while the governor continues to hinder them with less funding and more regulations,” Hawley said. “The governor should remember her promise to ensure foundation aid for local school districts would not decrease and give them the resources they need. I cannot and will not vote for any state budget that does not put the education of our children first.”
Here are the state aid runs in the governor’s budget for the five districts in Orleans County:
Albion
Foundation Aid: $26,052,376 to $26,442,339 (up by $389,963)
Total state aid: $34,275,359 to $34,435,633 (up by $160,274 or +0.47%)
Holley
Foundation Aid: $13,436,179 to $13,618,345 (up by $182,166)
Total state aid: $20,434,085 to $21,326,736 (up by $892,651, or +4.37%)
Kendall
Foundation Aid: $9,283,012 to $9,252,230 (down by $30,782)
Total state aid: $15,252,682 to $14,939,660 (down by $313,022, or -2.05%)
Lyndonville
Foundation Aid: $8,943,397 to $9,067,681 (up by $124,284)
Total state aid: $13,343,586 to $13,311,758 (down by $31,288, -0.24%)
Medina
Foundation Aid: $19,829,059 to $21,113,084 (up by $1,284,025)
Total state aid: $29,339,568 to $30,326,800 (up by $987,232, +3.36%)
File photo by Tom Rivers: Phil Berry, an instructor at Medina Lindy and the main organizer of the program, is shown at the Bent’s Opera House on Dec. 15, 2022 during a Medina class and dance that featured a “Cool Yule” theme.
Press Release, Medina Lindy
MEDINA – On Monday, Jan. 29, from 8 to 9 p.m. at Bent’s Opera House, Medina resident Phil Berry, director of Medina Lindy in the Village and producer of the upcoming Hollywood feature film ‘Jitterbug,’ will hold his first public information session about the film currently in development.
Berry, who also wrote and will star in the movie, will provide preliminary information about the $3 million film for teens, tweens and families, which features both Lindy Hop and Hip Hop dancing and is slated to shoot this summer in both Sweden and in Western New York.
At this first local information session, Berry will give attendees a brief overview of the storyline and themes in the film, a general outline of the current stage of production, as well as an explanation of how casting for the film will work both locally and internationally. He will also take questions from the audience. This session is free and open to the public and follows immediately after the regularly scheduled free Lindy Hop dance lesson taking place at Bent’s from 7 to 8 pm.
“This project combines my passions for film and Lindy Hop dance, and I’m excited to share with the local community what we are creating right here in Medina,” Berry said.
After relocating to Medina from Los Angeles, Berry, an award-winning actor and producer, formed the local dance scene, Medina Lindy in the Village, to spread Lindy Hop social dancing through monthly dances and free group and one-on-one instruction. He sees this film project as a next step in sharing dance.
“Medina Lindy helps me share my love of Lindy Hop and create community through dance in Medina. ‘Jitterbug’ will help me expand that vision worldwide.”
‘Rabies continues to be a serious public health concern in Genesee and Orleans counties and is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.’
Press Release, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments
The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting their first rabies immunization clinic of the year at no charge to participants on Thursday, February 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Batavia Town Highway Garage (3833 West Main Street Road, Batavia, NY).
Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per person maximum.
“We encourage all residents to take advantage of our first rabies immunization clinic of 2024 and ensure their pets are protected against rabies,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Rabies continues to be a serious public health concern in Genesee and Orleans counties and is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Please leave wildlife alone and do not feed, touch, or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or cats.”
The next rabies immunization clinics are as follows:
Orleans County Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 State Route 31, Albion, NY 14411)
Saturday, April 13, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, June 5, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 10, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Genesee County Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020)
Thursday, May 16, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 8, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 10, from 4 to 6 p.m.
For more information contact the health department at:
Press Release, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer
BUFFALO – Standing at Western New York Pediatrics with doctors, who like many across the country have faced shortages of the new, potentially lifesaving Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) immunization for kids, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer on Monday launched his two-pronged push calling on the feds and medicine manufacturers to ensure doctors across New York and America have the support they need to keep children safe.
In a letter to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Schumer said first it is imperative that as new doses are expected to be released in early 2024 that those vaccines get to pediatricians on the frontlines, like those in Western NY, who have been seeing these shortages ASAP, especially as recent severe cold weather has increased risk for respiratory viruses. Secondly, the senator said it is vital the drug manufacturers work with all levels of the federal government to ramp up supply now, fix supply chain issues so that all those who need the vaccines are able to get it.
“The release of a brand-new immunization for RSV last year was a gamechanger in the fight against this disease that often terrifies new parents and puts our youngest children at risk. But with recent winter weather increasing risk for respiratory viruses, Western New York pediatricians and parents are justifiably nervous as we have already seen supply not able to meet the demand and we need action now,” said Senator Schumer. “Parents and doctors should never have to scramble to ensure our children can get a vaccine from RSV. That’s why I’m calling on the CDC, FDA and drug manufacturers to get all hands-on deck and work overtime to release more doses of this vital treatment, and to ensure all new doses get where they are needed most, like our hard-hit Western NY pediatricians on the frontlines.”
“Western New York Pediatrics, within Medical Health Associates of Western New York (MHA), stands at the forefront of pediatric care, covering a vast region and serving a patient roster of 55,000 individuals. As we strive to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for widespread vaccination, our ability to administer only 29% of the recommended doses due to supply issues is deeply concerning,” said Chris Tirabassi, CEO of Medical Health Associates of Western New York. “We urge the CDC to collaborate with manufacturers and expedite the distribution of the RSV vaccine. Swift action is imperative to ensure equitable access and prevent further disruptions in the vaccination process.”
Each year, about 1 in 50 infants are hospitalized with RSV before their first birthday, a number of whom end up in an intensive care unit due to the severity of their infection. However, the new preventive antibody treatment is shown to reduce the risk of RSV-related complications by more than 70 percent.
“Due to the limited availability of RSV shots, our staff was placed in the difficult situation of having to decide which babies would have the opportunity to receive the medication”, said Dr. Colleen Mattimore, MD, of Western New York Pediatrics. “It is unfair to have to ration shots for the most at-risk babies when babies are already more susceptible to RSV than most age groups. I have had to send babies to the ER to be treated for respiratory distress due to this shortage. We need to work together to remove this burden from medical practices, medical staff, and parents. Most importantly we need to work together to ensure that there is enough medication available for all eligible babies.”
“Before last year, parents of young children – especially children born premature or with respiratory issues – largely had nothing to do except pray their child did not get RSV. If they did, in many cases the result was hospitalization, with their child hooked up to oxygen, doctors monitoring their breathing round the clock,” Schumer said. “Thankfully, the new RSV preventive antibody treatment is shown to significantly reduce the risk of severe RSV by more than 70 percent, and that is why it is critical we ensure it is easily accessible and available across Upstate New York.”
The Biden Administration has already been putting pressure on RSV vaccine makers to address this problem. Last month the White House announced an additional 230,000 more doses of the RSV shot for infants would become available and those are expected to be distributed soon, and Schumer said while this is a critical step forward, manufacturers need to do more to get additional doses out ASAP to the hospitals that are most in need.
MEDINA – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) announced on Monday that Niagara County has been added to the Iroquois Job Corps Center’s recruiting zone, a major win for the Medina center, located within NY-24.
Tenney has been a champion of the Job Corps program and the Iroquois Job Corps Center and relentlessly fought to restore full funding to the program as part of the FY24 appropriations cycle. In June, Congresswoman Tenney spoke with officials from the Department of Labor, urging them to move Niagara County into the Iroquois Job Corps Center’s recruiting zone, and just last month, Tenney was recognized as a Job Corps Champion by the National Job Corps Association.
“I am thrilled that after tirelessly advocating for its inclusion, Niagara County was added to the Iroquois Job Corps Center’s recruiting zone,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “This will allow the Iroquois Job Corps Center to help Niagara County students learn critical trades, such as bricklaying, carpentry, and electrical work. I will continue fighting for the Job Corps program and oppose efforts to eliminate their funding. The Job Corps program has helped countless individuals in NY-24 and the nation live fruitful and productive lives through skills and trades. I am grateful to have a Job Corps Center in our district and thank all the wonderful staff at the Iroquois Job Corps Center for their tremendous work.”
“The Iroquois Job Corps Center fully supports this updated and additional Niagara area in western New York for the Center to directly recruit and enroll students from, and to forge expanded partnerships with secondary and post-secondary providers as well as employer partnerships,” said Dennis Essom, Center Director, Iroquois Job Corps Center. “The Iroquois Center appreciates both the National and Boston Regional Offices of Job Corps for revising the National Enrollee Assignment Plan to include this expanded recruitment zone for the Iroquois Center.”
“The National Job Corps Association is thrilled to learn that Niagara County will now be part of the updated recruitment zone for the Iroquois Job Corps campus in Medina, thanks to Congresswoman Tenney’s advocacy on behalf of the campus and her community,” said Donna Hay, President and CEO, National Job Corps Association. “This change will ensure Iroquois can continue to serve hundreds of deserving young New Yorkers and local businesses in Niagara County. We are incredibly grateful to Congresswoman Tenney for her longstanding support of Iroquois Job Corps and its students and staff.”
“Niagara County is excited to re-establish working ties with Iroquois Job Corps. Logistically, this territory shift makes sense as their location is much closer for Niagara County residents to take advantage of the many different programs that they provide,” said Niagara County Legislator David Godfrey. “I would like to thank Congresswoman Tenney for her hard work to make this happen. The Iroquois Job Corps offers excellent opportunities for our local youth to gain life-changing skills which are so needed in today’s work environment. Qualified individuals can earn a high school diploma or equivalent at the same time they are learning the skills to be successful in a variety of careers at no cost to them.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2024 at 9:28 pm
Provided photo: Jody Neal and his sons Zachary, left, and Jayden, formed Udder Ways LLC.
An Albion dairy farmer and his two sons finished second today in an agricultural innovation challenge at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Jody Neal and sons Jayden and Zachary have formed Udder Ways LLC, a startup business with their new system to sanitize and prepare udders for milking.
The Neals won a $20,000 prize for second place. In September, American Farm Bureau announced Udder Ways was one of 10 finalists for the ag innovation competition. On Saturday, they made it to the final four.
Jody Neal is a partner a Poverty Hill Farms in Albion, a dairy farm on East County House Road. His sons were active in the Orleans County 4-H Robotics program, where they learned programming and tech skills as part of a team that competed in the Rochester region.
The Neals worked on their udder cleaning system the past eight years. The device is used just before a cow is milked. Their invention uses a unique, brushless technology to gently stimulate cows and ensure clean and dry teats, the family states on their website.
“With our patented vortex-style application, you can achieve consistent stimulation and promote milk letdown effortlessly,” they said.
The $50,000 first prize went to Barn Owl Precision Agriculture from Colorado which utilizes small robots (micro-tractors) for planting crops, precision weeding and collecting soil samples.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2024 at 4:42 pm
MEDINA – The Medina School District is warning of scam where people are asked to give their credit cards for gift cards for staff members.
“We want to make you aware of a scam that is currently happening in many neighboring districts,” the Medina district said in a message to the community this afternoon. “Parents and community members are receiving text messages from a 212 area code claiming to be someone from the schools.
“These text messages ask people to purchase gift cards for other staff members, and they try to obtain credit card information. Please know that nobody from the Medina CSD will ever solicit money from families to purchase gifts for staff members.
“If you see a message like this come to your phone, please treat the message as spam and do not click on any links in those emails.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 22 January 2024 at 3:26 pm
ALBION – Community Action of Orleans and Genesee is teaming up with Orleans County Mental Health in “Hidden Mischief,” a program being promoted by UConnectCare (formerly GCASA) to inform individuals, especially parents, where children or others might hide drugs and how to find them.
Community Action became aware of the program after Community Action’s director Renee Hungerford met Danielle Figura, director of the Orleans County Mental Health Department,at a meeting of Leadership Orleans, where the program was demonstrated.
Orleans Mental Health offered grants to implement Hidden Mischief and Community Action applied for and was approved for one.
How it works, according to Hungerford, is a bedroom is set up with drugs hidden in the room. Individuals are given a sheet on which to document the forbidden items and where they found them.
“It is important for parents to know this,” said Jeanette Worsley, case manager at Community Action. “Things can be hidden in the strap of a hoodie or in plain sight.”
Jackie Dunham, chief operating officer at Community Action, was given the task of making the program happen, Hungerford said. Dunham said they partnered with Marty Taber with the ACTS Program, and Cassie Healy, manager of Community Action’s Main Street Store, who is the instructor of Community Action’s Credit Recovery Program at Albion High School.
“We are working with the school districts now to see who will participate,” Dunham said. “We hope to get as many of the county’s five schools to participate as possible.”
Part of the program is talking about the differences between mental health and substance abuse, Worsley said.
“This is truly about making all sorts of good choices,” Worsley added. “With Marty and Cassie’s connection with the school districts, I think this is going to be successful.”
They hope to be ready to implement the program by mid-March and will announce the time and location and how to register by the end of the month.
“An important part of the program is to make available test strips for Xylazine and Fentanyl,” Hungerford said. “They just have to ask, no questions asked.”
She stressed how dangerous those drugs are and how prevalent in our society.
Healy said she already has the test strips at the Main Street Store and they are free to anyone who comes in and asks.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2024 at 10:36 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Chris Forrester, a volunteer at this morning’s food distribution in Albion in the Platt Street municipal parking lot, carries a chicken to a car with two senior citizens.
Forrester said she has been volunteering at the monthly distributions for about a year. She tries to be high energy in greeting the people.
“Everyone deserves a smile,” she said.
Foodlink brought a truck of food from Rochester. Foodlink also does distributions at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville and in Lyndonville at the Presbyterian Church.
The distribution started at about 9 a.m. but people were in the parking lot for hours before that with the first there at 5 a.m., said Katrina Chaffee, director of Community Service and Reporting at Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.
Community Action runs the distribution in Albion, and Chaffee said there has been a big increase in people seeking food with prices rising and people feeling a strain financially. About 150 vehicles typically are there for the distributions, and some vehicles include more than one family.
Ernie Gursslin, a maintenance worker for Community Action, gets boxes ready at the distribution. It was 20 degrees at the start of the distribution.
Today the boxes included macaroni and cheese, tomatillos, grapefruit, bags of Honeycrisp apples, potatoes, onions, cabbage, rolls and chicken. Chaffee said the value of the food is about $100.
Ricky Standish, a Community Action employee, opens up boxes with frozen chickens.
The distributions are funded by the state and will continue until at least June. The distributions started during the Covid pandemic in the spring 2020.
The schedule for the upcoming distributions in Albion at 165 South Platt St. includes:
Monday, January 22 at 9 a.m.
Monday, February 12 at 9 a.m.
Monday, March 11 at 9 a.m.
Monday, April 8 at 9 a.m.
Monday, May 13 at 9 a.m.
Monday, June 10 at 9 a.m.
The schedule at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, 107 North Main St., includes:
Friday, February 16 at 9:30 a.m.
Friday, March 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Friday, March 15 at 9:30 a.m.
Friday, April 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Friday, April 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Friday, May 3 at 9:30 a.m.
Friday, May 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Friday, June 7 at 9:30 a.m.
The Orleans Cornell Cooperative Extension also hosts a distribution at the fairgrounds, 12690 State Route 31, Albion, NY.
The next one will be Monday, February 5, beginning at 10 a.m.
The Albion and Lyndonville distributions don’t require registrations, but the Extension strongly encourages that. Those who preregister will be assigned timeslots for pickup (12-12:30, 12:30-1, 1-1:30, 1:30-2). Preregister at 585-798-4265.
Elaine Kovaleski (left), age 86, has been volunteering at the distributions in Albion for about a year. She sorts the food and tries to spread them out evenly in about 150 different boxes.
“It’s amazing how many people need food,” she said.
Anyone interested in volunteering at the Albion distribution can call Community Action at (585) 589-5605.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2024 at 7:48 am
The average price for regular unleaded gas dropped 9 cents in Orleans County in the past week, from $3.50 to $3.41, according to AAA.
The price in Orleans County has now dropped almost 50 cents since Oct. 9 when it was $3.87.
The average price nationally went up a penny to $3.08 in the past week, while the price went down state-wide by 2 cents to $3.26. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.51, AAA said.
Here are the average prices in counties around Western New York:
Orleans, $3.409
Genesee, $3.294
Wyoming, $3.460
Livingston, $3.441
Monroe, $3.219
Niagara, $3.261
Erie, $3.408
Chautauqua, $3.299
Cattaraugus, $3.298
Allegany, $3.454
AAA issued this statement about gas prices: “This morning, oil prices range from $72 to $78 per barrel, the same as one week ago. Diesel prices are also moving lower. The national average price for diesel is $3.91, down a cent from one week ago, and down from $4.62 a year ago. The New York average for diesel is $4.40, also down a cent from a week ago, and lower than $5.27 one year ago.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 January 2024 at 4:47 pm
Richard A. Ball
LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is excited for the Legislative Luncheon on Friday. The Chamber received confirmation that one of the presenters will be Richard Ball, the state’s agriculture commissioner the past decade.
Ball will give an overview of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $233 billion executive budget and also will take questions from the crowd about the budget and the state’s agriculture industry.
The speakers also will include county and state legislators. They are expected to give an overview of local projects and legislation that may have an impact on the community.
The luncheon is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the White Birch Golf Course. Tickets are $27 for members, and $32 for non-members. The Chamber will accept RSVPs up to Wednesday. For more information email director@orleanschamber.com or call (585) 301-8464.
People can also submit questions a Google document (click here). The questions are all anonymous, said Darlene Hartway, the Chamber director.
HOLLEY – Business letterheads from the turn of the last century are distinctive for their elaborate designs and ornate fonts. As early examples of branding, they proclaim the nature and tone of the business.
This Hudson & Company letterhead is typical of its era. It includes several curious details:
What does a man wearing an Elizabethan era neck ruff have to do with Holley, NY? Where is Mattituck? What is the connection to Holley, NY? Why are illustrations of laurel plants included in the background?
No doubt, the rendering of the gentleman is intended to represent Henry Hudson, the 17th century English navigator who sailed up the river later named the Hudson in his honor, and who was instrumental in establishing Dutch claims to the area. The portrait establishes a link with the company’s name – Hudson – and with the names of the company officials listed at the top – W.M. Hudson, Pres. and J.B. Hudson, Treas., thereby inferring a longevity to the company.
The laurel can also be explained: Mattituck is a hamlet on Long Island, in Suffolk County and Laurel is the name of the adjoining hamlet. Several area services and businesses combine both names – the Mattituck-Laurel Public Library, for example.
In a 1906 History of Mattituck, Long Island, Rev. Charles E. Craven recorded that William H. Hudson erected a large canning factory in Mattituck in 1888 adjacent to the railroad. It processed large quantities of asparagus, tomatoes, squash and cauliflower.
A severe blight affected Long Island crops in 1896 and for several subsequent years. Seeking to diversify, Joseph Hudson, son of William H. Hudson, relocated to Holley, while his brother, William M., continued the Mattituck operation.
At that time, Holley’s transportation network positioned it to attract manufacturing to the area. A Democrat and Chronicle article credited the Businessmen’s Association of Holley for “securing so valuable an industry for the village.”
Detail of map of the village of Holley from the New Century Atlas of Orleans County, 1913 showing the Hudson Canning Factory and also Joseph Hudson’s home at the corner of South Main Street.
Joseph Hudson bought the Bartlett farm immediately south of the New York Central Railroad, across from Miller and Pettengill’s vinegar and cider plant. Local contractor, John Murphy, started work on the construction of two new buildings for Hudson & Co. on 12 Oct. 1901. The main factory was two stories high and measured 45’x80’. A one-story storage building measured 45’x100’.
The new company proposed to handle as diversified a line of products as possible and to keep the factory in operation seven to eight months of the year. Crops of tomatoes, cherries, apples, peas, and string beans grown by area farmers kept the company busy.
In September 1905, the Democrat & Chronicle reported that “The Hudson canning factory is running full force and is putting out 6,000 – 7,000 cans of tomatoes per day.”
Hudson Canning expanded its western New York presence when it purchased the Batavia Preserving Company plant located in Brockport in 1910. A large silo and vinery were built to process peas at that location. Elbert Johnson, a nephew of Joseph Hudson’s, was appointed superintendent of this plant. (More on Elbert Johnson next week).
Newspapers at that time reported on crop yields and on record crops. In July 1918, Floyd Carr & Son of Ridge Road, just north of the village of Holley, delivered a record breaking 5,870 pounds of shelled peas to the Hudson Canning company. This yield was from four bushels of seeds planted on one acre and “no phosphate was used on the land either.”
Hudson Canning was purchased by Holley Canning in 1932. It was later run by the Comstock Canning Corporation of Newark, NY and subsequently sold to the Duffy-Mott Company in 1951. The Mattituck plant also ceased operation.
A letterhead on file at the Orleans County Dept. of History provided the link to this account of a resourceful family-run enterprise.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 January 2024 at 8:35 pm
ALBION – Jody Neal of Albion and his sons, Jayden and Zachary, advanced to the final four of an agricultural innovation challenge. The Neals moved from the top 10 semi-finalists nationally to final group of four in Salt Lake City, Utah today.
The American Farm Bureau Federation is holding its annual meeting in Salt Lake City and the competition is among the featured events at the convention.
Jody is a partner a Poverty Hill Farms in Albion, a dairy farm on East County House Road. He also was a mentor in the Orleans County 4-H Robotics program, where his sons put their programming and tech skills to the test.
Jody and his adult sons have formed Udder Ways LLC for their innovations, including an udder cleaning system that they have worked on for the past eight years. The device is used just before a cow is milked.
Their invention uses a unique, brushless technology to gently stimulate cows and ensure clean and dry teats, the family states on their website.
“With our patented vortex-style application, you can achieve consistent stimulation and promote milk letdown effortlessly,” they said.
The Neals have a shot at the $50,000 grand prize. There will be $20,000 awarded to the runner-up, and $15,000 each to the two other finalists.
An additional $5,000 goes to the People’s Choice Team. The Neals welcome votes from the public for that award. Voting ends at midnight tonight. Click here for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 January 2024 at 6:08 pm
CLARENDON – Three months after he allegedly entered a Crosby’s in Clarendon with a gun and took money out of a register, a Clarendon man has been charged with armed robbery.
Henry W. Horton, 31, of Clarendon was charged on Jan. 17 by State Police, which were assisted by other law enforcement agencies. In addition to robbery in the second degree, Horton has been charged with criminal use of a firearm in 2nd degree, menacing in the 2nd and petit larceny.
Horton also is a suspect in multiple robberies in the Monroe County area. On Oct. 17, state troopers responded to Crosby’s on Holley Byron Road for an armed robbery. Investigation determined that an unidentified suspect, later identified as Horton, entered Crosby’s with a firearm and demanded money. Horton took cash out of the register and a few packs of Newport cigarettes, State Police said in a news release.
Utilizing multiple investigative resources and working with Monroe County Sheriff’s Office multiple warrants were issued for the arrest and search of Horton. The State Police Special Operations Response Team did a search and arrested Horton at a residence in Albion. He was transported to the State Police barracks in Albion for processing and arraigned at the Orleans County Jail, where he is held on $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation were assisted by the State Police Special Operations Response Team, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Gates Police Department, Albion Police Department, Medina Police Department, Orleans County District Attorney’s Office and Monroe County District Attorney Office.
