ALBION – Hanging their stockings with care on Christmas Eve in this 1955 photograph from the William Monacelli collection at the Orleans County Dept. of History are from left: Barbara (9), Eileen (8), Charlotte (7) and Patricia (5), children of Mr. & Mrs. Lee Ward.
The photograph was taken at the home of their grandmother, Celestina Galluce, at 214 West Bank St. in Albion.
Patricia remembers the occasion vividly. Now Patricia Farone, she lives in Albion, as does her sister, Eileen Whiting. Charlotte Mann lives in Rochester and Barbara Haynes lives in Delaware.
Albion Advertiser, August 1959. Photo Courtesy Orleans County Historian
By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director – Vol 2. No. 46
GAINES – In 1959, the Hamlet of Childs joined forces with a handful of other hamlets in the Town of Gaines to celebrate the town’s Sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary of its first settler in 1809. Leading up to the festivities, a Sesquicentennial Committee had been hard at work preparing a written history, as well as organizing several community events and celebrations to take place throughout the year.
The Sesquicentennial Committee was comprised of Supervisor Lester Canham, Honorary Chairman; J. Howard Pratt and Cary Lattin, Co-Chairmen; Mrs. Gerald (Janice) Thaine, Executive Secretary; Dean Sprague, Treasurer; Curtis Lyman, Program; Rev. John Minott, Donald Miles and Edwin Weeks, Program; Mrs. Harry Wilder, Hon. Bernard Ryan, and Thomas Heard, Jr., Advisors; and Miss Katharine Hutchinson, Promotion and Publicity. Sixty other town residents worked on various tasks including Antique Cars, Historical Booklet, Gaines Landmarks, Dance Committee, Auction, Parade and Floats, Midway Entertainment, and much more.
Gaines Sesquicentennial Publication, cover sketch by Mrs. Walter E. Mack
The Historical Booklet Committee presented the following dedication to their 32 page Sesquicentennial Publication:
“We wish to dedicate this booklet to your pioneer fathers and mothers who came into the Town of Gaines when it was a trackless wilderness and carved from that wilderness, our roads, our schools, our churches, our farms, our civilization – a righteous heritage of which we should be justly proud.”
Harriet Fitts Ryan, wife of Bernard Ryan, Chief Judge of the NYS Court of Claims, was called upon to write the sesquicentennial book’s Foreword. (The Ryan family is shown above in the 1930s with Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt who made occasional trips to Gaines to visit the Ryan family.) Mrs. Ryan, originally from Mobile, Alabama, served the Sesquicentennial Committee as Hospitality Chair. Her Foreword to the publication follows:
“On a hot Fourth of July in 1921, I first set foot in the town of Gaines. I had thought my new home was in Albion, New York. But I was told in no uncertain terms, ‘You live in the Town of Gaines.” It was some time before I began to understand that the Town of Gaines was a township and to realize the miles encompassed therein. Gaines Village, Childs or Fairhaven, East Gaines, West Gaines, Gaines Basin, Five Corners, Eagle Harbor – it was some time before I realized that all of these constituted the Town of Gaines. However, in short time I realized the beauty of the homes and roads and by-ways of Gaines and the fine character of her citizens; and I felt proud to be an adopted daughter.
The beauty of the homes and the roads of Gaines is a direct inheritance from those who made the long trek over hill and stream from Massachusetts and Connecticut and settled these parts. They were the ones who planted the trees that were to grow into stately beauty and make travel on the Ridge the delight it is. God made the Ridge – mere man could have never given us the Ridge – but it was the early settlers who had the vision to set out the trees that would give shade and comfort to their descendants. They were the ones, also, who gathered stones from fields and lake and, with their own hands, erected the cobblestone houses of Gaines.
These cobblestone buildings, the fame of which has spread from coast to coast, are the pride of every resident of this vicinity, the envy of every passing traveler. Men and women of strength and determination were those pioneers – strong enough to journey by oxcart into a far country, determined enough to settle that country and make it a fair land. Men and women of vision and courage – vision enough to look to the future, courage enough to face the present. I, who can claim no descent from those sturdy men and women, am proud of what they did in those far-away days, am proud of the Town of Gaines. I am proud that my husband has lived all of his life in Gaines and that my sons are her native-born.
This sesqui-centennial is a tribute to the men and women who dared all and braved all, who left to us a goodly heritage. Now, let us who have come after them be worthy. Let us strive to leave behind us a community fair to behold, rich in tradition, in which our descendants will rejoice and be exceeding glad, a community that will inspire right living and the development of fine character. We have an obligation to the past and to the future. Noblesse oblige! There is more to it than two words. Let us fulfill that obligation.”
Courtesy Orleans County Historian
In those days, no historical celebration was complete without a beard growing contest. Over forty men participated in this face-lifting project and were photographed together for the August 13th issue of the Albion Advertiser.
Taking part included: (Front row) William Woolston, Theodore Schoonover, Thomas Manning, Glen Woolston, Ralph Appleton, Maynard Bannon, Gerald Thaine, David Sanford, and Everett Hobbs. (Middle row) Richard Appleton, Herbert Morrison, Paul Chappius, Richard Peruzzini, Harold Peruzzini, Peter Ricci, Wesley Bennett, James Kerridge, Colonel Ball, Dominic Martillotta, Sortman Jordan, Clure Appleton and Howard Pratt. (Back row) Jesse Downey, Carl Huthsteiner, Donald Bennett, Andrew Butz, Albert Neal, Jr., William Schuler, Terry Neal, Kenneth Drew, David Youngs, Wilbur Scroger, Royce Freeman, Wayne Rath, Gordon Miller, Arthur Gould, Richard Hill, David Vagg, Rev. John Minott, Whitney Howes and Clifford Allen.
Even registering for the beard growing contest involved some tongue-in-check humor. (Photo Courtesy Orleans County Historian)
On the day of the celebration, a gala parade took place from Childs to Gaines with floats, bands, horses, carriages and old cars. There was a historical exhibit, a horse show, church smorgasbord, Grange Square Dance and Carolyn Reed was chosen as Sesquicentennial Queen.
Reed Miller graduated from the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in 1957.
CARLTON – Terry Miller, deemed “Gramps” by our granddaughter Kendall, has a direct spiritual connection to the official Santa Claus who circles the globe on Christmas Eve to deliver toys to all the children in one night.
You may have asked yourself, “How in the world does Santa know what every child wants for Christmas?”
Quite ingenious really. Santa depends on the SIA, “Santa Informants Agency.”
SIA Undercover Santas, Agents, Special Ops and new recruits are dispatched across the globe listening and noting every child’s Christmas wish. SIA, Undercover Santas can be found in department stores, toy stores, Christmas festivals and parades. Even those Santas at grocery stores ringing bells for the Salvation Army are new recruits hoping to be selected to become full-fledged SIA agents.
That’s how Santa knows who’s been good or bad. Santa is available to every child by way of the SIA, a secret agency who serve to preserve the spirit of Christmas.
High-ranking SIA agents are required to complete a rigorous training program at the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School, originally located in Albion, NY and now currently operating in Midland, Michigan. (To learn more about the school click here.)
While SIA agents gather toy requests for Santa at the North Pole, the elves are tirelessly working 24-7 on their computers, laptops, iPads, iPhones, smart phones, tablets, Kindles and portals, downloading texts, reading Twitter, IG, FB messenger and emails from all the SIA agents operating all over the world gathering children’s requests for Christmas.
So the rest of the Miller family Santa connection goes like this…..
“Gramps” had an Uncle Reed who was a high-ranking SIA agent and graduate of the original Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School during the 1950s, when the school was in Albion.
Uncle Reed served as an undercover Santa for the SIA at Edward’s Department Store in Rochester, NY and often walked in local parades and participated in SIA graduations from the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School.
Gramps never saw his Uncle Reed in his full Santa regalia because he was but a wee lad when Reed passed. But there is this one photograph saved by Garland Miller, Gramp’s father and Reed’s younger brother. We keep this photograph attached to the back of the sketch of Uncle Reed in uniform.
Terry Miller holds a sketch of his uncle Reed Miller that was drawn by the late Dianne Dengel.
This sketch was drawn by a blossoming young artist, Dianne Dengel, in approximately 1957 when Reed Miller was stationed at Edward’s Department Store in Rochester.
Dianne’s story is impressive in its own and to say she was a talented local artist would be a disservice.
She was a prolific artist with over 30,000 portraits, including some well-known subjects such as Fred Rogers and Oprah. To learn more about this amazing female artist, click here.
I hope you enjoyed our Miller Family Santa Connection.
MIDDLEPORT – Employees from FMC’s Agricultural Sciences Plant in Middleport, working with Local 1180 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and plant management, put together a special holiday gift package for a Niagara County veteran and family this Christmas season.
They worked with Jennifer O. D’Andrea, the president and founder of Support, Empower, Respect Veterans (S.E.R.V.) Niagara, in providing the package featuring toys, a scooter, clothing, Bluetooth speaker, drone, blankets, crockpot and a first aid/toiletry box.
Preparing the items for delivery are (from left to right) Robert Scharlau, site support services; Josh Walker, maintenance manager; Katie Russell, FMC plant manager; and Josh Jackson, maintenance electrician.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2021 at 3:53 pm
ALBION – Gov. Kathy Hochul announced there will be 13 new Covid testing sites run by the state, including one at GCC’s Albion campus.
The new state testing sites are aimed to address a Covid surge. There were 44,431 new positive Covid cases on Thursday, a new record for the state during the pandemic.
The percentage of tests that were positive on Thursday was 12.37 percent.
“To get through this winter surge and protect New Yorkers, we will use every tool at our disposal,” Governor Hochul said. “By mobilizing testing sites throughout the state, we will make sure testing is more accessible and convenient for New Yorkers. We will continue to expand testing availability to every corner of the state, evaluating where more capacity and additional sites are needed soon.”
The GCC site at 456 West Ave. will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday through Saturday.
Each of the 13 sites will offer tests by appointment, as well as walk-ins. Upon launch, all sites will offer RT-PCR testing. Rapid antigen and rapid PCR tests will also be available within a few days of opening, Hochul’s office said.
Starting on Monday, New Yorkers can make an appointment for a Covid-19 test by clicking here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2021 at 12:32 pm
‘Fowling’ and ‘soccer pool’ among the activities at 10,000 square-foot warehouse in Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Rebecca and Brian Alexander are shown with one of their new games – “soccer pool” – that will be offered at Dubby’s Tailgate at 165 Platt St. in Albion.
The couple has operated the popular Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza the past three years. They will continue to run that mobile business while starting a new venture next week.
Dubby’s Tailgate will open on Wednesday from 3 to 10 p.m. with many backyard or tailgate games at a 10,000 square-foot warehouse previously used by Helena.
Barret Alexander, 10, eyes the bowling pins as he gets ready to throw a football about 30 feet. “Fowling” combines football and bowling in one of the games offered at Dubby’s Tailgate.
There are nine sets of throwing lanes on the artificial turf. Cornhole will also be available.
Dubby’s Tailgate has Skeeball and four dart boards.
The Alexanders say the business will be “a house of competition” for people to have fun indoors.
They will have the games ready next week, with a restaurant offering pizza and alcohol in the spring. For now the food options will be snacks and soda.
Brian and Rebecca are Carlton residents. They looked at sites in Brockport and Batavia for the business but decided on Albion, where they said the community has been very supportive of their mobile pizza business.
“Albion is where we started,” Rebecca said. “The community has been so welcoming.”
Barret Alexander gets ready to throw the football in a game of “fowling” against his sister, Abigail, 11.
The person who knocks down all of the pins first is the winner.
Brian Alexander tries soccer pool, where players use a soccer ball to knock balls in the pockets. Players can do trick shots, kicking the ball over some balls to hit the target.
Alexander, a civil engineer, built many of the games and tables with some help from friends. He repurposed bowling lanes for tables at Dubby’s Tailgate.
Pinball machines are among the activities at the new business.
Dubby’s Tailgate charges a $5 admission and then different costs for games, although some are free. Soccer pool is $30 an hour for groups of up to six. Fowling is $10 for unlimited play.
The venue will have 17 televisions, including two giant TVs. The Alexanders also want to display faces of community members to create the feeling of being in an arena.
They also plan to use the large parking lot to host events, including truck shows where people are welcome to cruise in and stay with their tailgates down.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2021 at 10:55 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – David Mitchell, left, is presented with the Robert J. Uplinger Award for dedicated community service by Dan Conrad, president of the Albion Lions Club.
Mitchell, owner of Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, was praised for supporting many events and causes in the community.
For more than 30 years he has also managed the Lions Club’s fund for eye glasses and exams for community members.
Mitchell said his late father, Rho, was an active Lions Club member for many years and set a good example for giving back to the community.
David Mitchell said he has delivered thousands of pairs of glasses collected in the Albion community to Rochester. Sight remains one of the Lions Club’s main missions.
Provided photo
The Lions Club also presented Kim Remley with an Uplinger Award for her work in the community. Club member Ron Albertson presents Remley with the award last week at the Black North Inn.
Remley was a key member of the Rebuild Bullard Committee that was instrumental in about $800,000 of upgrades to Bullard, including a new spray park, amphitheater and pavilion with bathrooms.
Remley also is active in organizing the downtown Fall Fest, including a scarecrow competition.
“She is always cheering on the community and bringing the good vibes,” Conrad said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2021 at 8:52 am
Photos courtesy of Lyndonville Central School
LYNDONVILLE – Jason Smith gets a hug from a Lyndonville elementary student on Thursday, his last day in school with students as the district superintendent.
Smith starts a new job on Jan. 3 as superintendent at Batavia City School District, his alma mater.
Smith received plenty of high-fives from students and staff in a walk through the halls. Smith posted on Twitter that he is thankful for his 10 years at Lyndonville, “a gem of a place in beautiful Orleans County!”
Ted Lewis, president of the Board of Education, presents Smith with an engraved during a holiday concert Thursday morning at the school auditorium.
Smith, in a letter to the community on Wednesday, said the district is in good hands with Sharon Smith as interim superintendent. She was worked the past two years at Lyndonville as director of instruction and student services.
“Mrs. Smith is a well-respected educational leader in our region, and the Board has made a wise choice,” Smith said in his letter. “I can personally attest to Mrs. Smith’s commitment to ensuring a high quality educational program for all students, and she has quickly become a visible member of the Lyndonville community.”
Jason Smith was given a fond farewell from students and staff on Thursday.
Smith, in his letter to the community, said it was an honor to lead the Lyndonville district the past 10 years. He thanked the teachers, staff and Board of Education for providing a strong academic program the past two years of the Covid pandemic.
“However, our District is not defined by dealing with Covid,” Smith wrote. “Instead, our District is defined by wonderful students, a supportive community, talented and dedicated faculty and staff, a high quality leadership team, and a committed Board of Education. These attributes existed long before Covid and will exist long after Covid.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2021 at 9:25 pm
New York State set a new record high for Covid cases in one day with 38,835 on Wednesday. That obliterated the previous high, 28,924 on Tuesday. Just two days earlier on Sunday the record high was 23,391.
The surge is driven by New York City (22,808 cases on Wednesday) and Long Island (6,950 cases on Wednesday).
In New York City the percentage of Covid tests that were positive was 12.2 percent on Wednesday and Long Island was at 12.2 percent.
Orleans and Genesee were near the highest in the state two weeks ago but now are near the state average. The 7-day positivity rate in Orleans is 9.6 percent while Genesee is 9.8 percent. The state’s 7-day percent positive is 9.5 percent.
Orleans and Genesee both have a decline in the number of active Covid cases since the last update from the local health department on Monday.
Genesee is down from 275 to 231 and Orleans declined from 216 to 211.
Orleans County is reporting 72 new positive cases (1 from a home test) since Monday, and 74 more recoveries or people who completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.
Genesee is reporting 109 new positive cases (0 from home tests) since Monday, and 144 more recoveries.
Genesee has 29 residents hospitalized due to Covid and Orleans has nine in the hospital.
Orleans also has had three more residents die from Covid in the past week. Orleans has now had 103 residents die from Covid during the nearly two years of the pandemic.
Genesee is reporting one more death in the past week and has now had 152 residents die from Covid during the pandemic.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2021 at 6:01 pm
Provided photo
MEDINA – The Tompkins Bank of Castile in Medina has donated $1,000 Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.
Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, is shown accepting the check from Patrick Weissend, vice president and Community Banking Regional Manager at Tompkins Bank of Castile in Medina.
“We chose Community Action because Tompkins knows Community Action will use it where it is needed most,” Weissend said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2021 at 5:34 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Today was caroling day for the Albion High School Brass Ensemble and Select Choir, with the groups performing in several locations in the community, including a finale inside the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.
The groups performed from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations including: Save-A-Lot, Pro Hardware, Tops, Walmart, Hoag Library, Ace Hardware, the Post Office, East Bank Street, Key Bank and East Park Street.
Connor Doran, high school choir director, plays the piano while the Select Choir sings “Go Tell It on the Mountain” at the Presbyterian Church during a community carol singing.
The Brass Ensemble, with many students wearing Santa hats, plays “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”
Photo and information courtesy of Albion Correctional Facility
ALBION – The Albion Correctional Facility recently celebrated their fifth canine training program graduation. Two rescue dogs from PAWS Animal Shelter, Moxie and Tex, completed the 12-week program.
Throughout the 12 weeks, two teams of three incarcerated individuals served as handlers for the dogs. A community volunteer trainer, Tom Ryan, visited the facility once or twice a week to instruct the incarcerated individuals on how to properly care for and train the dogs.
The dogs mastered a number of different training techniques and showed off their skills at graduation. Tom Ryan praised the handlers at graduation for their commitment to the dogs.
The program gives a second chance to the rescue dogs by strengthening the possibility of them getting adopted. It also provides secondary social/emotional benefits to the incarcerated individuals. It gives them an opportunity to return something positive to the community.
One of the dogs, Moxie, has already been adopted by her forever family. Tex is still waiting to find his forever home. If you are interested in adopting Tex, applications are available at www.paws14411.com.
Since the graduation, two more dogs arrived to the facility for the handlers to work with and prepare for adoption to their forever homes.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2021 at 12:13 pm
FAIRPORT – One of the state’s iconic lift bridges has been illumined as part of the “Reimagine the Canals” Initiative to boost tourism and draw attention to the historic waterway.
The LED lights were turned on the Fairport lift bridge on Tuesday. The State Canal Corp. also illumined two Oneida Lake lighthouses – one in Brewerton in Oswego County and another at Verona Beach in Oneida County.
The Canal Corp. doesn’t currently have plans to light up a bridge in Orleans County, which is home to seven of the 16 lift bridges. The next structure to be illumined will be on the eastern end of the Erie Canal in Herkimer County and should debut in the late spring/summer, said Shane Mahar, Canal Corp. spokesman.
“These key pieces of infrastructure helped us to build the New York we have today, and the new lighting features welcome New Yorkers and visitors alike to pause and recognize their crucial influence on our state’s history – and future,” said Brian Stratton, Canal Corp. director. “The illumination of these iconic structures enhances the communities along the canal and literally shines light onto our canal infrastructure for all to enjoy.”
The canal is nearly 200 years old. It opened in 1825. The state has looked for ways to better utilize the waterway, and that has included more irrigation for agriculture and supplementing tributaries with water until mid-December to boost fishing.
Opening day of the 198th consecutive season of navigation on the canal system is scheduled for May 20, 2022.
ALBION – Orleans County Jail Sgt. Kevin Kaderli retired from the Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 9 after 36 years, working his entire career on the overnight midnight shift.
Local Union 2966 held a ceremony at the Orleans County Jail events room for Kaderli on Dec. 9. Many current and retired employees attended the event to recognize Kaderli. He was presented a plaque from Sheriff Chris Bourke and Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson.
Local 2966 provided him a 36-year veteran plaque also and $360 check for $10 for every year he was a member of the union. Kaderli added a second plaque to the 25-year Hall of Fame Wall at the jail honoring all employees with over 25 years of service to Orleans County. He joins nine others that have reached that milestone in their career.
Kevin Kaderli adds his plaque to the 25-year wall. He joins nine others who reached that milestone.
Kaderli, a Navy veteran, said he will find plenty to do in his retirement by golfing more and tending to yard work on his many acres of land. He is an avid sports fan who follows the LA Lakers, Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Bisons, New York Yankees, Rochester Americans and the Penn State Nittany Lions. He will spend more time with his significant other Laura and her children and grandchild.
Lt. Michael Christopher said it is difficult to work that many years in a jail setting.
“Thirty-six years of dealing with people that society does not want on the streets packed into one small building, 24/7,” Christopher said.
Kaderli worked under six different sheriffs as his boss, starting with Dave Green. More than two dozen Sheriff’s Office employees from the jail and road division were not even born yet when Kaderli started.
Kaderli has been through the times when the jail had over 100 inmates, with many sleeping on the floor or in little boats due to overcrowding. Then with the new bail reform and Covid-19, the jail population was down to as few as 13 inmates. Most inmates had a whole jail block to themselves.
When Kaderli started, Orleans County housed some of Nassau County inmates due to that county’s overcrowding. Then he experienced a bigger percentage of the jail population be immigration and federal inmates. Federal inmates’ housing was discontinued for many years until 2021 to which 40% of the jail population in now US. Marshal detainees.
Kaderli also worked at the jail when the Sheriff’s Office was located across the street at Cuneen Hall on Platt Street. It moved to the Public Safety Building in the late 1990s. The 911 dispatch center also was moved twice inside the jail to its current location at the Public Safety Building.
Three other jail employees also were recently recognized for 25 years of service: Kim Zambito, Dave Allen and Teddy Howard.
