Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation (S.282/A.6769) that allows individuals who were under the age of 19 when they were convicted of a crime, and therefore eligible for youthful offender status, but denied the designation to reapply for youthful offender status retroactively.
“Far too many New Yorkers who made poor choices at a young age are forced to deal with the lifelong consequences of criminal convictions that deny them a second chance at a productive, fulfilling life,” Governor Hochul said. “Communities thrive when every member has the opportunity to contribute and it’s time for New York to make the changes necessary for ensuring everybody has a fair shot at success. Thanks to this legislation, we can now support those who have learned from their mistakes by doing away with the stigma of a criminal conviction, and giving them the opportunity to get back on their feet.”
For those convicted of a crime when they are under the age of 19, New York’s Youthful Offender law provides the opportunity for their conviction to be replaced by a confidential, non-criminal adjudication and reduced prison sentence.
A criminal record has lasting effects, including societal bias and limited access to employment – two significant barriers to rehabilitation that dramatically increase the likelihood of recidivism. Many of those under the age of 19 when convicted and eligible for youthful offender status are still not granted it. This legislation allows those who were not granted that designation and who have not been convicted of another crime in at least five years since their original sentence to apply for retroactive designation of youthful offender status.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems, and Food Safety and Security and Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, member of the House Agriculture Committee, announced that the Build Back Better package drafted by the House includes transformative debt relief provisions for New York farmers, many of whom suffered massive financial losses due to reduced demand and supply chain disruptions during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Build Back Better package also includes important provisions to ensure that borrowers who receive this relief will still be eligible for further USDA loans and that producers receive no tax liability.
These provisions incorporate proposals from Gillibrand and Maloney’s Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act. The impact of the debt relief provisions in the Build Back Better package will be far-reaching in New York State, with approximately 98% of New York State’s FSA direct loan borrowers receiving either full or partial debt relief under the legislation.
“Before the pandemic, many of New York’s farmers and farmers across the country were deeply in debt and facing financial hardship, and the pandemic substantially worsened their financial situation,” Gillibrand said. “Thankfully, relief is on the way. The Build Back Better package will deliver transformative debt relief to farmers in New York and across the nation and will help them pay their workers, upgrade their equipment, and keep food on our tables. I am grateful for Congressman Maloney’s partnership on this important bill and look forward to working with him to pass it into law.”
Regarding the debt relief provisions in the framework, borrowers who fall under the following categories will be deemed economically distressed and will receive full debt forgiveness:
Operates a farm or ranch headquartered in a county or zip code with a poverty rate of not less than 20% or on Tribal land held in trust
90 days or more delinquent on an eligible farm loan as of December 31, 2020 or April 30, 2021
Undergoing bankruptcy, foreclosure, and other financially distressed categories as of July 31, 2021
Received a USDA disaster set asides after January 1, 2020
Restructured eligible farm debt on or after January 1, 2020
Restructured eligible farm debt three or more times as of July 31, 2021
Owes more interest than principal on eligible farm debt as of July 31, 2021
All Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct loan borrowers who do not fall in the above categories will have their debt paid off in full if the debt is equal to or lower than $150,000, or otherwise will receive a $150,000 payment. That $150,000 payment will be reduced by the total amount of money that borrower received from the Market Facilitation Program in calendar years 2018 and 2019 and the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program in calendar year 2020.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 November 2021 at 9:12 am
The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for today’s election at 11 locations in Orleans County.
There is one change in a polling location. Carlton voters usually vote at the Town Hall, but on Tuesday they will cast their ballots at the Carlton Fire Co. Rec Hall on Route 98.
Most of the polling sites are at town halls, although Albion votes at Hoag Library and part of Ridgeway uses the Volunteer Fire Company and Carlton uses the Fire Co. Rec Hall.
Here is a list of the polling sites:
Albion – Districts 1 through 6 – Hoag Library, 134 South Main St.
Barre – Districts 1 and 2 – Town Hall, 14317 West Barre Rd.
Carlton – Districts 1 through 3 – Carlton Fire Co. Rec Hall, 1853 Oak Orchard Rd.
Clarendon – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 16385 Church St.
Gaines – Districts 1 through 4 – Town Hall, 14087 Ridge Rd.
Kendall – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd.
Murray – Districts 1 through 6 – Murray Town Hall, 3840 Fancher Rd. (Route 31)
Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday signed a bill (S.2928-A/A.06098-A) that expands New York State’s Paid Family Leave legislation to allow caring for siblings. Under the current law, employees cannot take leave to care for a sibling with a serious health condition.
“Taking care of your family is a basic human right, no one should have to choose between caring for a loved one and a paycheck,” Governor Hochul said. “Fighting to expand paid family leave is personal to me and so many others, and I am proud to work with advocates and legislators to make sure that New Yorkers can now take care of their siblings without fear of losing their jobs or income.”
This bill builds upon the Paid Family Leave legislation that was enacted in 2016, which created one of the most comprehensive paid family leave programs in the nation. In effect since 2018, New York’s Paid Family Leave program is employee-paid insurance that provides workers with job-protected, paid time off to bond with a newly born, adopted or fostered child; care for a family member with a serious health condition (which may include severe cases of COVID-19), or assist loved ones when a member of the family is deployed abroad on active military service.
Paid Family Leave may also be available in some situations when an employee or their minor, dependent child is under an order of quarantine or isolation due to Covid-19. Eligible workers may take up to 12 weeks off at 67% of their pay (up to a cap) to care for family members in times of need.
Currently, Paid Family Leave family care covers caring for spouses, domestic partners, children and step-children, parents, parents-in-law, grandparents and grandchildren with a serious health condition. Through Legislation S.2928-A/A.06098-A, the definition of “family members” expands to include siblings. This includes biological siblings, adopted siblings, step-siblings and half-siblings. These family members can live outside of New York State, and even outside of the country.
The bill will go into effect on January 1, 2023.
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “New York’s Paid Family Leave has been a model across our nation when it comes to helping working families, and I commend Governor Hochul for her leadership in expanding the definition of family to include siblings. This last year and half has been especially hard on working caregivers, and a loss of income can be devastating for New Yorkers who must care for a sick family member. This is a critical step toward easing that hardship.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 November 2021 at 8:34 pm
Residents encouraged to display green lights through Nov. 11
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Courthouse was lighted up in red last week in honor of Red Ribbon Week. The dome will be green through Nov. 11 as part of “Operation Green Light.”
ALBION – Orleans County residents are encouraged to display green lights in their windows at their homes and businesses as part of “Operation Green Light” through Nov. 11. The effort is intended to recognize the service of military personnel.
The county is planning to light the courthouse dome in green from today through Nov. 11 as part of the “Operation Green Light.”
Nancy Traxler, director of the Veterans Service Agency in Orleans County, urged the community to be part of the effort. She noted the veterans’ population has decreased by 44% over the last 20 years in the state.
Veterans continue to serve their community in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, church groups and civil service, county legislators said in resolution supporting the green light initiative.
Many of the military personnel experience significant stress in transitioning to civilian life, and many commit suicide in that first year out of the military, legislators said.
“With designation as a Green Light for Military Service County, Orleans County hereby declares from November 1st through Veterans Day, November 11th 2021 a time to salute and honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform transitioning from Active Service,” legislators said in a resolution last week.
The New York State Association of Counties is launching the new Operation Green Light initiative to encourage homeowners, businesses, and governments to light up their homes, buildings, courthouses, and bridges green in support of America’s veterans the week of November 7th.
By shining a green light, participants let veterans know that they are seen, appreciated, and supported, NYSAC said.
“We wanted to do something special this year to honor the service and immense sacrifice of all our veterans, especially those who served over the last two decades in our nation’s fight against terrorism,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. “Operation Green Light gives individuals, businesses and government leaders a way to reach out and let members of the veteran community know what we’re with them and that we appreciate all that they have done to protect our country and our way of life.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 1 November 2021 at 7:47 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Allie Dent, left, and Samantha Albright, go for the ball during the Rams home court sectional loss to Eden this evening.
Perennial Section VI volleyball power Eden posted a straight set 25-19, 25-12, 25-19 win over host Roy-Hart this evening in a Class C1 semifinal round contest.
Eden, which is seeded No. 4 after playing an independent regular season schedule primarily against larger schools, advances to the finals with a 14-5 record while top seeded Niagara-Orleans League champion Roy-Hart finishes at 13-2.
The Lady Raiders will face No. 7 Allegany/Limestone, a three set winner 25-17, 25-10, 26-24 over No. 3 Akron in the other semifinal, in Wednesday’s Section VI Class C1 title match.
Roy-Hart pulled even at 10-10 midway through the opening set after a run of three straight service points by Ava Brigham but the Lady Rams could not grab the lead.
Eden pulled away for a 25-19 win keyed by three point runs of service points by Emalee Ballou (17-19) and Ashley Ballou (22-24) as Brianna Rigley had a pair of spiking kills for points during both runs.
Eden used a pair of big serving runs to key the 25-12 second set win. Rigley served up points 8-11 with one ace and Emalee Ballou points 17-22 including three aces. Rigley also had a kill for the set winning 25th point.
Roy-Hart did take a narrow 12-11 lead midway through the third set after a kill by Alex Stern but Eden answered with a key four point run of service points by Emalee Ballou (13-16) to regain the lead for good. An ace capped off the run which also featured a kill by Rigley.
Emalee Ballou, Rigley and Maeve Musielak then all registered kills for points down the stretch to help the Lady Raiders close out the 25-19 set and the match.
In a Class C2 semifinal No. 2 Gowanda defeated No. 6 Wilson 25-12, 25-16, 25-15.
Roy-Hart’s Alex Stern spikes over Eden defenders Emalee Ballou (8) and Gracie Williams (11).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 November 2021 at 6:13 pm
The number of active Covid cases in Genesee and Orleans counties is at 471, up from 382 on Thursday, according to data from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
Orleans is at 200 active cases today, up from 190 on Thursday, while Genesee’s active cases increased from 192 to 271 in the four days.
The 271 is a new pandemic record for Genesee. Its previous high was 269 on Dec. 7, 2020. Orleans peaked at 279 on Jan. 7, 2021.
Orleans is reporting 92 new positive cases since Thursday with the cases in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
Six residents from Orleans are currently hospitalized due to Covid.
The county is reporting 82 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.
In Genesee, there are 153 new cases since Thursday. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
Genesee has 17 residents hospitalized due to Covid.
Genesee also has 74 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 1 November 2021 at 4:05 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: This banner hanging by Creekside Floral on Main Street in Medina pays tribute to Medina’s legendary Dan Paul, known to all as “Dan Spaghett.”
MEDINA – Only a few days remain until this year’s Hometown Hero banners come down for the winter. But before that happens, Mary Woodruff would like to call attention to two very special veterans who are honored in Medina’s downtown.
One is Dan Paul, known to the Medina community as Dan Spaghett, and the other is Civil War soldier and Shelby farmer Asa Hill.
Woodruff first got the idea for the banners after she attended a ceremony in Alfred Station where her father-in-law Willis Burr Woodruff was one of the town’s residents whose banner was on display in a local gymnasium. Burr served in Africa during World War II. He came to Medina as manager of the Agway plant in Knowlesville.
When Woodruff walked into that room with all the banners, she was awestruck, she said.
She came home and immediately started making plans to start a Hometown Heroes program in Medina.
The results have been overwhelming, not only the number of banners which have been purchased, but the stories of the veterans honored.
Two very special banners hanging this year are those of Civil War soldier Asa Hill and Medina’s legendary Dan Spaghett.
When Woodruff posted on Facebook she was looking for comments from people who had memories to share of Hill and Dan, whose real name was Dan Paul, she was overwhelmed with responses.
Most people didn’t know much about Dan, except he was our town “hobo” and always wore his long coat. His portrait is prominently displayed at the Rudy’s diner in Medina.
Legendary Locals of Orleans County, a book by Holly Canham, has the most information known about Dan, who was born in 1892 (location unknown) and died in 1976.
Legendary Locals says he came to Medina as a young boy to work on railroad maintenance gangs. He stayed with the Paul family and adopted their surname. He was a veteran who served in World War I, returning to Medina after the war, at which time it was said he displayed signs of trauma.
He was never seen without his long coat and felt hat, even in summer. It was often said his coat was lined with money, and Legendary Locals reports when he was once hospitalized they found considerable amounts of money hidden in the folds of his coat. Later in life, while at the VA, many uncashed pension checks were found in his coat. It was also reported his only known possession was a trunk full of lacy items, such as doilies, which it is suspected his mother made and which he occasionally gave as a gift.
In spite of his reclusive lifestyle, he was trusted by Medina merchants, for whom he often ran errands, made bank deposits, delivered telegrams and performed handyman jobs.
The most often-told tales about Dan involved his walks to Lake Ontario to bathe in the lake.
Dan’s banner was suggested and paid for by Lee and Maureen Blackburn, Medina natives who now live in Fredonia.
Their reasons for remembering Dan with a banner were because he was friendly and honest, but most of all, because he was a veteran, Maureen said.
“Dan was a regular strolling along Main Street,” she wrote in an e-mail to Woodruff. “Sensing the reluctance of my two daughters when Dan approached, we stopped and waited for him to greet us. The girls weren’t sure of this exchange, but I assured them he was a friend. He greeted them and, as he often did, played a slight-of-hand coin trick. They loved it. Being preschool age, it was natural they were hesitant, and only with an adult nearby would this be ok. This was over 50 years ago and I can still see the image of two little girls enjoying Dan’s kindness.”
Donna Piedmont Bryant recalled Dan walked to Shadigee every day to wash his feet.
“We often picked him up and gave him a ride,” she said. “My dad and he would have a great visit. He got to ride up front and we had to get in the back seat.”
Anita Wigley Weese shared her memories of Dan when she worked at G.C. Murphy’s in the early 1970s.
“Dan would always hang around there,” she said. “He was never any trouble, just sat around quietly and smiled. One day some kids started picking on him. Dan went into the stairwell and grabbed the broom that was always kept there. He took off chasing them and swinging the broom at them. I can still see that.”
Joann Sellers’s memory of Dan is when her family would go downtown and the kids would stay in the car.
“Dan would come up to the car and we would roll down the window just a little and he would give us one piece of Juicy Fruit gum,” she said.
Laurey Kenward said Dan had lived in a run-down house on Park Avenue, a couple of blocks from her family. It was a corner house one block east of Davis Avenue, and she said it was torn down after his death.
Fran Kenward’s memories of Dan are when they had first moved to Medina in 1966 and walked uptown every day with her children, age 1 and 4.
“We were always greeted by Dan when we walked through Murphy’s,” Kenward said. “He was one of the most friendly people in town. He would walk to the stop light with us and would sing to us. What a wonderful voice he had.”
Gloria Fierch remembers Dan very well. She said Dan used to walk by their house on Paddy Hill every night in the summer.
“We assumed he spent the night on Erin Road in this little old house,” she said. “I think he stayed with this little old bag lady, Mrs. Barney, but I’m not sure. He was a very fascinating man.”
Donna Graves said Dan is buried in the front of Boxwood Cemetery and each time she visits her parents’ graveside, she visits his. She asks everyone to stop by and say a prayer “for a very memorable man to many of us.”
There were many more responses to Woodruff’s request for memories, most of whom recalled Dan’s walking to the lake, his honesty, his attention to children and his beautiful voice.
The story of Asa Hill will be shared in a future story.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 November 2021 at 12:02 pm
Provided photos: The Medina Marching Band closes out its first-place finish Sunday at the Carrier Dome.
MEDINA — The Medina Marching Band won the championship on Sunday during the New York State Field Band Championships at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
Medina had the highest score, 94.75, among the nine bands in the Small School 1 Division.
The seniors in the band gathered for a group photo.
Medina’s performed a program called “Together Again” in a return to competition after the 2020 season was wiped out due to Covid-19. Medina also won the title in 2019.
Medina’s score on Sunday topped New Hartford at 92.40; Mineola at 92.25; Malvern at 90.60; East Syracuse-Minoa at 89.65; East Irondequoit at 88.45; Central Square at 87.50; Oswego at 87.10; and Mohonasen at 82.70.
Jim Steele, the band director, said he is proud of the band program. He views the band as a huge family. There were 50 bands that performed during the championships and each developed a program. Steele said they are all winners, no matter what their score, especially in these times of Covid and other budget cuts. These schools are to be commended for their persistence and dedication, Steele said.
This was the 15th time that Medina has won the championship in their class with the prior titles in 1982, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2019.
Sunday’s event also included the induction of retired Medina Marching Band director Joseph McKain into the 2021 NYS Field Band Conference Hall of Fame. McKain led the marching band in Medina from 1970 to 1999.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 November 2021 at 11:39 am
Provided photos
ORCHARD PARK – Geno Allport of Albion was introduced as the Buffalo Bills Fan of the Year to a packed crowd at Highmark Stadium on Sunday.
Allport was introduced to the crowd and his name was displayed on the huge scoreboard.
He wears a Bills jersey with the number 74. That is the year his family started being season ticket holders. Allport and his siblings bought a brick outside the Bills store in honor of their late father, Gene “Lou” Allport. They presented the brick at the last game he attended on Nov. 28, 1999.
Allport works as preceptor and alumni coordinator at Vertus Charter School, where he helped start the school’s new football program which is coached by Ocie Bennett of Albion.
Allport is commissioner of the Albion Youth Sports Athletic Program, volunteering for the youth football program as equipment manager, fundraising coordinator, statistician, water boy, set-up and clean-up crew, coach and fan/player safety coordinator.
Allport started coaching when his son Tre was 7 and has stayed on the sidelines since.
As the Bills Fan of the Year, Allport will be able to attend the Super Bowl, where he hopes the Bills will represent the AFC.
Geno Allport, wearing number 74, acknowledges the crowd during Sunday’s game in Orchard Park.
By Bob Golden of the Community Coalition for Justice
ALBION – Rochester Philharmonic’s Herb Smith performed and discussed racial injustice in the music world last Wednesday at Hoag Library, in an event attended by 75 people.
Henry Smith, past chairman of Orleans County Legislature, called Herb Smith “personable, professional, prepared, perfect!”
Henry Smith is the only Black man to serve on the County Legislature. In politics and business, he said he had similar memories as Herb Smith, but Herb’s compelling telling of two frighteningly wrongful criminal charges captured the fate of even a highly successful Black man in our society.
Henry struggles with understanding why people can’t be accepted for their accomplishments and quality, rather than being rejected simply because they’re a different color.
RPO’s Smith led off with a brilliant Classical trumpet solo. “This was composed by a Black Classical musician. You wouldn’t have heard of him. Black composers are often ignored. We didn’t hear of one at Eastman.”
He then played a Reggae piece, “I Can’t Get Ahead? Is it because I’m Black?”
Herb then took us through musical examples of great Classical composers, who were held back because they were Black. One such was composer/musician Joseph Bologne, 10 years older than Mozart. Mozart plagiarized at least one Bologne’s pieces (listening would convince you Bologne’s style as well). Yet Bologne was called “Black Mozart.” US President, then Ambassador to France, John Adams said “Bologne can do anything.”
Bologne taught Marie Antoinette. Although highly accomplished, educated and the only viable conductor candidate for the Paris Symphony, was declined because the musicians didn’t want to play with a Black musician. He was the child of a rich White slave-owner and Black slave mother.
Another was a young Black woman, who auditioned against maybe 100 other Classical pianists, behind screens so the examiners didn’t know the person’s race, sex or age. She became the final candidate and so she performed without screen. The judges declined to accept her, apparently once they saw that their favorite was Black and a woman. She became famed pianist/singer Nina Simone. Herb played a moving video by Simone, so moving the audience applauded. Aside: How could we treat these creators of such beauty, so cruelly?
Herb showed a video of white Pat Boone performing “Tutti Frutti.” It became a huge hit. Then, Herb showed L’il Richard singing the exact same piece a year before. L’il Richard never saw a cent from Boone’s hit, his piece.
He showed white Elvis Presley singing “Hound Dog.” Then he showed an earlier film of Big Mama Thornton, singing the same piece. She didn’t see a cent from her piece. Plagiarism and misappropriation of pieces commonly happened to Black musicians.
Of Herb Smith’s performance and talk: “Fantastic,” said Albion music teacher, Mike Thaine. “Very important discussion we need to have in music and our community.”
Thaine brought his Jazz Ensemble and other students. “It was of great value to bring a musician of his caliber into this community, for the adults, there, including music teachers, musicians and the youth.”
But even when the great ones got work, they weren’t treated very well. Two of the most popular and highly regarded, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong and Nat “King” Cole, performed in the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, yet weren’t allowed to stay in those hotels because they were Black. That persisted until the 1960’s. They couldn’t eat in those hotel restaurants. Even those top acts and Duke Ellington and Count Basie were paid considerably less than their white counterparts like Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and Harry James, Herb Smith told the crowd.
Bob Golden, one of the event organizers, pointed out that many of the top White Swing bands, had Black arrangers, like Fletcher Henderson and Sy Oliver. So even though they couldn’t play with them, they were responsible for much of their top music.
Kae Wilbert, also an organizer, who had recruited Herb, noted that there seem to be less Black musicians. Herb said that many inner city schools have cut music and art. So inner city children often are not being exposed to the arts, or have access to the same musical experiences as in the suburban schools.
Henry Smith asked if there are hopeful signs. Herb described several scholarship programs designed for kids in poorer schools districts. “There is a recognition of the problem.”
Herb had started promptly at 6:30 p.m. It was about 8:30 p.m. when Joyce Riley, vice president of the Hoag Library, asked if Herb could play one more song. He chose Duke Ellington’s 1931 “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing.”
It was pointed out, that that was the origin of the name “Swing” music. But, of course, it was Benny Goodman who was called the “King of Swing.”
Herb finished a clever, complex and beautiful performance of “…Swing.” The full house stood and gave him a standing ovation. He had to wave them down to say his good-byes.
Joyce added that she is pleased that the Library can be hosting these programs. “We have so much to learn and consider in our society.” She added, “Herb Smith is off the charts.”
Photographed in Carl Munzel’s grocery store in Jeddo in 1915 are: Mr. Merchant, Mr. Singleton, Mr. Morton, Mr. Beck, Lena Grier, 3 unknown gentlemen, Mr. Tuck and Mr. Schilling.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
Illuminating Orleans – Vol. 1, No. 27
JEDDO – The group gathered around the pot-bellied stove, the cat dozing on the gentleman’s lap, the box of biscuits for the cracker barrel, the packed shelves, the tin ceiling – our photograph contains all of the standard features of a general store in rural America early in the twentieth century. It could be any store.
However, at some point in time, a wise and thoughtful person took a few moments to note the location, date and names of the people in the store, details which add immeasurably to the historic interest of the photo.
Lacking first-hand knowledge, but armed with location, date and names, we can unearth more details using resources such as the 1915 Census and cemetery records from the invaluable Orleans County GenWeb site (click here) and digitized newspapers at www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org. The 1913 Atlas of Orleans County map of Jeddo also provides some clues.
Lena Grier: Lena is the only female in the group. According to the 1915 Census, Lena was 16, she was employed as a Clerk at the store and lived with the Munzel family: Carl (28), his wife Ella (27) and their son Colton aged 4. We learn from a 1914 Medina Daily Journal article that she was Ella Munzel’s sister. From a 1980 Journal-Register obituary, we learn that Lena married Harry Saxton and they operated a general store in Royalton for 31 years, retiring to Medina in 1960, they lived at 119 North Ave.
Josephine Tuttle, longtime Jeddo resident, recalled in a 1978 Journal-Register article that the store had been built by Albert Mietz in 1895. His nephew, Carl Munzel, who had worked with him for four years, purchased the store in 1915 and operated it for twenty-eight years. She wrote:
“In the evening, some of the gentry gathered among the barrels and nail-kegs to discuss the affairs of the day. Usually, the conversation was genial, but, on occasion, it became as heated as the pot-bellied stove around which they sat.”
Mr. Merchant: The gentleman with the cat on his lap was most likely Theodore Merchant, aged 66. He and his wife, Vinnie, lived next door to Munzel’s store, but owned a farm on the Ridge Road corner of County Line Road, just west of Jeddo. Mr. Merchant was one of the many “sunworshippers” from the North who later wintered in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Mr. Singleton: William Singleton, aged 59, was a plumber who also lived close by the store. His wife Arla was 63 and their adopted daughter Matilda aged 22 lived with them (1915 Census). William held the office of constable for several years.
Mr. Morton: A chance reference in the Journal-Register may provide the identity of Mr. Morton. Announcing that the Rev. Hugh Q. Morton would speak at the Jeddo Community Church in August 1975, it was noted that his father, also Rev, Hugh Q. Morton, was pastor of that Church from 1911 to 1915.
Mr. Beck: The map of Jeddo shows a W.W. Beck living in Jeddo. A William W. Beck is buried in West Ridgeway Cemetery. An obituary for William W. Beck in 1950 notes that he was a longtime resident of Jeddo and had worked as a painter for many years.
Mr. Tuck: Josiah Tuck was 82, and was born in England. He died in 1921 and is buried in West Ridgeway Cemetery with his wife Betsey.
Mr. Schilling: Lacking a first name, we cannot determine with certainty the identity of Mr. Schilling. An Elmer Schilling, aged 28, lived in Shelby in 1915.
The photograph was taken by W. C. Eaton, who dealt in “General and Commercial Photography, Farm Life, Buildings, Groups, Children, Stock, Post Cards, etc.” He lived in Jeddo, Mr. Singleton and Mr. Merchant were his immediate neighbors, while the Munzel store was just two doors to the west of his home.
As the evenings darken and lengthen, we suggest a photograph sorting and labeling project. It would be enjoyable, and greatly appreciated by future generations.
JEDDO – The group gathered around the pot-bellied stove, the cat dozing on the gentleman’s lap, the box of biscuits for the cracker barrel, the packed shelves, the tin ceiling – our photograph contains all of the standard features of a general store in rural America early in the twentieth century. It could be any store.
