By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 November 2020 at 8:22 am
Orleans Community Health recognized as Business of the Year
File photos by Tom Rivers: Michelle Waters, owner and program director of The Tree House, runs preschool, parent child classes, special events and birthday parties at the site on the second floor of 116 North Main St. The Tree House was named New Business of the Year. On March 12, Waters held her first class at The Tree House, and then had to adapt to Covid restrictions, including having the site off limits to the public until July. This summer she offered several play camps and enrichment programs, with a focus on music, art and laughter.
The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce has announced its annual list of award winners, including Orleans Community Health as the Business of the Year.
“2020 has been a challenging year for businesses and communities everywhere,” said Darlene Hartway, the Chamber executive director. “Our board was inundated with nominations of businesses that have sacrificed, persevered, adapted and worked to meet the challenges of Covid to help our community stay safe. It was with great pride and pleasure that the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce announces this year’s award winners.
The full list includes:
Business of the Year: Orleans Community Health
Lifetime Achievement Award: Fred Pilon, owner of Pilon Construction
New Business of the Year: The Tree House in Albion
Small Business of the Year: Sam’s Diner in Holley
Agricultural Business of the Year: Navarra’s Farm Market & Greenhouses in Albion
Phoenix Award: Holley Gardens (renovation of the old Holley High School into apartments and offices)
Business Persons of the Year: Brian and Larissa DeGraw, owners of 810 Meadworks in Medina
Community Service Award: Hospice of Orleans County
Hidden Gem: Ernst Lake Breeze Marina
The award winners will be recognized at the ceremony later in November. It won’t be a dinner event with a big crowd of people like in previous years.
Home Leasing in Rochester reopened the former Holley High School this year, following a $17 million transformation, turning the site into 41 apartments for senior citizens and the offices for the Village of Holley. The main meeting room includes about 70 seats from the old auditorium that were refurbished. There are also about 40 seats up in the balcony but they are for display and aren’t available to the public. The building was last used as a school in 1975.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 November 2020 at 7:19 pm
‘The message is clear. We need to restore balance to New York State government.’ – NYS GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Nick Langworthy, chairman of the New York State Republican Party, leads a get out the vote rally this morning at Bentley Brothers in Albion.
The State Republican Party has taken this bus all over the state in the past week.
Langworthy has been traveling the state the past week, going to New York Coty, Long Island, the North Country, Hudson Valley, Central New York and the Southern Tier. This weekend, he brought a “Back the Blue” and “Save Our State” bus to Western New York, including a stop this morning in Albion and then in Warsaw.
Langworthy urged Republicans to send a strong message of support for the re-election of Donald Trump. Langworthy said the state has taken a hard turn towards liberal Democrat policies in the past two years, after the State Senate became under Democratic Party control.
The Demcorats in the State Legislature haven’t stood up to the governor, Langworthy said, allowing him to impose executive orders that are unchecked by the Legislature.
“The governor is drunk on power,” Landworthy said.
After the election this week, he said the State GOP will begin working on defeating Andrew Cuomo as governor in 2022.
“The only way we can change New York is to change the governor,” Langworthy said.
Congressman Chris Jacobs is seeking re-election to a full two-year term. He again faces challenger Nate McMurray, a Democrat, and also Duane Whitmer, a Libertarian.
Jacobs has proven to be a strong ally to President Trump, Langworthy said. The state chairman praised the president for fueling a strong economy that will come back stronger under his leadership.
Jacobs said he supports the “Back the Blue” message promoted around the state by the Republicans.
“We are the law enforcement party,” he said.
Jacobs, in his remarks in the morning drizzle, said he advocated to be on the Agriculture Committee in the House. He wants to use that role to advocate for agriculture and turn it into a bigger economic driver for the region.
Jacobs also said he will press Cuomo to release federal CARES funding that is targeted to assist local governments with their costs in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The governor is hoarding that money,” Jacobs said.
Langworthy said there will clearly be a big turnout in the election and he sees that as helping Jacobs win re-election. The 27th Congressional District is the most Republican-leaning in the state.
Republicans have a sizable edge in registered voters in the 8-county district – 194,901 compared to 153,511 Democrats. There are also 13,957 registered members of the Conservative Party, 27,197 members of the Independence Party and 108,589 “blanks” or unaffiliated voters.
“I really look forward to beating Nate McMurray one more time,” Jacobs said.
State Assemblyman Michael Norris of Lockport is unopposed in the 144th Assembly District which includes Shelby in Orleans, and part of Niagara and Erie counties.
Norris said legislators from downstate have grown more powerful in the State Capital in the past two years and have imposed overtime regulations on agriculture that makes New York much less competitive than in other states and will push farmworkers to other states where they can get more hours.
Albany’s criminal justice reforms have changed law enforcement and the judicial process in the state.
“Cashless bail has completely made our state less safe,” Norris said.
He urged voters to send Assemblyman Steve Hawley back to Albany. He represents the 139thDistrict which includes most of Orleans, all of Genesee and part of western Monroe. Hawley is opposed by Mark Glogowski, a Libertarian Party candidate from Hamlin.
Norris said he is concerned the State Senate could go 2 to 1 Democrats over Republicans, giving Democrats a supermajority. State Senator Rob Ortt leads the Republicans in the State Senate. He is unopposed this election in a district that includes Orleans, Niagara and part of Monroe counties.
Norris said the state is headed in the wrong direction, with a million residents moving out.
“The taxes and regulations are too high,” Norris said. “We need to change the way we do business in New York State.”
Gerald Greenan III is running for NYS Supreme Court Judge against Buffalo City Court Judge Amy Martoche. Greenan said he would be a judge in the mold of new U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Greenan, an attorney, has led the state Liquor Authority’s Buffalo office and has served as an administrative law judge for the state Parole Board.
Nadine Hanlon has the Republican line for Orleans County clerk after defeating Diane Shampine in the Republican Primary. Shampine is on the ballot again under the Conservative line.
This is the only county-wide contested race.
The other county positions are unopposed, including Joe Cardone for district attorney and three coroners — Scott Schmidt, Charles Smith and Rocco Sidari.
Hanlon, the current clerk to the Orleans County Legislature and a former Kendall town clerk, said she appreciates the support of the community in her campaign for county clerk.
Joe Cardone is unopposed for district attorney. He has served is the position for 29 years, making him the longest serving elected official in the county government.
Cardone said new laws from the state favor people who commit crimes.
“Criminal justice is under assault in New York State and it is causing tremendous problems,” Cardone said.
Langworthy, the state chairman, said it is critical that more Republicans be elected to the State Legislature and for state-wide offices.
“The message is clear,” Langworthy said. “We need to restore balance to New York State government.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 1 November 2020 at 11:32 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart will visit Wilson on Tuesday in a title deciding N-O girls soccer league contest. Roy-Hart’s Ada Livergood and Wilson’s Rian Faery here battle for control of the ball during the earlier season meeting between the teams.
The Niagara-Orleans League girls soccer and field hockey titles will be on the line this coming week as the regular season comes to an end.
In girls soccer runner-up Roy-Hart (7-2) visits front-running Wilson (8-1) on Tuesday needing a win to earn a share of the N-O title.
In field hockey, defending champion Barker at 9-1 and Akron at 10-1 both need wins this week in order to claim at least a share of the N-O crown. Barker needs wins at Kenmore (4-5-1) on Tuesday and at Newfane (1-9) on Thursday and Akron needs a win at Kenmore on Thursday in order to finish as co-champions.
In Genesee Region League girls soccer action, Holley (8-1-2) looks to cap off a division title season by visiting Lyndonville/Medina at Medina on Tuesday and hosting Pembroke on Thursday.
Weekly Schedule
Monday
Boys Soccer: Holley at Attica, Wheatland-Chili at Kendall, 7 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Kendall at Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, 7 p.m.
Tuesday
Boys Soccer: Pembroke at Roy-Hart, 5:30 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Notre Dame at Kendall, 5:15 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Wilson, 6:30 p.m.; Holley at Lyndonville-Medina, 7 p.m. at Medina
Field Hockey: Barker at Kenmore, 6 p.m.; Newfane at Wilson, 6:45 p.m.
Wednesday
Boys Soccer: Holley at Attica, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Boys Soccer: Wilson at Medina, 7 p.m
Girls Soccer: Lyndonville/Medina at Byron-Bergen, Pembroke at Holley; Kendall at Attica,7 p.m.
Field Hockey: Medina at Roy-Hart, Barker at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; Akron at Kenmore, 6 p.m.
Friday
Boys Soccer: Northstar vs. Medina/Lyndonville, 4 p.m. at Medina; Pembroke at Holley; Byron-Bergen at Kendall, 7 p.m.
N-O Standings
Boys Soccer: Roy-Hart 7-3, Akron 6-3-1, Newfane 6-4, Medina/Lyndonville 5-3-1, Wilson 4-5, Albion 0-10
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 1 November 2020 at 11:30 am
Dr. Khurrum Sanaullah
MEDINA – A pediatrician in Orleans County is expressing his concern regarding the upcoming flu season and some parents’ decision not to have their children vaccinated.
Dr. Khurrum Sanaullah joined Rochester Regional Health in April and is affiliated with United Memorial Medical Center and Orleans Community Health. He offers pediatric services at Medina Family Medicine on Ohio Street and Batavia Pediatrics.
Dr. Sanaullah recently gave a Zoom videoconference on his concern about a recent poll which found that one out of three parents do not plan to have their child vaccinated for the flu. Further, the poll revealed that only one out of three parents believe it is more important for their child to get the flu vaccine this year, compared to past years.
The two major contributing reasons revealed in the study indicate parents are keeping their kids away from health care sites during Covid-19; and parents are concerned due to misinformation about side effects and the effectiveness of the vaccine.
Dr. Sanaullah states it is even more important this year for children to get a flu shot because of the pandemic. He adds, the best time to have the flu shot is now.
He said the flu vaccine does not cause any serious side effects, and it is much better to get sick from the vaccine than from the flu itself.
“Your symptoms will be much milder,” he said. “The medical profession has never showed that the flu vaccine causes serious side effects.”
The doctor also said symptoms of the flu and Covid are very similar – chills, fever, body aches, cough, headache, vomiting and diarrhea, and if a person developed both, it could be a big problem.
“It’s a very smart idea to get your children vaccinated,” the doctor said.
He said all children between the ages of 6 months and 21 years should have the flu vaccine. The vaccine can be administered at a local pharmacy, although many pharmacies won’t vaccinate a child under 6.
Dr. Sanaullah said the flu season is typically from September through April and the earlier the flu vaccine is administered, the better. But it is never too late.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 November 2020 at 9:22 am
Webber Building should open next spring as hotel and café
LYNDONVILLE – For 18 months there were big boards in front of the Webber Building at 29 South Main St.
Contractors led by Mike Preston & Son Construction in Lyndonville were behind the scenes at work, transforming the façade.
The construction workers needed to rebuild the storefront, putting in new windows, window frames, three doors and rebuilding the façade. (Ralph E. Ewald Contractor of Ransomville constructed the doors and window sashes.)
Preston gutted the building and put in new framing, floors and stairs in place for a site that will be a boutique hotel with six rooms on the second floor and a café with retail space on the first floor.
This winter contractors will put in plumbing, HVAC, drywall and the interior furnishings.
Smith owns the three buildings next to the Webber Building. They will also see a transformation in the two years with the building next to Webber opening in 2021.
Robert Smith, a Lyndonville native who now lives in California, is leading the transformation of four buildings on Main Street. The Webber site will be the first to open, likely in spring.
“It’s beautiful,” Mayor John Belson said Friday at the site. “We’re really proud of what he’s trying to do.”
Smith is transforming four buildings, including the former Pennysaver Market site at the corner. The full effort will take about two more years to complete, Smith said.
The upstairs of the four buildings will offer hotel rooms and other residential options. The first floors will have retail with co-ops, a selection from the Niagara Wine Trail, locally grown produce, “a mini general store concept,” Smith said.
Pictured from left include Robert Smith, Lyndonville Mayor John Belson, Village Trustee Dareen Wilson, Laura Belson, Code Enforcement Officer Dan Wolfe and Smith’s brother Daryl Smith and his wife Anne Smith.
Smith, who worked 36 years as a financial advisor, sees potential in small-town Lyndonville. He wants to help his home town, and he also thinks the project is a good investment.
“We have to think outside the box because the Big Box (stores) have destroyed Small Town America,” he said. “We believe we can make Lyndonville a destination.”
His late mother, Barbara, ran a restaurant – Barb’s Lynd Lounge – on Main Street in one of the buildings he now owns. He remembers the hustle and bustle on Main Street when he was a kid.
He thinks the small towns are making a comeback, partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“People are realizing what the small towns have,” he said.
He sees a need for places to stay in Lyndonville with White Birch hosting many weddings and events on Route 63. There are also fishermen and many others who come to the community, including drivers for the Amish and Mennonite communities.
People will book their rooms online and there will be a local hotel manager.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Here is how the building looked in 2018 before the construction started.
Smith wanted to unveil the storefront last week to show the community there has been significant progress on the Webber Building.
Smith owns about 18,000 square feet of space in buildings that used to be a restaurant, super market, ice cream shop and other thriving businesses. The sites are vacant now and many of the windows are boarded up.
Smith is funded the project largely on his own. He was awarded a $490,000 matching state grant last December to help with the renovation of 29 South Main Street, a mixed-use anchor project in the village’s downtown.
‘We have to think outside the box because the Big Box (stores) have destroyed Small Town America. We believe we can make Lyndonville a destination.’ – Robert Smith
The renovations will replace windows so they aren’t mismatched, and make other façade improvements, including new steps and doors. The Pennysaver Building will get a new roof and the interiors will be upgraded and modernized.
Smith travels from Palm Springs to Lyndonville to see family and friends, and check on the Main Street project. He was joined on Friday be his brother Daryl Smith and his wife Anne.
Belson believes the project will spur more pride and investment in the community.
“This is a quaint little community with a lot of tradition,” Belson said. “And we do have people who are looking for a place to stay around here and right now there isn’t a place to stay.”
November 3, 2020 has an unexpected reason to celebrate – the mighty sandwich
Big day coming up on November 3rd. I am not sure what you are all going to do but I am going to celebrate like an American today. Unless you live under a rock, then you know that November 3rd, 2020 is National Sandwich Day.
Oh, you thought I was going to say something else? Ha! If you are a gambler then you will appreciate the tale behind the creation of this unofficial holiday. It was named after the 4th Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu.
He was a high roller and did not want to interrupt his gambling to eat a meal. As a solution, the staff put his meal between two pieces of bread allowing him to eat his meal without leaving his poker game.
A sandwich is an easy meal and an American favorite. Go to almost any store and you can find a Sub Shop or a Sandwich Station. When you are a kid you are groomed to be an American by having a PB&J prepared for you.
Crust or no crust? We were raised to believe that all the nutrition was in the crust. I don’t know if that is true… Isn’t the bread just all wheat or rye? I think maybe our parents just did not want to cut the crust off.
A good sandwich is like comfort food. Have you ever had a bean sandwich or a meatloaf sandwich? Those are warm and tasty. Around Park Avenue in Waterport, I know a family that loves a sandwich with a thick piece of liverwurst and a slab of onion between the bread, slathered in mayo. It might be tasty going down, but those who share space with them will not be so fortunate.
How about the grilled cheese sandwich with all that gooey cheese? The crispy bits on the edges are the best part! Sandwiches used to be simple, but over the years they have been brought to a whole new standard. Rarely do you see someone eating a plain bologna sandwich with French’s mustard.
Instead I read there are Sandwich Rules. First select the right bread. They used words like dry, dense, pocket bread, toasted, grilled. It needs to be layered properly with the tomatoes or roasted red peppers properly placed to avoid sogginess. Choose a spread. They suggested pesto, BBQ sauce, hung curd. OK, they went too far with the last one. Google taught me that hung curd is yogurt without the water.
I stopped after that with the rules. It all got a bit too complicated. On this day of sandwich celebrating it is suggested that we all eat a sandwich for each meal. Perhaps a breakfast egg sandwich, an old fashioned PB&J sandwich, a chicken salad sandwich. End it all with a good old ice cream sandwich. In between all that sandwich eating make sure you go to your election station and vote.
Maybe even fill up on a Liberty Sandwich first, which became a thing during WWI. Perhaps you have had one before, it is marshmallow crème and peanut butter between two pieces of bread! Bon Appetit.
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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced new guidelines allowing out-of-state travelers to New York to “test out” of the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Travelers from states that are contiguous with New York will continue to be exempt from the travel advisory; however, covered travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form (click here). Essential workers will continue to be exempt as well. The new protocol is effective Wednesday, November 4.
“New York is the third lowest positivity rate in the nation and New Yorkers should be very proud of what they’re doing,” Cuomo said. “However, travel has become an issue – the rest of the states pose a threat. We’re going to a new plan given the changing facts, and the experts suggest we shift to a testing policy. So there will be no quarantine list; there will be one rule that applies across the country. We bent the curve of this virus by following the data and the science, and we are continuing that approach with these new guidelines.”
For any traveler to New York State from out of state, exempting the contiguous states, the new guidelines for travelers to test-out of the mandatory 14-day quarantine are below:
For travelers who were in another state for more than 24 hours:
Travelers must obtain a test within three days of departure from that state.
The traveler must, upon arrival in New York, quarantine for three days.
On day 4 of their quarantine, the traveler must obtain seek another Covid test. If both tests come back negative, the traveler may exit quarantine early upon receipt of the second negative diagnostic test.
For travelers who were in another state for less than 24 hours:
The traveler does not need a test prior to their departure from the other state, and does not need to quarantine upon arrival in New York State.
However, the traveler must fill out the traveler information form upon entry into New York State, and take a Covid diagnostic test 4 days after their arrival in New York.
Local health departments will validate tests, if necessary, and if a test comes back positive, will issue isolation orders and initiate contact tracing. The local health department must make contact with the state the traveler came from, to ensure contact tracing proceeds there as well.
All travelers must continue to fill out the traveler information form upon arrival into New York State to contribute to New York State’s robust contact tracing program.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 October 2020 at 11:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: These geese didn’t adhere to social distancing or size limits on mass gatherings while on Johnson Creek in Lyndonville on Friday. It’s going to get darker an hour sooner starting Sunday after the clocks are turned back tonight.
Are you struggling with dark mornings? It’s about to change. With daylight saving time ending Sunday, November 1 at 2 a.m., Americans will “fall back” and set their clocks back one hour to standard time. While many motorists will enjoy an extra hour of sleep, they need to be aware of the time change and potential distractions to their normal routine. There are added dangers that can come as a result of a time change, especially behind the wheel.
An earlier sunset and darkness can lead to an increase in the number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured by vehicles. Therefore, drivers, pedestrians, joggers, walkers and bicyclists will need to use safety measures so they are seen on the roads. AAA advises motorists and pedestrians to remember the following tips to stay safe:
AAA Tips for Motorists
Always watch out for pedestrians when backing up in parking lots or driveways. Turn on your headlights to make yourself more visible.
Leave more following room. In the morning, when the sun is in your eyes it can be hard to see what the car ahead is doing. Use sunglasses and your sun visor.
Be mindful of children and others who are outdoors in the afternoon and evening as it gets dark earlier.
Remember to yield the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks. Do not pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks.
Pay attention and eliminate all distractions including cell phones and car clocks that are off by an hour.
AAA Tips for Pedestrians
Cross only at intersections or crosswalks. Look left, right and left again and only cross when it is clear. Do not jaywalk or cross between parked cars.
Evaluate the distance and speed of oncoming traffic before you step out into the street.
Avoid walking in traffic where there are no sidewalks or crosswalks. If you have to walk on a road that does not have sidewalks, walk facing traffic.
See and be seen. Carry a flashlight and wear reflective clothing and/or accessories.
While walking, pocket the cell phone and avoid listening to headphones at a volume that prohibits you from hearing approaching danger.
Wedding in Clarendon with more than 100 people has resulted in at least 30 Covid-19 cases
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans Health Departments
With the recent increase in positive cases of Covid-19 and reports of various events occurring it is important to remember there are still restrictions in place due to Covid-19.
The State has set in place orders on the importance of physical and social distancing to limit the spread of this novel virus that impacts people differently.
In some situations distancing is not being followed and has led to the spread of Covid-19. Through contact tracing and investigating cases it has been made apparent social distancing guidelines were not followed. Recently a wedding, with over 100 people in attendance, impacted at least 9 counties across the state. This event has led to no less than 30 people testing positive so far, between guests and other secondary contacts from one event.
With Halloween and Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) this weekend it is important to remember to minimize exposure through keeping with smaller gatherings and social distancing. The more people a person is in contact with and for longer periods of time the greater the risk of being exposed to and transmitting Covid-19. If you are sick, experiencing Covid-19 or flu symptoms, are in isolation or quarantine, do not participate in any holiday activities until you are cleared and symptom free.
Limiting social contact is challenging for many people but there are still ways to be in contact without being in their physical presence. Consider having your “gatherings” over social media platforms. You can still connect and have fun in the safety and comfort of your own home.
Provided photos: John Mignano, left, and David Pollock both recently retired after 25 years as corrections officers in the Orleans County Jail.
ALBION – Two leaders among corrections officer sin the Orleans County Jail were recently retired on their retirements. John Mignano and David Pollock both worked 25 years as corrections officers and were lieutenants.
Lt. Michael Christopher sent in the following in the following information about Mignano and Pollock.
John Mignano
John Mignano started full time on Oct. 1, 1990 and retired on June 29, 2020. He was promoted to rank of sergeant after five years as a corrections officer and then was promoted to lieutenant on February 2000.
He was in charge of ordering cleaning materials and inmate products for many years. He took pride in having a clean jail and personally supervised it on the administrative level on a nearly nightly basis.
He is also known to have received over a dozen funny nicknames over his career from staff and inmates. He plans on spending a lot of time with his two young grandsons and has always been an avid German Shepherd owner.
He also is a big Harley Davidson owner and follower often going to Sturgis, South Dakota for the bike rally. He and his wife Janet have frequented the Full Throttle Saloon that was a popular TV series for a few seasons. Interestingly, they have become friends with owners Michael and Angie Ballard.
David Pollock
David Pollock started full time as a corrections officer on Aug. 22, 1995. He retired on Sept. 12, 2020. He was promoted to sergeant in March 2000, and then was promoted to lieutenant in January 2002.
He was also certified NYS instructor, most notably an excellent firearms instructor. He took the most pride in being very precise on facility paperwork, organization, documentation and storage.
He and his wife Sharon plan on spending time with their very young and newly born grandchildren from both his son and his daughter. Interestingly his wife retired from her job the day before his last day.
His retirement decision was made much easier knowing he would get to spends lots of time with the grandchildren and his wife. They spend a lot of time going to craft shows and toy train shows together and both are animal lovers. Dave has a huge hobby of collecting train sets, post cards and is a huge world history buff.
Both John and Dave had farewell parties on June 29th and Sept 10th, respectively. The parties were put on by the Orleans County Sheriffs Employee Association Local 2966.
Many current and former employees attended both parties. Both had pizza, wings, cakes and laughs.
Superintendent Scott Wilson, Sheriff Christopher Bourke and Undersheriff Michael Mele attended both parties and presented both with recognition plaques and certificates of appreciation.
Union Vice President Michael Christopher presented both with plaques for their 25 years of service to Orleans County. Christopher has started a 25-year Orleans County employee recognition wall at the jail and in 911 dispatch. The two retiring lieutenants make it seven officers on the 25-year jail wall.
Photos courtesy of the Cobblestone Museum: The Harness Shop was moved to the Cobblestone Museum grounds on Route 98 in 1987. Several structures have been relocated and preserved at the museum.
(Editor’s Note: This is the 12th article in a series about historic Childs in the Town of Gaines. The hamlet of Childs lies just north of Albion at the intersection of Routes 104 and 98. In 2019, Childs was selected to be on the Landmark Society of Western New York’s “Five to Revive” list. In 1993, the federal U.S. Department of the Interior declared the Cobblestone Museum in Childs a National Historic Landmark, the first site in Orleans County with that distinction.)
By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director
In the 1800s, before the advent of the horseless carriage, it was very common to find one or more harness shops in every community as shown above in the list of harness businesses in Orleans County.
The typical harness maker could reproduce over 50 different leather goods used to make a horse’s harness, any of which could break down due to heavy use and weathering.
The typical harness shop also carried metal fasteners for harnesses, currycombs, lap robes, harness oil, gloves, whips, ointments and much more.
Harness maker P. Henry Peters is shown here at the entrance of his harness store in Albion. A sampling of the numerous types of leather goods he produced is seen in the store windows and also on the life-sized horse mannequin he moved outdoors in fair weather.
The Hamlet of Childs is now home to the J. G. Peters Harness Shop, a building which was built by Starr Chester in 1838 in the Town of Gaines. It originally was used as a shoe store until Chester’s death in 1880. The next owner, Gates Knickerbocker, purchased the building for $30 and moved it to another location in Gaines where it served as a jewelry and clock repair business until his death in 1914.
The photo above depicts the Knickerbocker clock repair store in the late 1800s. A series of owners used the building for other purposes including a gun repair shop, paint shop, cycle depot and as a rental property in the mid-1900s.
The little shop passed to the Cobblestone Society in 1987 when owner Rose Welles, notified Cobblestone Museum director C. W. Lattin that she would donate the building to the Cobblestone Museum complex. Shown above (left) is Delia Robinson, Town of Gaines Historian; C. W. Bill Lattin, Rose Welles, and Janice Thaine, Gaines Deputy Historian.
In more recent years, the little shop had been used as living quarters in connection with the Chatterbox Restaurant located next door. Here we see the building in 1987 as it is being prepared to be moved to the Hamlet of Childs.
The building was moved intact, one mile down Ridge Road, to the Cobblestone Museum campus on August 28, 1987 through courtesies performed by Rice Homes of Barre Center, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department and the Town of Gaines.
The Cobblestone Museum accepted the donation of the building with a plan to relocate its own collection of harness making equipment from the lower level of its Cobblestone Church where it was displayed. The leatherworking tools had been gifted to the museum in 1963 from the estate of John G. Peters.
Peters was born on July 4, 1877 and served a three-year apprenticeship under Reuben Pridmore, harness maker, in Albion. In 1909, Peters opened a harness shop of his own in Lyndonville. In 1918, Mr. Peters “saw the handwriting on the wall,” and knew tractors were taking over for horses.
He decided to take up shoe repair to earn his livelihood when the harness business became a thing of the past. Following Peters’ death, his family donated his entire collection of artifacts associated with his business to the Cobblestone Museum.
On July 9, 1989 the building was dedicated on the Cobblestone Museum campus as the J. G. Peters Harness Shop. The building was fully restored to house the Peters Collection. Over 50 members of the Peters family attended the celebration with a full family reunion, including a group photo in front of the restored harness shop.
There were innumerable men such as John Peters who manufactured and repaired harnesses around the turn of the 20th century. The J.G. Peters Harness shop serves today as a memorial not just to one man, but to an entire trade. Peters represents the countless craftsmen who plied their trade for hundreds of years, providing needed and valuable services to their communities.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 October 2020 at 8:07 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Kathy Blackburn dressed as Cinderella and hands out boxes of candy and treats to a lineup of vehicles for beggars’ Night in Medina.
The event is normally in Medina’s downtown with about 1,000 kids dressing up in costumes and going to each business for candy.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the big crowd of children wasn’t allowed by the Orleans County Health Department. The state has capped gatherings to no more than 50 people.
Medina Area Partnership brainstormed how the event could continue and decided to do it drive-through at the Medina Central School campus.
MAP members filled more than 600 boxes and bags with candy. About 500 were gone in the first hour. The event was advertised as 5 to 7 p.m., but cars were lined up by 4:30.
Cindy Robinson hands a happy kid a box of treats.
Kathy Blackburn gets more boxes of treats ready for kids. Many of them dressed up in costumes for Beggars’ Night.
“The kids have had a rough year,” Blackburn said. “The Medina Area Partnership thought it would be great for the kids to continue Beggars’ Night. So many things have been taken away from them this year. We didn’t want to take Halloween away from them, too.”
Medina is having trick-or-treating on Saturday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the village.
Karen Canning, the GLOW traditions program director and coordinator, is dressed in a Day of the Dead mask. Cannign has helped organize big Day of the Dead celebrations in Medina in recent years.
There won’t be a big party this year, but there are craft supplies, including materials to make a mask like hers. Those supply are at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library and the Orleans County YMCA.
There are also instructional videos for celebrating the Day of the Dead on MedinaDoD.com.
Mariachi De Oro Mexican Grill on Maple Ridge Road also has an ofrenda on display at its outdoor patio. An ofrenda or home altar includes bright aromatic marigolds, with petals forming a path to lead the souls home.
Candles give welcoming lights and incense gives additional guidance and guards against unfriendly spirits. Photos, mementos and favorite foods of loved ones are placed on the altar in this Mexican tradition to honor ancestors.
