Public welcome to check out Sandstone Hall of Fame on Feb. 1

File photo by Tom Rivers – Medina Sandstone Society President Bob Waters, left, is pictured with Hall of Fame Committee members David Miller, Jim Hancock and John Slack.

Press Release
Bob Waters, president of Medina Sandstone Society

MEDINA – Last month the sandstone fame of Orleans County got a regional publicity boost when the “Sandstone Hall of Fame” was unveiled at City Hall in Medina, and now the general public is invited to view a beefed-up and expanded exhibit.

A date has been set for a public open house on Saturday, Feb. 1. That is the same day of Medina’s popular Wine About Winter event.

The December inaugural of the Hall of Fame turned out to be a memorable occasion and one entire wall of the council chamber at the local city hall was dedicated to a large display of plaques awarded to six outstanding stone structures.

“We’ve started to comb the state and this part of the world for dominant buildings made of the famous Medina sandstone,” said James Hancock, committee chairman.
“The idea seems to have rung a bell and it has generated a lot of publicity.”

Hancock was joined by David Miller and John Slack last year in creating the new Hall of Fame, which exists as a program of the Medina Sandstone Society.  They received 22 nominations for structures to be honored in the first round (class of 2013) and six were picked. The committee expects to see the idea grow with each passing year.

The City Hall chamber, which houses the Hall of Fame exhibit, will be open to receive the public from 1 to 5 p.m. on Feb. 1 . Visitors are invited to drop in at their leisure during that four-hour period, view the enhanced exhibit, and enjoy a cup of coffee if desired.

The expansion of the Hall of Fame wall is notable because the artwork tells more of Orleans quarrying history.  The committee sorted through hundreds of historic photographs to pick some of the best pictures of sandstone quarries, plus a few scenes of the local connection to the Erie Canal.  “We are now ready to receive the public,” said the three leaders.

The committee paid additional tribute to Takeform Architectural Graphics and its president, William Hungerford, for producing and presenting the impressive plaques which signify selections in the Hall of Fame.

“Just as a selected company provides the Hollywood ‘Oscars’ each year, now Takeform has honored us by producing our sandstone awards, and they are very special.”

In one lighter moment, the Sandstone Society got a suggestion. A board member said, “If the United States has the Emmy and Grammy awards now it has the Sandy awards for the best of sandstone.”

The Sandstone Society said it is “eager to share” the exhibit of the Hall of Fame with the local public.

Over the coming years the society expects growth in the program and more notice from out-of-town residents.