Sandstone Society honors David Miller for many years of effort

Photos by Tom Rivers: Dave Miller, a member of the Medina Sandstone Society, speaks during the Oct. 17 Hall of Fame induction ceremony inside City Hall. Miller served on the Hall of Fame Committee since it formed in 2013. The group inducted 43 sandstone structures during Miller’s tenure.

Sandstone Society President Matt Holland, left, presents Dave Miller with an award in appreciation for his years of service to the society. The award included a chunk of sandstone on the plaque and thanks Miller “with sincere appreciation for your 13 years of outstanding leadership, commitment and dedicated service to the Medina Sandstone Society.”

MEDINA – One of the most dedicated members of the Medina Sandstone Society has retired from his volunteer service with the organization.

David Miller, a past president of the group, has helped the society in many ways, said current president Matt Holland.

Miller created a database with about 300 sandstone structures, including photos and details of most of the sites. He created a Wikipedia page with many details about sandstone history and its prominence for the mundane – sidewalks and curbing – to the magnificent – cathedrals, mansions, libraries and other great public buildings.

“I really wanted to know how many sandstone buildings are out there,” Miller said. “I wouldn’t have guessed when we started we’d have 300.”

He found impressive sites from Erie, Pa. to Albany and many spots in between, especially in Buffalo.

Miller pushed to create a kiosk with loads of sandstone history and information that is available in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame in the City Hall. That kiosk can be moved to taken to other locations.

Wit the Hall of Fame, Miller has been on that committee since the first class was inducted in 2013. The hall now includes 43 structures, many of them the most treasured buildings in their community.

Miller became involved in the organization in 2010 when the late Bob Waters asked Miller to create a promotional video for the Sandstone Trust. Miller agreed and stayed very active in the group for 15 years.

He said he wants to travel more with his wife Gail. She runs the Canal Village Farmers’ Market in Medina and her husband is a steady presence there as well.

During the annual meeting, the Sandstone Society named Matt Holland the president, Jesse Cudzilo the vice president, Peggy Schreck as secretary and Craig Lacey as treasurer for 2025. Board members appointed to new three-year terms include Mary Zangerle, Craig Lacy, Tom Rivers and Matt Holland.

Orleans County Historian Catherine Cooper spoke during last week’s annual meeting of the Medina Sandstone Society at Bent’s Opera House.

Cooper highlighted 2025 as the county’s bicentennial. She asked trivia questions and highlighted trails to local attractions created about 50 years ago.

The county officially turns 200 on April 15. For most of the county’s existence, the birthdate was thought to be Jan. 1, 1826. But the date was proven to be April 15, 1825. That is when the State Legislature established Orleans County, which separated from Genesee.

Former County Legislator Frank Berger learned of the true birthdate and he led the charge to have it be officially recognized as 1825 about 30 years ago.

“Two hundred is a long time, but 200 years also isn’t a long time,” Cooper said.

The Bicentennial Committee has embraced the ox as a mascot to help highlight the toils and tribulations of the early pioneers, who needed oxen to pull wagons, clear lands and help plant crops.

“We appreciate what the people who came before us endured and went through,” Cooper said. “The oxen are a reminder of where we came from.”