The Corinthian Janary/February 2015

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Tuesday January 13th 7:00 p.m. Greece Public Library

Rochester's Patent Medicine Men

By: Don Hall

In the late 19th century, Rochester was the third largest producer in theU.S. of patent medicines, the forerunners of today's over-the-countermedications. See the products, where they were made, the people whoproduced them and the places that they lived. Did themedicines work? Well, they did a great job of improvingthe lives of the men who produced them.

Don Hall has presented talks from coast to coast at such places as theSmithsonian Institution and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Don has also

written extensively for publications such as the Maine Antique Digest, Art & Antiques,Style 1900, Antique Review, and the Journal of the American Art Pottery Association.

He is also a guide at Mt. Hope Cemetery.

J a n u a r y 1 3 t h 2 0 1 5

Programs 1

Calendar 2

Volunteers and More 6

Tours & Education 5

GREECE HISTORICAL SOCIETY and MUSEUM

The Corint

hian

J a n . F e b . 2 0 1 5 o l u m e 3 6 I s s u e 1

F e b r u a r y 1 0 t h 2 0 1 5

In Every Issue: Points of Interest:

Presidents Message 2

Board of Trustees 4

Historians File 7

Contact Us 8

February 10th 7:00 p.m. Greece Public Library

Political Equality LeagueSisters in the Cause of Equality: The Rochester Political Equality ClubBy: Christine Ridarsky

Mary Anthony lived in the shadow of her more famous sister, suffragist Susan B.Anthony , and yet the role she and numerous lesser known women fromRochester and Monroe County played in the womens rights movement wascrucial to its success. This talk will explore the history of theRochester Political Equality Club and introduce you to some ofthe local women who put their boots to the ground to keepsuffrage at the forefront in Rochester and New York Statewhile Susan B and other national leaders toured the country.

Christine L. Ridarsky is the Rochester City Historian andHistorical Services Consultant for the Rochester Public Library.She is the editor of Rochester History journal and co-editor of

Susan B. Anthony and the Struggle for Equal Rights.


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President's Message

On a cold and rainy Friday, October31st, Supervisor Bill Reilich hosted anunveiling ceremony for the newesthistoric marker in the Town of Greececommemorating the history of PaddyHill School. This ceremony was theculmination of several years of researchand work by members of the GreeceHistorical Society. In 2004, while preparing a story about Paddy Hill School, itwas discovered that Common School District #5 hadoriginally purchased land at the southwest corner of what isnow Mt. Read Blvd and Latta Road in 1839 for a school.After many years promoting a sign commemorating theschool's history, we found the William G. PomeroyFoundation in Syracuse, whose mission is to fund historicmarkers in New York State. To secure the grant we usedsource documents to verify all information and receivedpermission from the School District. We choose thewording and color scheme for the sign. The funding wasawarded and the sign was ordered from Catskill Castings inBloomville, NY. Working with the school district, alocation was chosen, a utility stake out was scheduled andthe maintenance crew at the school district installed andpainted the pole. Coordination was then made with thesuperintendent of Greece Central School District and theTown Supervisor for an official unveiling which wasorganized by Deputy Town Supervisor Michelle Marini .

I would personally like to thank: the William G. PomeroyFoundation for providing the funds; Kathy Graupman,

former principal of Paddy Hill School for encouraging thisproject; Tom Cesario , MCDOT for providing the Right ofWay maps of the area; Alan Mueller , Town Historian at theGreece Historical Society for finding the original 1823school records; the staff at the Monroe County Clerk's Office , for their help in locating the 1839 deed; BarbaraDeane -Williams, superintendent of GCSD for her supportand granting permission to place the sign; Jody Button &the maintenance crew at GCSD , for preparing the site andinstalling the sign; Deputy Town Supervisor MichelleMarini, for organizing the event; Supervisor Bill Reilich, for hosting the ceremony and students from Paddy Hill

School for their participation. The Greece Historical Society is proud to have presentedthis historic marker as a gift to the Greece Central SchoolDistrict as a testament to their long commitment toeducation in the Town of Greece.

Bill Sauers, President

Museum Events

Museum and Museum Shop hours:Sunday 1:30 - 4p.m.

GHS office hours: Mon-Wed 9:30 a.m.-NoonMuseum and Museum Shop also open office hours.

January 13th Greece Library 7pmMonthly Program

(See page 1)

January 15th Community Center 7pmnnual Member Meeting

(See below)

January 18th Greece Museum 2pmSunday program

(See page 6)

January 18th Greece MuseumNew Exhibit: The History of Uncle Sam

February 10th Greece Library 7pmMonthly Program

(See page 1)

February 15th Greece Museum 2pmSunday program

(See page 6)

Annual Member Meeting Thursday January 15th , 2015, 7:00 pm

Greece Community & Senior Center, activity room D

We will present the 2014 annual report, vote on aslate of trustees, recognize our volunteers,announce our plans for 2015 and listen to ourmember's suggestions.

The slate of candidates, as approved by the

Nominating Committee and Board of Trustees,follows:

Terms ending December 31, 2017: William Sauers, Sandy Peck, John Wallenhorst ,Pamela OSullivan Term ending December 31, 2016: Cynthia ShevlinTerm ending December 31, 2015: Paula Smith

Learn more about our newest trustee, Pamela O'Sullivan,on page 4.


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Our Museum Community THANK YOU to the BUSINESSES

that have SUPPORTED theGreece Historical Society

Fleming PointGreece Chamber of Commerce*

JackCin Tax Service*Legacy at Park Crescent*

Long Pond Auto Body* Long Pond Family Restaurant

Mark DeNeve*Mark IV Enterprises

Mel's DinerNorth Ridge Glass*

Northwest Savings Bank (Long Pond Rd)Party Productions*

Special T Cakes & DessertsThe Signery

The Villages at Unity*

Tim Horton's (Long Pond Rd)Tops Friendly Markets (Mt Read Blvd)Ultimate Interiors*

Vay-Schleich & Meeson Funeral &Cremation Chapels*

Wegman Food Markets (Latta Rd)(* denotes Business Member)

Pay your GHS Membership Dues On-Line

PayPal is now available formembership dues and donations.Save postage by going to our website, www.greecehistoricalsociety.netand clicking Membership.

Upcoming EventsMar 10 " Abandoned: Untold Stories of NY's OrphanAsylums" by Michael Keene Apr 14 Philanthropy with a Purpose: a Look at WhatEastman Supported" by Kathy ConnorMay 12 Where Have You Gone Joe DiMaggio" by BillSimons a program of the NY Council for the Humanities

Preserving Heritagewith

Historic Markers

Our newest historic marker in the Town of Greece,commemorating the history of Paddy School was unveiledOct 31st. It was funded by the William G. PomeroyFoundation of Syracuse. The foundation strongly believes

that historic markers play an important role in local historicpreservation.

Their historic marker program commemorates historicpeople, places or things within the time frame of 1740-1914by awarding grants to install historic markers. The PomeroyFoundation also funds programs specifically related toblood cancers.

As of April 2014 they have funded almost 200 HistoricMarkers in 42 New York counties! The participation andenthusiasm for this program has proven that communitieswant to preserve their local history.

Locally, the Pomeroy Foundation has also funded a markerfor the Latta House at Lake Ave and Latta Rd. That sign willbe placed in front of the house this coming spring.

The Greece Historical Society is grateful to have theopportunity to work with the William G. PomeroyFoundation and thank them for their generosity. We lookforward to pursuing other opportunities for future localhistoric markers.

Barns of Greece exhibit was HUUUGE

This exhibit was created by GHS member JaneGrant. It was the culmination of a four year

project interviewing farm families andphotographing their barns. The exhibit included

35 panels describing over 60 barns and thefamilies that own them. Also included was a

display by GHS member Don Newcomb of barnconstruction tools. Well over 200 guests visited

the exhibit.

It was the mostsuccessful exhibit of

the year.


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Museu m Shop

Many of you are familiar with our museum giftshop. We offer books about local history, Greeceitems such as t-shirts, coffee mugs, and historicalblankets, as well as collectable items. OurMuseum Shop is a friendly little place to browsethrough our unique items. Please stop by and sayhello when you visit our Museum.Our volunteers are here to help. Visit us soon.Wendy Peeck, Museum Shop Coordinator

Museum Shop hours : Sun 1:30-4:00 Mon-Wed 9:30-12

Officers & Board of Trustees

For newsletter input only, please contact:[email protected] Shevlin, Editor This newsletter is published bi-monthly by the editorfor the Greece Historical Society and Museum.

Please Remember

The Greece Historical Society in your taxand estate planning. We are a non-profit

organization supported by your*gifts and endowments.

We sincerely appreciateyour donations.

*Tax deductible per (Section 501(c)(3) of theInternal Revenue Code

**New Membership Renewal Date**

The Greece Historical Society would like to announce a revisedmembership renewal policy which will make it easier for ourmembers and our volunteers who keep the records. Beginning in2015, all memberships will now be due on May 1st.

This may inconvenience some for a short time but will eventuallymake it easier for us manage and hopefully eliminate errors. Toease the burden for those whose membership is about to expire,we have decided that beginning this month any paid renewalsbetween November 2014 and May 2015 will be extended toMay 2016.

If your renewal date is in this period and you want to throw in alittle extra, it would be greatly appreciated. Your membershipand donations are tax deductible.

President: Bill SaueVice President: Paula SmithSecretary: Sandy PeckTreasurer: Elizabeth TudiscoExecutive Director: NeededHonorary Trustee: Don Newcomb

Trustees: Ruth CurchoeSandy PeckGregg Redmond

Bill SaueThomas Sawnor

Cyndie ShevlinPaula Smith

Elizabeth Tudisco Jack Wallenhorst

Committee Chairs::Building Needed

Grounds Bill PeeckHistorian Office Alan MuellerMembership Maureen WhalenMuseum Viola WhiteMuseum Shop Wendy PeeckNewsletter Cyndie ShevlinPrograms Bill SauersPublicity Marge ZercieRegistrar Lee StraussTours, Education Kathie Firkins

Linda Evan

Continued from pg2: Pamela O'Sullivan , Head ofIntegrated Public Services at Drake Memorial Library,The College at Brockport, since April 2008, obtainedher MLS from the SUNY Buffalo. Pamela is a memberof the SUNY Librarians Association and the JaneAusten Society of North America. She is a regularreviewer for Library Journal. Previous to joining thestaff at Drake Library, Pamela was a public librarianfor over two decades. She is also a professionalstoryteller.

Pamela currently shares her home in Greece with her husband, Tim,daughter Joanna, five cats and two dogs. A native Rochesterian, sheenjoys wine tours, watching her daughter race for Aquinas High School,reading cozy mysteries and playing hidden clue games on-line.


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ToursOne of the most interesting, fun and rewarding tours that I did was in October for a group with whomJane Grant works to teach English to non-speaking immigrants. See more below.

EducationWe held our 4th Native American Day on Saturday, November 8th. This year our event was held at the

Greece Community Center. It was well attended by approximately 85 people and, by far, one of ourmost successful programs. With donations from Jack & Jeri Heller 's 50th Wedding Anniversary we wereable to have Mr. Perry Ground . Mr. Ground is the Native American Resource person with the RochesterCity School District. He told stories with drama and special effects. Also on hand was Mr. GeorgeHamell an Archeologist with the Rochester Museum and Science Center. He had several artifacts withhim, some especially from the Town of Greece and to finish out the program, Mrs. Freida Schultz toldabout growing up on a reservation. Thank you, Jack & Jeri for your generosity.

A big thank you to the following for their support and help with this

program: Lee Strauss, Linda Evans, Maureen Whalen, Joe Vitello and a specialthank you to Bill Sauers who is always on hand to lend a hand where needed.

Kathie Firkins, Tour Director/Education Consultant

Tours and Education

English Tutoring Program Visits Our Museum

The November 5 th guest register at the museum lookedlike a roster of United Nations members!

Visitors hailed from a dozen different nations on fourcontinents. They are participants in a voluntary Englishtutoring program which meets at the Maplewood library.When the volunteer organizer of the program, CarolynArgus , visited our museum to see the barn exhibit, shewas impressed by the displays in the exhibit hall, and atour was quickly arranged. Kathie Firkins handled thesurprise appearance of over 35 persons with poise andgood humor. Attendees included toddlers and seniorcitizens, and Kathie was able to engage all with herknowledge and sensitivity. A big thank-you goes to the volunteers who rearranged their calendars tomake this visit possible.

Approximately 85 adults and children turned out to explore Native Americanculture our 4th annual Native American Day. Held at the Greece Community

and Senior Center on November 8, 2014, the two hour event was filled withfacts, artifacts and stories about Native Americans and their culture.


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rom the Historians i le

Keeping Greece roads clear in the 2 th century

Winter snows prior to the early 1900s weren't a problem for the Greece highway dept. There was nohighway department, as such, and they had no snow moving equipment. There might have been a fewfarmers who contracted with their team of horses to pull fairly large rollers to pack down the road snowfor a path to allow various types of sleighs on the main roads. The first "improved road" in Greece was a

section of North Greece Rd. from the hamlet known as "Jenkins Corner" at Latta Rd. to about a half milenorth and the "Hojack" (R.W.&O.) railroad and station in 1903. Shipments could be received there fromCanada and the west and from eastern New York State and Rochester.

By 1909 the town board appointed the first highway superintendent and retired the numerous"Pathmasters" who had been the overseers of Greeces various main roads. The town board minutes of1919 make the first mention of snow removal in the budget. Four thousand dollars were to be allottedfor snow removal. Little by little, during the 1920s, early town trucks would have added snow plowequipment for winter, to keep the main highways free of snow. The increasing use of automobiles hadbecome more reliable and those adventuresome drivers could now keep their vehicles on the road withthe aid of chains on their tires, rather than being stored on blocks until spring.

The town highway department soon outgrew the several small buildings that housed theirequipment behind the town hall on Ridge Rd. In1935 land was bought and developed on propertyformerly owned by Emmett Cooper , (long time highway superintendent) on Long Pond Rd., north ofLatta Rd. A much expanded department operates from that spot to the present time.

Photos, data supplied byAlan Mueller, Greece

Historian's Office. If youhave any information onour photos, call Alan at

663-1706.


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Membership Application

GREECE HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM

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NAME:_______________________________________________________________________ PHONE:(_____)_______________________(Last) (First) (M.I.) (Spouse, if applicable)

ADDRESS : ____________________________________________________________________________

(Street) (City/Town) (State) (Zip Code + 4)

E-MAIL ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

Memberships are tax deductible. Please pay online via PayPal or make check payable and mail to :

Greece Historical Society P.O. Box 16249 Rochester NY 14616-0249You will receive your membership card and receipt by return mail.

CONTACT US

GHS Office: 585-225-7221Email: [email protected]: www.greecehistoricalsociety.net

Historians Office : [email protected] Editor: [email protected]

Greece Historical SocietyGreece Museum

595 Long Pond RoadP.O. Box 16249

Rochester NY 14616-0249

Non -Profit

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Rochester

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Your donations and memberships help keep our Museum open. Thank you for your support.

Student-Senior (65 & over) $10.00 ___ Business/Professional $50.00 ___Individual $12.00 ___ Patron $75.00 ___Family $20.00 ___ Sustaining $150.00 ___Supporting $50.00 ___ Life Members (Each) $500.00 ___

Your tax deductible membership in the Greece Historical Society isavailable at several levels. To join, renew, upgrade your membership orto donate a gift, fill out and mail the form below or bring it to our nextprogram meeting. To pay via PayPal, visit our website atwww.greecehistoricalsociety.net

When you receive your renewal letter, please consider upgrading.

Documents

The Corinthian Janary/February 2015