Friday, February 28, 2014

GREECE Historical Society - March 2014


NEW AT THE MUSEUM

Beatlemania!  The Beatles collection of Greece resident, Jim Acker, will help us celebrate 50 years of their great music. Come and enjoy the memories as you view this extensive collection of Beatle memorabilia.  The exhibit can be seen during the month of March (or maybe longer).

Greece Town Supervisors New in the dining room alcove is a display featuring two of our former town supervisors – Don Riley and Roger Boily.

Museum Hours The Greece Museum and museum gift shop, 595 Long Pond Rd., Greece, NY, 14612, is open Sundays 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 or by appointment. 

MARCH PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Tuesday, March 11, 7:00 p.m., Greece Town Hall   “Heroes in the Attic”– the Untold Story of Two Civil War Soldiers” by Dennis Bielewicz. In a secret room of an abandoned house, Dennis P. Bielewicz uncovered documents which led him to research and retell the story of the complete military service of H. Seymour Hall and Benjamin Coffin in his book, Heroes in the Attic – the Untold Story of Two Civil War Soldiers. It is the true saga of two Livingston County college students who abandoned their classes to fight in the Civil War.  Compelling in scope, the story of Hall and Coffin defines the heroism of common men against the backdrop of history. Books will be available for purchase ($29.95 plus tax) and signing after the presentation.  Dennis Bielewicz is a military veteran and retired school librarian, lives in Ontario, NY. Reservations are not necessary. Greece Historical Society members free. A $2.00 donation is appreciated from others. 

Sunday, March 16, 2:00 p.m. Greece Museum  Tatting Demonstration  The Greece Historical Society will present a tatting demonstration given by Mary Ellen Davie from “Midge’s Tatters.” This group wants to spread the word about learning this old technique of making a durable lace crafted by weaving a series of knots and loops with a hand-held shuttle.  Tatting was used to make decorative lace trims, dollies, and collars.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, April 87:00 p.m., Greece Town Hall  - “The Adventures of Sarah Bonesteel by Babette Huber

Sunday, May 4, Greece Museum, The War on Our Shores 1812-1814 The Greece Historical Society will debut a new exhibit to mark the two hundredth anniversary of the War of 1812. The exhibit will examine the four visits by the British to Greece’s eight-miles along the shore between 1812 and 1814, most significantly on May 14, 1814. 

Tuesday, May 13, 7:00 p.m., Greece Town Hall – “American Songs: From the 1890’s to the Post-War Years” by Michael Lasser

Tuesday, June 10, 7:00 p.m., Greece Town Hall – Early Settlers & Settlements by Jeff Ludwig

Monday, June 16, 4:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Greece Museum, 595 Long Pond Rd. - Strawberry & Dessert Tasting Festival

OTHER AREA HISTORY EVENTS

 

Thursday, March 6, 2:00 p.m., Charlotte Library, “Landmark Buildings of Charlotte by Marie Poinan

 

Saturday, March 8, 10:00 a.m. – noon, Old U.S. Custom House, 10 Latta Rd. The Charlotte Marine History Group will feature the Great Lakes Railroad Car Ferries, a movie with short scenes of the Ontario No. 1 being loaded and a promotional film made by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway for the car ferries on Lake Michigan.

 

Saturday, March 15, 10:00 am – Noon, U.S. Custom House, 10 Latta Rd.  Hidden Gems Found in the Charlotte High School Archives" by Marie Poinan. The program includes a sampling of the items that have never been seen before, including the building of the school, the practice house, service records of students in World War II and graduation programs from the 19th century.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

disABILITY Speaker Series - Disability History is Our History


University of Toledo Professor Kim E. Nielsen Joins Dialogues on disABILITY Speaker Series at the Museum of disABILITY History
As part of its Dialogues on disABILITY Speaker Series, the Museum of disABILITY History will host author and professor, Kim E. Nielsen. The presentation, entitled “Disability History is Our History,” will take place on Friday, February 21, 2014 from 7 p.m.- 9 p.m. at 3826 Main Street in Buffalo.
The event will focus on stories of historical figures with disabilities, as well as changing definitions of disability over the course of time. Additionally, Dr. Nielsen will emphasize disability in law, culture and why the history of people with disabilities is important to all.
Museum Members are FREE to attend. Other costs are: $5 for adults and $2.50 for seniors, students and human service employees. For more information call 716-629-3626.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

1818 PROGRESS OF THE GRAND CANAL ROUTE


Geneva Gazette
Wed., August 5, 1818

    An extract from the following letter has already been published in the Geneva Gazette; but some material typographical errors having occurred in its original publication in the Albany Argus, especially in that part which related to the Locks and Canal on the Seneca River, between the Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, we now insert the whole article, and with the concurrence of the author, Elkanah Watson, Esq. have made the necessary corrections - which, to distinguish them, are put in italics.

                        FROM THE ALBANY ARGUS
                                TO THE EDITOR
                                                                   Seneca Falls, 14th June 1818
    Dear Sir - In conformity to my promise to transmit to you such remarks as may appear useful to be promulgated, in relation to improvements in agricultural pursuits, and in the progress of the grand canal, to redeem that pledge in part is the object of this letter.
    I found the road in general in a shameful state, especially the first eighteen miles this side of Albany; and it is a disgrace to this state that the toll gatherers can be permitted to oppress the weary traveller, especially the poor waggoners, by extorting money from them without receiving any adequate return; reciprocity being the basis of the law, the traveler calls for redress.
  The proprietors of the turnpike should be compelled to pay the damages which are constantly sustained in the destruction of carriages. upsetting of stages, and the imminent danger of lives and limbs. It is admitted the season has been uncommonly bad, and ruinous to the roads; the efforts to keep them in some decent state at lest, while they are exacting pay, should in some measure be proportionate; and as the weather has been settled for several days, not less than twenty men should be employed in repairing on each mile, whereas I doubt if I saw that number of men occupied in that duty in 200 miles traveling. 
    At Manlius I turned off, about three miles north of the old turnpike, to examine the grand canal. Here I found a spacious canal in a finished state, in some places with firm sloping sides, and calculated to maintain a depth of four feet of water. I also examined the place where they were cutting through a body of transparent plaster. I continued traveling a great part of the day near the route of the canal; in some places they were just opening its path through the woods, in a direct course.
    I am informed about 1,500 men are scattered along a distance of  --- miles, in executing one of the most splendid enterprises that ever was attempted in any age or country. Being alone, and contemplating this canal, my mind was left free to range into the womb of futurity. I found no difficulty in looking to the end of this century, and fixing as certain, a population, within the present limits of the United States, of a least 59 millions of independent Americans; And when I cast my mind on the port of New York, the finest harbor on the globe; the Hudson river, as the most direct in its course, and freest from obstructions, of any other river within my knowledge; and then, by a sudden transition, continuing the route of the contemplated canal, with its junction with the greatest inland seas in the world; and then considering the immense shores of these great chain of lakes, and all the tributary streams, teeming with a full population, and the lake clouded with sails; in reaching the point and considering the spot that's under my eye as part of the grand artery which is to animate and give life to this glowing scene, I confess that I am at a loss of words to express the sensations of my mind. 
    I cannot, however, divest myself of the idea, that the whole extent of the enterprise is too vast for the resources of a single state; and I doubt not we are approaching a moment when this enterprise will be adopted by the nation, as a prominent national object: for I believe it could not be difficult to show to any man of an open mid, that the nation would gain tenfold, in the process of fifty years, by the extra rise of their distant lands.
    In passing the village of Auburn, their newly organized agricultural society, for the county of Cayuga, were assembled, with a view of promulgating liberal premiums, and making the necessary preparations for an interesting exhibition in the month of October next. This society is warmly supported by many respectable Quakers of the county, and they are peculiarly fortunate in having for their president a gentleman of that profession; who adds to native urbanity and exemplary virtues, distinguished literary and scientific acquisitions.
   In descending the hill leading into the village at Seneca Falls, I was agreeably surprised, and peculiarly fortunate, in witnessing the passage of the first loaded boat from Schenectady, carrying freight of sixteen tons, through the canals and locks just finished at this place, principally by the private enterprise of a few individuals, at an expense of about $60,000. My curiosity was so strongly excited, that I lost no time in examining the whole extent of the work from the first lock, which is situated three miles from the Cayuga lake, to its termination at Waterloo, a distance of five miles.
    The locks excel any in workmanship I have ever seen, either in Europe or in America; they are principally constructed with large square hewn stone, taken from a quarry at the south end of the Seneca lake. There are eight chamber Locks, averaging each about eight feet lift, being sixty-four feet in all the whole distance; and four Guard Locks. This canal may be considered a branch of the grand canal, as it opens an uninterrupted water communication, for boats of sixteen tons burthen, from Schenectady, through the old canal and locks, to the south end of the Seneca lake; and when the contemplated canal is affected, from that lake to the Susquehanna river, an inland water communication will be open from New York to the Chesapeake. 
    In 1794, I came in a batteaux from Schenectady to this place; on the whole route I was deeply impressed with the great importance of this object in a future day, little dreaming to see it realized in my day. At that time they could only transport in a boat, through a tedious and difficult navigation, from one and a half to two tons, at an expense of 75 to 100 dollars a ton. By completion of the works along the Mohawk river and Wood creek, in 1796, boats of a different construction, carrying from 15 to 16 tons, were introduced, and the price of transportation reduced to about 32 dollars a ton up, and half that amount back.
    By the calculation of a gentleman, who has resided several years in this country, he is persuaded, when the grand canal from the Seneca river to the Mohawk river is completed, it will again reduce the price of transportation 40 percent more. A proportionate reduction of transportation will also necessarily take place on the whole extent of the line from lake Erie; and the products from those waters will in course be enhanced in a proportionate degree, and the lands of the nation equally advanced in their intrinsic value.
    To array this estimate one step further, should the nation magnanimously embrace the whole extent of the enterprise, including this branch, and declare a free passage, except a sufficient sum to keep up repairs, the reduction of transportation would still be much greater, and the public lands increased in value so as to justify the measure, even on the score of adding to the national purse, for new and more distant enterprises of a similar cast.             

Monday, February 3, 2014

February GHS Schedule / Events


FEBRUARY 2014 PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Queen of Bremen - Sunday, February 9th  2:00 p.m. Greece Museum - The true story of an American child trapped in Germany during World War II  by Greece resident Marlies Adams DiFrate.

Annual Meeting - Tuesday, February 11th, 6:45 p.m. – There will be a short annual meeting at 6:45 p.m. prior to our Feb 11th program. If you are a member of the Greece Historical Society, please plan to arrive at 6:45 to hear a review of our budget, vote on new board members and candidates for the Endowment committee and hear our plans for the future.

Cycling the Erie Canal - with Justin Murphy and Annette Lein - Tuesday, February 11th, 2014, 7:00 p.m. Greece Town Hall.  Democrat & Chronicle staff writer Justin Murphy and videographer Annette Lein and about 600 fellow bicycle riders took a 400-mile trip along the Erie Canal in July 2013. The riders rode 40-60 miles a day, and Justin and Annette chronicled the trip, their fellow riders, people they met and animal life they observed along the way. If you’ve always wanted to take such a trip but haven’t been able, join us and relive Justin and Annette's eight day journey.  Public welcome. Reservations are not necessary. Greece Historical Society members free. A $2.00 donation is appreciated from others. 

Vintage Games Tournament - Wednesday, February 19th  12:30 – 3:30 p.m. at the Greece Museum, 595 Long Pond Rd.  Children ages 8-13 are invited to come and test their gaming and competing skills playing games that have enthralled families for generations: Yahtzee and its forerunner Kismet, Sorry! and its forerunner Parcheesi, Chutes and Ladders, and DominoesReservations are required, call 225-7221 or e-mailgreecehistoricalsociety@yahoo.com 

Early Aviation in Rochester by Bill Sauers - Monday February 24th 7:00 p.m., Chili Public Library, 3333 Chili Ave.  Learn about the first aeroplane flights in the Rochester area and other early aeronautical facts of this area. Included in the program will be the history of our current airport and stories about some of the characters who tried, or actually did fly those early aeroplanes. Registration begins February 10th.  Call the Chili Library at 585-889-2200 or go to http://www.libraryinsight.net/calendar.asp?jx=ch

UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS

“Heroes in the Attic”– the Untold Story of Two Civil War Soldiers, by Dennis Bielewicz.  Tuesday, March 11, 7:00 p.m. Greece Town Hall

Tatting Demonstration by Mary Ellen Davie from “Midge’s Tatters.” Sunday, March 16, 2:00 p.m. Greece Museum  

“The Adventures of Sarah Bonesteel” by Babette Huber.  Tuesday, April 8, 7:00 p.m. Greece Town Hall

“American Songs: From the 1890’s to the Post-War Years” by Michael Lasser.  Tuesday, May 13, 7:00 p.m., Greece Town Hall

Strawberry & Dessert Tasting Festival June 16, Monday, June 16,  4:00p.m. – 7:30 p.m., 595 Long Pond Rd.