Download - A ransom note fall 2015 newsletter 1
Volume 15 Issue 4 Fall 2015
A Ransom Note
Histor ical Society of the Town of Clarence
Board of Trustees
Thomas A. Steffan, President
Doug Kohler, Vice Pres.
Joan Woodward, Secretary
Sandy Larkin, Treasurer
Daniel Gamin
David Hormell
Howard Payne
Jon Rothenmeyer
Donna Wannamaker
Board Meetings
Thursday Nov. 5, 2015
Thursday Dec. 3, 2015
La Familia.
The Pope set an example for us all on
his trip to the United States, that we
have to care for our families, for our
grandparents and our children, specifi-
cally, and for all of those in society
that suffer because money, speed and
greed leave them at the margins. How
can we spread the papal message at
the Historical Society?
I can start with an apology. I want to
apologize to any individual whom I
have cast aside in my march forward
for this organization. I am sorry that I
haven’t found a good place for their
talent and experience. I am sorry that
feelings have been hurt. I still want all
of our Society members in my family,
because a family is made up of di-
verse individuals with a common
bond. We all love history, and need
differing opinions to stretch out our
sometimes myopic view of the world.
On a more positive note, we now have
an Ethics Code for our Board. Let it be
a beacon in the murky night. Also, as
we move forward, let us recognize the
work of our former employees and
trustees, which is reflected in the pa-
pers, objects, and images of the peo-
ple of Clarence which have been se-
lected for viewing and study in our ar-
chives. Even as we differ on policy, I
ask for your forgiveness. Pray for me,
as the Pope advises.
Thomas A. Steffan
President’s Message
Amelia Earhart Presentation Clarence Historical Society
is pleased to present Greg
Kinal on Amelia Earhart.
This free family program
will be held on Tuesday
November 10, 2015 at the
Town Park Clubhouse
located at 10405 Main
Street. The doors open
at 6:30 PM and the
presentation will begin
at 7:00 PM. Refresh-
ments served before
and after the program.
Join us as this popular
speaker talks about one
of the great mysteries of
the 20th century. For
more in format ion ,
please call the museum
at 759-8575.
In This Issue
President’s Message
November Program
Thank you!
Winter Hours
History Your Passion?
Volunteers Wanted
Harvest Time
Elaine’s Picks
Back Page Photo
Page 2 A Ransom Note Volume 15 Issue 4
may also email the library at [email protected].
The museum is closing for the
winter effective
November 1st
also. We will be
working on up-
dating and re-
freshing the
museum exhib-
its during the
upcoming winter. The reopening
date will be released in the next
newsletter. If you have any ques-
tions or concerns,
please call (716) 759-
8575 and leave a
message. A trustee
will be happy to re-
turn your call
promptly.
The Gerber Greatbatch Genealogy Library has changed to winter hours. Effective November 1st, the library will be open on Wednes-day mornings from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. Other hours will be by appointment only. If you have a need to visit the library on off hours, please call the library at 759-6123 and leave a message. (We only make local calls.) You
Four very special ladies have
stepped down this fall after serv-
ing approximately 90 years of
combined service to the Historical
Society. We wish to acknowledge
their outstanding years of contri-
bution.
May Coppola has
spent over 40 years
organizing, cataloging
and arranging the
thousands of items in
our Museum and Ge-
nealogy Archives as
well as Curator of the museum
and as a Trustee. She built pa-
rade floats, dug thru boxes of old
newspaper clippings and helped
people connect with their roots.
Alicia Braaten
just stepped down as
Curator after 17 years.
She cared for all as-
pects of the museum
including exhibits, tours
and the care of the
building itself.
Lorna Heim, with her love of his-
tory served as President in her 30
years of service. She also volun-
teered and greeted visitors on
museum open hours and tours.
Emily Busch stepped down as
well in September to pursue her
new full time job.
The Trustees know it will be hard
to fill the empty shoes. These la-
dies will be greatly missed and
we wish them well in their future
pursuits.
thoughts.
There are over 20,000 items in the
society collections of artifacts, pho-
tos, documents and family histories.
The entire collection is housed be-
tween the museum and the Gerber
Greatbatch Genealogy Library.
The Historical Society’s 2016 member-
ship drive is beginning! Membership
renewal forms will be mailed out with a
survey included this time. The Trustees
are looking for all members’ input on
the society and museum exhibits and
displays. Surveys will also be
mailed to all Life Members for their
Exciting programs with guest
speakers are hosted at the Town
Park Clubhouse throughout the
year. An annual picnic is held in
July for all to attend. We invite
everyone to consider being a
member of the Historical Society of
the Town of Clarence.
Winter Hours
Thank You!
Is History Your Passion
Caption describing picture or
graphic.
The reopening date
will be released in
the next newsletter.
Page 3 A Ransom Note Volume 15 Issue 4
Volunteers are invited to love
and befriend our Museum.
We are blessed to have an
attractive building in a nice
setting and lots of potential.
Please consider joining the
“Museum Team.”
You don’t need to be a mem-
ber of the society. Some vol-
unteer opportunities include
working on computers; hands
- on with exhibit creation and
set up;
seasonal indoor and outdoor
decorating; collection man-
agement as well as public re-
lations.
For more information please
call Joan Woodward at the
museum at 759-8575 (please
leave a message!) or send an
email to Sandy Larkin at
clarencehistoricalmuseum@
gmail.com.
Speak not when you should hold
your peace,
Walk not on when others stop.
Cleanse not our teeth with the
tablecloth, napkin, fork, or knife
but if others do it let It be done
Did you know that George Wash-
ington wrote about etiquette?
“Let your conversation be without
malice or envy.
Sleep not when others speak, sit
not when others stand,
with a ‘picktooth’.
If others talk at table be attentive
but not talk with meat in your
mouth……..”
Full list is at: www.history.org
Harvest Time on the Farm
Volunteers Wanted
Elaine’s Picks
Large families consumed lots of
food during the long cold months so
the women and girls would fill their
‘larders.’ Root cellars were carefully
filled with potatoes,
carrots, parsnips, ru-
tabagas and such
crops. Men and boys
were charged with
getting in the wood. Cords of wood
needed to be stacked and kindling
was chopped and kept dry near the
back door.
Some of the fall ac-
tivities included apple
picking, making ap-
ple butter and cider,
butchering, wood
Fall activity on the farm was a busy
time before winter and cold weather
began. Every family member had
work to do. Many jobs took all day
and were carefully pre-planned so
that the tools were ready and the
weather was calm and temperate.
At times neighbors shared their
efforts to complete larger jobs.
See photo of the Martin
Family on back page
The Historical Society of the Town of Clarence
10465 Main St.
PO Box 86
Clarence, NY 14031
10465 Main Street
PO Box 86
Clarence, New York 14031-0086
Histor ical Society of the Town of Clarence
Butchering Hogs—Levi, Abram and Ulysses Martin
Phone:(716) 759-8575
Email:[email protected]
We’re on the Web!
www.clarencehistory.com
The Historical Society of the Town of Clarence is a non-profit educa-tional corporation formed to:
discover, procure and preserve materials relative to civil, literary and ecclesiastical history;
to establish and maintain museums, centers and exhibits of his-torical memorabilia
engage in all manner of historical research, study, exploration, analysis
engage in meetings, field trips and joint activities .
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Clarence, NY
PERMIT #17