the corinthian march/april 2013

7/29/2019 The Corinthian March/April 2013

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By During the American Civil War, men were called to

the front to fight, forcing women to re-evaluate their

roles as wives, mothers, home keepers, and membersof society. This presentation will explore some of the

many roles into which women evolved, most beyond

anything they ever imagined.

Originally from Buffalo, attended NazarethCollege. Taking a Civil War course at St. John Fisher proved life-

changing as it opened doors to her love of history and the Civil War.

She began re-enacting in1998 and has been the Community

Relations Manager for Barnes & Noble in Greece for16 years.

Programs 1

Museum Events 2

Museum Education 5

Historian’s File 7

GRE

ECE

HISTORICAL

SOCIETY

and

MUSEUM

TheCo

rint

hian

In every issue: Points of Interest:

President’s Message 2

Board of Trustees 4

Museum Happenings 3,5

Contact Us 8

by

The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more people than World War

I. It has been cited as the most devastating epidemic in rec-orded history and the worst epidemic in American history,killing over 600,000 Americans. This talk will be about therelationship between two of the 20th century’s worst hu-man disasters, the First World War and the flu pandemic of 1918.

is recognized as an international authority on the1918 flupandemic. He was a medicine history research associate at the University Col-

lege London over10 years and is now with SUNY FLCC. He has contributednumerous articles and TV/radio documentaries on the 1918 flu (includingPBS’s Secrets of the Dead: Killer Flu) and is preparing a book on the subject.



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I hope everyone made itthrough the winter season with-out any major problems or issues.After all we do live in upstate New York.

The first two Greece Histori-cal Society monthly Tuesday pro-grams were a huge success. OnJan 8th more than 110 guestsheard tell aboutRochester during World War II. Atthe conclusion of his stories several people, includingveterans, told stories about their experiences.

On Sunday, January 13th more than 25 guestscame to the Museum to hear my program about early aviation in the Rochester area. On January 23rd severalGHS members met at the George Eastman House for abehind the scenes tour conducted by GEH curator

. Because of the success of the EastmanHouse tour, we hope to have more member only ben-efits including tours and discounts in the future.

We are excited to welcome two new board mem-bers, and , and look forwardto their contributions to our organization. A new vol-unteer, , is now scanning our huge 35mmslide collection and we will soon start on our printcollection with another volunteer. Digital scanning willhelp us share our collection with the community. Infact, on W. Ridge Rd. has used some of ourscanned photos in their newly remodeled restaurant.

In her blog, “Illuminated History” Shining a Light on the Shadows of the Past”, http://illumhistory.wordpress.com/, Perinton Historical Socie-ty VP, , wrote a timely article on preservinglocal historical societies. In her story titled “

, shetalks of the importance of membership and volunteers.She closes with “We must find a way to support these institutions for the sake of our children and grandchil- dren, and theirs after them. Without support, these

societies will cease to exist…be a steward of history!” Our members are “stewards of history” and we thankyou for support, but we could always use yourideas to improve our society. Send us a note or e-mailus at [email protected] with yourideas and suggestions. Don’t forget, when you aregoing through that old shoe box of photos, we arealways looking for photos and stories of Greece’speople, places and events. Thank you for your support,

Bill Sauers, President

Sunday museum hours areThe office hours are Mon-Wed 9:30 a.m. to Noon

Greece Public Library 2:00 p.m.

(see page 3)

Greece Museum 2:00 p.m.(see page 4)

Noon and 2:30pm

(see page 6)

Our campaign through the mail and at our Tuesday programs has resulted in a number of new

volunteers but we still need a few more docentsgreeters, gift shop help and other volunteers.

For more information about volunteering pleasecall Kathie Firkins, 621-2869.

Tour will include: Bus Transportation, Hot Lunch,

Tours of Susan B. Anthony House, Dawn Noto’s home

Madison St. Neighbor-hood Gardens. (NOTE:

This tour is handi-

capped accessible .)

$55.00 Members, $60.00

Non-members

Space is limited; to reserve: 225-7221, or

email:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]





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2012 Annual Report of the Greece Historical

Society & Museum is now available on-line at http://greecehistoricalsociety.net/current-news/

Bowlin’s Remodeling* Canandaigua National Bank (Latta Rd)

Doan DealershipsFleming Point

Greece Chamber of Commerce*Greece Grange

Key BankLegacy at Park CrescentLong Pond Auto Body

Long Pond Family Restaurant

Mel's DinerNorth Ridge GlassNorthwest Savings Bank (Long Pond Rd)

Party Productions*The 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)

http://greecepubliclibrary.org/

On Saturday, March 9th at 2:00 pm, in

celebration of National Women’s History

Month, the Greece Historical Society will pre-

sent a program at the Greece Public Library, 2

Tofany Blvd, about America’s first aviatrix,

Scott was born in Greece and was a pioneer

in the automotive and aviation industries. Titled

Blanche Stuart Scott: Memories of an Adven-

turous Woman , this program focuses on the

year 1910 when Blanche drove cross-country

from New York City to San Francisco and later

that year became the first American woman to

fly an airplane. Come “meet” this fascinating

woman and hear in her own words about her

adventures that momentous year.

This program is based on recordings of interviews with Blanche done by the former

Greece Town Historian, ,

and on excerpts from her unpublished autobi-

ography. Interpreting Blanche will be

of the Greece Historical Society and

Museum. This program is the first of a planned

trilogy about this feisty, fascinating woman.

http://greecehistoricalsociety.net/current-news/










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As Winter rolls into Spring we have many excitingevents going on at our Museum. Our Sunday eventsare a good reason to get out of the house and join usfor a pleasant afternoon with great storytellers fromour area.

Don’t forget about our Northgate booklet. We all

have wonderful memories about shopping atNorthgate Plaza. This booklet will bring back yourmemories. Stop by and check it out. Wendy Peeck,Museum Shop Coordinator

For newsletter input, please contact:

This newsletter is published bi-monthly by the edito

for the Greece Historical Society and Museum.

in your ta

and estate planning. We are a non-pro

organization supported by your

*gifts and endowments.

*Tax deductible per (Section 501(c)(3) of the

Internal Revenue Code

Greece Museum 2:00 p.m.

Meet a refugee family making a new life in Greece after many tri-als and frightening experiences in leaving their home land of Burma. Their heartwarming story is a lesson in overcoming andstarting anew with hope.

Greece Museum 1:30-4:00 p.m.Works by the Greece Comm. & Sr. Center Art Group.

7:00 p.m., Greece Town Hall,by Patrice Walsh

10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Reservations required, call 585-225-7221.

President: Bill Sau

Vice President: Wendy Pee

Secretary: Sandy Pe

Treasurer: Jack Wallenho

Executive Director: Need

Honorary Trustee: Don Newco

Trustees: Sue HodSandy Pe

Wendy Pee

Bill Sau

Paula Sm

Cyndie Shev

Lee Stra

Jack Wallenho

Viola Wh

Roberta You

Committee Chairs:

Grounds, Building Scott Bow

Historian Alan Mue

Museum Viola Wh

Museum Shop Wendy Pee

Newsletter Editor Cyndie Shev

Programs Bill Sau

Publicity Marge Zer

Registrar Need

Tours, Education Kathie Firk

On Sunday Jan 13th presented his program on the early days of Rochester aviation. Hespoke of Crittenden Field, Baker’s

Field at Genesee Valley Park, theBrighton Aerodrome and the firstuse of a field on Scottsville Rd in1910, now the Rochester Interna-tional Airport. Included in hisprogram was information aboutsome of the characters that triedto, or actually did fly those early aero-planes.



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Kathie Firkins, Tour Director and Education Consultant

On Feb12th was awarded our annualDorothea Schommer Volunteer of the Year Award for her morethan 25 years of service to the Greece Historical Society.

The Education Committee continues to meet regularly. Spring school tours will begin in May and June.

Winter months are our planning and research times. To add more hands-on opportunities for learningin our museum, the group is exploring uses for tech equipment such as Smart Boards, Touch Screens,and a new flat screen TV that has internet connection capabilities. The goal is to have equipment toshow slides and videos that enhance the learning experience of visitors to our exhibits. More inter-active opportunities would make a more meaningful tour for them.

Several more projects are being researched by and

On Jan 23rd the Greece Historical Society arranged a special “behind the scenes” tour

of the George Eastman House. The tour wasconducted by GEH curator,

On February 12th over 85 guests enjoyeda very entertaining program titled

“Annie and Al on the Erie Canal” per-formed by and

Seated at our new slide and photo scan-

ner is ,who called after see-ing on our websiteour request for some-one to help with digit-izing our images.

also called to volunteer and is presently work-ing on Dewey —Stone area archives which we will use in abrief history of the area and possibly a power point programscheduled for summer.

is scanning photos and documents for anexhibit and pamphlet about the hamlet, North Greece, It wilbe our winter exhibit in 2014.

We are very grateful for all their help. The task is time consuming, but it is very important to save these old photos.



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Working times are very flexible. Please contact Lee at 225-7221(office) or 227-5305(home)or email us at [email protected].

. Scan onto archival discs Society records, exhibit information, history records, slides,photos, documents. You will be surprised at how much you learn.

Our Pastperfect Museum Software is waiting for eager hands to enter the information about theartifacts in the Society’s collection. It is an easy, user friendly program. If you like antiques, this will be a fun pro-ject.

Clerking in the gift shop is an opportunity to meet new people, helping guests choose agift of history for someone on their Christmas list, along with greeting visitors and directing them to the museum.Volunteers usually work one Sunday afternoon (from 1:15 to 4:00 p.m.) a month or every other month. Plus, youcan browse our books.

Filing, answering the phone, typing letters, helping with the newsletter mailing, just typicaloffice work. It never ends! You would be doing the Society a great service if you could work on a Tuesday orWednesday morning from 9:30 to noon once a week or as little as once a month.

You are invited to a Spring Floral Tea

Greece Historical Society and Museum

595 Long Pond Road

Saturday, May 4th at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m.

$12.50

Please place paid reservation by April 26th

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Name(s) ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Telephone number _________________________

I am reserving for ___________person(s)

For the _______Noon seating; ________2:30 p.m. seating

Please mail check payable to Greece Historical Society to

P. O. Box 16249, Rochester, New York 14616 by April 26th.

Already we are planning our annual on June 17th. We will need

volunteers to help sell tickets, set-up, take-down, direct parking, solicit contributions, etc. If you can helpplease call me at 225-7221 or e-mail [email protected]








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After turning the corner at Latta Road to go south on NorthGreece Road, one might quickly pass a plain red brick buildingat the rear of a small parking lot. Across the right front of thebuilding are the letters, United States Post Office. If you aren'tfrom the area you might not know you are in the hamlet of

North Greece. This area was one of the earlier settlements inGreece. It has had a Post Office since 1850 (from the govern-ment records, a few say earlier). Over the last 163 year period the mail operation has occupied at least sknown locations, never more than a block away from each other. The first location was a small space inthe store of Alfred Phelps at the South west corner Latta and North Greece Roads.

For a short period of time in the early 1870s the location moved across North Greece Road to a storeoperated by William T. Filer. By 1880 it was back again, operating out of the Phelps store by Alfred's soHenry. For the next sixty-five years it was to share space with the ever expanding general merchandise.Changing times in the early 1900s saw the gradual demise of the pickle and cracker barrels. Molasseswas no longer dispensed into a jug. Kerosene found fewer uses as Greece gradually saw the extensionof electrical service to North Greece and beyond.

Nineteen forty-five saw the end of World War II and the Post Office found it necessary to relocateagain and building material was in short supply then. A small building was found on a nearby farm anmoved on a flatbed truck to the rear of the original North Greece Fire Station on the Northeast corner oLatta Road at North Greece Road. Remembered by older local residents was Mrs. Melinda Germeroth,the post mistress from the opening of the small office in August 1945 to her retirement in December1967.

A major remodeling and addition to the fire station made room for the post office to lease a muchlarger space from the fire department in 1964. As a second class contract post office it could offer all theamenities of a first class post office. Mail delivery was not offered in this type of office, except to the rented post office boxes on the premises. It also was not necessary for the U.S. Post Office Service to own thbuilding.

Another twelve years and the fire station was bursting at the seams. However, no remodeling wasdone this time. The entire old building was demolished and a new fire station erected. There was nosmall, used building for the post office this time. It was decided to move the post office in to a tempo-rary, cramped 12' by 50' trailer....until a new permanent building was built. The trailer was puton rented property down North Greece Road, barely a block south of the fire station. The postal serviceput out a call for bids on a building that would have 1,056 sq. ft. of space. George and Florence Ger-meroth Jr. were the successful bidders and the Post Office would lease the building from the Ger-meroths. Florence had taken the place of her mother-in-law (Melinda) on her retirement in 1967.

The present facility is a one person operation, except during busy seasonal and specialtimes. Numerous postal clerks served there and at the other earlier locations. A more recent clerk withmany years of service was Doris Cutter, who is fondly remembered. Doris retired in early 2004 withmany years of faithful service. Another is Ann Piazza who worked with Mrs. Cutter for many years.

Though only a mile and a half west of the main Greece Post Office, it is a much slower paced opera-tion. It closes for an hour at lunch time; the outer lobby has a bank of private mail boxes with a specialZip Code of 14515 for those only.If you are still writing by "snail-mail" or sending cards, a North Greece cancellation mark is available by dropping your correspondence in a special slot. North Greece is the only location that has a Greececancellation. A visit there recently found I was in a friendly, unrushed flow of patrons in what seemed tbe a flash back to another time. With the postal service running up red ink more every year, will NorthGreece eventually cease to have its own post office…?

Photos, datasupplied by

GreeceHistorian's Office.If you have any

information on

our photos, call

Alan at 663-1706.



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“Tom loved this community. He believed that citizens have a responsibility tocontribute their time and talents for the benefit of their community. He gavegenerously to the Greece School District as Treasurer, Board Member and President of the School Board. Tom was instrumental in helping fund and organize

WGMC. His philosophy and work ethic of community volunteerism was a model for those willing andable to make those kinds of contributions.” , former superintendent of Schools, GCSD

“Because Greece was not properly represented by the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Tom, a strong

and determined man, led members of the Greece Council in starting a Greece Chamber of Commerce.He grew the Chamber by recognizing the business members for their achievements at the first of many Chamber Awards Banquets. Greece is a better community because of Tom Schommer.”

, founding director of the Greece Chamber of Commerce

“When Tom was on the School Board, and later when he was Treasurer of the School District, he wasalways ready to discuss proposals before the Planning Board. Because of his experience and contacts you could count on Tom to have broad perspective. His bottom line was always ‘what is best for ourcommunity’. We will miss him.” , Chairman, Town of Greece Planning Board

“Whenever Tom became involved with any project or program he gave his heart and soul to make sure

it was successful. As a very active member and officer of the Greece Historical Society, Tom played a keyrole in bringing the old Greece Town Hall cupola to the Howe house/Museum campus. To keep the cu-pola in good shape you would find Tom on many summer days with a paint brush in hand, a prime ex-ample of his dedication and desire to preserve the Town of Greece History.” , a loyal and goodfriend

“My friends, Tom and Dorothea, were tireless visionaries who seemed to be involved with everythinggood for Greece back in the 60s to the 90s. Whether it was about the school’s expansion, the jazz sta-tion, the highway 390 from 104 to the Parkway, industrial expansion, or starting the Greece Chamber oCommerce, Tom was involved. Thank you Tom and Dottie for your love, energy, passion and devotion tbuild our Town of Greece as one of the best places to live! I consider it an honor to have worked with you on several of your visions.” Geisler Realtors

“Tom Schommer for over thirty years was the epitome of citizen activist, community volunteer and publservant. Throughout the decades of the 1970s, 80s and 90s, Tom was involved in every facet of life inGreece. I considered him a trusted advisor and friend, a friend that provided leadership to our schools,our Town Government and the Greece Chamber of Commerce. A tireless leader, Greece never had abetter ambassador and cheerleader.” , Supervisor, Town of Greece, 1972-1989

(Some of the above comments may have been edited for space allowance)

the corinthian march/april 2013

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