Protecting the historic assets of Medina and the towns of Rideway and Shelby
Do you know where this sign is located in Medina?
It marks the home of Andrew Downie McPhee, who was prominent in the circus world.
Dee Robinson will speak about McPhee at the next Medina Historical Society program:“Andrew Downie McPhee: Medina’s Circus Entrepreneur”which will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 31, at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, Medina.
The first program is scheduled for Monday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m. and will be held at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, 620 West Ave., Medina, NY
“Abandoned: The Untold Story of the Orphan Trains” is a unique online hybrid presentation presented by local history author, Michael Keene. The program explores the audacious relocation scheme which operated between 1854 and 1929, when an estimated 250,000 orphaned or abandoned children were transported west by train and placed in foster homes, mostly in rural mid-western areas, though there were several local placements. The premise now seems incredible, but it developed in response to a crisis in care for homeless children. Their stories are incredibly haunting and poignant.
Facemasks will be required and appropriate Covid precautions will be observed.
Start your Halloween with an educational look back at the life and times of residents in the Knowlesville Cemetery.
Sunday October 21, 2018 at 2pm.
On Thursday August 10 at 5pm Tom Grasso will present a canal talk at the Lee Whedon library.
This presentation is part of the August 9th and 10th stopover in the Medina canal basin of the Schooner Lois McClure during its cruise celebrating the 200th anniversary of the start of the Erie Canal.
Tom is a well known Erie Canal historian and President of the Canal Society of New York State for nearly 45 years. After he stepped down in 2016 he was made President Emeritus.
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
At the February 27, 2017 Historical Society meeting, Holly Ricci-Canham will discuss “Mom and Pop Farming” and her recently published book on the subject.
Orleans Hub described the following:
Ricci-Canham, 63, interviewed more than 150 people and included more than 400 photographs for her nearly 300-page book, “Mom & Pop Farming in Orleans County, New York – The past brought to life.”
The book covers farm operations throughout county with sections about muck farmers, dairies, fruit and vegetable farms, canning companies, migrant labor camps, “ladies accounts,” technology changes as well as country schools, “kids play” and fairs and celebrations.
Many people she interviewed had strong memories of attending one-room schoolhouses and learning to drive – sometimes at age 5. They shared some hard times on the farm, and how neighbors often pitched in to help them get through it.
Medina Historical Society Program on Monday, April 25, at the Lee-Whendon Memorial Library in Medina.
presented by Patrick Kavanagh, Forest Lawn Cemetery Historian and Sandy Starks, Forest Lawn Cemetery Program Director
Read more in this Buffalo News article
Also, some links from the presentation
On March 28, 2016 the Medina Historical Society will feature:
Barn Beautiful: the Aesthetics of NY Barns, by Nona McQuay, from the History Center of Niagara.
Another successful dinner at the Merritt’s homestead on February 20, 2016.
There’s more info on the Museum page explaining why the Merritts are an important part of our history.
Local actor, Albert McFadyen will be portraying the former President. In the late 1990’s he portrayed FDR in the musical Annie at both the Lancaster Opera House and at Villa Maria College and his performances were well received. The rest as they say, is history.
His role as FDR has evolved into his own one person production “An Evening With FDR” which brings American history to life in both word and song.
Our annual “Show and Tell” program will be on Monday, January 25 at 7:00pm in the Lee-Whedon library.
You are invited and encouraged to bring your articles and/or stories of by-gone days.