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