From time to time, we are able to record and share some of the very special presentations that are made to us. Here are a few…visit our YouTube channel for more:
Reel-to-Reel History: Tape 4
This is the fourth in a series of reel-to-reel tapes from our archives that we have had digitized.
Tape 4 contains a planning discussion, presumably prior to the 1963 Sesquicentennial, with folks from the Historical Society discussing plans for the upcoming celebration, which was held from August 14–August 18, 1963.
“Mark Twain and the Civil War,” Presented by Rosemary Irwin
The January 4, 2024 meeting of the Honeoye Falls – Town of Mendon Historical Society featured Rosemary Irwin, whose topic was “Mark Twain and the Civil War.” This is a recording of that presentation, which was held on Zoom.
To this day, US casualties in the Civil War have exceeded those of all the wars our nation has known. Young men in America would have been on the Rebel Side, the Union side, or might have escaped the battles and lived the Gold Rush reality of the Western settlers. Mark Twain once boasted: “I am not an American; I am THE American.” Arguably he was at different times rebel, union, and Gold Rush Westerner. Much of the way we see the Civil War is directly related to Mark Twain—from Huckleberry Finn to his publishing of the Ulysses S. Grant’s war memoir.
Rosemary Irwin lectures throughout our local area on topics as varied as health care, history, art, and technology. She has also facilitated classes created by Harvard, Stanford, and Humanities New York, translating complex material into lively non-academic discussions. Since 2012, her mission has been “to give lifetime learners a reason to be in the room.”
Reel-to-Reel History: Tape 3
This is the third in a series of reel-to-reel tapes from our archives that we have had digitized.
Tape 3 features several people discussing local history and events in celebration of Nellie Thompson’s 89th Birthday celebration on December 9th, 1959. There is some fun group singing that starts around 53 minutes in. Otherwise, this is a general historical talk about our area.
Memories of Honeoye Falls – A Conversation With Henry ‘Hank’ Besanceney
The October 5, 2023 meeting of the Honeoye Falls – Town of Mendon Historical Society featured Henry “Hank” Besanceney, Artist/Barber/Village Resident.
This was a very special evening of conversation and stories relating to the history of Honeoye Falls.
A long-time resident of Honeoye Falls, Hank is best known locally as the Village Barber. A history buff, he has studied local history and served on the Planning and Zoning Boards in the Village for two decades. Hank is also a self-taught, award-winning artist who has been a member of several local art groups, including the Pastel Society of Western New York. As a member of the highly regarded Societe de Pastel de l’est du Canada, he was honored when his paintings were accepted for international exhibit in Montreal, Canada, in every year his works were submitted. Hank enjoys discussions about art, art history, wine, and of course, local history.
The meeting took place at 7:30 PM on Thursday, October 5, 2023 at the Mendon Community Center, 167 North Main Street in Honeoye Falls, NY.
Reel-to-Reel History: Tape 2
This is the second in a series of reel-to-reel tapes from our archives that we have had digitized.
Tape 2 features several people reading prepared local history notes. Probably mid to late 1950s. Note at about 31:40, you can hear the Lehigh Valley Railroad whistling for the grade crossing and quickly passing by the building they are speaking in.
Reel-to-Reel History: Tape 1
This is the first in a series of reel-to-reel tapes from our archives that we have had digitized.
Tape 1 features a woman reading a local history paper, answering questions, and telling of old local history. Probably mid to late 1950s.
Archive of our October 7, 2022 Presentation: How (and What) Forged Our Major Roads
Where did our roads come from? How did they get there? Most importantly, why did they get there? You may think our major highways appeared randomly through the good graces of the New York State Department of Transportation (which an assist from the many community Highway Departments they traverse through). But you’d be wrong. There was no central planning. But their formation wasn’t random, either. What was that forged and maintained these thoroughfares we take for granted today? Come learn how both nature and man — from the Ice Age to the Mastodons — worked in tandem to create the much-traveled highways and byways that cross the Greater Western New York Region.
View the video at https://stateof.greaterwesternnewyork.com/2022/10/new-york-states-state-road-before-it-was-a-road/
Archive of our January 6, 2022 Presentation: Genesee Wesleyan Seminary/Elim Bible Institute
Hosted by Doug Morgan, Former Lima Town/Village Historian
The January 6, 2022 meeting of the Honeoye Falls / Mendon Historical Society was a virtual meeting on Zoom. Our speaker was Douglas (Doug) Morgan. Doug Morgan, a former member of our society and former member of our Board of Trustees, was the Lima Town/Village Historian before he and his wife left Mendon for the sunny climes of Florida. Doug is a Life Member of the Livingston County Historical Society as well as several other area historical societies. He has researched Livingston County and Western New York history for over thirty years, with a particular interest in his hometown of Lima.
Doug’s presentation provided an overview of the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary / Elim Bible Institute from its earliest years to the present-day using photographs – both old and new.
You may peruse the photographs on https://www.flickr.com/photos/douglas_morgan/albums/72177720295780298
