2
From the Desk of the Executive Director
There is so much planning and work
being done to insure future success for the
Greece Historical Society and Museum. It’s a
good example of our progress.
Under the leadership of Lee Strauss, the
years of accessioning artifacts by recording in a
ledger and on cards is being shifted to a
computer, which by the way, is one of many
donations by Lee.
All the accessioning from the beginning
of this organization has been done weekly by
Betty Fetter. The loft over the exhibit hall
measures 1400 sq. ft. and it full of articles
cataloged and packaged to be shown in
exhibits.
Lee has had much help for many hours
from Fred Stock. Fred works under the
auspices of “Experience Works,” a “Senior
Work Force Solutions Company.” Lee’s own
hours are averaging 30 per week for the past
eight weeks, with another eight weeks
expected. Fred’s hours are only slightly less.
Lee’s family of Heidi, Holly, and Richard are
all helping. We thank them and Lee should get
a gold key reward!
May is going to see the annual Greece
Garden Clubs Plant Sale on Saturday, May
19th. It runs from 9 ‘til 12, but don’t wait too
long because the sale is well known for top
quality and low prices so it sells out fast. Our
famous coffee and donuts will be available in
the kitchen from 8 am ‘til noon. Heidi Strauss
will hand out free seed packets from the
Animal Protection League. The Gift Shop will
be open for people to see and buy our books,
gifts, and new historic Greece, NY throw.
We are sure that the following events on our
2007 calendar will bring in many people to our
facility and fund-raisers. Mark your favorites.
¾ May 19 Greece Garden Clubs Plant
Sale
¾ June 1 Greece Chamber of Commerce
members coming at 7:30 AM for coffee
and Danish to see our gift shop and
museum.
¾ June 4 Lockport Memorial Hospital
Guild Visit at 2:00 PM.
¾ June 16 Greece Performing Arts Garden
Tour will feature a special sale and
music under the large tent on our
parking lot. The museum and gift shop
will be open.
¾ June 17 Antique and Doll Appraisal
from 1 – 4 PM under the big tent. This
was very popular last year. Price
Prazar will appraise the antiques and
Helene Marlowe will do the dolls. The
only charge is $4.00 per article with a
maximum three articles per person.
Refreshments will be served.
¾ June 20 Strawberry Festival and Fund
Raiser. See Pages 7 and 8..
¾ September 11 First meeting of the new
season
¾ October 20 Chili Historical Society
Visits
Please read the column in the “Greece
Post” called the “Historical Notebook.” It
appears monthly and it gives me a space to talk
about history.
Call 225-7221 if you would like to help or
advise us.
Lorraine Beane, Executive Director
DOCENT LUNCHEON
The Museum
Curatorial
Committee will
hold their annual
Docent
Recognition
Luncheon on
Monday, May
21, 2007, at the
Greece Historical Center at 12 noon. This is the
day that we thank all our docents for their
dedication and the time spent at the Museum.
Current docents will provide the luncheon. The
after-luncheon program will be a talk on “19th
 3
Century Irondequoit” by Patricia Wayne, Town of
Irondequoit Historian.
GIFT SHOP OFFERINGS
The Museum Gift Shop can supply your needs
for books well. New books and popular books
as well as Greece shirts, Greece mugs, and
other great shopping ideas are awaiting you.
“Images of Irondequoit” by Patricia Wayne is
our latest book offering. It is $21.50, including
tax.
The regular Gift Shop hours are Sundays from
2:00 to 4:30 p.m. and during office hours on
Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:30 A.M. to 12:30
P.M. Call 585-225-7221 for an appointment for
any other times.
“Eight Miles Along the Shore—An Illustrated
History of Greece, N.Y.” continues to be one of our
best selling books.
See you soon. The Gift Shop Staff
GREECE, NY THROW
Our new colorful “Historic Greece, NY”
throw is on display above the fireplace in the
living room and is for sale in the Gift Shop. It
is a multi-colored tapestry and the design is a
new version of the popular old buildings in
Greece. The price is only $38.00 including
sales tax. They will make good gifts for
Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations,
showers, weddings, or for any other reason to
give a nice gift.
MUSEUM HAPPENINGS
DEWEY – STONE EXHIBIT
LAST TWO MONTHS TO VISIT
The “Dewey – Stone and Beyond” exhibit is a
great success with many visitors on Sundays.
Please come to visit the Museum to see what
it’s all about. Even though it has been decided
to keep this exhibit open until June, 2007,
please come to see it early. You may wish to
come a second time.
Featured is a model dollhouse made to
specifications of the houses on Strathmore Drive in
the 1930’s. Also, on display are pictures and
articles about the original St. Charles Borromeo
Church (see above) and the Bethany Presbyterian
and Hope Lutheran Churches. Also for Barnard
School, Barnard Fire Department, St, Joseph’s
Villa, Northgate Plaza, Garage Houses, and stores
around the Dewey – Stone area. “Then and Now”
photos will be available also. This is one of the
earliest commercial areas in the Town of Greece.
See how it compares to the new Dewey corridor
now under review by the Town.
Phyllis Brown, Committee Chairperson
If you have questions, contact Phyllis Brown
at (585) 865-4168 or 225-7221
VISITORS ARE WELCOME
EVERY SUNDAY
2:00 until 4:30 pm
 4

MARK YOUR CALENDARS GREECE HISTORY

by: Bill Sauers
DOLL and ANTIQUE APPRAISALS LEGACY OF THE
BARNARD CIVIC CLUB
1 – 4 pm, SUNDAY, JUNE 17
The residents of the Town Greece enjoy a
On Sunday, June 17, 2007, from 1:00 to 4:00 variety of 18 town parks. Their features and
P.M., Helene Marlowe, doll size are certainly varied, from the 577 acre
appraiser, and Price Prazar, Greece Canal Park to the four acre Henpeck
antique appraiser, will be at Park. But their history and their names are just
the Greece Historical Center. as varied. Most park names are derived from
The cost for each item is $4.00 their location such as Barnard Park or
with a Grandview Park or from a prominent Greece
maximum of native such as Carter, Badgerow, or Basil
three items per person. Please Marella Parks. But one park, first developed for
note that the Museum will open recreation in 1935, is named after a Hilton
one hour earlier than usual this doctor.
one day only. Refreshments will
be served. For more It all began in 1924 when Doctor Sherwood
information, call 225-7221. Sawyer of Hilton purchased a parcel of land
near the intersection of Latta and Long Pond
Roads from William Hogan. Dr Sawyer had
Bloomin' Good Plant Sale purchased and developed other properties in the
SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2007 Hamlin and Parma area, so we can assume he
9:00 A.M. to Noon planned on developing this land at some time
(or until all plants are sold, whichever comes first) in the future. But with the depression of the
1930’s, the town did not develop quite as fast
Five Greece Garden Clubs - Lakeview, as the doctor had anticipated.
Shorewood, Thyme In The Garden,
Wildwood, and Woodside - will hold their Meanwhile Boy Scout Troop 14 at Barnard
Sixth Annual Plant School was in need of a sponsor. The troop had
Sale on Saturday, been sponsored by a series of different groups
th
May 19 . It will be since its forming in 1926 and by 1935 was in
held on the grounds of need of a permanent responsible sponsor. A
the Greece Historical group of concerned citizens stepped forward
Museum, 595 Long with a proposed program for the troop that
Pond Road, Greece. would eventually benefit the entire Town of
Perennials, annuals, Greece.
dahlias, hostas,
houseplants, and garden related items will In early 1935, a group of Greece men from the
be for sale from 9:00 a.m. until noon (or Dewey/Stone area formed a committee to
until sold out – whichever comes first), rain sponsor the troop. They called themselves the
or shine. In event of severe weather, the Barnard Civic Club, and civic-minded group
sale will be postponed until Sunday. The they were! Their first order of business was to
GHS Coffee Shop and Gift store will be find a suitable camp site for the boys. They
open. found the unused property owned by Dr.
Sawyer perfect for their purpose and the Doctor
 5
offered the property to the club for $400.00.
Antoinette Grabowski of Stone Road was the
first to give the group $2.00 for the express
purpose of starting the camp site fund. The
remainder of the fund was raised by public
subscription. One Dollar Certificates were sold
with the inscription "Invest In Youth Of Today
For Better Manhood of Tomorrow".
The Barnard Civic Club purchased the
property. They built a bridge over a creek, the
scouts planted pine and spruce trees donated
from the State, and they built a log cabin. For
many years the scouts camped on their site. The
called their special place "Camp Sawyer".
The years passed and their private camp-site
fell in to disuse. By the mid 1950’s private
camps run by individual scout troops had
became less common. A camp operated and
maintained by the Scout Council had opened
nearby in Webster and other opportunities
opened up with the availability of cheap,
available transportation after world war II. In
1958 the site was offered to the Town of
Greece as long as it was used for public
recreation. The Town accepted the site and in
time officially opened it as a Town park.
Doctor Sawyer died in 1944, the Barnard Civic
Club eventually folded, Troop 14 lasted until
1979, and Barnard School closed several years
ago. But the legacy of the Barnard Civic Club,
Boy Scout Troop 14, and the Hilton doctor
lives on in a pleasant picnic ground and park
behind our YMCA know as Sawyer Park.
Learn more about the businesses and people of
the Dewey/Stone area at our Museum exhibit
“Dewey/Stone and Beyond.” The exhibit will
close after the Strawberry Festival in June.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
PEOPLE NEEDED
H E L P ! We desperately need
several people who feel comfortable with their
home improvement skills to volunteer to help
around the Museum with general maintenance
projects. Please call 225-7221 if you can help.
FROM THE HISTORIAN FILE
Ancient "GEMS" from the Greece
Town Clerk File Circa 1909 to 1930
Hidden away in the bottom file drawer in
the office of the Historian Office is a wealth
of yellowing letters, memo's, receipts, paid
bills, and numerous other piffle from eighty
to almost one hundred years ago, kept by
various Greece Town Clerks. As an
occasional series, it might be interesting to
publish some of the more interesting, and
sometimes amusing items. Below is another
in the series.
To the Town Board of Greece,
N.Y. Feb. 10, 1909
Gentlemen:
I hereby tender my resignation
as constable of the town of
Greece, to take effect at once.
I find that my duty to my
family necessitates that I give
my whole time and thought to my
farm, and therefore cannot take
care of constable work as
formerly.
In conclusion, I wish to thank
each and all of the gentlemen
of the town board for their
kindness and good will towards
me and assure them that I will
always hold them in the highest
regard.
Yours very truly,
(signed) Albert H. Baker
Filed this 13th Day of February
1909
Jos. M. Donnelly, Town Clerk
 6

BUILDING MAINTENANCE
Maintaining our museum and 100 + year old
house is an important and necessary function of the
Greece Historical Society. Unfortunately the
people who have been responsible for this job have
retired. We are now looking for a volunteer who
could organize a maintenance committee, be
responsible for the prioritizing our maintenance
needs, receive contractor estimates, report to the
board, and make minor maintenance and repairs as
needed.

If you are willing to help with this necessary

position call Bill Sauers at 225-3760

Pat Wayne , Irondequoit Historian, at book

HAPPENINGS – FOLLOW-UP signing of her book “Images of Irondequoit”
Photo by Bill Sauers
LOTS OF G.H.S. ACTIVITY

Over 150 people attended the

program on Prohibition and the
Lake Ontario Rum Runners
Photo by Alan Mueller

Fran Carisi-Paxton as Sophie Forrester reveals the

gossip she overheard in the house of her employer
as a maid in the 1890’s Rochester
Photo by Bill Sauers

Lorraine Beane relates area history to the September 11, 2007 First meeting of the new
Northgate Neighborhood Association season.
Photo by Fred Amato
 Strawberry Festival and Fund Raiser
The Greece Museum
Wednesday, June 20, 2007 4:00 to 7:30 P.M.
(UNDER THE BIG TENT)
MUSEUM OPEN OPTIONAL:
FOR TOURS 595 Long Pond Road
HOT
ENTERTAINMENT
BY DOG
Admission Includes
THE STAND
FOX DEN
Country CHIPS
and
Western BEVERAGES
Music
5:00 to 7:00 pm BAKED GOODS
Real Fresh Strawberries on Shortcake
FREE PARKING Great Musical Entertainment
BEHIND BRING YOUR
$4.50 each FOLDING
TOWN HALL
SHUTTLE BUS LAWN CHAIRS
GIFT SHOP WILL BE OPEN
For Groups of 5 or More, please notify 225-7221 in Advance
For admission tickets, make check payable to Greece Historical Society.
Send it and a self-addressed stamped envelope before June 12th to:
P.O. Box 16249, Rochester, NY 14616-0249 Information at (585) 225-7221
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2007 Strawberry Festival & Fund Raiser Ticket Order

GREECE HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2007
Mail by June 12 to: P.O. Box 16249, Rochester, NY 14616-0249
(please print) DATE__________________________
NAME__________________________________________________________________________________ PHONE_________________________
(Last) (First)
ADDRESS_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Street) (City/Town) (State) (Zip Code+4)

Check Included for Number of Tickets ______ at $4.50 each = $ __________

This is our Annual Fund Raiser ) Optional Donation: $ __________

Check Total $ __________
+ Self-Addressed, Stamped Business-size Envelope
GREECE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Non-Profit Org.
595 Long Pond Road U.S. POSTAGE
P.O. Box 16249 PAID
Rochester, NY 14616-0249 Rochester, NY
Permit #1188

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2007
http://historicalsociety.greeceny.org

Strawberry Festival and Fund Raiser

Greece Museum Under the Big Tent 595 Long Pond Road
Wednesday, June 20, 2007 4:00 until 7:30 p.m.
The Strawberry Festival and Fund Raiser will once again be a feast of fresh strawberries heaped on a biscuit
topped with whipped cream. This is our main annual fund raiser.
Planned activities will make the event special:
Entertainment will be provided by The Fox Den, playing Country and Western music from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.
There will be a Hot Dog Booth with Chips. So, you can eat before your dessert.
Beverages and baked goods will be optional.
The Gift Shop will be open and will feature many new items and special sales for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries,
graduations, and Christmas. Look for the new Greece, NY Throw!
Bring your families! The children will have lots of fun. They can play games on the large lawn on the north side of
the Museum. Tickets will be available at the May 8th general meeting.
Free Parking is plentiful behind the Town Hall. Ride the shuttle bus. Bring your folding lawn chairs.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Membership Application
GREECE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
† New Application † Renewal † Upgrade
(please print) DATE__________________________
NAME__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Last) (First) (M.I.) (Spouse, if Family Membership)

ADDRESS__________________________________________________________________________________ PHONE:
(_______)____________
(Street) (City/Town) (State) (Zip Code + 4)
E-MAIL ADDRESS___________________________________________________________
MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS
† Student - Senior (65 & over) $10.00 † Individual $12.00 †
Family $20.00
† Family Contributing $35.00 † Business/Professional $50.00 † Family Supporting
$50.00
† Sustaining $150.00 † Life Members (Each) $500.00 † Patron $75.00

Please Make Check Payable and Mail to:

Membership, Greece Historical Society • P.O. Box 16249 • Rochester, NY 14616-0249
(Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope to receive your membership card.)
OR BRING COMPLETED FORM TO THE NEXT MEETING