TOWN OF GREECE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE

and the

GREECE HISTORICAL SOCIETY2009 ANNUAL REPORT

The Greece Historical Society is under contract with the Town of Greece as the "official" TownHistorian. That is, the Society, not an individual is the Greece Town Historian. However the historic

documents, files, books etc. from the Historian’s Office files are still considered the property of the Town

of Greece. One room at the Greece Historical Center is considered the historian's office and not part of theGreece Historical Society. The Greece Historical Society accessions household, farm, business etc.objects for their collection. There is reciprocation between the two entities, but each remains separate.Although various individuals in the society carry out some of the responsibilities of the Town Historian(i.e. education and programs), Alan Mueller, a long time Greece resident and Society member has theprimary responsibility of maintaining the historian's office. The information about the historian's officeis his report, followed by other programs and activities of the Greece Historical Society.

HISTORIAN'S OFFICE

We continue to revise and archive important materials in the files. Archival boxes and binders of colorslides now have better labeling and identification of both slides and documents.A number of displays boards were on display with material relating tovarious monthly talks by guest speakers sponsored by the GreeceHistorical Society at the Town Hall. We also assembled two displayboards with an over view of some of the highlights of our Society for the40th anniversary celebration at Golden Ponds Restaurant, October 9,2009. They were later on display at the Museum. A good portion of thedisplay boards used for the museum or for other venues are now beingretained for future use.Ralph DeStephano contributed a CD of numerous photos taken of the last days of Buckman's Dairy (Sept- Oct. 2009) just prior and during the final demolition.Twenty years after being obtained at sale, a box of 26, 5"x7" glass negatives have had photo copies madeby Rowe Photo. They all pertain to the Losey family of West Greece. Most of them are from the 1905-1910 period. The Losey's were early settlers in the area and active in farming, carpentry, store keepingand numerous other pursuits. The prints and a CD are now on file in the Historian's office and G.H.S.filesThe historian's office continues to supply photos and historic material for the Society's by-monthlypublication, the Corinthian.The education committee has made use of the historian's office materials and files throughout the year toaid Greece Central Schools Social Studies teachers in planning curriculum.Most of our outside inquiries continue to be received by email or phone. We supplied many articles andphotos for a blog site about the former Cardinal Mooney High School. Several important calls came fromrelatives of farm families. A distant relative of the Peter Veeder family (Latta Road), living in Nantucket,proved to be most rewarding for both her and ourselves, since we were able to exchange informationneither of our files contained.

A large collection of crumbling Greece newspapers had been microfilmed and digitally scanned a yearago. Since they were becoming a storage problem and major fire hazard they were offered to anyinterested party. They have been removed by Society member Jack Kemp and may eventually becomepart of the Charlotte history group at the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse. Two sturdy, four shelf racks taketheir place and can be used for archival boxes etc.Betty Fetter continues to help copying of current newspaper articles and material, plus filing as timepermits from her other duties in the Society.

MUSEUM EXHIBITS

“Here Comes the Bride” and

a Model Machine Shopbelonging to Don Stilson, Town of Parma historianresulted in a large increase in our Sunday visitors.Andrea Peeck, a 19 year old college student, createdan exhibit on strange weather in the Rochester area.A Community Christmas tree with ornaments fromarea businesses, individuals & organizations was ourholiday attraction and we had one antique appraisal day during the year.

MUSEUM TOURS

Approximately 1,000 individuals toured the Greece Museum during 2009.There is no way of knowing the exact number, as many individuals that tourthe museum do not sign our guest book, however approximately 875individuals did sign in. Also group tours, included seniors, scouts,elementary school children, the Landmark Society of Western New York docents and Leadership Greece.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Lee Strauss and the Education Committee continues to work with MarcFlemming and Michelle Scamacca, Social Studies directors for GreeceCentral Schools, supplying primary source materials for curriculum

development. The Historical Society’s efforts

in local history educationwas recognized this year with the Marguerite Hare Brown Award and agrant of $200.00. The committee members have organized the library intocolor coded subjects and made a card catalog. Our history files continueto be reorganized into subject and cross referenced them with the library,maps and photos. Tours for students, scouts, and community groups havebeen given and we continue to plan for them.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROMOTION

We spent two days at the Hilton Apple festival, one day at a History Fair inRochester and a day at the Faris Pharmacy open house promoting ourorganization and had an information booth at the Town's Ground Hog Daycelebration. The Greece Post and Democrat & Chronicle have featured theGreece Historical Society in many articles and columns during the year and

the “Historian’s Notebook” by Lorraine Beane was featured

several times inthe Greece Post.

PROGRAMS

Our monthly programs have again proven to be very popular with thecommunity, during 2009 attendance has varied from as little as 65 to as manyas 100. Programs in January and October were part of the Speakers in theHumanities series sponsored by the New York State for the Humanities. Threeof this past years programs were recorded by local public access Educable,and are available for sale through Educable.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

In the past year the Greece Historical Society has been represented at aDocument Heritage Program held in Victor, a presentation on thearchives at Valentown Museum, a Rochester Regional Library Councilprogram on the availability of Grants, and

a “

behind the scen

es” tour of

the Fairport museum and the new Rochester Historical Society facilitiesat the Rundel Library. William Keeler, curator of the Fairport Museumand Archivist at the Rochester Historical Society, has volunteered manyhours in teaching some of our volunteers the correct museum proceduresin collection management.

EQUIPMENT ACQUIRED

New equipment this year included a new fax/copier machine, a small glass display case, new woodendisplay easels, a microfilm reader (free from a professor at SUNY Geneseo) , a used laptop computerfrom the Town of Greece, and a mannequin for exhibits.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

Capital improvements this year included the replacementof the back exhibit hall doors by Straight LineContractors, the purchase of some new rugs, installed byChristie Carpets, and the painting of the copula, thenorth side porch and the back basement door.

MEMBERSHIP

The membership is down slightly from the previous years which are typical for many non-profitorganizations. As a membership promotion, we are continuing to offering A Growing Legacy, An

Illustrated History of Rochester’s Parks,

while supplies last, to anyone who visits our museum shop andpurchases a new or renews a membership. The books were a gift from the City Historian to be given awayas a promotion. A business membership drive has also begun. A new volunteer, Sue Hodge who alsovolunteers at the Genesee Country Village & Museum, will be focusing on increasing membership.