Cobblestone Society Museum

COBBLESTONE SOCIETY HISTORY
45th Anniversary 1960-2005

Random Highlights...Year by Year

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1960	October 23, 1960 - 60 people meet at the Cobblestone Church in Childs and form the Cobblestone Society
1961	June 10 - First annual Tour of Cobblestone buildings September - Society received its Provisional Charter October 14 - First annual Auction
1962	August - Society purchased the Cobblestone District #4 School District #5 Childs Cobblestone School was repaired and hosted tours Sundays. Developed a traveling museum exhibit which was shown at the opening of Rochester’s Midtown Plaza and at Rundell Library Society joined the National Trust for Historic Preservation and included in two of the Trust’s publications.
1963	October - Society receives deed for Cobblestone Church
1964	Cobblestone Edition of the Medina Journal newspaper Supplement “A Heritage of Cobblestone” was published July 9, 1964 Restored Bell Tower, financed by John Brush and dedicated to his mother was mounted on the Cobblestone Church Society received “State and Local History Award” from the AASLH
1965	School tours begin at the restored Cobblestone School Church restoration guided by Mr. Per E. Gulbeck of Cooperstown
1966	Society participated in the Historic American Building Survey of Western New York – detailed drawings and pictures of the Church and School were compiled for inclusion at the Library of Congress. Exhibits begun in the Church basement
1967	Repairs to the School roof completed and bell tower restored John Brush finds a bell for the Cobblestone Church Society’s charter becomes permanent
1968	The Church is rededicated August 18 with President of the NY State Convention of Universalists
1969	New exhibits in the Church with the help of the New York State Council on the Arts Pioneer Day held in July Universalists and Unitarians meet for 1st annual service in the Church Mrs. Nellie Vagg donated the blacksmith and tools as a memorial to her late husband Joseph. Deceptive painting restored in the church sanctuary.
1970	John Lovell hired as part-time Curator New York State County Historians met at the Church and toured the Museum
1971	C.W. Lattin hired as Curator on an hourly basis Museum hours expanded to Tuesday through Sunday 1,411 visitors registered that year at the Church represented 12 counties and 22 states 1,054 school students visited the School 1st Annual Patriotic service held at the church
1972	1st Annual Art Show was held in June Restoration of mouldings and stairs in the platform at the church were completed
1973	New carpeting was put in the Cobblestone Church The iron railing up the church steps was placed in memory of Pasquale DiLaura
1974	Began process of acquiring Ward House
1975	Purchased Ward House Janice Thaine begins assisting with school tours
1976	J. Howard Pratt retires as director of school tours Ruth Applegate assists Janice Thaine on school field trips Society sells District #4 School House in Gaines C. W. Lattin restores Ward House to 1870s décor 19th century Service by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Holley held August 15
1977	Second Empire building moved from Medina as Print Shop July 27 Eastlake style privy moved to museum grounds in April Obtains David Bruce Taxidermy display from Albion School Country Fair by Council on the Arts on Museum grounds Society holds flea market in conjunction with Country Fair C. W. Lattin designs Museum brochure and a placemat for Village Inn
1978	Dedication of Print Shop and Blacksmith Shop May 28, with Masonic ceremony and a booklet published for this dedication Kendal Lutheran Church moved to Museum to be Farmer’s Hall and another privy added Gift Shop added at Church as well as new displays Converted Ward House basement to office space Pumpkin Festival held in October Cobblestone Landmarks of New York State by O. W. Shelgren, Cary Lattin and Robert Frasch was released and reception held at Cobblestone District #5 School House
1979	Another Privy added RIT students use District #5 School House for pictorial thesis The 1st Christmas Party held at School House Grant from National Endowment on the Humanities funded exhibit and accompanying booklet “Ingenuity & Inventions”
1980	Pumpkin Cookery published A Pictorial and Historical Sketch of Farming in Orleans County released on June 1 A huge Parade to celebrate dedication of Farmer’s Hall on June 1
1981	Eastman Kodak produced film “Once Upon a Time” a history of the Museum as a promotional Planning for signature quilt and baby calendar as fund raisers.
1982	Cobblestone Resource Center established, materials contributed by Robert Frasch, Cary Lattin, O. W. Shelgren and Swan Library Grant received from New York State Council on the Arts for Resource Center Liberty Pole erected near Farmer’s Hall and dedicated during Patriotic Program A Schoolmates Reunion was held at District #5 School September 29, plaque mounted in Church Lobby in memory of Benefactor John Brush “Historic Ridge Road 1798” marker dedicated at Village Inn Bait shop building donated and converted to restrooms Flagman’s Shanty donated, serves as Cobblestone Café Steel building built to house lighthouse lamp oil donated Pointing on Church begun by Newell Mix
1983	First “Hands-On Cobblestone Masonry Workshop” conducted by Newell Mix at District #5 School Society Tour to Paris, Ontario, Canada to see cobblestone buildings Resource Center works with Genesee Valley Miniature Association Gallery Associates of New York State; Colonial Dames of the XVII Century, Illinois Chapter; National Register; and New York Alive Magazine
1984	175th anniversary Town of Gaines “Historic Gaines 1809-1984” book release at Museum during Art Show Eight weddings took place at the Cobblestone Church Patriotic Service commemorates Village Inn 160th Anniversary and Society placed plaque at Village Inn Second Masonry Workshop held that summer September Parade and celebration at Museum November “Architecture Destroyed in Orleans County, NY” released by C. W. Lattin New York State Council on the Arts funds cataloging of Museum Collection by Neil Johnson Benefit ‘Bowl-a-Thon’ directed by Joseph Martillotta, monies donated to Society
1985	Museum encompassed six buildings and hosted nine annual events To Preserve and Educate – booklet commemorating the first 25 years of the Cobblestone Society compiled by Dee Robinson The Annual Old Timer’s Day was first held in September
1986	Architecture Destroyed in Orleans County, NY published Cataloging of the museum artifact Shingles were replaced on the roof of the Cobblestone Church
1987	Harness Shop moved from Gaines to Rt. 98 grounds Bruce Midkiff hired to restore stucco on Harness Shop Collection policy updated
1988	Museum Assessment through the Institute for Museum Services Marker ceremony for Proctor Brook on Rt. 98 Harness Shop restoration completed with installation of board walk
1989	Dedication of Harness Shop with impressive program
1990	Robert Frasch dies and leaves $20,000 to the Cobblestone Resource Center
1991	Artifacts labeled in Farmer’s Hall New Resource Center dedicated to Robert W. Frasch Interior of Church sanctuary paiinted
1992	Luminaries in the Firmament published
1993	Cobblestone Society Museum awarded status as National Historic Landmark Center kerosene fixture was restored in Church Details of Cobblestone Masonry by Dee Robinson, published
1994	New carpet was placed in the aisles of the Cobblestone Church with monies from year end donations. The First Holiday Shoppe was held in November.
1995	Received gift of 1904 Estey Organ – dedicated in 1996
1996	Cobblestone Buildings of Orleans County, NY; A Local History, by Dee Robinson published Dedicated organ with recital by Wade Gidley
1997	A House for Everything by C. W. Lattin, a children’s book published
1998	Purchased Brick House after fighting planning board to not have it demolished Moved Cobblestone Smokehouse to museum grounds
1999	Voting Booth given by Town of Hamlin, Monroe County (now houses the book sale) and Dedicated in 2000 Cobblestone School Scrapbook Album published in recognition of 150th Anniversary of the District #5 Cobblestone School Dee Robinson resigns as Resource Center Director, Evelyn Lyman appointed To take her place
2000	Acquired property behind the Church Dedicated Garden Court behind Brick House
2001	Cobblestone Resource Center moved to Brick House
2002	President George Zeis died, Cobblestone Society inherited $75,000 Danolds Room created for gallery space
2003	Farmer’s Hall and Liberty Pole repainted
2004	School Belfry Restoration was completed in September as originally designed Evelyn Lyman retires as Resource Center Director, Dee Robinson was asked and agrees to return to her former position
2005	Established Cobblestone Society Preservation Award of Destinction 1850s oil portraits of C.A. & M.J. Danolds were given to museum and dedicated with an interpretive program