by portbyro | Mar 18, 2024 | Uncategorized
The Heritage Center recently received the donation of a large glass bottle labeled “Port Byron Bottling Works,” which again brought the history of the small concern to the top of rabbit hole topics. It brings to light another small business that seemed to operate in...
by portbyro | Feb 26, 2024 | Uncategorized
The Citizen gave this the headline of “Why Lock 52 Historical Society became Old Mentz Heritage Center.” For many, it hides behind a paywall, so here it is. I hope it helps to clear up some of the confusion with all the local society and park names. If you...
by portbyro | Jan 30, 2024 | Uncategorized
By Cheryl Longyear, Town of Montezuma Historian In celebration of Black History Month, Port Byron and Montezuma historical societies are featuring a window display at the Port Byron Library of a well-known folk artist, Inez Nathaniel Walker who once lived in Port...
by portbyro | Jan 11, 2024 | Uncategorized
Happy New Year! Way back in May, I wrote about the upcoming merger of the Lock 52 Historical Society and the Montezuma Historical Society. Well, I am pleased to say that the formal merging will be taking place soon when the New York State Education Department gives us...
by Old Mentz | Jul 9, 2023 | Uncategorized
For those family genealogists out there, the term “brick wall” has a certain meaning. It is when all the clues run out and those exciting new discoveries come slowly or not at all. Well those “brick walls” can also pop up in the study of general history when we can’t...
by Old Mentz | Apr 15, 2023 | Uncategorized
In October 1873, Colonel William Jones assembled his forces. The men built two forts that they named Fort Armstrong and Fort Graham to honor their leaders. These log and earthen fortifications looked out over the landscape from where the expected attack would advance....
by Old Mentz | Apr 5, 2023 | Uncategorized
We have some news to share, so we are making this newsletter available to everyone. This link will open as a pdf file.
by Old Mentz | Mar 16, 2023 | Uncategorized
Delvin Emmons (Ted) Wilt died on February 27, 2023, at 105 years of age. With his passing goes the last human contact to a lost world. Ted was born in October 1917. Within a couple months, the old towpath Erie Canal would be abandoned as the new Barge Canal was...
by Old Mentz | Feb 16, 2023 | Uncategorized
Way back in 2019, I wrote about the Schasel postcard collection that had been donated to the Lock 52 Historical Society. It is a wonderful collection of over 100 postcards that had been collected by Rudy and his son Rene Schasel. That collection became the basis of...
by Old Mentz | Jan 28, 2023 | Uncategorized
With the opening of Vault House Wine and Liquor in the old bank building, I thought it was a good time to take a look at the history of liquor stores and their owners, and hopefully to stir a few memories for some. But before we go there, lets take a look at the...
