by Old Mentz | Jan 19, 2022 | Uncategorized
Frank Avery Skilton died in 1931, and it is likely few of you have heard of him. And, he was not a resident of Port Byron or Mentz. So why I am writing about him? Well, his name kept coming up as I searched for ancestors to add to the Port Byron family tree. He fist...
by Old Mentz | Dec 2, 2021 | Uncategorized
Back in June 2021, I wrote about the Ray family for a Citizen column and I also added the family to the Port Byron Family Tree project. The Ray’s were one of the last canal boating families and some made the transition to the new barge canal when it was opened...
by Old Mentz | Nov 30, 2021 | Uncategorized
Over the past year the Lock 52 Historical Society has added to its collection of Regina Gates paintings. The most recent painting was donated by a lady from Norwich, NY who wished to see the painting returned to its Port Byron home. This donation led the members of...
by Old Mentz | Nov 7, 2021 | Uncategorized
The Lock 52 Historical Society hosted a walk about the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery on October 23, 2021. The focus of the walk were a few of the 237 men who volunteered to fight in the Civil War from the town and village. After a brief history of the Grand Army of the...
by Old Mentz | Sep 6, 2021 | Uncategorized
In 1882 the New York State Experiment Station wrote that, “Perhaps no crop grown in our State gives better rewards for careful management than tobacco.” Many of us don’t realize that in the late 1800s tobacco was a major crop, especially in Oswego and Chemung...
by Old Mentz | Aug 9, 2021 | Uncategorized
Fire was a way of life for our early village and town residents. It was used to cook, heat, power steam engines, run a forge and so much more. And there were times when these utilitarian fires became destructive. A flames and burning embers would spread the fire to...
by Old Mentz | Jul 19, 2021 | Uncategorized
By Anita Messina To most people Inez Shotz was the lady on the phone. Helen Lauckarn said they were next door neighbors on Main Street but they didn’t know her well, except she frequently called. Barbara Jean Van Ditto remembers Inez Shotz only as the woman who called...
by Old Mentz | Jun 26, 2021 | Uncategorized
editor- This was written by Burdett Ray in 1998 shortly before his death. His obituary states that; “He was happy to share his knowledge of things and people with whom he came in contact.” These personal recollections help to bring the past to life. This...
by Old Mentz | Jun 13, 2021 | Uncategorized
In the year 1900 the Erie Canal was eighty-years-old, and it was showing it’s age. The state of New York was investigating whether to construct a new Barge Canal, fix up the old and worn canal, or get out of the canal business altogether. In November 1903, the voters...
by Old Mentz | May 29, 2021 | Uncategorized
The warmer weather certainly slows down research, but we have added a couple new groups to the Port Byron Family Tree project. As we were preparing the spring issue of the Lock 52 Chronicle newsletter, we had a question about the Tatgenhorst Block and where it was...
