by Old Mentz | Feb 23, 2017 | Anita Messina, Frank Green, Lock 52 Historical Society, Port Byron
Keep a Good Book in Your Pocketby Anita MessinaFrank Greene doesn’t understand why people can’t sit down and calmly discuss their problems until their differences are worked out. Ongoing conflicts trouble him. They especially troubled him when he was Staff Sergeant...
by Old Mentz | Feb 11, 2017 | Anita Messina, Lock 52 Historical Society, Port Byron, Sally Smith
Nonagenarian Dynamo: A Woman to RememberBy Anita Messina Lithe and energetic Sally Smith kayaked, canoed and played a round of golf every Friday. And doing it all when she was well into her ninth decade.The links game gave her pause to consider whether she should...
by Old Mentz | Feb 5, 2017 | Anita Messina, Hellen Davies, Lock 52 Historical Society, Port Byron
Tribute to Hellen DaviesAnita MessinaSome folks give and then they give some more. Such a rare community patron is Hellen Davies, historian, benefactor, researcher, perpetual teacher, a person with unbridled curiosity and amazement for all things past and present.It’s...
by Old Mentz | Apr 8, 2015 | canal enlargement, downtown, Erie Canal, Historical Society of Port Byron, Lock 52 Historical Society, Port Byron
In the 1850’s, a battle of wills ensued in Port Byron over the route of the canal that led to great harm in the business district of the village. What is odd is that this battle seemed to be waged by local landowners with the support of State engineers. In the 1931...
by Old Mentz | Apr 13, 2013 | Erie Canal, Harry King, Historical Society of Port Byron, Lock 52 Historical Society, Mentz, Port Byron, Port Byron Historical Society, Richard King
This time, I am featuring a letter I found in the files. It is a great look back at the village and what was going on in the Erie Canal times. This letter was written by the Rev. Harry King to his brother Richard T. King, who many will recall was the publisher of the...
by Old Mentz | Jul 29, 2012 | Cayuga County, Lock 52 Historical Society, Port Byron
On the weekend of August 11th and 12th, many organizations along the route of the canal system will take part in “Canal Splash” events. In Cayuga County, we hold two activities on Saturday. At the Old Brutus Historical Society in Weedsport, the museum will be from 9...
