The Denman, Osburn and Erity Families

By Anita Messina The Denmans, Genevieve Mae, her husband Charles and their daughter Cheryl Mae were moving to their new home at the farmstead owned by Charles’ parents, D Lulu and Jesse Denman. The pick-up truck was full to overflow with their possessions....
An Update on the Society

An Update on the Society

(Note that this will be the Citizen Column for August 18th.) It has been a bit since we had a historical society update and there has been a lot going on. The image I have chosen is an mid nineteen-teens postcard view of the cemetery and the Soldiers Monument. Things...
Ben White, the Post-Card, and Ebony Magazine

Ben White, the Post-Card, and Ebony Magazine

In the April 1947 issue of Ebony magazine you will find a very nice photo of downtown Port Byron. It seems an odd place to find such an outstanding photo as Ebony was, and is, a magazine for the African-American market. I would never have seen this photo except that I...
The Port Byron Electric Company

The Port Byron Electric Company

At 3:48pm, on Monday the 14th of November, 1910, Port Byron became the “best lighted village in the state.” It was likely not too bold a claim, as it was the latest village in the state to have installed street lights, eighty in total. Although the village had been...
The Pine Street Gang

The Pine Street Gang

By Anita Messina John Seamans, nine years old, finished the last of his cold cereal, listening. He listened for a nearby screen door to fling open and slam shut. That was his signal that the first of the Pine Street kids was on his bike and headed for the cemetery for...
The Beginning of the Port Byron Little League

The Beginning of the Port Byron Little League

It is spring and soon the crack of bats, the loud voices of the coaches, (some might call it yelling), the call of “hey batteeeer!”, and the cheers of the parents will fill the air as Little League once again returns to the Green Street fields. It is a spring time...