The December Citizen Column

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...

The Mystery Cooperage of Port Byron

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...

The Port Byron Railroad War

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....

Delvin (Ted) Wilt

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...