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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 Town Historian Annual ReportLouise Bement 49 Myers Road Lansing, NY 14882 2013 Town Historian’s Report This year I decided to look at all my emails that had to do with my job as historian. I was going to remark on them but when I discovered just how many there were I decided that I had better just tell you how many there were. There were 30 of them. Some of the more interesting ones were: Zig Olds from Lansing Michigan wanted some historical antidotes from Lansing, NY to put in his April Fool’s newsletter. I was the only one from the many United States’ Lansing communities to respond. Irv Troutman wanted information on the fossils at Portland Point. Life Scout James Stoyell was amazed at the information I had to share with him about the Strong Cemetery on Lansingville Road. John Anderson needed to know the approximate age of the old Newman house on Peruville Road. He was surprised that I dated it about 1820. Tom Herson and Ruth Hopkins were so pleased to be introduced to each other regarding the old mill on Ruth’s property. Tom has the original key that opened the door to the mill. In other matters, I edited the four Lansing Historical Newsletters, which is a big job but very interesting and rewarding. I presided at the five Historical Association board meetings and helped Ann Nedrow run the History Tent at the Lions’ Fourth of July Bar-B-Q. I was interviewed by Michael McGandy for an article in the Ithaca Times newspaper. I helped Gerry Monahan with historical information for the East Shore Festival of the Arts handbook, and also spent four hours at the Field Schoolhouse the night of the festival. I worked with the Pathways committee on the Short Line Railroad spur and also worked with Life Scout Dave Miller on the same project. I then was honored to attend his Eagle Scout Ceremony. I took some people from Batavia on a tour of Ludlowville and Myers. In May I presented a slide show of Lansing history for the Pathways Committee. I held a program for a Cub Scout meeting at the Field Schoolhouse. I enjoyed meeting with Candace Cornell who was documenting the Ospreys at Salt Point. I helped her with the history of the International Salt Company. It always amazes me that people don’t know that history because the salt company was active there until 1964. I attended the Re-Power Cayuga meeting and wrote and called Albany in support of the re -powering. I met with Chris Williams about the history of Milliken Station and worked with James Dennis about the Bell Station property which I hope will be made into a state forest or state park. I gave a short talk about the history of Salmon Creek from the glacial age to the present for the Community Science Institute (CSI). I attended the 30 year celebration of Woodsedge. That was a nice party and I always enjoy talking to our older citizens, many of whom are my dear friends. I met with four members of the education committee at The History Center in Tompkins County. They are the people who run the Eight Square Schoolhouse program which our Lansing students enjoy. They were interested in seeing our one-room schoolhouse and also the North Cabin. I then took them on a short tour of Salt Point and Syrian Hill. My Learning Web apprentice and I held our last meeting at the Archives in June. I no longer meet with her, but we both enjoyed our teacher/student relationship. I have been Lansing Town Historian since January 1981 and hope to continue in this job for many years to come.