HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 Town Historian Annual ReportLouise Bement
49 Myers Road
Lansing, NY 14882
2019 Town Historian Report
In 1989 I founded the Lansing Historical Association as that had been my goal, but I had to retire
from teaching school to take on such a responsibility. It has become a very nice association with
five board meetings a year which, as president, I “run”. We also put on two public meetings –
one in April and the other in October. These meetings with historical programs are well
attended. We hadn’t been an association very long when a board member said we should have a
newsletter. For a while I contributed articles to the newsletter, but after a few years the
newsletter became my total responsibility. I edit and write four newsletters a year which are
mailed out to around 150, or more, members.
I have been your Town Historian for 38 years. The only Municipal Historian with more years is
Al Chaffee in Newfield, and he was named historian when he was fourteen years old because of
his vast knowledge of the local cemeteries. He now has a vast knowledge of the history of
Newfield as well.
The Municipal Historians of Tompkins County hold regular meetings chaired by Carol Kammen.
We work together very well and are always ready to help each other out.
I get emails and phone calls from people interested in Lansing’s history and their ancestors who
lived here. Last January, I worked about two hours with a couple who were interested in the
history of Cayuga Lake floods, and the old International Salt Company.
I also worked with the people who run the boat named the Teal. This boat is a learning
classroom and they take school children and other interested people on cruises to study the lake
and the lake shores. The lake shore is where I come in. These people had discovered the books I
had written, in the local libraries, and they were using the information in my books as part of
their teaching lectures on the boat. So they came to talk to me and get more information first
hand.
In February, I had a road named after me! What a surprise. I was so flattered. I also worked in
our Historical Archives on Saturday mornings with two of my board members, Fannie Welch
and Kathy LaLonde. I also met with a woman who was going to give a talk on one room school
houses and she wanted to investigate ours and take pictures of it.
In March, I did research on the Howell Farm on Emmons Road for Carol Howell.
In April, I helped a man from Ladoga Point with maps of Lansing and the Mack family history.
In May, Debbi Smith from Virginia came to get cuttings from the apple trees and grape vines on
my and my neighbor’s property. I had worked with Debbi last year and she knew that I lived on
her great, great Uncle Henry Myer’s old orchard. There aren’t many trees or grapes left but she
got cuttings from several trees and my grape vines and has reported that the cuttings are
sprouting quite well.
In June, Carol Becker from the private religious school in Dryden came to teach her class of first
and second graders in the one room schoolhouse. She comes every other year and spends the
day at the school which I open for her and give a little talk to her students.
In July, a woman came to look for Abolitionists’ homes. We don’t have very many that we can
locate, but I took her to Ben Joy’s old home in Ludlowville and Betsy Barber’s home on Jerry
Smith Road. I also told her that Rogue’s Harbor held fugitive slaves that were on their way
north to Canada.
On July Fourth, Jo Hass and I held court at North Cabin for five hours. With the concrete floor
the Cabin feels air conditioned, which is nice on a hot and humid July 4th. We had lots of
visitors.
In late July members from the Virgil and Marathon Historical Associations were on a field trip
and they stopped by to talk about how our association worked. They were very impressed with
our archives. I took them on the tour to see Ludlowville Falls, etc.
In August, Donna Scott came to the archives to do research on International Salt.
In late August, I worked all day making up a slide show to present to the Planning Board.
In September, I worked with two women on their Ludlow and Starr ancestors. Then we went to
see the Starr Cemetery, a very small cemetery on Ridge Road. We also went to Pine Grove
Cemetery.
Also in September, I rode in the parade and waved and threw candy. Lisa Campbell had put a
big sign on the front of her car that said, “Louise Bement, Town Historian”.
In October, Fannie Welch and I sorted antique clothing that Donna Scott had donated.
In November, a Cornell student from the architecture school came to do research on International
Salt and Salt Point. I had worked with students from this school before.