Welcome to the History Corner!
Celebrating the rich history of Port Byron, New York, an old Erie Canal village in the Town of Mentz. This site is dedicated to the legacy and heritage of our community as well as a variety of regional historical tidbits. I hope you enjoy your visit and will stop by again.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Graduation 2009

June is such an exciting time for the many graduates from schools around the country. This year, Dana L West Sr High closed with history in the making.

William Rice had the honors to read to his fellow classmates a personal greeting from Secretary of State and former U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, in honor of our historic year.



Commencement not only focused on the achievement of the students, it also showed appreciation to all the family, friends, faculty and community members that made their success possible. The heart of every community is the people.

Over 50 different scholarships were awarded, some issued to multiple students. The class was 105 students strong.

Go Panthers and best of luck to you!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

The Lost Radeau

The Oldest Intact Warship in North America is found at the Depths of Lake George in New York State

Recently PBS broad casted a wonderful documentary made about the Land Tortoise radeau warship, which was part of the "The Sunken Fleet of 1758" during the French and Indian War.

To read more about the documentary:

Archaeological study of the 1758 Land Tortoise "Radeau" warship

Monday, June 1, 2009

Last Survivor of Titanic

Mellvina Dean, the last survivor on the legendary Titanic has died at the age of 97. She was only a child on that fateful night in 1912 when so many perished.

Mellvina Dean 1912-2009

Many may ask what does this have to do with a small Erie canal village in Upstate, NY?

Surprisingly many upstate families had ties to passengers on the Titanic. Port Byron was no exception. A man named Sidney Clarence Stuart Collett was a Titanic passenger and in route to Port Byron, NY when the ship floundered.

Here is Collett's entry on the Carpathia's ship passenger logs of people rescued from Titanic (see middle entry where it shows Port Byron, NY):




His parents were living here in 1912 where his father was serving as a minister at the Baptist Church.

Read more about Sidney Clarence Stuart Collett

The passing of Mellvina Dean brings the end of the survivors aboard the Titanic. Rest in peace Miss Mellvina.