Masonic Temple Dedication 1952

Thank you to the Boy Scouts for the opportunity to make the 1952 dedication of the Masonic Temple available to our community as a free download.  It includes the history of our village, firsts in our history, a St. directory and many vintage ads from local merchants and neighboring communities.

Click this link to download the Masonic Temple Lodge No. 130 F. & A.M.

Here's a nice link that contains history of our temple but also has some interesting information about Finley M. King, as well as his photograph, see pages 32 to 34.

Note: 1879 History of Cayuga County credits the first village president as Walter H. Smith but includes the list of the first village board of trustees, see page 311, as well as a list of successive leaders of Port Byron.

Port Byron Nurse in the Civil War

Here's an interesting article I found today.  Katherine Adelia Baker, reported as a Port Byron native and married Pvt. John L. Crane, a soldier of the 9th Heavy Artillery who enlisted at Auburn.

The article goes on to say that she followed her husband to the battle field and served as a nurse.  Her husband was commissioned Captain of Co. H of the same regiment on September 8, 1862.  Capt. Crane was discharged on Nov. 12, 1864.

There are two head of household of the Baker surname in 1840, being G. Baker and J. Baker as well as Rachael Baker.

The Clyde Herald

Wednesday May 31, 1933

MRS. ADELIA CRANE, OLDEST RESIDENT IN GALEN, DEAD AT 95 

Port Byron Native, She Went To Civil War as a Nurse With Her Husband 

Death claimed Oalen's oldest resident Mrs. Kathleen Adelia Crane at her home at Caroline and Reese Streets shortly after midnight Saturday night.  She was 95 years, two months and 26 days of age.  She had been ill in recent weeks.

A native of Port Byron, March 1, 1838 Mrs. Crane as a young woman married John L. Crane, a Captain in the Civil War, and went with him to act as a nurse in that conflict.

They lived in a camp on the Potomac with Mr. and Mrs. Lape and Delia Lape and Mr. and Mrs. Wadley and James Wadley, all of whom have died. Tunis Conklin,

a nephew of the late Hiram Burton, did errands for them in Washington. Soldiers came to the camp to receive supplies from Captain Crane. A baby girl was born at
the camp to a wife of a general and she is believed to be residing in Auburn now.

For many years after the war Mr. and Mrs. Crane resided in Clyde. Mr. Crane practicing law in partnership with the late Charles T. Saxton, New York State's lieutenant-governor, 1904-1906.

Mr. Crane died in the west many years ago. An only daughter, Nellie, an accomplished musician, died at the age of eighteen. She would have been over 60 now.  Mrs. Crane maintained the homestead until her death, Mrs. H. B. Exner caring for her in recent years.

Mrs. Crane is survived by one sister Mrs. Lura O'Neil and one brother, Home Baker, both living here and both more than 80 years of age.  Several nieces and nephews survive her.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 O'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Gelder and Lacey home by the Rev. R.F. Smithson.  Burial was in Maple Grove Cemetery.

Note:

Maple Grove Cemetery at Galen, Wayne County, NY records the following burials:
Crane, Adelia C. wife Capt. John L. 1838-1933
Crane, Nellie dau John L. & Adelia C. 1867-1887

Future Nurses Club

I continue to be amazed at the wonderful things waiting to be found in Port Byron's history.  Here's an article that says Port Byron established the first Future Nurses Club in Cayuga County.

Click the link above to read the 1958 article.

We owe a great debt of gratitude to fultonhistory.com for providing digital newspapers of the past that fills in so many details about our region.

Congrats to Port Byron School for making such an unusual record in Cayuga County!

Port Byron War of 1812 Soldiers

Finding soldiers who have served in the War of 1812 can be difficult.  Often their service was of short duration and few have any marking at their grave to tell visitors of their service.

I am pleased to share my latest research project to document our soldiers.  Many on this list may have been overlooked for public recognition as the majority of these men do not appear on any official list for soldiers from Port Byron and Mentz.

The list contains surnames that are still here today, while other soldiers moved elsewhere and their burial locations are not known.  The 1812 Equipment Claim offers a window for the names of our men who served between 1812-1815.

Our 1812 Soldiers

Port Byron Patriotism

Patriotism was abound today at Port Byron School as part of the Wreaths Across America program.  The students did a wonderful job under the direction of Dr. Linda Townsend.

Pictured above is a mural located in the common area of the Dana L. West Jr./Sr. High School.  Principal Bissetta granted permission to share this photo on my history blog for those living out of the area.  This image captures the heart of our PB Panthers as they honor our soldiers, especially those that have made the ultimate sacrifice in giving their life to our Country.  It reads:

Honorably following tradition bravely

fighting for our land's protection.

Your selfless sacrifice tears at our hearts,

We Forevermore will bear these deep scars.

We mark your fall untimely 

Gone, you've kept us free.

Panthers you will forever be.

                          

                                             M. Brewster  Class of '84

Above mural was painted by Chelsea Crawford-Class of 2010

Port Byron Wreaths Across America 2012 by DRoe

Port Byron was the only high school in New York State to participate in the Wreaths Across America program this year.  As historian, it was my pleasure to speak about our African American soldiers of the Civil War and their contributions to the Lockwood Post GAR #175 of Port Byron.  As a member of the Mrs. Benjamin Harrison Tent #2 DUVCW, it was an honor to add to the patriotic instruction of the day.

Owasco Chapter DAR sponsored a wreath which was placed at the Lockwood Post GAR monument at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.  The monument is surrounded by soldiers of the civil war, including the grave of John Thomas of the USCT who is laid to eternal rest next to his fellow comrades without prejudice.  I would like to thank my fellow DAR sisters for their participation.  

A fabulous color guard lined the entire length of the auditorium, many coming from the Rochester area.  The program reminded us that freedom is not free.  On behalf of the Port Byron community, we thank all of our service men and woman who serve to preserve our freedoms.

Steam Boat Port Byron

Here's an interesting article that captured my attention!

To find any steam boat named Port Byron is worth exploration:

Click here for Mahan patent for propulsion of Canal Boats.

Click here for Primus Emerson patent for paddle wheel.  

The Ghost of Aunt Eliza

For the past several years, I have been contacted by ghost hunters and other paranormal agencies looking for places to evaluate for sightings in the Port Byron area.  While several books have been written about this topic, despite having long ties to the community, I have never encountered anyone who experienced anything out of the ordinary.  Even with several generations of Port Byronites in my family, nothing about ghost sightings has ever been passed down orally.

Today I was browsing for something else and stumbled onto an interesting article about Eliza Button whose spirit was terrifying the locals:

 Clyde NY Democratic Herald 1888-1890  

In checking census records there was an Eliza Button living here in 1850, in the same household as Edwin Button.  I also found a couple articles about a person of this name in 1879 moved out of town due to charges of running a disorderly house.

Auburn NY Evening Auburnian 1879

Is this article a case of sarcasm or a paranormal sighting?  That we shall leave up to the ghost hunters.

Happy Halloween Port Byron!

54th Alumni Association Reunion 1926

Here is a wonderful treat for everyone!  The Fifty-Fourth Reunion of the Alumni Association of Port Byron High School from 1926 is now available for free download.  I have seen several little brochures for commencement services but this is the first that I have ever seen specifically for a reunion of our Alumni Association. 

Click here to view and/or download the 1926 booklet

The Unknown Blue and Gray

Here's another powerful poem that I would like to share. 

Date of publication not known. 

The Unknown Blue and Gray

By 

Wilbur D. Nesbet

There are unknown graves in the valleys

        That the troops of war possessed,

Where the bugles sounded for rallies

But the bullets sang of rest;

And the mountains hold without number

                   Hidden graves from the war's mad days,

Where the unknown men have their slumber

       In their shrouds of blue and gray.

And no drums will rumble and rattle,

              And no fifes blow sharp and shrill

In the valleys that knew the battle,

   Nor atop the lone high hill;

But the silent stars know the story

   And the broad sky of the day

Bends and whispers low of their glory

To these men of blue and gray.

And no banners o'er them are waving,

 No marchers come and pause

With cheers for the land of their saving

Or tears for their lost cause,

Yet the twilight stars intermingle

        With the hues when ends the day.

And the striving flags now are single

  O'er the men of blue and gray.

There are unknown graves in the thickets,

On the hillside and the plain,

Of the missing scouts and the pickets,

Yet they did not fall in vain.

Though their names may not be engraven

And their places in the fray,

In our hearts now each finds a haven

         They who wore the blue and gray.

For the God of battles is kindly

    With none of mankind's hate

That is cherished every too blindly

            And these pawns of warfare's fate

Have their tombs of nature's splendor

    Each set forth in proud array

Through an impulse holy and tender,

               Though they wore the blue and gray. 

Where once were the guns that wrangled

                Sounds the peace song of the thrush,

And the roses and vines are tangled

   In the solemn, sacred hush;

Where the cannon one day would hurtle

Their missiles in the fray

Grows the rue and the creeping myrtle

                  O'er the graves of the blue and gray.

They are nature's hand that are strewing

     The flowers on each mound;

It is God's own beautiful doing

              That each unknown grave is found

Where the cypress leaves are a quiver,

            Where peaks lift through the day,

Where the forest sighs to the river

        Of the unknown blue and gray.

Things Don't Last Forever

Photo: EPA Public Profile

Tremendous effort has been made to try to save the old mill on Green Street.

The site suffered heavy metal contamination from the operations of the RN Hitchcock Electroplating business.  It has been the home of many different businesses in its long 100+ year history.

The EPA has been working with allot of determination to try to clean and remove the contaminants so that the site could be established as a historic property with the Park Service.

Unfortunately fate has not cooperated with that goal.  Recently there were several main support beams that have cracked, causing extensive damage.  I visited the site for a tour with Michael Hoppe with the Response and Prevention Branch of the EPA on the evening of October 9th.  It was a quick reminder that history alone can not save a structure.

While the damage is evident from the outside, it isn't until you go inside that your heart sinks.  The fractured support beams has caused a significant shift to the South West corner of the building.  The damages are beyond the resources to repair it.

If there is any glimmer in our situation, it is the documentation process that will be carried out to record as much as possible about the site before it is removed.  This is an opportunity that would be lost if the structure were allowed to simply collapse.  The project site will be recorded with various photos and reports about the old mill which will be made public record.  I will record these materials on this blog for my readers as the information becomes available.  I will also add a special section on the footer of this website with the various links.  However, I wanted to share the information here so that readers will be aware that resources about the Green Street Mill will appear in the footer in the near future.

The mill will be razed by the end of this month to reduce the risk of collapse from the winter snow load soon approaching.  It is sad to see so much progress made to the site yet not be able to reach the finish line.  It is an outcome that could not have been predicted.

It would appear that prior owners were aware

Photo: EPA Public Profile

of the support beam condition, as sections of the building have had new cross beams added.  The section that failed was an area that had not had any alterations.  This was in the area previously used as office space.  Additional photos will be posted to the EPA website soon.

The drop shifted floor support beams away from the walls so that portions of the floors are no longer in contact with the beams.  Oddly, the beams were notched and butted onto the beams but never permanently secured.  This poses a continuous problem with any restoration work as the repair work itself could cause a similar shift in other areas of the structure.  It was an odd experience to look at a door frame and see a good 2 inch drop from one corner to the next in such a short span of space.  This caused the wall in question to separate from the ceiling.  Our tour did not include the second floor and I was perfectly comfortable with staying at the lower level.

It will be sad to see the structure go.  Often structures are lost with no advance warning from natural disasters, fires etc.  We will have a final opportunity to document the Green Street Mill with its written, oral and photographic history in tact.  This will serve as a lasting record that this building was indeed here and was once a vital part of our business community.  In addition, some artifacts from its contents will be transported to local museums to preserve her legacy.

Without TLC, buildings do not last forever.  Additions were added onto this structure  without ensuring foundation support would sustain it.  It would be these final additions and the final industry of its last major occupant that has closed the final chapter on this structure; it is a building that we will surely miss.

You will gain a better appreciation of the vast amount of work already made in attempts to save our mill by visiting the public profile:  (Be sure to click on the photos to the right side)

EPA Profile of the Green Street Mill

Please visit the Phase 1 report that covers the mill's historic timeline:

Phase-1A-Report

Again, a special section will be added to the footer of this blog as a permanent archive to our mill.  Stay tuned to the EPA Profile link shown above for additional photos as they are added.

I would like to extend my appreciation to Michael Hoppe for proving a short tour of the project site so that I could see first hand the challenges they faced.  Mr. Wilt has extended his blessing to make mention of the mill on my blog to update those interested in our history, past and present.

On behalf of the Port Byron community, we extend our deepest sympathies to the Wilt family for the loss of this historic structure that has tied several generations in their family.

Appreciation of Home

Paul Hahn with the Class of '76 shares a mural he created in Mrs. Drummond's art class in honor of the bicentennial.

Thank you for sharing with us Paul!  

Little do we realize how important it is to capture what is around us.  Two structures shown here from recent times are now gone.  The church we lost to mother nature in a bad storm and the old fire house and bell tower is now a vacant lot.

The mural measures approximately 6 ' x 4 '    

Woman's Relief Corps No. 207

The Lockwood Post GAR #175 of Port Byron once had an auxiliary but little is known about it as an organization.  In searching newspapers, I have found an entry that confirms they were indeed part of our community:

AUBURN WEEKLY BULLETIN. FEBRUARY 1, 1901

PORT BYRON, Jan. 29

The Lockwood Post Woman's Relief Corps, No 207 will hold a rummage sale in the vacant store of Mrs. James V White commencing tomorrow.

We know that this auxiliary was no longer functioning as of 1916 when the auxiliary for the R.R. Stillwell Sons of Veterans was formed.  To date, newspaper coverage listing the officers for the W.R.C. No. 207 of Port Byron has been hard to locate.

If anyone in your family belonged to the Lockwood Post G.A.R., the R.R. Stillwell Sons of Union Veterans, or any of their auxiliaries, please email me so I can update the members list.

Partial Lockwood Post GAR List

I will be creating a similar list for the auxiliaries but need your feedback to help tabulate the lists.  I look forward to hearing from anyone that had ancestors or relative that belonged to these organizations.

To learn more about the Woman's Relief Corps, click (here)

Sons of Veterans Auxiliary No. 10

Syracuse Journal January 11, 1916

Sons of Veterans New Auxiliary Instituted

Sons of Veterans Auxiliary, No. 10, taking an old number, was instituted last evening at Port Byron by the division president, Mrs. Winnie F. Durst of this city, assisted by members of General Sniper and Merriam Camp's auxiliaries.

Mrs. Minnie S. Root, wife of Commander Root of Lockwood Post, G. A.R., is president of the new auxiliary, and its other officers are: Vina Tuller, vice president; Laura Woodford, chaplain; Alice Warren, treasurer; Ella E. Emmons, secretary; Jennie Godfrey, patriotic instructor; Freda Nye, guide; Ruth Nye, assistant guide; Bessie Stillwell and Marjory Ware, color bearers; Louise Sweet, inside guard; Eliza Ames, outside guard; Nanna Lockwood, press correspondent; Margaret Clapp, Jennie Ward and Addie Warren; trustees; H. R. Warren, judge advocate.

Auxiliary No. 10 is organized for Stillwell Camp. No. 17. and will also be attendant upon Lockwood Post, which is without a Relief Corps. Division President Durst will next endeavor to organize auxiliaries at Clyde and Oneida.

Civil War Soldier Nathan Munger

Having a State Representative of the Grand Army of the Republic from Port Byron was indeed a special find.  It promoted me to learn a little more about Nathan's military service.  I hope you will agree, our soldier deserves an additional post so that we may share his service record:



Courtesy of Ancestry.com

 Nathan was born at Fredonia, NY about the year 1840 and mustered in on December 8, 1862 at Oswego, Co. I 110th NY Infantry at the age of 22.  In August of 1863 he would become detached from this regiment to serve on assignment as clerk at General Andrews Headquarters.

On September 25, 1863 he was promoted to Co. B, 12th Regiment "Corps De Afrique".  The pension index shows his unit was Co. B. with the 12th Louisiana C.D.A. Regiment of Infantry.  This unit provided Garrison Duty at Port Hudson, LA.  The unit would later be re-designated as the 84th United States Colored Troops in 1864, in which Nathan remained with Co. B.  He served as a Second Lieutenant in both units.  The 1890 veterans census indicates he was discharged on or about Nov. 28, 1864.

Nathan by trade was a harness maker.  The call of service to the Grand Army of the Republic would prompt the move of his family to Albany, NY where his occupation in the 1900 census was recorded as Assistant Adj General GAR.

Many advertisements can be found showing he continued to list himself in directories at the corners of Main and Rochester Streets in Port Byron.  It appears his time in Albany was limited, for he died at his Port Byron home in 1909.

Nathan applied for a soldiers pension in 1881, which converted to his widow Amanda Munger upon his death in 1909.  Both are buried at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Port Byron.

Nathan Munger

G.A. R. APPOINTMENTS.

Colonel Anson E. Wood, State Department Commander, Names his Staff Officers.

Col. Anson E. Wood, State Department Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, while in this city yesterday made appointments to his staff as follows:

Assistant Adjutant General, Nathan Munger, Post No. 175, Port Byron, Assistant Quarter Master General, Jared W. Wickes, Post No. 151, Syracuse, Judge Advocate General, Thomas B. O'Dell.Post No. 103, New York, Inspector General, Frank Z. Jones, Post No. 47, Rome, Senor aid de camp, J . J . Perkins, Post No. 116; Schuylerville.

The appointment of Mr. Munger as Assistant Adjutant General relieves George H. Lester of this city from further duty. His friends were hopeful of a reappointment for him. 

The Rome Daily Sentinel, Wednesday Evening, May 16, 1900

Debate Club

For anyone that has participated in the Port Byron speech and debate team, you may be interested in knowing that it dates back to 1884 per the following newspaper article:

ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE
Friday February 10, 1893

Last Wednesday evening the Students Debating Club of Port Byron gave its ninth annual banquet at the hose house parlors. Members and guests to the number of about one hundred were present. Those who took part in the program were Robert L. Smith, Leslie Tanner, E. H. Kearns, Robert Takel Jr., Clyde Mitchel, Harry S. Vaughn, Fred J. Tanner, C. W. Armstrong, P. W. Grim, Frank Seymour, William Weston, S. V. Henry and Principal W. L. Harris of the academy.

Grocer James M Hearn

Digitized by William Hecht-Rootsweb
Home of James M Hearn
adjacent to the Port Byron High School

1939 PB Chron.

Then and Now

Many may enjoy seeing some photos of the past as compared to today

Then

Now

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Then

    

Now

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Lost Church

Many may remember attending school at this church.

Here is an earlier photo:

William Hecht Collection Rootsweb-digital enhancement by D Roe 

It's all about spelling

Just for fun I decided to see how many times I could find published material about Port Byron that contained a spelling error.  Much to my surprise, not only can I find such instances for our village here in NY, I can find the same for Port Byron, IL.

Many early works list us a Port Bryon!

Erie Canal Route

Annual Report of Social Welfare

Ever wonder what happened to that missing parcel of mail?  Maybe it was sent to Port Bryon!

Lyon's Postal Guide

The one I enjoyed the most was from the Huguenot Society where the Haddens are listed as being from Port Bryon and Port Byran on the same page!

National Huguenot Society Bible Records

Look closely at the Laws of the State of New York about our village name

Act confirming the election of officers

Did you notice Port Bryon and then Port Byron?