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.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

I've Been Working On The Railroad

When they say the best gifts come in small packages, it's true!

Today my nephew handed me an envelope containing something very special from my recently deceased brother Ray, known to many of us as Bub.

He once worked on the railroad, the same industry as our Grandfather Oliver B. Wilson who retired as a section foreman on the New York Central.  He lists many of the names of locals that he worked with and thought readers would enjoy a glimpse of Bub's reminiscences about these hard working days of his past.  Thank you Justin for this wonderful gift about your Dad's personal history.


Friday, April 26, 2013

Port Byron Telephone

Here's a vintage advertisement of the Port Byron Telephone Company as it appeared in the Port Byron Chronicle and Cayuga County News on Friday June 14, 1944.


Sunday, April 7, 2013

Reed GAR Post # 259 of Montezuma

The Reed GAR Post was likely named in honor of Pvt. Franklin Eli Reed, who died at Drewry's Bluff, VA.

Ancestry.com

The post was formed in 1882 with the first officers being installed by R.R. Stillwell of the Lockwood Post of Port Byron.  
fultonhistory.com

Weekly News and Democrat May 15, 1884
Weekly News and Democrat Auburn NY May 22, 1884
fultonhistory.com

Weekly News and Democrat June 4, 1885
fultonhistory.com
The Town Clerk register for soldiers who served in the Civil War indicates that Franklin was the son of Dr. Griffen Reed and Susan Bentley.  It is marked that he died in battle.  His mother applied for pension, at the time of the application her name was Susan Forshee.  The file does confirm that Pvt. Franklin Reed was "killed in action on May 16, 1864".

How long this post was active is not known.  There are only a few newspaper articles that acknowledge that the post even existed.  The New York State Archives in Albany has the Charter applications for most of the Posts for our State.

I was aware of the GAR Post in Weedsport and was thrilled to re-discover this additional GAR Post in Cayuga County.