The Big Springs Historical Society & Museum WinterFall 2005 2011

Local Undercover DEC Agent Helps Expose Slimy Underbelly in…

Operation Shellshock presented by DEC Lieutenant Richard Thomas On March 7, 2010, the Big Springs Museum community was treated to an inside look at New York’s largest and most successful undercover wildlife crimes operation ever undertaken. Dick Thomas, Caledonia resident and Lieutenant of the Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigations for Department of Environmental Conservation, presented “Operation Shellshock” to a packed house at the museum. Attendees of all ages listened with fascination as Lt. Thomas described the threats to our native reptiles and amphibians, including the black market trade. “Biodiversity is the variety of all living things on earth. It is the life system that we as humans are part of” said Lt. Thomas. “It is fundamental to our existence. Every living creature in each of the earth’s recognized biomes contributes in some significant way to the ecological systems of our planet, our individual health, and to the quality of our lives. They are critically important. And, they are under attack.” Lt. Thomas shared photographs of the targeted species while telling the audience about the three year undercover operation which he and fellow officers successfully carried out. The audience was also treated to “special guests,” the Spotted Turtles who came along. They were remarkably social and beautiful to see. The citizens of New York should be very proud of this state’s leading efforts to halt the trade of native species and international impact. Thanks to Operation Shellshock, these special creatures will remain for future generations to enjoy. Passing Time Winter 2011 Conserving A Precious Legacy We have completed a year-long Conservation Assessment Program (CAP). The project was funded with a $7,190 cooperative grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Heritage Preservation in Washington D.C., along with funds from the museum. The grant supported a two-day visit to our museum by conservation professional Ralph Wiegandt, Assistant Director of Conservation Education at George Eastman House, and architect John Bero, of Bero Associates in Rochester. Their visit included a general survey of our collection and our building, along with expert advice in caring for them. We were then provided detailed reports tailored to our unique challenges. A completed CAP will make the museum eligible for future grants. In advance of the visit, a 30-page questionnaire, completed by Jean Guthrie and Pat Garrett, provided our assessors with a sense of the collection and our building. Whew! Not an easy task for either of us! Our assessors then spent two very long days working alongside Pat, Jean, Sue Deragon, Sean Sullivan, and Don Pullyblank. As Ralph joyfully investigated storage spaces and exhibits in an effort to grasp the magnitude and diversity of hundreds of objects, John disappeared into the attic, basement, crawl spaces, and even the rooftop! He studied the museum’s original features, “reading the building” to our utter amazement, while noting some of the changes made since its construction in the early 20th century. Originally an addition to the Caledonia School, we were astonished to discover inherent design features which incorporated the movement of fresh air throughout the building, a progressive idea in education at the time. Working collaboratively on and off site, Ralph and John considered the challenges of housing fragile objects in an historic building intended to be a school. They examined current procedures and policies as well. Humidity, structural and historical integrity, light, and safety are all considerations that we must address while caring for the museum and its contents. The results of this project will help Open Letter to Keeper of the Vernal Ponds from us to ensure future survival. Thanks to Don Pullyblank and Sean Shelldon Shellback and the Entire Reptile Community Sullivan for taking time out of their day to help John gain access to the far corners of the building. Thanks to the Tuesday night Dear Lieutenant Richard Thomas, gentlemen for addressing several recommendations made by John Bero before we received the formal report. We thank you for keeping your promise, to keep us safe in our shells and our dens Professional Conservator Impressed that we may grow and live with Most people who come to our museum are very impressed by our New York reptile friends. our collection and the building that houses it. But, when Ralph Wiegandt says he’s impressed…well…that’s pretty amazing! Thanks to Operation Shellshock At a presentation following our annual meeting Ralph we will not be someone’s dinner extolled our agriculture collection, in particular, saying it and now that we are back in the wild rivaled that of the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan and the we have voted you a winner. Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.! What impressed Ralph most about our museum is the stories our objects tell of My name is Shelldon Shellback the people who once used them and of our community. He was I had to walk a mile happy to make some personal connections to objects in our to bring this award to you museum like the journal of Charles Mosier who, with a group that is sure to make you smile. of six other local men, decided to join the gold rush in the Klondike in the 1840s. Along with the journal, he discovered On behalf of all reptiles accompanying photos, digging tools, and even some nuggets in places high and low that were tested right there at our meeting with a XRF we honor you our scale-less friend (X-ray Fluorescence) device. Our collection is huge and we and hope that you will come again. continuously unearth new discoveries. For now we shall call you Turtle King, Snake Whisperer, Keeper of the Vernal Ponds and know you will keep us safe beside the reeds and fronds.

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Thank you to the following The Way I See It by Michael O’Hara organizations for their Snakes. Turtles. The thought of these animals make some people cringe. Others light generous and continuing up with thoughts of money. That’s right. The buying and selling of reptiles over the Black support of the Big Springs Market had become an quick and easy way to make a buck. Or fifty thousand. Until the Historical Society and DEC stepped in. Museum: People had been selling rare reptiles over the Black Market. Cute, interesting, small. The perfect pet to buy your daughter, right? Nope. These rare animals were beings • Alhart Funeral Home sold as food and exotic pets to collectors. Bought and sold at reptile conventions, and smuggled into other countries, these reptiles were being killed off in large numbers. The • Bakers Greenhouses DEC sent our very own Lt. Richard Thomas undercover for “Operation Shellshock.” He The Bank of Castile and his partner bought reptiles from many a creepy person, and worked vigorously for • three years. All of this work led to the inevitable arrest of many criminals who sold and • Caledonia War smuggled these animals. Veterans Memorial, Mr. Thomas came to the Big Springs Museum in March to talk about his successful Inc. mission. Making witty remarks throughout his excellent slide show, we were all being entertained and educated. We learned about the animals he helped save, and the people • Five Star Bank he arrested while doing so. The event was followed by refreshments, including another batch of specialty cookies baked by our own Mrs. Sue Deragon. Thank you Mr. Thomas! • Growmark FS, LLC Thank you also to… • Padgett Business Services �����Elke Phillips for agreeing to continue keeping us financially solvent and legal. Sickles Corp. �����Mary Thomas for her years of service on the Board. • �����Sue Deragon for staying on as President for one more year. • Thompkins Trust Company �����The Monday morning ladies who show up every week and are the “keepers of our collection,” among other things. • Wm. Hamilton & �����The Tuesday night guys who are the “keepers of our building.” (Pully, Jim, Sons, Inc. Paul, Dick) �����Vonnie Pullyblank for her hours and hours of data entry to get our collection on our computer. �����Patricia and Philip Parr who are photographing and describing each item in our collection so we don’t lose the stories that go with them. �����Jean Guthrie and Patty Far left: Patricia and Philip Parr; At Garrett who spend left: Patty Garrett; Above: Elke Phillips and Jean Guthrie. countless unpaid hours as the “keepers of our history.” 3 Passing Time Winter 2011 Big Springs Historical Society and Museum Blessed With the Gift of Grabb In September, Pat Garrett received a call from Cheryl Raymus asking if someone might be available to meet her at the museum as she wished to deliver a check in person. Pat, Sue Deragon and Jean Guthrie met with Cheryl and her husband Jerry and learned that the Big Springs Historical Society had been named as a beneficiary in the estate of Cheryl’s mother Jane Taylor Grabb. Sadly, Mrs. Grabb passed away unexpectedly in Florida on September 29, 2009. She was 85. Jane, the daughter of Harry and Frances Cameron Taylor, spent her childhood years living on Main Street in Caledonia. She later moved to the Midwest when her father changed jobs. Jane was very proud of her Scottish heritage and always remembered Caledonia with great fondness. She insisted that a portion of her estate support an organization dedicated to preserving its history. Cheryl described her mother as a vibrant, active woman who enjoyed playing golf, getting together with friends to play cards, and caring for her beloved Maltese, Chelsey. She enjoyed many years of excellent health and lived her life to the fullest. Her husband Arthur and her daughter Diane predeceased her. We are very grateful to Mrs. Grabb for her generous gift of $12,578. We wish she could know just how much this means to our organization. A gift of this nature is always bittersweet because it is accompanied by sincere sadness over the loss of someone special. We continue to send our heartfelt condolences to Jane’s family who we know miss her dearly. Thank you to Cheryl and Jerry for coming to the museum in person to deliver this wonderful gift on her behalf.

Hometown MCSI: Museum Crime Scene Holidays are Investigators “Deer” to us We have learned the hard way that spotlighting our collection may capture the attention of criminals as well as history lovers. After sending out publicity for last year’s annual meeting heralding the acquisition of a Civil War surgical set, the museum was the victim of a felony grade theft. The surgical set and numerous military objects including Nazi medals and a WWII German helmet, were brazenly taken from locked cases during museum hours. Roy and Michael Ortiz have been charged with this theft and others targeting small museums in the area. Thanks to Caledonia Police Department Officers Travis Gray and Ryan Sherman, most of the objects, including the surgical set, have been recovered. Livingston County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Geer also found fingerprints tying one of the suspects to the museum. Photographic records of objects have been sparse but, thankfully, casual photographs taken months before, along with detailed descriptions by middle school student Michael O’Hara, police were able to trace the objects to a pawn shop in Greece. Information about the theft was shared through the Museumwise listserve alerting other museums to be on guard. Thanks to the diligence of the Caledonia Police Department, and a bit of good luck, the end result was that we got our items back. Thanks to In October, money from the William Cox Fund were made available to install a Everyone Who sophisticated surveillance system in the museum. We hope there won’t be a next time, but we are now well prepared. It is unfortunate that precious funds, which could be used Made it a Success! for so many other projects, needed to be spent on security. Thanks to board member Sean Sullivan for overseeing this important security upgrade. 4 Passing Time Winter 2011 funded by the New York State Council for the Humanities…

Haudenosaunee Influence on Trunks and Travel Women’s Rights Movement In April, Sally Roesch Wagner, a scholar and Executive Director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation in Fayetteville, N.Y., spoke about the influence of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) on the evolution of women’s rights. Matilda Joslyn Gage and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, “the two major theoreticians of the early women’s rights movement, had direct knowledge of the Sally Roesch Wagner Haudenosaunee, writing about the superior social, political, religious, and economic status of women in the Iroquois nations.” Dr. Wagner demonstrated the ways in which the work of these early activists derived inspiration from their Haudenosaunee counterparts of gender balance and harmony. The question and answer part of the program was enlivened by the participation of three Native American friends who attended, one who was a member of the Tonawanda Nation. Their personal experiences brought interesting and candid contemporary perspectives on this aspect of women’s history.

In September, Mary Jeanne Bialas, a teacher and historian, presented a very entertaining program on “Trunks and Travel in the 19th Century.” The program tied in nicely with the museum’s multi-year textile conservation project. Bialas brought many examples of original costumes and cleverly targeted (ahem, “selected”) three members of the audience to become “travelers transformed.” Don Griffin, Wendy Benedict and another eager participant, were magically dressed in front We have begun work on restoring of a transfixed audience. Bialas’ sense of our upstairs to it’s original glory. humor, and her knowledge of 19th century Thanks to a group of about 20 societal rules and expectations were clear. volunteers, we began the process on As she closed the program the audience February 5 (at about 7 a.m.) by found themselves sitting in front of a fully tearing out the replacement ceiling dressed family ready for their travelling to expose the original tin ceiling. The project is organized by Jim adventure. Thanks to Wendy and Don and Phillips and Sean Sullivan. The the young lady for being such good sports! upstairs will be closed until we complete the messiest parts of this renovation. It takes a village… 5 Passing Time Winter 2011

Growing Up On Spring Creek by Donald Griffin

Please God, let me catch a fish. Please maps, read fishing books, and get my God, let me catch a fish. Please God, let equipment ready. As the day drew near, me catch a fish. I was about 10 years old, I would get more and more excited, attending Mass at St. Columba`s Catholic and on the eve of opening day I could Church one spring morning in the early hardly sleep! Opening day was also a 1960s. I wasn`t paying much attention to community event, with contests and what the priest was saying that day, but I prizes. was praying. Praying that I would catch my As the years went on, I expanded my first trout! Out in back of the church ran fishing range. When the Annin property Caledonia`s Spring Creek, a fishing stream was sold in the late 1960s, I was friends that any boy in America would have loved with the new owners, so I was able to to have grown up on. fish that section of the stream. To be My first memories of Spring Creek were able to fish and walk the grounds of that when I started playing little league baseball. famous property was a dream come true. Taking a break from the game on a hot I also spent a lot of time at the State summer day, us boys would run to the creek Board Member Donald Griffin graciously plays Fish Hatchery, gawking at the lunker his guitar at various museum events. Here he is at and cup our hands in the cold water for a fish in the tanks, and fishing the public our tea party. refreshing drink. It was all wooded around sections of the stream. Admittedly, as the stream back then, and with the rushing water and rapids, it mischievous boys sometimes do, I would sneak onto the hatchery seemed wild and exciting. The water was so clear you could easily grounds after hours and fish in the restricted areas. I was chased spot the fish, and the stream was alive with trout. They would be out by an employee one time, and that put an end to that. It was leaping and splashing about, hungry for food. all a great adventure, and part of growing up. I then moved on to As I ventured to the creek more and more, I would observe the fishing in the Mumford area and Oatka Creek. The great outdoors older boys and men fishing, and they were always catching fish. and the fishing opportunities seemed endless. I would run over to see someone`s catch when I could, and they My greatest memories as a boy were fishing on Spring Creek. I would show me a beautiful trout. I was hooked (so to speak). I can`t help but think of Robert Redford`s movie “A River Ran soon acquired my own fishing gear, and I was on my way. I started Through It”, and think of Caledonia and say “A Creek Ran fishing, as most boys did, with a worm on a hook. It took awhile, Through It”. The friends I made fishing, and the good times we but I eventually started catching some trout. When I caught a had were priceless! I also can`t help but feel a little sadness at the particularly large one, I would proudly take it home to show it off. condition of Spring Creek these days. A large number of the trees I learned how to clean them, and my mother would cook them up along the banks were cut down. In many areas the stream has for me. filled in with silt, and the water has spread out over it`s original I can vividly remember many of the fish I caught as a boy, and channel, becoming shallow. What was once waist deep water is the circumstances that surrounded them. For example, the only now ankle deep. The numbers of trout have greatly diminished, wild rainbow trout I ever caught in the creek happened around as well as their size. I would hope someday a restoration could be the same time there was a large meteorite shooting across the done, to bring back some of the glory to this famous stream. sky, which could be seen in the daylight! When I caught my first Thinking back to that spring morning at Church so long ago, I`ll brook trout, I wasn’t sure what it was at the time – I had only never forget what happened later in the day. That very afternoon caught brown trout up until then. Of course, I can’t forget the while fishing a worm underneath the railroad bridge near Mill St., ones that got away. The big ones I hooked but couldn’t land. I I felt a tug on my line, and reeled in my first trout. My prayers eventually moved on to spin fishing, where you use small lures had been answered! to entice the trout. I became an expert at it, and had no problem catching many trout in a day of fishing. I had the bragging rights of being the best fisherman among my friends. We welcome your own personal stories and memories of Caledonia and Back then, April 1 was the opening day for trout fishing. All Mumford. Please email them to [email protected] or winter I would dream and plan for that special day. I would make mail them to the museum at PO Box 41, Caledonia NY 14423. Don’t forget to include your contact information. 6 Passing Time Winter 2011

Kindergarteners Take a Look Back

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Have a Cuppa Tea! Compassion The BSHS held its semi-annual Afternoon Tea Fundraiser at the Big Springs Museum last May 15. The old school rooms were Constructed transformed into beautiful dining establishments once again by the venerable BSHS volunteers. Pat Garrett’s flowers, tablecloths and the borrowed teapots and cups of many members lent a sense of gentility to the festivities. Once again, guests were treated to steaming cups of tea, small party sandwiches, and delicious dessert morsels for their enjoyment. A highlight of the event was the entertainment provided for the benefit of the guests. The BSHS singers, led by board member Don Griffin on the guitar, sang verses to the 1972 folk-rock song, “Have a Cuppa Tea”. The Afternoon Tea In October, the Fundraiser made a modest profit, but perhaps more importantly museum provided a amused and warmed the hearts of our wonderful members. venue for artist and wood sculptor Jerry Alonzo’s project, “The Art of Compassion.” The installation was funded through an Individual Artist Grant awarded by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts, a re-grant agency of the New York Council for the Arts. Alonzo’s idea emerged out of the belief that true compassion comes from really looking and listening, and respect for the Golden Rule. Alonzo solicited over 300 personal definitions of compassion, using 25 words or less, and engraved the words on tiles. He installed the tiles on columns which delineated a room with benches inside for rest and reflection. The exhibit brought many new visitors to our museum who were amazed to discover such a place in Caledonia. Thanks to Pat Garrett and her volunteers for rearranging their schedules to staff the extended exhibit hours. We were proud to host such a meaningful project.

8 Passing Time Winter 2011 Thank You to the Following 2010 Members and New 2011 Members For Their Support (as of January 31, 2011) Ackerson, Anne W...... Honorary Cesarano, Mary T...... Senior Freeman, James & Lynne...... Silver Ackerman, Betty A...... Senior Chapman, Cliff and Barb...... Family Ganzhorn, Sr., Barry A...... Senior Alhart, Ellen...... Silver Clary, June P...... Senior Gardner, Mrs. Helen...... Senior Alhart, Maureen...... Gold Clary, Kevin R...... Platinum Garrett, Alan and Pat...... Gold Ancker, Wally and Sandy...... Family Clary, Stephen...... Family Geer, Betty...... Individual Andaloro, MD, William S...... Individual Cohen, Dennis S. and Michelle A..... Platinum Geer, Meg and Kevin...... Family Anderson, Helen...... Senior Connor, Greg and Valerie...... Family Gilbert, Catherine...... Senior Anderson, Ronald...... Individual Coppini, Peter and Pearl...... Family Gleason III, George G...... Silver Anderson, Timothy E...... Individual Corsi, Cheryl R...... Senior Goodrell, Guy I...... Individual Angell, Cathy...... Individual+ Coyle, Ruth...... Senior Goodwin, Polly and Bob...... Family Antinore, Frank and Marion...... Silver Cripps, Ernest E...... Senior Grant, Margaret B...... Senior Ayers, David and Aileen...... Gold Crunden, C. Joan...... Silver Grattan, Robert and Evelyn...... Family+ Bailey, Dale J...... Senior Cullinan, Mary V...... Senior Gray, Kathleen and Roger L...... Family Baker , Eric and Jane...... Gold+ Cunningham, Donald J...... Senior+ Griffin, Donald E...... Individual Baker , Mary Ann...... Senior Daley, Nancy...... Gold Gross, Vickie P...... Senior Baldeck, Edith...... Senior+ D’Angelo, Victoria...... Senior+ Growmark FS, LLC, ...... Platinum Baldeck, Robert J...... Senior Daniell, R. S. Skelly and F. Dick...... Family Guthrie, Elizabeth ...... Individual Ball, John and Judy...... Silver Davis, Jake and Debbie...... Family Guthrie, Marian...... Platinum Banks, Audrose M...... Senior Davis, Stacie Stone...... Individual Guthrie, Sean Sullivan and Jean...... Platinum Barefoot, Jon and Elizabeth...... Family Day, Terry L...... Family Hamilton, John...... Individual+ Barton, Marnie...... Senior Dearcop, William and Elaine...... Gold Hamilton, Tom & Mary C...... Family Benedict and Family, Wendy...... Family Denoon, Betty ...... Honorary Hanna, Jane...... Family Bernard, Eveline M...... Senior Deragon, Jeffery and Susan...... Platinum Hare, Nancy...... Gold Bickford, Eileen LaFave & Barry...... Family DeRoos, Diane W...... Senior Harmon, Madelyn...... Platinum+ Bickford, Richard and Sharon...... Family Dinolfo, David V...... Family Harris, Karen P...... Silver Bickford Family, The...... Family Dintruff, Tom and Loretta...... Platinum Hartford, Gretchen & Gary...... Family Bills, Diane P...... Family Dolan, Martha...... Senior Hartness, Charles & Kathleen...... Family Blazejewski, Ron and Bev...... Family+ Dollard, Jim and Anne...... Family Harvey, Scott and Joan...... Platinum Boscoe, Steve and Debbie...... Gold Donegan, Terry and Meg...... Silver Hassett, Robert & Patricia...... Family Bostwick, Germaine L...... Senior+ Doolittle, Ruth...... Senior Heffer, James and Dorothy...... Family Brown, Kathleen...... Individual Downey, Carol A...... Senior Henry, Gordon F...... Senior Brown, Robert A...... Gold Dutton, James & Victoria...... Silver Henry, James D...... Individual Brown, V. Anne...... Senior Ebersole, Mr. and Mrs. David...... Family Herman, Elaine...... Senior Brunettes, The...... Family Eichenberger, Joyce and David...... Family Heuer, Dr. and Mrs. Gary...... Silver Burk, Patrick and E. Jane...... Family Emery, Joe and Gerry...... Family Hickey, Patrick and Shannon...... Family Burt, Amy & Phil...... Family Estes, Bob & Sally...... Family Hilliard, Sally M...... Platinum Byam, Mary...... Individual Estes, Kenneth & Elizabeth...... Family Holden, W. C...... Senior Caledonia War Vet. Memorial, Inc., .Platinum Fairbrother, Kathy and Matt...... Gold Howlett, Bonnie...... Gold+ Callan, Tucker...... Individual+ Fili, Elizabeth...... Senior Hyde, Gail...... Silver Callan & Fam., Mark & Veronica...... Family Fisher, Darlene...... Individual Irving, Barbara...... Senior Caluorie, Barbara A. and Joseph A...... Family Fisher, Marilyn and Dick...... Gold Jackson, James E...... Silver Cappotelli, Martha...... Platinum Fitzgibbon, Thomas J...... Platinum Jake, Karen...... Senior Carnes, Greg and Sharlene...... Family Fletcher, Dorothy Grant...... Senior Johnson, Paul...... Senior Carnes, Jenell...... Senior Flint & Family, Nicole & Steven...... Family Johnson, V. Craig and Patricia A..... Platinum+ Carpenter, Marjorie...... Senior+ Flynn, Larry and Janet...... Platinum Jones, Laurel M...... Individual Carpenter, Susanne...... Individual Franke, David L...... Individual continued… Carson, Sue...... Family Fraser, Robert S...... Gold 9 Passing Time Winter 2011

Memberships continued…

Jones, Marjorie A...... Gold McCreedy, John and Lorie...... Silver Quackenbush, Dennis and Mary...... Silver+ Jones, Nancy...... Individual+ McEwen, Margaret and Abby...... Family Raymond, John...... Silver Joy, Charles and Carolyn...... Silver McGinnis, Bill and Mary Ann...... Family Raymond, Mr. & Mrs. Paul...... Silver Kaminski, Larry and Lisa...... Family McGinnis, Robert J...... Senior+ Raymus, Cheryl...... Senior Keefe, Patrick M...... Gold McGlasson, Frank and Betty...... Gold Reed, Janet E...... Family Keenan, Elizabeth D...... Senior McGrath, Jr., Robert E...... Senior Reeves, David R...... Family Keenan, Gladys...... Senior+ McQuaig, Wallace...... Family+ Reeves, Maureen...... Silver Keenan, John and Pat...... Senior McQuilkin, Bill and Karen...... Family Reid, Mary and Andrew...... Family Keenan, Martha and Mel...... Family Mead, Jeff and Pat...... Family Ridley, Jackie...... Family Kelly, Mark and Rene...... Platinum Mead, Karen and Michael...... Family Robin, Helena Bass...... Family Kemnitz, Michael and Kathy Jo...... Silver Micheaux, Maxine...... Senior Robinson, Joan and Charlie...... Silver King, Jon and Julia...... Family Miller, Jack...... Senior Rodgers, Anne...... Senior Kingston, Maureen...... Senior Mitchell, Joan F...... Senior Roggen, Allen and Patricia...... Family Koch, William H...... Silver Molisani, Bob and Julie...... Family Roll, Margaret...... Family Kohl, Alice...... Senior Monacelli, Mike and Darcy...... Family Romano, Michael A...... Gold Koppe Family, Bruce ...... Family Montalbano, Brenda & Tony...... Family Root, Lou and Karen...... Family Kruchten, Judy, Fritz and Joanne...... Family Mooney, Mary E...... Senior Rothrock, James and Doris...... Family+ Kuhn, David A.,...... Donor Morey, Frances...... Senior Rountree, Mr. & Mrs. Patrick...... Silver Ladd, Tina...... Senior Muchmore, William B...... Individual+ Rowlinson, Jack...... Gold LaFave, Marjorie...... Individual Murphy, Michael and Kristin...... Family Rubenstein, Elizabeth...... Individual Landowski, Marjorie...... Family Nailos, Jim and Peggy...... Family Runfola, Mari...... Family Lathan, Dolores...... Senior Nailos, Mary Ann...... Platinum+ Rychlicki, Stanley E...... Senior Layland, Jim and Grace...... Gold Nelson, Brenda and James...... Family+ Sackett, Joyce S...... Senior Leupold, Maureen and Steve...... Gold+ Nichols, Charles & Edna...... Family Sandvik, William and Sharon...... Family Lidstone, Gwendoline E...... Family Nichols, Michael J...... Family Santora, Sally...... Honorary Limner, Karl E...... Senior + Norris, Linda...... Honorary Schirmer, Mary A...... Senior+ Lofgren, Paul F. and Barbara...... Family Nothnagle, Thomas E. and Polly...... Family+ Schrier, Paul S. and Helen L...... Platinum Loomis, Gary and Linda...... Family Nusbickel, David and Carol...... Gold Schroth, Craig and Nancy...... Family Ludlum, Roger and Gladys...... Family O’Brien, Maureen Freeman...... Silver Schumaker, Joan M...... Silver Lynn, Harold and Priscilla...... Family Ochs, Aneta B...... Senior Schweichler, Laurence & Judith...... Family MacIntyre, Patricia...... Individual O’Donoghue, James and Carole...... Family Scott, Carolyn L...... Senior MacKay, Aileen...... Senior Offen, Carl and Judy...... Family Shaughnessy, Thomas & Phyllis...... Family Mallaber, Karen...... Senior Outterson, The Rev. & Mrs. H...... Family Shaw, George and Kathryn...... Gold Manley, Don and Jeanne...... Senior Pangrazio, Dan and Roxanne...... Family Sheffer, Robert J...... Family Manley, Floyd & Sandra ...... Family Parnell, Mr. and Mrs. Francis...... Family+ Sickles, Alan and Laurelie...... Family Manley, Marie C...... Senior Parr, Mr. & Mrs. Philip...... Silver Sickles, Harold and Mary...... Family Manning, James and Molly...... Family Pawlik, Diane and Tom...... Family Sickles, John A...... Individual Marble, Don and Karen...... Family Peckham, Nancy Emens...... Silver Sickles, Mr. & Mrs. Robert F...... Silver Martin, Barbara W...... Individual Perry, Mary Ellen...... Honorary Sickles Corp., ...... Silver Martin, Bonnie Boorman...... Silver Pettersen, Rich and Judy...... Gold Sims, Tom and Carole...... Platinum Martin, Mrs. Helen...... Platinum+ Phillips, Jim and Elke...... Platinum Skivington, John F. & Cathy S...... Gold Martin, Shannon...... Individual Pitt, Jody...... Senior Skivington, Mrs. Nancy...... Senior Matthews, Carol...... Silver Plum, Bob and Kathy...... Platinum Slack, Maria W...... Senior Mattice, Jr., Kenneth and Barbara A...... Family Pospesel, Betty S...... Senior Slocum, Augustus J...... Senior McClenney, Betty...... Senior+ Price, Tom and Robin...... Gold Smith, Guendolen S...... Senior McClenney, Kelley...... Individual Pullyblank, Bob and Betty Jane...... Family Smith, Joan and Kathy...... Family McCombs, Dolores M...... Senior Pullyblank, Donald E. and Vonnie...... Family Smith, Jr., Silas W...... Platinum 10 Passing Time Winter 2011

Employers Matching Funds (2010) Somers, Joe and Lyn...... Family Spagnola, Lorie...... Senior • Dell Direct Giving Campaign (via Mary Ann Nailos) Spencer, Sue and Steve...... Family Spicer, Thomas and Elaine...... Family • Reitt Management & Research Co. (via Alan Garrett) Stalica, Thomas E. and Karen H...... Gold • WNY Empire Storage (via Gary and Linda Loomis) Stanewitz, John and Phyllis...... Family+ Steedman, Connie ...... Senior Stein, Blanche and Paul E...... Gold+ Individual Gifts for 2010 Stettinius, Eileen...... Individual Stoddart, William W. and Sara M...... Gold • Ralph Wiegandt (Environmental Monitors) Stone, Armada C...... Senior Stone, David and Pauline...... Senior • Elke & Jim Phillips (Partially Underwriting Textile Project) Stryker, Richard and Sandra...... Family Sullivan, Jerry...... Family Szczech, Bruce and Judy ...... Gold Taggart, Barbara and Doug...... Family In Memoriam Taillie, Elizabeth...... Honorary Taylor, Evelyn...... Senior The following individuals are sadly missed by many. All hold a special Taylor, Margaret L...... Senior place in our history and in our hearts. Thomas, Dick and Margaret...... Gold Thomas, Dick and Mary...... Family Eileen V. Alhart Bernard W. Hayward Tiberio, Helen...... Individual Donald E. Baldeck Donald Jones Torre, TJ and Kim...... Family Ruth V. Benedict Carol J. Limner Trojanski, Mara L...... Individual Ulatowski, Tom and Sue...... Family Norma R. Cunningham Bruce MacIntyre Vogt, Eileen...... Family Paul L. Day Robert W. Martin, Jr. Vokes, Jim and Jean...... Family William Donegan Thomas E. Martin Volkman, Rose...... Silver Waldron, Lois...... Gold Jane T. Grabb Charles E. Matthews Walter, Dianne and Jerry...... Family Don Hare William Skivington Ward, III, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W...... Family+ Watson, Patricia...... Gold John R. Harmon Grace Sullivan Weber, Annabelle B...... Senior James D. Harrigan Webster, Paul,Cindy,Hannah,& Abby...Family Westfall, Laura...... Family Whiting, Marybeth and Michael...... Gold+ Wilcox, Elizabeth...... Individual Memorials Were Gratefully Wilkins, Richard and Joanne J...... Family Willard, Lynn L...... Individual Received In 2010 For… Wilson, Lewis & Ida...... Family Wm. Hamilton & Son, Inc., ...... Gold Robert J. Bostwick © Jane T. Grabb © Wood, Susan...... Individual © Woodgate, Beverly...... Individual John R. Harmon Fiona Maruska Yount, Terrance J...... Silver

11 Big Springs Historical Society & Big Springs Historical Society & Museum Museum; www.bigspringsmuseum.org 3095 Main Street 2010 Officers: PO Box 41 Caledonia, New York 14423 President Susan Deragon Vice-President Meg Donegan Treasurer Karen Stalica Chief Financial Officer Elke Phillips Secretary Martha Cappotelli Curator Patty Garrett Program/Grants Jean Guthrie Docents Lois Waldron and Mike LaFave

Board Members: Ellen Alhart / Sue Carson / Dick Fisher / Donald Griffin / Jean Guthrie / Rene Kelly / Diane Pawlik / Sean Sullivan / Judy Szczech

Museum Hours Sundays 1-4 p.m.; Mondays 9-noon or by appointment Call 538-9880 or email at [email protected] with questions or for information. Letters Home In anticipation of a future exhibit, we are seeking correspondence (letters, vmail, postcards, etc.) from local service members (both past and present and including men and women) who represent all branches of the military. Our objective is to use personal letters, telegrams etc. to interpret the experience of being away from home while in service to one’s country. Military service is a unique experience which always involves leaving the familiar, perhaps for the first time. Often it involves being placed in harm’s way. The experience can be frightening, lonely, boring and gut wrenching. Perhaps one entered service willingly and patriotically. For many African Americans who grew up in Caledonia, their time in the military was their first encounter with segregation. When a draft was imposed during the Vietnam War, some of the nation’s youth were deeply opposed to serving for a cause they disagreed with. Despite this, thousands served and died in the foreign jungles of South East Asia. We hope hearing these stories, in the words of writers, will help us understand the sacrifices made by our service men and women in a very personal way. We would be very happy to copy your treasured correspondence and return them to you. If you have questions or ideas, about this project, please feel free to contact us. There’s a Big Problem With Our Brick Walk… Please Help!!! Don’t worry, the bricks themselves are fine. But we are striving to be a museum about stories. Your stories. And, although the bricks are lovely, we are hoping to get the stories of the people behind them. Below is a great example of what we are looking for. Although most of your stories, we presume, will be about your own family, those stories are so very important to have.

There is a brick in the brick walk at the Pioneer Street entrance to the Big Springs Museum inscribed “In Memory of General Geo. C. Marshall”. Gen. Marshall was a US Army General and U.S. Army Chief of Staff during WWII. From 1947-1949 he was U.S. Secretary of State and from 1950-1951 Secretary of Defense under President Harry S. Truman. It was Gen. Marshall who proposed the European Recovery Act in 1947. That act was later known as the Marshall Plan. In 1953 Gen. Marshall received the Nobel Peace Prize. Gen. Marshall was a native of Pennsylvania. So why is there a brick in his memory in the brick walk of the Big Springs Museum? The brick was donated by Elke Phillips, Big Springs Museum volunteer. Elke was born in Germany during WWII. Her family benefited directly from the Marshall Plan. She is forever grateful for the humanity and vision of Gen. Marshall. Please mail or email your Brick Story to us, along with your contact information. Help us to get your stories told.