Our Hometown
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Marion Historian's 1998 report
Marion Boy and Girl Scout troops, with their dedicated leaders, came to visit the musuem beginning early in the year. In February, Gord and I and sister Barb DeWandel, started the month with a program on the Dutch and the Netherlands at the Pultneyville Historical Society "Dutch Treat" dinner. Wouldn't you know there was a young couple from Holland, now working at Xerox, in the audience? They complimented us, and Ellen and Ronnie Austen sent us colorful post cards for our collection when they traveled back home. On the 15th, I had the musuem open from 1 to 3 p.m. with a delightful Sunday afternoon
Tea Time. Delicious scones, walnut wedges and candied fruit accompanied the steaming cups
of tea, served in On the 12th of March, Wayne County Historians and Historical Society officers were invited to tour the newly-restored Book of Mormon Historic Publications Site in downtown Palmyra. The museum features replicas of the press Grandin and his pressmen used to print the "Book of Mormon." The print shop looked much like it did in 1830. On the 26th, we traveled to Sodus (Gord, Barb and I), to a gathering of the Sodus Go Getters. We enjoyed a wonderful Dutch dinner and, after our program, many asked when we were going to travel to the Netherlands! We are considering a trip in 2000. On the 31st, I conducted a Marion Historic Association meeting where volunteers came to be familiarized with the display and collections at the Marion Musuem with the prospect of becoming museum hosts in the future. Barbara and I made our yearly visit to Mrs. Donna Patrick's Home Economics Foreign Foods program. Barb made the Dutch Sugar Waffles and I offered the Soscyzen which are always readily consumed by the students (and some of the teachers, too, I might add).
I was contacted by Linda Miller and went to Newark for a program for the ARC. I dressed in costume as usual, and took cookies which were enjoyed. I showed a video of the Netherlands and answered their questions following the video. They looked over the display and were fascinated with the wooden shoes. Our son, Brian, and I went around Marion taking video of "Marion in the
Spring." We do get looks as I am driving slower and he has his head popping out of
the car's skylight. Quite a sight! We are videotaping different areas of Marion at the
different seasons of the year - for posterity. On Saturday This was the month that Chris Davis presented his program on Peppermint at the Association meeting. We have quite an extensive file on this interesting subject. In honor of the upcoming Memorial Day celebration, I helped Diane Van Lare decorate the Marion Library window with Service men's uniforms and memorabilia. These were from our wardrobe collections. On May 27, I traveled to Lyons to arrange a display about Marion at the Wayne County Musuem. I brought one of our lovely paintings of South Main Street, created for us by artist, Michelle Palmer of Palmyra. Scrapbooks and other photos and pictures filled out the display. On June 9, I was pleased to entertain 4 more separate groups of students from the Marion Elementary School. Lots of enthusiasm and questions. That was why our museum was established in February of 1976 - during our nation's BiCentennial and Marion's Sesquicentennial. On the 10th, I had a nostalgic display of "Printed Feed Sacks of the 1940's." Visitors reminisced about the pretty dresses and clothes they used to wear...creations of their mothers and grandmothers. Marion events are forever arising, such as the August open house at the Stanton Ag where the owner, Paige Stanton and his employees, held a seminar for dignitaries and farmers from around New York State. On the 12th, daughter, Sue, and I dressed in Dutch costume, held a program at the Armstrong Senior Living Center in Newark. All seemed interested and, since some residents were Dutch and had come from Holland, it made for an interesting afternoon's gathering. They also like the Dutch Almond and Speculaas Cookies. On September 22, I invited residents of the Drumlin Estates complex to my home for brunch and conversation. We had a grand time getting to know each other better. (Facilities are not conducive for entertaining large groups at the Marion Drumlin Estates recreation building.)
In October, I was one of many who attended the Marion Senior Citizen's noon pot luck dinner and program from the Wayne County Area Agency on Aging. A representative discussed the coming electric deregulation for Senior Citizens. These meetings are held twice a month at the Marion Fire Hall. On the 19th, Gord and I dressed in our Dutch costumes and presented a program at the Marion Museum for the Marion Historic Association titled "Dutch Days." We presented a quick and fun tour of the Netherlands. Did you realize that if you landed in Amsterdam there is no place you can't travel to in Holland in two and one half hours? On the 22nd, I traveled to the East Palmyra Christian School to visit the classrooms and to take pictures of the students in their Dutch costumes. These were loaned from my collection. November 6th was the 4th Grade program at the Marion Elementary School titled, "Three Sisters." Certain teachers in the Marion Elementary and High School forward information, thus informing the community of positive learning activities taking place. I occasionally take pictures to accompany the printed information.
On the following day, our Museum was open in conjunction with the other Wayne County museums under the direction of our County Tourism Office. Inquiries continue from local and Wayne County folks who are interested in borrowing our files for information on their special interests. I am always adding information such as clippings, pictures and videos to advance our already bulging files. Copyright © 1999 |
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1998 was routine and yet always something
new crops up to make life interesting.
delicate, decorated bone China cups. This repast was
accented with cinnamon sticks, lemon curd and clotted cream. My collection of tea balls
was admired by the guests.
On April 18, I had a beautiful display of
elegant dolls, lovingly created by Lucy Decker and Eunice Ellsworth of Marion. Included
were babies, chubby boys, pretty girls and elegant ladies. All the original outfits were
imagined and made by the doll makers, many valued over $200. Displays were shown at the
Marion Elementary School of the unique and outstanding projects prepared for the History
Janboree. I attended with the specific task of taking pictures of some of these clever
student's work. Many were sent on to the Wayne County exhibit.
evening,
May 2, I opened the Marion Musuem and served appetizers for the first stop of a
progressive supper arranged by the Marion Supper Club. By holding it at the musueum it
gave me the opportunity to show our displays and collections to guests who perhaps hadn't
visited before.
Marion's Festival was once again held in August. Even though it
ran for a two-day weekend, community groups were disappointed in the receipts, since there
were many outside vendors set up for the event.
My theme this year, for my annual Holiday "open
house" was "A Cup of Christmas Tea." I invited everyone to stop by, to tour
the Marion Museum and to chat while enjoying a steaming cup of Christmas tea. Dutch Sugar
Waffles and Walnut Wedges accompanied the delicious tea with some guests asking for the
recipes.