Hoffman awards announced

The Augustus L. and Jennie D. Hoffman Foundation announces the winners of the 2002 Hoffman Scholarship Essay Contest. This year's First Prize winner of a $4,000 scholarship is Nathan R. Drahms, a senior at Clyde-Savannah High School. Nathan's essay was titled, 'World War II - One Veteran's Story.' It is the story of the World War II experiences of Harold Secor of Savannah. The Foundation will also present Clyde-Savannah High School with a check for $350 as a way to honor the school that produced the winning paper.

Rachel Robbins, a senior at Palmyra-Macedon High School, was the Second Place winner of a $2,500 scholarship. Rachel's paper is titled, 'The Chilling Effect of Communism on Palmyra: 1950 -1965.'

Third Place winner of a $2,000 scholarship is Lisabeth Hoffman, a senior at Williamson High School with her paper, 'Koetsville - The Epicenter of a Community.'

Kris Young of Williamson High School won Fourth Prize with his paper, 'Hometown America Can Fight Too! Uncle Sam Needs Us.'

Fifth Prize was awarded to Kari S. Warner of Palmyra-Macedon High School for her paper, 'On With the Show'; and Sixth Prize went to Christopher McPherson, also of Palmyra-Macedon High School for his paper, 'Innocent; the Wrong Verdict - The Murder of Harry Sampson.'

Honorable Mention Awards were given to the following students:

• Rickie Wadsworth, Clyde-Savannah, for 'Clyde Village Park - A Communily's Heritage';
• Angie Perillo, Newark High School, for 'The Creation and History of the Wayne County Jail';
• Chad Edmonds, North RoseWolcott High School, for 'The Rockland Fruit Farm: A History';
• Toran D. Gordinier, North Rose-Wolcott High School, for 'Kuk Sool Won in Wayne County';
• Kristi Hill, Palmyra-Macedon High School, for 'Reasons for Rejection: An Inner Look as to Why Early Latter Day Saints Were Persecuted';
• Kathryn Russell, Palmyra-Macedon High School, for 'A Dying Fire: Wayne County's American Indian History';
• Taylor J. Delhagen, Williamson High School, for 'Not Merely A Race'; and
• Chelsea Manahan, Williamson High School, for 'Time and Technology: Rehousing the Williamson Fire Company, 1936 -1977.'

Augustus L. Hoffman was raised and educated in Newark and became a successful jeweler. Mr. Hoffman and his second wife, Jennie DeVall Holmes, had many interests and were great collectors. He was interested in woodcarving, tea roses and butterflies. He collected coins, stamps, and, of course, clocks. Mr. Hoffman's clock collection is now on display at the Hoffman Clock Museum, which is housed in the Newark Public Library. Mrs. Hoffman was also a collector, and part of her lustreware collection can be seen on display at the Clock Museum.

Mr. Hoffman died in 1945 at the age of 89 years, and Mrs. Hoffman died four years later. The Hoffmans gave a unique gift to Wayne County - one from which all residents continue to benefit. The Hoffman Foundation, created by the Hoffmans in their will and funded from the interest earned on their estate, is charged with two main tasks. First, it must care for and exhibit the clock collection of Mr. Hoffman. Secondly, it shall 'encourage research into historical and civic affairs of Wayne County'. That is why the trustees of the Hoffman Foundation established the Scholarship Essay Contest in 1954. Each year, Wayne County high school seniors are awarded scholarships as winners of this contest, which requires writing an original research paper on some subject dealing with historical or civic aspects of Wayne County.

Today, there are over 600 Hoffman Essays dealing with some aspect of Wayne County's history. They are an invaluable source of information on a variety of subjects. Complete sets of the Hoffman Essays can be found at the Wayne County Historian's Office, the Newark Public Library and the Sodus Public Library. Other local and high school libraries have copies of essays pertinent to their locale.

The three scholarship winners will be honored at the annual Hoffman Historical Awards Luncheon at the Newark Country Club on Monday, June 3. The Hoffman Foundation's T. Spencer Knight Historical Awards will also be presented at this time. This year's winners of the T.S.K. Historical Awards are Raymond Todd of Ontario and the Pultneyville Historical Society.

For more information on the Augustus L. and Jennie D. Hoffman Foundation and its programs or for luncheon reservations, contact Deborah Ferrell, Wayne County Historian, (315.946.5470.)

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