Museum tour for homeschoolers

A tour for homeschooled students will be held on August 29, from 10-noon. Children over 6 years old will be welcomed to the Old Jail Museum, promptly at 10, and divided into groups to tour the former Wayne County Jail, attached sheriff's home, and two-story barn.

The Wayne County Old Jail Museum is housed in what was once the Wayne County Jail on 21 Butternut Street, Lyons. From 1854 through 1960, the 9 by 4 by 7 cells of the jail held the infamous, like convicted murderer William Fee (the only person ever to be executed in the Wayne County Jail) and notorious train robber Oliver Curtis Perry, and the more common criminals, train riders, drunks and petty thieves.

In 1961, the empty jail and attached sheriff's residence became home to the Wayne County Historical Society and was filled with permanent and temporary exhibits that display examples of life in early Wayne County, New York. Some of the permanent exhibits include a 19th century kitchen, a child's bedroom, a general store, a Civil War room, a Native American Room, and exhibits on the Erie Canal, spinning and weaving, transportation, blacksmithing, glass and pottery, farming, ice harvesting, maple sugaring, Hotchkiss Peppermint, woodworking, leather-smithing, coopering, and lighting.

After the tour, parents will have the opportunity to obtain a schedule of homeschool classes for the 2003/2004 year or sign their child up for classes.

Registration is required for this free event. Call 946.4943, Monday to Friday 10 to 4 amd weekends noon to 4.

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