Sodus Bay Historical hires Lighthouse director

While a search committee was scouring the nation for a new director, Brad McCreary was almost within sight of the Lighthouse tower.

The Sodus Bay Historical Society appointed McCreary to be its director. He will work and live in the lighthouse/museum on North Ontario Street, Sodus Point.

After the former director retired last year, a search was started. During this time, McCreary, who was visiting his mother on South Shore Road in Sodus Point.

A neighbor suggested that he contact the Historical Society. McCreary describes himself as an Air Force brat, having grown up in Suffolk, England. He has a British accent and carries dual U.S./British citizenship. At age 39, he has lived in Texas, Palmyra, Cortland, and England.

He came to Sodus Point from Bourton-On-The-Water, County of Gloucester, England, where he was associated with the Cotsworld Motoring Museum and Toy Collection, serving 86,000 visitors a year.

(The Lighthouse at Sodus Point is Wayne County's largest and most photographed tourist attraction with some 10,000 visitors each season.)

Cotsworld is packed with memorabilia and has several cottages on site for rent, on the River Windrush. County Gloucester is museum paradise, listing no less than 28 museums.

McCreary assumed his new duties on April 1, and is busy preparing for the museum opening day, this Sunday, May 1. After that the museum will be open Tuesday through Sunday. An opening reception is scheduled for May 15.

The new director indicated that emotional attachments by museum members and volunteers are obvious. That is great, he said, as everyone has something to offer. McCreary plans to survey the entire collection, and show it all at one time or another.

'This museum needs to speak about itself, and how it fits into the broad history of Sodus Bay and the Great Lakes, he said, adding 'The bay was a haven then and people still seek refuge here for different reasons.'

With his expertise in art restoration, appraisal, museum collections management, and library work, and a goal to reach out to the young people, The Old Lighthouse Museum is again preparing for their annual opening with fresh ideas and a promising season. (Story and photo by John Zornow)

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