Arcadia Historical Society

Newark-Arcadia
Historical Society
120 High Street, Newark, New York 14513
Founded 1992
315-331-6409
Museum Hours: Saturdays, 1-3 p.m.
Other times by chance or appointment
arcadiahistory@peoplepc.com

OFFICERS
President - John Zornow Vice President - Mary Smith		Secretary - Dawn Jendrick Treasurer - Gil Lewis
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Margaret Beale Chris Davis Susie Earl Judith Harrington	Rich Holdridge Cynthia Russell Don Schlitz Jane Kiernan	David Stiles Maurice Strobridge Bill VerDow Karen Watson Kurt Werts
Executive Director: Chris Davis (331-4078)

Black History Month - NOAH ENNELLS, EX-SLAVE & CIVIL WAR SOLDIER
Buried, North Main Street Cemetery

I am, probably, the only person born in slavery to be buried in this cemetery. My name was Noah Ennells and I was born in Virginia about 1836. At an early age, my mother and I were sold to a man known to his neighbors as "Blackhead Bill" Lecount, a drinking man, who was rough on his slaves. My master, being in debt, I expected every day to be sold.

In 1855, when I was about 19 years old – I never knew exactly when I was born – I decided to escape from my unhappy bondage. I had many narrow escapes from capture and death. Many hardships were suffered as I traveled by night, sleeping under leaves in the woods during the day. I was finally taken in hand by the "Underground Railroad." I never saw or heard from my mother again.

I finally reached Canada and spent about a year near Niagara Falls. When I felt it was reasonably safe to do so, I returned to the United States, going first to Clifton Springs, then to Lyons, where I worked at the old Graham Hotel.

In 1865, I came to Newark where I was employed for the remainder of my life – 34 years – at the hardware store of Miller & Cronise on Main Street. I also acted as a servant in the home of Joseph A. Miller, senior partner in the hardware and son of Newark’s founder. During Maj. Miller’s last illness, I was the only one he allowed to care for him. He died in my arms. The Miller home was on Main St. It was torn down in 1922 to make way for the Capitol Theater. My home was on Siegrist St.

I was married twice. My first wife, Mary, died in 1885. I later married Susan Jackson, of Brockport, who died in 1901. She is buried beside me.

I died July 13, 1909 of heart failure. I was about 73 years old but had worked all that day, as usual. My newspaper obituary called me "one of our best known, most highly respected and most interesting men." My gravestone reads, "An ex-slave. An honorable man."

The new exhibit will be on the Erie Canal, and should be a good one. The Exhibits committee has been meeting to plan things. If you have some items to loan or donate for the exhibit, please contact us. The grand opening will be June 13^th, and will run through April 1^st, 2009. We can use good photos, maps, paintings, and any other artifacts.

While some museums close for the winter, the Newark-Arcadia Museum remains open every Saturday! We hope our hours (1:00-3:00 p.m.) are convenient for you to visit. We’ll gladly open any time by request. Give us a call!

Things are far from slow this time of year. The Winter Lecture Series has started, with additional programs that will take us into spring. About six committees meet regularly, including the House Tour, exhibits, Capital Improvements, Schoolhouse, membership, and the Newark Book. Othrs meet less regularly.

We have about 20-25 active museum docents. This group is very important to the museum. Occasionally, the docent will get a short-notice call to work, and it is very pleasing when the response is usually "yes, be glad to!"

I know I’m quite proud of our healthy membership numbers. I counted 55 current Life members. Not bad. Also impressive are the number of our Sustaining members. The excitement of a new exhibit, and the annual meeting, and special programs will be something to look forward to this spring!

Chris Davis, Director of The Newark-Arcadia Historical Society, welcomed everyone to the general membership meeting at 7:34 pm. He began by passing around a docent sign-up sheet.

Gil gave a Treasures report. As of today we have $9,717.91 in funds, other than the Endowment fund. We have $1000 in bills to pay this month. One half of the ramp is paid for. About $7000 is owed when the job is completed. Two hundred eighty-four reminder membership letters have been sent. One hundred twenty-four have been returned, totalling $2,947 in dues. Of these, nine have been sustaining members, four businesses, and one life member with the balance being family memberships. Twenty-nine donations were made to the building fund totaling $912. Gil stated that this would be his last report as Treasurer. "It has been a pleasure". John Harris will take over for him. Chris thanked both Gil and Mary, who assists him with a lot of his work.

Chris reported on the following old business: The Cemetery Walk went well. The actors were tremendous. It did rain, but we got through it. The next walk, in two years, will be held again in the East Newark cemetery. Thank you to Kimberlee Meeks for her work as the chairperson. The Oscar Anderson Art Show went over well. One hundred people were in attendance. Oscar was thrilled. In May or June the Wayne Arts Council will host another show. There has not been to much work done on the ramp project, due to the weather, but things are coming along. Fifteen photographers have submitted photos for the Day in the Life. The photos will be on display once they have been judged. A suggestion was made to do this contest on a seasonal rotation.

Chris thanked the decorating committee for getting the decorating done by the open house. We have a 1950’s aluminum tree in the 50’s corner.

Chris reported on the following new business: The winter lecture series will begin the end of January and run through March. John Zornow will be reviewing the Newark in 1942 video. Carol Adriaansen will talk about Sears houses. Tim and Ann Johnson will talk about their trip to Israel. Chet Peters will speak on the Underground Railroad. The current exhibit will be up until April. The next exhibit will be on the Erie Canal. If anyone has any items to loan please let Chris know.

Mary Smith introduced the guest speaker, Jim Bush. He is a graduate from Newark. He now lives in Macedon. He is a member of the historical society. He has been a professional magician since 1981. In the past he was a Ronald McDonald clown. He writes for the paper and has a radio show for kids. For over a half an hour Jim entertained us with humor and magic tricks. He told stories, jokes and made us laugh.

Winter arrived abruptly this year, forcing the work on the sidewalks, front steps and ramp to cease until better weather. Work resumed in January for four days, which was enough time to complete the sidewalks (except for the last 20’ on Mason St.) Plans have changed in regard to the ramp. The ramp will now be located on the side entrance (Mason St.) which was a far more reasonably-priced option. The front steps are ready to go with all materials on site once the weather breaks.

We appreciate the donations made so far. We can, however, use your support with donations to the Ramp and/or building fund. Many thanks in advance.

A future author, Cindy Fahnestock, of Baltimore, visited the museum on Jan. 19^th. Cindy is researching Home Decorators, Inc., which sold Russel Wright designed products. This company was a part of C.H. Stuart’s Commercial Enterprises.

We’re looking for information on Home Decorators, especially in regard to Russel Wright wares. Any former employees, who might want to share stories or information, please contact the museum. We will put you in touch with the author. Thank you.

The Newark-Arcadia Historical Society’s A Day in The Life of Newark & Arcadia Photo Contest was held on October 13, 2007. Eleven photographers submitted 40 photographs in the third year of the contest.

The judge for the contest was artist Wayne Williams, of the Wayne County Council of the Arts. The winners are as follows:

All of the photographs (8x10) will be on display at the Newark-Arcadia Museum, 120 High St., in the near future. Hours are Saturdays from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. and admission is free.

Congratulations to the winners. Thanks to all who participated. This year’s photo contest will be held in a different season and will be announced.

Peter Evans, Wayne Co. Historian presents "The Underground Railroad in Wayne County" at the Wolcott Civic Free Library on Monday, February 11 at 7:00 p.m.

Thanks to those who helped get the Dec. newsletter ready for mailing: Marian Maxwell, Dorothy DeMay, Gil & Mary Lewis. Any many thanks to Barbara Meeks for all she does as editor – design, photographs, articles and more.

Thanks to the Arcadia String Quartet who performed during the December 2^nd open house; Marg Barclay, Mary Smith, Bob Wadsworth & Deborah VanRiper. Thanks to all, the Schoolhouse bake sale bakers.

Thanks to artist and member Wayne Williams, of Wayne Arts on W. Miller St., for judging the 2007 Photo Contest recently.

Thanks to the museum docents on Saturdays since Dec. and the open house: Don Combes, Chris Davis, Dorothy DeMay, Bill Doebler, Isabel & Hank Gadjo, Pat Gorthy, Judith Harrington, Lorrain Healy, Rich Holdridge, Jane Kiernan, Barbara Meeks, Cindy Russell, Don Schiltz, Mary Smith, Karen Vanderbrook, Karen Watson & John Zornow.

Thanks, to those generously donating local artifacts since Dec.: Roger Allerton, Jim & Margi Beale, Albert Colacino, Betty Colasurdo, Don Combes, Helen Combes, Chris Davis, Dorothy DeMay, Gloria & Anthony DeStaffan, Hazel Herdman, Kathryn Hurley, Patti Kaupp, Newark Masonic Lodge, Newark Public Library, Frank Russell, William & Carol Scheetz, John Side, Mary Smith, St. Mark’s Church, Tuesday Club, Esther VanSchaffel, Karen Watson & John Zornow.

The 2008 Winter Lecture Series began on Jan. 26^th with N-AHS President John Zornow presenting and narrating the immortal "Newark in 1942" film. Some 20-25 people attended.

Look for a few more special programs in April & May, possibly including the documentary "Spiritualism: The Fox Sisters", the Japanese film on Spiritualism (in Japanese), Charles Jackson’s "The Lost Weekend", and more.

Might we have discovered the earliest known bottle from Newark? It certainly is a good possibility! A 14-sided clear glass apothecary jar was recently found with its original paper label printed "T.F. HORTON, DRUGGIST, ARCADIA, NEW YORK". It also has "Epsom Salt" written in pencil. The jar is large, measuring 9 ¾" h. and 4 ¾" wide. It once had a tin lid as a closure.

This probably dates to the first years of the drug store owned by Theodore F. Horton. It was located in the historic East Newark business block, still standing. Horton opened the drug store in 1854.

The Village of Arcadia (formerly known as Lockville) became incorporated with the larger village of Newark in 1853. The label uses the name Arcadia, which dates this item to sometime in the 1850s.

In 1875, Horton and his borther, James S. Horton, began an extract business that would survive into the 1920s. Extracts were used for both flavoring (lemon, etc.) and as a medicine (Jamaica Ginger). T.F.

Horton’s drug store would close in 1898. Theodore Horton was included in last fall’s Historic Cemetery Walk, played brilliantly by Cynthia Pitts.

Look for information on the location and guest speaker in the Newark Courier Gazette and the April N-AHS newsletter.

We have a sidewalk! The completion of about 90% of the walks occurred in January. The main entrance to the museum continues to be the side door on Mason St. until the front steps are done. Until then, remember to sign the guest book and patronize the gift shop in the front entrance vestibule.

The Holiday Open House was up against some very wintry weather on Dec. 2^nd. Those visitors who braved the elements enjoyed the Arcadia String Quartet, along with beautiful Christmas decorations throughout the museum. New this year was the 1950s silver aluminum tree, placed in the Newark Plaza area built in the 1950s!

The museum will host the next meeting of the Wayne Historians’ Organization (aka WHO) on Feb. 13^th. About 30 historians and historical society representatives, and invited guests, are expected for the luncheon meeting.

We are now planning our programs, exhibits and budget for 2008, as well as the annual meeting for April and we hope that all of our members will be able to join us to dine, converse and have some fun.

Membership renewals are coming in and we will be able to fund new exhibits, both here and at our other locations, the Marbletown Centennial Schoolhouse.

Expect us to cooperate with other local attractions in 2008, and we will participate at the Newark Family Fest and the Firemen’s Rose Parade.

It has been an honor not only to serve as your President, but also to work with the great board members and volunteers at the Newark-Arcadia Historical Society.

The 2007-8 special exhibit is winding down. It closes on April 1^st. We hope you’ll stop in to see Gimme That Ol’ Tyme Religion: Early Newark Churches before it ends. A few highlights include 1850s alter table and weathervane from the Methodist Church, certificate for Newark’s first marriage in 1823, a wooden organ pipe and cast iron bell clapper from Presbyterian Church, a beautiful model of St. Mark’s Church and a piece of wood from the original church built in 1851, a 38"x48" oil painting of "Jesus in the Garden", painted by a Newark POW in the 1940s, displays from two Fairville churhces and much more.

The Hydesville Spiritualist Movement display also closes. There are rare books (on loan from the Bullis Collection of Macedon), rare photographs of the Fox cottage, a medium’s slate, souvenir china, the Fox Sisters themselves, and more.

In December, the N-AHS received a grant from the Augustus & Jennie Hoffman Foundation in the amount of $500.

This will be used for our project of editing films in the society’s collection, and transferring to DVD.

Hilda Ackert, Chris Avery, Delores Bacon, Dan & Rebecca Bailey, Lois Barsto, Rev. Dan & Edith Benedict, Bob & Becky Bialaszewski, Tom & Jane Biddle, Paul & Cathie Blackwell, Peter & Helen Blandino, Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Blondell, Mr. & Mrs. John Boogaard, Herly & Esther Bouwens, Randy & Julie Bowden, Richard & Delores Bowker, Gloria Boyer, James & Beverly Breen, Dan & Cathy Brennessel, Carol & Dale Brignall, George & Elie Arend Bump, Pat & Bill Bumpus, Gil & Holly Burgess, Pat & Lyle Bumham, Robert & Geraldine Burnham, James & Susan Bush, Ruth Bush, Dudley & Nan Carlson, Bill & Donna Catchman, Bruce & Gail Chambers, Albert Colacino, Harold & Cornelia Comstock, Pal & Marjorie Cseplo, David & Fran Davis, James & Shirley Davis, Joanne Davis, Margaret DeLeeuw, Betty Jean DeMay, Dorothy DeMay, Gloria & Anthony DeStaffan, Jim & Sandy DeVolder, Ruth & Neil DeVries, Tom & Tish DeYoung, William & Karen Doebler, Allie & Jim Doyle, Sharon Earl, Suzanne Earl, Kathleen Eckert, Betty Fatstick, Adrian & Mary Jo Fenyn, Norm & Connie Fitch, Charles & Dorothy Frey, Gerald & Nancy Frey, Beth Frind, Rudy & Grace Fritz, Hank & Isabel Gadjo.

Also, Priscilla Gifford, Eileen Godfrey, Robert & Muriel Gorall, Pat & Bob Gorthy, John & Phyllis Greene, James & Janet Heald, Lorraine Healy, Mary Jane Healy, Dorothy & Melvin Henkel, Dave Herman, Nancy Herrington, Fred & Trudy Hicks, Beth Hoad, Richard & Carol Holdridge, Jim & Peg Homburger, Patsy Houpt, Susan House, Dr. Louis & Joan Jasper, Chris & Dawn Jendrick, Laura Johnson, Richard Kelley, Jane Kiernan, Marilyn Lawrence, Richard & Judy Leone, Gilbert & Mary Lewis, Richard & Patricia Lewis, Al & Sue Lipke, Sandra Marcano, Kelly Martin, Marjorie Marziali, Shirley Matteson, George McFaul, John McKay, Sally Mels, Charles & Margaret Meyers, Randolph Mitchell, Conrad & Merle Mohr, Martin & Kathleen Morse, Patricia Murphy, Mary Muscolino, Michael & Susan Muscolino, Amy Nicholson, Mary & Arthur Novick, Geraldine O'Connell, Lloyd & Evelyn Parker, Barbara Cole Paulick, Diane Peters, Zada Pitcher, Jim & Salty Praino, Thelma Prutzman, Linda Pulver, Lindorf Pulver, Helmuth & Hannelora Reinhardt, Bernice Rice, Irene & Erling Ridley, Mary & Frank Roberts, Pearl Rook, Alice Ropka, Carolyn Ryan, Mona Rynearson, Jeanne & Paul Salisbury, Carol & Karl Schantz, Don Schittz, Greg Schinsing, Joan & Bob Schinsing, William & Kathy Semmler, Eugene & Jean Seymour, William & Roxanne Shay.

Also, Ken & Shirley Shufelt, Garrett Smith, Mary Smith, Rev. Elton & Wilda Smith, Glenn Stell, Pamela Stiles, Shirley & Robert Stowell, Lillian Strong, Mary Bridget Swartz, Thomas Talbo, Gene & Marge Tilburg, Gene VanDemortel, Harold & Pauline VanDemortel, Karen Vanderbrook, Richard & Valerie VanDongen, Edward & Marcia VerStraete, Theresa & Ernest Volpe, Helen Walker, Frances Warner, Karen Watson, Dr. & Mrs. James Westfall, Brenda Weimann, Harry & Florence Wilkins, Mel & Jennifer Years, Frank Zomow

We appreciate everyone’s past support and hope you’ll continue to do so. The busier the society and museum gets, the more important all contributions and memberships become.

The 2008 calendars, "The Hottest Antiques in Wayne County", have been reduced to $10.00 each. These were produced by the Wayne County Historical Society. N-AHS members Stan Herdman and Burt Ford are pictured! The calendar goes through Jan. 2009.

The ever-popular film "Newark in 1942" is now on DVD and for sale in the Museum Gift Shop! Priced at only $25.00, this is a must-have for your personal local history collection. Our thanks to Kevin Moody for making these for us.

Oscar Anderson’s watercolor, "Ye Hills of Wayne" is available for $25.00 (matting included). Here’s a print that has it all-three stanzas of the best poem written about Wayne County, and seven landscapes in all four seasons.

I was very excited when I found my first spice tin from Newark. And to make it even more exciting, I found it at an antique show in San Mateo, California! As time went on, I discovered even more spice tins from Newark, with different names on them and each colorful and having nice graphics.

I came to realize that these were all products of the C.H. Stuart Co. The company distributed many household products in a variety of tin, glass and cardboard containers. The headquarters were on East Union St. then known as the Commercial Enterprises Building. The spice tins were probably made from the late 1910s to the 1930s or so.

There are five different brands on display in the C.H. Stuart Co. Room: Stuart's Handy Brand (C.H. Stuart Co. & Stuart Products, Inc.), Pitkin's Old Home Brand (J.M. Pitkin & Co.), Christy Quality products (Christy, Inc.), Pitkin's (Pitkin, Inc.) and Hostess Brand (Paul D. Newton & Co., Inc.) The tins are either 2 oz. or 2.5 oz.

Types of spices in the display include paprika, red pepper, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. There are also two larger, six oz. tins that contained black pepper (Pitkin's Old Home and Pitkins).

What attracts today's collectors are the wonderful graphics on the tins, and the colors. These Newark spice tins are as good as any ever made. The Pitkin's Old Home shows a stately home with columns in red and blue, against a gold background (some are yellow). The Stuart's Handy has a woman holding a Stuart's handy spice tin with a scrolled red design against a green (or yellow green) background. probably the hardest to find, and usually most expensive, is the Hostess tin. This shows four women seated at a table having coffee, with what looks like a man looking on. These are found red with gold and green trim, and red with yellow and green trim.

The Pitkin's tin has a decidedly art deco influenced design in gray and light blue colors. The Christy tin has a large triangle as a trademark in red, white and blue, against an off-white background.