A FRIDAY TO REMEMBER

We went to the Genesee Country Village & Museum located southwest of Rochester and east of Buffalo, about 50 minutes from here.  WE visited there with the Neeleys, Christensens, Griffith & Read missionaries. One of the docents told us it's the 3rd largest Historical Village in the US, probably not one of the most carefully restored, but very interesting. Basically there are three villages in the park, each representing a different time period - the Pioneer Settlement 1780's-1830's, the Antebellum Village 1830-s - 1860's, and the Turn of the Century 1870's - 1920's. Some of the homes/buildings have docents in them to explain and answer questions.  We were there about five hours and still didn't see everything. 

TOLL HOUSE

 built c. 1850, Lima, N.Y.

Over the "Genesee Pike" traveled tens of thousands of settlers, some staying to take up land in the Genesee Country, others going on to Ohio and Michigan. More importantly, agricultural produce could now reach the Albany market, bringing cash and a greater promise of prosperity to the Genesee farmer. 

This is the entrance into the villages.  All the buildings are original and have been brought from various historic places from New York to be added to the displays here.

The cattle were very relaxed on this sunny New York day!

Flint Hill Pottery 

Reconstruction, c. 1845

In the kitchens and pantries of the village are scores of examples of the Genesee Country potter's art, both lead-glazed earthenware (also called "redware") and salt-glazed stoneware. These relics survived generations of everyday use for food preparation and storage in the 19th-century before drawing notice from collectors, antique dealers and museum curators.

The work of regional potters has also earned the attention of archaeologists. Of the several sites excavated by the Rochester Museum & Science Center, the best documented are the Alvin Wilcox Pottery (c.1825-62) in Ontario County and the Morganville Pottery (c.1829-1900) in Genesee County.

The lead-glazed earthenware produced by these and other early 19th-century rural potters included crocks, jugs, jars and bottles; plates, bowls, pitchers and porringers; milk pans and butter churns; candle and cake moulds; drain tiles and flower pots; chamber pots and spittoons.  We were able to watch the potter throw a bowl which took me back to my pottery class at BYU!

Hamilton House 

built 1870, Campbell, N.Y.

There were ropes to keep children from climbing to the top of the home.   The docent told us we could unhook the ropes to view the upper floor since children were not with us...so we undid the ropes and climbed to the very top of the "widows walk".   She had only meant the 2nd floor...we wer in the tower and could see out beyond the historical site...it was a beautiful view and a very hot, hot room! 

Blacksmith Shop 

built 1830, Elba, N.Y.

He might have been preceded by the innkeeper and the storekeeper, but the blacksmith was the first tradesman to set up shop in the emerging village. He supplied goods and services basic to the welfare of any early community, large or small.

Even the tiniest hamlet included at least one blacksmith. The smith shod horses, made hardware, repaired wagons and plows — everything of iron that the farmer or the villager could not repair himself. His trade was often combined with that of the wheelwright, with whom he might collaborate in making wagons and carriages.

This was a lakestone building like the Martin Harris home.  They took down this building, moved it to the historic site and rebuilt it...We were impressed!

Schoolhouse 

built 1822, Rush, N.Y.

Genesee Country settlers from New England brought with them a century-and-a-half-old tradition of public education. In 1788, the Adams family from New England built a log house along the trail leading from Canandaigua to the Genesee River. James Sperry, an early settler of Ontario County, recalled that when his family arrived in the same area in 1794, there was already a school near the Adams residence, kept by Laura, one of the Adams daughters. "The next spring," Sperry recounted, "a seven by ten log schoolhouse was built one and a half miles southwest."

 The docent teacher had our attention.  We each had a chalk board with a piece of soapstone rock to write with...it was awesome!

Shaker Trustees' Building 

built 1839, Sonyea, N.Y.

In 1776, the Shakers founded their first community at Niskayuna (now Watervliet) near Albany, N.Y. There, rejecting the ideas of personal property and predestination, they followed Mother Ann's teaching: "Hands to work, hearts to God." Visitors to Shaker revival meetings spread the word, and other Shaker

communities were begun throughout New England.  You can read about Ann Lee in the heading of the 49th section of the Doctrine and Covenants.  We had a volunteer gardner take us through the Shaker garden and explain the herbs and seeds they grew.  The Shakers were the first to produce packaged seeds to sell for planting.  Because they did not believe in marriage and procreation their sect is about nonexistant now!

 

The website for information is https://www.gcv.org/ or you can google Genesee Country Village & Museum.  We saw many more buildings in that 5 hours.  If you would like to read about this historic site go to this website.

We returned to Palmyra where we changed to our Sunday Best and went to the temple to fulfill our 5:00 shift assignment.  I must admit I almost fell asleep in the endowment session.  I held my feet up off the floor and suffered just so I would not fall asleep!

So that was our Friday....have a great weekend...we are off to Skaneateles Lake and a cruise this afternoon before attending a baptism this evening at Cortland Ward.  

Oh!  The dentist rebuilt my tooth and yes, he was gentle.  Now I have a plastic cap for three weeks till my CROWN is placed!