Listed below are people from Orleans County that have been interviewed by OCHA about their memories of the county. Their interviews were taped recorded and the tapes were transferred to CDs. The CDs are stored at the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, West Ave. & North St., Medina, NY 14103; phone 585-798-3430 and are available there for anyone wishing to listen to them. It may be possible to borrow individual CDs or transcripts by any interested person seeking this information wherever they live in the USA. Contact the library for loan information.
Archbald, Edward B. – Carlton, Farming, Oak Orchard on the Lake, Written Transcript
W. Clure Appleton Audio File
Ackerson, Reevalyn – Tax Collector, Town of Shelby, 28 years
Allis, Minnie – 90 year-old farm housewife, hobbies, stories, etc. Minnie Allis Transcript
Minnie Allis Audio File
Amos, Warren – carpenter, construction of homes for 57 years, etc.
Appleton, Clure Grange -Prohibition, pranks, etc. W. Clure Appleton Written Transcript
Arnett, Hazel – lived first 8 years of life on canal boats, etc.
Arnett, Dr. Ross – veterinarian for 58 years, making barrels, etc.
Bergerson, Carl – Albion schools history, history of son, Austin
Billings, Katharine – early Albion, streets, houses, sidewalks, etc.
Bird, Horace – Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Service, etc.
Breitbeck, Jessie – construction of homes, family history, 1st Baptist
Britt, Paul J. – farm, gas station, school bus driver, hunting etc.
Broughton, Chester – foundry worker at Swetts Irons Works 50 years, etc.
Brownell, L. – O’Donnell Lumber/Sand & Gravel business, Depression.
Brown, Robert – (no tape, transcription only); fruit farm, family, etc.
Burroughs, Kenneth – State Trooper, Prohibition, lumber business, etc.
Burroughs, Luther – preacher’s kid, music, Depression, church, teacher, etc.
Burroughs, Luther – Orleans County Legislature, politics, golf course dev.
Burroughs, Richard – Lipton Canning Company, Albion history
Canham, Lester – Town of Gaines Supervisor, farming, etc. Written Transcript
Caldwell, Howard – farming, Millville, WWI, flu, teacher, memories, etc.
Case, Steward – R.L.&B. Trolley, Larkin Stores, paint store, health, etc.
Champlin, Steve – Conservation Club development, antique bicycles
Colaviot, Mary – Holley, born in Italy, family, early memories
Cole, Flo. – Ives Chamberlin Mansion in Medina (now State Street Park)
Colman, Edith Shelby, schools, teaching, D.A.R. home at Xmas, etc.
Colton, Myra – Medina’s first hospital, dry house, WWI, travels, etc.
Conner, Curtis – Prohibition, rum running, Lyndonville
Coppa, Andy – shoe repair business, family orchestra, WWII G.I. etc.
Cotriss, Sophia – parents from Poland, Balcerzak family, Newell’s etc.
Cox, Dorothy – Roberts English settlement, Paddy Hill in Medina, WWI, First Girl Scouts in Medina
Daum, Walter – farmer, construction of roads, hunting, Barre, etc.
DeFabio, Frank – WWI, shoe making trade, Holley, NY
Devlin, Edward – agriculture teacher, principle, Youth Corp, etc.
Eddy, Arthur B. – Family History, Written Transcript
Eddy, Pearl – D.A.R., from N. Carolina, Tuesday Club, Child Welfare
Eddy, Sidney – family history, early auto, Albion, printing business
Egloff, Anna Roth family – German School, trolley, polio
Ferris, Nettie – family history & stories, school teacher
Fox, Wilson – farmer, social times/early homes, carpenter, WWI, etc.
Gill, William – furrier & traps, Depression, from England, etc.
Gonsrud, Wilda E. – practical nurse first class in MM Hospital, doctors, nurses
Gotts, Pearle – restaurant business 30 years, pug dogs, racehorses, etc.
Gould, Rev. Gordon – from Alaska, orphan, schooling, church, college, etc.
Harding, Earl – farmer, community & politics, WWI experiences, etc. Written Transcript
Harling, Eva & Clyde family – Depression, Barre, Winter of 1943, Riches Corners. eva and clyde harling ocha transcript
Heisler, George – quarry stone cutter, hunter, etc.
Heitz, Helen – Newell Shirt Factory, Medina 50 years, etc.
Heitz, Wesley – mechanic, auto repairs, WWII experiences, etc.
Heitz, Wesley – Prohibition, experiences as rum runner, etc.
Helenbolt, Carl – early S.A. Cook, family, T.B., Bean House, etc.
Helmkamp, Ethel – born in Canada, Hartt Funeral Home, Armory Ball, etc.
Hickman, Doris – born in England, WWI experiences there, auto accident
Hill, Harold – auctioneer 42 years, real estate, politics, etc.
Hinckley, Olga L. – Medina teacher, Depression, WWII memories
Hollenbeck, Fay – farmer, railroad, auto accident, etc.
Hollenbeck, Fay – Prohibition, births & deaths, adoption, etc.
Humphrey, Herbert G. – stationed at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941, WWII South Pacific, Korean War
Johnson, Rev. John – Black migrant-leader-minister, 35 years at Harrisons, etc.
Johnson, Melvin – farmer, Bean House, Depression, etc.
Johnson, Marj F. – Wheelman’s Rest at Falconer Home, bikes, schools, etc.
Judwick, Stanley – born in Poland, quarry work, delivered ice, wood carver
Kennedy, Becky Wood – born in Scotland, adopted, employment in WWII, etc.
Keople, George – cheese maker, Clarendon history, Town Clerk, etc
Kuspa, Anna W. – parents from Germany, catering, employment, restaurant
Lamont, Dorothy – Century Farm Homestead, family memories, etc., Written Transcript
Larimer, William – WWII, prisoner of war, Bataan Death March, etc.
Lattin, Cary – construction of homestead, farmer, Country Historian, etc.
Lattin, Cary – Cobblestone Society History; two stories for smiles
Layman, Olive – Albion Correctional Facility work, D.A.R. etc.
Leach, M-Lou Tucker – adopted by Medina family, successful search for mother
Leone, Dr. Angelo – born in Sicily, medical doctor, memories of WWII, etc.
Loke, Marshall Swett – old time Medina, schools, stores, homes, sketches, etc.
Martin, Ethel Britt – early schools, teacher, farming, Saturday nights, etc.
Meddaugh, Oliver – Dept. of Environmental Conservation, wildlife, etc.
Moriarty, Kenneth – barber 56 years, Depression, early Medina, etc.
Morton, William – farmer, Prohibition, Barre, friends, etc.
Neal, Glenn – Shelby, general store, Steilow murder, trial, etc.
Newmeyer, Katherine – Acer daughter of V.A. Acer, schools, Uncle Mort Post, etc.
O’Brien, Maurice “Lank” – Conservation Dept., sports, names of the greats, etc.
Owen, Charles – WWII prisoner of war of Germans, good descriptions
Palmer, Charles – 98 yr. old farmer, Grange, friends and family, memories
Phillips, Marcus – Hulberton stone quarry, ice skating on canal, etc.
Phillips, Marcus – Albion Banks history, Depression, etc.
Pratt, J. Howard – Cobblestone schoolhouse, describes a day as a student
Pratt, J. Howard – homes of long ago, weddings, funerals, Ireland, etc.
Radzinsky, Marj Cooke – Swett family history with photos, etc.
Radzinsky, Marj Cooke – early memories, death of mother, schools, etc.
Reynolds, Inez – American Red Cross work, many memories and history
Richards, Ann – Girl Scout work in Medina, Methodist Church, etc.
Roberts, Justin – farmer, land development, religious experiences, etc.
Rosen, Kath. M.M. – parents form England, matron at Albion School for Girls
Sanderson, Carl – Ridgeway history, early stores, church, etc.
Smith, Blanche – Kornow Carlton
Smith, Floyd – farmer, expansion of farms, Steilow murder, pranks, etc.
Stalker, Geroge – work on HoJack RR, Lyndonville, family, Depression, etc.
Steele, Clarence – Elba muckland farmer, Barre Grange, Prohibition, etc.
Stebbins, Marie Timmerman – born 1892 in Chamberlin Mansion, Medina, etc.
Stillinger, Jane Nagel – S.A. Cook, furniture, Depression in Medina, teacher in Shelby Center, Attica, and Medina
Thomas, Dr. Clayton – born in Canada, cowboy, teacher, doctor, memories
Thomas, Martha – Lyndonville history, stores, mill, schools, etc.
Tuttle, Jo – Jeddo history, farm life, Pan American Expo, etc.
Waldo, Hellen – pianist in silent movies, foster parent, Middleport Universalist Church
Waldo, Homer L. – farming, peddlers wagons, seasonal workers
Walters, Clyde – Eagle Harbor stores, Medina banks, Depression, etc.
Waters, Alonzo – J-R Newspaper, politics, Post Office, WWI, migrants, etc.
Waterson, Earl – farmer, grave-digger, WWI, black market, health care, etc.
Weeks, Edwin – Albion conservationist, sportsman, etc.
White, Cecilia, H. – schooling, working on the muckland, good description
Willis, Ethel – Bignall Foundry Co. office 35 years, Depression, etc.
Wise, Clifford – Medina schools history, many photos
Wise, Clifford – Senior Citizens Center history, Medina Methodist Church
Young, Claudia Stisser – 96 year old farm housewife, Ashwood RR wreck, etc.
There is a special area of interest in recording interviews with Veterans of any American War- WW1, 2, Korea, Viet Nam, and Persian Gulf Wars. Copies of these interviews with Veterans will be sent to the Library of Congress.
For information on the Veterans History Project click on the logo below.
