EVENTS CALENDAR
A primary mission of the society is to preserve our local history and share it with the public through educational programs and exhibits. We have collaborated with local organizations to observe significant anniversaries, for example, in 2012 the 50th Anniversary of the A&A Steam Engine Excursions and in 2013 the 75th Anniversary of the Hendershott-Manness V.F.W. Post. Over the years, a number of annual events have been developed which fill the calendar. We invite you to check back regularly to see when special exhibits have been added.
MARCH
CLOSED - The historical society is moving their office and research archives from the Gibby House to the Old Fire Hall. This will be occurring during March, so both the Gibby House and the Old Fire Hall will be closed while this is being done.
APRIL
Friday, April 24 GRAND OPENING of the Old Fire Hall at 15 Liberty Street. Tour the building renovations, learn about the historic elements that have been preserved in the building, and see a historic exhibit while enjoying an array of desserts and coffee.
APRIL 28 (primary voting day in NY): History Speaks is a new series of history programs produced by the Arcade Historical Society. On the last Tuesday of the months of April, June and September, a speaker will give a presentation at the Old Fire Hall, 15 Liberty Street. On Tuesday, April 28th Susan Eck, a guest curator for the Buffalo History Museum, will be presenting her lecture “Emblem of Equality, Woman Suffrage in Western New York,” during this, the 100th anniversary year of the ratification of the 19th amendment granting suffrage to American women. The historical society will also display “Arcade’s Suffragists,” an exhibit on the 136 local women who were members of the Arcade Political Equality Club from 1905 to 1917.
Each program is approximately one hour in length and starts at 7:30pm. The lecture hall will be open an hour before and after the presentations to give people an opportunity to review the exhibit. Suggested donation is $5 / person. This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Arts Council for Wyoming County.
Each program is approximately one hour in length and starts at 7:30pm. The lecture hall will be open an hour before and after the presentations to give people an opportunity to review the exhibit. Suggested donation is $5 / person. This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Arts Council for Wyoming County.
MAY
ARCADE AREA CHAMBER COMMUNITY SHOWCASE MAY 2 (9am-5pm) and MAY 3 (10am-3pm)-The Society always participates in this community event featuring items from our annual exhibit and a fun photo opportunity for selfies at our booth. The theme this year is Business is Roaring 2020, so we will be featuring things from the 1920s.
JUNE
EXHIBIT: 100 YEARS OF GROCERIES, the story of Brass’ with emphasis on how much grocery shopping has changed in their 100 year time span as the longest continuing family business in Arcade. The story begins February 1st, 1920, when Luke Brass purchased his partnership in a meat market located on the south side of Main Street in downtown Arcade. His sons Bernard and Bob later joined him in the business and today, Luke's grandson David is in charge. In the 1920s grocery shopping involved visiting several different stores for the various ingredients used to make things from scratch at home, today, it is a one-stop trip with a wide assortment of prepackaged foods ready-to-eat.
ARCADE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM VISITS - This end-of-year school visit is our opportunity to show students our latest exhibit and give them a local history lesson. Please note, the Gibby House will be closed to the public during these school visits.
JUNE 30: History Speaks is a new series of history programs produced by the Arcade Historical Society. On the last Tuesday of the months of April, June and September, a speaker will give a presentation at the Old Fire Hall, 15 Liberty Street. World War I will be the featured lecture on Tuesday, June 30th. Popular speaker and Pembroke School 8th grade Social Studies teacher Greg Kinal will explore the beginning of the war in Europe and how America became involved. The exhibit “Arcade’s Doughboys” will be on display featuring the 120+ men from Arcade who enlisted in WWI. This exhibit reveals what those men experienced during their military service and how those who returned from the war contributed to their communities.
Each program is approximately one hour in length and starts at 7:30pm. The lecture hall will be open an hour before and after the presentations to give people an opportunity to review the exhibit. Suggested donation is $5 / person. This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Arts Council for Wyoming County.
Each program is approximately one hour in length and starts at 7:30pm. The lecture hall will be open an hour before and after the presentations to give people an opportunity to review the exhibit. Suggested donation is $5 / person. This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Arts Council for Wyoming County.
AUGUST
PIKE FAIR EXHIBIT - The Wyoming County Federation of Historical Societies presents small exhibits, each society featuring the history of their area. Past exhibits presented by the Arcade Historical Society include baseball player Jim Konstanty, Lone Ranger writer Fran Striker, "From Path to Pavement," how Main Street has changed over the years, Civil War letters from the Welles family, the 50th Anniversary of the Pioneer Central School District, the 100th anniversary of NYS women's suffrage, Arcade's Doughboys from World War One, and Aronson's, the world-class welding equipment company founded in Arcade by Chuck Aronson. Stay tuned for what our exhibit will be this year.
SEPTEMBER
SEPTEMBER 29: History Speaks is a new series of history programs produced by the Arcade Historical Society. On the last Tuesday of the months of April, June and September, a speaker will give a presentation at the Old Fire Hall, 15 Liberty Street. History educator Jane Oakes will present a program on The History of Cheese Factories in the Genesee Country on Tuesday evening, September 29th. From farmhouses to factories, New York State was once so well known for its cheeses that the phrase “New York State Full Cream Cheese” was trademarked to prevent imitators across the country. Arcade’s milk businesses from Gibby cheese factories, to Merrell Soule and Borden’s powdered milk and the Jenny Lee Dairy will be the featured exhibit accompanying this program. Products made from milk have been a source of employment in this community and throughout Wyoming County for many years.
Each program is approximately one hour in length and starts at 7:30pm. The lecture hall will be open an hour before and after the presentations to give people an opportunity to review the exhibit. Suggested donation is $5 / person. This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Arts Council for Wyoming County.
Each program is approximately one hour in length and starts at 7:30pm. The lecture hall will be open an hour before and after the presentations to give people an opportunity to review the exhibit. Suggested donation is $5 / person. This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Arts Council for Wyoming County.
OCTOBER
October 1 MAIN STREET & MORE - 4-7:30pm. Run by the Chamber, and held on the first Thursday evening in October, the Society participates in this event using the exhibit currently in place that year. Visitors are asked to find the answer to a question in the exhibit before getting a sticker on their game card - part of their quest to win a prize in this business-hopping community event.
FOURTH GRADE CEMETERY WALK - An after school tour of Arcade Rural Cemetery for 4th graders where the children learn about cemetery etiquette and discover graves of veterans, lawyers, journalists, suffragists and authors of local significance. We start at the Gibby House at 3:30 p.m. with a snack and cider, then walk with adult chaperones to the cemetery. Parents pick up their children at the Arcade Elementary School parking lot at 5:30pm. Permission slips are distributed at Arcade Elementary School.
ANNUAL SOCIETY MEMBERS' DINNER - This annual event will be at the Society's other property, the renovated Old Fire Hall, 15 Liberty Street. Members look for your invitation and RSVP form in the mail during September!
NOVEMBER
HOLIDAY DECORATING - we spend the month of November decorating the Gibby House for the holidays. The theme this year is Santa Claus. Volunteers interested in helping should telephone (585-492-4466) or email the office to see when is the best time to come help. office@arcadehistoricalsociety.org.
The 3rd and 4th graders from Arcade Elementary also come to decorate two 8 ft. trees at the Gibby House with ornaments they make in their art class with Mrs. Pytlak.
DECEMBER
SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY EXHIBIT - come see our Queen Anne style home decorated for the holidays!
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS HOLIDAY TOUR - Teachers at Arcade Elementary sign up to bring their classrooms to see the holiday decorations, the exhibit and the 3rd & 4th grade decorated Christmas trees at the Gibby House. A very popular day at school, the Gibby House is closed to the public on these two days from 9am to 3pm in order to accommodate over 600 children. We are always looking for volunteers to help as guides for the young visitors. If you like kids and Christmas, this is the perfect volunteer opportunity for you!
Previously this Year
JANUARY
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC for planning and research of future exhibits.
FEBRUARY
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PIONEER K-12 STUDENT ART SHOW - Every year, during the month of February, the Historical Society hosts the Pioneer Student Art Show with colorful artwork created by students from grades K through 12 at Pioneer Central Schools. A special open house is held on the Saturday of Winterfest weekend and extended evening hours make it possible for family and friends to come see the talented artists' work. This year the show is at the newly renovated old brick Fire Hall (15 Liberty Street). The Historical Society purchased this building in 2009 and has held two major exhibits here - in 2012 "50 Years of Steam" celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Arcade & Attica's steam engine excursions, and in 2013, the 75th anniversary of the Hendershott-Manness VFW Post. We are excited to have the Pioneer Student Art Show as the first exhibit in the renovated building! Hours for this colorful and inspiring show are:
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331 West Main Street, Arcade, New York 14009 | Mailing address: P.O. Box 236, Arcade, NY 14009
(585) 492-4466 | office@arcadehistoricalsociety.org
(585) 492-4466 | office@arcadehistoricalsociety.org