EVENTS CALENDAR & MERCHANDISE
A primary mission of the society is to preserve our local history and share it with the public through educational programs and exhibits. We invite you to check back regularly to see when special exhibits have been added.
ARCADE'S ARTS & ANTIQUES FESTIVAL, SATURDAY AUGUST 26
The Historical Society will be participating in this day-long event with open house hours, exhibits and sales at the Gibby House and the Old Fire Hall.
GIBBY HOUSE - (331 Main Street) open from 10am to noon with an exhibit, "100+ Years of Groceries," and a VINTAGE SALE of an assortment of items from the Gibby Collection.
OLD FIRE HALL - (15 Liberty Street) open from noon to 5pm featuring a BASKET RAFFLE fundraiser and two exhibits: "Hell on Paws" from Tom Spencer's time as a dog handler during the war in Vietnam, and "Arcade's 1998 Flood" as seen in aerial photographs.
GIBBY HOUSE - (331 Main Street) open from 10am to noon with an exhibit, "100+ Years of Groceries," and a VINTAGE SALE of an assortment of items from the Gibby Collection.
OLD FIRE HALL - (15 Liberty Street) open from noon to 5pm featuring a BASKET RAFFLE fundraiser and two exhibits: "Hell on Paws" from Tom Spencer's time as a dog handler during the war in Vietnam, and "Arcade's 1998 Flood" as seen in aerial photographs.
2023 HISTORY SPEAKS SERIES ANNOUNCED
The 2023 History Speaks series spans time and place. A presentation on Doolittle’s World War II raid takes us to Tokyo, Japan, while the second program brings us back to Arcade’s flood in 1998. The third program sends us overseas to Vietnam, with a Veteran dog handler while the final program is about the “water cures” of the late 1800s in western New York.
Each program is approximately one hour in length and starts at 7pm at the Old Fire Hall, 15 Liberty Street. The lecture hall will open at 6:30 pm. Seating is limited, so please RSVP for the lecture(s) you wish to attend via phone 585-492-0748, or email ahs1807@verizon.net and leave contact information in case a wait list becomes necessary. Suggested donation is $5 / person.
MAY 23 / WWII PROGRAM: One of our most popular speakers, Greg Kinal, kicks off the series on Tuesday, evening, May 23rd, with his presentation titled, “Target Tokyo.” This program deals with General Jimmy Doolittle’s raid on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor. President Roosevelt believed that the United States needed a morale boost and this attack was supposed to do it. Sixteen B-25 bombers attacked a number of cities in Japan and the program recounts what happened next.
JUNE 27 / 1998 ARCADE FLOOD: Next in the series, Arcade’s Town & Village Historian Jeff Mason recounts the flood of 1998 on June 27th, very nearly the anniversary date of that event. He has numerous photographs of the devastation and the stories that people shared of their experiences.
JULY 25 / MILITARY DOGS: On July 25th Sergeant Grant Coates, with the 76th Combat Tracker Team, attached to the 199th Light Infantry Brigade as a dog handler/cover man/visual tracker on the front in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, will describe the training that handlers and dogs go through in preparation for specializing in different assignments: combat tracking, scout, sentry, bomb, or tunnel duty. His dog was named Shane and was a Labrador Retriever trained as a tracking dog. Among other things, Coates will talk about how the different branches of the service use dogs, how dogs were treated in Vietnam and how that has changed in the years since. Coates was also a police K-9 officer for 8 ½ years and retired after 30 years of law enforcement. Pictured here is Arcade’s own, the late Tom Spencer, who was a Sergeant in a K-9 Unit with the 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry, 1969-70. Photos Tom took in Vietnam will be on display at this lecture.
AUGUST 22 / WATER CURES: Last in the series on August 22nd, Jane Oakes will talk about Water Cures in Western NY and their role in the Temperance, Woman's Rights and Abolition Movements. Water cures were not only a place to get well, but often were where radical ideas about the rights of women, abolition, women's dress reform and temperance were promoted. Learn about our regional water cure owners who contributed to some of the great social movements of the nineteenth century.
Each program is approximately one hour in length and starts at 7pm at the Old Fire Hall, 15 Liberty Street. The lecture hall will open at 6:30 pm. Seating is limited, so please RSVP for the lecture(s) you wish to attend via phone 585-492-0748, or email ahs1807@verizon.net and leave contact information in case a wait list becomes necessary. Suggested donation is $5 / person.
MAY 23 / WWII PROGRAM: One of our most popular speakers, Greg Kinal, kicks off the series on Tuesday, evening, May 23rd, with his presentation titled, “Target Tokyo.” This program deals with General Jimmy Doolittle’s raid on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor. President Roosevelt believed that the United States needed a morale boost and this attack was supposed to do it. Sixteen B-25 bombers attacked a number of cities in Japan and the program recounts what happened next.
JUNE 27 / 1998 ARCADE FLOOD: Next in the series, Arcade’s Town & Village Historian Jeff Mason recounts the flood of 1998 on June 27th, very nearly the anniversary date of that event. He has numerous photographs of the devastation and the stories that people shared of their experiences.
JULY 25 / MILITARY DOGS: On July 25th Sergeant Grant Coates, with the 76th Combat Tracker Team, attached to the 199th Light Infantry Brigade as a dog handler/cover man/visual tracker on the front in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, will describe the training that handlers and dogs go through in preparation for specializing in different assignments: combat tracking, scout, sentry, bomb, or tunnel duty. His dog was named Shane and was a Labrador Retriever trained as a tracking dog. Among other things, Coates will talk about how the different branches of the service use dogs, how dogs were treated in Vietnam and how that has changed in the years since. Coates was also a police K-9 officer for 8 ½ years and retired after 30 years of law enforcement. Pictured here is Arcade’s own, the late Tom Spencer, who was a Sergeant in a K-9 Unit with the 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry, 1969-70. Photos Tom took in Vietnam will be on display at this lecture.
AUGUST 22 / WATER CURES: Last in the series on August 22nd, Jane Oakes will talk about Water Cures in Western NY and their role in the Temperance, Woman's Rights and Abolition Movements. Water cures were not only a place to get well, but often were where radical ideas about the rights of women, abolition, women's dress reform and temperance were promoted. Learn about our regional water cure owners who contributed to some of the great social movements of the nineteenth century.
MEMBERS, HELP US WITH OUR BASKET RAFFLE !

Dear Arcade Historical Society Member:
We will continue our 2023 fundraising efforts by hosting a BASKET RAFFLE on Saturday,
August 26, in conjunction with the Arcade’s Arts & Antiques Festival — and we are looking for baskets. Can you help us? It is our goal to have a total of 50 baskets/gift cards to offer that day, and we hope you will consider helping us reach that goal.
• Could you put together a basket for the raffle? OR
• Would you purchase a gift card that we could raffle off? OR
• Do you do a craft or have a hobby that you would consider donating to the raffle? OR
• Perhaps you would prefer to donate cash that we could use to put together a basket.
The BASKET RAFFLE will take place at the Old Fire Hall (15 Liberty Street) along with an exhibit and music from antique Edison records. The drawing of basket winners is at 4pm.
For further information, call the office at 585-492-0748, or email ahs1807@verizon.net.
Call and we will pick up, or donations may be delivered to the Old Fire Hall any Wednesday
from 2-6 between now and Wednesday, August 16. Thank you!
We will continue our 2023 fundraising efforts by hosting a BASKET RAFFLE on Saturday,
August 26, in conjunction with the Arcade’s Arts & Antiques Festival — and we are looking for baskets. Can you help us? It is our goal to have a total of 50 baskets/gift cards to offer that day, and we hope you will consider helping us reach that goal.
• Could you put together a basket for the raffle? OR
• Would you purchase a gift card that we could raffle off? OR
• Do you do a craft or have a hobby that you would consider donating to the raffle? OR
• Perhaps you would prefer to donate cash that we could use to put together a basket.
The BASKET RAFFLE will take place at the Old Fire Hall (15 Liberty Street) along with an exhibit and music from antique Edison records. The drawing of basket winners is at 4pm.
For further information, call the office at 585-492-0748, or email ahs1807@verizon.net.
Call and we will pick up, or donations may be delivered to the Old Fire Hall any Wednesday
from 2-6 between now and Wednesday, August 16. Thank you!
GROCERY GRAB FUNDRAISER!
Our programming, social media and exhibitions are the public outreach that demonstrate the preservation of local history which is the mission of the Arcade Historical Society. Another huge part of our work is the physical preservation and maintenance of the two historic buildings that house our collections of historic artifacts, photographs and documents. These buildings are as important as the “things” which are inside.
We appreciate the great interest in local history shown by our members and Facebook followers from the stories we have shared through our exhibits and Facebook posts. It is wonderful to read the comments, see the interaction and sharing. Residents and former residents, nearby and across the country, can participate in keeping our history alive.
We appreciate the great interest in local history shown by our members and Facebook followers from the stories we have shared through our exhibits and Facebook posts. It is wonderful to read the comments, see the interaction and sharing. Residents and former residents, nearby and across the country, can participate in keeping our history alive.
Keeping our history alive means keeping our buildings in good shape. To pay for those expenses we have another fundraiser to announce: a raffle called a “Grocery Grab” — and who doesn’t need groceries? This raffle is unique in that it offers more than $1,000 in store cards to shop at local grocers. That’s two $250 shopping cards, two $125 cards, one $100 card and four $50 cards. Nine winners will be chosen at the organization’s annual dinner October 19. Tickets for the Grocery Grab are $5 each.
To purchase your tickets for the raffle contact a Historical Society trustee, see the Arcade Historical Society’s Facebook page, or call (585) 492-0748. |
50 YEARS OF WINTERFEST POSTERS - MINI-SIZE - FOR SALE!
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The weekend of February 11-13, 2022 Arcade celebrated fifty years of Winterfest! This event is Arcade’s celebration of winter weather, winter sports, the arts and coming together to rejoice in the hardiness of western New Yorkers. This festival of winter events has been going on continuously since 1972. The Arcade Historical Society partnered with thirteen organizations and businesses to display a series of large posters, each celebrating a different aspect of Winterfest over the last 50 years. These posters were super-sized at 42" wide X 48" tall. With a large font for easy reading from a distance, they are equally as legible at letter-size. These are sold as a complete set of 20 for $25 plus shipping and handling.
To purchase a complete set, download and fill out the pdf order form below. Please make your check payable to Arcade Historical Society and mail it with your completed order form to: Arcade Historical Society, P.O. Box 236, Arcade, NY 14009. Curbside pick ups do not require a shipping & handling fee. Be sure to include your phone and email contact information in case we have a question about your order. ![]()
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ONGOING - FACEBOOK POSTS
Find interesting stories about local history, old photographs, ads and articles from early newspapers on the society's Facebook page, Arcade Historical Society. This year, since 4th graders could not have their "graduation tour" of the second floor of the Gibby House, we have posted an 11 minute tour of the upper floors given by society volunteer Jeff Mason.
MERCHANDISE
Shopping for an Arcade hometown guy or gal? Or someone with a hankering for history? Check out the gifts we have for sale. Use the mail order form (download file left) or come by the Old Fire Hall. We take check or cash. Social distancing and facemasks required.
Stay healthy & safe!
Stay healthy & safe!
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SELF-GUIDED WALKS TO TAKE ANYTIME! FIND INFORMATION, MAPS AND DOCUMENTS TO DOWNLOAD OR VIEW ON YOUR PHONE BELOW.
HISTORY WALK, DOWNTOWN ARCADE THROUGH THE YEARS: this exhibit was created to allow for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fifteen businesses in the heart of downtown Arcade displayed large posters that feature the history of the buildings in which each business is located. Historic photographs and interesting facts about each building or area are noted on the posters. You can buy the posters as a small set of 15 letter-size images or as the original 2' x 3' posters. See ordering information below.
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History Walk Posters are available for purchase - in two sizes.
ORIGINAL SIZE: These 2 ft. x 3 ft. posters are printed on a matte, synthetic material that is rip resistant. The price is $13 each plus shipping & handling. Download and fill out the pdf order form below. Please make your check payable to Arcade Historical Society and mail it with your completed order form to: Arcade Historical Society, P.O. Box 236, Arcade, NY 14009. Curbside pick ups do not require a shipping & handling fee. Be sure to include your phone and email contact information in case we have a question about your order.

large_poster_order_form.pdf |
SMALL SIZE: The same information and photos of the large posters is printed in a small size, on 8.5" x 11" brilliant white presentation paper. These are sold as a complete set of 15 for $20 plus $5 shipping and handling. Download and fill out the pdf order form below. Please make your check payable to Arcade Historical Society and mail it with your completed order form to: Arcade Historical Society, P.O. Box 236, Arcade, NY 14009. Curbside pick ups do not require a shipping & handling fee. Be sure to include your phone and email contact information in case we have a question about your order.

small_poster_order_form.pdf |
Small-Town Suffragists Cemetery Tour
One hundred thirty-six local women belonged to the Arcade chapter of the Political Equality Club (PEC) between 1905 and 1917. These small-town wives, mothers, and daughters worked diligently to convince the men in their lives to give them the same right to vote. You are invited to take a self-guided walk touring the graves of 62 of Arcade’s Political Equality Club members, at any time, in Arcade Rural Cemetery. This cemetery is located just after the railroad tracks going south on either Park or Prospect Street in downtown Arcade. A pdf map and guide is below. Download and print a copy of the pdf document or open it on your phone to “meet” these small-town suffragists.

suffrage_cemetery_tour_information.pdf |
Veterans' Graves Self-guided Walks
CEMETERY WALKS FOR MEMORIAL DAY, INDEPENDENCE DAY, VETERANS DAY OR ANYTIME: Since 2012, the Arcade Historical Society has a created several brochures for local cemeteries featuring veterans’ graves for their Memorial Day Walking with Heroes tours. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no in person guided tour this year, but the society is putting the brochures online so the public can print the documents and take these walks honoring veterans on their own.
ARCADE RURAL CEMETERY CIVIL WAR VETERANS' GRAVES
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ARCADE RURAL CEMETERY CIVIL WAR LETTER TRANSCRIPT
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ARCADE RURAL CEMETERY WORLD WAR ONE VETERANS' GRAVES
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ST. MARY'S EAST ARCADE VETERANS' GRAVES (2017)
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SANDUSKY CEMETERY VETERANS' GRAVES BROCHURE (2014)
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SANDUSKY CEMETERY MAPS (2014)
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331 West Main Street & 15 Liberty Street, Arcade, New York 14009 | Mailing address: P.O. Box 236, Arcade, NY 14009
(585) 492-4466 (Main St.) / (585) 492-0748 (Liberty St.) | office@arcadehistoricalsociety.org
(585) 492-4466 (Main St.) / (585) 492-0748 (Liberty St.) | office@arcadehistoricalsociety.org