Wellsville Historical Society

The Wellsville Historical Society resumed their regular monthly meetings last month on September 21 at the River Museum. President Robert "Brassy" Beresford presided.

After the regular business was taken care of Brassy made a few announcements before getting into the donations received in the last few months. After checking with everyone possible it is unknown whatever happened to the clanger for the MacDonald School bell that now rests beside the museum's fire station. Jeff Weekley was named Chairman of the Nomination Committee for next year's officers. Joining Weekley on the committee is Bonny Beresford & Carol Smith. Word of the museum is getting out with several tours lined up including the CC Tourisim Board we reported on earlier with the tour booking agents.

A special thank-you was given to the Albaneso family for their generous donation given the Museum in memory of their father, the late Johnnie Albaneso. Mr. Albaneso was quite well known for his restaurant that was a Wellsville land mark called Johnnie's Lunch. Mr. Albaneso was a very active member of the Wellsville community, respected and loved by all who knew him.

Other donations included old newspapers, a book of old Village ordinances and other items. One of the interesting donations was a set of wooden gears given in memory of Cheryl Chan. The gears were used at the Stevenson Foundry years ago, believed to make molds in sand for molten metal to be pour into. Once the metal was cooled & hardened in the sand the new gears were machined to specification.

Another very interesting donation was made by Mr. Ed Crawford of Lewes, Delaware. He and his family originated in the Port Homer area. Mr. Crawford said the family homestead was located on the land used by First Energy for the coal piles stored at the Stratton Works. Mr. Crawford's grandfather, Edward Harrison Crawford, was a WHS Alumni in the lated 1800s. His mother grew up in the Coal Hollow area. The Crawford family operated a general store where the coal piles are today.

Pictured above is a group of coopers in what is believed to be an arranged picture of the various stages of making barrels. A cooper made wooden barrels or casks. This is just speculation but the picture shows the coopers sitting on a log that the wooden staves were carved out of to make the barrels. Wooden barrels were widely used for packing pottery in straw or saw dust for shipment. The picture is dated c1888 - 1889. It was taken by Wellsville photographer Max Braunberg who was only in town those two years. The location, the men and the child in the picture are unknowns.

Looking at the picture you can see some of the men holding cooper hand tools and other tools propped up near them. Mr. Crawford donated the picture and the hand tools shown, from a collection handed down by his late father. Since the family was closely associated with Wellsville Mr. Crawford thought the River Museum was a good home for the collection, which he plans to add to at a later date. The photo and the tools will eventually be displayed in the Wellsville Room in a newly designed display case made possible by Crawford's generosity.

Shown below the the top picture are the Historical Society officials on hand to receive the donation. From the left are Trustees Jeff Weekley, Pam Smith & Jim Lawrence, Crawford, Beresford and Trustee Tom Davidson. That picture is a little more modern. It was taken on September 19, 2010. The officials are holding the donated tools.

The Wellsville Historical Society meets monthly at the River Museum at 7:30 on the third Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, October 19. New members are always welcome to join and attend. The dues is extremely affordable.

Each meeting features a speaker and tomorrow's program will be by CC EMA Director Darren Dobson. Mr. Dobson will be speaking on the Nixle early warning system. Please consider joining us.

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