A Ransom Note Volume 16 Issue 2
Board of Trustees Thomas A. Steffan, President Joan Woodward, Secretary Sandra Larkin, Treasurer Daniel Gamin David Hormell Douglas Larkin Howard Payne Jon Rothenmeyer Robert Geiger, Town Board Liaison
Board Meetings: Thursday May 5, 2016 Thursday June 2, 2016
In This Issue President’s Message
Spring 2016
President’s Message Your board of Trustees recently received training in Exhibit Display from the WNY Association of Historical Agencies. We have designated Sandra Larkin to head a committee for exhibit preparation and display. We are looking forward to experiencing the creativity she will bring to the organization. In other matters, Daniel and Patti Gamin have made a conditional gift of funds payable upon our getting a shovel in the ground for an Agri-History Building! I intend to work hard to see that gift realized in the very short future. Watch for more here! Also, kudos to 93 year old Charlie Butler, lifelong Clarence resident, now living at Brothers of Mercy on Bergtold Road. Charlie tells me that, when he was a young boy, an older gentleman sitting in a rocking chair on the porch at Humbert’s General Store on Main Street threw rock candy to him at Halloween. So, what’s the big deal? That gentlemen was Clarence’s famous Civil War soldier, Jacob P. Humbert. Yes, that Jacob Humbert. Charlie’s story checks out. If he’s 93 years old, then he was born in 1923. He was probably eight years old in 1931 when Jacob Humbert sat on his porch. Humbert, born in 1845, lived to the age of 94, dying on February 19, 1939. So the Civil War hero was probably in his late 80’s when he connected on that candy pass to Charlie on or about 1931. There is 187 years of history running through these two men’s lives, and two years ago we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, the new birth of freedom of our country. Charlie recently identified a picture of the late Jacob in a Power Point video presentation I gave to the men’s club over at the Brothers. We have a first generation link to the Civil War still alive and well in Charlie Butler! More history from Charlie will be coming soon!
May 2016 Program Clarence HS Baseball Meet John Kraus Museum Re-Opening
May 2016 Program You are invited to the historical society’s May 10, 2016 program, titled “GETTYSBURG”. This is a new program presented by the popular local speaker, Greg Kinal. The program begins at 7:00 PM at the Town Park Clubhouse, located at 10405 Main Street. Doors will open at 6:30 PM and refreshments will be served. We look forward to seeing you! Our attendance at the 2016 programs has been exceptional!
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A Ransom Note
Volume 16 Issue 2
High School Baseball in Clarence
1966 Clarence High School Varsity Baseball Team
“Rounders” - an English term from the 1700’s—a complete run of players through all the bases. Probably the ancestor of American Baseball! From Wiki -”Rounders is a striking and fielding team game that involves hitting a small, hard, leather –cased ball with a rounded end wooden bat.
Volume 16 Issue 2
A Ransom Note
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Meet John Kraus Father of scientific farming in Clarence. Born on Oct 4 1829, in Lancaster, NY, which was then part of the Town of Clarence, of immigrant parents. John was an avid reader. As a teenager John began thinking ‘outside of the box’. His world consisted of growing food, farm animals and gardening. He first experimented with grafting trees at age 14 and using his strong power of observation moved on to the study of wheat. Clarence soil was fertile and good for farming so John patiently worked to improve their crop output. He finally succeeded in producing a hybrid wheat crop in 1873. The new wheat was hardier and produced a more tender head. In 1859 he married Anna Bicksler and together they had 5 children, Mrs. Peter Rhodes, Henry, George, Albert and Clarence. His farm was located on the north east corner of Kraus and Greiner Rds. Kraus was elected President of the Agricultural Society of Erie County, was loan commissioner of the Clarence School Board, served as Supervisor of the Town of Clarence as well as a term in the New York State Assembly. John Kraus died March 3, 1908 at the age of 88 after a long and fruitful life and was buried in Clarence Center Cemetery. John’s son, Clarence continued his father’s work and also was known for his orchard, bulb and nursery endeavors.
Images of John Kraus Christianna Bicksler Kraus And Kraus Farm
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Clarence, NY PERMIT # 17
10465 Main Street P.O. Box 86 Clarence, New York 14031-0086 Phone: (716) 759-8575 Email: clarencehistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Website: www.clarencehistory.com Facebook: Historical Society of the Town of Clarence
Reopening: Our Museum opens again June 5th! New Hours: First and Third Sundays 1 – 3 PM The stone building has had a face lift, with new exhibits and fresh arrangement. The new look will be telling our history again with some different artifacts on display. All are invited to visit and your comments and suggestions are always helpful. More open hours will be announced. During the renovations this winter, the town workers discovered a lot of roof leakage and water damage as well as unwanted visitors who had taken up residence. A 40 lb. raccoon and a large 30 lb. woodchuck, not to mention a few mouse families, have now been relocated. As we continue to freshen the museum, we will be posting upcoming exhibit changes. We hope you will come to see what’s new!