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January 15, 2017
Issue No. 3
www.westsidenewsny.com
SOUTH EDITION
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Churchville-Riga, North Chili, Spencerport-Ogden
NYS Canal System designated a National Historic Landmark As New York State prepares to honor the bicentennial of construction of the Erie Canal in 2017, there is new cause for celebration. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and National Park Service Acting Director Michael T. Reynolds announced that the NYS Canal System has been designated a National Historic Landmark. The designation places New York’s operating canals among the premier historic sites in the United States. “This recognition from the highest levels of our nation reminds us once again of the essential role New York State and its waterways have played in our country’s development and prominence,” said Bob Radliff, executive director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “This designation recognizes the canals’ significance, raises community pride, invites new investments, and enhances their status for residents and visitors.” The National Historic Land- Saturday, January 7 on a frozen Erie Canal in Spencerport. Photo by Joe Pompili. mark designation includes the Less than three percent of the thousands Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga- between 1905 and 1918. They remain in serSeneca canals. Direct successors of canals vice today passing commercial and pleasure of places currently listed on the National built during the 1820s, these waterways vessels between the Atlantic Ocean and the Register of Historic Places are designated National Historic Landmarks. The desigwere enlarged to their current dimensions Great Lakes.
nation specifically recognizes the canal for its role in shaping the American economy and settlement, as an embodiment of the Progressive Era emphasis on public works, and as a nationally significant work of early 20th century engineering and construction. Its 450 miles of navigation channels, locks, lift bridges, dams, power houses and maintenance shops together represent a significant, distinctive and exceptional entity. Much credit for the canal’s historical integrity can be attributed to generations of state canal workers who have operated and maintained the system for the past 100 years. The ongoing stewardship of lock and bridge operators, bank walkers, and tug and dredge crews, engineers and administrators has preserved this nationally significant resource in remarkable condition. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, in partnership with the NYS Canal Corporation, spearheaded the nomination, which received full support from members of Congress whose districts include the canal, as well as Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York State agencies, canal communities and others. Provided information
WWII Vet receives honorary diploma from Churchville-Chili by Kristina Gabalski The demands of farming, serving his country in the Army in WWII and raising his family in Churchville, kept 90-year old Arthur Gay Jr. from getting a high school diploma ... until now. Gay was presented with an honorary diploma from Churchville-Chili Central School Tuesday evening, January 10, during the regular meeting of the school board of education. “I thought it wasn’t possible,” Gay said following the ceremony, “I’m feeling very happy.” Gay’s three children graduated from Churchville-Chili and his daughter Anne Levitt, who lives in Henrietta, explained that she requested her father be presented with the honorary diploma following a recent Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C. Levitt said her dad was interviewed regarding his war experiences by the
Library of Congress, and was asked if he had graduated from high school. After they returned home, Levitt called her alma mater, Churchville-Chili, to see if an honorary diploma could be awarded to her dad. “They said they were willing to work with us,” she said. “It was amazing to watch it all work,” she noted of the January 10 ceremony. “Churchville-Chili did a nice job.” Gay said he attended grade school at a one room school house which stood on the corner of Sweden Walker Road and Route 31. “I didn’t go very often,” he joked. Gay left school in the 6th grade to help on the family farm in Brockport. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 18 and served in Japan during WWII. Following basic training at Ft. Bragg, he served under General Douglas MacArthur in field artillery and helped liberate three Japanese islands. Gay was in Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
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Arthur Gay Jr., receives his honorary diploma from Churchville-Chili Central School Superintendent Lori Orologio while school board members, family and members of the Harvey C. Noone American Legion Post look on. K. Gabalski photo.