LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - JANUARY 30, 2022 by Lynne Belluscio I’ve been reading a very interesting book, “The Smithsonian’s History of America in 101 Objects” by Richard Kurin, of the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian has often been described as the “nation’s attic.” The book poses some interesting questions, about what objects a museum chooses to save that reflect its history. Obviously, the Smithsonian is concerned about the history of the United States, but museums like the LeRoy Historical Society, face that question every day. Most recently, as people “downsize,” we are offered family heirlooms. “My kids don’t want this stuff. Will you take it?” And the truth is, we don’t have room for everything, but there are some pretty amazing things that we do want. For that reason, we have an official “Collections Policy” which gives us guidelines as to what we keep. Through the years, we have accepted some very important things. And we have accepted entire collections. For example, soon after the Historical Society was formed in 1940 – even before Allen Olmsted donated the LeRoy House to the Historical Society in 1942 - - plans were being made to transfer the objects that the DAR had collected, to the Historical Society. Then Roy MacPherson, the Historical Society’s first president, donated his huge collection of farming tools. So, with using Kurin’s book as a guideline, I started to make a list of 101 objects that reflect the history of LeRoy. (This is a work in progress.) 1. The original 1899 Jell-O contract between Pearle Wait and the Genesee Pure Food Company. (The story of how the contract came to the Historical Society is fascinating.) 2. Autographed photo of Amelia Earhart 3. Original Triangle Tract Indenture book 4. Myron Pierson’s Civil War sword and diary 5. Edward Agustus LeRoy’s journal of his 1854 journey with Admiral Perry when Japan was opened for trade with the United States (The story of how this journal was “lost” and then saved, is amazing.) 6. First edition of the biography of Mary Jemison 7. Sections of the logs from the cabin on East Main Road that was razed. - Dendrochronology borings taken from these logs which proved that the cabin was not standing during the War of 1812. 8. Stone gorget, carved by pre-Iroquois, Woodland Indians living in this area 9. Charlotte LeRoy’s 1822 manuscript recipe book 10. Herman LeRoy’s portrait 11. Door knocker from Ernest Woodward’s house on East Main Street that was razed 12. Ida Taylor’s chair 13. Block of salt manufactured in LeRoy 14. 1940 Book of photographs of LeRoy – we have both copies 15. Myrtle Burrel’s jacket 16. Myron Pierson’s Civil War diary and sword 17. Jacob LeRoy’s desk 18. Only known copy of Pearl Wait’s Jell-O ad 19. Triangle Tract indenture book 20. The 1868 Republican Canon 21. Bacon parlor stove cast in LeRoy on Bacon Street 22. American flag made by Betsey Ross’s granddaughter, Rachael Albright -these were made and sold to raise money for the preservation of the Betsey Ross House 23. Lent/Klinkbeil pumphouse 24. Four Ingham rose plants 25. Union Steel Chest made of copper 26. Box of Mr. Wiggle Jell-O 27. Jewelry made from animal and human hair 28. Records from the Steuber Funeral Home 29. Stuffed giraffe head 30. Navy uniform worn by Robert Kettle while serving as Presidential Aide at the White House 31. Rotary phone from Historical Society office 32. 1908 Cadillac donated by the Kellogg family 33. Wood from the wall around Andersonville Prison 34. Cast iron fence posts from the Lent tomb 35. Plastic pink flamingo Objects in the Collection 1. 10. 17. 24. 35. 23.