News and Events

(For other ongoing News & Events, check our web site or our Facebook page.)

Life in the Finger Lakes Magazine

What an honor! The January/February 2022 issue of the "Life in the Finger Lakes" magazine published a lovely article about us authored by freelancer James P. Hughes. The photo's in it are excellent, and we particularly like the large one at the bottom of the first page of the article - it shows off our new red metal roofs that provide much needed structural protection (not to mention reduced maintenance!). Look for the magazine in your local store magazine racks both in the aisles and at the checkout counters.

D&C / Daily Messenger Porch Article

Back in August 2021, after the new roof was put on the hall, an article by Patrick Harney was published titled "Changes coming for historic building in Victor, time capsule of 1900's farm life". He talked about our plans to give the porch a makeover as part of our efforts to bring the building back to where it was. He also wrote about the importance of keeping up the maintenance of the rural American site in order to continue to demonstrate the social and cultural importance it played in the history of the area. We were quite pleased to have the acknowledgement and support of our ongoing efforts!

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Sheldon Fishers Porch Sign

Who doesn't remember the porch sign? The sign painted by J. Sheldon Fisher and installed  in one of the windows looking out onto the Hall front porch in the early 1970's occupied the spot for 50+ years... over 30% of the Hall's 146 years of existence! The longevity of the hand painted sign is remarkable. However, time and the elements have taken their toll on the sign such that it is no longer even readable in places. So the sign has been removed from the window and is currently in queue to be restored for the coming season. The restored sign will be exhibited inside the Hall along with a tribute to Mr. Fisher, whom because of his devotion and commitment to the property from the early 1940's and throughout his life, Valentown is still here with us today.

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Grange Room Presentation Expansion

This year we are expanding the presentation of the Grange room on the 2nd floor to include the robust and very relevant history of the Victor Grange (#322) and the intense connection between the original families involved with both the Victor Grange and the construction and operation of Valentown.

It's an exciting time for us as we uncover historical Grange news articles, photos and anecdotes from the late 1800's and early 1900's. With the help of NY State and Ontario County Grange officials,
plus the foraging through our own Collections, we're piecing together an amazing journey!


Descendants of some of the original Valentown families have also joined in to provide material and information!

We will continue the Grange room educational presentations on the agricultural history of the area which is so irrevocably entwined as a foundation for the existence of the Grange. We're even expanding that aspect to include take away goodies in different room displays for visitors!

We sincerely hope our efforts will bring the local and National Grange's Patrons of Husbandry organizations and agricultural awareness back into public consciousness.

The image in the upper left is a copy of the 1875 lithograph that asserts that the farmer is central character upon which all the rest of society relies on. To see the enlarged poster, simply click on the image.

Some of our Grange collection is already available on the website, including a scan of the original Victor Grange charter! Check it out: https://historicvalentownmuseum.org/filemgmt/viewcat.php?cid=23

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Web Site News

Inspired Artwork

While attempting to locate the original colored woodcut (pictured left) to the rare Norman Kent vintage greeting cards we have at the museum, we came across this water color painting dated February 20, 1932 from his estate! We bid on it, and now have it in our collection. (We still haven't located the woodcut, though.)

But that got us thinking... why not share some of the artwork we and others have on the web site? So we've added a new section in the forums that includes some of the artwork done of the museum across the decades. Plans are to also include photo's of some of the 3d models we have on display in the Hall.

Check out our web sites new artists area !

Food, Food, Wonderful Food

Our web site recipe forum now includes two helpful Indexes to quickly and easily do recipe searches!

The Categorical Index (pictured left) lists all of the recipes that are in the forum categories (the red titles). This way you can easily and quickly view which recipes are where without having to browse through each individual category one by one.

The Ingredients Index (pictured right) is exactly that... an index listing all the recipes that include the specific indexed ingredient.

Both Indexes provide quick access to the listed recipes, just click on the links (in blue) and you will be immediately taken to that specific recipe. Also... don't forget we are always happy to add your own "hand me down" family recipes and cooking techniques! If you have a recipe you would like to submit online, simply fill out the form at SurveyMonkey Valentown Recipe Submission. We'll let you know when it goes live on the web site!

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Since COVID we've been hosting our Mason Bee presentations on Zoom. It's worked out really well, we've had participants from all over the country, and even did a special corporate presentation for a Walmart team in Arkansas in support of the initiative the company has to go 100% organic and pesticide free in their produce departments by 2024. We'll be doing the zoom presentations for backyard gardeners again in late March and early April, but we don't have the detailed calendar worked out yet, so if you're interested keep an eye out on our website, FB page and 2nd quarter newsletter. Or just email us directly to keep you in the loop (info@historicvalentownmuseum.org).

Just a reminder, your Amazon shopping can help Historic Valentown!

See illustrated instructions on how to set it up  and what to visually expect in our forums:
How to set up a Smile.Amazon.com Account

Please consider becoming a community member of Victor Historical Society and support
HISTORIC VALENTOWN on a yearly basis. Members get to vote and have other perks as well.

Recipes

See our collection of recipes and hints, tips and substitutions at
http://historicvalentownmuseum.org/forum/index.php?cat=2

Spaghetti in Garlic and Avocado Sauce

This quick and easy sauce is a tasty heart healthy alternative to tomato based and Alfredo type sauces. The sauce goes with any hot pasta, but my personal favorite pasta to use is strand pasta (spaghetti, linquini, fettucine). The other thing I love about it is you can freeze the sauce and later then thaw it out and heat it up.
~~~ Submitted by Lynne

INGREDIENTS (2 servings: 2 cups ea. of cooked pasta)

1 Avocado peeled, pitted and chopped
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 large Garlic toe, finely minced
1/4 tsp salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
Whole milk, room temp (1/4 cup to 1/2 cup depending on your preference for thickness/consistency)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Melt butter in a heavy saucepan.
2. Saute minced garlic in butter over low-medium heat until tender. Do not let garlic brown!
3. Remove saucepan from heat, and add chopped avocado, salt and pepper.
4. Using a potato masher, mash avocado mixture until smooth.
5. Over medium heat, gradually add room temp whole milk, stirring and mashing until sauce reaches your desired consistency.

Stir into hot pasta or serve immediately over hot pasta, and if desired sprinkle with grated Parmesan, Romano or Asiago cheese.


Though delicious all by itself, nice to add to the finished pasta are halved cherry tomato's or sauteed mushrooms. This sauce also pairs very nicely with a side of shrimp scampi, or with shrimp sauteed in garlic butter and then added to the pasta.

Levi's Tool Box

Hello Friends,

As you know, Valentown Hall is a very unique building. When it was operating the shop keepers would use tools like the ones in our collection for their work. Also in our collection are many household tools. Some tools require a skilled hand and some muscle, but other tools have specific purposes for use in the kitchen, for sewing and dressing, and a variety of other purposes. Going forward, Levi's Tool Box will share images and history of our more unique tools as presented by one of our Tool Talkers. We hope you enjoy hearing from our Tool Talkers and learning about the tools from our collection here.

  - LEVI

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