Medina High School - Mirror Yearbook (Medina, NY)

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.,-.1.M,. - .47 ,-- - - , - - ,- -T -- - -s,5,- ,-ll M' TL XY. .1-L i ki -- 1 ' Y - ,. . :-' li - -gff a ' ,,1L X ,- 55-s':.1'-Q-1?--E24 l:i:E:::1,X G ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 5 4 ! Q ! Q Q Q Q ! 2252255235 'I ' 2i:2:2:2:2:3. . ' : 1 E H131 'I' 'EI'il'll215 A -1 .1 4-1-.:.-.-X : : I it-. , 'g -i' j A , ...Q-QP E-M. T' W Y' 'J 4- ' 'T 11. 1 - -.:, - ---R l1T M f Y 1-31-- - Y - ' fir' A.'P V ' ... F ----- ---- - -------.-.......,1-,S 5 I 5 I l - - - 'I F ! ! Ill ! ! Masai I I na 'I I W :i i i F P F :E . -tag Y- i 1 f 1'-f C fskflg 8 5-1 .T f. V Y- 1 i f n, 11. 1 QUE all EIIIIIIE W ' ?E Fi? EO?-.3 Txtlx, ENG- 2 ' 5 E a s IJ '11 :...'.-.f...v--32 , Q, QW, 1 .---L+--Lai--gi,,+ 3? ' : t-55 ' IILAP The business section of Medina expanded with the rest of the town. One of the first of the so-called blocks was the Arcade Building, which was erected some time in the 1840's on the charred ruins of the burned Eagle House. The Arcade Building, which is shown on the left, had many alterations and survived many vicissitudes. At first three stores occupied it, but in the 1870's H. N. Bancroft added a tower to it and changed it to a hotel called the Bancroft House. It was finally burned in 1922, when it was known as White's Hotel. Pk bk if Educational opportunities were extremely scanty in Medina for many years. In 1825 a log cabin was erected to serve as a school. School terms were uncertain, and teachers were more so. Intemperance and ignorance were common faults, since the chief qualification for an instructor was his ability to maintain discipline among the older boys. The first district school was organized in 1835. It was a one story building, which was later enlarged to serve as an arsenal for the local militia. This structure still remains as a barn in the rear of the Walsh House. Not until 1850 did Medina secure a high school or acad- emy, as institutions of learning were then called. Before this date, students from Medina attended the large and flourishing academies at Yates or Millville. The Medina Academy proved an instantaneous success with over five hundred students. A stone building, pictured on the left, was erected and served as the center of learning for about forty-five years in Medina. Fkfkvlf The first citizens of Medina early gave attention to the spiritual needs of life. In 1827 St. Luke's Episcopal Church was incorporated. Shortly afterward the name was changed to St. John's, and the Rev. Richard Salmon was called as the first rector. In 1836 a stone edifice, depicted on the left, was completed. On February 19, 1829 a Baptist Church was organized at Medina as an outgrowth of a weak congregation at Ridge- way Corners. The first minister was the Rev. E. Savage, and the first edifice was dedicated in 1832. The Presbyterian Society in Medina was organized March 19, 1829 with the Rev. George Coan as first pastor. The first church to be built in Medina was erected in 1832 by this organization. The Methodist Episcopal Church in Medina was formed on September 27, 1830 with the Rev. Thomas Harker as first minister. In 1833 a stone church was built. In 1849 the Roman Catholics began to hold regular serv- ices with the Rev. John Boyle as first priest. 8

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MEDINA growth of western boom towns, yet 800 people came here in seven years-and, furthermore, came to make homes. In 1829 a post office was established, and three years later Medina was incorporated as a village by the legislature. An Indian agent was also appointed by the government to maintain peace and harmony among its red-skinned charges surrounding Medina, and a night watchman was hired. This completed the framework of local government. Among those prominent in establishing Medina as a political subdivision was Justus Ingersoll, a tanner. In 1826 he came to Medina and built a large brick tannery, shown in the illustration on the right, on East Center Street west of Oak Orchard Creek. However, the tannery business faded out completely, although it was a leading industry with the early settlers, and the building was converted into a flour mill. Justus Ingersoll was also the first post- master of Medina and Indian agent. In addition, he was Justice of the Peace and one of the trustees on the first Village Board. The other members of the Board were N. Sawyer, the Hrst lawyer, Asahel Woodruff, James C. Evans, and Halstead H. Parker. vkvkvk Transportation facilities on land for some years were con- spicuous by their absence. The Erie Canal was the main outlet and the chief means of travel. The roads were nearly impassable to anyone not on horseback, except at favorable times when two-wheeled carts and oxen were used. To meet this condition, in 1834 the Medina 84 Darien Railroad was built. This was a horse car line with rolling stock similar to the picture to the right. However, since its operation proved unprofitable, this road was discon- tinued after a few years. Traces may still be seen of its road- bed. Another railroad venture, the Medina 84 Lake Ontario Railroad, although incorporated, was never built. In 1850 the Rochester, Lockport 8: Niagara Falls Railroad was put through. This now forms a part of the present New York Central System. Dk Bk Pk As roads grew better and the country about Medina was settled, there was a growing demand for wagons and car- riages. Accordingly, in 1849, a carriage factory was estab- lished here by Edward Davey. This building on the right is one of the several that made up this plant. For many years the industry was very successful, but it will never again attain the prosperity it once had. Thus is shown the mutability of human affairs. 7 - , ,YW i'+.-.,M - -,Tir Y ---- L - ...- -1 -'-lMT - H, 111 - xl f- '- as -2-22 :Q .1 'F- sas X-A Y - HH! IIII un my NZ l7 . I Y? , 9 i I I: E? I :IW S 5? Q I Sf, - fa 2' as ll T S- I : :xiii 5 WlT1 xlllQl,.ff X ZZ? A A A, 1 nw , tl iii' V, rilflrn A I. La' I luulnllgi-.,r,,.. fx iljffzu 1' 'I I e 'iiiif if IQ? E lili if 7, Ll g J 'lm T Fq ai fy Zllllll I l I f ' Q V1 ' i I fn 1 I1mm+lN7'lU ll EEE W Z ....,. ilulxlmli -lilllilil lawnimvufimrlmfxvf .,..

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Y . Nothing has spread abroad the name of Medina more wide- ly than the sandstone that takes its name from this town. Buildings, pavements, and curbs broadcast it throughout the eastern part of the United States. The business of quarrying this stone has been a leading industry about Medina since 1837. The honor of its dis- covery is uncertaing John Ryan and Artemas Allen are rival claimants. The existence of the stone, however, was known long before their time. When excavating for the abutments of one of the bridges over the canal, it was first found. Very mistakenly, as it turned out, it was thought that it would not withstand exposure from the weather, so stone was imported at great cost. Such is the irony of events. When once the durability and the utility of Medina sand- stone were recognized, quarries similar to the one in the picture were opened in the vicinity. The layers of sandstone run from a few inches in width to about four feet, and may be worked with ease. During the last few years, however, the depression has cut deeply into this important industry. bkvkvk In the days before the automobile, when distances seemed longer than they seem now, the need for hotels in small towns was greater. It is not surprising, therefore, to learn that in the 1840's and 185O's, Medina boasted from three to five first-class hostelries. One of the spots wholly de- voted to this business was the corner of Shelby and Center Streets. Here, Otis Turner built the Medina House. In the 1850's the hotel on the corner, depicted on the right, was called Paddock's Hotel. Later, this became the site for the Union Bank Building. Ikfkvk Life was a serious business to the settlers and the older residents of Medina. The main diversions, if they can be so called, were attending church and listening to political speeches. Thus, it was not until rather late in its history that Medina secured a so-called opera house. Even then the features represented in Bent's Opera House, which is shown on the right, would seem decidedly humdrum to our more sophisticated taste. On one night might be seen Rentz's Minstrels, which employed no indecent dress- ing or undressing and which might be attended with al- most as much profit as divine worship. On another night the original Buffalo Bill would hold forth, while on still another occasion Professor Reynold would mystify the populace with mesmerism. Gilbert and Sullivan, Uncle Tom's Cabin, East Lynne, and Ten Nights in a Bar- room were the most popular dramatic fare. 9 f c- -A-,ea e ,vliinn ..-2 ., a 4 wg ,, - lun B 53 wa 1 Ng- nu, ,My HI lrdl fw Q if-. 14,1 -K 2- L I luslluiu rmnizlglum yi? it Mx' mlm -i lllll T ll U Z g!! ! ! 5 4 um! , r---f 1--T F ? I I- e , Y v v X X Y X -I J X bv...-f X V M 'WM E I ' I if Q4 - . : at ll l I: It 1,i I llunn..-Liin ll Us g ! ! l n' nan v, . - 'T 1 , If N ?'mm3,lmg , mmi iii in- -'I f ? - .. -' ' ' ' , IZ., , Y ka I I 1 Tl Efeffelinig l Ill T ' l l ll y n g If 41..-l -'- , . , ,Z Emu