Medina High School - Mirror Yearbook (Medina, NY)

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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

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Into my hemftlv trenerniy I flipped it coin Theit time ceznnot take Nor iz thief pnrloin-- Oh, hetter than the inintintg Of it gold crowned king If the mfe-kept meinoigf Of it lovebf thing. 'SARA TEASDALE