A History of Greenwood by Those Who Lived It

Okay, you got me, it really isn't Grace, it is the essence of Grace. In 2026, this blog will bring back those funny articles about what...

Recognize this house? Tis the season for parties... Principal and Mrs Wesley Tenant hosted a Christmas party for the school faculty and their spouses. Gifts were exchanged and refreshments were served. The Order of the Eastern Star held their party where Secret Pals were revealed. If you were a member, who was your Secret Pal? The Rebekah Lodge held their Christmas party with an exchange of gifts. Refreshments included a birthday cake for the December birthdays. Mrs Helen Hig

While this was taken in 2019 by Perry Streeter, thanks Perry, I have a feeling that it may have looked basically the same up on Christian Hollow in 1956. Now, back to 1956... September brought: Greenwood's own Walter Redmond gave a series of lectures on the planet Mars at the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. In 1956, Mr Redmond was the head of astronomy at the Corning Glass Center. Later in 1957, he became a staff astronomer at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, NY and

Good ol' GCS with those triple terraces. From this image, they do not look so imposing, do they? Greenwood Central School was built on land purchased from the Monroe Tyler estate in 1935 and opened in 1937. In 1949, a School Board was elected which included Marion Streeter, Paul Harkenrider, Gordon Pease, and Clarence Stephen's with Virgil Hussey as District Superintendent. Under the direction of Howard Lamphier with the assistance of Hugh and Harley Lamphier, along with th

As you have read the 25 Days of Christmas and the stories of the first few Greenwoodians, you have probably identified a pattern of events...visits. The news is full of visits from business people, relatives and friends to Greenwood for the day or just for dinner and longer visits such as the hunters coming and staying with local families. And, Greenwoodians visiting local communities to shop or see their friends and family or travelling for vacation or even spending time els

Along with long lists of visits and visitors, and a little entertainment, it seems a lot of the news involved elections of all kinds. Let's start with some entertainment. The Aylesworth Sisters, vocalists and musicians presented a program at the Opera House. "They are greeted with applause wherever heard." Who knows anything about these sisters? Were they local? I found a set of 4 sisters from Canada; but, no mention of musical talent. Also at the Opera House, an entertainmen

I am going to skip 1909 for the most part. But, will mention that in the summer, the Wallace family held a reunion at the home of Jarvis Wallace and the Pease Young families had one too at the home of Floyd Pease. And, that there was a piano dance at the Opera House in honor of Miss G Cheeseman. Who knows what a piano dance is? I can venture to guess it was a dance accompanied by just a piano; but, if you know more, add it in the Facebook Comments for everyone to read. Let's

1908 was filled with snow, talk of gas prices and new wells and a little politicing. In early May, yes, I said May, of 1908, 2 to 6 inches of snow fell in town with drifts of 4 to 6 feet on the roads up on the hills. Roads were impassible. Travelers to the farms had to go into the fields to get around the drifts. This picture is not from 1908; but from 1940 which proves nothing changed for over 30 years around Greenwood when it came to snow and drifts. This is up on what is n

In 1907, it seems that the townspeople, or maybe just the reporter, had a fixation on the financial side of the happenings in good ol' Greenwood. If you ever wanted to know who and when anyone stepped foot in or out of Greenwood, where they were going and for what purpose, the Greenwood News section of the Canisteo or Whitesville paper is for you. Ladies taking a trip to Hornell for shopping, we got it. Salesmen in town, we got that too. Check it out at https://fultonhistory

This is not all about Christmas. However, it depicts the way "news" was provided in 1900 in a small rural town called Greenwood. It may explain why Greenwood continued this quaint custom well into the 1970s with Grace Young sharing visits and holiday gatherings in the Greenwood News. I find it entertaining. Maybe you will too. Let's walk through a year in the life... While this depicts a later 1910 nitroglycerin explosion in Fulmer Valley, Wellsville NY, this is the valley ci

Many spent this holiday deployed in Vietnam. Bob Hope traveled to visit the troops and presented his Christmas Special: Around the World with the USO . Take a few moments and read the true story of The Day it Snowed in Vietnam by Jim Schueckler, founder of The Virtual Wall : http://www.virtualwall.org/snow/ Now, back to the good ol' USA. One of the most watched movies of 1969 was Disney's The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes with Kurt Russell. My sister, Joan Murray Kline, love

I know, I skipped 1967; but, it was eerily similar to 1966...The boy scouts sold trees and had a party...the cub scouts had a party at the homes of their den mothers and Bennett's Creek Home Bureau provided decorations and tray favors for the Harris Nursing Home. Christmas in the United States during the late 1960s was a dichotomy... The 1960s brought a fresh, new look to Christmas tree aesthetics.  A completely modern look--the aluminum Christmas tree.   It made a shiny, met

I have now traveled to 1966 when we found out How the Grinch Stole Christmas for the first time. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a children's story by Theodor Geisel, better know as Dr Seuss, written in rhyme, of course, with illustrations by the author. It follows the Grinch, a grumpy, solitary creature who attempts to put an end to Christmas by stealing Christmas-themed items from the homes of the nearby town Whoville on Christmas Eve. The story was published as a book

I am still hanging around in the 1960s. Throughout the sixties in small towns all over the United States, children were waiting for the Sears Wish Book to arrive. Check out those prices! Do you remember wearing pullovers and tights that matched? I remember waiting for the day the catalog arrived. The Murray kids would immerse themselves in it, marking pages and putting their names next to special requests for Christmas morning. Our catalog would be tattered and torn well befo

The town of Greenwood was in full swing with holiday events and sharing with others. What were you doing to celebrate? The Greenwood Grange met at the IOOF Hall for their Christmas program and gift exchange planned by Kathryn Krusen, lecturer. The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints held a Christmas meeting of the Women's Division to pack boxes for shut-ins and sick children. The Zion League and Church School presented their program at the Sunday service f

A quiet day downtown. based on the VW, 1960's. You have experienced the first of the series over the last month. I hope you are enjoying reading my blog posts as much as I am enjoying researching, interviewing, and writing them. As I have shared, I will continue to feature long-time Greenwood families and/or citizens, well, until I run out of people or stories. I appreciate the families that have already contacted me and am looking forward to our chats. Every conversation ha