The first program of the Western Monroe Historical Society lecture season will take place on Saturday, September 26, at the Morgan-Manning House, 151 Main Street in Brockport. “Smoke, Fire and Ashes” will review the September 26, 1964 fire that severely damaged the Morgan-Manning House exactly 51 years ago. Slides taken before and after the fire will be shown. Brockport volunteer firefighters and others will tell of their involvement at the fire. The program was produced and will be moderated by Pete Randazzo, a trustee of the Society. It is offered free by the Society, beginning at 7 p.m. and followed by refreshments.
Volunteers who restored the home in 1965 organized as the Western Monroe Historical Society that year. The year 2015 is the 50th anniversary of the Society which has preserved the 1854 structure as Brockport’s landmark jewel and serving as a museum with archives for historical research, a center for community activity, and headquarters for the Society.
Participating Brockport Fire Department firemen in the presentation will be: Past Chief Norman Knapp, Past Chief Larry Vaughan, Ed Hefke, Dean Westcott, Past Lieutenant Kermit Mercer, Dick DeRuyscher, Marvin Duryea, and Charles McCullough. Other presenters include Jeff Brown, Jack Mazzarella, and Charles Garlock who is a descendant of the Morgan family.
“The 50th Anniversary of the Western Monroe Historical Society has the theme ‘Out of the Ashes,’” Pete Randazzo said about the phoenix imagery that relates to the presentation. “The program will include testimony from the firemen who fought the fire and how their courageous efforts saved the building and rescued Mrs. Sara Manning who, unfortunately, died the next day. If they had not acted, the building could have been destroyed and the Western Monroe Historical Society would not have been formed.”
For information phone the Society office at 637-3645.
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