The History Club of Brockport, organized in 1897 by Miss Mary Seymour, celebrated its 125th anniversary this year, making it one of the longest continuous organizations in Brockport.
The legacy of the History Club of Brockport is carried on today by a wide variety of women, not only from Brockport, but also from Churchville, Hamlin, Spencerport, and Sweden. These women share a keen interest in preserving the truth of history through researched presentations, mutually shared and freely discussed, at bi-monthly meetings. Papers focus on a specific topic chosen each year by the President/Chairperson. This year’s theme focused on local history: “Life in 1897 Brockport: What was it Like?” Previous themes included: Prominent Nobel Prize winners; Ladies of the White House; American History Through its Humor; and Immigration: The Changing Face of America, to name a few.
The 2021-2022 program year culminated on May 6 with a Spring Luncheon at the Cobblestone Schoolhouse in Churchville. Members received commemorative mugs and enjoyed the presentation of guest speaker, Sue Savard, local historian, author, and Director of Volunteers for the Emily L. Knapp Museum. Dressed in period clothing and using sources from police blotters and newspaper articles dating from late 19th century, Savard entertained with her extensive knowledge of “The Underbelly” of Brockport’s past – the stories that are often omitted from the history books.
The History Club will continue its program in the fall, exploring the “Global Arts of Antiquity: Changing Through Time and Place.”
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