Cobblestone Museum open Mother's Day

On Sunday, May 12 (Mother's Day) the Cobblestone Society Museum buildings at Childs, located at Routes 104 and 98, will be open free to all visitors between the hours of 1 to 5 p.m. This year's annual open house will feature two special displays both occurring at the historic Cobblestone Church.

The sanctuary of the Cobblestone Church will be decorated as it might have been for Children's Day back in the 1870s or 1880s. This will include garlands of flowers draped on the sides of the galleries. Children's Day in many Protestant churches years ago was a highlight of the church year. Often the last Sunday of June, church interiors were profusely decorated with flowers while children provided recitations, sometimes in costumes, along with special music.

Albion photographer Veronica Morgan will have a display of her photos taken during the four seasons of the still bridges along the Erie Canal through Orleans County. This exhibit will be located at the Cobblestone Church in the Proctor Room located on the ground floor.

Keeping with the tradition of the annual Mother's Day open house at the Cobblestone Museum, all mothers will receive a complementary carnation.

The historic blacksmith shop built in 1921 by J. H. Vagg, which is part of the museum complex, is under extensive restoration. The building suffered foundation problems over several years. Society board member David Heminway has volunteered hundreds of hours correcting settling problems. More recently, more than 30 jacks have been put into place to level the floor and regain a straight and level ridge to the roof line.

Over a number of years, portions of the front foundation wall parallel to Route 98 have collapsed. Through donations from Cobblestone Society members, by an annual appeal letter, and a grant from the Orleans County Foundation, masonry work has been done. Heminway has solicited the physical help of different family members for help in replacing rafters and floor joists.

All seven historic buildings will be open free for tours.