History
Keepers
Who We Are...
We have thought about having a local history group for a couple of years... local history is something we are very interested in, and welcome the opportunity to share what we have, and also to make others aware what is in our town, especially its past, and how it should be preserved and promoted so that others can take part in enjoying it all.
Bethany is rich in history, its buildings speak for themselves---the Town Hall, which has been a church meeting place, an Academy, a meeting place for civic groups, etc.--- the churches, with their fine buildings at which our ancestors worshipped and are all still active churches today--- the Genesee County Poor House was located in Bethany, until the 1970s, if its walls could speak, it would tell many tales of the many lives that resided therein--- the County Park--- Bethany's Volunteer Fire Dept., which proudly continues to serve the community---
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(Click On Image For Larger View)
And
as wonderful as it is to see the buildings and what they have stood for
thru time, the lives of Bethany's people are what have truly made Bethany
rich, no matter whether it was the person who painted the portrait
for the 4-cent Lincoln Stamp or the pastor of the Church on the Hill whose
reputation was well known as a pure Christian friend and citizen, or the
farmer who grew the crops year after year after year, uncomplaining, or
the teachers of the thirteen schools throughout the town of Bethany....all
have enriched the town of Bethany in immeasurable ways.
The Bicentennial of Genesee County really started making us think about getting people to become more aware of their town here in Bethany; in November, 2001, we edited and published, "The History of the Town of Bethany." The book was first put out for the town's sesquicentennial in 1962. We wanted to edit the entire book and compare/contrast the old with the new, but found there just wasn't time to do a good job in the amount of time we had; so we published it more or less, "as is", with a few additions such as a surname list, so that Bethany would have something to offer for the Bicentennial year. It is our hope to get books out on the various topics, in the years to come.
We
have just begun to start "organizing" ourselves; Jan. 25th was
our first "meeting"---At this time, we have not scheduled
definite meeting dates--we are going on a month to month basis; our next
meeting is tentatively set for early to mid-June.
We
are not affiliated with the town/government. It is strictly an
informal gathering, for people to learn more about the area, exchange
stories, share photos, maps, etc. and to let one another know where
resources are for research in this locality.
We are letting everyone know that the Bethany Church is trying to find the answer to this question: what happened to the bell?!
The story goes that the steeple blew off the church long ago (perhaps between 1890-1900), but cannot find anything to confirm this fact. Research has included the Daily News and other papers of the time periods, but no solid info has been revealed yet. The bell is hanging in the Town Hall, it was taken there when the church had no steeple left......
The Bethany Center Baptist Church wants to bring the bell back to the church, and make a place out front for it, in a gazebo-type area, with a plaque to relate its background/history-it was made in 1838- (I have already been in contact with the bell-maker's descendant!), and it is hoped to become a "cornerstone and landmark of the community"--and to dedicate it to the pioneers of the church and town, to the citizens of today, and to those who shall live here in the future.
We would welcome anyone who would have an interest in this project that would want to be included, they can contact one of us for further info.---we welcome any assistance with moving the bell (crane? funding, etc.) and preparing the area for the construction of a foundation, etc. for the bell.
The purpose of our group is to have people become aware of the wealth of history right in their own back yard...To raise the interest and enthusiasm.... We want everyone to become as excited as we are about Bethany!!
...Everyone
has a story...and every family's life is important. People are
becoming more interested in genealogy every year; but, your family is more
than just names and dates on a family tree form---they were living people
who worked and did things and went places---and by reading newspapers
of the past and researching reference books at the library or looking at
maps from the past, you can gain a lot of information and breathe some
life into your ancestral past. And meeting with a group of other
people, and sharing stories of the area, you can often find out something
you never might have learned about your family's past or your house's
history or who your road was named after...etc.
I
am presently working on a book which I'm writing about the lives of
the people who lived at the old County Home. My partner is working
on a novel, the setting in Bethany, about the lives of the people who
lived here, married and the life in this area as their children grew up.
It's our hope that people will enjoy reading about these past-times of
Bethany.
Respectfully,
Linda & Don Schmidt,
http://www.arkwebshost.com/family/bluebird/
Lynda Gaetano, is my co-partner in this history group ...her e-mail is:
Lori Carlson, owner of the Carriage Village, was kind enough to allow us to meet there in January. She is also has an avid interest in our local history.