Living in Greece

These articles offer perspectives on what it was like to live in the Town of Greece in the past. Many are from the archives or newsletters of the Greece Historical Society. If you would be interested in learning more about the Town of Greece’s history, please feel free to contact us at (585) 225-7221.

(These stories, are the property of the Greece Historical Society, which retains all right thereto. The contributors to these stories provide them for non-commercial, personal, educational, and/or research use only. Prior written permission from the Greece Historical Society and the individual authors must be obtained for any other use; including but not limited to commercial or scholarly publications, or any reproductions or redistribution of any kind.)

Share Your Stories and Memories

We love to read stories and memories by YOU or your organization. Each of us has a story to tell. Submit a story about your group or a local history story or memory of growing up in the Town of Greece. Please email your story with photos as a zip file to: greecehistoricalsociety@yahoo.com and in the subject line put Share My Story of Local History or Memories Of Greece N.Y. and the title of your story along with a photo and brief bio so when we publish your story in the newsletter and on the web just like the stories below. Your story should be no more than 500 words. Don’t worry if you’re not an English scholar — we will edit as needed for continuity, grammar, punctuation, etc.

Ontario Beach Park – a series of articles written by Dick Halsey (also contains access to other historical content)

Our Interviews and Older Publications prior to the ones published in the Corinthian Newsletter

Some of the stories of living in Greece may bridge the years that the story is based on some may bridge all years and some may only bridge 2 or 3 of the 50 years spans per each 50-year span starting with 1800-1850, 1900-1950, 1950-2000, and 2000-Present.

Living in Greece Stories (83)Guest Stories (15)1800-1850 (14)1850-1900 (28)1900-1950 (59)1950-2000 (35)2000 – Present (11)From The Historian’s Files (24)Erie Canal (3)Ada Ridge (5)Churches (1)North Greece (3)Hamlets of Greece (8)Pioneer Families (23)Designated Landmark (6)Greece Central School District (2)Charlotte (4)Dewey-Stone Area (6)Dewey-Latta area (1)Supervisors (1)Memorials (1)
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Greece Public Library 1958 – Present

The Greece Public Library, established in 1958, began with a book caravan in the 1920s and temporary locations. By 1962, it had its own building. Over the years, branches opened and closed, and in 2000, a new library building was completed. Today, it continues to evolve, meeting modern needs with a recent interior renovation…

A House and Farm on Buckman Road

Jo Ann Ward Snyder has been researching pioneer families in the Town of Greece for two books. While researching the George Buckman family of Buckman Road, the author discovered that their childhood home was indeed the old Buckman homestead. George and Lucy Buckman raised their three children, James Burl, Homer, and May, who were born here between 1884-1889. The farm was sold to Edward William and Mary Katherine “May” Beck Reilly, who set about farming and raising their family. The property left the Reilly family in the 1990s. Homer, who married Alice Mitchell in 1906, would set his landmark milk…

The Grand Erie Yacht Club

Laurie Eisele explores the remnants of the Grand Erie Yacht Club, founded in 1982 by marina members seeking camaraderie. Bought for $1, operational hurdles were overcome by community support, culminating in a bustling hub of activities until its closure in 1992 due to disagreements and regulatory challenges. Despite its derelict state today, it remains a nostalgic symbol of resilience and cherished memories for former patrons…

The Grand View Beach Club

In the early 20th century, Grand View Beach Club on Rochester’s lakeshore was a social hub for entertainment and civic advocacy. Built in 1902, it hosted dances, movies, and raffles until membership dwindled in the 1950s. Closed and dismantled by 1964, today, only memories and the club’s sign remain with a local resident…

Greece Little League – 70 Years Old!

Celebrating 70 years of Greece Little League program, starting in 1954 as Barnard Little League it evolved over 70 years to where it has expanded to cover all of the Town of Greece, parts of Charlotte and all of the Town of Hilton to the number of players and teams and now they have a 42-arce complex on Latta road with 13 fields…

Ralph Francis: Black Activist and Abolitionist

Marie Poinan presented on Charlotte ferries’ history, highlighting Ralph Francis, a black ferry operator who might have aided the Underground Railroad (UGRR). With limited records due to UGRR secrecy, Francis’s activism and circumstantial evidence, including his property and business ties, support possible involvement. After facing personal tragedies and potential danger, he disappeared, later resurfacing in Canada, with Poinan continuing research on his elusive history…

A Vineyard in Greece

The Fetzner family, German immigrants to Greece, originally established their reputation through making and repairing transport vehicles. Later, J.P. Fetzner ventured into the liquor business, founding several successful companies including the Rochester Liquor & Distilling Company and the Lake Ontario Wine Company. However, following J.P.’s death in 1909, his businesses quickly collapsed, revealing significant financial mismanagement…