In recent years, the Greece Historical Society has organized a series of in-person programs and lectures. During the period of social distancing, programs were held via Zoom. With permission from the presenter, many of these programs were recorded.
These programs are available here and on the Historical Society’s YouTube channel. Each program entry includes the recording date, program category tags, and a brief description. Some programs are linked to the bicentennial snapshots and Living in Greece stories, offering further research to related materials.
The Historical Society encourages you to explore these informative programs and reach out for further discussions.
(These videos are the property of the Greece Historical Society unless otherwise indicated, which retains all right thereto. The contributors to these videos provide them for non-commercial, personal, educational, or research use only. You must obtain prior written permission from the Greece Historical Society and the individual presenters for any other use. This includes commercial or scholarly publications. It also involves reproductions or redistribution of any video or individual image from the videos.)
Joan of Arc – the Warrior Saint
Mr. Richey’s presentation will explore how Joan of Arc, an illiterate teenage peasant farm girl, a nobody from nowhere, achieved the seemingly impossible. In the...
Crossing the Main Street Bridge
Join Geoffrey Zeiner, creator of the award-winning Gonechester blog, on a captivating journey across Rochester’s Main Street Bridge—a structure that once housed buildings along its...
Before Jackie, The Negro Leagues, Civil Rights and the American Dream
Join us as Mary E Corey examines the era Before Jackie. She explores the Negro Leagues, Civil Rights, and the American Dream. This is a...
A Brief History of Wegmans
Come explore A Brief History of Wegmans by Gary Harris with us as he explores its roots from Fruit and Produce horse and cart stand...
Elsa Von Blumen, Rochester’s First Female Cyclist
Elsa Von Blumen was a Rochesterian who, in the 1880s, raced high-wheeled bikes against horses, skaters, and male cyclists. She overcame challenges in a sport...
The Late Great Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Co. by Donovan Shilling
Explore the History of Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Co. with Donovan Shilling who actually work at Sibley's while attending SUNY Brockport...
The Kannewischer Family: From Berlin to Rochester to Arlidge Drive
An illustrated talk on four generations of a remarkable local family, whose lives, work, recreation, and experiences are chronicled by an extensive archive of historic...
ROC 2024 Solar Eclipse: Preparing for Totality
BY Dan SchneidermanGreece Central School District’s Transportation & Support Service Facility, 1790 Latta Road On Monday, April 8, 2024, The Rochester area will be in...
Celebrating 50 years of WDKX (103.9)
On February 13, 2024, the History of WDKX, the first African-American-owned radio station, will be presented at the Greece Central School District’s Transportation and Support...
Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Western NY
Professor Michael Oberg will discuss Indigenous land rights in western New York, including enduring Native American claims to the land. He is a Distinguished History...
Greece Pioneer Book 2 Project Update
This an update on Pioneer Families Volume 2, content chronicles the complexities experienced when researching and documenting pioneer families and their lineage. The details for...
Turning the Dirt for Frederick Douglas
Rochester’s monument to Frederick Douglass was the first in the country to honor an African American. Reverend Jackson will introduce a locally produced short film...
Fun in the Sun: Adventures in Outdoor Play
Christopher Bensch Stops by the Historical Society and shares activities that are Fun in the sun: Adventures in Outdoor Play with guests that attended the...
The Highland Park Children’s Pavilion
Joann Beck from the Highland Park Conservancy spoke at the Greece Historical Society program, discussing the Frederick Law Olmsted designed Highland Park and the advocacy...
“Set in Stone”: The History of Cobblestone Masonry
"Set in Stone: The History of Cobblestone Masonry", by Douglas Farley. Mr. Farley looks at the geological and social factors that created the perfect storm...
Architect James H. Johnson at St. John’s (May 2012)
In a 2012 recording, architect James H. Johnson discussed his career and unique architectural designs, such as the Liberty Pole, Temple Sinai, the Mushroom House...
Up Close with Two Greece Pioneer Families featuring the Volkmar, Cole/Kenyon Families
Come visit with descendants of two early settlers – the Volkmar and Cole/Kenyon families. Jo Ann Ward Snyder and Maire Poinan interviewed family members when...
Thomas W. Boyde Jr. Resarch Project
Thomas W. Boyde, Jr. was a prolific designer of Mid-Century Modern homes and businesses, but also did significant work designing buildings for economically disadvantaged communities...
Monroe County Bicentennial Reflections (Feb. 2021)
On March 9, 2021, at the Greece Public Library, Monroe County Historian Carolyn Vacca presented a history of the county's 200-year development through 19 towns...
Seabreeze Amusement Park – 142 Years of Family Fun (Jan. 2022)
Explore the history of Seabreeze Amusement Park through photographs and stories with Kevin Dorey, Seabreeze Park Historian. Seabreeze is the fourth-oldest operating amusement park in...
The Making of “Pioneer Families of the Town of Greece: Volume 1”
Co-authors Marie Villone Poinan and JoAnn Ward Snyder conducted extensive research to create and publish a two-volume work on pioneer families who settled in Greece...
Life within the Boundaries of our Airport (Oct. 2021)
"Stranger Than Fiction" is a presentation by Rick Iekel focusing on the trials and triumphs associated with running the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport...
Flower Industry in Western NY (June 2021)
In June 2021, Nellie Gardner spoke at the Greece Historical Society giving an insight into the flower industry of Western NY, and presented her own...
Researching Your Town of Greece Family (June 2021)
A presentation about researching your family in anticipation of the town’s Bicentennial in 2022. With Barb Koehler, JoAnn Ward Snyder, and Marie Poinan...
Park Avenue to Park Ridge (Hospital) (May 2021)
On May 11, 2021, Kathleen Britton discussed the evolution of Park Avenue Hospital in Rochester. The institution relocated to Greece, New York, transforming into Park...
Rochester Goes to Washington – Supreme Court Cases (Apr. 2021)
In this Zoom presentation, join James Valenti as he discusses the Rochester court case, Nebbia v. New York, which made its way to the Supreme...
Carousels of Monroe County
Linda Bartash-Dawley unveiled her work, "Carousels of Monroe County," in a recent presentation. The narrative represents a comprehensive exploration of the historical carousels in Monroe...
Everyday People – The Dinkle Family and Rochester’s African-American Past
On February 9, 2021, Karen Dinkle Bunton and Jerry Bunton engaged in a Zoom discussion about Rochester's Black History from the Dinkle family's perspective. The...
Mark Twain and the Civil War (Jan. 2021)
On January 12, 2021, a presentation titled "Mark Twain and the Civil War" was delivered by Rosemary Irwin. The event, recorded via Zoom, discussed the...
Education in Greece Central School District during COVID-19 pandemic
Superintendent Kathleen Graupman, of GCSD, shared experiences via Zoom about how education has unfolded during the COVID-19 pandemic, outlining specific successes and hurdles faced in...
Sons of the American Revolution (Nov. 2020)
Robert Coomber talks about the Sons of the American Revolution and what the local chapter does to honor those who fought in the Revolutionary War...
Past Meets the Present when Fourth Graders Honor the Fallen in Pittsford (Oct. 2020)
8 Brave Civil War Soldiers: Past Meets the Present when Fourth Graders Honor the Fallen in Pittsford, a discussion with Toni Stevens-Oliver, Thornell Road elementary...
Public Shortcuts by Wally Rust Sept 21, 2020
On September 21, 2020, Wally Rust discussed public shortcuts and sidewalks, with a particular focus on the Music Box Steps popularized in Laurel & Hardy...
Museum Quality Storage of Family Heirlooms and Photos (June 2020)
Kate Jacus gave a program titled "Museum Quality Storage for Family Heirlooms and Photos," on June 9, 2020. The Greece Public Library and the Greece...
Lake Ontario – the Past Sixty Years (July 2019)
On July 14, 2019, at the Greece Historical Society Museum, Don Riley provided an eyewitness account detailing the influence of Lake Greece on the region's...
Irish Families of Greece
Marie Poinan presents an exploration of Irish families from the Mother of Sorrows parish who settled around Latta Road. This presentation features rare photographs sourced...
Architecture of James H. Johnson (May 2019)
Presented by Katie Eggers Comeau and Christopher Branch at the Greece Public Library on May 14, 2019. Introduction by Gina DiBella. This is post review...
The Colonel Patrick O’Rorke Society (Apr. 2019)
Learn about the Colonel Patrick O'Rorke Memorial Society by Tom O'Connell...
Collecting Antique Bottles (Mar. 2019)
Jack Stecher, a member of the Genesee Valley Bottle Collectors Association, discusses the hobby of gathering antique bottles and explores the historical background of the...
African Americans at Mt. Hope Cemetery (Feb. 2019)
"Marilyn Nolte discussed Mt. Hope Cemetery's notable African American figures at the Greece Historical Society Museum on February 10, 2019. Jacqueline Sprague Cooper, a descendant...
Dobson Farm & Northgate
Story of the Dobson Farm that eventually became Northgate Plaza. Presented by Marie Poinan...
Bosnian Immigrants in Rochester: Adapting to America (July 2018)
Aiša Purak discusses her book, “Bosnian Immigrants: Opportunities and Challenges”, which studies a sampling of 100 Bosnian families who immigrated to Rochester and found a...
Cleaning Cemetery Headstones
On June 10, 2018, Mike Warner from the Rochester Genealogical Society delivered a talk at the Greece Historical Society. He detailed safe and responsible techniques...
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
On May 20, 2018, former CEO Lynn Sullivan presented a program at the Greece Historical Society on the history of the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery and...
Erie Railroad History
On April 8, 2018, Dave Shields from the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum conducted a program at the Greece Historical Society. He discussed the...
Jogging Through Cemeteries
On November 12, 2017, author Patrick Bynes discussed his recent book at the Greece Historical Society Museum. The book provides a unique perspective on grief...
Buckman’s Dairy & Bakery History
Ralph DeStephano Jr. discusses the history of Buckman’s Dairy, located at Ridge Road and Long Pond Road, from 1950 until its closure in 2005. The...
Barns of Greece by Jane Grant
Jane Grant, author of "The Barns of Greece, N.Y," discussed about Greece Barns and the stories of the farm families at the Greece Museum on...
Lemcke-Tofany Farm (Nov. 2016)
On November 6, 2016, Ron Carlton shared stories about his family's experiences growing up in the Town of Greece at the Greece Historical Society and...
Yates-Thayer Farm, Elm Tree Farm, 710 Latta Rd.
Come explore the history of the Yates-Thayer Farm / Elm Tree Farm presented by Maire Poinan with special guest Sam Thayer. Sam Thayer is a...
The McShea Family of the Town of Greece
Tom McShea and Marie Poinan presented a program at the Greece Historical Society and Museum on October 16, 2016, celebrating the heritage of the McShea...
Making the First Atom Bomb (Sep. 2016)
On September 11, 2016, World War II veteran Wally Rust gave a lecture detailing the atomic principles behind, the scientists involved in, and design specifics...
Charlotte Blast Furnace
On September 1, 2016, at the Charlotte Branch Library, Marie Poinan delivered a presentation exploring the history of the Charlotte Blast Furnace. The program, which...
Norman Rockwell’s “The Rookie” by Sherm Safford
On April 10, 2016, Sherm Safford, a resident of Greece, shared his personal experiences of modeling for the acclaimed American artist Norman Rockwell at a...
Koda Kids (When Rochester hosted children from London to save them from WW II bombings) (Nov. 2015)
On November 15, 2015, Brighton Historian Mary Jo Lanphear narrated a tale at the Greece Historical Society Museum about English children from Eastman Kodak being...
John “Jack” D. Foy
John "Jack" D. Foy, a WWII US Army veteran, served as a frontline machine gunner in Patton’s Third Army from 1943 to 1946, reaching the...
The Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Influence on Women’s Rights
The Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Influence on Women's Rights was presented by, Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner Executive Director of Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation. An Introduction to The...
