Middlesex Heritage Group

08/13/2026

The Ontario-Yates Small Historical Societies group is offering a free public program on September 20th, at 2pm. Join us for a presentation by Paul Mitchell on his brand new historical fiction novel, “Between Two Fires”.

We hope to see you there! 📚🤓

08/02/2026

Today is the day! Join us to honor and celebrate Lt. Col. Robert “Win” Harper at our 22nd Annual Middlesex Citizen Appreciation Day!

Middlesex Hose Co., Water St, Middlesex; 2-4pm.

07/29/2026

Paul Mitchell, the current Middlesex Heritage Group Vice-President, has recently published a historic novel "Between Two Fires: Jasper Parrish A Life Forged in Revolution".

Paul will be at the Ontario County Historical Society on Tuesday August 11th from 6pm-8pm for his book release and signing.

We hope you will come and show your support of our friend and colleague, Paul!

Please share!

David Gray, MHG President

07/26/2026

A recent request had me digging through our Lindsley family files, and what was uncovered– I was simply taken aback. The Lindsley’s were a family of creatives, who were eloquent writers. I am excited to begin to share some of these writings with you. Below you will find an undated story from Myron Plato Lindsley (September 18, 1825-January 16, 1883), who went on to move to Wisconsin, where he became Mayor of Green Bay, District Attorney of Brown County, and a State Senator. It also references his brother, Anson Commodore Lindsley (November 5, 1821-February 18, 1889). Myron and Anson were the children of “Mother” Rebecca (Curtis) Lindsley (1782-February 7, 1860) and Benjamin Lindsley (1782-May 13, 1854). The Lindsley’s resided at a large homestead near Pine Corners Cemetery in Middlesex.

Mother’s Chair
By M. P. Lindsley.

I never shall forget it, nor the day it was first brought home. Brother A. and myself brought it up from the village in the sleigh— a bitter cold day in January— where we had purchased it with money which we had earned ourselves, by cutting and preserving flags for chair bottoms. Mother was wholly ignorant of our benevolent intentions, and hence she was taken completely by surprise when we presented it to her. Although full thirty-five years ago, I remember the circumstances as well as though they happened yesterday. It was what in those days was called a “Boston Rocker;” And when my father lived in Western New York, only a few miles east of Canandaigua Lake— a comparatively new and wild region of country, hard under the aegis of “Bare Hill,” commanding a beautiful view of West River Valley, stretching fourteen miles away to the very door of Naples, and also a view of Italy Hill to the south and east— these Boston Rockers were not so plenty in farmers’ houses as easy chairs are in ours to-day. So the introduction of so comfortable and so expensive a piece of furniture into a humble farmer’s dwelling was an event of some note, causing among the neighbors considerable comments, and not a little gossip. Mother sat sewing at her accustomed place by the north window, in her bed-room, which in those primitive times was used for sitting room as well. I can see her now, as then, with “specs” on, her white border-fluted cap, nodding quietly, as needle after needle pierced the fabric, and in turn its thread was drawn “taut” with a twang; her black bombazine dress on, with a long, black-silk handkerchief on her neck, folded three-cornered, with point behind, and pinned in front, according to custom. As we entered, bearing the chair, her eyes lifted from her work, and she saluted us with: “Well, boys, what have you there?” “Only a chair for mother,” was the quiet response. “Who bought it?” “We did.” “Why, my boys, you did not buy all that with your own money, did you?--- and for mother, too?” “Yes, we did— it was our ‘flag’ money you know.” Then the dear old lady raised her specs, and, at our urgent request, came forward and sat down in the new chair— just to see how she liked it. This was a drop too much. Her throat filled as her heart swelled with emotions of gratitude, and she simply added, “good boys.”

Mother has gone; but the Boston Rocker remains an heir-loom in her daughter’s house. For many, many years she sat at the accustomed place in the bed-room, in that chair; but I never returned to the old family mansion in after years, that mother did not remind me of that chair purchased with our “flag money.” She said it was the best chair, and, to her, the dearest one in the house, and which she always sat in.

I have since often thought of that chair, as I have of that dear, sainted mother, and how little it cost to produce so much comfort and such valuable results. It was the best act of my life, whose rich fruits are still being garnered in precious memories, and the symbol of excellent counsel. Two and a half dollars only— the price of the chair— and what large sums of interest and principal it has returned. Who, but God, can measure a kind act?

———————-

Attached you will find a picture of Myron that I found on FindAGrave.com.

-Amberle Kelly, Town Historian

07/18/2026

Please share and let us know if your business would like a poster or two! 🇺🇸

There are approximately 180 Revolutionary War Veterans whose final resting place is in Yates County. These are the stories of two of them.

07/06/2026

We hope you are winding down after a fun-filled weekend of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence! 🇺🇸

In honor of the holiday, we hope you enjoy one of our favorite Middlesex stories— when a lightning bolt struck, and set the railroad station on fire, during the town’s 4th of July celebrations. Unbothered, attendees simply carried on with the festivities as the station burned down.

Also, it is quite interesting that the winners of the contests were given more newspaper space than a bolt of lightning hitting the town’s major transportation depot, and the condition of the building.

It is also of note that this 4th of July celebration was used as a fundraiser for sidewalks. How interesting!

Pictured are the news article and a picture depicting a car in a parade found in Heritage Group archives. Both are undated, but this is believed to have happened between 1914 and 1919, and the picture resembles the same era. We are currently working to confirm the year this article was printed.

Transcription of the news article:

“The celebration in this town July [?] was a great success. A large crowd was present and everyone seemed to enjoy himself. The 4th of July shower arrived on schedule at about 4 p. m., somewhat interfering with the afternoon sports. The Lehigh Valley Railroad Station was struck by lightning during the shower and burned to the ground with all its contents. This event was not in the [?] but added much to the entertainment of the crowd present. Over $300 was taken in by the various enterprises run by the executive committee. $100 for expenses leave about $200 for sidewalks. The committee is entitled to much praise for the hard work they put in and for the success of the event. They wish to extend their hearty thanks to all who donated prizes, etc. Following is the summary of events:

Professional Pigeon Shoot— 1st prize, E. M. Snyder, Rushville; 2nd prize, Dr. Crane, Naples; 3rd prize, Wm. Dunton, Middlesex.

Amateur Pigeon Shoot— 1st prize, Wm. Leach, Jr., West River; 2nd prize, Goodrich.

Best Local Shot— Wm. Dunton.

Auto Hill Climbing Contest— 1st, J. C. Meade, tie with 2nd, Floyd DeWick; 3rd, Orion Emory.

Best Decorated Auto— 1st, Oliver Williams; 2nd, Clarence Phalen; 3d, Orion Emory.

Most Ridiculous Fusileer— Howard Mather.

Ladies’ Wood-Sawing Contest— 1st, Mabel Fires; 2nd, Mrs. Elmer Savage.

Ladies’ Nail Driving Contest— 1st, Mrs. Geo. Cooper; 2nd, Mrs. Dinehart.

Best Single Driving Rig— 1st, Wm. Karnes; 2nd, Melvin Babcock.

Wheelbarrow Contest— 1st, Elwood Burgess, Maurice Elwell; 2nd, Laverne Elwell, Harold Underwood.

100-yard Dash for Ladies— 1st, Mrs. Arthur Lafler; 2nd, Mrs. Walter Ben-[?].

Backward Race— 1st, Chas. Williams; 2nd, Howard Middlebrook.

Potato Race for Girls— 1st, Lois Hasler; 2nd, Ruth Williams; 3rd, Anna Rawlings.

100-yard Dash— 1st, Elwood Burgess; 2nd, Harold Underwood.

Sack Race— 1st, Laverne Elwell; 2nd, Howard Middlebrook.

50-yard Dash for Girls— 1st, Caroline Robeson; 2nd, Hyacinth King.

50-yard Dash for Boys— 1st, Clifford Burgess; 2nd, Clifford Mothersill.

Fa[?] Man’s Race— 1st, Frank Dunton; 2nd, Arthur Lafler.

Three-legged Race— 1st, Melvin Babcock, Maurice Elwell; 2nd, Laverne Elwell, Harold Underwood.

50-yard Dash for Girls— 1st, Olive Rawlings; 2nd, Lillian Rector.

Relay Race— 1st, Harold Underwood, Maurice Elwell, Laverne Elwell, Elwood Burgess; 2nd, Dr. Chaffee, Glen McCombs, Howard Middlebrook, C. C. Shepard.

Best Pork and Beans— 1st, Ora Adams; 2nd, Mrs. F. W. Gray.

Best Tin of Biscuit— 1st, Mrs. L. E. Middlebrook; 2nd, Mrs. L. A. Clawson.

Best Loaf of White Bread— 1st, Mrs. L. E. Middlebrook; 2nd, Mrs. L. A. Clawson.

Best Loaf of Brown Bread— 1st, Mrs. Arthur Lafler; 2nd, Mrs. L. T. Darling.

Best Freezer of Vanilla Ice Cream— 1st, Mrs. Grayson Lane; 2nd, Mrs. A. A. Adams.

Best Chocolate Cake— 1st, Mrs. Emmett Williams; 2nd, Mrs. Chas. Eddy.

Best White Cake— 1st, Lura Adams; 2nd, Frances Holley.

Best Berry Pie— 1st, Mrs. E. J. Eddy; 2nd, Mrs. Geo. Burgess.

Best Cherry Pie— 1st, Mrs. L. A. Clawson; 2nd, Lena Mack.

Best Can of Pickles— 1st, Mrs. Herbert Elwell; 2nd, Mrs. Hurley.

Best Dish of Jello— 1st, Mabel McClure.

Best Chicken Pie— 1st, Mrs. Frank Cook.

Man With the Best Appetite— Rev. E. M. Cullinan. Prize given by editor Penn Yan Democrat.”