Old Mentz Heritage Center

06/18/2026

We will be closed this afternoon due to storm warnings. Be safe and see you next week.

06/16/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HGdAFwdkU/

06/08/2026

https://youtu.be/GwlIhDBdKmY?si=grmawDa1krdZcD_U
If you are new here (Hello!), we do have home movies from Port Byron dated from the 1930-40s. Port Byron had a busy downtown. Take a look at our collection on YouTube and see if you spot your grandparents!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

06/08/2026

Another great view from Cierra Short's collection. This was made from a negative, so maybe the originals are out there in a drawer somewhere?
Anyhow, we are looking at the intersection. On the left is The National Bank of Port Byron with an NRA (National Recovery Agency) so we know this is the 1930s. Next door is The Betty Lou Restaurant. We see the 1913 telephone building and next door was the Post Office (note the bars on the windows, just like the Erie House has) and then the firehouse. The large 3-story building is the mincemeat factory.
On the corner a sign gives mileages to Syracuse, Rochester, Weedsport and Montezuma. The arrow sign says Island Farm Camp, likely the CCC camp on Howland Island.
On the other corner is H.E. Wethey's WAG store, where a sign says to "ask for Sun Butter Bread." A dispenser on the store front sells Joy Mint Gum. Next door is a Hair Salon for Ladies and Children.
Maybe a person knowledgeable about cars can date the lone car?

06/02/2026

05/27/2026

Here is another from Cierra Short's collection. Note that the hotel does not have all the advertisements for lunch and dinner that was featured in the last post.

05/24/2026

We have a lot to talk about at this months Genealogical Gatherings at the Port Byron Library . Where is Elm Stump in Cortland County? Is the Civil War photos site worth your time? Who was Eliza Morgan and how did we use AI to give us clues? And we have more tax records available on the website! See you at 2:30 on Wednesday.

05/23/2026

Here is another from Cierra Short's collection. Over the years, the hotel had many owners and Fred Hartwell wanted everyone to know that regular meals could be had for 50 cents!

05/23/2026

Thanks to Cheryl Longyear for this wonderful photo of Dawn Jordan as she restores our mural. We are so happy to be able to preserve this wonderful bit of community art.
This work was supported with grants from the Fred L. Emerson Foundation and Allyn Family Foundation. And, with support from our members and donors, who helped to make this happen.

05/16/2026

https://old-mentz.org/the-port-byron-creamery/
In this month's Citizen column, we take a look at the Port Byron Creamery. First opened on Green St as part of the Sennett Creamery, Guy VanAntwerp and others purchased the business as ran it for decades producing millions of pounds of butter.

A history of the Port Byron Creamery.