Galen Historical Society

05/30/2026

In remembrance and honor of our brave service people in our community we are paying tribute to those who parished in the line of duty. We will not forget their sacrifice for our freedom. The Galen Historical Society would like to remember the legacy of George Aden Brown.

George was born to the George and Hannah Brown. Because he had the same name as his father he went by his middle name of Aden. Aden was very well liked, very athletic, and intelligent. He played football went in school and helped on after school also to advance the program. Once he graduated Aden went on to attend Michigan University and Albany Law School. He came home to often to visit but then the Great War broke out, Aden enrolled in 1911 with the United States Marines and was placed in service in 1917 under the 5th division. In June of 1918, Aden was in combat with the German forces at Belleau Woods, located in France, where he was wounded. Unfortunately, he succumb to his wounds on June 9th.

There was a memorial service in our community that was described as being large and moving. Aden was laid to rest in France. He was the first casualty of World War I in Wayne County and in Galen.

The American Legion Post 226 was first named in his honor and then renamed to the Brown-DiSanto post to encompass all those who served and remembrance of service to our country.

05/29/2026

In remembrance and honor of our brave service people in our community we are paying tribute to those who parished in the line of duty. We will not forget their sacrifice for our freedom. The Galen Historical Society would like to remember the legacy of Anthony Ernest DiSanto.

Anthony was born on March 12, 1917 to Patsy and Mary DiSanto. He was a graduate of Clyde High School and was well known for his athletic nature. In 1941, he entered the service. Serving in the US Army in the coastal artillery. In September of 1942, Anthony married Teresa LaSelva. After their marriage he went back to serving the Country overseas. On January 22nd his wife and daughter, Alayna, received a letter and four days later January 26th of 1944, word was received at home that Anthony was missing in action in Italy. Anthony wounded in battle on January 27th, per the telegraph his parents received on April 22nd.

Anthony returned home to be laid to rest in St John's Cemetery. The American Legion Post 226 was renamed the Brown-DiSanto post in remembrance of Anthony and his service to our country.

05/29/2026

05/29/2026

In remembrance and honor of our brave service people in our community we are paying tribute to those who parished in the line of duty. We will not forget their sacrifice for our freedom. The Galen Historical Society would like to remember the legacy of Harold "Bud" Willis Hinman.

Bud was born on January 20, 1918. He and his family were lifelong residents of Clyde. He attended and graduated from Clyde High School. After high school, Bud went on to attend the Rochester Business Institute. At the age of 22, Bud went to serve his country. First completing training in Fort Benning, Georgia and then going overseas to serve his nation in the United States Army. In August of 1942, he returned home to visit. Unfortunately that would be the last time he was with his father. His father died in October and being that Bud was overseas, he did not know that occurred due to the communication delays. Letters took time to get to the states and overseas. Bud wrote his last letter home in October. Ironically it arrived in Clyde on November 20th, the same day he died on the battlefield in Algiers, Africa. Word of his death, did not reach Clyde until December. He was the first Clyde resident to be killed in the battles of World War II.

Bud was laid to rest at the family plot in Maple Grove Cemetery. Later, the Clyde Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) built post was named, in honorable remembrance of the Towns first casualty, the Harold "Bud" Hinman, Post 947. So next time you're at the Post, look at the photo on the bar wall and know that the young man looking back never got any older and that he is the one whom the establishment is named after.

05/29/2026

Last night's post did not post so tonight you get two. Stay tuned....

05/27/2026

In remembrance and honor of our brave service people in our community we are paying tribute to those who parished in the line of duty. We will not forget their sacrifice for our freedom. The Galen Historical Society would like to remember the legacy of Marjorie Roselle Vrooman (1891-1919).

Marjorie was born on August 30, 1891 to Dr. Walter and Jessie (L'Amoreaux) Vrooman as their only child. She was a very musical young lady. Marjorie was invited to sing at many of the local churches and venues. Her voice was described in the Clyde Herald after signing at the Lyons Presbyterian Church, as being "a fine mezzo-soprano, sweet and rich". By 1908, Marjorie was sent to Canada to study a course at the Loretto Convent. In 1915, he was accepted to the Boston Conservatory of Music. There she was made a member of the Boston Handel & Haydn Symphony Association. When she graduated in 1916, she returned to Clyde and sang for the community at various churches. Soon after, she received an offer of employment to be a professor of music in Puerto Rico. The school was located in Santurce, which is a suburb of San Juan. She sent sail to San Juan from New York City in 1917. In August of 1918, she was accepted to the Canteen School, which was part of the Red Cross/YMCA effort to feed and care for our troops. She left Puerto Rico and headed to New York City to begin her training and preparatory work. Marjorie was stationed in Cauterets, France when she contracted an illness, later diagnosed as pneumonia, after weeks of fighting the battle she succumbed to the illness on March 4, 1919. Services with full military honors held at the Army Headquarters chapel where more than 1000 members attended. Funerals abroad were a rare occurrence during the War but the Commander made it happen. He suspended the entertainment and the flag was lowered in her honor. Marjorie was sent home to her family where her life was celebrated and her body was laid to rest at the family plot in Maple Grove Cemetery. She was the only female casualty of World War I.

**The Presbyterian Church in Town had two flags with stars that were hung in the honor of those to serve in World War I and World War II. The flag's stars were symbols of all service people in both Wars to serve as a reminder of their sacrifice and remained until the church was no longer there.

05/26/2026

In case anyone is interested in seeing history up close, see the schedule of stops below in NY.

Union Pacific Big Boy Begins East Coast Tour: Today in Cheyenne, Wyoming the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 has left its headquarters and is rolling toward Kimball, Nebraska to slowly begin its Eastern Leg Coast to Coast Tour. This will eventually make its way to the Northeast and will get to New York State in two weeks. Here’s the itinerary for this highly anticipated America at 250 extravaganza leading the iconic steam locomotive:

The make major public displays are:

May 30 – Omaha, Nebraska (home of Union Pacific’s headquarters)
June 3 – West Chicago, Illinois
June 10 – Buffalo, New York
June 15-16 – Scranton, Pennsylvania
July 4-5 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
July 9-10 – Altoona, Pennsylvania
July 14 – Fostoria, Ohio
July 19 – St. Louis, Missouri

The other stops along the way:

Nebraska
* May 25 – Kimball
* May 26 – Ogallala
* May 28 – Gothenburg, Overton, Kearney, Grand Island
* May 29 – Columbus

Iowa
* May 31 – Denison, Carroll
* June 1 – Tama, Belle Plaine
* June 2 – Grand Mound

Illinois
* June 2 – Sterling, Rochelle
* July 18 – Springfield, Girard

Indiana
* June 5 – Argos
* July 16 – Knox

Ohio
* June 6 – Continental, Fostoria
* June 8 – Lorain, Euclid
* July 12 – Struthers
* July 13 – Rocky River
* July 15 – Continental

New York
* June 9 – Ripley
* June 11 – Silver Springs, Hornell, Letchworth State Park (park admission required)
* June 12 – Owego

Pennsylvania
* June 9 – North East
* June 13 – Nicholson
* June 17-30 – Scranton, Steamtown National Historic Site, locomotive maintenance (park admission required)
* July 2 – Reading, Pottstown
* July 7 – Lebanon
* July 8 – Lewistown, Altoona
* July 11 – Cresson, Leetsdale, Historic Horseshoe Curve; ticketed event.

Missouri
* July 20 – Pacific, Hermann
* July 21 – California, Kansas City
* July 22 – Kansas City

Kansas
* July 23 – Topeka, Salina
* July 24 – Wilson, Hays
* July 25 – Hays
* July 26 – Grainfield

Colorado
* July 27 – Kit Carson, Strasburg
* July 29 – Greeley

Wyoming
* July 29 – Home in Cheyenne

05/25/2026

There will be a Memorial Day ceremony in the main park at noon today (Monday) hosted by the VFW. The high school band will play a short concert in the gazebo immediately following. Please come out and show your support.

05/25/2026

Beginning tomorrow will pay tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to our community and our Nation. There will be a post daily until all of our heroes are recognized. Their legacies will live on.