Wilson Historical Society

05/25/2026

Despite the wet conditions, today's Memorial Day Fair was very well attended and had plenty of activities for everyone. President John Sinclair offers his gratitude to all of the dedicated volunteers that put in countless hours behind the scenes to make the fair happen each year. You are appreciated!

Special thanks to Reverend Ralph Gardiner, Gary Pettit, Charles Horton and Gary Darnell from the American Legion Martin F. Jennings Post 0836 for being with us to raise the flag.

Congratulations to Robert Hull, who was recognized today for "decades of tireless dedication to the Wilson Historical Society and specifically the restoration and preservation of the New York Central Caboose."

Many thanks to everyone who spent Memorial Day with us. We are honored to host our community each year on this very special day! 🇺🇸

05/24/2026

** MEMORIAL DAY FAIR UPDATES**
- The car show is cancelled... please spread the word
- The rest of the fair is ON for tomorrow
- Because of the standing water, parking will be very limited. Please take advantage of the free shuttle bus service with stops at Wilson High School, St. Brendan's on the Lake Catholic Church, Exley Methodist Church and the Wilson Town Hall

Tomorrow, guests are invited to gather at the flagpole at 11:45 AM to join members of our own American Legion Martin F. Jennings Post 0836 for the flag raising ceremony (at noon) to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to our nation and remind us of the real meaning of Memorial Day.

The fair WILL kick off at 8 AM tomorrow, despite all the rain we received. Enjoy the historical displays inside the museum and the classic cars inside the Dr. Argue Memorial Building. Over 100 vendors will be on site taking part in the Super Flea Market, while food offerings will include Chiavetta's chicken BBQ, beef on weck, hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage, kettle corn, cotton candy and more. Join us for a fantastic day, from 8 AM - 4 PM at the Wilson Historical Society!

05/18/2026

Did you know that 'Decoration Day' was the original name for 'Memorial Day'? This photo, circa 1900, features a Decoration Day parade in the village of Wilson. Participants are crossing Young Street, most likely returning from Greenwood Cemetery on their way to the Sutherland Hotel or the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) post. (Note the small structure on the right, which is possibly a pump house supplying water to the Fredonia Preserving Company, located by the train station on Route 425.) Please join us for our annual Memorial Day Fair happening in one week on Monday, 5/25 from 8 AM - 4 PM!

(Photo courtesy of Charlie Horton)

05/13/2026

Our Memorial Day Fair is less than two weeks away! Join us on Monday, May 25th from 8 AM - 4 PM as we celebrate the unofficial start to summer. We have something for everyone!
• Historical displays and antique vehicles
• GIANT flea market featuring hundreds of vendors
• Food trucks, hot dogs, hamburgers and Chiavetta's BBQ
• Snow cones, cotton candy and doughnuts

There will be free parking throughout the village with a shuttle service to and from the grounds, running from 8 AM - 4 PM. Side street parking on Route 425 will be limited. Free lots will be located at:
• Wilson Central School
• St. Brendan's on the Lake Catholic Church
• Exley Methodist Church
• Wilson Town Hall

* Video and photographs produced by trustee Corey Harmon

05/11/2026

The Village of Wilson was incorporated on May 11, 1858. After British rule ended in 1796, the Niagara Frontier was turned over to New York State. The Holland Land Company purchased nearly 3 million acres throughout Western New York, and early settlers bought their land from the Company. Among those pioneers was Reuben Wilson and his family. After arriving in 1810, Reuben was prominently associated with the political, agricultural, religious and business activities of the community for the next 40+ years. The village grew steadily and began establishing grist and saw mills, a log schoolhouse, a tannery and a post office. For more information, please view the Wilson Centennial booklet, available online: https://archive.org/details/WilsonCentennial18581958Booklet .

05/09/2026

We're looking for 50 participants to carry the flags of all fifty states, during our Community Parade on June 20th. These are the same flags that our fifth graders carry each year on Flag Day. Interested? Contact Society president John Sinclair at [email protected] .

05/09/2026

Save the Date! This summer, America is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. We are teaming up with the Wilson Fire Company #1 to co-host a Community Parade on June 20th at 6 PM. We're looking for 50 volunteers to carry state flags and plenty of antique vehicles. If interested, please use the contact information provided below. Wilson's Leon Festival will also be concluding that day, with a concert starting at 7 PM. What a great excuse to spend a summer day in Wilson, NY!
https://www.facebook.com/Wilson-Leon-Festival-100090859111731
https://america250.org/

05/06/2026

Thank you to former town historian Charlie Horton for taking the time to meet with students from Wilson Middle School today. The students are researching sites for the installation of more local history markers, under the guidance of Social Studies teacher Brett Sippel. Over the past few years, Mr. Sippel's students have facilitated the creation of new markers recognizing Lake Island Park and Luther Wilson. Students have chosen Cannon Ball Hill and Wilson's train depot as possible topics for new markers. If their grant application is approved by the Pomeroy Foundation, the marker(s) would be installed in spring of 2027. Good luck! Wilson CSD Happenings Wilson Central School District Wilson Middle School - Wilson, NY

05/02/2026

Thomas Edison's Disc Phonograph was developed around 1912. Prior to that, phonographs played recordings that were engraved on wax cylinders. Edison's 'Diamond Discs' were about 1/4" thick with a core made from compressed wood or clay and they were covered with a resin very similar to Bakelite. The discs had to be thick because they were recorded with a unique vertical process, which meant the grooves on the record were of varying depths. For this reason, Diamond Discs could only be played on an Edison phonograph and were incompatible with other lateral-groove players like the Victrola.

05/01/2026

Life is busy... it's hard to keep up with everything! We try to help by recording our presentations and posting them on our YouTube page. If you missed author/historian Tom Schobert's visit to discuss his novel 'Hush the Cannon’s Roar – The Life and Times of Bennet Riley: Defender of Buffalo', we've got you covered. Major General Bennet C. Riley was the commanding officer of the Buffalo Barracks in the early 1840s. The Barracks was an army post located on what is now the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site. After his military service ended, Riley stayed in Buffalo and was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in 1853. Riley Street in East Buffalo is named after him: https://buffalostreets.com/tag/bennet-riley . Thank you to the Wilson Community Library for bringing Mr. Schobert to Wilson for this wonderful author talk!

Life & Times of Bennet Riley - By Thomas Shobert