All program meetings are free of charge and open to the public. Meetings are held at the Newstead Town Hall, 5 Clarence Center Road, Akron, NY unless noted otherwise. Download a 2023 Program here

 

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ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY FESTIVITIES

Both the Rich-Twinn Octagon House & Knight Sutton Museum will be open. Our annual Amish quilt raffle and Baked Pie sale will take place on the lawn of one of our museums and the drawing for the quilt will take place after the parade. Both museums will be open for visitors—come and celebrate the day […]

HY-WYNNE FARMS AND THE SUTTON FAMILY

Newstead Town Hall 5 Clarence Center Road, Akron, NY, United States

From its early days as the home of Louis H. Sutton, owner at the age of 20 of Wheat's Ice Cream Company, to its current incarnation as a horse breeding, raising, training and stabling facility, this Akron-based farm has history spanning three generations to share. You will be surprised by what you learn.

GETTING DRESSED IN THE 1820S

Newstead Town Hall 5 Clarence Center Road, Akron, NY, United States

Stays and petticoats, chemisettes and spencer jackets—discover what it took for a lady to be fashionable in the year of Newstead’s beginning! Living historian and dressmaker, Anneliese Meck will describe all the details while getting dressed in a historical reproduction of an 1823 ensemble, complete with the proper undergarments, day dress, and accessories.

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND PART II

Newstead Town Hall 5 Clarence Center Road, Akron, NY, United States

Don Shonn will continue a discussion of local land titles that will highlight the battle of the Tonawanda Senecas to avoid removal to the west and to preserve their ancestral land. Don is a long- time member of the NHS, former Village attorney, and real estate lawyer.

Knight-Sutton Museum reopens for the season

KNIGHT-SUTTON MUSEUM 123 Main Street, Akron, NY, United States

Our Newest Exhibit “Fashions from the Collection” features a nostalgic nod to the past as living historian and dressmake Anneliese Meck opens the season with a small presentation on fashion history .  This exhibit will be on view for the 2024 season.

WHITING ROLL-UP DOOR

Newstead Town Hall 5 Clarence Center Road, Akron, NY, United States

Learn about the historic journey of the Whiting Door Manufacturing Company. From the humble beginnings  of a father and two sons staring a local business—with grit and determinaion—that later burned to the ground to its current place as the world’s leading manufacturer of doors in the tractor trailer industry.  Speakers are Marybeth Whiting and Alexandria […]

HISTORY OF THE RAILROADS THAT SERVED AKRON AND NEWSTEAD

Newstead Town Hall 5 Clarence Center Road, Akron, NY, United States

The Akron/Newstead area has an extensive history staring in 1834 with the Medina and Darien horse-drawn railway. Followed by the NY Central “Peanut” branch in 1853, and finally the NY West Shore and Buffalo gauge quarry railroads. Join us for a power point presentation hosted by railroad historians, Bob Andrycha and Bob Scheib.

KREHER FARMS – CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Newstead Town Hall 5 Clarence Center Road, Akron, NY, United States

Explore the history of a third and fourth generation farm which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Find out the background of this local farm that now has global recognition as “A Great Place to Work”. Presented by Jeannette Kreher Heberling.

ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY FESTIVITIES

KNIGHT-SUTTON MUSEUM 123 Main Street, Akron, NY, United States

On July 4th the Knight-Sutton Museum (123 Main St.) will be open from 10-4 pm. There is no admission charge and everyone is welcome.  Our annual pie sale will take place in front of the museum from 9am till all the pies are sold. Please stop by and choose a delicious pie for your holiday. […]

THE ERIE CANAL

Newstead Town Hall 5 Clarence Center Road, Akron, NY, United States

This program will take the audience from the first ideas  of a canal to the building and the problems faced. The role of DeWitt Clinton will be stressed and how the canal changed America. Greg Kinal, retired history teacher from Pembroke High School, will entertain and enlighten the audience with his presentation.

GROVER AND FRANCES FOLSOM CLEVELAND: THEIR BUFFALO LEGACIES

Newstead Town Hall 5 Clarence Center Road, Akron, NY, United States

The stories, myths, and controversies surrounding our two-term president and his Buffalo-born wife, Frances Folsom Cleveland, abound to this day in historical circles. Bren T. Price, Sr.,  Buffalo Presidential Center Trustee and Explore Buffalo Master Docent will share  some of his findings and ask you to share yours. Some of them are quite controversial.

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND PART III: THE SENECAS AFTER 1860 — CHALLENGES TO THE TREATIES

Newstead Town Hall 5 Clarence Center Road, Akron, NY, United States

Don Shonn, Terry Abrams, and Paul Winney will share another installment on challenges the Senecas faced after the treaties. The previous two programs were well received so please join the discussion and learn about the preservation of their ancestral land.