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Thank you Liz Knobel and Rosina Ruta-Nicolella for LIKING the Schroeppel Historical Society Facebook page! It's fun to post a random photo from our collection whenever someone likes our page. This time the photo is of Joyce Helbock, who moved to Ohio a few years ago. Joyce always brought delicious baked goods for our Blueberry Sales, but also, on several occasions provided most of the items for the Silent Auction in the Fall! Word has it, that Joyce acquired these shiny new small kitchen appliances as consolation prizes from her many trips to Turning Stone, but of course we have no proof of that! Thanks a million Joyce! We miss you!! 

Anneliese Schlecht was an enthusiastic member of Schroeppel Historical Society, who shared the enthusiasm she had from her years of teaching and travel, with our organization. Anneliese was not one to have a second thought about anything that might be an obstacle to one of her worthy goals! The example that stands out in my mind is the time we were listening to an excellent presentation about Campfire and Camp Talooli. It was a cold wintery evening, the kind of night that caused us concern about people driving home. Anneliese suddenly got up and left the meeting, we thought to try to make it home as soon as possible. That wasn't it at all. Within a half hour she came through the door with a big grin on her face, and an enlarged newspaper photo of herself and her sister (in their late teens) dressed in Campfire uniforms of the times and preparing care packages for soldiers in World War II. That was Anneliese, and she will be missed.

In addition to his grandmother Myrtie Moyer's paintings, David Moyer, with assistance from his friend David Kempel, also brought an oversized case of vintage items from his grandmother's kitchen to donate to our spring sale of plants and collectibles, including a mixer which has never been used. Arthur and Myrtie Moyer lived in the well-preserved Victorian home on the corner of Bridge and Cherry Streets in Phoenix.

Gail Hammond, Barbara Dix and David Moyer 

Kim Ventura, Jim Crombach and Lynn Moyer doing some heavy lifting.

SHS President and Town of Schroeppel and Village of Phoenix Historian Barbara Dix, offers much from her extensive knowledge of local history to every program at SHS.

The stated mission of the Richard S. Shineman Foundation is to be a “Catalyst For Change…dedicated to building the capacity of not-for-profit organizations in Oswego County.” Thanks to the Shineman Foundation, as well as the support of current and former residents of Phoenix and Schroeppel, the Schroeppel Historical Society was able to make a significant change in the form of long-overdue vital repairs to the exterior of the 111-year-old SHS building. A by-product of the SHS advertising campaign has been increased interest in SHS from the community at large, and additional community members volunteering to serve on the SHS Executive Board. The expanded interest and membership will function as a catalyst to improved community understanding of the functions of a historical society, and increased awareness of its potential benefits to the preservation of the history of the area, community education, and recognition of SHS as a functioning organization, in addition to being listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

After a grant has been awarded, the Shineman Foundation makes an on-site visit to view completed improvements. SHS Board President Barbara Dix, Secretary Kim Ventura, and Trustee/Publicist Susan Lynch welcomed Karen Goetz, Executive Director and Penny Halstead, Executive Assistant, of the Richard S. Shineman Foundation for the on-site visit.

The visit follows the recent replacement of badly deteriorated cedar shakes (siding shingles) with new shakes identical to the originals and rotted widow sills; stabilization of the Celtic crosses atop the building; a rebuilt outside cellar door, staining of all of the the cedar shakes (identical to the originals), and painting of the stucco base; followed by the installation of safety railings and a new sidewalk across the front of the building, including two new steps down to the Volney Street sidewalk. These repairs were financed by a generous grant of $25,000 from the Shineman Foundation, and donations and support amounting to $25,000 by current and former residents of Phoenix and Schroeppel.

Board members expressed appreciation of the Shineman grant, without which the organization could not have undertaken such extensive repairs and additions to the building. They also discussed the contributions of restoration architect, Dean Biancavilla, recently deceased, who originally proposed the project, and volunteered his time and expertise to fund-raising, architectural measurements and drawings, securing restoration- appropriate materials and contractors, and advisement to grant-writer, Kim Ventura.
Photo, from left: Peny Halstead, Administrative Assistant at the Shineman Foundation; Kim Ventura, SHS Secretary; Barbara Dix, SHS Prresident; Susan Lynch SHS Trustee/Publicity/Facebook Administrator; Karen Goetz, Shineman Executive in charge of grants.

The watercolor of Phoenix is by Canal Painter, Maryann Andel Mcdougal, who captures the essence of Phoenix in every one of her works.

June 3, 2021

After a very long dry spell...A LOOK BACK AT PENNELLVILLE Monday, June 21, at 7:00 pm at the Schroeppel Historical Society building.
Admission FREE. Refreshments courtesy of SHS members. Bring your friends, your photos and your memories of Pennellville!

We are greatly saddened by the untimely passing of Dean Biancavilla, SHS presenter, author, and the lead architect for our Capital Fund exterior repair project. Dean donated his time and expertise as a restoration architect, which ranged from advice on publicity, to preliminary measurements and architectural drawings, management of materials and contractors, taking on one fundraising project, and working with our grant writer, Kim Ventura.

Dean had a very strong interest in historical preservation, and the human history related to buildings. He had previously presented intriguing programs at SHS related to his book, Schroeppel’s French Princess, as well as the architectural connections to the dates usually attributed to the building of the Schroeppel Mansion. He also researched and presented history of the land owners who established the broader Schroeppel community, and the Phoenix connection to several well-known historical figures. He was a fascinating speaker, who quickly impressed his audience with his historical detective skills, often coming right down to the types and dates of wooden nails used in the mansion. He shared an interest in the Preservation Association of Central New York with SHS President, Barbara Dix, and served as treasurer of that organization.

Dean, who was originally from Pennellville, NY, never forgot his hometown roots, even as he went on as part of a prestigious architectural firm in Syracuse. Holmes, King, Kallquist and Associates have published a very moving tribute to Dean, citing his background in U.S. Navy Intelligence, his involvement with their major projects in Syracuse, and outside work with the community as “stuff of legend.” They did not fail to share their regard for him as a “great soul,” loved and respected by all.

Barbara Barnard: My Aunt Marjorie Barnard Cramer Barber (1914-1993) was one of the first women bus drivers for Phoenix.

This beautiful rendering of the covered bridge in Pennellville was just one of the pages drawn by Bonney Schermerhorn for the SHS Coloring Book in the 1980's. We now have an artist who would like to paint the bridge from a photograph.

The devastation remaining after the fire, as seen from the east side of the canal.
Photo credit: Office of the Historian, Phoenix, NY.

Ted Pittsley, nationally certified as a restoration carpenter, shared his amazing vista from the top of the Schroeppel Historical Society building, as he was repairing and stabilizing the Celtic crosses. The Schroeppel Historical Society has strived to keep all repairs true to original materials and colors in keeping with the structure of the building, which was erected as St. John's Episcopal Church in 1910 and dedicated in 1911. The Bellows Construction Company, which also specializes in historical restoration completed the work on the shingles, which are of the same type of cedar as the originals. Remaining exterior work includes the the replacement of handrails on the front porch. The Schroeppel Historical Society is grateful to the Richard S. Shineman Foundation, contributors to the Capital Fund by current and former residents of Phoenix, and to all who have patronized our fundraising activities over the years, including many area businesses.Thanks too, to Restoration Architect, Dean Biancavilla, originally from Pennellville, who has worked pro bono to guide us in this project.

Jim Donaldson submitted the following post and photo:
This is the school house on Gilbert Mills Road that I attended. Managed to get a photo before it totally collapsed. I lived on the same road until 1955. My grandfather Donaldson had a dairy farm. I was born in 1940 but don’t know how old I would have been when in this school. Went to JCB HS at one point before moving to California. I’m interested in a map of the road that would date before 1940 because I am curious about who owned the farm before he did. The farm was between just west of Prior road.

Bill and Kathleen Brown bring the SHS stereopticons for students to view on Canal Day. This is very popular with students every year, as evidenced by the Phoenix School District Canal Day photos submitted by Donna Dates.

JCB Drama Club members make a stunning entrance, ready to engage 4th grade students in conversations about Old-time Phoenix.

AUTOGRAPHS OF MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1927 PICTURED ABOVE. Credits, David Moyer and Maggie O'Brien.