March 2020 – Fair Haven History

1955 Fair Haven Aerial View

This aerial postcard of Fair Haven was contributed by Ted Stojkovski. In this view the hotel next to Roy Maynard’s garage is gone. It was torn down in 1953. The Bayside Market across the street at the corner of Fancher Avenue is not there yet and the previous store is gone, having burned March 17, 1955. The new store opened August 2 of the same year and it appears that the new construction has not yet started. Only some of the trees have spring leaves. This photo was probably taken in April of 1955.

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1955 Fire

Just before midnight on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1955 Harold Wallace smelled smoke. He and his family were living above the store he owned on Main Street at the corner of Fancher Avenue. Today this is the location of new store he built after the fire.

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1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic

Documentary on the 1918 Influenza Pandemic

Current events seem to bring history closer to home, as does walking through one month in Fair Haven during the 1918 influenza pandemic.

Would we now be better prepared had we been more aware of our grandparents’ personal experiences one hundred years ago?

My grandfather’s first cousin, Libby Hills, grew up in North Fair Haven. She died from influenza at age 24, leaving her husband with two small children to raise. The names below are those I found today. In addition, Continue reading “1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic”

Shoreline Maps

Man’s attempts to control nature is a complex issue. These maps illustrate the effect we’ve had on our shoreline. What were once shifting gravel bars are now more stable. What does it take to keep them that way.

The engineering surveys are more accurate than the general county atlas maps.

Sabin Point Colony

These two photos were taken from the top of the railroad trestle looking northeast toward Sabin Point. Little Sodus Bay is in the foreground and Lake Ontario is at the top left. The first photo was probably take about 1905, well after the cottages had been built during the 1890s. The second photo was probably taken upon the announcement that the State Park would be removing all of these structures, about 1932.