HSM lewsletter vol 1 2015

www.heritagesquaremuseum.org
Vol 1 2015
The History of the O.V.E.S. Fifty Years of Service
By Liz Albright, Ontario Town Historian
In the fall of 1964, the Ontario Rotary Club
formed a committee to work with the local
funeral directors toward solving the problem of
emergency medical treatment in this growing
community.
Before this time, 24-hour ambulance service
was offered by Bob Laushey of Laushey’s
Funeral Home on Main Street and brothers Del
and Ken Murphy who ran the Murphy Funeral
Home on the north east corner of Main Street
and Mill (Knickerbocker Rd.) Street. According
to Ontario History: 1807-1993 edited by Virginia Scully Hill, Del’s son Steve remembered that
his dad used the hearse for ambulance work.
“We’d put a red light on top, take out the curtains and add the cross. The merchants would
drop everything they were doing to answer
these calls. Murphy’s had a button that activated the fire siren as well. All emergency calls
came in on a special phone. Van Risley would
come running down the street with his white
storekeeper’s apron on. Tony Noto would be
out directing traffic. Everybody helped everybody.”
The Ontario Volunteer Emergency Squad
(O.V.E.S.) was officially organized on February 10, 1965 with the election of Jan Leaty,
Director; Ed Tobin, Assistant Director; Beverly Campisi Jacobs, Secretary; and Frank
Schwind, Treasurer. They were headquartered at Frank Robusto’s garage on west Main
Street.
O.V.E.S. in the early days
A fund drive was conducted and arrangements were made in 1966 to purchase a used
1959 Cadillac hearse – cherry red and canary
yellow – to be used as an ambulance.
On June 18, 1966, seven crews were established and trained and they began offering
ambulance service from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Joe and Bev Campisi had the first phone for
O.V.E.S. in their home on Knickerbocker Road.
Funeral directors Bob Laushey and Del Murphy
took care of any daytime ambulance emergencies. Full-time service was begun on January
1, 1967. By this time four members – Jan
Leaty, Elma Austin, Evelyn Schwind and Frank
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Continued from page 1
emergency and carried a medical kit with them.
In 1992, the squad had 21 EMTs trained to
become defibrillator certified.
First ambulance – a cherry red and canary
yellow 1959 Cadillac hearse”
Schwind – had qualified as First Aid Instructors.
In its first full year of operation, the ambulance
was called out 168 times.
In the spring of 1967, fund raising began for
a new ambulance and for the construction of a
new home on the site of the old Ontario Library
which was located on the east side of Furnace
Road just north of the town parking lot. Jeffry
Buck of Ontario designed the one story 30x42
foot building – which included an ambulance
bay, meeting and training room, storage area,
office and communications room, lavatory and
a mechanical equipment room – and O.V.E.S.
moved into its new home in May. In August
1967 the new ambulance was put into service.
1976 saw a new pager system put into
effect which would allow the crew personnel
mobility and enable them to respond quickly
from anywhere at any time. In the same year,
a second ambulance was purchased and another bay was added to the O.V.E.S. building.
Also, during this period, O.V.E.S. went to the
next level of training and became Emergency
Medical Technicians (EMTs).
In 1985 the Cardiac Arrest Team (CAT) was
formed and made up of 14 members who were
all EMT certified. The team’s members arrived
at the scene before the ambulance arrived
and were trained to respond to life-threatening
As the O.V.E.S. continued to grow, a 5000
square foot expansion to the original building
was completed in 1994. This addition included two additional ambulance bays; meeting,
training and storage rooms; a full kitchen; bunk
rooms; and restrooms with showers. New,
modern equipment has been added over the
years including power gurneys and Lucas CPR
devices which take over compressions which
is safer for the patient and also frees up the
Medic.
There has only been one line-of-duty death
in the 50-year history of O.V.E.S. Patricia
Campisi suffered cardiac arrest in 1987 when
responding to a motor vehicle accident. The
brick sign in front of the ambulance hall was
donated by members in her memory.
There are now six paid EMTs that staff the
ambulance hall from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
seven days a week. Nights and weekends are
covered by volunteers. There are 45 active
members of the O.V.E.S. including 25 who are
able to respond to calls and ride in the ambulance. Six members carry AEDs in their personal vehicles to provide a quick, immediate
response when necessary. In 2014, O.V.E.S.
responded to 582 calls. These volunteers have
logged 10,840 riding hours in 2014. Training,
clerical, drug control, supply ordering, maintenance, and other behind-the-scenes work,
make up an additional 10,000 volunteer hours
a year.
Funds for the O.V.E.S. come mainly from
third-party billing. A small stipend from the
Town of Ontario goes to a reserve fund for
future purchases of equipment.
O.V.E.S. is celebrating over 50 years as one
of Ontario’s most vital services. The emergen-
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Continued from page 2
cy squad is often taken for granted . . . until
it is needed. The O.V.E.S. is always looking
for new members. O.V.E.S. covers the cost of
training and uniforms. They are a close-knit
group and also enjoy many social events. If
you have an interest in serving your community
in this way, please contact Joan Stark at 524-
9325 and she will be glad to talk to you.
Information for this article came from Ontario History: 1807-1993 as well as interviews with
O.V.E.S. members Bev Campisi Jacobs and
Joan Stark.
Hoffman Foundation Awards Grant
The Historical Society recently received a
grant in the amount of $1,250 from the Hoffman Foundation to help restore the outhouses at Heritage Square Museum. The grant
will allow the Society to purchase additional
mannequins to enable the museum to display
some of the uniforms and clothing from the late
1800s and early 1900s which we have in our
collection.
The outhouses, situated behind the school
house and the ore miner’s house, will be
repaired so that visitors will be able to see the
interior and what the facilities were like in the
early years of our town before buildings had
indoor plumbing.
The mannequins with the uniforms and
clothing will be displayed throughout the buildings of the museum and possibly at the satellite
display area in the town hall.
Be sure to look for these new displays when
the museum opens for the season in June.
The Endowment Fund
Many of our members may be unaware that
the Society has an Endowment Fund which is
an investment fund managed by the Rochester
Area Community Foundation. All bequests
and memorials made to the Society are invested in this fund. The principal cannot be invaded
except for emergency purposes as determined
by the Board of Directors. The principal shall
be allowed to earn interest.
During the past year the following people
made a gift to the Endowment Fund.
Patricia Chakalis
Bonnie Doyle
Helen Ficarro
Beth Howard
Estate of Wilson and Miriam Johncox
Leonard and Pauline Ofsowitz
Rodney and Marilyn Vane
In Memory of Ward Benedict
William and Billie Lochner
Nan Thomas
Sherry Verstraete
In Memory of Polly Crombe
Carol Boughton
Jim and Vera Graves
Barbara Gross
Stan and Joy Hatch
Randall and Joanne Luke
Hilda Milham
This fund is an excellent way to honor
someone’s birthday or other major event or as
a memorial. Many people include the fund in
their estate planning as a way to benefit the
Historical Society when they are no longer
around to do so. If you wish to do so, contact
your estate planner for details.
Page 3
Proud Supporters of the Heritage Square Museum
and the Town of Ontario Historical Society
We would like to publicly acknowledge and thank the following businesses who have joined in
supporting the Society and Heritage Square Museum.
Please patronize them whenever possible.
Alfred Pardi, Architect
465 Ontario Dr.
Ontario
Tel. 315-524-7651
Concord Insurance Agency
6270 Dean Parkway
Ontario
Tel. 585-265-6060
Crown Electric Supply Co. 75 Route 104
Ontario
Tel. 585-265-2480
Don & Jon Lawn & Tree Service P. O. Box 5
Ontario
Tel. 585-737-9891
Exelon Generation – Ginna Plant 1503 Lake Rd.
Ontario
Tel. 585-771-5220
Furguson’s Hair Care
2005 Ridge Rd.
Ontario
Tel. 315-524-8983
Gilson & Tobin DDS
6200 Slocum Rd.
Ontario
Tel. 315-524-7433
Joe Bishop Auto Sales, Inc.
114 Route 104
Ontario
Tel. 585-265-0400
Joe’s Meat Market
6845 North Slocum Rd.
Ontario
Tel. 315-524-8252
Konstantinou’s Liquor LLC
2024 Route 104
Ontario
Tel. 315-524-3015
Konstantinou’s Restaurant
2030 Route 104
Ontario
Tel. 315-524-8238
Lakeside Restaurant
6270 Lakeside Rd.
Ontario
Tel. 315-524-3092
Lakeside Roofing &
Siding Materials Inc.
6296 Lakeside Rd.
Ontario
Tel. 315-524-9420
Lyons National Bank
6256 Furnace Rd.
Ontario Tel. 315-524-9661
Mama Lor’s Union Hill Café
1891 Ridge Rd.
Webster
Tel. 585-545-4895
Murphy’s Funeral &
Cremation Chapels
1961 Ridge Rd.
Ontario
Tel. 315-524-4621
Phil’s Automotive of
Route 104, Inc.
1364 Route 104
Ontario
Tel. 315-524-8129
Sparky’s Cans & Bottles
631 Ontario Center Rd.
Ontario
Tel. 315-524-2267
Sue’s Hair Trends
2015 Ridge Rd.
Ontario
Tel. 315-524-2766
The Original Door Store
1712 Route 104
Ontario
Tel. 315-524-3776
Page 4
Pauline “Polly” Crombe
October 1923 – January 2015
By Vera Graves
It is with a heavy heart
that I write this tribute to a
good friend who will be dearly
missed. Pauline Crombe, Polly
to her many friends and family,
passed away on Saturday,
January 10, 2015 at Noyes
Memorial Hospital in Mount
Morris at the age of 91. She is
survived by her step-daughter
Diane (Timothy) McCallum and
many grandchildren and great
grandchildren.
I had not seen Polly during
the last two years as she
resided in a nursing home in
Mount Morris and the trip was just far enough
that it was not easy to visit. The last time a
friend and I visited Polly she was delighted
to see us and insisted on taking us on a tour
of the facility. It was evident to us that Polly
was a favorite not only with the staff but other
residents as well. Everyone spoke to her and
many stopped to converse for a few minutes.
Polly was the eldest of eleven children born
to Leonard and Emma Thresher in Vermont
where the family had a small farm. As the
eldest she helped raise her brothers and
sisters. Growing up Polly wanted to become
a nurse but her father convinced her to attend
Johnson Teachers College in Vermont to obtain
a teaching degree. She earned a Bachelor
of Education degree in
1945 and had great plans
to move to Alaska to teach
but those plans did not
materialize. She acquired
a teaching position in
Webster, NY, and it was
there through friends that
she was introduced to
William Crombe who she
later married. At that time
she happily welcomed his
two children, Diane and
Barry, from a previous
marriage.
Polly and Bill were
among the group of people who formed the
Town of Ontario Historical and Landmark
Preservation Society and were the driving force
behind establishing Heritage Square Museum.
Next to her family and her church her dearest
love was the Museum. Polly was always one
of the main contributors to the Society, serving
as secretary for many years, spearheading the
building of the Apple Dry Shed and the Exhibit
Barn, moving the various buildings to Heritage
Square, and organizing and working the many
fundraising events held through the years.
Many will remember Polly’s Pie Sales which
were a mainstay for many years. If there was a
fundraiser for the society or the museum, Polly
was in the fore front.
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MESSAGE TO MEMBERS
With record cold temperature and snow
banks taller than some automobiles, our members who are not traveling or staying in warmer
climates will find it difficult to think of the 2015
season at Heritage Square which is only two
months away.
more. (e.g. stools, coasters, serving trays,
paperweights, medallions). Trustee Bill Slocum
surprised his sister, Carol Boughton, with a
customized “walking stick” made from the tree,
the largest sugar maple recorded in New York
State.
Planning for 2015
The board of directors has added a dedication of our exhibit barn to Polly and Bill Crombe
to the opening day events on June 7th. We will
also feature our updated uniforms’ and fashions’ display and begin weekend tours then.
Orientation for our weekend guides and
docents is set for April 25th and school tours
are set from June 1st thru 12th.
Our annual meeting and elections are set
for the North Ontario United Methodist Church,
a part of our site on the National Register of
Historic Places, on May 20th.
Summer Sunday events are set for July
12th and August 9th. Our popular barn sales
are set for May 14th thru 16th and September
17th thru 19th.
Thanks to Our Treasurer, Jean Tsepas and
Secretary, Alayna Di Santo
After 15 years of diligent efforts behind the
scenes, Jean has announced she will retire as
our treasurer this spring. She has had an important role in all of the projects and activities
over the years and will be missed. If you see
her at LNB, add your “thanks!!”
Just before press time, Alayna advised that
she will not seek re-election as secretary this
spring. She has done a super job along with
school tours, guides, displays and more. I told
her I wish her well in sunny winter months but
wish I could clone her to continue as secretary
!!
Any members who have an interest in the
secretary’s or treasurer’s jobs are invited to
contact me at jeswitz@rochester.rr.com. Both
Jean and Alayna will serve until the annual
meeting in May.
HSM Designated for Memorials
Our museum was named for donations for
both Polly Crombe and Ward Benedict, former
resident who helped build the bell frame last
year at the schoolhouse. His in-laws were
proprietors of the 5 & 10 Cent Store on Main
Street.
Hoffman Foundation Grant Awarded
Our grant to purchase mannequins for our
uniform displays and to add Plexiglas to the
outhouse at the school house was approved.
Both projects will debut on June 7th.
“Pieces of History”
As we complete cabling and trimming of our
nearly 90 ft. tall Sugar Maple Tree during the
dormant season, we are planning to accept
cash donations for tree pieces of 3 inches or
Community Outreach
Liz Albright and Judy Powley prepared the
display case at the town hall/library for January
and February. Local Scout Nathan Yoder will
repair and improve walkways between Ontario Center Road buildings at Heritage Square
as his “Eagle” project. Using the new surface
material we experimented with last year, this
will keep our buildings clean and allow lawn &
property maintenance to occur with ease.
In May, we will participate in the “Ridge
Road Rummage Rage” co-sponsored by the
Business Improvement District, Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Ontario, with
baked foods and bottled water sale at Carol
Page 6
Boughton‘s front yard at 1178 Ridge Road.
Heritage Square will serve as a rest/visit
stop for the Tour de Cure for the Rochester
Chapter of the American Diabetes Association
on Saturday morning, June 13th. Bicycle riders
of all ages will cover routes east, west and
south of the Webster campus of Xerox Corporation.
Our board is working with Anne Tobin, adult
services leader at Ontario Public Library, on
joint and reciprocal programs highlighting the
traditions, history and folklore of our community, with an emphasis on welcoming and acquainting new families in our community.
Tribute to Polly and Bill
As noted elsewhere in this issue, Polly and
Bill Crombe left an exceptional legacy to our
society and our museum. They were also special people to my family, with Bill having taught
with my dad in the early days of our school
district and as our superintendent of schools
and my boss in the seventies. The exceptional
dedication of Polly is reflected throughout our
organization, from pie sales to color photos and
maps of repairs, water, power, security, septic
and drainage at the square.
Also “On Tap” for 2015 !!
We are lining up projects for the Mormon
Service teams in July and our Fall Arts and
Crafts Festival is set for October 3rd.
Our resident carpenter Jim Codding is
building steps for the loading dock at the train
station. Restoration of the sleigh and cutter and
a new display on medicine (using the restored
Dr. Thompson buggy) are planned. Future
displays are in “planning” stages for farming,
the mink industry and the canning/cold storage
industries in Ontario, among others.
To increase awareness and member participation, minutes of BOD meetings are now
distributed to members by e-mail and our web
page at heritagesquaremuseum.org. We are
also using e-mail “blasts” to keep members and
the media updated on events and activities.
Thanks to the year-round efforts of our
many volunteers. I hope we will see you at the
museum this spring.
Thank You to
Mama Lor’s Café
Jim Switzer
In Passing
It is with sincere appreciation that we
acknowledge one of our business members
whose goes above and beyond just paying her
yearly dues. Lori Rosenzweig, proprietor of
Mama Lor’s Café at 1891 Ridge Road in Union
Hill, has on display and sells the Ontario’s
History 1807-1993 book. She makes available
her copy of the book so that patrons can look
through it. Invariably, they then purchase a
copy so that they can either give it as a gift or
read it more thoroughly themselves. Since the
end of October she has sold over 30 copies.
We would also like to thank member, Bob Davis, for facilitating this endeavor.
Page 7
Our condolences are extended to the
families and friends of the following:
Diane McCallum and her family on the
death of her step-mother, Pauline “Polly”
Crombe on January 10th
Pro and Jeanne Konstantinou and their
family on the death of his sister, Theodora
Plantenberg, on December 26th.
Daniel and Diane Koretz and their family
on the death of his sister, Debra Sue
Koretz, on February 8th.
Kay Herrmann and her family on the
death of her husband, Roy E. Herrmann,
Jr. on February 10th.
May Barn Sale
As spring approaches and you get the urge
to clean out that garage, basement, or attic,
don’t forget about our barn sale. It may seem
a long way off, but tables and shelves are
already being set up, and donations have been
coming in over the winter. Some items that
sell well are jewelry, small appliances, kitchen
gadgets, tools, and holiday decorations.
Please, no electronics!
The scheduled drop-off dates are
Thursdays, April 23 and 30, 6 to 8 p.m., and
Saturdays, April 23 and May 2, 9 a.m. to
noon. (The barn sale is May 14, 15 and 16.)
Other arrangements to drop off donations can
be made by calling Ann Welker at 524-9330.
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Town Historian
Board of Directors 2014 – 2015
Jim Switzer
Ann Welker
Alayna Di Santo
Jean Tsepas
Bill Slocum
Jim Codding
Carol Boughton
Billie Lochner
Nancy Cleveland
Judy Lynd
Liz Albright
585-750-2277
315-524-9330
315-589-9884
315-524-9661
315-524-4841
315-524-7837
315-524-8487
585-265-3863
315-524-8119
585-271-4925
315-524-9127
Page 8
jeswitz@rochester.rr.com
frwelker@aol.com
disantoaa@gmail.com
Jtsepas@bankwithlnb.com
bgkslo@aol.com
jcodding@rochester.rr.com
carolboughton@yahoo.com
lochbb6952@frontier.com
gnclevel@aol.com
jslynd@aol.com
historian@ontariotown.org