The April 6th meeting of the Honeoye Falls – Town of Mendon Historical Society will feature Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director.
Honeoye Falls/Mendon Historical Society – File Photo
The topic of Farley’s talk will be “Set in Stone: The History of Cobblestone Masonry.” This program looks at the geological and social factors that created the perfect storm for a truly unique, regional architectural phenomenon that lasted from roughly 1820 to the end of the Civil War. Also covered is the creation of the Cobblestone Society & Museum and its growth to include its award winning National Historic Landmark campus.
Doug Farley is the current director of The Cobblestone Society located in Albion (Orleans County) NY, a position he has held since 2017. The Cobblestone Society interprets three National Historic Landmark cobblestone buildings and several other historic structures on their large campus.
Prior to accepting his current role, Mr. Farley served as the director of The Museum of Disability History in Buffalo, NY (2011-2016), and director of The Erie Canal Discovery Center (2004-2011), an interpretive center for Erie Canal history in Lockport NY. Prior to beginning this position, Mr. Farley graduated from the University of Buffalo, and owned and operated his own retail business for over 35 years.
At the Erie Canal Discovery Center, Mr. Farley helped with planning and implementation for this new state-of-the-art facility that provided an adaptive reuse for a 19th century architectural treasure that was at risk. His work includes research on NYS History and he published weekly articles for the Lockport Union Sun & Journal, as well as contributing to other publications such as WNY Heritage magazine. He is a frequent speaker and has presented for national conferences of American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), Association for Farm, Living History and Agricultural Museums (ALFAM) and NYS Retired Teachers’ Association.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2023 at the Mendon Community Center, 167 North Main Street in Honeoye Falls. This facility is handicapped accessible. The meeting is open to the public.
For information, call 624-5655.
