| The Ceres School was
built in 1855. It still can be seen today and has served as a
community center. Above Post Card available in a set of notecards
produced & may be purchased from B.R.A.G. Historical Society in Bolivar,NY
(Used with permission of B.R.A.G.) |
The Ceres Coliseum
opened as the power house for the trolley from 1902-1926. During the
big band era (1931-1936) this was used for a dance hall and later
became "the" place to roller skate and still is today.
Above Post Card available in a set of notecards
produced & may be purchased from B.R.A.G. Historical Society in Bolivar,NY
(Used with permission of B.R.A.G.) 06/28/05--
A historic area landmark is gone.
The Ceres Coliseum was destroyed by fire early this morning when westbound tractor-trailer went off of Route 417 in heavy fog, crashed into the building and ignited a blaze. A spokesman
for the Bolivar fire department told WFRM that the driver suffered only minor injuries and was treated at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville for cuts and bruises. Apparently there were
no firefighter injuries. Several area departments responded to the scene, including Coudersport. All units were reported back in service at about 6:20 this morning, some four to five hours
after the first call. The building began as a turnaround for the trolley system, then during the forties or so, it became a popular dance hall and was later converted to a skating rink
which was still in operation at the time of the fire.
(wfrm news archive-Coudersport,PA Radio) |
Above is a photo of
the Ceres School in 1905 (loaned by Harold Benson,
Bolivar RD. to MoneySaver) (3
in back row) Clair Edgett, Milton Raymond, Luther Van Schoick; Back
row— Leo Barrett, Harold Benson, Harry Raymond, John Smith, Leon
Webster, Tony Schaum, Reed Roberts, Jim Wilson, George Schaum, Allen
Benson, Lloyd Cleveland, ?, John Harmon, John Clark, George Smith;
2nd row Hazel Edgett, Marg Wilson, Agnes Edgett, Bertha Bell, Kate
Visengard, Florence Coon, Hazel Coats, ?, Mary Visingard, Ethel
Eastman, Christine Holly, Sadie Lamphere, Carrie North, Mabel Henry,
teacher; 3rd row— Ella Gorman, teacher, ?, Ruth Coon, Sarah DeGroff,
Marian Roberts, ?, ?, Dorothy Eastman, ?, Grace Bell, Isabel
Roberts, Rhea Roberts, Gretchen Faulkner, Beulah Beckwith, ”Lassie
?”; Front Row— Edward Simmons, Harold Roberts, Cyril Gray, ?, ?, ?,
Maynard Hackett, Frank DeGroff, ?, Winnie Guinnip, Harold
Webster, James Clark, Maynard Bell, ?, Lewis Clark, ?, ?, ?.
Submitted by Charlene Small-Little Genesee,NY from
Gerald & Ruth Persing Picture/Clipping Collection |
Allen & Kirchgasser Store in Little Genesee (From
Ray Payne's Photo Album,
PIONEER
OIL MUSEUM COLLECTION) |
| 1890's VanWormer
Lumber Mills-Ceres,NY
Submitted by Charlene Small-Little Genesee,NY from
Gerald & Ruth Persing Picture/Clipping Collection. From
Bolivar MoneySaver, Unknown Date |
PS&N Depot -
Ceres,NY Submitted by Charlene Small-Little Genesee,NY from
Gerald & Ruth Persing Picture/Clipping Collection. From
Bolivar MoneySaver, Unknown Date |
1890's Ceres,NY
View
Submitted by Charlene Small-Little Genesee,NY from
Gerald & Ruth Persing Picture/Clipping Collection. From
Bolivar MoneySaver, Unknown Date |
Hotel, PostOffice,
W.C.T.U.Reading Rooms - Ceres,NY c.1914
Submitted by Charlene Small-Little Genesee,NY from
Gerald & Ruth Persing Picture/Clipping Collection. |
| "By the Bridge"-Ceres,NY Submitted by Charlene Small-Little Genesee,NY from
Gerald & Ruth Persing Picture/Clipping Collection. |
Ceres Lumber Mill
Submitted by Charlene Small-Little Genesee,NY from
Gerald & Ruth Persing Picture/Clipping Collection. |
Ceres,NY - "The
Good Old Days" c.1914 Submitted by Charlene Small-Little Genesee,NY from
Gerald & Ruth Persing Picture/Clipping Collection. |
Gleason's Store -
Ceres,NY Submitted by Charlene Small-Little Genesee,NY from
Gerald & Ruth Persing Picture/Clipping Collection. |
| Leon Persing, Left
The Tea Wagons
Submitted by Charlene Small-Little Genesee,NY from
Gerald & Ruth Persing Picture/Clipping Collection. |
Old Ceres,PA Bridge A Gateway to Ceres, NY
Per Charlie Barrett, NY/PA border splits the town down the middle.
c.1909
Submitted by Charlene Small-Little Genesee,NY from
Gerald & Ruth Persing Picture/Clipping Collection. |
Attached is the photo which shows my grandfather, Aaron DeGroff, standing in the doorway of his blacksmith shop in Ceres, PA. The shop was on
the west side of the road just south of the bridge (I remember my dad showing me the location when I was just a kid like those in the picture). Aaron and family lived on Low Street on the
NY side of the border. The house is no longer there. My dad, Clarence L. was born there in 1902, but went to highschool in Shinglehouse when the family moved there some years later.
With a magnifying glass and the original print, one can read the sign on his right announcing an auction to be held in September, 1911, so I assume the photo was taken sometime that
summer.
The man seated at his left is his brother-in-law, Frederick D. Perkins of Eldred, PA, believed also to be a blacksmith at the time. Seated next to Fred is his son, Walter D. Perkins, who
was killed later during the last days of WW I in France.
I'm guessing that the boy in the doorway was my uncle Frank who was about the same age as Walter.
I grew up in Olean. Ronald DeGroff - Rochester, Ny
10-25-07 |
|