Religion – Matthew Ballard

October 12, 2018

Story of Rev. Dykal Highlights Accomplishments of Polish Americans

Vol. 4, No. 41 October is Polish American Heritage Month, first celebrated in 1981 by the Polish American Cultural Center in Philadelphia. It is an opportunity to call attention to…

Overlooked Orleans Ethnic Groups, Immigration, Orleans County, Religion, Village of Albion, Village of Medina

September 12, 2018

Matthew Ballard

The Angelus Bell

Vol. 4, No. 37 Some of the best local history stories are those that are rediscovered and built upon by each historian. While organizing a collection of newspaper clippings, I…

Overlooked Orleans Ethnic Groups, Immigration, Religion, Town of Albion, Town of Gaines, Village of Albion

June 8, 2018

Matthew Ballard

Sacred Heart of Jesus Served Medina’s Polish Community for Nearly 100 Years

Vol. 4, No. 23 Shortly after starting my tenure as County Historian in 2015, I wrote a short piece about a photograph of Sacred Heart Church given to me by…

Overlooked Orleans Ethnic Groups, Immigration, Religion, Village of Medina

March 22, 2018

Matthew Ballard

“From Serfdom to Culture”

Vol. 4, No. 12 While cataloging the Department of History’s collection of rare books, I came across a small booklet entitled From Serfdom to Culture written by “a white-haired Rochester…

Overlooked Orleans Education, Orleans County, Religion, Town of Barre, Village of Albion, Women's History

January 25, 2018

Matthew Ballard

Early Calls for Abolitionist Lectures Fell on Deaf Ears in Orleans County

Volume 4, Issue 4 As we near Black History Month in February, I was researching local African American families in Orleans County and attempting to assemble an understanding of this…

Overlooked Orleans African American History, Famous People, Orleans County, Religion, Social Reform, Town of Barre, Town of Clarendon, Town of Gaines, Town of Ridgeway, Village of Albion, Village of Medina