His early years were spent from the age of 14 working at the Batavia Canning and Preserving Company where he learned to love the machinery and was always looking for ways to improve their functioning.

At the age of 16 he invented and patented an improved cherry pitter as well several other machines that made work easier at the factory.  By 1919 his tinkering turned to the automobile and he opened a garage on Vernon Street, at the site of the present FMC Community Office.  He retired from the garage after 42 years during which he gave life back to many automobiles and bikes, giving him a reputation as a most considerate and thoughtful man.

In his retirement he enjoyed tinkering with models which he built from spare parts and would give the children and adults in the neighborhood tours of his garage which housed his wonderful collection.

Mr. Vary died in 1988 at the age of 97, leaving his wife Margaret to survive him until 1990 when she passed at the age of 102.

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Downey took over the broom factory and put up a fluid spray called “Downyside”. In one of his 1904 ads he states his insecticide did not smell like rotten eggs as his competitor’s stuff did.

He outgrew this building and then went up and built a small two story plant north of the NYC tracks and west of the Resseguie Mill on Kelly Avenue.

The above is from an essay by Elmer Vary on Wildcat Creek, which he felt was as responsible for the growth of Middleport as the canal. ~ Christa Lutz

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He was an important figure in Middleport’s past and he has a road named after him. There is an historic marker on this road that shares some history about this man and his role in Middleport.

Any guesses?

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Iceboxes date back to the days of ice harvesting, which had hit an industrial high that ran from the mid-19th century to the 1930s, just before the refrigerator was introduced into the home.

What is an icebox?

Iceboxes had hollow walls lined with tin or zinc and packed with various insulating materials such as cork, sawdust, straw or seaweed. A large block of ice was held in a tray or compartment near the top of the box. Cold air circulated down and around storage compartments in the lower section.  The user had to replenish the melted ice, normally by obtaining new ice from an iceman.

Most municipalities used ice that was harvested in winter from snow-packed areas, ponds or frozen lakes, where it was stored it in ice houses, and then delivered domestically to homes for iceboxes.

The photo above, taken from a reprint that was in the local newspaper some years ago,  shows ice being cut and harvested in Middleport that was most likely about 100 years ago.

Anyone know anything more about this photo? Let us know in the comment section below and we can share it on our Facebook page.

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There were plenty of stores to supply everything that canal travelers could possibly need. However, records show that we have had only one blast furnace withing our community.  John Van Brocklin opened his business in 1840 at the site where the building still stands today on Vernon Street near the corner of State.

This building has been the home to several other businesses and even was used as for classrooms when the school was expanding.

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The first reference to the Middleport Band was in 1840 at a Presidential Rally in the Town of Royalton and a Temperance Rally in Lockport. We don’t read of much activity again for about 20 years when the Middleport Cornet Band was organized with 16 members. Over the years, they were referred to as the Brass Band and the Saxophone Horn Band.

The Middleport Band played at the “pole raising” in Gasport in 1860, which was attended by about 2,000 people. Streamers with the names of Lincoln and Hamlin were run up the 140 ft. pole. In September 1861, the Middleport Brass Band provided soul stirring music at a meeting in the Pierce Hotel for the purpose of raising volunteers for the Cavalry Company that was being organized. Five young men responded to the call and a bounty of $25 was offered by the citizens, to be paid when they were mustered into the service.

Toward the end of the century the Band was active socially, possibly to raise money for the new instruments that were purchased. The following account is from an old newspaper article entitled “The New Year and Century Welcomed in a Blaze of Glory.”

“The 20th Century was ushered in by our citizens at midnight Monday in a blaze of fireworks, booming cannon, ringing of church bells, blowing of whistles and general bedlam reigned supreme for a short period.

The parade formed at the fire building and was headed by the Middleport Cornet Band. Next came the float representing a house in which there sat an old woman holding an infant, symbolic of the new century; following thereafter came the general participants dressed in grotesque costumes. Those in the procession were well supplied with fireworks.

The parade moved exactly at midnight, and passed over the following streets: Main, South Vernon, State and Main to the fire building.

Red fire was burned on every corner and the Roman candles illuminated the heavens.

The celebration was a success in every respect and everyone was satisfied. The Century had been ushered in with a “hurrah” in case anyone has an idea they could improve on the celebration of Monday evening, the opportunity is theirs at the dawn of the 21st Century, but we are quite satisfied with the present one.”

After they led the New Century Parade through the Village at midnight on January 2, 1901, there is no further mention of them.

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