Saturday, March 28, 2009

The Twenty-Five Things That Made Genesee County Famous: #1 Jell-O

In a LeRoy, New York kitchen in 1897, a carpenter named Pearle B. Wait, while experimenting with fruit flavored products discovered a formula his wife called Jell-O.


Wait sold the formula to another local businessman named Orator T. Woodward for $450 and under the Woodward’s family leadership, Jell-O became America’s Famous Dessert.


Jell-O became a household word and was manufactured in LeRoy until operations were moved to Dover, Delaware in 1964.




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Thursday, March 19, 2009

The Twenty-Five Things That Made Genesee County Famous: #2 Barber Conable


Known for his honesty and integrity, Barber Conable started his political career as an organizer with the city of Batavia Republican Party and rose to the top of the political world.

Born in nearby Warsaw, Wyoming County, he moved to Batavia to practice law. He didn't want to hang his shingle in his hometown because his brother was the County Judge and he didn't want to have any conflicts of interest.

After his election to Congress, he became know as the Congressman who wouldn't take a contribution to his campaign fund for more than $50. As a leader on the Ways and Means Committee, he helped write the tax laws of the 1980s.

Following his retirement after 20 years of service in Congress, he returned home to Genesee County. Less than a year later, he was called back to services, this time as the President of the World Bank, a position he held for five years.

After his second retirement, he came home again and became involved in local affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Conable became active in the Holland Purchase Historical Society and other community organizations.


Click Here to Listen

http://www.hollandlandoffice.com/podcasts/03wm.mp3


Read the Podcast text and more here