The Twenty-Five Things That Made Genesee County Famous: #13 The Pembroke Driver's Ed Accident

On June 10, 1987, the community was rocked when a car driven by a drunk driver slammed head on into a driver’s education car from Pembroke Central Schools. The lives of three students and their teacher tragically ended that day.

How Did It Make Genesee County Famous?

The accident was picked up by news agencies around the country, and the tragedy spurred the community into action. People became advocates, and that is one of the ways the community started to heal.

Community members went out and told their story. They told it to the newspapers, on television, on radio and even in front of Congress.

Their advocacy led to changes in New York State laws. The reason New York State Drivers licenses are stamped, “Under 21” is because of the people of Pembroke. They also lobbied successfully to make it a crime to possess alcohol under the legal drinking age and had the blood alcohol content lowered from .10% to .08%.

Click Here to Listen

http://www.hollandlandoffice.com/podcasts/13pdea.mp3

Read the Podcast text and more here

The Twenty-Five Things That Made Genesee County Famous: #14 Charles Rand

On April 15th, 1861, a young man attending a rally at the Eagle Hotel at the corner of Main Street and Court Street in Batavia, heard Abraham Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers.

When asked by an elder of the community, who will be the first volunteer, Charles Rand stepped forward and said, "I will. I will be the first."

A few years later, Rand started a campaign to recognize his claim to fame as the First Union Volunteer of the Civil War.

Listen to his story here http://www.hollandlandoffice.com/podcasts/14crand.mp3


Read the Podcast text and more here

HLOM Lecture Series: Forgotten Founder, Drunken Prophet: The Life of Luther Martin

This podcast was originally recorded on September 9, 2008. The author, Bill Kauffman, spoke to the Holland Purchase Historical Society to promote his new book.



http://www.hollandlandoffice.com/podcasts/kauffman.mp3

The Twenty-Five Things That Made Genesee County Famous: #15 Fellows v. Blacksmith / 1857 Treaty with the Seneca, Tonawanda Band

The only know court case to be heard in front of the United States Supreme Court, it was in the courts for 15 years before the Tonawanda Seneca were giving a clear title to their land forever.


Click here to listen




http://www.hollandlandoffice.com/podcasts/15fvb.mp3


Read the Podcast text and more here

HLOM Lecture Series: Book Signing for The Bills Are Due

HLOM Lecture Series: Book Signing for The Bills Are Due

Attica native, Rob Thompson, wrote a book called The Bills Are Due. The book pays tribute to the generation of Bills players who made them what they are today. Thompson’s interviews of players like Fred Smerlas, Billy Shaw, Joe Ferguson and JD Hill are compelling and fascinating.

On September 4, 2008 Mr. Thompson and former Bill’s great JD Hill were at the Holland Land Office Museum for a book signing. Unfortunately, Mr. Thompson’s talk didn’t record, but we were successful when JD Hill came up and spoke about what it was like to be a NFL player and what he is doing today.

Listen to the podcast Here

http://www.hollandlandoffice.com/podcasts/billsaredue.mp3

To order the book, call the Museum at (585) 343-4727.

To learn more about JD Hill and what he is doing today, visit www.jdhill.org