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Holland Land Office Museum

Sneak a peek at raffle baskets on display for Wonderland of Trees Kickoff

By Billie Owens

Submitted photo and press release:

We are ready for our 18th annual Wonderland of Trees Kickoff! Baskets at the Holland Land Office Museum are nestled all snug in their places, so come on down today or tomorrow during business hours if you want a sneak peek and to get your choices in early!

Not only do we have close to 40 gift baskets for our raffle, but we also have a beautiful tree to win  -- decorated by the lovely "Anything Your Heart Desires" florist. If you would rather, try your luck at winning cash grab, or a couple of tickets for our 50/50 raffle instead.  

The kickoff starts tomorrow (Nov. 22) at 6 p.m. and will continue until 8:30. There will be delicious hors d’oeuvres provided by the D & R Depot throughout the night to enjoy while you listen to music performed by voice students of Sound Foundation Voice Studio as well as a flute ensemble from Batavia Middle School.  

Tickets for the kickoff are $15 per person, $10 per member or $5 per child under 12. They can be purchased online here, by calling (585) 343-4727, or stopping at the Museum, located at 131 W. Main St. in Batavia.

Tickets for the basket raffle are $2 per ticket, 10 tickets for $10 or 25 tickets for $20.  

Tickets for the 50/50 raffle are $1 per ticket or five tickets for $4.  

At the kickoff, we will be holding a silent auction for a couple of the bigger items so make sure you don’t miss out.  

Winners will be pulled at 8:15 p.m. at the kickoff but you don’t have to be present to win.

What a great way to start the holidays with food and entertainment for the whole family!

HLOM 18th annual Wonderland of Trees opening gala is Nov. 22

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is hosting its 18th annual Wonderland of Trees, sponsored in part this year by Tompkins Bank of Castile.This year’s Kickoff Gala will take place at the museum Friday, Nov. 22nd.

The event will start at 6 p.m. and is family friendly and great for all ages.  

Each year, hundreds of visitors come to the museum between November and January to view nearly 50 trees, festive pictures, and holiday displays decorated by local businesses and organizations. 

There will be musical performances by voice students from Sound Foundations Voice Studio and a Flute Ensemble from Batavia Middle School.

After-dinner snacks will be provided by D & R Depot.

Tickets are $15 per person, $10 for museum members and $5 for children under 12.

This year tickets are available for purchase online as well as by calling (585) 343-4727 or stopping in Tuesday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Video: HLOM cannons removed for $20K restoration

By Howard B. Owens
Video Sponsor
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The two cannons that have sat on the front porch of the Holland Land Office Museum for more than a century have been removed and transported to Altoona, Pa., for a $20,000 period-accurate restoration.

The Museum is paying $10,000 for the restoration and is seeking public donations of $10,000 in a campaign called, "Ready, Aim, Donate."

HLOM to send off both its cannons to Pennsylvania next Friday for restoration

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 1st the official Cannon Send-Off Celebration will take place.

We are sending off our two cannons, which currently can be seen on our front porch, to be restored and preserved for generations to come.

Seed Artillery out of Altoona, Pa., will be picking up the cannons to them to their facility to begin refurbishing the cannons and they are expected to be returned in the coming spring.

Seed Artillery is known for its excellence in the industry of artillery restoration, which is why the company was chosen for the job.

If you can’t make it to the event but would like to help support the restoration of the cannons, we welcome you to donation to the Cannon Restoration Fund.

Stop by the museum to grab a brochure about the fund or check our website and Facebook for more details.

Refreshments and food will be provided for all in attendance to enjoy. The museum will also be open for anyone interested in experiencing all of the wonderful exhibits on display.

The mseum is located at 131 W. Main St. in the City of Batavia.

For more information please call the museum at 585-343-4727 or email at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

HLOM to host Westside Ghost Walk on three Friday nights in October

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Back and expanded by popular demand, please join the Holland Land Office Museum for a Westside Ghost Walk on three Fridays in October.

The walks led by Connie Boyd will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 11, 18, and 25.

Take a walk on the Westside and hear tales of murders, hangings, grave robbing, ghosts and other eerie happenings from Batavia's past.

Hear stories of Joseph Ellicott, E. N. Rowell and other famous and infamous Batavians.

Admission is $10 and reservations are required.

Tours are limited to 25 people each. The tour begins and ends at the museum and is approximately one-and-a-half to two hours in length.

For tickets or more information, please call (585) 343-4727, email at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com, or stop by at 131 W. Main St., Batavia.

(Also, be sure to check out the Old Batavia Cemetery's Guided Ghost Walk on Saturday, Oct. 26; must RSVP by calling the Batavia Cemetery Association at (585) 943-5662.)

September at HLOM: Erie Canal, Native Americans, Roycroft Inn, Vidler's, dinner theater at Red Osier

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum will be holding its next edition of History Trivia Night at 7 o'clock on Thursday, Sept. 12th. The topic of September’s trivia will be the history of the Erie Canal.

The trivia night will be held at a special location this month, at GO ART!, located at 201 E. Main St., which has offered to host the event. Their Tavern 2.o.1 will also be open for players to enjoy an adult beverage. Admission is $3 per person or $2 for museum members.

On Saturday, Sept. 14th, the next edition of the Holland Land Office Museum’s Saturday Morning Kids Program will be taking place. From 10 a.m. to noon, the kids will be making their own Native American style drums and dream catchers. The program is open to children ages 7-12. Admission is $5 per child, and $4 for museum members.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to present the next presenter in its Guest Speaker Series. On Wednesday, Sept. 18that 7 p.m., Cindy Amrhein will be presenting “Native American Land Rights in Upstate New York.” She is the Wyoming County Historian and the author of several books including one of the same title as the presentation, copies of which will be available for sale. Admission is $3 per person or $2 for museum members.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce its Seventh Annual Senior Bus Trip on Wednesday, Sept. 18th. This year the trip will be to the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora. The trip will include a tour of the campus, lunch at the Roycroft Inn, and shopping in Downtown East Aurora, including Vidler’s 5 & 10. The bus will be departing at 9 a.m. and returning at 5 p.m. at the museum. Tickets are $60 per person or $55 for museum members. The trip is made possible by the Muriel H. Marshall Fund.

The Holland Land Office Museum is also proud to announce its first-ever Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Fundraiser. It will be held at the Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, 6492 Main St., Stafford, on Saturday, Sept. 28th. The “Mystery of William Morgan” will be performed by WNY Improv Inc., and will give the audience a chance to be their own detectives in this “Who Done It?” style mystery. Guests will be treated to a choice of one of four entrees during the night from the renowned Red Osier menu. A cash bar will also be available. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the performance and dinner beginning at 6. Tickets to the event are $50 per person.

To RSVP for any of the upcoming events or for more information please call the museum at 585-343-4727 or email at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

HLOM to unveil two new paintings by NYC-based Batavia artist on Oct. 4, please RSVP

By Billie Owens

Submitted photo and press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce on Friday, Oct. 4th, the official unveiling of two new paintings by artist Anthony E. Terrell.

He is a Batavia native now residing in New York City, and a 1967 graduate of Batavia High School.

The two paintings “Listening to Couperin” ("artist & wife enjoying") and “Big Horned Sheep Jumping Fence of Time” are recent works of Terrell's, which were graciously donated to the museum to further promote and expand the collection of works by local artists.

The unveiling will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4th, at the museum.

Refreshments and food will be provided for all in attendance to enjoy. The museum will also be fully open to experience all of the wonderful exhibits on display.

In place of a formal admission, the museum is asking for a small donation. Please RSVP for the event by contacting the museum at 585-343-4727 or by email at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com

Annual HLOM Senior Bus Tour is Sept. 18: Roycroft Campus, also shopping at Vidler's 5 & 10 in East Aurora

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum will be hosting its Seventh Annual Senior Bus Trip on Wednesday, Sept. 18th. This year's trip will be traveling to the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora.

The trip will include a two-hour tour of the campus, going through many of the buildings not always open to the general public.

After the tour we will be eating lunch at the beautiful Roycroft Inn, with a choice of entrees: lemon rosemary chicken, garden penne, or salmon.

There will also be time afterward for exploring of Downtown East Aurora, where everyone can enjoy the wonderful shopping opportunities including the famous Vidler’s 5 & 10. It bills itself as the "largest 5 & 10 cent variety store in the world" -- over 75,000 items spread through four buildings on two floors.

The bus will be leaving at 9 a.m. from the museum and returning at 5 p.m. Tickets are $60 per person ($55 for HLOM museum members). Must be 60 years of age or older to purchase tickets for this event.

For more information please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

The event is made possible by the Muriel H. Marshall Fund.

Mark Your Calendar: HLOM offers three Friday night Ghost Walks on the Westside in October

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Back and expanded by popular demand, please join the Holland Land Office Museum for a Westside Ghost Walk on three Fridays in October.

The walks led by Connie Boyd will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 11th, 18th, and 25th.

Take a walk on the Westside and hear tales of murders, hangings, grave robbing, ghosts and other eerie happenings from Batavia's past. Hear stories of Joseph Ellicott, E. N. Rowell and other famous and infamous Batavians.

Admission is $10 and reservations are required with purchase.

Tours are limited to 25 people each.

The tour begins and ends at the museum and will last approximately one-and-a-half to two hours in length.

For more spooky fun from Batavia’s past, please visit the Batavia Cemetery’s Ghost Walk on Saturday, Oct. 26th.

For tickets or more information, please call (585) 343-4727, email at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com, or stop by at 131 W. Main St. Batavia.

HLOM to host Murder Mystery Dinner Theater fundraiser at Red Osier Sept. 28

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to present its first Murder Mystery Dinner Theater fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 28. An original mystery written for HLOM, it is based on the 19th century local crime of the century, the disappearance of William Morgan.

Will you outsmart the suspects and determine what happened to him and "who dun it"?

The mystery is a live performance at Red Osier Landmark Restaurant in Stafford, with considerable interaction between the suspects and the audience with an extensive comedic touch put on by WNY Improv Inc.

WNY Improv Inc. is a group of eclectic and talented performers from throughout Western New York with extensive experience in acting and improvisation. WNY Improv has performed on stage, in films, on cruise ships, at festivals and many other venues in New York, the City of Toronto in Ontario Province, Canada, and Pennsylvania.

Doors opening at 5:30 p.m., performance beginning at 6, and dinner served by 6:30.

Each ticket will get you a choice of four different entrees for your meal: prime rib, chicken French, blackened salmon, or veggie lasagna, all include sides, salad, and dessert. Cash bar will also be available.

Tickets are $50 per person. They can be purchased by contacting the museum at 585-343-4727, hollandlandoffice@gmail.com, or stopping by 131 W. Main St. Batavia. Please have entree choice ready when buying tickets.

HLOM hires new marketing coordinator

By Billie Owens

Submitted photo and press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the addition of Jodi Fisher to its team as the new museum marketing coordinator.

The museum and its supporters welcome Fisher as her experience and personality will be wonderful additions to the HLOM.

As marketing coordinator, she will be responsible for promoting the museum’s large number of exhibits, events and programming to a wider audience both within Genesee County and Western New York as a whole.

She has a love of local history and the arts which will make her an asset to the museum and will be a major part of our plans for success going forward.

Fisher is currently also the Department of Environmental Conservation grant coordinator for Genesee-Orleans Arts Council (GO ART!), which she will maintain while working at the museum.

We look forward to what Fisher can bring to the museum and invite everyone to join us in welcoming her and be sure to check out all of the museum’s wonderful events and programs in the future.

August events announced for Holland Land Office Museum

By Billie Owens

Here's the August lineup of happenings at the Holland Land Office Museum.

Trivia Night at the Museum​

The Holland Land Office Museum will be hosting the next edition of its Trivia Night at the Museum at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8th. This month’s topic will be the “History of Baseball” with a distinct local twist. Admission is $3/$2 for museummembers. The trivia nights occur the second Wednesday of each month.

Genesee Area Genealogists Writer’s Workshop

The Holland Land Office Museum will be hosting the August meeting of the Genesee Area Genealogists group; Writer's Workshop will be on Monday, Aug. 19th from 10 am to noon. The meeting is open to anyone with an interest in researching family history.

Java with Joe E.

The Holland Land Office Museum will be hosting its next edition of its Java with Joe E. morning coffee historical discussion. The August meeting will take place on Thursday, Aug. 22nd at 9 a.m. at the museum. This month’s speaker will be Genesee County Historian, Michael Eula, Ph.D. His topic will be “In Only Six Short Years: Genesee County Reacts to the Assassinations of the Kennedys and Martin Luther King Jr.”

Free coffee and donuts will be served during the presentation. Java with Joe E. occurs the fourth Wednesday of every month.

Guest Speaker Series: “Legends, Lore and Secrets of Western New York” by Lorna Czarnota

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to present our latest member of our Guest Speaker Series. Local author and storyteller Lorna MacDonald Czarnota will be presenting on one of her published works "Legends, Lore and Secrets of Western New York" at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29th.

Czarnota is the author of nine published works, several relating to WNY history, as well as living history performer and musician. She will be available after the presentation to sign any copies of her books, several of which will be available from the museum gift shop. Admission is $3 per person, $2 for museum members.

HLOM William Morgan Murder Dinner Theater Benefit

By Holland Land Office

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to present its first Murder Mystery Dinner Theater fundraiser. An original Mystery written for the Holland Land Museum, based on the 19th century crime of the century, the Disappearance of William Morgan. Will you outsmart the suspects and determine what happened to him and "who dun it"?
The mystery is a live performance with considerable interaction between the suspects and the audience with an extensive comedic touch put on by WNY Improv, Inc.
.

Event Date and Time
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"Legends, Lore, and Secrets of Western New York"- Lorna MacDonald Czarnota at HLOM

By Holland Land Office

Lorna MacDonald Czarnota will be speaking on her book "Legends, Lore, and Secrets of Western New York." Uncover new stories and secrets told through the ages. Learn about the "cat people," Ossian Giant, and Kitty O'Neil, just some of the names that make up the rich lore history of Western New York. This next installment of our guest speaker series will be on Thursday, August 29th, starting at 7pm. It's only $3 per person and $2 for museum members.

Event Date and Time
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History Trivia Night- Baseball

By Holland Land Office

Every second Thursday of each month, put your knowledge of seemingly trivial facts to the test & learn some new ones with our
History Trivia Family & Team Challenge!! This event begins at 7pm and is $3 per person and $2 for museum members.

This month's theme is Baseball!

Keep an eye on our twitter and website page for more details and make sure to share with your friends!

Event Date and Time
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HLOM committee busy now planning for Wonderland of Trees Gala Opening in November

By Billie Owens

In photo, from left: Ryan Duffy, director HLOM; Kathy Jasinski, committee member; Sean Valdes, co-owner of D&R Depot; Alice Chapell, committee member; and Linda Johnston, committee member.

Submitted photo and press release:

CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST? While some people are taking vacations and enjoying the summer, several dedicated volunteers at the Holland Land Office Museum are preparing for the 2019 Wonderland of Tree’s Gala Opening on Friday, Nov. 22nd. Pictured above are some members of the Wonderland of Tree’s Committee, who recently met at the D&R Depot in Le Roy to discuss the menu for the upcoming Gala with Sean Valdes, co-owner of the restaurant and catering service.

D&R Depot will be catering the 2019 Wonderland of Tree’s Gala Opening.

The Wonderland of Trees Gala Opening, at the historic Holland Land Office Museum, kicks off the holiday season for the Genesee County Community. It will have the traditional display of trees, music and great food that people have enjoyed over the past 16 years. Many new ideas are being incorporated into the regular Gala to provide a wonderful holiday event for everyone.

More information will be available soon -- you can call the Holland Land Office if you are interested in setting up a tree at 343-4727.

Registration now open for HLOM History Heroes Summer Program

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Registration for the 2019 Holland Land Office Museum History Heroes Summer Program is now open.

This year our History Heroes will be “Time Traveling through History,” discovering different periods in history and their local connections.

The program will run from July 16th through July 19th, and July 23rd through July 26th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. each day.

Activities include: historic crafts and art projects, guest presenters and reenactors, a field trip, penny carnival, and end of program performance.

The program is open to children 7 to 12 years old. The cost per day is $25 per child, and $20 for museum members, with discounts available for families with multiple participants.

For more information, please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or visit our website at www.hollandlandoffice.com.

History Trivia Night

By Holland Land Office

Every second Thursday of each month, put your knowledge of seemingly trivial facts to the test & learn some new ones with our
History Trivia Family & Team Challenge!! This event begins at 7pm and is $3 per person and $2 for museum members.

This month's theme is the Revolution Period

Keep an eye on our twitter and website page for more details and make sure to share with your friends!

Event Date and Time
-

Registration now open for HLOM History Heroes Summer Program

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Registration for the 2019 Holland Land Office Museum History Heroes Summer Program is now open.

This year our History Heroes will be “Time Traveling through History,” discovering different periods in history and their local connections.

The program will run from July 16-19, and July 23-26 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. each day.

Activities include: historic crafts and art projects, guest presenters and reenactors, a field trip, penny carnival, and end of program performance.

The program is open to children 7 to 12 years old. The cost per day is $25 per child, and $20 for museum members with discounts available for families with multiple participants.

For more information, please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or visit our website at www.hollandlandoffice.com

Take a trip back in time with the music of Old Hippies at HLOM June 6

By Billie Owens

Press release:

On Thursday, June 6th, the Holland Land Office Museum is proud to present the Old Hippies.

At 7 p.m., Bill and Kay MacDonald and their accompanying local musicians will put on an acoustic rock show featuring hits from the golden years of the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, as well as, many original songs and other favorites mixed in.

The local favorites have played all over Western New York and Florida during the winter. Let the nostalgia flow as their classic vocal harmonies take you back in time for those who remember. And for those who did not, experience the era through the music with a little more realism than you have experienced before.

Tickets for the concert are $5; and $4 for museum members.

RSVPs can be made with the museum by calling at 585-343- 4727 or by email at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com

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