Macedon Historical Society, NY

Lights! Camera! Action! for historical presentations about suferagists, abolishonists, and the history of Macedon in addition to plays, comedy shows and students tours, MHS needs your support. In order to hold events year-round at the Academy, a 3500 square foot building, an HVAC system needs to be installed with $10,000 still needed to complete the job. We have partnered with Gananda Rotary and the Sons of the American Legion Squad 494 in Macedon to help with the labor alongside a local HVAC contractor. We, the Macedon Historical Society (MHS), care deeply about preserving our past and building for the future. Our mission to use the past as a guide to our community’s success and growth has prompted us to rescue two mid-19th century buildings from destruction and begin the process of preserving them for the future. The Macedon Academy, built in 1853, and the Macedon Center Meetinghouse (the former Grange) built in 1868 are located at the intersection of Canandaigua Road and Route 31F in Macedon Center. The Macedon Academy was constructed after the first school, located in a tavern and incorporated in 1841, burned. The Academy, welcomed its first class of 160 students in the fall of 1854 and was closed in 1903. The building still bears the history of that time with a double door entry flanked by two smaller doors, one for girls and one for boys. The principal’s chair along with old tables decorated with etchings of students’ names remain on view and in use in the building. The Macedon area is rich in the history of the underground railroad, Erie Canal, the suffragist and temperance movements. The Academy has welcomed such historical figures as Frederick Douglass who spoke at the Academy in 1862, and Emma Biddlecom Sweet, cousin to Susan B. Anthony. Both the Macedon Academy and the Macedon Center Meetinghouse have undergone improvements over the recent past with the help of local businesses and volunteers raising funds for improvements and maintenance. The Macedon Academy is the only building of its kind in the community that has an auditorium with a stage and audio to cast from the 2nd floor to the first floor meeting rooms. A recently installed ADA compliant bathroom on the first floor and other features that improve accessibility have allowed it to become a community meeting place as well as a destination for tourists and those interested in family and regional history. Bringing the buildings up to 21st century standards while preserving their historical significance is ongoing and costly. At present we are in need of an HVAC system in the Macedon Academy to preserve the archives and expand the community’s use of this historic building. The Academy is becoming a destination for art shows, performances, panel discussions, meetings, and more. The addition of an HVAC system on the 2nd floor would expand the building’s use and generate income throughout the year, aiding in the sustainability of this historic building for generations to come. MHS has made huge strides in preparing the building to be used by the community. The improvements to our buildings have been funded by local businesses and foundations. We have collaborated with RACF - Bullis Fund for many projects. Community members have offered in-kind service for painting and sewing costumes and curtains. The Crane Foundation (Mark and Colleen Crane), Alpco Recycling, AEY Enterprise, Reliant Credit Union, Lyons National Bank, Parkwood Heights Senoir Campus, JD Chapman Agency and JaZ Trucking have monetarily donated funds to accomplish exteior painting and foundation repairs . MHS needs your support to sustain the heritage of the Macedon Community..

We focus on: Arts and Culture, Education

Where we are: Wayne