October 15 event will be at the David A. Howe Public Library
Pictured: Ross shoeing a horse in his Dyke St. shop. Wellsville Daily Reporter archives
By Kathryn Ross VP Thelma Rogers Genealogical and Historical Society
WELLSVILLE – In 1965 Reporter Mickey Martel wrote an article for the Wellsville Daily Reporter entitled, ‘Wellsville’s Last Blacksmith Retires.’
The story was in reference to John Ross born in 1903 and who passed away just three years after the article was written. As a blacksmith Ross was well known in the area, not only for shoeing horses but also for his wrestling prowess, horse training and riding skills, and for his artistic creation of wrought iron railings. The horses he shod are long gone, but the railings he created for homes and businesses throughout Allegany County can still be seen. The best representative of his work in this field is the sign in front of the Belmont Library, which once stood in Ross’s yard at 42 Dyke Street, Wellsville advertising his blacksmith shop.
On October 15th, this coming Wednesday in the gallery at the David A. Howe Library, Ed Riley will present a program entitled Wellsville’s Last Blacksmith about John Ross. As a youngster, Riley learned blacksmithing and iron working skills from his “Uncle John” (Ross) traveling with him from farm to farm and working with him in the blacksmith shop.
The program is free and open to the public and sponsored by the Thelma Rogers Genealogical Society and the Nathaniel Dike Museum.
The museum, which features a variety of Wellsville memorabilia and houses archives concerning homes, businesses, families and events is open to the public on Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. from May through October. This year its 2025 season will be closing Oct. 29th. The public is invited to come in and peruse the museum and enjoy free seasonal refreshments that day before the museum closes. For those who may need to look something up or who want to donate an item, the museum may be opened at any time by calling (585) 296-3273 or by emailing wellsvilledikmuseum@gmail.com
Currently the Nathaniel Dike Museum at 118 Dyke Street is also offering a number of the Catharine Schuylar Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, “Revolutionary Cookbook” at a cost of just $25. The cookbook features bios of Allegany County patriots, maps and recipes from colonial times along with Revolutionary War trivia. The proceeds from the book sales will fund the 250th Memorial that will be placed in Angelica next summer.
The Thelma Rogers Genealogical Historical Society of Wellsville is also accepting donations for its Jingle and Glow Holiday Lights project to decorate the Fassett Green Space for the Holiday Season. Contact TRGHS Treasurer Jackie Comstock at 716-498-8429 for details on how to become a sponsor.
TRGHS will also be sponsoring a program on Nov. 12th at the library featuring Paul Vossler who will discuss and display firearms from the Civil War and beyond. More will be forthcoming about this free public event.
