250th Committee donates unused funds to the David A. Howe Public Library

August 15th event drew hundreds to the library lawn to celebrate America’s big birthday

From the 250 Committee, pictured are Chair Kathryn Ross presenting donation to library director Nic Gunning

WELLSVILLE – With hundreds of visitors and sunny skies overhead Wellsville’s 250^th Anniversary celebration on Aug. 15^th turned out to be an outstanding success.

Standing in front of the David A. Howe Library’s historic 48-star flag, Kathryn Ross, chair of Wellsville’s 250^th Anniversary Celebration, presents funds left over from the event to Library Director Nic Gunning; thanking him for the library’s support prior and during the event.

“I’ve heard nothing but great comments about the event. Thank you for making us a part of it,” David A. Howe Library Director Nic Gunning said upon recently receiving a monetary donation from the 250 Committee to the Library.

“We could not have done it without your cooperation and support,” the 250^th Committee Chair Kathryn Ross told Gunning and handed him a check for almost two hundred dollars.

While the Library lawn was not only the site of the event, library personnel Niki Gordon and Jim Knapp helped throughout the planning stages and on the day of the event.

Organized by a group of just six volunteers, the event proved to be both fun and educational.

The committee also gave its star spangled, red, white, and blue event tent and a copy of Thomas Paine’s ‘Common Sense” to the Library.

Great thanks is owed to Dr. Joe Felsen for volunteering to portray Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. He not only enthralled visitors with his dramatic and pertinent reading of the Declaration of Independence, he also entertained and educated the crowd with information about Franklin. He and his kite provided the perfect photo op. for selfies in front of the Liberty Bell.

Also lending authenticity to the celebration was the firing of a replica cannon. Thanks goes to Cheryl Wesche who allowed the cannon, constructed by her late husband Lanny Wesche, to be part of the event. A special thanks to Seth Boehnke for hauling the nearly 200 pound piece of artillery up and down Niles Hill. The cannon was requested by Mayor Ed Fahs when the village board approved the celebration and Police Chief Tim O’Grady cleared the weapon for firing.

The Genesee Valley Chorus, originally the Bicentennial Chorus, celebrated its own 50th anniversary, at the 250^th Celebration. The Committee thanks them for helping to make the celebration a success with their performance of patriotic and classic songs.

The Reverend Dan Kenyon – historic sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
Bella Winslow – as Betsy Ross,
Becci Gearman – for basket weaving demo.,
Catherine Schuyler Chapter DAR – for informational tent,
Kasey Blaney – for spinning demo.,
Paul and Deb Vossler – firearms display, and best dressed
Seth Boehnke – knife making display, cannon manhandling
Wellsville Whittlers Club – demo.,
Barry Dunne – assist. chef, gopher and artistic services,
Zach Smith and Justin Vossler – Trivia Contest,
Nora Wilson Wheeler – Gingerbread Man raffle and photography,
Maple Moon school – kid’s tent
Babcock Theater Preservation Society – marquee advertising,
Ann Comstock – school bell,
Craig Braack – photography,
Tristin Amidon – photography.
And Committee Members:
Angela Glickstein for her ongoing support and the herb tent with Amber Tesson, Bev Sweet for historical reference, organizing the Trivia Contest and for help throughout the day, are also owed a big thank you!!

See the GALLERY and article on the event from our previous reporting here.