(Town of Eaton, NY – Aug. 2014) Mary Messere known in Madison County as Back Street Mary, the former Madison County Historian, will be giving a lecture on the early settlement of the area on Wednesday night, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. at the “speaker’s tent” next to the museum.
Messere who is a well-known speaker on CNY History has never actually spoken in Eaton although she is the curator of the Old Town of Eaton Museum.
There is no charge for the lecture.
The talk will mark the opening of a new little media center in a room at the museum. The room will feature short videos on history, and the museum. For this evening the 15-minute documentary on the Leland Family will be shown before the lecture. There will be refreshments available as well as numerous items for sale to benefit the little museum.
“Most people do not realize the Town of Eaton gives us no money for support and we have to pay insurance, which is very expensive, as well as electric and taxes,” Messere said. “It seems this year with all that is going on around us we have been unable to reach our fundraising goal. Our little group also puts on “Eaton Day,” which costs a great deal and is also not sponsored by the town”.
Parking is available at the Post Office and a car shuttle will be available to bring people who can’t make the short walk to the museum. The museum is on River Road, which is just a short distance away.
In case of rain it will be moved to the following Wednesday evening, and if this type of event is successful it will continue with different speakers through September, weather permitting.
The museum is currently open Wednesday mornings 10 a.m. to noon or by appointment.
For more information you can go to the groups Facebook Page at Old Town of Eaton or email backstreetmary@yahoo.com.
If you can’t make it and would like to make a donation you can visit www.HistoryStarProductions.com and at the top of the page there is a spot that will take you to a PayPal account.