Gates Historical Society

History of The Gates Fire Department Program
2023-07-17 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Jim Werth, Town of Gates Fire Commissioner will be with us. His presentation will cover the history of the Gates Fire Department from its founding in 1927 through today.

NY Museum of Transportation Program
2023-08-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
JimDierks from the New York Museum of Transportation will join us. His presentation, “The Inerurban Era” will be a slide talk and cover our area transportation history and provide information about the museum.

Annual Yard Sale
2023-08-25 08:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-26 08:00 - 16:00 | 1340 Spencerport Rd, 1340 Spencerport Rd, Rochester, NY, 14606, United States

Book Release and Signing
2023-09-17 12:00 - 17:00 | Franklin Hinchey House, 634 Hinchey Rd, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Join us at the Hinchey Homestead on Sunday September 17th. You can purchase your copy of “Hinchey A Pioneer Family’s Legacy in the Town of Gates” and have it signed by author, John Robortella. We will also have interactive displays/demonstrations on the lawn.

Underground Railroad Program
2023-09-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Jerry Bennett, Underground Railroad Enthusiast will join us. His presentation will include following a slaver’s ship from England to W. Africa to the Americas and discuss what happened in the South. You will meet many heroes on the Underground Railroad’s routes to freedom.

Revolutionary War in NY Program
2023-10-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Gary Newman, Reenactor. His presentation will include the causes and background of the American Revolutionary War in NY State and the treaty ending the war.

Book Sale & Signing
2023-11-04 09:00 - 13:00 | Gates Public Library, 902 Elmgrove Road, Rochester, NY, United States
John Boundy and John Robortella, two writers who grew up in Gates and who served on the Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service and the Gates-Chili Fire Department, will return home to join the Gates Historical Society for a pre-holiday book sale on Saturday, November 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Gates Public Library, 902 Elmgrove Road.
U.S. Air Force veteran John Boundy, a 1976 graduate of Gates Chili High School, who is both a past Gates-Chili volunteer firefighter, and medic and dispatcher at Gates Ambulance, is the author of Justice is Coming, a murder-mystery novel inspired by actual events with references to Rochester and Gates. It is the story of a small-town lawyer who squares off in and out of the courtroom with a doctor whose deceptions include private islands, luxury yachts, personal jets and a wealth which knows no boundaries.
Several local history books by John Robortella, the past editor of the Gates-Chili News, will be available at the sale including the most recent Steps West: The Field Notes of Col. Hugh Maxwell which documents why the 1788 main survey line of western New York State veered to the west and created land ownership issues for those buying property in western New York and the Finger Lakes region for more than a century.
Among a number of other titles, the Gates Historical Society will feature Hinchey: A Pioneer Family’s Legacy in the Town of Gates which was released in September 2023 and is the first full-length work on the Hinchey family.
Now living in Texas, John Boundy graduated from U. T. Southwestern Medical Center and worked as a physician’s assistant prior to attending law school. He is now an assistant district attorney in Angleton, a city and the county seat of Brazoria County on the Texas Gulf Coast. When not writing, Boundy designs jewelry as a wire-wrapping artist. This will be his first visit back to Gates in several decades.
John Robortella, a 1969 graduate of Gates Chili High School, is the author and co-author of a number of Gates history books including Coldwater: An Eclectic History of the Hamlet (with Donald G. Ioannone). A former newspaper reporter and editor, he retired after a 32-year career at the University of Rochester and wrote the “Past Tense” Finger Lakes history feature which was published in both Canandaigua Magazine and Rochester Magazine. He is now working with the Gates Keystone Club Police Pipes and Drums on a 25th anniversary retrospective of the pipes and drums band.
The Gates Historical Society has a long list of books relating to the history of Gates which will be featured at the sale, such as The Biography of Rattlesnake Pete, Gates Revisited: Timeless Images from Family Albums, Frogleg George: The Legend No One Really Knew, and the Society’s first book Gates, a pictorial history of the town.

Program-"How (and What) Forged Our Major Roads"
2023-11-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Chris Carosa, Publisher, Author will join us. His presentation entitled “How (and What) Forged Our Major Roads” tells us where our roads came from, how they got there and why did they get there.

Holly Days
2023-12-02 13:00 - 15:00, 2023-12-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Franklin Hinchey House, 634 Hinchey Rd, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
See the beautiful trees and decorations throughout the Hinchey House and enjoy a mini tour. Also enjoy the festive decorations outside. Light refreshments will be served. Cost is $8 for members and $10 for non-members and Children 16 and under free with adult.

Holly Days
2023-12-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Franklin Hinchey House, 634 Hinchey Rd, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
See the beautiful trees and decorations throughout the Hinchey House and enjoy a mini tour. Also enjoy the festive decorations outside. Light refreshments will be served. Cost is $8 for member and $10 for non-members. Children 16 and under free with adult.

Holly Days
2023-12-10 13:00 - 15:00 | NY

Holly Days
2023-12-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Franklin Hinchey House, 634 Hinchey Rd, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
See the beautiful trees and decorations throughout the Hinchey House and enjoy a mini tour. Also enjoy the festive decorations outside. Light refreshments will be served. Cost is $8 for members and $10 for non-members . Children 16 and under free with adult.

Holly Days
2023-12-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Franklin Hinchey House, 634 Hinchey Rd, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
See the beautiful trees and decorations throughout the Hinchey House and enjoy a mini tour. Also enjoy the festive decorations outside. Light refreshments will be served. Cost is $8 for members and $10 for non-members. Children 16 and under free with adult.

Mr. Letchworth's Vision
2024-03-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Karen Russell, Historic Site Assistant: “Mr. Letchworth’s Vision: The History of Letchworth State Park.” His vision for development and character of the park is a fascinating tale of the land, a man and his park.

Don Alhart: A Generation of Idiots
2024-04-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Don Alhart, Associate News Director, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Author: “A Generation of Idiots”. This includes taking a look at the changing face of journalism and how technology has changed news coverage since 1966. he will be bringing his book “Sibley’s Christmas Adventure” to sell and will autograph copies either purchased that night or previously.

Don Shilling-The Roaring Twenties
2024-05-20 19:30 - 20:30 | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Don Shilling, Author and Popular Speaker: “The Roaring Twenties”. His presentation will cover events happening after WWI, such as the return of the Dough Boys, flappers, the 19th Amendment, Kodak invents color prints and many other events that happened during that time in history.

Annual Membership Meeting
2024-06-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Join us in June for a special member’s only meeting. We will be having an ice cream social and cake to celebrate our 25th anniversary. The meeting will take place at the Gates Town Hall Annex. Music will be provided by the Gates Recreation Ukulele Club. Our new newly elected officers will also be sworn in at this meeting.

Rochester Croquet Club
2024-07-06 13:00 - 16:00 | Franklin Hinchey House, 634 Hinchey Rd, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
The Rochester Croquet Club will be at the homestead to share the game with everyone. They will have 2 styles of croquet available for you to try; the original game and a modern version. This event is free and open to the public. The house will also be open for tours.

Lisa Kleman: The Rochester Park Band From 1904-1946
2024-07-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Lisa Kleman, retired professor and author: “The Rochester Park Band From 1904-1946”. Her presentation will explore how one of the first municipally funded bands in the United States was formed and an epilogue of what happened next.

Summer Concert-Fiddlers of the Genesee
2024-07-21 13:00 - 16:00 | Franklin Hinchey House, 634 Hinchey Rd, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
The Fiddlers of the Genesee will perform at 2pm. Tours of the house and grounds will be given throughout the afternoon. Bring your chair and enjoy music on the lawn.

Rochester Croquet Club
2024-08-03 13:00 - 16:00 | Franklin Hinchey House, 634 Hinchey Rd, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
The Rochester Croquet Club will be at the homestead to share the game with visitors. They will have 2 styles of croquet available for you to try; the original game and a modern version. The house will also be open for tours. Free and open to the public.

CANCELLED!! Summer Concert-Gates Keystone Police Pipes & Drums
2024-08-18 13:00 - 16:00 | Franklin Hinchey House, 634 Hinchey Rd, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
This performance has been cancelled due to forecasted thunderstorms. We hope to have the band perform at the homestead later this year or next year.

Warren Kosel - The Rochester Americans
2024-08-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Warren Kosen, Senior director of Public and Media Relations: “The History of the Rochester Americans Hockey Team”.

Deborah Hughes- Susan B. Anthony House
2024-09-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Deborah Hughes, President and CEO Susan B. Anthony House and Museum: Her presentation will give some interesting information about the historic house and museum located at 17 Madison Street.

Hinchey History Day 2024
2024-09-22 12:00 - 16:00 | NY
Sunday, September 22, 2024 Noon to 4pm
Interpretive and Interactive Displays showing life in the 1880’s and early 1900’s.
Musical entertainment by the Gates Ukulele Club.
The members will perform the music from the era as well as some more modern numbers.
Bring your lawn chairs to enjoy the music.
Tours of the Hinchey House and Grounds throughout the afternoon.
This event is free and open to the public.
As always, donations are welcome!

Jane Grant: Barns
2024-10-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Jane Grant, Author and Lecturer: Her presentation includes how she “hunted down” barns that still exist and share some curious barn-related anecdotes.
The October Gates Historical Society program will be held on Monday, October 21 at 7:00 pm in the Gates Town Hall Annex. Jane Grant, Author, will be presenting a program about barns and how some have disappeared , while others remain. Come enjoy some curious barn-related anecdotes, learn about a few local farming families and be inspired to a greater appreciation for the remaining barns. This program is free and handicapped accessible.

Garth Brokaw: Significant Women Leaders in Rochester History
2024-11-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Gates Town Hall Annex, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 14624, United States
Garth Brokaw, Co-President of Gates Historical Society: “Significant Women Leaders in Rochester History”. His presentation will look at three women who left an indelible mark on making Rochester what it is today. This program will look at those “other women not named Anthony.” Can you guess who they might be?

Unveiling the Mighty Wurlitzer
2025-03-17 19:00 - 20:30 | NY
Members of the Rochester Theater Organ Society will present
“Rochester’s Best-Kept Secret: Unveiling The Mighty Wurlitzer”
Monday March 17, 2025 at 7 pm at the Gates Town Hall Annex
The program is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served.
The Town Hall is handicapped accessible.
