Town of Alden: Alden Historical Society

Alden Historical Society

Alden Historical Society
13213 Broadway
Alden, New York 14004

The Alden Historical Society was organized on April 21, 1965. A small group of interested citizen had felt there was a need to preserve the history of the community by the collection of artifacts and documents of historical significance, relative to the surrounding area.

In November of 1966, Walden Roberts purchased his late uncles home at 13213 Broadway and donated it to the Town of Alden to used by the Historical Society. The home was donated in memory of his wife, Frances Young Roberts, a charter member of the Society. The building was dedicated on June 25, 1967. The building stands on property once belonging to the Holland Land Company. Aaron Bruce purchased the parcel of 230 acres in 1819. He sold the land to Thomas Farnsworth and his wife in 1821. It is assumed that at least part of the house was built by the Farnsworths. During the 1840's the deed changed hands four times. Frederick Lord purchased the property in 1852 and his family owned it for twenty-six years. Arthur Roberts, proprietor of the barbershop next door, bought the home from Dr. Carols Bowman. Arthur and his wife Alice lived here for fifty years. Art died in 1958 and Alice continued to live here until her death, at which time their nephew, Walden purchased it and donated the home to the Town of Alden.

In 1971, a historical marker was placed at the site of the Original Black Water Baths, now St. Aidan's Episcopal Church on West Main Street. In 1975, another marker was placed marking the site of Moffat's Tannery, an early Alden Business, this site is now the Rite Aid Drug Store located on Broadway in the Village of Alden.

Over the years the collection of artifacts continued to grow and a meeting space was badly needed. In 1996 this need was met with the construction of a 1000 square foot addition at the rear of the original building. The addition was named the "Ruth Davis Room" in 2006 recognizing Ms. Davis' nearly twenty years of service as the Society's curator.

Program meetings are held at the Alden Community Center on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00pm. Notices will be published in the Alden Advertiser in advance of the program. Open to the public, these programs are both informative and interesting, many times a guest speaker is present. You are welcome to come and share your memories and experiences about the evening’s program, afterwards an informal social with homemade refreshments is held Membership in the Historical Society is open to all. Yearly dues are $8 per member, $12 per family and $45 per business, and a lifetime membership is available for $75. For more membership information contact the Alden Historical Society at 716-937-7300.

Historical Society Exhibits:

Photos and artifacts from Alden's Black Water Baths.
Kitchen utensils.
Early laundry and cleaning equipment
Women's beauty aids, jewelry and accessories.
Tool collection.
Railroad photos and equipment.
Military artifacts.
Victorian parlor.
Early bedroom.
Toys and dolls.
Early retail store equipment.
Rocks and fossils.
Native American artifacts.

Society Building Hours

Saturdays 10am - 2pm

Also during the Alden Art Show in September and during Christmas-in- the Park in early December.

Special tours for individuals or groups may be arranged by appointment.

Historical Society Officers
Historical Society Officers:
President	Roberta Vincent
Vice President	Sal Sardella
Secretary	Laura Loehr
Treasurer	Ralph Davis
Curator	Karen Muchow
Archivist	Ruth Davis
Society Historian	Ellen Schenkler
Alden Town Historian	Leonard Weisbeck
Town of Alden Liaison	Arlene Cooke
Publicity	Judy Hotchkin
Editor	Carl Matthies
Trustees:
Fred Blowers	Sal Sardella
Judy Hotchkin	Keith Stone
Ellen Schenkler	Roberta Vincent
Carl Matthies	Paul Werner
Marlene Roll