Category: News, Notices and Articles

This past February 3rd, Wheatland Recreation held the annual Sweetheart Dance in the cafeteria at the T.J. Conner Elementary School. This event is a free family event for TJ Connor students and their “dates”. The event was well attended with over 240 guests, which was record participation for the dance.  The kids enjoyed dancing to music provided by DJ Brian from BRL Entertainment, having some sweet treats and singing/screaming their hearts out the last half hour. Many thanks to Nancy and Sam Berl, Cathy Clancy, Shauna and Olivia Cross , Erika DeVoe,  Andrea Goodfellow, Tina and Morgan Franklin, the Keister family, Ava Cody, Margaret Wright, Deborah Leh and of course our limbo stick holders, Corey Brandes and Ryan Cameron.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s Scottsville had its own jail. It was located on the south side of Main Street near the Clydesdale and Kelly building, recently occupied by Six Month Smiles. The 40’ x 40’ property on which the jail was built was purchased in 1885 from Samuel McConkey, who had a blacksmith shop there. The cells were built of 2 x 4 studs laid flat on top of one another. The heavy batten doors were held in place with wide iron straps. A Wheatland Constable was on duty in the jail when was a prisoner was housed there. This 1904 photograph shows the Scottsville Citizen’s Band seated in front of the jail. As far as we know, it is the only existing photo of the building.

In 1916 the building was moved from Main Street to a site behind the firehouse. Both buildings were on the lot that is now occupied by the Municipal Building. An article published in the Caledonia Advertiser on July 24, 1918 was headlined, “Inspector Gives Report of Village Lockup.”  The Monroe County jail inspector was George McLaughlin. He described the jail as “a small, detached, well-constructed wooden building.” He reported that 12 x 24 inch windows had been installed in the three cells, which were barred and screened. Each cell had a bunk provided with a mattress and blankets, which were in good condition, according to the report.

The inspector commented that the lockup “is not much used, no more than six times a year.”  No lodgers had been housed during the past year. When it was decided to give up the local jail, George Richardson moved the building to 2 Wyvil Avenue, where he used it as a woodworking shop. It survives today, but has been incorporated into a house and is no longer recognizable. Bobbie Richardson Dunn inherited the keys to the jail from her father and has graciously given them to the Wheatland Historian’s Office to be preserved as part of our history.

Interesting statistics included in the county jail inspector’s report stated that Scottsville’s population in 1918 was almost 900 and the Town of Wheatland about 2,500. John H. Gatenbee was the Town Supervisor, I. W. Salyers resident justice, and W. E. Vokes, chief of police.

For well over a hundred years, the men responsible for keeping law and order in the Town of Wheatland were known as “Constables.” At the very first town meeting held on April 3, 1821, Caleb Calkins and Chester Savage were elected constables. Later in the nineteenth century, constables were elected by the people and chosen to represent the various geographic areas of the town. In 1885, for instance, there were five constables elected; Samuel Conkey and Isaac Salyerds for Scottsville, Duncan McQueen in Garbutt and James Freeman and Duncan Grant to cover Mumford. In 1929 a ballot was used for the Republican Primary Election in Wheatland where voters were asked to choose candidates for constable. Rosenworth, Studeman and Rebholtz were Scottsville men, while Nichols and Skivington lived in Mumford. Harry Harvey of Mumford was the Republican Candidate for Supervisor that year who lost to Democrat Romeyn Dunn.

One of the outstanding constables of Wheatland was former slave John Alexander. He lived on Caledonia Avenue in Scottsville and served as town constable for more than 30 years at the turn of the last century. He became a hero in Scottsville’s famous 1912 murder case when he was able to convince the suspect to surrender after he had murdered his father, Turner Twiman.

William Rebholtz was a popular Wheatland constable who held the position in the 1920s and 30s. By 1960 there was only one town constable, and he was appointed by the Town Board. Stuart Grant held the position in 1960 and 1961 and was paid $100 a year. This article was inspired by the gift of a Wheatland constable’s badge to the Town Historian’s office. It was given by Debbie DiPasquale last fall before she and her husband Paul moved from Bowerman Road to retire in North Carolina. It calls attention to an interesting aspect of Wheatland history.

After approximately four years of discussion about community emergency services, the Town of Wheatland has finalized a contract with Henrietta Ambulance to provide Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) to the Wheatland Fire Protection District.  This newly adopted approach is intended to help ensure that people in this district continue to receive responsive ambulance services when the need arises.

The Democrat  & Chronicle has published articles about the much anticipated merger in emergency services for the southwest corner of Monroe County.  This portion of the Town of Wheatland now joins Henrietta and Chili as partners in this innovative design to ensure continued ability to provide emergency services.  The 2017 contract (an annual contract) provides for a reduced cost with the addition of ALS when needed.  The appropriate level of ambulance will be dispatched based on the issue described in the 911 call. The Town of Wheatland will receive quarterly cost and call reports in order to provide a continued evaluation of performance and cost regarding the use of these services.  When all the contracts are completed, Henrietta Ambulance will change its name to CHS Mobile Integrated Health Care to reflect the new partnership. 

“Many thanks to Matt Jarrett, Reg Allen, John Glavin, Esq and Raymond DiRaddo,Esq for the hours spent to collect data, utilize standards, and create a contract and partnership that may well serve as a template for other stressed ambulance services trying to provide responsiveness in non-city settings.”
~ Linda Dobson, Town Supervisor

The winter season is already upon us, please help the Town Highway Department keep your highways clear in a safe and efficient manner. When you see a plow truck, slow down and give the truck sufficient room to clear the road surface. When following behind a plow truck, please stay at a reasonable distance to ensure you could stop safely. Note that when a plow truck stops at an intersection we will generally back up to complete cleaning of the intersection.

It can be hard for plow truck drivers to see where you might be, whether you are in your car or shoveling your driveway. Help us by being both attentive and cautious. At night it can be especially difficult to see people cleaning the end of their driveways. Please take note of the plow truck when it comes by your driveway and stay back away from the road, as the snow coming off the plow could even knock you over. If your mailbox is damaged by us we will repair it after the snow event. If it needs to be replaced, we will replace it with a standard wood post and metal mail box. Note that plastic mailboxes do not stand up well to wet heavy snow and in particular when hit by ice coming off the plow at 20+ MPH in freezing temperatures. With your help we will do our best this winter to clear the roads safely and efficiently for everyone.

Thank You and Safe Travels,
Howard “Chuck” Hazelton

Registration is now open for the Wheatland 2017 Winter & Spring Programs and Events. The Town of Wheatland invites you, your family and friends to take part in these healthy and enjoyable programs! You do not have to be a Wheatland resident to participate. Go to the Recreation Department Web Page to get the Wheatland Recreation 2017 Winter & Spring Season Brochure with a full program, activity and event schedule.

The Town of Wheatland is pleased to offer a year-round portfolio of leisure time programs, activities and events administered by the Recreation Department. There are a wide variety programs, activities and events, intended for a variety of ages and interests, which are designed to provide participants with a high quality experience at a very affordable price delivering the best overall value in the greater Rochester area.

Business First has released quality of life rankings for upstate New York Towns, Cities and Villages with populations of 1000 or more. Upstate New York consists of the 48 counties that lie north of the 42nd parallel (including the eight counties of Western New York).

The Town of Wheatland quality of life was ranked in the top 18% of Towns, 124th out of 701 upstate towns.  The Village of Scottsville quality of life was ranked in the top 4%, 12th out of 275 upstate cities and villages.

The ratings are based on data from the five-year version of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2014 American Community Survey. All percentages, ratios and rates were calculated by Business First based on a 50-part formula consisting of five sets of components were grouped into 10 categories.  The study’s highest scores went to well-rounded communities with robust employment bases and income levels, strong records of growth and residential stability, impressive housing stocks and transportation systems, excellent schools, established traditions of racial and gender diversity and equity, and positive environments for children and senior citizens. Learn further details of the Business First quality of life rankings.

TOWN OF WHEATLAND LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Preliminary Budget of the Town of Wheatland for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2017 has been completed and filed at the Office of the Town Clerk in Scottsville, New York, where it is available for inspection by any interested person during regular business hours.

Further notice is hereby given that the Town Board of the Town of Wheatland will meet and review said Preliminary Budget and hold a Special Hearing thereon at the Wheatland Municipal Building, 22 Main Street, Scottsville, New York at 6:00 P.M. on the 20th day of October, 2016 and that at such Hearing any person may be heard in favor of or against the Preliminary Budget as completed, or for or against any item therein contained.

Pursuant to Section 133 of the Town Law, the proposed salaries of the following Officers of the Town of Wheatland are hereby specified as follows:

Town Supervisor–$24,84
Councilperson (4)–$7,148
Town Justice (2)–$16,985
Town Clerk–$53,629
Superintendent of Highways–$71,988

By Order of the Town Board Of the Town of Wheatland
Dated: October 7, 2016
Laurie Czapranski, Town Clerk

TOWN OF WHEATLAND LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Town Board of the Town of Wheatland sets Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 6:00 P.M. at the Wheatland Municipal Building, 22 Main Street, Scottsville, NY as the time and place for a Public Hearing on the 2017 Special Districts’ Budgets.

By Order of the Town Board Of the Town of Wheatland
Dated: October 7, 2016
Laurie Czapranski, Town Clerk