Webster Museum

Forest Lawn

Forest Lawn

Forest Lawn

May brings sunshine, flowers, National Preservation Month and at the Webster Museum, new exhibits and programs.

This year, the History of Forest Lawn will be the focus of our Lunch Hour talks on May 3rd, 10th, and 17th from 12 to 1pm. Bring a sandwich and we will have coffee, lemonade and cookies.

Forest Lawn is a lakeside community neighborhood of permanent residents with its own Mayor. Samuel Pierce an early settler, bought and farmed 73 acres along the lake beginning in 1850. His son, Horace and an attorney friend, George D. Forsyth saw potential commercial opportunities in developing the land due to its proximity to the lake and a then proposed railway line. In 1888, the Forest Lawn community began with the construction of a hotel. Shortly after, the surrounded land was divided into lots which were sold for summer cottages.

Wealthy judges and lawyers from Corn Hill soon discovered the area. They would commuted to the city by trolley for business, while their families enjoyed summers at the lake.

Join us at the museum for the stories of Forest Lawn and its place in Webster history.

May 21st at 2:00 pm, the Webster Museum will host an Open House to highlight our Forest Lawn exhibit. Mayor Caley Ferguson will speak at 3pm.

History and a Cup

History and a Cup

at the Webster Museum

Wednesday
May 10th noon - 1:00 pm

This year the History of Forest Lawn will be the focus of our Lunch Hour talks. Bring a sandwich and we will have coffee, lemonade and cookies.

Volunteer Fest

Volunteer Fest

Webster Public Library

Thursday
May 11th 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Looking to volunteer? A wide variety of local organizations will be on hand to share their volunteer needs.

Register

Plant Sale

Spring Plant Sale

Webster Arboretum

Saturday
May 13th 8:00am - noon

The Webster Arboretum plant sale will feature multiple vendors from nurseries, garden clubs and individuals selling everything from annuals and perennials to trees and shrubs.

Website

Clocks

Timepiece Tales

Garth Brokaw on Clocks

Webster Public Library

Saturday
May 13th 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Join us as we view multiple timepieces, clocks, pocket watches and related ephemera while you learn about clock making in the US from 1780-1929. Garth will walk through the collection, showing how the progression of clock making represents the progression of American History over the course of the last 150 years.

Co-sponsored with the Webster Public Library

Register

History and a Cup

History and a Cup

at the Webster Museum

Wednesday
May 17th noon - 1:00 pm

This year the History of Forest Lawn will be the focus of our Lunch Hour talks. Bring a sandwich and we will have coffee, lemonade and cookies.

History and a Cup

Forest Lawn Open House

at the Webster Museum

Sunday
May 21st noon - 2:00 pm

the Webster Museum will host an Open House to highlight our Forest Lawn exhibit. Mayor Caley Ferguson will speak at 3pm.

Volunteers
Membership
Donations
Joy of Play
Joy of Play
Toys and Games

A look at the history of the toys and games that have helped shape how we play.

What does Webster, NY have to do with Star Trek? Read on and find out.

FIMMERING

v. moving the feet swiftly, either in dancing or walking

Randomly generated oft-forgotten words from the past.
Visit our Random Portmanteau page!

Webster Adventure Lab

The Webster Walkabout Adventure Lab

Webster History on foot

The Webster Walkabout Adventure Lab will take you on a walking tour of some of the historical locations in the Village of Webster. This adventure is kid-friendly and handicap-accessible. Please stay on sidewalks throughout your journey.

You will be guided on a walking tour of the Village of Webster, NY, visiting five sites of historic significance to the founding of the Village of Webster. Your walking tour will take you on a 1.5 mile walk and will take about an hour to complete.

In order to play the Adventure Lab, you need a smart phone, with the Adventure Lab mobile app installed. The app works with both iOS (iPhones) and Android phones. You must have a free account on geocaching.com and you must also have a data plan and cell service. The Adventure Lab mobile app is a multi-media, interactive app.

To open this adventure in the Adventure Lab mobile app, use the following URL: labs.geocaching.com/goto/WEBSTER

Once you complete the Adventure Lab, you will be given a code to unlock a special bonus puzzle geocache located at the Webster Museum, located at 18 Lapham Park, Webster, NY.

To find out more about geocaching, go to www.geocaching.com

A Virtual Tour

"Let's Explore Webster"

With Doreen and Laureen from the Webster Public Library and Sharon Pratt of the Webster Museum.

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Hamburger History

National Hamburger Month

...and National Hamburger Day is May 28th

OK, we may be a little biased, but there can't be too many cities with a tastier relationship with the hamburger than Rochester. Imagine heading out for a hamburger and only having the choice of McDonald's, Burger King or if you're lucky Wendy's. Here in Webster, we have Bill Gray's, Charlie's and when the bridge is open, Don's Original. Each restaurant with its own story and connection to the Webster community. Take a look at our little timeline of Rochester Hamburger history.

The Webster Basket Factory

Don Kittelberger
Behind the scenes at the Webster Museum (February 17, 2020)

Don Kittelberger who worked at the Webster Basket Factory for many years, was kind enough to stop by the Webster Museum to share some of his knowledge of baskets and the Webster Basket Factory with our museum volunteers.

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Night at the Museum

Night at the Museum

Our new nightly look, with thanks to Allan Electric. (Photos courtesy of Lynn Barton.)

World War Two

World War Two

Webster residents who never made it home.

The beginnings of a page honoring the all too numerous Webster residents who lost their lives fighting for our country during World War Two.

Dance

Dear Webster Museum

Notes from Webster Students

A selection of letters sent to the museum following student visits.

The Cunningham Automobile

100 years ago it was possible to buy an automobile that was built in Rochester, NY. Possible, but expensive. James Cunningham, Son and Company produced some of the most expensive vehicles available at the time. The Cunningham Automobile was a handmade, high performance vehicle that rivaled the likes of Rolls Royce.

Cunningham's clients included Cecil B. De Mille, George Eastman, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Marshall Field, William Randolph Hearst, Harold Lloyd, Mary Pickford, and the Wrigley brothers.

WLiWL
WLiWL

A small glance at the Civil War

New to the Webster Museum

Thanks to the many talents of Tom Pellett, the museum now has a miniature diorama portraying a battle during the American Civil War.

Visitors Hours

Civil War Webster WWI Archive Historical Plaques
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WEBSTER MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
18 Lapham Park Webster, New York 14580 585.265.3308

Webster Museum