2019 Annual Dinner and Meeting
The Historical Society’s Annual Meeting and Dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, June 12 in the Meritage Ballroom at Belhurst Castle. The evening will begin with a cash bar at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:00 p.m.
Diane Khouri leading first graders through the Prouty-Chew House on the “Tales of Christmas Past” field trip in 2018.
A short business meeting will be held to highlight last year’s activities and elect new officers and trustees. The Historical Society will also honor Diane Khouri as Volunteer of the Year. Diane has volunteered for the Historical Society in several capacities over the years. While still teaching, she brought her classes on field trips to our sites, and her students made ornaments for the Wassail Bowl. She has been in charge of publicity for the Wassail Bowl Sale since 2001 and was a Tour of Homes docent several times. Since 2007, Diane has assisted Educator Anne Dealy in delivering field trips to first and second graders at The Washington Street Cemetery and Geneva History Museum. She has been a huge help to the staff in managing to deliver consistent quality programs for Geneva school children.
Born to immigrant parents and raised in Canandaigua, Diane is the youngest of eight children. A graduate of Canandaigua Academy, she earned degrees at Kentucky Wesleyan College and Western Kentucky University. After teaching three years in Louisville, Kentucky, she began teaching at North Street School in September of 1971. She taught second grade there for 30 years before retiring in 2001. She and her husband Jim were married for 25 years until his death in 2017. Diane also volunteers leading sing-a-longs with residents at Living Center North and South and Seneca Lake Terrace. She is President of the Antiochian Women of St. Michael’s Orthodox Church, sings in the church choir, and is on the church council. She has also volunteered at The Smith Opera House and the Geneva Music Festival.
Following the Annual Meeting Jane Oakes will discuss “Hop Growing and Beer Production in the Genesee Country.” For part of the 19th century, New York State was the chief location worldwide for the raising of hops. From pioneer to immigrant, everyone enjoyed beer as a healthier alternative to often polluted well water. Learn how hops were grown and beer was made in the time of our ancestors.
Jane Oakes has been involved with historic education for over forty years. She has taught classes in open hearth cooking, nineteenth century schooling, and historic architecture for Genesee Country Village & Museum; was a museum studies and local history teacher for BOCES; and was the School Tours and Education Coordinator for the William Mills Mansion Museum in Mt. Morris. Ms. Oakes holds a BA in Theater and an MA in History.
The dinner is open to the public, but reservations are required. Tickets for the dinner are $35 per person and reservations must be made in advance. Entrée choices are boneless pork chop with apple and ginger chutney, chicken breast with wild mushroom and tarragon sauce, baked white fist with tomato and roasted corn salsa, or vegetable Napoleon. The meal includes salad, roll, and dessert. There will be a cash bar during the event. Reservations can be made by calling the Geneva Historical Society at 315-789-5151 by June 5.