A group of twenty interested Aldenites met at the school on a foggy April 21, 1965 evening to discuss the formation of an historical society. An Alden Historical Society had long been a dream of “Mr. Alden,” Ralph D. Stowell, pharmacist and historian. He found a compatriot in Jackie Hojnicki who had expressed the hope that everyone who lived in Alden, whether newcomer or long-time resident, would take part in compiling the history of Alden before the pertinent facts and documents became lost.
With Jackie and Ralph leading the way, and with the guidance from Charles Neuman, President of the Marilla Historical Society; William Dunn, Erie County Historian; and Julia Reinstein, President of the Cheektowaga Historical Society, the decision was made to organize a historical society in Alden. Jackie Hojnicki was elected President, Mervin Bontrager, Vice President; Betty Frey, Secretary; Beverly Nebrich, Treasurer; and Ralph Stowell, Curator. A Board of Trustees was elected and by-laws were approved at later meetings.
Without a place of its own, the group continued to meet at the school or the Municipal Building. They had a file cabinet for use at the Municipal Building and another at the Library. Ralph Stowell offered to store any items donated to the Society until such a time as the group had a permanent home, and offered to hand over the items he had collected as Town Historian.
Even without a permanent home the new society was busy. Upon the advice of Mr. Dunn, a group headed by Jackie Hojnicki and Bev Nebrich began creating historical displays in office and store windows—the first being a Christmas display in John Cooke’s law office window at 13179 Broadway. Mr. Dunn also advised the group to start making plans for the 1969 Village Centennial.
The Society did find a permanent home when, in November 1966, Walden Roberts purchased the Bowman-Roberts home at 13213 Broadway in memory of his wife, Frances Young Roberts, one of the fifty-three charter members of the Society, and gave it to the Town of Alden for the use of the Historical Society.
On April 5, 1967, the Society voted to petition the New York State Board of Regents for a state charter as an educational institution. A provisional charter was granted on June 23, 1967. The permanent charter was granted September 25, 1970, and formally presented on August 4, 1971, as part of Alden’s celebration of the Erie County Sesquicentennial.
Five historical markers have been placed in the Town by the Society. The first was unveiled on April 21, 1971 at the site of the Original Black Water Baths (now St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church.) The second kicked off the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1975 with a marker denoting one of the earliest industries in Alden, Moffat’s Tannery, on Broadway. On September 7, 2013, a marker was placed in the hamlet of Town Line providing information on Town Line’s secession in 1861 and the subsequent rejoining the Union in January of 1946. The fourth marker was dedicated September 28, 2014, in commemoration of Alden Presbyterian Church’s more than 200 years of service to the community. The fifth historical marker was dedicated May 9, 2019, at the site of the first non-native settlement in the Village. Moses Fenno and his family settled in Alden in the spring of 1810.
In the early years of the Society, it was decided to have 15-20 minute talks on topics of interest as part of the monthly membership meetings. This portion of the meetings grew longer and programs on a variety of subjects soon became a vital part of the meetings. The attendance at these programs soon outgrew the parlor of the Bowman-Roberts house where they were held. Additional meeting and display space were added to the building in 1995. Safety concerns due to increased attendance at the programs prompted the move to the Community Center in the early 2000s. Even then, there has been standing room only at several recent programs.
Throughout the past 50+ years the Alden Historical Society has strived to follow its mission “to preserve, promote and present the history of the Town of Alden and its people” through displays, programs, newspaper articles, tours and participation in community events and celebrations. The Society has also participated in the Erie County Fair for several years with a display in the Historical Building highlighting a piece of Alden’s history.
As we look ahead to the next fifty years, we sense a need to enlarge our focus as we continue to preserve, promote and present the history of the Town of Alden, and especially the history of its people.
Credit to Karen Muchow, Alden Town & Village Historian