The Theta Beta Sorority crowned Deanna Sands its 2020 Queen at the chapter's Valentine Dinner. Presenting Sands with the crown and yellow roses is last year's recipient, Rose Van Volkenburg.

Theta Beta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met at the home of Rose Van Volkenburg on Feb. 20.

Van Volkenburg presented her program on “Roots: How Well Do You Know Your Own City.” She focused on two landmarks: the Bemus Point Stow Ferry and the Holland Land Company Vault and their association with her family.

The Stow Ferry is something of a stoic. She’s seen a lot of change during her 208 year history, yet stayed afloat doing what she was designed to do, move people, cars, and yes, animals across the narrowest point of Lake Chautauqua. She is only 35 years younger than the United States of America. Born on June 25, 1811, the same year Chautauqua County was organized and established as a separate governmental body, she has weathered many literal and figurative storms.

The ferry started as a necessary mode of transportation across Chautauqua Lake. The ability to cross at “the Narrows” between Bemus Point and Stow saved passengers a lengthy trip. Before motor vehicles it may have taken days to travel the roughly 20 miles around either end of the lake. Mrs. Van Volkenburg also shared that her father-in-law, Frank Van Volkenburg, work 22-years on the ferry as a pilot and engineer.

The Holland Land Company was an unincorporated syndicate of 13 Dutch Investors from Amsterdam who in 1792 and 1793 purchased the western two-thirds of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase, an area that afterward was know as the Holland Purchase. The tract purchased in Western New York in December 1792 was a 3,250,000-acre portion of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase that lay west of the Genesee River. The Holland Land Company opened a main land office in 1801 in Batavia, New York. They located subagents in Mayville, Ellicottville, Buffalo and Meadville.

From the very beginning the agents were urged to keep the records in stone fireproof safes or to deposit them with banks. Mayville had it own small stone block house. The Holland Land Company vault, which was erected by the Holland Land Company in the early 19th century. In 1967, the stone vault was moved to make room for the new county office building.

Van Volkenburg’s father, Donald Vanderkooi an employee of Barnes Construction Co., was one of the masons who dismantled and re-erected the vault in its present day location.

Vice president Nancy Palmer conducted the business meeting. Rituals for degree advancement will be performed at the March 5 meeting for members Susan Hayes, Tracie Smith, Joan Wahl, and Inta Damcott. Plans were made for delivery of Shamrock cookies and flowers for the residents at Mayville Senior Apartments, Portage Hill and Sherman’s North Haven Apartments.

Founder’s Day celebration will be April 30. Joyce Anderson won the White Elephant. Tracie Smith took the Traveling Basket. Co-hostesses for the evening were Nancy Palmer and Joan Wahl.