At the recent Valley Historical Society July patriotic meeting, a birthday cake for the United States is shown by vice president Betty Jean Ridout, secretary Evelyn Thorndike and treasurer John Sipos.

SINCLAIRVILLE – Members and guests of the Valley Historical Society gathered together in the museum in Sinclairville for the July patriotic meeting.

Vice president Betty Jean Ridout opened the meeting with the pledge to the American flag and the Lord’s Prayer. Secretary Evelyn Thorndike read the minutes of the previous meeting, and society treasurer for 25 years John Sipos gave the financial report. Past mayor of Sinclairville Dean Houser reported on the plans for the upcoming 25th History Fair in Sinclairville on Saturday, Sept. 14. Everything is falling into place, said Houser, thanks to the help of President Larry Barmore.

Walter Waite who is one of the original historical society founders, said this is the 85th anniversary of the formation of the Cassadaga Valley Central School, and said he began school then as one of the students of the new centralized school district. Waite showed a photograph of himself when he began school. Treasurer John Sipos, who serves as the village of Cassadaga historian and the town of Stockton historian, had a full size copy of the Declaration of Independence, and said this is the 248th birthday of the United States. Sipos said that many of the New York towns are named after signers of the declaration such as the town of Stockton named after Richard Stockton. Sipos gave some interesting facts about the Declaration saying that the signers wrote their names over a six month period of time.

Following the meeting, all were served a birthday cake for the United States. For more information on the Valley Historical Society, write to P.O. Box 1045 Sinclairville, NY 14782.