Susan Washington Sipos speaks during a recent meeting of the Valley Historical Society.

The topic was showing her collection of Cherokee baskets which she purchased on tours to Tennessee, North Carolina and Maine some 40 years ago. Baskets, she said, were made to hold things. She had baskets to hold clothing, picnic items, flowers, and candy. Some of the baskets were made of walnut, white oak, maple, blood root, river cane, and black ash. The material used is reed which is round or flat. The reed can be dyed in color before weaving or after the basket has been made. Basket making is a form of weaving, she said. Mrs. Sipos said handling baskets can change the color as the oil in one’s skin can affect the color. A very interesting program.

Sheryl Christy is the president of the historical society, Chuck Cichon is the vice president, Evelyn Thorndike is the secretary, and John Sipos is the treasurer. Dean Houser is in charge of the annual History Fair scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12. The all-day event which begins at 7 a.m. with a breakfast by the Sinclairville 76ers in the Sinclairville Fire Hall dining room, a grand parade at 10 a.m., craft and food stands in the village park all day, a car show, museum open all day, a cemetery tour, library activities, many other activities and a fireworks display at 9 p.m. This will be the 27th annual history fair.

The meeting concluded with refreshments of strawberry shortcake. The Valley Historical Society was formed in 1977 by the late John and Ruth Smith, the late Rev. John Rough, and Walter Waite to preserve the history of the Cassadaga Valley area. One year later the museum was purchased. New members are welcome. For more information on the historical society, write to P.O. Box 1045, Sinclairville, NY 14782.