Our Location and More
The Historical Society is located in our Community Center on the North Road
The Society was founded on July 25, 1992 when the first organizational meeting was held at the Findley Lake Fire Hall. There were twenty people in attendance.
We submitted several organizational documents to the New York State Board of Regents of the Education Department in Albany, NY before we could be recognized as a Historical Society. These documents included a Constitution, By Laws and a Collections Management Policy that had to be approved. A Provisional Charter was issued on November 4, 1994. These rules govern the Society and prevent unethical incidents.
From the beginning the priority was to share the history of the Town of Mina and Findley Lake, the hamlet within. This is accomplished by having programs and tours, recording the community events and interviews of the Elders. Also by working in cooperation with The Town of Mina Board and the Town Historian.
The Purpose of The Findley Lake and Mina Historical Society:
The Guiding Principles include Relevance, Integrity, Sustainability and Accessibility.
To promote and encourage original historical and genealogical research
To disseminate and encourage a greater knowledge of the history of the area
To gather, preserve, display and make available for study artifacts, relics, books, manuscripts, papers, photographs and other records and materials relating to the subject.
To encourage the suitable marking of places of historic interest
To acquire by purchase, gift, devise or otherwise the title to or the custody and control of historic sites and structures, and preserve and maintain them.
To encourage membership in the Society
To maintain a Board of Trustees and hold monthly Board Meetings and an Annual Meeting for the membership and Annual Report to the NY State Education Department.
Outstanding accomplishments in the last twenty-two years:
A Heritage Room at the Community Building is the depository for a large collection of records, photos, maps, family records, very old newspapers, and other very interesting three-dimensional archives are on display. Especially noteworthy, a large collection of artifacts including the history of an original log structure from the Lakeside Assembly, a Chautauqua Institution type of resort, that was here at the turn of the century. Two books have been published on the history of Findley Lake and the Town of Mina and Cat’s Meows Collectables are available for sale.
A series of articles was written called, “Twenty Years, Twenty Characters”. Each person chosen was meticulously researched and published in the local newsletter, The Tapestry.
Current Officers and board of Trustees
Mary Norcross, President Steve Boozel Cynthia O Young
Rebecca Brumagin, Vice President Mayilyn Evans
Betty Jo Skellie, Secretary Frances Fair
Vicki Fiet, Treasure David Himelein
