About the Naples Historical Society
by NHS President Trish Lambiase
The Setting/Land Acknowledgement
Naples stands on land that was part of the historic homeland of the Seneca Nation of Indians and has a rich history which began long before the first settlers arrived in the 1790’s from Massachusetts. That history has been documented by Seymour H. Sutton in the Annals of Naples in 1853, Jane Mills in 1895, town historians, and in Naples newspapers and other publications. Today the Naples Historical Society continues that tradition in preserving our area's history.
Founding of the Naples Historical Society
The society was founded in 1977, a constitution was adopted and it was run by the citizens of Naples with William (Bill) Vierhile as its leader. Bill, owner of Vierhile’s Appliance Store, was a collector of historical documents and artifacts, curator of Cemeteries for Naples, Vice President of the Ontario County Genealogical Society, on the Board of the Ontario County Historical Society, Naples Town Historian and an active member of Naples Rotary). For a short while he was the Village Mayor and involved with the inception of the Naples Grape Festival in 1961 (Still the society’s major fund raiser). Early society meetings were held in private homes with an annual dinner at a local party house or restaurant. Artifacts and collections including historical books, ledgers, banners, posters, civil war uniforms, period costumes, small tools and utensils were displayed in the Memorial Town Hall, owned by the Town of Naples.
• 1983 obtained an Employee Identification Number (EIN).
• 1990, the organization had a temporary governing body consisting of an executive committee and 8 committees whose chairs were the temporary board. Formal By-Laws were adopted.
• 1993 a tax-exempt certificate was obtained, and the Nundawaga Society for History and Folklore consolidated with the society.
• 1996 501 (c) 3 status was obtained.
• 2016 The New York State Board of Regents granted an absolute charter.
Mission and Purpose
The mission of the Naples Historical Society is to promote an interest in the history of Naples and the surrounding area by maintaining and displaying historical collections and exhibits, and by providing educational programs.
The purpose of the Society shall be the discovery, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge and materials about the history of Naples and the surrounding area in the State of New York and the United States of America. More particularly, its objectives shall be:
1. To discover and collect any material which may help to establish or illustrate the history of its exploration, settlement, development, and activities in peace and in war, and its progress in population, wealth, education, arts, science, agriculture, manufacturing, trade and transportation; printed materials such as histories, genealogies, biographies, descriptions, gazettes, directories,
newspapers, pamphlets, catalogs, circulars, handbills, programs and posters; manuscript material, such as letters, diaries, journals, memoranda, reminiscences, vespers, service records, account books, charts, surveys and field books; and museum material such as pictures, photographs, paintings, portraits, scenes, Indian artifacts; and material objects illustrative of life, conditions, events and activities in the past and present.
2. To provide for the preservation of such material and for its accessibility as far as it may be feasible to all who wish to examine or study it; to cooperate with local officials in ensuring the preservation and accessibility of the records and archives of the community and its institutions; to encourage professional archaeological investigations of aboriginal or pioneer sites in the locality; to bring about the preservation of historic buildings, monuments and markers.
3. To disseminate historical information and arouse interest in the past by publishing historical material in the newspaper, or otherwise, by holding meetings with addresses, lectures, papers; and discussions and by marking historic buildings, sites, trails, and places of historical significance.
Vision Statement (adopted by the board of directors, 2022)
The vision of the Naples Historical Society is to spread a love of the Naples community by preserving our local history, discovering new knowledge together, and sharing our resources with all.
Past Presidents
Bill Vierhile prior to 1990
Proctor Smith 1990-1993
Beth Flory 1994-1997
Patricia Smith 1997-1998
Beth Flory 1999-2007
Priscilla Crawford 2007-2013
Blanche Warner 2013-2014
John Murphy 2014-2016
John Cowley 2016-February 2019
Wayne Buchar March 2019-2021
Trish Lambiase (2022-present)
Membership
New members in the society are always welcome. Any person interested in the history of Naples and the surrounding area, who applies for membership, and who tenders the necessary dues, shall thereby become a member. Membership dues are used to support the purpose, mission, and objectives of the society.
Meetings
Board of Directors
Monthly board meetings are usually held on the third Monday of each month. The board consists of 11 members, elected for terms of 3 years each. A quorum of seven members is required to conduct business. The immediate past president (voting member) and town historian (advisory member) serve on the board as well.
Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of members takes place in November. A quorum of 15 members is required to conduct business.
Activities
NHS sponsored events are open to members of the society, the Naples community, and visitors. Most events feature aspects of Naples history, and/or social traditions, and ideally promote preservation of local historical architecture and cultural landscapes. Some events have also included fund-raising activities. Past events and programs include:
• Photo, art, and artifacts exhibitions
• Lectures on various local historical topics
• Historical Village Walks
• Participation in local events such as Vintage Vines and Valentines (sponsored by Explore Naples)
• Grape Pie Baking Class
• Old Time Past Times
• Cracker Barrel Talks
• School tours and programs
• The Barn Project
• Naples Gingerbread Village
• Earth Day – Clean Up Naples
• Living with History-Naples Favorite Building Contest
• Porch Fest
• Ice Cream Socials
• Traditional Craft Workshops• Raffles
• Naples Grape Festival (a co-sponsor with Naples Rotary)
• Chocolate Cake Contest
• Cookie Sale and Holiday Boutique
NHS Today
The Naples Historical Museum Complex is a unique facility that provides multiple museum sites to support the mission of the Naples Historical Society and promote values of cooperation, inclusion, and diversity. Our infrastructure includes:
The Morgan Hose Building - 22 Mill Street
• The Morgan Hose Building or the “Bee-Hive”, as it was called, was built in 1830. It first was a home to Simeon Lyon, the building became a rooming house and later the Naples Town offices with a jail in the basement. The Morgan Hook and Ladder Company acquired the building in 1891, added the tower for drying fire hoses, and the bell, and used it as a firehouse.
• By 1990 it was clear that unless major work was done, the old firehouse was doomed.
• The historical society purchased it in 1992 and undertook a long and careful restoration project that was completed in 2000.
• Listed on the National Register of Historic Places 1995.
• Today it serves as the historical society’s headquarters and archives.
The Cleveland House Museum – 201 North Main Street
• The House was built by Captain Ephraim Cleveland, a Revolutionary War officer, in 1794. The house was one of the first frame homes in the village and is today almost as it was in 1794.
• The second-floor bed chamber has stenciling attributed to Stephen Clark, done around 1828.
• Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
• Purchased by the historical society in 2018.
• Opened as a house museum with exhibits in 2019.
• The original carriage house on the property was sold in 2024.
The Red Mill - 4 Wall Street
• This is the second mill built at this location. The first, built by Simeon Lyon, in 1815, was torn down in 1850. His son, S. C. Lyon and Erastus Hamlin then reconstructed it using the original basement and timbers. The last miller was James Slayton.
• The Mill and contents were donated to the society by Bill Vierhile in 2015.
• Today it serves as a museum depository for securing and inventorying artifacts.