Calendar

  • July 21-25

    Camp Brown
    A Call to Arms...Life as a Civil War recruit. Students in grades 4-6 will experience the life of a Civil War private preparing to march into history. Limited spaces, 1-4 PM each afternoon, please register early. $50 fee

  • August 4-8

    History Detectives:
    "In the Good Ole Summertime" Grades 1-3. Have fun learning about life around Chautauqua Lake in the golden age of steamboats and trolleys. The week will finish with a field trip to New York State's newest historic park, Midway! Great fun! 9-12 noon each morning, limited space available, please register early, $50 fee.

  • August 9

    Annual Old Fashion Day NEW this year!! A Civil War encampment of living history by the 9th Calvary NY Volunteers! Hopefully with horses, campfires, firearms and a surgeon. Join a basket weaver, spinners, weavers, antique engines, food, fun and much more. More details to come!!
    9 AM to 3 PM

  • August 18-22

    History Detectives:
    "In the Good Ole Summertime"
    Grades 4-6. Fun and learning come together at the Fenton Mansion and Long Point State Park! What was life like around Chautauqua Lake when the trolleys and steamboats were running? What was it like to vacation or work at the #2 vacation spot on the east coast in the late 1800s? Find out at the Fenton History Center Summer Camp. 1-4 each afternoon, limited space available, please register early, $50 fee.

  • September 13

    Fenton Institute - Genealogy 101 9 AM to Noon. Learn the important tools of researching your family history. This session will introduce you to the things you need to know to begin uncovering your family tree. Free for members at the Individual Level or $15 for non-members

  • October 11

    Justice Deferred: Albion Tourgee and the Fight for Civil Rights- 9 AM to 4 PM at the Robert H. Jackson Center, Jamestown NY. The day will be filled with presentations, a panel discussion and lunch concentrating on our County's forgotten civil right movement hero, Albion Tourgee and the importance of archival resources.

  • October 18

    Jr. Historians "Behind the Scenes" of the popular Lake View Cemetery Tours. Noon to 1 PM. Students in grades 2-5 are invited to learn about what it takes to put together the "Saints and Sinners Cemetery Tours" and then they can take the tour to learn about the interesting people from Jamestown's history. Limited space, please register early. Cost is only $8.50 per students, bring a friend for half price.

  • October 18

    3rd Annual Saints and Sinners Lake View Cemetery Tours. Each hour from 1 to 8 PM at Lake View Cemetery, corner of Buffalo Street and Lakeview Avenue, Jamestown. Come dressed for the weather. The tour will uncover some of the more than 43,000 personal stories at Jamestown's beautiful Lake View Cemetery. Guests are asked to wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather, bring a flashlight for the later tours and to be ready to learn some interesting information about Jamestown and Lake View Cemetery. The cost is only $8 for adults, $2 for children and free for Fenton History Center members. Reservations are requested, please call 664-6256 to reserve your tickets.

  • October 18

    Midnight Mausoleum Tour of Lake View Cemetery - Details to be announced.

  • October 25

    3rd Annual Saints and Sinners Lake View Cemetery Tours
    See information for Oct. 18th.

  • November 26

    Start a family tradition - bring the family to the 29th Annual Holiday Exhibit - I'll Be Home for Christmas - Members Only Preview! Be the first to see the elegant Governor's Mansion decked out for the holiday season! Light refreshments, friends and memories - all at the Fenton History Center this holiday season.

  • November 28

    29th Annual Holiday Exhibit opens to the public- I'll Be Home for Christmas through January 17, 2009

  • December 6

    Fenton Family Day Start a family tradition - bring your family for crafts, cookies and fun discovering your past at the Fenton History Center! Children are half price!

Lucille Ball: Not the Girl Next Door

The Fenton History Center presents "LUCILLE BALL: NOT THE GIRL NEXT DOOR" exhibit highlighting Lucille Ball. The exhibit focuses on her early years in Jamestown and Celoron and her return trips to the area throughout her career. Included are restricted photographs taken by her friend Marion Strong VanVlack, showing a touching, and human aspect of this internationally loved comedian.

Born on August 6, 1911, at home at 123 Stewart Avenue, Jamestown, New York, Lucille has often reflected upon fond memories spent in this area. Most of Lucille's childhood was spent in Celoron, New York. Here the excitement of Celoron Park surrounded her, planting seeds for her future career.

Lucille made four notable visits to the area: one in 1933, in 1944 when Grampa Hunt died (also tying in a campaign to sell war bonds), in 1946, and in 1956 when her film Forever Darling premiered at Dipson's Palace Theater. She was scheduled to come again to receive an honorary diploma from Jamestown Community College in 1989, but succumbed on April 26, following heart surgery.

Also on display at the museum are period rooms including the Fenton's Drawing Room, and a variety of exhibits pertaining to local history.

Guided tours of the museum for schools, scouts and civic groups can be arranged by contacting calling 716-664-6256.

The Fenton History Center is open Monday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm. Admission is $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for students, and children under 3 and members are admitted free.



Looking for more about Lucille Ball? Check the Timeline of Lucille Ball's Life & Career and The Many Names of Lucy and Family pages.