Country Village launches nationwide search for
people who lived in 19th-century houses

   In celebration of its 30th birthday, Genesee Country Village & Museum has launched a nationwide search for people who may have lived in any of the museum's 19th - century village houses.

   Since the mid 1960s, 70 village structures, dating from the late 1700s to mid 1800s, have been relocated from throughout Western New York to the museum's hillside site in Mumford. The museum opened to the public in June 1976.

   "We've often wondered, if only these walls could talk," says museum president and CEO Betsy Harrison. "The next best thing would be to meet the people who lived in any of our restored houses. We want to hear their stories."

   Of Livingston-Backus House (Rochester), Thomson's Tavern and Store (Riga), Amherst Humphrey House (Lima) and MacArthur House (York) are among area structures whose "birthdays" will be recognized during the museum's season-long all celebration.

   The museum's web site www.gcv.org has a complete listing of its 19th-century structures and their original locations.

   A "birthday celebration" e-mail address: specialplaces@gcv.org will enable "storytellers" to pass their memories along to the museum.

   "We hope to hear from scores of people, whom we'll invite to help us celebrate the birthday of their favorite Genesee Country Village building," Harrison said.

   Genesee Country Village & Museum is one of the nation's largest living history museums, with 68 historic structures from all around western New York. Its 19th-century village is filled with costumed villagers going about the essential tasks and trades that bring 1800s America to life. It also includes the John L. Wehle Art Gallery, home to the collection called by Wildlife Art Magazine "one of the finest in the world."