Delving into the history of Batavia and what makes it special is the focus of Preservation Week events taking place this week in the city.
The events are being offered by the Batavia Depot Museum, Batavia Historical Society, Batavia Public Library and the Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley.
Organizers said Preservation Week events date back well before the pandemic and continue to draw a diverse group of local residents. This year, participants can take part in a historical pub crawl, take an 11-stop trolley tour of historic sites and enjoy various workshops.
According to a press release from the Batavia Park District, which oversees the Depot Museum, the theme of this year’s Preservation Week is “Preserving Identities,” which will “highlight the importance of local history and inspire residents to preserve their personal, family and community collections for future generations.”
In addition to holding several community events, organizers will be posting fun facts, hidden histories and local trivia on social media all week long.
Batavia Depot Museum Director Kate Garrett said Preservation Week “is a tradition we’ve been doing for a long time. It goes back pre-COVID for sure.”
“There was a hiatus in 2020 and 2021, but we brought it back in 2022, and the activities this year are going to be some familiar and some a little bit new,” she said.
Garrett said returning features include a historical bar crawl, as well as a “Greatest Hits of Batavia” trolley tour.
Garrett added that the museum also partners with the Batavia Public Library, which will be offering “Digging in and Opening Up: Gathering and Preserving Family Stories” from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, in the Founders Room of the library, 10 S. Batavia Ave. in Batavia.
The park district release said the free event will feature a presentation by professional genealogist Tina Beaird, who will teach residents how to gather and preserve their family’s history for future generations. Those planning to attend should register at www.bataviapubliclibrary.org/lectures-performances.
“New this year is a community roundtable on Wednesday, May 1, and it will feature a film from POP, or the Protect Our Past group, called ‘Love Letter to Cape Cod’ which will kick off a community conversation about places in Batavia that Batavians think are important to preserve for the long haul,” Garrett said. “These are unique to us and help describe our special place in the world.”
The park district press release said the event will include an informal conversation about life in the Batavia of yesteryear and a live question and answer session with Protect Our Past founder and president Ellen Briggs, guided by Al Watts of Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley.
The roundtable will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 1, at the Peg Bond Center, 151 N. Island Ave. Reservations are recommended and may be made at www.bataviaparks.org/calendar/events/history-roundtable.
The “Cheers Through the Years” bar crawl takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 3, beginning at the Batavia Depot Museum, and will highlight Batavia’s well-preserved downtown structures that now house watering holes such as Sidecar Supper Club and Beer Garden and Sturdy Shelter Brewing, according to the release.
The bar crawl will cost $10 per person. To register, go to www.bataviaparks.org/calendar/events/cheers-through-the-years
“The History Trolley: Batavia’s Greatest Hits” event will tour the city from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, beginning and ending at the Batavia Depot Museum. The trolley will visit some of Batavia’s 11 locations on the National Register of Historic Places, including landmarks like the former East Batavia School, according to the release.
The trolley tour will cost $22 per person. To register, go to www.bataviaparks.org/calendar/events/history-trolley
Garrett said events like Preservation Week are important.
“I think something like this informs how we approach our difficulties today and how we approach challenges now if we have some historical perspectives on that,” she said. “From a really practical, economic standpoint, historical buildings are a real boon to a community. It’s always easier to take care of an old building than to tear it down and build something new from scratch.”
Garrett said usually about 200 people every year take part in Preservation Week programs. She said this year there will be more digital options to get involved.
“This year, we’ll be talking specifically on Facebook and Instagram about buildings that are gone and when they were built and when they were torn down and what’s there today,” she said. “We really try to reach a broad audience for this and we have a little something for everybody.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
