The Cobblestone Society & Museum

Specialties

The Cobblestone Museum is an open-​air museum that promotes the study and exploration of cobblestone construction methods from 1825 to 1860, offering visitors the opportunity to explore three period cobblestone structures set in Victorian appearance and four wood structures highlighting 19^th century agricultural implements and skilled trades.

History

Established in 1960.

Established in 1960 to preserve the Cobblestone Universalist Church and District No. 5 Schoolhouse in Childs, NY, The Cobblestone Society and Museum has existed for over 50 years as the nation’s destination for everything «cobblestone.» The society owes its origins to a steadfast and determined group of individuals who desired to study and preserve a unique piece of history, situated largely amongst the landscape of Western New York.

The idea for a museum centered in Childs, NY, was hatched out of the mind of Robert Frasch in June of 1960. As a history teacher in Hilton, NY, Frasch often wondered about the history behind these interesting structures located along his path to work. In the summer of 1960, he pitched the idea to Orleans County Historian, Cary H. Lattin, who quickly became a stalwart supporter of the project. Soon after, Frasch had gained the support of other key members of the community including J. Howard Pratt and Katherine Billings.

Meet the Manager

Matthew B.

Manager

A local native, Matthew graduated from Albion High School in 2006 where he enrolled at SUNY Brockport soon after. Focusing his studies in American History during the era of National Expansion and Reform (1815 – 1880), he has studied a broad range of local subjects including Cobblestone Masonry and Polish Immigration; completing his B.S. in History in 2010. In 2012, he earned his Master of Library Studies (M.L.S.) from the University at Buffalo where he studied academic librarianship and special collections management.

Matthew comes to the museum from the William J. & Marie McGrath Library at Hilbert College in Hamburg, NY, where he is currently employed as a Night and Weekend Library Supervisor. He has a background in buildings and ground maintenance, having worked at Holy Family Parish as a maintenance laborer for three years. He also spent several summers working with area stone masons on the Elijah Blodgett Cobblestone House in Murray, NY, and the Skinner-​Tinkham House in Barre, NY.

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