State History

On April 25, Greece Historical Society volunteer Maureen Whalen received the "History" award at the Greece Regional Chamber of Commerce Community awards banquet. The award was presented by Master of Ceremonies Doug Emblidge and Chamber President & CEO Sarah Lentini.

Maureen has been involved in the Charlotte/Greece community and the Greece Historical Society for many years. She helped organize the first Thursday History program at the Charlotte Branch Library and also has facilitated a book club at that library for over 22 years.

As a member of the Greece Historical Society since 2012, she has curated several major exhibits at the Greece Museum including "Winning the Vote: The Women of Greece,” "The Underground Railroad in Charlotte & Greece" and "Our Town in World War II," and is now preparing an exhibit on Prohibition which will open in the fall. In addition, she co-wrote books for two of the exhibits, "Winning the Vote" and "Our Town in WWII" which included interviewing and writing the stories of a dozen local WWII Veterans.

She has researched, organized. and conducted several tours of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery and is now preparing a tour of the Mother of Sorrows Cemetery for later this year. For several years Maureen has re-enacted the life of local aviatrix Blanche Stewart Scott (America’s first aviatrix), presenting talks in the first person style on Blanche's life including her participation in last year's VoteTilla along the Erie Canal.

In 2018, she researched and prepared a grant to secure a new roadside marker noting the summer home of suffragist Jean Brooks Greenleaf. Maureen is also a long time volunteer at the Seneca Park Zoo and is currently finishing a book on the history of that zoo.

CONGRATULATIONS to Maureen, a true unsung hero in the local history community. Also, at this year's Chamber award banquet, in recognition of its contribution to the community for the past 50 years, the Greece Historical Society was awarded the “Arts & Culture” award.