The audiences we serve are:
• members and financial supporters of the Society
• Naples schools and related educational community groups historical and genealogical researchers
• Naples residents, businesses and community groups
• visitors to the Town of Naples. We are achieving our mission by:
• collecting, preserving, studying and identifying the Town of Naples’ material culture, past and pr
esent
• studying and interpreting the town’s history and disseminating the information obtained as widely as possible collecting, preserving and making available to the public all appropriate primary and secondary source material on the history of Naples
• preserving, maintaining and operating the Morgan Hook and Ladder Building as the focal point for exhibitions and educational activities maintaining archival and photographic material housed at the Naples Library. Programs we currently support are:
• yearly scholarships for graduating seniors with a lively interest in history at Naples High School
• continued support for other educational programs at the Elementary and High School as they arise
• periodic evening meetings with creative programs
• an Ice Cream Social in August
• the Memorial Day parade
• the Naples Grape Festival
Special projects of late:
• the dispensation of mitigation funds
• production and sale of a historic Barns video by Bill Vierhile
• working with the Yates/Ontario Historical Group
Membership
New members in our Society are always welcome. If you have an interest in things historical, are a concerned citizen of the Naples community, want to increase community education or just want to socialize with a great group of people, please consider joining our Society. To join the Naples Historical Society, use this link:
https://www.naplesnyhistoricalsociety.org/become-a-member
Morgan Hook and Ladder
The “Beehive” as it was called was a rooming house that survived the fire of 1890. The Morgan Hook and Ladder Company acquired the building in 1891, added the tower and bell and used it for a firehouse. The basement was used as the Village Hall and jail. The present Maxfield Hose Company was organized in Naples in 1916, at which point the fire department moved to Main Street. The original Morgan Hook and Ladder building dates back to 1830. Extensive restoration of the building was completed in the late 1990s. Today the building is the home of the Naples Historical Society. It houses some of our collection and serves as a meeting place for various events.
