POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT

"Little is really known of the public entertainment aspect of life in Weesport before the Civil War. It can be pretty safely assumed that the local inhabitants were not greatly different from other folks living in the newly opened section of the State. Participation in church activities was common; there were probably spelldowns, quilting bees, barn raisings, dances and just plain stopping by for a visit or a meal. The saloon provided a social outlet for many men, particularly those engaged in canal work. The hotel lobby and the pot-bellied stove in the grocery store, made for a pleasant place to get away from home. Because of its position on the Canal, Weedsport probably had its share of circuses, carnivals and medicine shows.

Dances were always a popular diversion. We hear of home dances where friends, relatives and neighbors congregated at a home where the carpets has been taken up, fiddler or two engaged and they danced until daylight; and public dancing had its place too. On March 17, 1867, a social party was held at Franklin Hall, 2687 East Brutus Street where the Saroodis Service station is now located. Hugunins Full Orchestra provided the mucic. The dance fill was listed at 75 cents and supper was available at Congress Hall for 75 cents- whether the fees were for singles or couples was not revealed. As weould be appropriate fot the 17th of March, the reception committee included John Riley, Martin Cain, Daniel Collins, F. Mahoney and James Meham. O.E. Higby and John Sullivan were floor managers.