Guest Lecture - Cobalt on the Erie Canal: Lyons Pottery Stoneware Decorators (& Annual Member Meeting)

Wayne County and Lyons in particular was home to a major producer of 19th century stoneware, Lyons Pottery. Join us for this special presentation focused on the the artists and decorators who traveled the canal route to decorate these iconic pieces of stoneware.

This Lecture is the featured presentation during our Historical Society Annual Member meeting. You do not need to be a Member of the Historical Society to attend.

RSVP REQUESTED. NO FEE. Thanks to Reception Sponsor, Weitsman Shredding LLC.

Guest Speakers:

John L. Scherer is author of Art for the People: Decorated Stoneware from the Weitsman Collection which features the images and stories behind more than 230 examples of cobalt-decorated stoneware donated to the New York State Museum by Adam J. Weitsman. John is also historian for the Town of Clifton Park, New York and Senior Historian Emeritus for the New York State Museum. He has a B.A. in History from the State University of New York at Albany and a M.A in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program.  He has published numerous books and articles on local history, genealogy, New York decorative arts and popular entertainment and lectures widely on those subjects.  For a number of years he taught a graduate course on material culture studies at the University at Albany, New York.  Scherer has served as an officer in a number of professional organizations and friends groups including the Association of Public Historians of New York State.

Dr. John Sladek. A medical school professor, biomedical scientist, and avid stoneware collector since 1973, John has a current collection of over 350 pieces of Rochester and Lyons stoneware. His scientist observations of the design elements and signatures of the decorators led to historical research that has identified the renown decorators who traveled from pottery to pottery as valued artists. This has enabled him to draw conclusions on the identity of some of the decorators. He will discuss how the Erie Canal helped decorators and producers transport both materials and techniques that shaped this iconic American craft. In addition to his passion for NY stoneware John is an accomplished saxophonist, an avid cyclist who logs a couple thousand miles each year, and enjoys nature photography and winter sports. He lives in the mountains of Colorado with his wife Dr. Celia Davis Sladek, an internationally recognized neuroendocrinologist and academician.

EVENING AGENDA INCLUDES

5:30pm (Doors Open)

6:00pm Complimentary Hors D'oeuvres and Beverages

Raffle Ticket Sales for two original stoneware items Harrington Lyons Pottery Crocks; Haunted Hayride; and MORE.

Annual Appeal Kick Off - Matching Funds Pledge Drive up to $25,000!

6:15pm Short Film "Lyons in Action". Original black and white movie footage from 1913

showing digging of canal Lock 27, Lyons School students, Canal St. and William St.

Trolley and more. (This will be shown in the Main Theatre.)

6:30pm Lecture: Cobalt on the Erie Canal by Sladek and Scherer with items on display and Q&A.

7:30pm Raffle Drawings. Need not be present to win but it would be fun to be there!

7:45pm Announce Total Pledges Received to date. Networking and Continued Conversation.

7:45pm Wayne County Historical Society - Annual Year End Meeting and Board Elections.

(Meeting to be held in the Small Theatre)

For more information on RAFFLE ITEMS.

OVERNIGHT OPTIONS: RSVP for 10/2/25 (by 9/18/25). Ask us about Microtel Inn and Suites of Newark NY Group Rate (block of 10 rooms available. Link coming soon.) For those who may be heading to Friday / Saturday Bennington, VT Pottery Show.

Hotel: Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Newark NYGroup Name: Wayne County HistoryArrival Date: Thursday, 2 October 2025Departure Date: Friday, 3 October 2025

Cutoff Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025

Booking Link:

https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/microtel/newark-new-york/microtel-inn-and-suites-newark-ny/rooms-rates?&checkInDate=10/02/2025&checkOutDate=10/03/2025&groupCode=100225WAY⬆️⬆️ Please note, the entire URL must be copied and pasted for it to work properly.

Group Code:

Visit : Microtel by Wyndham Newark

Select Arrival & Departure Dates

Use Group Code:  100225WAY

By Phone:

Call Reservations at 315-359-9181

Reference Wayne County History when making reservations

We look forward to welcoming you to our hotel! 

Natalie Harris

Area Sales Manager

Indus Hospitality Group

O: 585-450-2006